Cereal Killer

There comes a point in everyone's LIFE when it's time to retire Cap'n Crunch, bury the Fruity Pebbles, pass over the Cocoa Krispies, and remind ourselves that Trix really are for kids.

It's time for a grown up cereal. And that is why I invented DIVA-LICIOUS. ;-)

I recently learned about a premium, custom-mixed cereal company called MojaMix. It's a cereal you design yourself. With MojaMix you get to pick your ingredients, name your own invention, and they'll create your customized label and ship it right to you. It's like Moja-Magic without the sugar-coating of Lucky Charms.

Here's what I like about MojaMix:

• They offer a unique variety of REAL ingredients 
• You choose your cereal base (because some of us are flakes), add dried fruit, and select nuts and seeds
• You get to unleash your child-like creativity and give your cereal a name
• You can see the nutritional value of your cereal during the easy-to-use online design process
• They use environmentally friendly packaging
• You can eat your MojaMix like cereal with milk, sprinkle it on top of yogurt, heat it up like oatmeal, or snack on it like trail mix
• They have impeccable customer service--even offering "do-overs" if you don't get your mix right the first time

What could make MojaMix better? If they would offer us a subscription service so we can have our MojaMix automatically delivered every two weeks. Don't worry, I have them working on this idea ;-).

Now, go say goodbye to Toucan Sam and say hello to Moja. To help with the "morning" process get 10% off all of your MojaMix orders until August 15, 2009. Just enter JOANNASUTTER in the coupon code at checkout. 

R.I.P. Tony the Tiger, it's been grrrreeeeaatttt!

Flat-out in Beverly Heels

Hints from Joanna-Louise

Dear Joanna-Louise,
Every pair of jeans in my closet have been tailored to wear with 3.5. inch heels. But what if I want to wear my jeans with flats?  Signed, Flat-out in Beverly Heels

Dear Flat-out,

I have the perfect solution. Now you can wear any shoe style with the same pair of jeans just by using Hem Tape. Hem Tape is a double-stick tape designed especially for jeans that lets you change up the length of your jeans easily. So now you can wear your ballet flats or your boots with the same pair of jeans.

*****

Dear Joanna-Louise,
I just bought the most fabulous skinny jeans today. I want to wear them to a party tonight but they are an inch too long. What do I do? Signed, Anita Taylor

Dear Anita,

I can relate to this dilemma as just about every pair of jeans I buy are too long. Have you tried Hem Tape? You can wear your brand new jeans within minutes and have time for a manicure before party time.

*****
Dear Joanna-Louise,

I just won a hip-T on My Favorite Web site. I'm going to wear my shirt with my Jordache jeans but they are a little frayed at the bottom.  What do you suggest? Signed, Carrie DeWay

Dear Carrie,

Congratulations for winning such a fabulous prize! Quick question, are you really sure those jeans are still in style? If so, tape up your tattered jeans with Hem Tape. 

*****

Dear Joanna-Louise,

I have the back to school blues. I just bought some new jeans and I don't want to spend more money to have them hemmed. That, and I don't own a needle or thread. What should I do? 

Signed, No Hemingway

Dear Hemingway,

Relax! You can give your jeans a makeover in minutes without having to sign up for Home-Ec. The durable adhesive of Hem Tape will hold your pants in place for days and you won't even need an iron or scissors. 

*****

Dear Joanna-Louise,

I just ran home for lunch and I spilled hummus on my pants! I paid a small fortune for the jeans I want to throw on and they have a torn hem. Help! I'm late! Signed, Juanita Break

Dear Juanita,

Get a grip! First of all, are you sure it's casual day? Second, if you have some Hem Tape you can repair your fallen hem and be back to work before anyone notices you've taken another long lunch. And third, you have some broccoli stuck in your teeth.

*****

Dear Readers, 

You're probably wondering how you lived without Hem Tape all of this time and where you can get some. Go to www.bristols6.com, enter the code SUTTERFAVE at checkout and save 20% off your entire order. This discount applies to Hem Tape as well as their other solutions to help with many sticky situations. Hurry offer expires August 15, 2009!

hip-T Winner Revealed!

Now, for the moment Victoria and her secrets have been waiting for, the winner of the hip-T's drawing is...

 EDENCR also known as CARRIE 

Congrats, Carrie! You get to pick a hip-T of your choice.  I'll send you an email with all the details on how to redeem your prize.

