Kale Me

First things first, inquiring minds wanted to know what exactly was the green stuff in my smoothie.  Kate gets a prize (if I actually had a prize) because it is kale.  Kale can fall under the category of "super food", but I'm always short on ideas with what to actually do with it.  It looks a little funny in a smoothie, but my initial skepticism was squashed after I tried it for the first time.  It also has all sorts of wonderful reasons to be in my smoothie:

1. It has about a billion and one nutritious pluses to it.
2. It's an easy way to squeeze in some extra veggies.
3. It makes your smoothies an ugly green color which results in your hubs not touching it, leaving more for you.
4. It's yummy, simple enough.
5. The kale gives smoothies a texture similar to the way mint gives texture to a frozen mojito (my favorite reason!)

I throw mine in raw so it gives texture, but I suppose you could steam it first and it may blend smoother.  I kind of like it chunky though.

As for the other ingredients: plain fat free yogurt, V8 Splash juice, strawberry/mango/papaya frozen fruit blend, a fresh banana, a little honey, and if I'm shy on protein for the day I'll throw in a little scoop of vanilla protein powder.  Yum.

If anyone has other suggestions of what to do with Kale, I'd love to hear them!

So smooth.

My legs are aching- the perils of retail work.
I have yet to touch any of my study notes.
I am only 23 minutes shy of bedtime.
I'm not ready to talk about the game of which we do not speak of, hah.
And I can't stop watch The Bachelor and exclaiming how scary crazy Michelle is!

So we'll keep this short, sweet, and happy, ending Monday on a high note.

I've been craving smoothies like crazy lately, and this one was particularly delicious.

Smoothies, delicious, have a good night.

Black and Yellow...

Today's To-Do list:

1. Bake peanut butter cookies (50% brown sugar, yum)
2. Make chocolate mousse with chocolate chips
3. Squeeze in a workout so I can partake in #1 and #2
4. Cover myself in black and gold from head to toe
5. Paint the nails black and gold
6. Make well-intentioned glares at my piles of study notes, but do no actual studying
7. Indulge excessively while cheering my boys on to a 7th Super Bowl win!
8. Drive home safely in the melee that will surely ensue.

Happy Super Bowl Sunday Yinz Guys!
(I only speak Pittsburghese on Super Bowl Sunday)

6 is nice, but 7 is better!

Nerd Alert

Twisted Nerd Alerted: I watch sports for the injuries.  I also promise this post won't be entirely about Pittsburgh sports or injuries, or entirely about anything at all.

Pens Evgeni Malkin went down last night, and it was all over the news today that he tore his ACL and MCL and will, of course, be off the ice for awhile.

I actually haven't seen the clip yet because not having cable makes it difficult to watch... anything, hockey included.  I'm sure I'll be youtubing and replaying it here shortly though, trying to figure out what exactly happened.  Why both ligaments?  Why not another?  Meniscal damage too?  Wonder how long he'll be rehabbing before he can skate again?  Play again?  What about playoffs? 

That's normal, right?  To analyze injuries.  I've always loved to watch sports.  I'll skip the golf and baseball on tv, but I could spend hours watching any other game or competition.  Since starting PT school though, I've found a whole new part of watching sports that I can get into: the injuries!

It's kind of my new twisted-nerdy game: Guess That Injury.  Despite my love for the Steelers and their luscious-locked safety, I can't deny that I got a little excited when I got this one "right".

MCL sprain? Correct!

Do you find yourself doing the same?  Not necessarily the same thing exactly; I realize I'm a little weird.  Did I mention that I will also analyze your gait pattern while you walk in front of me?  Want to run down the sidewalk or on the treadmill in my line of sight too?  I'll gladly analyze in secret. Stop the overpronating already!  Catch me on a good bad day, and I might even tell you just how incorrectly you are using your crutches/cane/walker.  That's right, not even your granny is safe!  Ok, not really so much on the last part.  Just because the wheels in my head are turning doesn't mean I would ever actually open my mouth.

So are you guilty too?  Do you find yourself carrying over your work/school/career knowledge into the rest of your life?  Do nutritionists analyze fellow diners meals?  Do techies go crazy over... anyone that isn't?  Do writers go crazy when they read poor grammar?  Is that who scribbles in corrections on random flyers and signs in public?  I want to hear it.  What about your job carries over into the rest of your life or turns into a pet peeve?

PS. Go Steelers!

Friday Caffeinated Favorites

My day started out by getting out the door late, making me late for class 3 out of 3 mornings this week.  Oops.  The kicker though, what happened as I was trying to rush out of my car and over to class.

I got out of the car and reached into the backseat to grab the rest of my things.  While I was doing that, my travel mug full of coffee fell off my roof and onto my head.  Yup, cracked me right on the head, and it hurt, a lot.  And at that moment I realized that it has to be some terrible omen to have your morning coffee fall ON-YOUR-HEAD!

I only lost a few drops of coffee though, and I was wearing my pretty new boots (yes, I decided to keep them), so I was determined to have a good morning anyways.  And I did.

It certainly didn't hurt that it is Friday afterall.  Which means it's time for Friday Favorites!

1. My Keurig.  Despite the fact that I dropped it on my head, my Keurig did brew me a kick-butt cup of Butter Toffee Coffee this morning!  Just what I needed in a 7:30am class.  This definitely ranks up there amongst the very best Christmas presents- ever.  Clearly someone knows I can't let a day go by without caffeine in my veins!

2. My boots.  They are my new favorites.  They got me through 6 hours at school, another 4 at work, and little shopping time too.  They're my new love.  One of the girls told me this morning that the wider shaft makes my legs look skinnier.  I'm sold; maybe I'll wear them with my bikini this summer.

3. Steelers.  My favorite sports team.  Not just a Friday Favorite, but my everyday favorite.  Did you hearing they're playing a game on Sunday?  A little thing we like to call the Super Bowl.  You should consider tuning in.

4. The hubs.  He's my favorite hubs that I've got.  He brought me in dinner when he knew I didn't want to get up off the couch, brought me meds when I complained about a headache coming on, and he's just pretty much the bee's knees on a daily basis.  Bonus, he also happened to have bought me #1 and #2 on my list, and tickets to go see #3.  Yup, bonus points for the hubs; I think I'll keep him!  I kind of promised him that anyways, when I grabbed his tush and said 'I do'.