Chocolate-Raspberry & Peanut Butter-Banana Hot Smoothie

Ok. Am I the only one that spells out 'banana(s)' by singing Gwen Stefani in my head?

every. single. time.

Anyway.. Who doesn't love smoothies? What's great about them is you can literally throw in whatever you have around your kitchen & it usually comes out pretty tasty. This time of year when the weather is all "polar vortex" on you, it's a great idea to switch it up from your usual ice cold smoothies to something nice & hot! It's also a wonderful way to take in your fruits, veggies, & protein. I may very well be the only one here, but I can't stand the texture of most fruits. Love the taste, hate the texture... All smushy & slimy... yuck. BUT - with a smoothie, everything is nicely blended. I can handle that.

So I began experimenting. Please keep in mind, I don't own a fancy-schmancy blender/smoothie-maker/juicer-type thing. I got mine from WalMart. Like 5 years ago. For about $15. Whatever works, am I right? No need to be fancy here, folks.

In my experimenting, I found this to be one of my favorites! (And a real crowd-pleaser with my kiddo!) A Chocolate-Raspberry & Peanut Butter-Banana (did it again) Hot Smoothie. YUM!

STEP ONE: Ingredients/Directions

Makes 2 servings (+ 1 kiddo size)

1 peeled RIPE banana

{must be ripe. otherwise it'll be grossly lumpy. unless you have a juicer. shove it.}

1.5 Cups Frozen Raspberries

2 heaping tablespoons peanut butter*

1 packet dry hot chocolate

1 mugful hot milk**

I know what you're thinking.. "FROZEN" raspberries & "HOT" milk.. I promise they don't cancel each other out. It turned out just right for me.

*May be replaced with almond butter or left out! Up to you!

**Dairy-free? Lactose intolerant? Replace with soy milk, almond milk..etc. Play around to see what you like!

Directions

-Place a mugful of milk into microwave & heat for 2-3 minutes.

-Cut up banana into big chunks

-Throw everything into blender!

STEP TWO: Blend it up!

You know your blender best! With mine, I pulsed a few times to get things moving & followed it with the smoothie setting. I had it going for a solid 2 minutes. I like it smooth, y'all. I don't know about you, but I don't want to chew my smoothie. Otherwise it'd be called..a....chewie....;)

STEP THREE: Serve & Enjoy!

SO good. Maxx had his gone in seconds!

I hope you try it out & let me know how you like it! Do you have a go-to smoothie that you absolutely love? I'd love to hear from you!

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xo, tracy

Come Here, 2014

As January comes to an end, most of us have already forgotten and given up on our resolutions. As for me.. I generally don't make resolutions. Last year I tried, though! I proclaimed 2013 as the year of "YES". I feel I sincerely tried to do so. However, things definitely got in the way of that. 2013 was probably the worst year I have ever experienced. The reasons are not important. Just know that it was.

I try to take on too much at once. That's my issue. I find it hard narrowing my wants or needs down to one or two *little* things.. so I end up saying "I WANT ALL OF IT! NOW!" Setting one BIG goal for the year is ok (for some), but realistically you should set mini goals that you know are ' reachable'. To say, "In 2014, I want to make a million dollars" is not a realistic goal & you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

Now, I'm absolutely no expert, but by reading random articles & gathering information recently, I've come to understand... By setting mini goals for each month or each day even, helps you to focus on what's important & stay positive. It could be something so simple as scheduling an overdue doctor's appointment, paying a bill, or getting together with a friend. Sounds silly, I know. But at the end of the day, when you're about to lay your head on that pillow.. you realize that you've accomplished things! Things that needed to get done. The result? - Feeling good. Feeling like you can check something off your really long to-do list. Now you can move on to the next thing.

What I have to work on: stop focusing on the past & the future. It's easy for me to get all caught up in the past. Not being able to let things go or truly & completely forgive people. But- the past is just that.. The past. If I focus too much on that, it'll be impossible to move forward. As for the future, I have a habit of feeling like if things are bad now, because they have been for awhile, let's say, it's hard for me to believe things will eventually get better.. in the future. It's all about mindset. And I've always been in a negative one. Time to change & be in the present.

As 2014 began, I told myself this is the year of self-care. Eating healthy (even tiny people like me!), staying active (repeat previous parentheses.. also having a 2 year old helps that situation), getting back into the regular flow of seeing doctors.. Really putting a little more focus on myself. It's not going to be entirely easy. Ever since I became a momma back in 2011, I turned into this completely selfless person. Always putting the needs of my son first (of course). Hell, I haven't even gotten my hair cut/trimmed since May of 2012. WHAT. And truthfully, I'm not ashamed. My son is healthy & well taken care of. I won't feel guilty & apologize for that.

So to start, I've already got some goals completed & it's only January 31st! I've literally made every doctor appointment imaginable. Primary Care doctor, eye doctor, ob/gyn, cardiologist.. & coming up this summer.. my first mammogram!! YES! (so kidding) But being active & preventative with your health is what's important! Also, I've been super into yoga. I do it every day & my son does it right along side, underneath or on top of me. Makes it more of a challenge. In a good way! I really feel that yoga helps with so many things. I've read a ton of stuff lately how yoga can help with anxiety & depression. I believe it. Yoga is a great way to de-stress & relax. I recommend to all!


Overall I'd say I'm on the right path!
What are some things you'd like to work on this year?


xo, Tracy



the weekend

 

This past weekend was equal parts fun & lazy. Just the right amount of both. For those of you who don't know me.. I'm usually someone who likes to keep busy & not want to waste a day sitting on the couch. I like to accomplish things.. but this weekend was different. I suppose it was nice catching up on my R&R. Although, I still can't help but feel like I've done nothing....

