Post Workout Frappe - Raspberry Kefir Matcha Green Tea Frappe courtesy of MoCafe

Typically after I work out (see ClubFYM -- also Holly Rigsby's blog Get Fit and Yummy), I make a smoothie to replenish my protein needs and energy needs.  My base recipe is homemade kefir, whey protein powder by Naturade, frozen fruit (such as strawberries or raspberries) and a little bit of coconut oil.  

Today, I have the opportunity to use Mocafe Matcha Green Tea Frappe in my post-workout smoothie.  Last week I entered the Mocafe Matcha Green Tea Lovers Contest at 5 Minutes for Mom and received a package in the mail with the Mocafe Matcha Green Tea Frappe to try.  Now I am making a yummy frappe for the chance to win a Blendtec Blender and Twister Jar.

Prize: Blendtec Designer Series + Twister Jar– Total Retail value $618.00

With the temperatures here being in the high nineties with high humidity, I am choosing to prepare a cold smoothie.  I am loosely following the suggested preparation from Mocafe and combining that with my basic smoothie recipe.  Therefore, I will have the benefits of Matcha Green Tea combined with the benefits of kefir and coconut oil.  YUMMY!! 

Here are the ingredients and supplies that I am using today.  

• 3/4 cup milk kefir (6 oz.)
• 6.5 Tbsp. Mocafe Matcha Green Tea Frappe Powder
• 1 Tbsp. Nutiva Coconut Oil
• 12 oz. frozen raspberries, reserve a few to garnish.
• Fresh whipped cream for garnish.
• Cinnamon to garnish.

First. I will strain the kefir so that I can use the grains to ferment another quart of milk for my next smoothie. The kefir grains resemble cottage cheese.

Placing 6 oz. of the kefir into my Bosch Blender, next add 6.5 Tbsp. of the Green Tea Frappe Powder.

Blend for a minute to mix thoroughly.  Lovely green color!

Add 1 Tablespoon of coconut oil and mix again.  You want the coconut oil to be thoroughly mixed into the frappe/kefir mixture before adding the frozen ingredients. (Oops!  I forgot to include the coconut oil in the ingredients photo, hence this photo.)

Next, I will add up 12 oz. of frozen raspberries.  Blend away.

 My smoothie has turned a lovely salmon pink.  (Note to self:  My Bosch blender has a more difficult time with the frozen addition, hopefully the Blendtec would be stronger).

Whip the cream with a stick blender.

Top with cream (from Picket Fence Creamery) and cinnamon and a raspberry.

Now to drink up and replenish my body after my workout.   By the way, I do not usually drink my post-workout smoothies from a fancy glass, but these glasses are pretty and go well with the presentation of this delicious smoothie.

I'm also giving a shout out to my local coffee shop:  The Good News Room.  This coffee shop has been open only for a few months, but I love the atmosphere and the yummy coffee and goodies.  Most of the tables and decorations are for sale.  There are so many great finds in the shop.  I have my eye on an orange egg basket.

I hope you enjoyed my recipe and maybe you will even try it yourself.  If you like my recipe, please click on the like button below my entry on this page.  I am entry # 11.

Have a blessed day!

Gratitude

24.  Blue skies with bright white clouds.
25.  2 year olds who are learning to talk and ask questions.
26.  Hard working sons.
27.  Fun loving sons.
28.  Dark chocolate cheesecake.
29.  Tall trees that offer much shade and relief from the heat.
30.  Lawn mowers and the boys that operate them, cutting our grass to acceptable lengths.

Cultivating a heart of gratitude to remind myself of the many blessings in my life as well as to squash the critical spirit that can so easily affect my outlook.

 

Gratitude

More things to be thankful for:

12. Three year old enjoying playing with dolls and making up a story as she goes along.
13. Six year old who cleaned the van.
14. Eight year old who mowed most of the front yard.
15. Window air conditioners.
16. Good books to read.
17. Grocery specials that are honored at competitor's stores.
18. Cold water
19. Mechanical pencils.
20. Encouragement from other moms in the trenches.
21. Prayer for loved ones.
22. Bills to pay.
23. This song: Blessing by Laura Story.

