Enchanted Chameleon

~ one month :: green smoothie 365 ~

One month down and 11 to go!  The first month went off sooo well!  I am extremely grateful for the routine that I have created every morning to make this first month go off so easily.  The combinations feel like they are still endless at this point!  I'm sure that come month 11 I will be singing a different tune.  I will admit that part of me looks forward to the summer months of doing this when there will be bounties available at all the farmer's markets in particular greens that I don't normally find at the grocery store.  

If you are interested in what I am up to, please check out the Green Smoothie Challenge 365 over at the Juice Caboose blog.  If you are just interested in the wonderful, life changing food/drink that is a green smoothie, check out my hero Victoria Boutenko over at the Raw Family.  XO.  S

Related articles

~ green smoothie 365 ~

~ green smoothie 365 challenge ~

~ green smoothie 365 challenge ~

My Green Smoothie 365 Challenge is well under way.  I am posting daily at the Juice Caboose blog.  Currently, this is my most favourite thing in the world.  Every day I am creating a new recipe, snapping a photo with a little make shift smoothie studio set up in my kitchen and every night I am playing on Pic Monkey, trying all sorts of photo filters and fonts I may not normally use.  This is exercising more than the my creative smoothie bone which was my original intent. I'm pleased to be getting so much more out of this besides the 2.5 lbs that I released!   Hopefully the inspiration that I draw from a little daily creation will keep this smoothie challenge going strong.

Check out the above smoothies and their ingredients here:  11, 12, 7, 9, 3 

Feel free to join in on the fun at any time!  XO.  S

~ green smoothie 365 ~

With the winter weather setting in and the Juice Caboose feeling like it's already been in storage forever I wanted to come up with a project to keep my creative smoothies flowing.  I decided for a few reasons, to try my hand at a one a day, 365 Green Smoothie recipes project.  Besides wanting to stay in touch with my creative smoothie making side and keeping the Juice Caboose blog active, I was hoping to set up my regular routine of daily Green Smoothies for breakfast as well maybe a shed a few pounds of those food truck loving foods that was bountiful this summer.  Feel free to join along and watch the wonder of daily Green Smoothies work its magic!  XO.  S   

~ Interview at Eat + Read ~

Awesome little interview with me over at the Eat + Read blog with Tasleem.  I had a lovely tea and chat with her last week.  I am always happy to share my experience with coming to health and healing the long way especially if it will inspire health and healing in others.  Enjoy!  XO.  S

Green Smoothie Challenge Winner

Well, really, we're all winners but I promised I would be giving away the book Green Smoothie Revolution to one lucky Green Smoothie Challenge participant and here I am to deliver.  The winner is:

Lisa Warner, Toronto, ON CA

Congratulations Lisa!  And congratulations to everyone that attempted the Challenge.  They all deserve a great pat on the back.

As for me I have an additional report on the Green Smoothie Challenge - my acne was the clearest it's been in over 2 months just today.  Horray!  I think my outsides are getting caught up to my insides.  

So it's been a little while since I posted any original Green Smoothie recipes and since we're talking shop today I thought what better time to share a couple of the ones that I came up this week.

The first was inspired by a recipe I found on Martha Stewart.   She's hosting her own detox plan to kick off the year and I've been flipping through some of her recipes and other ideas.  I was impressed to find a smoothie that included chard and a raw soup with kale.  Sounds like Martha is catching up with the raw foods movement.  

'It's A Good Thing'

- 1 Young Coconut, meat and water
- 3 Kale Leaves
- 1/2 Avocado
- 1 C Frozen Mango

Blend leaves and water.  Add fruit and blend till smooth.

My other smoothie recipe is just a slight adjustment to one of the recipes in Green Smoothie Revolution. If there is one thing that can kind of get me down about raw foods is having to juice AND THEN blend. So instead of fresh pressed apple juice, I just changed it to an apple.  Pretty simple and I'm sure just as tasty.

Summer Breeze

- 1 C Frozen Mango
- 1 C Water
- 1/2 C Frozen Strawberries
- 1/2 Bunch Fresh Mint
- 1/2 Apple

Blend greens and water.  Add fruit until smooth.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.  Suzanne

Day 6 - Burn After Reading

 

It was a gorgeous day here yesterday and right from the first streaks of sunlight in the morning I knew that we had to get out and make the most of it.  I don't only mean we had to get out cause it's been raining.  Oh no.  I mainly mean we had to get out because I'm just not that into the outdoors, we've been mostly inside for days and the sun is freakin out, if I don't get out now and make the most of it, I'll go mad.  

