How to make Double Green Smoothie

Hey guys,

I haven't done a food update for a long time. For those of you who have been following my blog, I love cooking, arts, and fashion. I have been very conscious lately about my health and weight.  Living alone and moving to Florida was such a drastic change for me in friends, weather, school, and being away from family. I have been hanging in there so far  and make the best of it! =)

So just to share with you about this post, people in South Florida love being health and eating health. So added on to my crazy schedule I don't have time to cook for myself sometimes. I love Japanese fashion and looking at the skinny girls on there doesn't help either. They are just skinny, petite, cute, and...I am pressured to be like them. I have struggled with my weight and have gained 10lbs since the start of graduate school.  So I've decided to follow this 28-Day Challenge Meal Plans under Whole Foods Market website. The weekly meal plans focus on plant-based, nutrient-dense whole foods and healthy fats. I've also decided to work out more and eat less meat. Thought of becoming a vegetarian, but I can't give up sushi!

With that said, the purpose of this challenge is to focus on plant based produce that are full of protein, nutrients, antioxidants. I've always wanted to eat health, but with student budget and not working it's quite expensive. There's a lot of batch cooking at the start of week that usually takes 2-3hrs of my time and when I'm ready to assemble a meal, preparation would be easy for weeknights with my busy schedule.

Set aside time to cook or prep:

•Big batches of beans

•Big batches of whole grains

•Big batches of soup, sauce and favorite dishes

•Crisp fresh veggies and leafy greens for twice-daily salads

•Delicious and easy oil-free homemade salad dressings

•Breakfast: blend a fresh smoothie daily for breakfast; add leafy greens or fruit with your favorite unsweetened nondairy beverage, a few ice cubes and a date or two for extra sweetness if you like. Frozen chopped greens like spinach or kale save time and help keep your smoothie colder.

I am in love with this recipe: Double Green Smoothie.

I was skeptical how blending spinach and kale would taste. I didn't want to have a nasty green grass drink. But I gave it a try and it was delicious! The rice milk really helps a lot because it had a little bit of sweet taste to it.

 

Here are all the ingredients measured out. I opted out for apricots since I forgot to get them on my grocery run.

All ready to be blended. I was really scared and didn't know when to stop blending. It started off with a purple color from the berries. Then it turned to red, brown, and a nasty brown oxidized color. I wasn't sure if I was willing to drink it if it was brown looking. As I let it settled out, it turned green, which was just like the color the recipe pictured showed. That was feasible to drink. LOL.

Final look of the drink. I would definitely recommend this drink. I'm going to follow their plan and continue to drink this for breakfast. I also bough muesli grain mix, so I can make mighty healthy oatmeal bowls.

The rice milk is really good by itself to drink as well.

Per Serving:160 calories (30 from fat), 3.5g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 115mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (4g dietary fiber, 10g sugar), 8g protein

Thanks for reading again! I'll put more post to my 28-Day healthy eating challenge.

xoxo

yumi

FOTD: Natural Smokey Eyes with Winged liner

Hi everyone,

It's been a while since I have done a Face of the Day photo shoot (FOTD) with a natural smokey makeup style and a winged eyeliner.So far I love my ombre hair color. I have been wearing it curly or wavy to school. I love it with a little bit of volume, than leaving it straight because you can see the gradient from top to bottom (3 tone effect). I have modified it and made the top half black and the tips more blonde. I will do a follow up post about how I dyed my hair ombre style.

How to make Caprese Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes

Hi Everyone,

I want to share with you a quick and easy recipie that I made over the weekend for a dinner get-together with my friends.  I got the recipe off from Chow: Caprese Salad Recipe

Directions: Slice ripe tomatoes and fresh buffalo mozzarella into 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Shingle fresh basil leaves and the mozzarella and tomatoes on a platter. Drizzle with high-quality extra-virgin olive oil, sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper if desired, and serve.

I didn't have pine nuts to make my basil pesto sauce. I used a variety of tomatoes. This is my second time making it. The first time I had green, yellow, and red tomaotoes. They go really good for a side dish if you're wanting to have a vegetarian night out. I highly suggest using heirloom tomatoes that you can purchae at Whole Foods. They are really sweet. Best part of it, is that you can put a balsamic vinegretre glaze over it instead of the pesto olive oil sauce.

I made this for brunch with a light bit of olive oil drizzled over on the top. I also served it with a fresh banana and orange salad and sunny side up egg. My friend said my picture looked like one of those from the food magazine.

I prefer using the presliced fresh mozzerella packaged cheese so that it's easier for preparation. It takes less than 10minues and you have a delicious meal. Your guests will think that you're a fancy cheif too!

xoxo

Yumi

Hauls: VS Beach Angel Summer Edition

Hi loves,

I recently have been falling in love with this fragrance that I have got over the summer. I absolutely love the new floral crisp aroma that VS has incorporated in this small bottle. I've received so many complements when I wear it. At first, I was in love with the the Angel's version which had won the FIFI 2012 Award for Consumer's Choice Fragrance of the Year. Victoria Secret: Angel Eau de Parfum. I still love them equally, but if you're interested VS has it on sale now. =( I got mine full priced, but still wear it in this beachy state of FL. The bottle looks very cute too, I love the wings on it.

Fresh. Sun-kissed. Sparkling. Dive into summer—be a Beach Angel. A blend of seaspray accord, lily and island woods. 75ml/2.5 fl oz

I also got the lotion as well since its very moisturerizing and it keeps my skin hydrated and smelling like the fragrance. 

 

H&M Shopping Spree

Hi loves,

The new school year has started and things are really hectic. Shopping is my remedy and I just went on a shopping spree at H&M (one of my favorite places). >,< I am addicted to laces right now and the new wave of colored pants. Pastel colors complement white laces and you can never go wrong with pink.

Beauty Product Review

 

I am doing a beauty product review on my favorite drug store items that I have bought.

Welcome Back

Hi everyone, I'm so sorry that I haven't updated in a long time. I have been on hiatus and traveling. But, I will definitely make it a goal to start posting since I am on summer vacation after my birthday. I have been traveling around south Florida. I went back home to visit and celebrate my birthday which was a great feeling. I am going to do a little bit of re-lifting to my blog. I will add a restaurant review section to the blog from all my traveling! I will be moving shortly in the beginning of August to a new place so I will keep you lovelies updated. Thanks for stopping by my blog and always commenting. This picture was taken during one of my trips to Tampa, FL trying to capture the sunset.

xoxo
yumi