Four Favorite Things I Love Right Now! Part 16

Gosh, I'm really thinking a lot about food lately.  Now, you guys who know me know that this is NOT AT ALL unusual, but I'm REALLY thinking about it lately.

I don't know if it's that summer is coming and watermelon will be again a good part of my life, or maybe it has something to do with the 5 to 8 pounds I've gained lately (amount gained depends on the day, people), but no matter what, food is on my mind.  So for this month's Four Favs, I'm pretty much all food all the time.

NOTE:  In case you missed my most recent Four Favs post, visit it here:  http://blog.paigemcdaniel.org/2014/04/four-favorite-things-i-love-right-now.html

Fav Number One:

Since I mentioned the weight gain (I attribute that to the Garrett's Popcorn I ordered for Spring Break), I decided to get healthier (and hopefully lose a few, but no progress yet -- probably something to do with number 2 and 3 below) and try something new for breakfast.  My friend and favorite food blogger Katie Mears (Her blog is http://isthereanywineleft.com/) mentioned something about loving green smoothies, but did not give a recipe yet, so I made one up on my own (with the help of the Internet, of course).  Here it is and I love it:

 

First, Take a handful of spinach and a small handful of kale and put in your blender with 3/4 cup of water.  Blend it on low for a minute just to breakdown the greens.

 

 

Next, add one small frozen banana (I buy fresh and cut into disks, then put in a small zip-lock and freeze), 4 pieces of frozen pineapple and 4 pieces of frozen mango.

 

 

Add a big dash of cinnamon, then blend on the smoothie setting.  Be sure you hold the top on because I've already endured one green smoothie explosion.  I usually do about half of another smoothie setting blend, then pour it into a glass.  Since I take mine to work, I like a disposable one, but if I'm out of them, I use a Tervis Tumbler, then bring it home that night and wash it.

 

 

After you pour it into your container, add one tablespoon of Chia Seeds and stir them in.  This is what fills you up until lunch.  The other thing that I love about this is that if I don't eat another stinkin' fruit or vegetable all day, I've had five of the things.

 

Okay -- now for the fattening stuff...

 

Fav Number Two:

 

My second fav is cookies from The Great One Cookie Company.  They are located over by Javier's (another of my fav places to eat) and everyone at our office is obsessed.  Ann likes lemon, Joanna likes chocolate cherry, Annie likes pecan chocolate chip, Lauren likes plain chocolate chip, and the rest just like it all.  These really are worth the effort and the calories.  You may be thinking, why doesn't Paige show us these fabulous specimens?  It's because if I open the box we will not have enough for the staff pooch party this afternoon.  What is a staff pooch party, you ask?  Don't ask.

 

 

Fav Number Three:

 

The Party Mix from City Cafe to Go is amaze-balls.  It is spicy and delicious, especially after you've had too much sweet stuff and need something salty.  It is not cheap, but I'm addicted.

Fav Number Four:

 

The fourth fav is unrelated to food.  It's reading.  I just read The Little Way of Ruthie Leming and while I didn't love it, it moved me to tears over and over again.  But really just the joy of reading anything is my fourth fav.  So glad that I have the ability and grew up around readers.  Reading brings so much joy to my life.

 

What are your four favs?









Four Favorite Things I LOVE Right Now!

I'm going to try something new-ish this week.

Although I have written about my Oprah-style favorite things before (seems to come around closer to Christmas for some reason – hmmmmmm?), I thought I'd tell you about my Four Favs every so often.  Today’s the day!

I read Kim Whitman’s blog (check it out here: http://kimberlyschlegelwhitman.blogspot.com) all the time and she has the cutest thing up in the corner that says “currently obsessed” with a photo of the thing she loves. 

Now, I’m not Kim (if only – she’s smart, stylish, and gorgeous), but consider me your still smart, sometimes stylish (not today – wearing yoga pants and red t-shirt), and can-be-cute-in-low-lighting Kim…

Paige’s Four Favs:

• Room:  A Novel – I read this book by Emma Donoghue almost two years ago and I still think about it all the time.  Amazing and surreal and beautiful and wild.  Highly recommended.
• Trapp Number 2 Candle – This is the exotic spice smell and it is heaven to me.  I usually order them from Amazon, but you can get them at the Sample House.  I always have one at the ready.
• White Orchid Plant – I must have one in my den at all times.  Tom Thumb and Whole Foods sell them, but the best ones (that usually last for 3-4 months) are from Nicholson Hardie.  Of course, expect to pay more at NH.
• City Café To Go Slushie – City Café To Go on Lovers Lane sells this mixture of tea and lemonade, then freezes it into a concoction of icy deliciousness.  My mom and I both want one every afternoon.  OMG Goodness!

What are your Four Favs?

P.S.  My #FundraisingFriday gift is going to Highland Park United Methodist Church.  It is certainly one of my favorite things!