Beet, Kale and Apple Smoothie

Traveling for work has its perks. The effect on your eating habits is not one of them.

I returned home from being out of town at a client all week feeling like a big slug and craving health food. For me, nothing gets me back on track quite like a smoothie. Over the last few months I have developed a serious devotion to smoothies, and decided I wanted to jump start my system with a new recipe.

Adapted from Gwynie (book link), I present the Beet, Kale and Apple Smoothie:

Made even better when consumed out of a Chicago Blackhawks glass

8oz beet juice (I bought a pint at Mariano's)
1 large apple, chopped
1 1inch piece of ginger
1/2 lemon, zest and pith removed
1/2 cup kale (Trader Joe's sells bags of frozen kale…it's a game changer)
A few ice cubes
1/2 cup+ water

Throw everything into a blender and whizz for about a minute. Stir in additional water if your end result is too thick. This makes two large glasses full; you can share or store the rest in the fridge for a day. Drink up and feel instantly healthier!

The only downside I can think of to beets is that they make your glasses/sink look like a crime scene. 

Book Club

The girls and I started a new tradition back in the fall-each month we get together at someone's house for dinner, drinks and discussion over a book. The host of the following month brings the next book selection. It's been a fantastic way to make sure we see each other on a regular basis, not to mention discovering new books!

This month we got together to discuss "Life After Life" by Kate Atkinson. I have repeatedly seen this book on "best of 2013" lists, and was quite eager to read. Here's what Amazon has to say:

"What if you could live again and again, until you got it right? 

On a cold and snowy night in 1910, Ursula Todd is born to an English banker and his wife. She dies before she can draw her first breath. On that same cold and snowy night, Ursula Todd is born, lets out a lusty wail, and embarks upon a life that will be, to say the least, unusual. For as she grows, she also dies, repeatedly, in a variety of ways, while the young century marches on towards its second cataclysmic world war. 

Does Ursula's apparently infinite number of lives give her the power to save the world from its inevitable destiny? And if she can -- will she?

Darkly comic, startlingly poignant, and utterly original -- this is Kate Atkinson at her absolute best."

-Amazon book summary, seen here.

A disclaimer: this is not an "easy" read in my opinion. It is a long novel and the premise of the story can lead to some annoying moments as a reader, especially in the first 20% or so of the book.

The best way I can sum up my review is that while the idea of this premise is interesting, the execution of the plot by Kate Atkinson left me frustrated. The book is well written but could have told the same story in probably half the number of pages. This book was not what I was expecting and honestly this would not be on my list of recommendations.

Despite my feelings on the book, of course a good time was had!

Another Week Ahead

I'm getting a tad bit cranky with winter, and we still have a ways to go. I'm sick of tights and boots, chapped skin, and being essentially bitch-slapped by mother nature every time I go outside.

Coupled with being in the throws of busy season at work, a girl could go crazy.

I've been trying to counter my frustrations with squeezing in workouts to relieve stress and treating myself to manicures as a reward for getting to the end of each rough week. But sometimes I just have to throw up my hands and remember this little zen antidote:

"Bad things happen to prevent worse things from happening."

And might I add, sometimes seemingly bad things happen to then reward us with good things.

Yesterday I went into the office to work and understandably was very eager to get home when I left. I was aggravated that I had to wait 8 minutes for the el (when you commute in rush hour and trains come every 3 minutes, 8 minutes is a long time) and another 20 for the bus. However when I boarded not only was there one seat open for me to take, but it was right across from someone with a pug puppy in their lap. My anger immediately dissapated (I'm a sucker for dogs) and I had a smile on my face when I got home.

With that, not to get all philosophical but there are so many things that are out of our control. Instead of letting them break us let's try to put things in perspective and find something to channel happy energy. I can guarantee if you try to take on a more positive mental attitude you will find yourself feeling lighter and smiling more. And hopefully your positivity will rub off on those around you!

Let's rock this week, shall we?

If all else fails, google pictures of puppies! Instant smile.