Gratitude List

There is so much to be thankful for that I often take for granted. This is just a little place for me to write down what I am thankful for and a place to refer to when I need to be reminded of gratitude.

1. My Savior, Jesus Christ
2. My family, immediate and extended
3. Sunshine on a cold day.
4. My sweetheart who I kiss before he leaves for work so that he will be extra safe!
5. Autumn in Iowa.

Photo from WeatherUnderground

6. Falling leaves that need to be raked (unless wind blows them to the next county).
7. Snow that reminds me that though my sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow (Isaiah 1:18)
8. Laughter of little baby girl (Abigail, this time).
9. Talkative 3-year old girl sharing her cookie.
10. Brothers building with Legos together.
11. Lovable mutt name Hallelujah.

A Thermometer or A Thermostat

This past weekend was the state homeschooling conference. It was an enjoyable couple of days to hear various speakers and to be reminded of a few things.

One question I need to ask myself: Am I a thermostat or a thermometer?

What is the difference? A thermometer reacts to the surrounding temperature. It tells you how hot or cold it is. This is very handy for determining how heavy of a coat to wear, etc.

A thermostat influences the surrounding temperature. It takes a "read" of the temperature and compares it to what is set for comfort. Then it will tell the heating or cooling appliance if it needs to turn on or off.

How does this relate to me as a wife and mother? I have the opportunity to react to those around me or to influence those around me. Do I escalate in frustration when the milk is spilled or do I humbly serve and help clean up? The atmosphere of our home should reflect the love of Christ and as the wife and mother of our family, I must ask myself if I reflect that love. Am I being reactionary or influencing?

Blessings,

Congratulations!

We have a few young ladies at church who are graduating and DD#1 wanted to make some cards. The first card has a coloring picture of a little pony which DD colored awhile back and now decided to make into a card. I sponged the edges with various shades of pink (including but not limited to Positively Pink and Pink Passion).

On the second card has hearts (from All Occasions? a retired SU stamp set) stamped all over in Positively Pink - front and back. Then the graduation had (from the same set) in Pink Passion. The sentiment area is from the Be Happy stamp set (also retired) in Pink Passion ink. I wrote the Congrats for DD.
The third card is one I made since DD was having so much fun. The ribbon was in my "stuff" and the paper is from a paper stack. I used the same graduation hat stamp as DD and mounted it on an oval and scalloped oval (using SU punches Oval and Scalloped Oval). Night of Navy ink for the hat.


The last card is an anniversary card with the same color combination as the above graduation card. I used the Heart stamp (Night of Navy Ink) from All Occasions and the flower stamp (Pink Passion Ink) from Be Happy (both retired SU). A button and Offray ribbon from my crafting stash.

Thanks for looking and please forgive my poor photos -- I'm still earning how to photograph cards.

Apologia Elementary Science

Apologia is now producing notebooking journals that accompany each of the elementary science books. Both Botany and Astronomy are now available.

Click on the graphic to see the Elementary Science Books by Jeanne Fulbright.

The journals correspond with the science curriculum and are beautiful spiral bound notebooks that will save you time and money. You won't have to print and keep up with your child's notebook pages, buy and maintain page protectors, or purchase and compile binders...everything that makes notebooking time-consuming and labor intensive for mom. Also, your child will adore having their own notebooking journal.

Each of the notebooking journals include:

• A daily schedule for those who like to have a plan or would like their children to complete the book on their own
• Templates for written narrations, the notebooking activities and experiments
• Review Questions
• Scripture Copywork, with both print and cursive practice
• Reading lists and additional activities, projects, experiments for each lesson
• An appendix with beautiful, full-color, lapbook-style Miniature Books
• Field Trip Sheets to keep a record field trips
• A Final Review with fifty questions the students can answer either orally or in writing to show off all they remember and know at the end of the course.

The sample pages for the Botany and Astronomy journaling notebooks are here (click on the words sample pages):

Botany

and

Astronomy

Jeannie is giving away four Astronomy Notebooking Journals and four Botany Notebooking Journals to bloggers who post about this on their site. Visit her blog to learn more about this contest: Click Here