So here's the bottom line.  I'm going to make a ton of excuses right now, we're going to mentally burn this list and I'm going to make an extremely achievable goal in regards to the outdoors.

But first:

• I watched, a lot, a lot, a lot, a lot of TV growing up!
• I grew up in a different climate where there were 4 distinct seasons and I enjoyed going out for the summer and winter but here it is just summer and rain (I'm exaggerating, not really, a little)
• To expand on my previous point, I always stayed in when it rained growing up so I'm a little confused as to what to do in the rain.
• I hate the park.  Always have, I'm trying very hard to avoid the always will.
• I have a regular habit of over or under dressing in the spring and fall.
• I don't like wet clothes.  
• My biggest passions are indoor ones.

Okay so with all that said and done let's get to the point.  As a parent, I feel it is extremely important for children to get outside and be active everyday.  I also feel that a lot of physical activity helps children sleep well.  As I trek through the blog world I see these two thoughts mirrored back to me and the emphasis on getting outside seems a bit heavier to me since I'm essentially at a loss.  I bought a book to help me out with this only to discover it was better suited to my previous home with 4 seasons which was also an eon before I had a kid.  I'm so thoroughly impressed with the nature walks, nature crafts, hiking and continuous outdoor activities that many people partake in every day and although my impression is that it is all utterly cool, I am utterly not interested.  

And it is not just because I'm not outdoorsy, it's because I'm not outdoorsy with a child.  Before C I did some hiking and walked everywhere, but the thought of unhappy people in wet clothes times 2 plus me having to carry C which happens even on short walks is enough to keep me just going to the boring old ball room at The Quay.

Can you smell my guilt yet?  

Alright, already so burn all of the above (except the pretty pictures).

Yesterday was a gorgeous day and we absolutely had to get out and enjoy it so I called St. Tania (our sitter) who was watching other kids today and is my antithesis (she's totally outdoorsy) and we latched onto their plans and hit a park.  Essentially it's a fake it till you make it move but it worked.  We got outside and it was great.

Another achievable goal for me is to hit Grouse Mountain once a week.  I recently bought a membership and C is free, we are two blocks away from a bus that goes straight there, I figure, rain in the city means snow on the mountain and snow and I go way back.  We can always do it twice or more a week.

So that's it.  For now.  The Latch Slash Snow Project.  Plus the 20 minutes we spend walking around the neighbourhood, to you know, walk to the ball room.  Okay, okay, it really isn't that bad.  I'm an actor, I'm dramatic, I need to give myself a break.

Alright, the Giving Myself a Break Plan:  It's not like we never go outside; It's not like he's watching TV all day when we are inside so baby steps to finding activities that I am really passionate about in the outdoors and pursue those.  In the meantime, I'm great, he's great, no one's going to die, I'm doing a great job - LOVE WHAT IS!!!  

Sigh.  The pressure this mama can put on herself!

To wrap things up the Green Smoothie Challenge Day #5 was another great day with some original smoothie making as well.  I'm feeling pretty content, in fact, I could definitely keep this up for longer. 

Great.  Now that that is all of my chest with much love I just want to wish my Mom a happy birthday. Your pressie is in the mail.  Wishing a wonderful day to all.  Suzanne

Day #5 - Thumbs Up! (WIP)

I had such an awesome day yesterday!  I'm thinking it was because it followed a little detox and a visit slash extremely productive evening with 1/2 my Kula.  Here's the low down...

I finished the sweetest, softest pillow for C's CPK.  I found the pattern on Ravelry (for free, found here) and I did a little adjusting to it to make it to my likey.  Quite seriously, I'm in love with the yarn - Patons Pure 100% Organic Cotton - and I'm gushing so much that I think it is the best thing I've ever made. Stuffed with wool and made with love, it fit perfectly into the little cradle that I discovered thrifting and left out as a surprise on C's birthday.  Equally excited was C when I presented it to him and he ran to his room to put it under Baby Hunter's (and Piglet's, and "Joshua's") head.   

~ Overall Rating - 2 100% Organic "This-Must-Be-Made-Into-Clothing-and-I-Mean-Often" Thumbs Up

 

 

Next up I had an audition!  Horray, what a great start to the New Year.  Even better, I rocked it.  

Overall Rating:  2 Dramatic "There's-Nothing-Like-Student-Films-To-Boost-An-Actors-Ego" Thumbs Up

Finally C and I ended the day with a romantic, candle lit, blueberry pancake slash Green Smoothie dinner for two.  And if that wasn't enough, dinner was followed by bubble bath, snuggles, stories, massage and a no fuss sleepy time.

