My Little Artsy Scientist

     I'm hanging out here on my blog instead of Facebook because my fellow Nursing students may vote me off the island if I mention wanting to go back to school again.  I'm currently wrapping up week 2 of my 3-week break from school, and I'm getting a little stir crazy.  I think it's because J is deployed.  If he were home, I'd be busier, and so time would fly by, and I'd be whining for more break, not more school.  As it is, I've been trying to keep busy by scrubbing down my house, purging my closets, and doing a few fun crafts with Monkey.

     Yesterday while cleaning out one of my closets, I came across a painting from the first paint party I ever attended.  It's a rather vibrant flamingo that I never really had a place for, see:

So I decided to paint over it and make it into something fun for just us girls to do.  

     I painted the entire canvas in a few coats of white paint before letting it dry.  Then I used some tape that wouldn't peel the paint to spell out the word "Love".  (Original, right?)

   
     I then dropped small amounts of brightly colored paints all around the canvas, and I instructed Monkey to help me spread them around.  The rules were you could mix one or two, but no yuck brown color, and no leaving any white spots.  I started at the top, and she started at the bottom, and we met in the middle.

     Once the entire canvas was covered in paint, we called it a day, and let it dry while we went out for Mexican food with a couple of friends.  When we came back, the paint was all dry, so I began to remove the tape.

     And voila!  Our own little work of art:

     I love that my child can go from an artist to a scientist like a sports car can go from 0 to 60.  Her variety of interests make it easy for me to come up with something to entertain her.  Lately she's been interested in the Magic School Bus.  She has the Inside the Human Body book, and it's her latest favorite.  She's also been begging me to let her watch the shows, which I was happy to oblige her once I discovered them all on Youtube.  Yesterday when she got home from daycare, I had a surprise waiting for her.  We put together our own map of the human body.  

     I went to Office Depot and found a roll of white poster board paper in the teacher's section.  I laid that out on the floor and had Monkey lay down on top of it so I could trace her.   We then taped the outline to the door in the kitchen and Monkey colored a few different organs.  We mainly focused on the digestive tract, because that's what the Magic School Bus: For Lunch episode focuses on, but the Magic School Bus Inside the Human Body book goes into the heart, lungs, and brain as well, so we added those in for good measure.  (For printables, just click on each organ listed: stomach, intestines, brain,  heart and lungs)  Some of the printables were too big to fit in her little body, so I just freehanded them.  As she colored each organ we talked about what their functions are. 

Drawing the cereal she had for breakfast.

   After assembling the entire body, we went to Youtube to watch The Magic School Bus: For Lunch one more time.  I also like the idea that we can come back to this project and add other systems later, like the skeletal system, the muscles, the nervous system, and more!  Plus, it's a good review for me  :-)

Things I've Learned from my Cat

     My cat has quite the personality.  He's my bratty diva, and he knows it.  I know not everyone is a cat person, but they should be.  After all, there's lots to be learned from cats.  I've compiled of list of life lessons my own little fur ball has taught me.

1.  If someone dangles something in front of your face, walk away.  That's right, you're too good for that "carrot before the horse" mentality.  Walk away with your head up, and once you've put some space between yourself and that arrogant asshole dangling the thing, turn around and attack their hand with all your strength.  That'll teach 'em.


2.  Don't let anything stand in your way. No, really.  If something is standing in your way, maul that sucker until it's an unrecognizable heap of shame…then play with it.


3.  If you want something, go for it.  I suggest by taking a running leap.


4.  If someone has the audacity to try to cage you, put up the world's biggest fight.  You're too full of life and potential to be held back by four walls.


5.  Let your feelings show.  That's right: happy, sad, manic, it's all good.  If you get urge to sing the song of your people at 3 am, go for it, and the neighbors be damned!


6.  You're not fat.  You have extra protection from disembowelment.  (Seriously, it's a thing.)


7.  If you claim something, that makes it yours.  Just make sure you hide it really well to make sure it remains yours.


8.  Take naps.  How else will you be able to party all night long?  Concerned about the neighbors?  See #5.


9.  If someone's not giving you the attention you deserve, demand it!  That's right, go full-diva.  Strut your stuff right in their face, and if that fails, lay down on their laptop.  That'll teach 'em!


