Three Thing Thursday

I realize I could hold off on these for the Try It Tuesday posts, but I just gotta share three things in the food-ish category that are making me smile these days...

1. I'm late to the game once again, but after seeing a recipe for a "green monster," a healthy smoothie credited to Angela of Oh, She Glows, on Skinny Taste, my new favorite place to find ideas and recipes, I figured I should try one as a way to beat my afternoon munchies. The idea was that if I had a healthy snack planned, I could avoid all the junk I have been eating here lately. So, yesterday after school, I planned to make me one of these green monsters, but by the time I got home I really didn't want to mess with making it. However, my daughter, without her knowing I had planned it, asked for a smoothie for a snack. I made her a banana/blueberry one with almond milk, and I made Ryan one with regular milk, bananas and chocolate. Then, I gave the Green Monster a try. I have to say, I was a little leery. But I threw in a half of a frozen banana (the other half of the one I used in yesterday's overnight oats that I stuck in the freezer with this in mind), about a half cup of blueberries, a half tablespoon of chia seeds, a big handful of fresh spinach, a squeeze of honey, a cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, and a couple of ice cubes in my Magic Bullet and blended away. It turned out a dark purple, almost black, color...and it was delicious! You couldn't even taste the spinach. I'm convinced.

2. Yesterday I mentioned that I had another idea for overnight oats, and I tried it this morning. I made Vanilla Spiced Chai Overnight Oats with apple. Last night I put a half cup of rolled oats, a quarter cup of chai mix (the liquid stuff), a quarter cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, a half tablespoon of chia seeds and a half of an apple chopped up into the fridge. This morning, I had to add a little water to thin it out a little, but after a minute in the microwave, breakfast was quick, easy, delicious and filling.

3. And then there's this...

Iced coffee without any work on my part. Once summer rolls around and I have a little extra time, I'll make Pioneer Woman's Iced Coffee because it's cheap and sooooo good (especially if you add a little sweetened condensed milk to it...and yes, I know that it isn't healthy). But right now, when things are this hectic, it's nice to know this is waiting for me in the fridge. I have the vanilla flavor and add a little milk because it's pretty sweet. It's a treat, I know, but it puts a smile on my face.

Three Thing Thursday

1. Sports are in season at our house! SB is playing soccer this season, and Ryan is playing t-ball (and Daddy is umpiring baseball). It makes for busy weeks with practices and games, but it's fun watching the kids learn and improve. We've had a lot of rain here lately, so practices are being shuffled like crazy.

2. We tried the new Kraft Fresh Takes kits (in bacon and monterery jack flavor) tonight. It was really yummy! The kids even ate the chicken, and that's saying something :) I think I'll give the other flavors a try as well as try other recipes using the kits (like meatballs or roasted potatoes).

3. Tomorrow is Friday. Oh, wait...that's the case every Thursday. Still, I'm glad the weekend is almost here. It's going to be another busy one, but I'm hoping to find a few minutes of me time...a long run, some scrapbooking time, painting my toenails...anything will work :)

Three Thing Thursday

1. I'm having a whole new world of issues. Monday night, I had severe abdominal pain that lasted for more than 5 hours. Yes, I realize a normal person would have gone to the ER. I never claimed to be normal. I had soccer practice, t-ball practice and a team mom meeting where another mom was depending on me for a ride. I didn't have time for the ER. And about the time I was ready to give up and go, it stopped. Long story short, I still don't feel great and I'm having heartburn when I run pretty much all the time (which is no fun at all). It's looking like my gallbladder is the issue, and I'll have a sonogram on Tuesday to check it out.

2. We're gearing up for a JFO this weekend...that's a Johnson Family Outing, fyi. We're heading to Wichita, KS for a long weekend. It's the first weekend of spring break, and I'm looking forward to the time away. Traveling with the kids always makes me nervous because we have one that gets carsick pretty frequently. She handles it well, but I spend the whole trip anticipating it.

3. Tomorrow is our 10th wedding anniversary! It seems so long ago and yet, just like yesterday. He is the love of my life and is a wonderful husband. I'm so glad to be on this journey of life with him. Heart smile :)

Three Thing Thursday

1. Busy, busy, busy day...week, whatever. We've got soccer practice for one kid and a program for my nephew to get to this evening. I'm thinking it sounds like a McDonald's kind of night :)

2. I'm trying out an online calendar program called Cozi. I haven't quite figured out what to do with it...I've entered all our spring time craziness, but unless I log in, I don't see it again. It is cool because it's color-coded for our family, and I love that! I don't know if I can merge it with my phone calendar. That would be awesome. I'm just not that techish.

3. And since I'm thinking of calendars and planning and general busyness, I need to work out some sort of training plan. I don't have anything but virtual races on the agenda, so there's not really any goal out there. I have a vague idea of what I'd like to keep up as far as mileage goes, but that's it. Any ideas? I'm limited on races in the spring because of the kids' soccer and tball schedules. Summer in Texas is crazy hot and races are limited. Fall seems like a long way off to plan a race and training plan around.

Three Thing Thursday

1. I decided kind of last minute to give up Facebook for Lent. This isn't really a part of our church's practices, but for the past couple of years, my hubby and I have given up something. I realized I spend way too much time doing absolutely nothing on Facebook. I have nothing against it and really do enjoy keeping up with friends on there, but feeling like I need to check it when I wake up, get to school, leave school, etc. wasn't good. It's a lot harder than I thought it would be, actually. It's such a habit to click on that app on my phone.

2. I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed right now. It's not that there's anything big looming over my head. It's just all the little things that feel like the tiny snowflakes that make up an avalanche. I have always been a very type A person, and I've somehow morphed into a very type B personality. I was always stressed like that, but this isn't any better. I need routine, crave it, really. I've got routine as far as each day, running, etc., but it's the other junk...the cleaning, meal planning, grocery shopping, work projects...that I need to fit into my schedule. And strength training. I have got to fit that it in.

3. On a different note, we're planning a Mother's Day run for our family. The details are still in the works, but it should be a lot of fun. All of us, including the little ones in strollers, running or walking together, followed by brunch.

Three Thing Thursday

Three Virtual Runs coming up

1. February's Challenge in Moms Run This Town 2012 Challenge for A Change. Each month this group is hosting a new challenge, complete with prizes. Last month's was a series of challenges...this month is a virtual run instead.

2. The month of March: Prematurity Sucks Virtual 5K, a fundraiser for March of Dimes. Two moms of premature little ones are raising money to support March of Dimes.

3. March 1-15: Let's Move it Momma's Spring Fever 5K or 10K. Marissa is ready for spring and is hosting a virtual run with prizes

***And don't forget the virtual run in memory of Sherry Arnold on February 11. I posted about it here yesterday.