If There Was One Thing You Could Change, That Would In Turn Change Everything, Would You?

Two months ago I decided to try something new in the morning. On one of the blogs I follow, Oh She Glows, Angela talks a lot about the Green Monster. In fact, there is a whole movement associated with it. Angela said it would improve your hair, your skin, your energy level. To put it mildly, I was skeptical.

So why did I try it? Honestly, I was desperate. I am 38 years old, and I still have break outs all the time. Since we have moved cross country, I have had major hair issues. It is thinner than it has ever been (and my hair is baby fine), and I have had a massive amount of breakage. Consequentially I have a much shorter haircut than I like. And then there are those 10 pounds. 1 year and 10 pounds. That is a big difference on a 5'2 frame. Oh and a good majority of those pounds landed around my middle, which is not an area I have ever had trouble with before now. Basically ...

I was a hot mess.

So here I am two months later, and what are the results? My skin is clear. I swear it's true. I don't remember the last time I had a zit, or a blackhead for that matter. The hair is growing. I haven't noticed any dramatic thickening, but I definitely have less breakage. I think the hair will be a more measurable difference over time. As for the weight, there has been no difference, but I haven't changed my eating or exercise habits either. Until this week that is. This week I am trying to get my act together... again. What I have noticed is a thinning through the waist. Maybe that is due to the cutting down on refined sugar. Prior to the Green Monster I had two hot teas a day and about 1.5 teaspoons of sugar in each one. Since I have started the Green Monster, I have dramatically cut down on my tea consumption. I never have a tea to get going in the morning, and I only occasionally have one at any other point in the day. Usually if it is raining...

What is shocking is the unexpected changes. Let me start with an apology to all the men reading right now, but it has to be noted. My period has shortened in duration, my flow is lighter, and I have almost no clotting.This is a big difference from the girl that had to have a DNC because of fibroid cysts. The girl who couldn't leave the house on Day 2 each month. Additionally, my energy has doubled. A shake in the morning and I am awake and energized for the day. I have been able to substitute it for my morning tea, and my breakfast. One shake and I am good until lunch. Plus it is two servings of fruit and veggies prior to 9am. When does that ever happen?!

So here is the question again. If there was one thing you could change, that would in turn change everything else, would you do it?

The Green Monster - As created by Angela Liddon at Oh She Glows
1 tbsp Flax Meal
2 cups baby spinach
1 whole banana
8oz milk (I use skim, but you could use Almond, Soy, Lowfat)
5 or 6 ice cubes

In your blender layer, flax meal, spinach, and banana. Pour milk over top. Blend until smooth. Add ice cubes and blend again. Enjoy!

Note:

Tim has made this switch as well, and he has had the same skin and energy benefits that I have. The hair and the period, not so much..

What's On My Plate

Lately we've been going to the grocery store A LOT. And when I say A LOT, what I mean is every freakin' day. This is crazy for so many reasons. 

1. It is a waste of my time and Tim's time.

2. It is almost impossible to maintain a food budget when you shop that often. We definitely fall into the habit of impulse buying when we are there without a list. (side note: do not fall for the exceptionally well done Oreo Fudge Creams commercial. "Shut the front door" they are not that good.)

3. If we are grocery shopping everyday, we are not menu planning. If we are not menu planning, we are not eating as well as we should.

Today I am trying to get back on track. I menu planned this afternoon... well sort of. I decided I was not going to the grocery store everyday. Therefore I menu planned as I was driving to the grocery store. It is not the best menu I have ever written, but I did manage to buy all of the ingredients for the dishes I picked, and I remembered lunch food and breakfast food. 

Here's to getting back on track!

The first item on the list was the Farmer's Market Pasta made with the bounty from Saturday's Farmer's Market adventure. It looks much more beautiful than it was delicious. The Agretti was good, but will probably not make a reappearance on our table. The texture didn't soften enough. It had a grassy mouth feel, and I am not a cow. The baby artichokes were a huge disappointment. We have both had baby artichokes before and loved them. The beauty of a baby artichoke is that you can eat the whole thing. You don't need to peel them. You eat the leaves, the heart, the entire delicious goodness. The guy at the stand assured Tim that was the case with the ones he bought. They were beautiful and purple. They were also woody and tough. A basket of them was $3. Two extra large artichokes were $5. Lesson learned the hard way. What was scrumptious was the white wine lemon sauce that Tim created. It was so good we had to toast off some rolls to sop up every last drop!

So enjoy the lovely picture, but realize that not everything is as good as it looks.

What was shockingly good was the Cherimoya. The guy at the stand said it was a tropical fruit and the flavor was a cross between a pineapple and a banana. You cut it in half, scoop out the seeds, and eat it with a spoon.

 What we got was more mango, banana, vanilla custard than pineapple/banana. It was divine. The seeds are throughout, so you have to work at it the same way that you worked on a watermelon when you were a kid. But the fruit is so gentle that it feels like you are having dessert. You could not eat one of these everyday. It is way too rich. But you should experience it. Cherimoyas should be served ice cold.

A perfect fruit for the deck on a gorgeous summer afternoon.

Farmer's Market Love

If this were a love poem it would be written by Browning. A love song? Marvin Gaye. A painting? Hanks.
But this?
This is a Farmer's Market.
This.
This is the blending of sights, and smells and flavors.
This.
This is a gift.

This is The Little Italy Farmer's Market. I have traveled all over the city sampling the area Farmer's Markets, and none can hold a candle to this one. This is the type of Farmer's Market that you plan your day around. The one your child begs to attend. The one that feels like you've been on a date and not just food shopping.

And to prove it, I took a lot of pictures.

At the beginning of the market is the big, orange, coffee truck. It is not to be missed. The coffee is delicious.

And it is made with love. Really. I am a fan of Starbucks, but they cannot hold a candle to this.

 The produce is spectacular. Yes, I live in Southern California, but the selection at this market is beyond compare.

Gorgeous stripey beets...

 Blood Oranges by the bag...

 Cherimoyas. Wait, what exactly is a Cherimoya. Well, the man selling them said they were a tropical fruit. In flavor they resemble a banana crossed with a pineapple, but you eat them with a spoon. We bought 2.

 Oh, and flowers. Starting with my favorites! Nothing says happy, quite the way a Sunflower does.

 But there are flowers you've never seen before too. Like this one. The Pencia.

 And this one, which I think came from Alice in Wonderland, simply labeled, "Smell Me.". Who wouldn't succomb to such a basic plea.

There are musicians playing accordians, which will shockingly have you clapping along.

And it is dog friendly. In fact, there might be as many dogs as people. 

 You would be a vision strolling through the market with this basket over your arm, full of the day's produce.

And speaking of produce let's get back to it.

Agretti. What is it? Well I've been told it is a staple of Mediterranean cuisine. It is a green, not an herb, often served in pasta and delicious with lemon. Yes, we bought a bunch.

 Oh! Le Creperie. Even if you aren't in the mood for crepes, stop and watch him work. He is an artisan. One man, two skillets, and a line down the block. Worth the wait.

 Why yes, Karen Ray did get Nutella.

This is a sneaky picture of my favorite cheese place, Spring Hill. You've heard me talk about them before, here and here. I bought some today too. We will be serving it with Ranier Cherries tomorrow.

 mmmmmmmm. It's getting to be peach season. Fire up the grill.

 And more music.This time it's Spanish.

 The market is on Saturday, and if you live within driving distance it is not to be missed. We were there 2 hours, and could have spent the whole day!

And if all of that isn't enough to tempt you into visiting...
This.
This is the days haul.