jus' some things

I feel like sharing.  

Was really a fan of this blog post on journaling.  Probably because it was super close to home and what I do anyway-- but it was also inspiring and makes me want to push further into my creativity.  I need to put a little bit more thought into my journaling.  The glued-in pictures!  Brilliant.

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Love this cookie recipe.  I've used it for over a year now and it's been my fail-safe cookie recipe.  Especially good when chocolate chips are substituted for macadamia nuts and white chocolate (or just added to the chocolate chips if you're really in need of a chocolate kick.)  Mmm.

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So grateful for my families mass email that fed the idea of spinach smoothies (thanks Sarah!)  They've changed my life.  Perfect way to take pure greens without smothering it with something not so good.   They taste amazing.  Wonderful breakfast that makes you feel like a million bucks afterward.  Spinach smoothies have become a regular breakfast item at our house.  They're the best.  'Specially because I just use what I have so there's always variation.  Plus, now I know what to do with our browning bananas.  Ian and I eat our bananas green.  We can't stand 'em any other way if we're eating just the banana.  So as soon as they're brown and spotty (which happens fast)-- I freeze 'em and hope to make them into bread sometime.  Yah-- except that banana bread is not the greatest for you.  Except for its being deliciousness.  But now that these bananas are a perfect smoothie ingredient-- I don't have to fret about our frozen bananas that should probably not be made into bread.

Here's the recipe from my wonderful cousin Sarah: (which was inspired by this video apparently)

It goes like this (a shake that feeds the whole family)

couple handfuls of frozen fruit (my fav right now is frozen mango)

1 banana

small spoonful of orange juice concentrate

fill the rest of the blender with fresh baby spinach leaves (our costco has a huge bag for $3.99 that we go through quite easily)

Next, we add whatever else we feel like: ground flax, grapes, carrot...whatever we have around...sometimes a vitamin/protein powder
Enough water to blend

And it's so yummy! If you add the spinach to the very top, you will most likely taste it. but even just 2 big handfuls is good, and you won't taste it at all 

The greatest thing about this is that it's perfectly sweet without adding anything extra.  And most of the time I just use spinach with a little orange juice and add a frozen berry mix with a banana.  It's usually 100% awesome.  One time I did spinach, orange juice, fresh mango and pineapple.  Also awesome.

My exchange with Ian after I had forced him to try it even though it sounded weird and looked strange:

S: "See, I told you you couldn't taste the spinach!"

I: "Well even if I could taste it-- it's really good."

It's my new favorite thing.  I suggest you try it.

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My latest sewing fun:

There really isn't much I can take credit for-- but I still like it.  I took a darling dish towel that was already beautifully hemmed and square and added an own old reject green pillowcase fabric on the back and stuffed it.  I was needing a new pillow on the couch and this probably cost me all of about $3.50.  Fun fun.

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My cousin Hannah is super talented and posted about the amazing party she threw herself here.  Her birthday party's theme was French vintage with pink and aqua.  It was so beautifully done and looks so charming!  I feel like throwing a party now even though I don't really have a reason to, nor do I have the talent to throw something that nice together.  Maybe if I plan months and months in advance.  Hey, there ya go.  We'll see. ....Maybe.

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This post  about her blind date by my kid sister  who has just recently started a blog.  Sophie?  "You are... my biggest fan."  You make me smile so big and laugh so much.  So happy you have begun to blog so that I may follow your splendid thoughts.  Please don't stop now that you've started.

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anyway, that's all.  sharing is fun.

okaybye.