Quote of the Week - Blue

Everyone has those, terrible - horrible - no good - very bad, days. 

If you continue your negative way of thinking, you will continue to have those bad days. 

So, cheer up buttercup! The sun WILL come out tomorrow.

I found this little gem on a girlfriends Facebook page & could not help but repost it! 

I think little Hannah has the right idea. Sometimes, you need to simplify your life to make yourself happy. 

So, like she says, if you're feeling blue, try painting yourself a different color :) 

Happy days are here again! 

Cajun Veggie Jambalaya

OH MY GOSH. One word - DELICIOUS.

 

 

Let me just say first, this is the first time I have ever made jambalaya & I'm hooked!

Like most of my recipes, I did my research...looked up probably 20-25 recipes and combinded some to make my own creation. I can credit Emeril Lagasse as the main contributor. Usually, my recipes are 100% vegetarian but I had dinner guests so I made a special veggie version for myself and added shrimp and sausage to theirs.

 

Let's just say, there were no leftovers so I had to share this with you.

 

Ingredients:

 

1 tblsp creole seasoning - recipe follows

2 tblsp EVOO

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

1 large red pepper, chopped

3-4 celery stalks, chopped

6 garlic cloves, chopped

1/2 tomatoes, chopped

2 tsp worechestershire sauce

2 tsp hot sauce

1 cup quinoa (or rice)

3 cups chicken stock

1 lbs shrimp, deribbed & cleaned

1 sausage, decased

 

Creole Seasoning: - Please note, you will have extra, you will not use all of this seasoning.

 

2 tblsp paprika

2 tblsp garlic salt

1 tblsp black pepper

1 tblsp onion powder

1 tblsp cayenne pepper

1 tblsp dried oregano

1 tblsp dried thyme

 

Directions:

 

1. Mix all seasonings together in a bowl thoroughly.
2. In a bowl, combine shrimp and enough seasoning as you wish. Note it is spicy.
3. In a large saucepan, heat EVOO on medium heat. Add onion, pepper and celery; cook until soft.
4. Add garlic and tomatoes and liquids.
5. Stir in quinoa and slowly add broth. Reduce heat to medium and cook until the broth is mostly absorbed, stirring occasionally.
6. If you are to add meat, add it now.
7. Season with the creole seasoning to taste. Again, spicy, add slow and taste!
 

I served this meal with jalepeno chedder jiffy cornbread muffins and a green salad of arugula. I added both on top of my bowl of jambalaya :)

 

ENJOY!

MEAN GIRLS

I don't know about you people...but I am a nice freakin person! 

I mean, unless you do something to deserve the mean-ness, cause then the claws come out. No seriously, I'm a Leo, I have claws. But 99.9%, I'm a good person - HELL, I'll even go as far as say I'm a good stranger! 

I usually like to think that other people have the same attitude. Why put so much effort into disliking a stranger or acquaintance when you could just be nice or at least civil. DAMN! 

Well lately, I've been introduced to more asshole girls than not. 

GIRL ON GIRL HATE HAS GOT TO STOP!

You assholes are giving us a bad name. You wonder why girls are called bitchy and jealous. Isn't it easier to just be friends with someone. Likely, you will never see that other person again, why leave a bad taste in their mouths. Once you are a bitch, no matter how many times you may apologize later, you will still be labeled, that bitch. 

It makes you look dumb, petty and insecure. 

Just be nice. Pass the positive vibes around. Who knows, you may end up being really good friends with that person?! 

People are just humans. Humans make mistakes. If you have "good" reason to dislike a person before you meet them, remember that point. Also...don't you remember high school? Rumors are made by humans. Don't believe everything you hear people! And most of all, don't judge someone by another's opinion! Are you really that naive to not go out of your way to make your own judgement?

Bullying isn't just in schools, it carries it's ugly ways into adulthood. And I'm pretty damn sure that if you're a bully still, you will be lonely and miserable your entire life. 

Take a chance. Believe in the greater good of people. Go out of your way to be nice or befriend someone. 

Remember, everyone is human. If you realize that you were bitchy to someone, simply apologize and try to start over. Or at least next time, be nice, cause MEAN PEOPLE SUCK! I bet you 100x that people will respect you so much more to admit you were wrong than if you kept being an ugly person.

Whether you are positive or negative, nice or mean, a bitch or all smiles...it is contagious. Make sure you're spreading the right thing. 

Or next time, you might get bitch-slapped and well that's just embarrassing. 

Smoothie Recipe

It's been awhile since I have blogged because I have been traveling for business. Blah. Thought I would jump-start my blog just like I jump-started my fitness again. 

This is what I call paradise! A smoothie that is super quick to make, delicious to drink, HEALTHY and a machine that is easy to clean. What more can you ask for? 

BERRY BANANA SMOOTHIE

Ingredients:

1 frozen banana 

1/2 cup of frozen blueberries

1/2 cup of Greek yogurt

1/2 cup of orange juice - I use sugar free, natural, organic

1 tbsp of Chia seeds

1 tbsp of flax seed

(optional: other berries of your choice) 

Machine: I use the Hamilton Beach Personal Travel Blender. My brother got it for me for a Christmas gift, sweet boy, but I looked it up on Amazon and found it for as little as $13.00. I highly recommend it! Super easy to use & super easy to clean. But of course, you can use anything you have. 

Directions:

1. I put the juice in first so the blade has something to stir. 
2. Then, dump all the other ingredients in and hold the button until your desired consistency.
3. Take the blender off and go! OR Pour in another glass and go! 
4. To clean...here is my little trick. Rinse, add a bit of dish soap and then blend again!! You are blending the hot water and cleaner! Rinse again with hot water & boom! You're done. #pinterestproblems 

No, seriously. GO! Go to the gym! Work your butt off. And come home and make another smoothie!