Thanks to everyone who played along and shared their very timeless, fashionable, and (sometimes even) inspiring quotes. A special note of thanks to Ali and Michael Scott who made us laugh out loud.

If you weren't the biggest winner like Carrie, no worries, you can order your very own hip-T at www.myhip-t.com. Go on now, as they say at hip-T's, don't let your style fall through the crack.

HURRY! hip-T's Contest Ends Today

Just a quick reminder...

It's not too late to enter to win a hip-T!  The contest ends tonight (Wednesday) and the lucky winner will be announced tomorrow! 

Just click here to enter. Good luck!

Heavenly Hummus

I am brand-loyal to a handful of products, one of them is Sabra hummus, olive-it. 

I discovered Sabra hummus at two different Food Marketing tradeshows. The first event inspired me to come home and bug my local grocery store to carry the brand---eventually they gave in. I'm pretty sure that during the second tradeshow the Sabra team was going to charge me rent for hanging out at their booth and eating most of their samples. It's their own fault for introducing their salsa at the conference and being strategically positioned so close to the Corona booth (but that's not important right now).

Sabra hummus is smooth, full of flavor and perfectly packaged. Their hummus comes in many flavors from plain to garlic, and from mild to spicy. I've tried every last one and I haven't found flavor I didn't like.

"Olive-hummus" as a healthy alternative to mayonnaise condiments, for example:

• I serve it as a dip to accompany raw vegetables 
• I eat it as a topping for semi-homemade chips (just lightly spray low-carb wheat tortillas with olive oil, toss them in the oven until crispy and then cut with a pizza cutter into triangles)
• I mix it in with steamed vegetables as a side dish
• I spoon it on top of salads
• I toss it in with tuna-salad as a substitute for mayo

Look for Sabra hummus at your grocery store, Super Target, and Costco. Then, dive right in, I think you'll agree the chickpea has never tasted so good.

Be your own barista

Don't get me wrong, I love to stop for coffee, but sometimes I just don't want to pay FourBucks per cup. One of my favorite ways to get the same coffee shop taste is to use filtered water, good coffee, and a splash of flavored Italian syrup. Because I don't like to add calories to my caffeine, I look for flavorful sugar-free syrups.

Starbucks has sugar-free cinnamon and caramel syrups for sale. The big bottles are behind the counter, so just ask your friendly barista. And, if you ask nicely, they'll give you a pump to go with it.

DaVinci Gourmet and Torani also offer a ton of sugar-free Italian syrups. You can find a few flavors at your local grocery store in the coffee aisle, but to get some unique flavors (like peanut butter!) you will have the best luck online.

In addition to coffee add sugar-free syrups to:

• Cocktails (there are some fruity flavors available, too)
• Iced or hot teas
• Protein shakes
• Lemonade 

I've been making my own frappacino's at home for an afternoon pick-me-up. Here's my featured house blend:

• A cup of cold, strong brewed coffee (or if I'm lazy, I'll skip this step and add in a tablespoon or two of instant coffee)
• 1/2-1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2-3 tablespoons of sugar-free caramel syrup
• Ice

I just toss everything into my Magic Bullet and blend. 

So, if you're into flavor, but just don't want to pay for the pump, I encourage you to give these syrups a shake.

Drop and give me about 20 bucks

Not all of my pushups are perfect but with the Perfect Pushup they get a better shot. 

My brother received the Perfect Pushup for a Christmas gift one year so I gave them a test run. He stumbled upon me popping out a few pushups and told me his "house record" for the number of consecutive pushups. I was up for the challenge...so I thought.

Knocking out a pushup using the rotating disks that make up the Perfect Pushup kicks your run of the mill pushup up a notch (as Emeril would say). The disks increase your range of motion so you get a deeper dive at the base of your pushup. Let me tell you, the traditional body weight pushup is intensified with this As Seen On TV gadget. 

What I like about the Perfect Pushup:

• They are small, lightweight and portable
• They can be used on carpet or hard surface
• They are effective for training your chest, back and triceps just by changing the position of the disks
• They are an affordable addition to your home gym

Ok, so I didn't break my brother's house record on Christmas day, but I did stop at Walgreens the other day, and tucked between the Chia Pets and the Snuggies was a set of Perfect Pushups. It was a Christmas in July kind of a moment. So, I snagged a set and I am pleased to announce, I am officially on the leader board of my own house record.

