I'm in love with green tea!

Oh, Kiss Me Organics, you had me at hello!

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

I love tea, especially herbal blends. But sometimes I need a little more kick, and that's when green tea calls me. It has caffeine, but doesn't give me the shakes or upset my stomach like coffee does when I overindulge. As for cooking with green tea, that's new for me. It was, anyway, until Kiss Me Organics asked if I wanted to try their Organic Matcha Green Tea.  Not only did they send the tea, but they included a cookbook and additional recipes.

Why Matcha Green Tea?  It helped me (and others) come out of a coffee addiction without leaving the detox symptoms of quitting cold turkey.  It has antioxidants, boosts metabolism (which helps with the 2 pm slump and calorie burning),

I've enjoyed my Matcha hot, iced, in smoothies, and in green tea soy (and almond milk) lattes.  Kiss Me Organics sent an e-book filled with recipes for drinks, cocktails, dips, baked goodies, and more.  If course, I had to put my own spin on the ones I tried. I made the Refreshing Matcha Cooler (page 16) with raw instead of steamed broccoli, raw beet greens in place of the steamed spinach, raw carrot instead of juice, a lime wedge instead of juice, and almond milk instead of yogurt. Oh man, it was fab!

If I thought my family would go for it, I'd go all out with some of the baked sweets year round.  Come

St.Patrick's Day, a cake or cupcakes with a Matcha non-dairy icing will grace the table.  I know some Chocolate Rum Matcha Truffles (page 35) will hit the table before then.  Striped Pig Distillery's Rum and a coconut cream should work nicely here.

Get your bag from Kiss Me Organics on Amazon for $25.  Kiss Me Organics offers excellent customer service and follows up to share additional recipes and tips. If you don't like it, return it within 30 days for a full, no questions asked refund.

Cheers!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

What I'm reading these days

Your friendly neighborhood Sherrie has a cookbook problem. I know it and own it.  I read them like novels and can tear through one in a couple of days.  I also have a money problem, so I pick most of my books up from the library, Mr. K's (used and new, but always cheap), and free Kindle books (for reading on my Kindle app).  I've wanted to hold books more than reading text on a screen lately, so I've hit the library practically every week. Here's a sample of what I've gone through in August alone.

I first heard of Angelica Home Kitchen thanks to an early 90's copy of Vegetarian Times.  Back then I was playing with the idea of he veggie life and loved the idea of a all veg restaurant. Good book, great recipes.   

This one needs no intro.  I checked it out for more ideas on healthy whole food vegan goodness.  I like it, but don't think I need to add this one to the permanent collection. 

Between the abundance of rain, a bad spine summer, and crazy schedules,  our garden is a sad, bare wasteland.  Except for mint and huge tomato plants which may or may not bear fruit.  Microgreens, baby vegetables, and sprouts, oh my!

And, you know, I cannot leave anything these two touch unread.  And hubby is a pie addict.  Vegan versions of his beloved blueberry, pecan, and key lime pies will be mastered! At some point.

No pictured are Crazy Sexy Kitchen and Crazy Sexy Diet.   I have the Kindle versions, but can't spend all my time looking a a screen.

So, what are you reading?

My stalker

I cannot leave the room without this guy following.  If I close a door, he waits patiently for me to open it.  He literally lean against me when I lose my balance and keeps me upright on wonky days.  On painful days (like the past few days), he snuggles when I need it and just watches to make sure I'm ok.

Or maybe I'm giving him too much credit.  He's a goofy ball of love. Good boy, Victor.

Oh, the food! Semi-Wordless Wednesday

We eat well around here!  Y'all jelly?  :-)

Thoughts on Father's Day 2013

Let me start by saying that I am exhausted, in a lot of pain, and wide awake. This one may ramble a bit. Short and rambly – my new style? Nah. Maybe. We'll see.

Sometimes I really miss my dad. Father's Day is almost here and it's one of those times. My brother is celebrating his second and hubby is celebrating his 15^th (technically 14th, but R was born two weeks later. I count it). My brother, husband, and kids didn't get to meet dad, so it's weird in a way to have them celebrate him.