10.  It's good to have a dog for a best friend.  Who else would you pin your bad gas on if not for the lovable mutt laying next to you?


     And since you sat through my randomness, regardless of your affiliation with cats, you deserve a banana split.  For breakfast.

Breakfast Banana Split (Greek Yogurt version)

Inspired by Pinterest

1 banana, split lengthwise

1/2 cup Greek yogurt

1 TBS honey, plus extra for drizzling  

Fruit of choice, diced (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, pineapples, etc)

1/4 cup old-fashioned oats

Mix yogurt and honey together.  In a separate bowl prop up two halves of the banana; dollop the yogurt mixture between them.  Top with fruit and oats.  Drizzle with extra honey as desired.  Enjoy!

Calories: 351
Fat:  1.5 grams
Carbs: 76.1 grams
Protein: 15 grams

Vitamin A: 2%
Vitamin C: 39%
Calcium: 18.9%
Iron: 7%

*These numbers are based off of the types of fruit I used, so if you decide to go with a different combination of toppings, your numbers will be a bit different.

Breakfast Banana Split (Cottage Cheese version)

1 banana, split lengthwise
1/2 cup cottage cheese
Fruit of choice, diced

Prop up two halves of banana in a bowl.  Dollop cottage cheese between the halves, and top with fruit(s) of choice.  Enjoy!

Calories: 229
Fat:  2.6 grams
Carbs: 42.3 grams
Protein: 11.3 grams

Vitamin A: 8.4%
Vitamin C: 44.9%
Calcium: 15.2%
Iron: 2.6%

*Same disclaimer as above.

Smooth Operator

     I've been on break from school for almost a week now, so you'd think I would have posted a new blog by now, but what can I say?  I've been busy catching up on all that nothing I wasn't doing while I was in school ;-)  I did get a few thing accomplished this week but nothing too noteworthy.  The biggest event was when my little Monkey "graduated" from her daycare on Friday!  She'll be starting Kindergarten this fall, and I'm not sure I'm ready for that.  She sure looked cute in her cap and gown, though.

   
        Here's hoping the transition from daycare to "big kid school" is a smooth one.  Speaking of "smooth", I have been on a huge smoothie kick lately, and of course I want to share a few of my favorites.

How's that for a smooth transition?  I guess I'm just a "smooth" operator.  ;-) 

     Last time I shared the Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie.  When a friend of mine saw it, she shared that she loves to put something green in hers, and that's when I decided to give this guy a try:

Green Smoothie

From Alida's Kitchen

1/2 Avocado

1 cup spinach

1/2 cup pineapple chunks

1 banana, frozen and sliced

1/4 cup pineapple juice (I simply used the juice from when I sliced up the pineapple)

Mix all the ingredients together in a blender, and enjoy!

Calories:  322

Carbs:      55.9 grams

Fat:          12.2 grams

Protein:    3.3 grams

Sodium:    29.5 mg

Sugar:      34.1 grams

     I was a little weirded out by the idea of a liquified avocado, but it was really creamy and good.  However, I figured that was enough green to last me a while, not to mention my spinach crop shriveled up, and I ran out of avocados.  So for the next smoothie I nixed the green to make this:

 Tropical Blackberry Smoothie
1 cup pineapple chunks, frozen
1 cup blackberries, frozen
2 small tangerines (I stole a couple of my daughter's Halo's)
1/4 cup walnuts
2 tsp sugar

Mix everything in the blender, and enjoy :-)

Calories:  446 

Carbs:      65.4 grams

Fat:          20.9 grams

Protein:    8.8 grams

Sodium:    3 mg

Sugar:      43.4 grams

     This one has been my favorite so far.  I've made it several times, which is no problem this time of year when blackberries can be found in abundance around the base.  Monkey and I pick at least 2 cups every time we go for a run or a bike ride together.