Give this salad a spin

Are you hitting the Farmer's Market today? If so, grab some plum tomatoes, garlic, and basil because you'll want all the ingredients ready to make this Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad. Then, hit Super Target for some mouthwash because this salad has some punch. Julie Nodgaard shared this recipe with us, she has great taste and minty-fresh breath. ; -)

Roasted Tomato Caprese Salad 

INGREDIENTS:

• 12 plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise, seeds (not cores) removed
  
• 1/4 cup good olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  
• 1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  
• 2 teaspoons sugar
  
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 16 ounces fresh salted mozzarella
• 12 fresh basil leaves, julienned 
  

 

DIRECTIONS:

Arrange the tomatoes on a sheet pan, cut sides up, in a single layer.  Drizzle with 1/4 cup of olive oil and the balsamic vinegar.  Sprinkle with the garlic, sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.  Roast for 2 hours @ 275° until the tomatoes are concentrated and begin to caramelize.  

Allow the tomatoes to cool to room temperature. Cut the mozzarella into slices slightly less than 1/2 inch thick.  If the slices of mozzarella are larger than the tomatoes, cut the mozzarella slices in half. Layer the tomatoes alternately with the mozzarella on a platter and scatter the basil on top.  Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper and drizzle lightly with olive oil.  Serve at room temperature.

Tour de Lance

I am a rebel like Lance Armstrong. I am breaking every journlistic rule by giving a book recommendation without actually finishing the story.  But, I am doing this for your own good because: 

1. You might need a good book to read this weekend and;

2. The Tour de France ends on Sunday so this is a timely read.

I am reading It's Not about the Bike, My Journey Back to Life by Lance Armstrong. You don't have to be a sports fanatic to be inspired by this fast paced read, I assure you. By page 62 you will learn life lessons of teamwork, patience, persistance, and overcoming obstacles...on and off the race track.

I don't know what's in store for the rest of the book, but I can tell it will be quite a ride. Speaking of rides, that's another thing Lance and I have in common, we're both doing a little biking this weekend.

LIVESTRONG.

I'm curious, what are you reading?

Cover your assets and enter a contest

Do you love mid to low rise jeans but fear getting the dreaded muffin top, booty cleavage, or maybe worse...plumbers butt? No matter how tiny you are, it could happen. Let me tell you about the solution: hip-T's! 

hip-T's are like tube tops for your hips. Even if you are not wearing low rise jeans, sometimes you just want to add a little length or dimension to your top without adding bulk. hip-T's are just like the bottom of a t-shirt--a layering piece without adding an entire layer. These shirts come in multiple colors, sizes and styles just click here to see the entire collection!

Now why didn't I think of that!? Well, I didn't so I had to buy 2 to give them a try. I have them in  black and white, both trimmed in lace. So far I've worn mine with with shorts and jeans. LOVE THEM! In fact, I'm going back for more because I'm sure they'll work well with just about anything from hoodies to business suits.

Now it only gets better! The good people at hip-T's are giving one hip-T away to the lucky winner of our contest. To enter the contest all you have to do is post your all-time favorite quote in the comments section right below this post. That's it! It's that easy! 

You have until midnight on Wednesday, July 29th to enter, but do it now because you'll forget. The winner will be randomly selected and the winner of the hip-Ts contest will be announced Thursday, July 30th.  

Now get crackin'!

P.S. Tell your friends! The winner gets to pick a hip-T in any color, any size, any style (so men, you can win one and re-gift it to your favorite girl). 

A quick "T"easer!

Have you ever come across a product and say to yourself, "I wish I would have thought of that?" Well I did and I will tell you all about it tomorrow. Not only that, I will tell you how to enter a contest to win one right here on My Favorite Things!

Details Thursday!

Who's your edamame?

Dora the Explorer is my edamame.

I tend to stay away from soy-based products mostly because many of them tend to be highly processed. Enter edamame. It's the real deal.

Edamame are young soybeans harvested at the peak of ripeness when they have just the right crunch and nutty flavor. They are loaded with healthy amino acids, protein, and are low in saturated fats. All good things, in my book.

A few years ago, while attending a Food Marketing Institute conference with Caryn Neidel (my friend and former Stop & Shop Supermarkets marketing goddess) we discovered Seapoint Farms Edamame. Seapoint Farms decided to package edamame in kid-friendly, individually wrapped packets appealing to parents who want to give their kids a healthy snack at home or in their lunch boxes. And to entice kids into eating something green and good for you they slapped SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer on the labels. Brilliant!