He'd be beaming at the mention of his grandkids. I know this because he beamed with us. When we didn't work his last nerve that is. There are many pictures of all all smiling together. Real smiles, not the family portrait smiles. And baby bro looks so much like him that it blows me away.

I envy those who still have their dads. By 'have' I mean have a good relationship with him as adults. Believe me, I know you can have someone in your life but no really have them. But that's a whole other series of posts.

Miss you, dad. I'd like to think that on some level you know how I'm doing. I think about what it would be like if you were sill here. You would like hubby. And the kids. You'd like our house. You'd be blown away by baby bro – his brilliance, sense of humor, and the resemblance. And you'd be totally wrapped around baby girl's finger. She is something else.

Happy Father's Day, Dad, Hubby, and Baby Bro. You all rock.

Random chatter

I love my husband! This was a surprise gift. 

'Ello. I'm still feeling the love after last night's Supernatural Saturday. Not a Whovian or into Orphan Black?  Give them a watch. Trust me.

What else is happening?  Well, turns out I'm not the only one in my family with back issues. Dad had some and had to wear a hard core back brace on occasion.  Thanks, dad. Cardiovascular issues and spinal issues.  But seriously, I wish you were still her so I could hassle you a little.

The spine is still kinda crumbly, but I'm going to work with instead of against them.  Can't lift or jump or run right now?  That's ok, doc.  Low impact cardio? Sweet!  Shaun T, Tai Cheng, Pilates, yoga, walking, and body weight resistance to the rescue!  I won't overdo it. I'll star with 2-3 days of more than walking and add more as I get stronger.

Shaun T and low impact don't seem to go together, right?  But before Insanity, there was Hip Hop Abs and  Rockin' Body. Besides, I love dancing. I spent many, many nights (weeknights and weekends) dancing and still have random afternoon dance breaks.  And, you know, he is very nice to look at and listen to.  I mean inspirational.  I meat hot.  I mean motivating.  Actually, he's all of the above.

 Interested in Rockin' Body or Hip Hop Abs?
'They're on sale for $19.95 each right now.  

So, do you want to share random chatter with me?  Food, drink, fitness, dance, other? Give me a shout.

Until next time, peace.

March Challenge - You in?

I'll hit the big 44 on March 30 and am celebrating the milestone by kicking up the wellness a notch.  Care to join me?  

You don't have to buy anything.  You just have to commit to 30 days of something better for you health.  Cleaner eating, regular exercise, mediation, less coffee - you decide.  Me, I'll be eating cleaner (vegetarian, good fats, lots of produce and good protein) and starting Chalean Extreme (strength training for increased strength and fat burning).  These are my goals, my plan for the month (and beyond).  What are yours?

The goal is to push beyond where I am now.  I am my own competition.  Well, and hubby in a way.  We challenge each other to move toward our goals and sort of compete to see if my home workouts or his gym workouts are better.  I know home workouts are better for me, period.  The hermit in me would rather get my sweat on without the potential audience.  The dogs watch, but they get bored and move on.  I'm sure people are focused on their own workouts at the gym, but in my mind, they're peeking over at the limping big girl, wondering why she's bothering.

I know.  It's my messed up way of thinking.  I'm working on it.

But for March, it'll be a better focus on better eating, lifting heavy four days a week, and at least one cardio workout on a fifth.  For cardio, I'll mix it it between my favs.  Why Chalean Extreme?  Shorter workouts (which my aching back will appreciate), lots of lifting (which I love), and less cardio (not my favorite thing).  I lift now, but I don't think I'm lifting enough or following the most effective routine.  So I'm turning to an expert.

So, what do you say  - wanna kick it up with me in March?  Join me here, G+, or on Facebook.  How will you challenge yourself?

Until next time, peace!    

So, who has the Sherrie Voodoo Doll?

Whatever I did to offended or upset you, I'm sorry.  

The funky, instant rash on my hand was genius.  And your timing?  Flawless.  Not only did you make it happen and fade before my doc's appointment, you brought it back a day and a half later.  Nice.

This ick kicking my butt?  Great move.  I feel like crud and cannot think clearly.  And having the fever kick in today?  Well done.

Now please, I beg you, please cut it out.

I'll be going back to bed now.