 

1// My good friend, Kari, picked up these sweet suspenders from H&M for Maxx. He looks so darn cute! We threw on his "old man hat" to go with it. She also got him a really great sweatshirt/cardigan for him that's not pictured. We were just trying this on him for a few minutes. So more real photos to come!

 

 

2 & 3// On Saturday we went to our friends' sons 2nd birthday party. Maxx had such a great time running around with other kiddos. He's normally not around other kids that often so this was really nice for him. His nap was cut short a bit so towards the end of the party, he got a little crazy. Thankfully, the craziness didn't last that long!

 

Sunday was my down day. Did a little bit of laundry & went to my dads for a few. Other than that, I hung out with little man & the hub & I caught up on some shows we missed throughout the week. I've had a lot going on lately so maybe it was good to just to nothing. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

xo Tracy

Random Tidbits

Here's some randomness for your Wednesday.

 

1. Finally found time last night to meet up with my friend for her birthday. Which waaaas, literally a month ago. We had fun though & it was great catching up!

 

Are you jealous of our coolness?

 

2. Some of you may know, some may not... I am a HUGE hockey fan. Might seem a little unlike me, because I'm really a girlie-girl at heart & love my fashion & beauty shenanigans. But I truly love hockey. I like the fights & the atmosphere of going to the games. It's great! I've actually never been to a Buffalo Sabres game where they've lost & let's just say, they haven't played their best season thus far. So I've been weary to go to a game this season. I'm scared that they'll lose & I'll want to throw stuff. However, I just might be their lucky charm if I go? Yeah, we'll go with that. :)

 

 

3. George & I don't call each other by our names. I know, I know, it's weird y'all. Unless I'm in conversation with someone else regarding my husband or in this case (blogging), we don't say things like, "Hey George." orrr "I love you, Tracy". If one of us slips & says the others name, we both look at eachother with this look of 'dude that was weird, never do it again.' Hah! We just never have! We'd rather use our nicknames, which is "baba" prounounced "bubba". Don't ask why or how. That was all the hubby. But that's what we've been calling each other practically since day one. It's just our thing!

 

 

4. We also have plenty of nicknames for Maxxim. Maxx is the obvious, monkey, love bug, pooka, bugger (yes, bugger, not booger), little man, little dude, little mister, sir (that would be me). When he has a dirty diaper, I call him Maxximpooper. Ya know, nothin' too crazy. :) But the main nickname we have for him is buddha-bear. Not sure where it came from. It just came out one day & it stuck with us. No association with THE Buddha.

 

5. I have a few favorite TV shows, so it's hard to really pick one. But one of those favorite shows is Pretty Little Liars. Yes. I'm twelve. It's a guilty pleasure for sure & I've been hooked since the first day. Now I've Seen every episode & even rewatched the first two & a half seasons (before the 2nd half of the 3rd season began) with my husband. This guy loves me too much. With this show, I just love how it really keeps you guessing. And every time you think it's this person or that thing, it's not. Mind-blown every.single.time.

 

Yeaaahhh... I'm definitely twelve.

 

 

 

Linking up!

 

  xo Tracy

Zack Morris

Random, right?

 

I thought so too.

 

For those of you who don't know (which I'm guessing is a lot of you), I'm going to tell you a wee little story of how our sons name came to be.

 

And also for those of you who don't know, our sons name is Maxxim Zackery.

 

We constantly get asked how we decided on "Maxxim" or "why two X's". Sure, we could spell Maxx like Max instead of Maxx. Get it? But we were diggin' the double X. Really for no reason, we just sort of... did.

 

For the most part, the hub & I have a hard time agreeing on.. well, about a lot of things, but as far as names went, we both knew we wanted "Max". The hard decision was picking a full first name. Neither of us (..or mostly me..) weren't too keen on names like Maximus, Maximillion, Maxwell...etc. Somehow we can up with Maxim. However, I didn't like the fact it would somehow have to do with the magazine. I guess adding an X made it completely different?

 

When it comes to his middle name, believe it or not, the hub wanted "Dexter" in the worst way. Except, yes, you guessed it... with TWO X'S. Dexxter. I have a rather strange hubby. & I mean that in the most loving way possible. Maxxim Dexxter. Didn't sit well with me. How did he come up with such a middle name? Well, the TV show of course. While the show itself is good, the name.. is not.

...could you imagine?...

 

"Daddy? Where did I get my middle name 'Dexxter' from?" Maxx would ask. "Well you see son, there was this TV show on when you were born called 'Dexter'. He was a serial killer who killed serial killers." Daddy would reply.

 

No thanks, y'all.

 

So our unborn child was middle nameless until about a week & some change before he arrived. Where were we when we came up with a middle name, you ask?

 

My sisters' wedding.

 

Yes, I was ghostly-looking & my hair was just... I don't know what it was doing, but this is not why we're here folks.

 

Feeling extremely pregnant (because... I was) & scared crapless he was going to pop out at any given point.. here I am like an hour away from the hospital & I have my packed bag in tow, just incase.

 

During the ceremony, while everyone else was snapping photos & happily watching the union of two people, my hubby leans over to me & whispers, "Zackery."

 

Like, where did this come from people!?

He said he couldn't possibly wait until the ceremony was over & he felt the urge to tell me right then & there. 'Zackery' just popped in his head for no reason. He knew I'd love it so he told me...

 

I said, "Yes! I love it!" Followed by laughter & me commenting how random it was. We also agreed right off the bat, we'd spell it with "CK" & not "CH" because we don't know why "zaCHary" makes sense. At this point in time, he jokes that 'Zackery' is after Zack Morris from Saved by The Bell. In his defense, we have every season of it & watched every single episode like mental patients.

We're cool.



xo Tracy