You can still find these healthy snack-packs in the organic section of many grocery store freezers. When you find them, you'll discover you have two options: buy them in the pod or already shelled. Keep the edamame frozen and then toss them into your lunch box, briefcase, purse, or backpack and by lunch or snack time they'll be thawed and ready to enjoy. 

Left is Right

I  eat approximately 97% of my meals alone each week. As a result, I have a tendency to eat way too fast. To slow myself down, I eat with my non-dominant hand from time-to-time. 

Eating with the wrong hand is awkward (and a little messy especially with utensils), but it slows me down, it reminds me to taste my food, and it keeps me from over-eating. 

So next time you are about to shovel down your food. Stop. Switch hands and see what's left on your plate.

A quick HIIT

My workout assignment for today was to do 30 minutes of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). Because the thought of going to the gym today didn't sound all that appealing, I did my workout at home.

Here's what went down:

• 10 minutes of bike sprints (30 seconds sprint, 30 seconds recovery)
• 5 minutes of jumping jacks (50 jacks, 15 seconds recovery, repeat)
• 5 minutes of bike sprints
• 5 minutes of jumping jacks
• 5 minutes of bike sprints

This workout felt great and the time flew by. 

Now, I am a sweaty mess. Time to HIIT the shower.

A note from the editor

Dear Loyal 4 or 5 readers: 

As you may have noticed, I am playing around with the template for My Favorite Things. I am only doing this because I got a note from a reader that said, "the new zebra template makes me car sick" and she wasn't in a car at the time.

Please hang in there with me as I research a new layout that appeals to my diverse readership.

In the meantime, please enjoy reading today's post directly below this letter from the editor. Especially you, Sheila! ; )

Best Regards,

The My Favorite Things Team

A pocket full of sunshine

Are you in need of a pocket full of sunshine? I am. It's a rainy day and a Monday and you know what that combo can do to a girl. 

And that is why today I am featuring the greatest baggies I have in my entire kitchen. The good people at Ziploc created a Summer design covered in the happiest sun-bursts you ever did see (on a plastic bag).

I happen to be "portion control challenged" so baggies in general are one of my favorite tools for creating my own 100-calorie packs. I love to buy big 'ole buckets of almonds, toast them in the oven for about 10 minutes to enhance the flavor, and then immediately bag them up so I don't go overboard.

You will never guess where I found these sweet Summer baggies? Super Target, end-cap.  When these suckers go on clearance, I'm stocking up so I can have a little bit of sunshine all year round.

The Joy of Cookies.

I have been searching for an oatmeal cookie recipe I can eat after a workout without guilt.  I am happy to report I have found one. A very good one.

Carrie came through and delivered a recipe that I just love. Because I'm giving her all the credit ; -), I'm sure she won't mind that I pass it on to you.

Joanna Banana (I mean...) Carrie's Banana Oatmeal Choc Chip Cookies 
 
1 1/2 cups oat flour
3/4 cup rolled oats
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda 
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup raw sugar
1/3 cup choc chips
1 tsp canola oil
1/3 cup soymilk
1/2 cup banana puree (1 med size banana)
1 tsp vanilla extract
 
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.   Combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl.  Combine all the wet ingredients in a separate bowl.   Mix the dry and wet ingredients together until well combined.   
 
Use a medium size ice cream scoop or a large spoon to scoop batter onto a cookies sheet covered with waxed paper.   Bake for 10-12 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through cooking, or bake until the edges of the cookies are light brown.   

Now, you will never believe this (insert sarcasm and a few eye-rolls here) but I made a few substitutions to this recipe. Here are the adjustments I made:

• I used 1 cup of oat flour plus 1/2 cup of vanilla protein powder
• I used Splenda for baking in place of the raw sugar
  
• I used unsweetened almond milk in place of soymilk
• I used coconut oil in place of the canola
• And, of course I used Ghirardelli chocolate chips

Let's raise our glasses (of milk or coffee) and give it up for Carrie who has given me a belly full of joy and cookies.

My favorite chocolate is like me: bittersweet.

I like my chocolate like my coffee: strong and dark. So I'd like to introduce you to my new love: Ghiradelli Extra Bittersweet Chocolate for baking. 

