Yummy Red Juice- just try it!

Juicing seems to be my family's new favorite 'project' lately. We like to try different combinations of fruits and veggies and even though some look like pond scum, many taste pretty darn good for being healthy!

Getting started with this great trend can seem quite daunting, but don't over think it... and keep it simple. You do not have to purchase and entire produce isle at the grocery store to try this. We usually juice greens but this weekend we tried a new combination that ended up being named our 'favorite' RED JUICE! 

YUM YUM YUM!

One thing to point out is the difference between JUICES and SMOOTHIES:

JUICE is- extracting the actual juice from fruits and vegetables (not all fruits and veggies can be put through a juicer- i.e. bananas do not work- there is no juice extracted) 

SMOOTHIE is- a thick smooth, drink of fresh fruit pureed with milk, yogurt or ice

Think of smoothies as in a blender. Pretty much anything can be blended. 

The most popular advantage to Juice over a Smoothie has to do with the air created in the process. If you make a smoothie and have tummy discomfort, then juice might be your better option. If you don't skim the frothy part on the top of smoothies (especially when using spinach and kale) it could leave you feeling... well, a little gassy and uncomfortable. Hence the reason juice is gaining popularity.

I have a very basic Juicer- it was no more than $60 and purchased on Groupon but I have also seen in the in Target as well for similar pricing. I went basic to make sure we were going to use it enough to make purchasing a more expensive, fancier one worth it. This one has been great so far and comes apart easily to make clean up easy- which is one of the biggest complaints I hear about this... the time it takes to clean after making your scrumptious juice. Remember- keep it simple! (and cost-effective too)

So, see the black 'trash can' looking attachment on the left of the juicer- it collects all of your pulp and left over material once the juice has been extracted. It's pretty gross, not gonna lie. BUT, if you line that with a produce bag or even a shopping bag beforehand, when you are finished you simply pull the bag out and voila, no need to spend time scrubbing that clean! 

The red juice we make has all items shown above:

• a handful of kale
• a handful of spinach
• 2 apples (I do not core or anything- you can throw the whole thing in)
• a half of a beet (I cut it in half so you can see how 'blood' red it is. I also add the leaves that come with it
• 3 little slices of ginger
• 4 strawberries
• a broccoli stem
• lemon wedge with skin/peeling left on

Put all of that through the juicer and I usually finish with just a small amount of water to rinse everything through. Then be pure to stir well (this particular juicer has a part on the inside of the pitcher that detaches and you stir with that, but a spoon works too.

Also if you prefer you can add an ice cube or two and a straw- that's it! 

(my kids request the ice cube as it tend to be somewhat warmer than the smoothies we make with frozen fruit) 

There are so many health benefits to juicing- especially when using organic fruits and vegetables. Don't overwhelm yourself- just try it... and keep trying it. We make plenty that are not so good, but you come across some really good ones too! It's a great activity to get everyone involved in!

Stay tuned for more recipes, especially the green juice you see me post all the time!

I would love to hear from you when you try this one... comment below or find me on twitter, instagram and follow my pinterest boards! 

Post a picture of you with your juice and use the hashtag #RockstarMomLifeJuice 

Terrible Moms Go To Work

I can think of some terrible things a mother could do, but let me make one think very clear, working is NOT one of them. When working is what provides a life, let alone survival, for your children then it should not be viewed (or talked about) as less than that of a mother that chooses and/or has the financial ability to stay at home with her babies. Let’s agree that being a mom is not an easy job and there are no written instructions on the ‘right’ way to mother- especially when the title is Single Mom.

I have mommy friends from all walks of life: some that stay at home (which is a full time job in and of itself!), some that work from home, some that work part time and some that work full time, some have a nanny, some have a husband, some are single and some don’t even have full custody of their kids. We are all moms- no matter how you view the mommy-scale. Some are in executive roles, some are owners of their own company, some are teachers, some are bartenders and some work multiple jobs.

Thanks to the news, social media and world we live in today, I hear all the time of mothers that do some pretty terrible things… but I have to say, working and having a career life is NOT one of them. I am pretty down to earth in expectations and needs, carefully thinking of my kids in everything I do. I arch my own eye brows, color my own hair, paint my own nails and work out at home to save money. I don’t carry a designer handbag or have expensive jewelry. (most comes from dollar stores or discount places)

My kids have witnessed firsthand what working hard means and achieving goals takes some time, discipline and most of prioritizing. They are stronger and I am confident they will go further in life because of it! 

Sometimes the lessons we want to teach our kids are taught more by the reactions to life experiences than we can tell them. Teaching them how to make choices through adversity is a far greater ‘life skill’ than one can speak of. 

I was recently blessed with the opportunity of a lifetime to take a career step in the Bio-Chemistry/Biotechnology world. After 8 years of raising my kids single-handedly and being super involved with everything to promote and grow-them-up the BEST I possibly could, keeping my eye on a time of less struggles and more financial peace for all four of us, I accepted a job that requires some travel, ok well quite a bit of travel to start.

If there is anything this determined, independent mom has trouble doing, it’s asking for help… from anyone. I have had to learn how to put my pride aside from time to time and ASK a favor here and there of the MANY wonderful friends I have in my circle that always offer. I have also had to learn especially though this opportunity to say no to all of the little ‘proving-points’ I sometimes take on, like volunteering for everything, leadership roles, PTA, side businesses, and many moments with my friends and their kids. Well I still choose to coach a little league team and be a cheer squad mom from time to time… but I am learning to pick and choose- based on what is best for my kids. I make every decision based on what I think, pray, and weigh the pros and cons as the best for me +3.

Probably one of the hardest things for any driven parent is the need to be financially stable and mentally, emotionally and physically present for your family- especially when it is a single parent household. It’s one of the hardest concepts I had to accept- no matter how hard I work at a job, how many hours I put in while kids sleep to make up for anything I lacked during the day, it wasn’t going to matter until my kids were older… I was the one that got called when a kid was sick or hurt, or forgot their homework, shoes, lunch, PE uniform… etc.

 I have sacrificed every career, job and business venture that I have ever built, dreamt, taken on to be there for my kids first, hopeful of another ‘big break’/opportunity down the road when they were older and I wouldn't have it any other way. Priorities are created internally by what we place value on and shown through our actions and commitments.

Of course I wish I could be at home with them full time and carry less of the financial responsibility that is required being a single parent, but for now, I will just  do the best with what I have, never underestimating the importance and power a mother has on her children’s lives.

 “An entire sea of water can’t sink a ship unless it gets inside the ship. Similarly, the negativity of the world can’t put you down unless you allow it to get inside you”

Sometimes, you just have to ride the waves.

Snack For On The Go

Here are some great tips for snacks- travel friendly for those on the go moments from one of my favorite health resources:

http://foodbabe.com/2012/05/29/travel-food-to-pack-before-you-go/

Food babe has a facebook page too and is great for decoding those ingredients and maxing out your nutrition!

https://www.facebook.com/thefoodbabe

What are some of your favorite travel- friendly snacks? Please share in the comments!