Sneaky Smoothies

I love smoothies in the summer and eat them practically daily. I also love making them for my kids. I love how I can disguise so many things into a smoothie and they have no idea the variety of fruits, yogurt, dry milk and even flax seeds they are consuming.

Here is the "Green Monster" courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats.

I changed up the recipe a bit so it was ingredients we had on hand.

• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup skim milk
  
• 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
• 1 Tablespoon almond butter
• 1Tablespoon flax seeds
• 2 big handfuls baby spinach
• 6-10 ice cubes

Put all ingredients in the blender until smooth.

Hee hee...I can sometimes be a wise mom and made this smoothie while the kids were downstairs playing. I knew if they saw some of the ingredients (ahem...spinach) they would be awfully hesitant.

Instead, I created it and called them upstairs for a Harry Potter treat. I then insisted they come up with a name for it. They christianed it "The Green Gorp". Hey...whatever it takes to get them to drink it, right?!

Top 20 Foods to Never Feed Your Kids

You know you are curious. I know you want to know (but you don't!). Relax all of these items are prepared by someone else and you would pretty much have to intentionally order them at a restaurant or single handily put them in your shopping cart. We do have somewhat control!

Take a peek here! By the way...do you know how awesome captain crunch is with chocolate milk?! mmmmmmmm! Don't tell my kids. ;-)

Harry Potter Obsession X 3

Its not just Lucy and Megan. Lately, I have had 3 year old Max running around with his magic wand proclaiming, "Expelliarmus" and "EXPECTO PATRONUM."

I love that they have a fascination with something and this has lasted well over a year. We started reading the books as a family at bedtime last summer. Let me tell you, nothing cures the, "but its not dark yet" summer syndrome like Dave or I beginning to read. We have completed 5/7 books and watch the corresponding movie together after finishing each book.

This fascination has carried over into all their play, listening to the books on CD in the car and re-reading the books on their own in their freetime. Now they are planning a trip to the new Harry Potter theme park in Orlando and have it completely thought out from what they are going to do and try. They are even trying to raise money for their own broomsticks, robes and wands.

By the way, in case you are wondering, Expecto Patronum means awaiting protection and Expelliarmus is the disarming spell. Not sure if Max knows that, but we are all constantly being told expelliarmus here...

10 Tips for Being Happier

"Act how you want to feel" or at least "Fake it till you feel it."

Those quotes has stood out in my mind since reading, The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin. It makes perfect sense. Its easy to remember and its definitely doable. There is no need to over analyze, second guess, or dwell upon things.

This book started off without hype and fanfare, but word of mouth is powerful and it has now been a New York Times bestseller for months and is featured all over the place. The author, Gretchen, follows me on twitter so I feel like we can be on a first name basis with one another, also has a blog. You can read more of her tips for being happier here.

Time to Vote!

Internet Solver is up for re-election for the Business Record Best of 2010. Please vote here for Internet Solver in the categories of:

Best computer consulting company
Best local internet service provider
Best telecommunication equipment dealer

you can also vote here for all your favorite restaurants and stores. Its fun to vote and make your voice heard!

and...if you feel like tossing in another name, vote for Dave Weis in the business leaders under 40 category. He won't promote that himself, but has done amazing things with technology in Des Moines and with Internet Solver. He has always had an eye for what the future holds with technology. Check out the proof here!

Its so important to support local businesses! We love to beat out the big greedy boys at Qwest and pride ourselves on often beating their price and their service. Supporting Local businesses is part of what keeps Des Moines strong. You have until July 2nd! Thanks for your support!

You can read about the winnings last year here.

Why we eat when we are not hungry!

I am probably one of the biggest grazers you know. I adore food and often plan out my meals and snacks just so I can anticipate them. Food isn't just social for me as I often make some of my "naughtiest" snacks in the afternoon when Max is napping and the girls are playing or at school. That snack rotates, but currently I have been hooked on peanut butter, vanilla frozen yogurt with sugar free chocolate sauce on top. Yum!

I have been inspired by people that keep food journals and write down exactly what they eat. I'd love to do that, but don't feel the need to obsesses over it. Basically I work out so I can eat without worry. Life is short; there are too many goodies out there to try.

What I do want to work on is not just eating because its there and the constant grazing thoughout the day. I found these fun reasons on why we eat when we aren't hungry. How many hold true for you?

A Wet Welcome

Welcome home, Daddy!

no...those aren't Easter Eggs!

Its time to Celebrate Summer! For the first time in forever, we didn't have to be somewhere or doing something. We had absolutely nothing planned for this humid June evening. This absolutely called for a water balloon fight. Max is obsessed with water balloons anyway and the girls were all about helping me fill them. Three buckets later, we ready and primed at the side of the house for the Internet Solver vehicle.

Daddy was very unsuspecting, but didn't take him long to mastermind his way into the game as he somehow confiscated a water gun, then went for the hose and managed to get to our water balloon stash. Hmmmm...somehow the kids and I ended up wetter then he did.