I've been sprinkling a handful of these chips into pumpkin bread, homemade protein bars, and on top of my Joanna Banana Ice Cream. I think they'll make a great addition to a simple handful of natural almonds or as a topping to a bowl of oatmeal, too. 

Next week (and by next week, I mean tomorrow!) I'm going to toss them into a new oatmeal/banana cookie recipe Carrie (finally) sent me. I'll let you know how those turn out.

I found these Ghiradelli gems at my Super Target in the baking section. I was delighted to see they were on clearance for about 1/2 price and freaked out when the grocery manager told me they weren't going to carry them anymore. So, I bought 8 packages. It was a bittersweet moment.

Got Moo?

I had the best play date today.

Thank God Ellie, Suzanne and I are lactose tolerant because we enjoyed pigging out at Maggie Moo's for ice cream. In the event your tummy tumbles at the thought of dairy, Maggie Moo's has lactose-free vanilla ice cream on the menu. I tasted it. Not only is it lactose-free, it's flavor-free, too so I'd recommend mixing in the entire toppings bar to spice it up a bit.

If you've already over-dosed on carbs for the day, no worries,  there's a low-carb strawberry on the menu. I went with this option with almonds mixed in and I'd do it again.

While I was getting the scoop about her second birthday (pony and all!), I snapped this picture of Ellie. She's a strawberry with sprinkles kind of girl. I happen to think she's perfect for Maggie's new ad campaign, "Got Moo?"

Operation Beautiful

Hello Gorgeous! 

I recently learned about a great little movement called Operation Beautiful. It's a simple but powerful idea and what's great is we can all participate. 

The mission of Operation Beautiful is to leave anonymous uplifting messages on post-it notes for people to find reminding them that they are beautiful (even if they are having a fat and/or bad hair day : ) ).  

Operation Beautiful is spreading like wildfire! Post-it notes with creative messages are popping up in grocery stores, bathrooms, mirrors, scales, lockers, you name it!

So, here's our homework:

1. Watch this 3 minute video.

2. Put a pad of post-it notes and a pen in your purse.

3. Leave thoughtful messages where you work, shop and play.

Spread the word. You will makes someone's day just a little more beautiful.

www.operationbeautiful.com

A bag that goes above and beyond

How great is this bag? I love this one, because seriously, I AM beyond blessed, but there are other sayings available or you can customize your own. I saw this bag (and borrowed the picture you see here) on www.instyle.com. You can order yours at Beyond Yoga.

Heads up, these bags are $65 but part of that cost goes to charity. 

I am beyond impressed.

Joanna Banana Ice Cream

In all honesty, I did not create this recipe, but I could have if Krista didn't beat me to it. 

I actually got this recipe from my personal trainer; she calls it something clever like "Krista's Guiltless Ice Cream" but doesn't "Joanna Banana Ice Cream" have a better ring to it? 

Anyway, here's the scoop:

- 1 banana, sliced and frozen

- 1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese (partially frozen)

- 2 packets of Splenda

Put all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. Add vanilla and cinnamon if you're up to it.

Call it what you want, just call me over when you whip up a batch.

I'm feeling a little kinky

...and by kinky, I mean the kind of kinky you get after a hard workout or sleeping funny. And when that happens, I turn to my favorite home gym accessory: my foam roller.

Seriously. Who knew an inexpensive, hard, cylinder piece of foam could be your chiropractor and your massage therapist all one? And the best part? You don't have to shave your legs before your visit. ;-)

Here is a picture of my foam roller. You use it by placing it on the ground and using your own body weight to apply pressure and massage your muscles from head to toe. It is great for warming up before a workout, cooling down after a workout, working out some knots, and increasing flexibility.

I think a video will give you a better idea so check out this clip and then pick up a foam roller at your local sporting goods store or order one online. 

It hurts so good.

I might have a drinking problem

I noticed a lot of my blogs lately have focused around beverages. Today is no exception.

Pictured here is an acrylic pitcher I recently purchased.

This fabulous find makes fruit infused water. Simply cut up some fruit, insert it down the inside tube, and then add water. I have lemon in the fridge chilling right now, but you could add limes, cucumbers, strawberries, or whatever inside.

You can buy yours at www.cooking.com. I found mine at Category One and I think I spotted one at Bed, Bath & Beyond as well.

It's kind of like what a spa tastes like, only cheaper.

Thin Mint Shake

Here's a recipe for you, it's kind of like drinking a Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookie, without the pesky Girl Scout. Just kidding, I love Girl Scouts and their calories...I mean, cookies.