     Now this next smoothie requires a little explaining.  What had happened was, I was craving a milkshake, but we had no ice cream in the house (mainly because J is deployed).  No biggie.  I simply turned to Google to find a makeshift recipe, and I found this:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Milkshake
from Yummly

1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup chocolate syrup
1/4 cup milk
12 ice cubes

Mix everything in a blender, and serve.  This actually makes 4 servings instead of 1.

Calories:  442

Carbs:      30 grams  

Fat:           33 grams

Protein:    15 grams

Sodium:    300 mg

Sugar:       15 grams

      My only caution with this recipe is that you should start off with 1/2 cup of peanut butter and work your way up.  I did the full one cup, and it was way too much, even though I love peanut butter.

     Since that didn't really satisfy my chocolate craving, I tried again today to get my fix with this next recipe.  Oh, and I added something green :-)

Chocolate Avocado Smoothie

1/2 avocado

1 1/2 banana, frozen and sliced

1/4 cup walnuts

2 TBS unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Hershey's)

1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt (I used Chobani's)

2 tsp sugar *optional*  (I have a big sweet tooth)

1/4 cup milk

Blend and serve.  Serves 2.

Calories:  311

Carbs:      38.3 grams

Fat:          17.9 grams

Protein:    7.9 grams

Sodium:   25.6 mg 

Sugar:      21.4 grams

     That got the chocolate monkey off my back for a while (I hope anyway).  The next smoothie doesn't have a picture, but it was another top ranking one.  The only thing stopping me from making it again is the lack of grapes.  Monkey ate them all :-(

Grape Smoothie with Oats

I'm sorry to the original poster, I found your recipe on my phone, and now I can't find the link!

1/2 cup black seedless grapes

1/2 cup-1 cup oats (1 cup was a bit much in my opinion)

1 cup plain Greek yogurt (Again, I used Chobani)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 banana, frozen and sliced

1 TBS honey

Blend and enjoy.  Makes 1 serving :-)

Calories:  601 

Carbs:      122.1 grams

Fat:          6 grams

Protein:    22 grams

Sodium:   63.7 mg

Sugar:      53.6 grams

       So there you have it.  An arsenal of quick, but yummy smoothies for breakfast or snack time.  I will probably be posting more soon considering I now have a freezer packed with pineapples, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries.  I love spring time!

Spring-time Recipes

     I love this time of year!  The weather is beautiful.  The birds can be heard chirping away outside my window.  The blackberries are beginning to ripen.  Everything just screams, "Spring!"  I come alive during this time of year.  One of my favorite things to do it take Monkey for a run and then walk home, picking blackberries along the way.  Pretty soon, my favorite you-pick farm will be opening, which means even more fresh produce.  There's just no down-side to this time of year.  Well, except snakes, but we're not going there this time.

     With the abundance of fresh fruits and veggies at the store and in my own garden, it's so much easier to eat healthily this time of year.  Which is helpful, considering it's about time to drag out that bathing suit again.  In honor of bathing suit season I'm going to share a couple of healthy, yet simple meals.  The first one, Grilled Chicken with Strawberry and Pineapple Salsa, comes form the American Heart Association, and it was different, but in a good way.  You'll have to click the link to get the recipe.  It's copyrighted, and I'm not that big of a rebel (You hear that, Mom?).

     In addition to attempting to eat healthier, I've also been pressed for time in the mornings.  Thankfully I don't have to sacrifice nutrition (or taste) for simplicity or speediness.  Lately I've been throwing a few things in the blender, and drinking my breakfast.  This time of year is perfect for smoothies, thanks to all the fresh produce that's available.  Here's one of my latest concoctions:

Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie
Makes 2 servings

1 banana sliced
1/2 cup chopped pineapple
1/2 cup diced strawberries
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 TBS honey

Put all ingredients into a blender, and blend on high until nice and smooth!  Enjoy :-)

     Now I'm off to study for my final exams, one more week, and then I'll have a three week break!  I'm not going to know what to do with myself!!!