Overall Rating:  2 Happy Toddler Thumbs Up and 2 Blissful Mama "There's-Nothing-Like-An-Early-Bedtime-And-A-Quiet-House" Thumbs Up  (Did I mention that I got a bubble bath and leisure reading in after that myself?  I think that calls for another 2 Thumbs Up)

As for my WIP report, of course there is the Green Smoothie Challenge but I think you have the jist of where that's going today.  As for creatively I've got a ton on my needles and it's all making me feel pretty warm and fuzzy.  I think back to a year ago when it was just my goal to start knitting.  Essentially knitting was struggling just to cast on and count properly, stop adding stitches and figure out the ridiculous thing I was doing when switching between K and P stitches that made the needles and yarn bunch up tight. Considering I'm Googling "Advanced Knitting" techniques to keep me moving along in my current projects, I'd say some more Thumbs Up are in order.  And as soon as we get some paycheques into the bank I'll be able to get the yarn to finish all of the following thumbs up!  Cheers, Suzanne  

 

Day 4 - Home Sweet Home

 

 
Have I mentioned that I'm super happy to be home?  I am.  It does have me wondering about some control issues I have.  In the safe and secure quarters of my home I can do and be anything and it's the first place that I want to be when my lifestyle seems threatened in the outside world.  But I don't see much fun or potential in being a thriving raw vegan recluse.  

Day #3 - I had a little bit of detox yesterday.  I moved from the office chair to the big comfy velvet chair and then eventually I had to move to the bed.  On my way to the bed I grabbed a banana.  I once heard from a detoxing Fruitarian that bananas slow down detox and sure enough I was back up and building castles with Cillian.  No time for severe detox when home with a 3 year old!  This Challenge has me wanting to live exclusively on Green Smoothies for as long as possible but I think that that has more to do with my control issues I mentioned before.  For me, there is something extremely comforting and safe about eating so simply.  All the nourishment and none of the guilt or decision making required of regular food preparation.  Does regular food prep really require guilt?  I think that that is just a me thing.  In any case, I'm overall good.  Taking it slow and steady which is a little unusual for me, but it is feeling really great.  Cheers, Suzanne. 

Day 3 - The Little Things

The other day I came home from grocery shopping and Cillian met me at the door to help unload the bags. Naked, of course, but that is besides the point.  He started pulling things out and in his sweetest, most adorable and enthusiastic voice he said,

"Oh mama, thank you for the pineapple!"

He continued that enthusiasm for a few other things that we pulled out.  So here's me, working on the same kind of graciousness and excitement about the little things as I can't get that sweet little voice out of my head...

As for Green Smoothie Challenge Day #2 - All is well.  But now that Jeff has returned to work (sigh) I might get some more computer time and get some photos back up on this blog as it's kind of feeling naked, but that is besides the point.  Much love, Suzanne

Day 1 - Green Smoothie Challenge Begins

I stocked up yesterday with greens (dino kale, spinach, collard & romaine) as well as fruit (2 kinds of pears, apples, bananas, oranges, limes) and some coconuts and I couldn't be happier to be starting onto this Challenge.

41 incredible people are joining me this week.  I'm so amazed, this number is larger than the last Challenge.

Of course, sure, ya, I'd love to drop some weight on this Challenge.  For those of you that don't know, I'll be doing just Green Smoothies and fruit again, like last Challenge so there is no doubt that I will.  But truly, I'm hoping to get a lot more out of this Challenge then just dropping a few pounds.  

I want this experience to be fun.  Genuinely fun.  I also want this to be a loving experience for myself. No pressure to achieve.  No 'punishment' for all the junk that I ate over the holidays.  A genuine love for myself and gratitude for the nourishing food I'll be feeding myself.  

My hopes for this Challenge are very much the general hopes that I have for this year.  For some reason this year feels different.  I'm not trying to cross off as much as I can from my list.  I'm not even making or adding to my ongoing list.  I'm really looking to make my experience of everything more quality.  If I'm not enjoying myself, maybe I shouldn't be doing it or maybe I'm not ready for what I'm trying to achieve. 

More than anything, I just want to be completely content with wherever I'm at, whenever I'm there. Loving what is.  I think that's the toughest New Years Resolution that I've ever made.  

Well my Friends.  Good luck to those on the Challenge.  Good luck to all and our new beginning.  It might seem flaky, I truly believe we can start anew as many times as we need in fact so don't worry if all that we try this year takes a few false starts.  It's all part and parcel.  Cheers.  Suzanne