Thin Mint Shake

1 scoop chocolate protein powder

Mint flavored water (Metromint Chocolate-Mint water is fantastic, but you can make your own with water and mint extract)

Ice

Blend. Enjoy.

You can find Metromint at your grocery store, usually in the organic/health food section. For a money saving coupon click here: http://www.metromint.com/coupon/

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

I went on a canoe race this morning to raise a little dough for a volunteer fire department. Now my shoulders are burning. How's that for irony?

To make sure I'm going to be able to function tomorrow, I'm going to take an epson salt bath. I try to take one epson salt bath a week to help my body recover from a weeks worth of workouts...it's great for comforting sore muscles and reducing inflammation.  

You can get epson salt at fine stores like Walmart. They even carry some with lavender that is suppose to make you sleepy---which sounds a little risky to me. So, if you decide to buy the lavender epson salt bath, make sure you call a fireman and/or life guard first in case you go under. That, or wear a life jacket. 

Sweet dreams.

The power of positive thinking....

The MAGIC Bullet

My sister has a rule: The only kitchen appliances allowed on your counter top are the ones you use more than once a week. As a result, the only appliances I have out are my coffee maker AND my Magic Bullet.

If you know me, you know that I have a great deal of passion about my Magic Bullet. It is the greatest blender ever. I use it EVERY day and in most cases, I use it more than twice a day. 

You mix up your favorite shake in the same container you drink from...which makes clean up and portability a breeze! Not only does this little gem make a mean protein shake it's also great for making iced coffee, guacamole, salsa, pancake batter, tuna salad, blended cocktails and more! 

I bought my Magic Bullet at Costco for $49, but if you're not a Costco member you can find my favorite kitchen appliance online or on end-caps at fine stores like Target and Walgreens.

If you buy the Magic  Bullet, your kitchen counter top will have a new accessory. And I guarantee you won't be picked up by the kitchen police as your daily use will keep you in compliance with my sisters appliance rules and regulations. 

Blender Bottles

Since I'm such a do-gooder, I'm trying to cut back on the amount of disposable plastic water bottles that hit the landfills.  As a result, I've been searching for alternative bottles that I can refill,  grab and take with me on the go. One of my favorite reusable water bottles is the Blender Bottle. In addition to holding good ole H2O, these bottles have a little whisk inside that are great for quickly mixing up drinks like Crystal Light or homemade lemonade. The Blender Bottle is also great for mixing up salad dressings, protein shakes, and pancake batter. How great is that?

AND! Not only are these bottles dishwasher safe, they also come in pink. 

Check out www.blenderbottle.com to learn more and order your own. Rumor has it amazon.com will sell you one, too.

Going Green on the Inside

I eat and I drink a lot of vegetables. That's right. I drink my vegetables, too.

My new obsession? Green protein shakes. Why? Because going green is all the rage (wink, wink). That, and  I believe it's important to eat a protein and a vegetable with every meal. And by every meal,  I mean every time I eat, and for me, that means 6 times a day.

So here's my recipe for my Green Protein Shake (trust me,  you won't even taste the green stuff) :

1/2 - 1 scoop Protein Powder (vanilla or chocolate)

1 handful of spinach

Water and/or chilled coffee or green tea

Ice

Blend and enjoy, Popeye! 

Coffee Talk

Want to know a little secret? I am a Tassimo addict. Tassimo is a clever little machine that makes freshly brewed single-serve coffee or tea within about 60 seconds. I first discovered this fabulous little invention in a hotel, most likely in Boston since I traveled there more than I care to admit during my stay in corporate America. Oh, the things I learned in Boston! but that's not important right now. 

Back to the subject at hand...My Tassimo. 

My Tassimo gets a daily workout that looks like this:

6:00 a.m. Morning Coffee Blend

7:00 a.m. Morning Coffee Blend

11:00 a.m. Green Tea

3:00 p.m. Green Tea

7:00 p.m. Decaf Coffee

9:00 p.m. Espresso (this cup goes in the fridge to mix in with my morning protein shake)

Go to www.tassimo.com to learn more and while you're there ask them to create a decaf green tea, because no one really needs that much coffee. 

Tassimo: It will have you bouncing out of bed and skipping to the kitchen in the morning. Ok, perhaps that's neither safe nor entirely true. Afterall, you should never, never skip without having caffeine first.