Green Monster Challenge

Normally, when a New England girl says "Green Monstah" she is referring to a dear 36 foot, 2 inch left field wall in the only ballpark on Earth that matters.  However, I am steering away from popular convention to talk about a different Green Monster. I recently stumbled upon this blog where Angela shares the "Green Monster Movement".  Angela combines spinach or kale, seeds, powders, fruit and milk to create an amazing energy smoothie full of nutrients and incorporating so many healthy foods into her daily diet that some of us struggle to include regularly (ahem, me).  According to her, working these smoothies into her daily diet has increased her energy enormously, decreased her cravings for sweets (who couldn't use help with that?!) cleared up her skin, and made her hair and nails stronger.  Sounds good to me!  Almost too good.  But, it can never hurt to get more of those healthy, nutrient dense foods into your diet right?  So, I challenged myself to have at least three Green Monster smoothies a week for a month.  As a bonus, I get to use my favorite kitchen appliance, my Magic Bullet, and whatever fruit I have on hand.  Here we go!

Week 1: Attempt #1
Combined fresh strawberries, fresh mango, a banana, nonfat vanilla yogurt, and a handful of baby spinach.  Blend in Magic Bullet.

So, it wasn't very green, and admittedly, I could have used more baby spinach, but I just didn't buy that you couldn't taste it in the smoothie.  I really couldn't though!  It was quite tasty and you don't have to take my word for it, the pictures speak for themselves.  That's right, my super picky 16 month old is consuming spinach.  Haha!  She'll never know!

OK, OK, Attempt #2
Combined fresh mango, a banana, nonfat vanilla yogurt, and as much baby spinach as I could fit.  Much more green, and still really good!  Oh, and Miss T is catching on.  When she hears the Magic Bullet, she comes running for mummy's smoothie.  Attempts to give her a cup of her own fail, she just wants mine. sigh.  Well, it was so good that I made one ahead of time for the next morning to save myself some time.  Hubs came home from work wanting a smoothie, so I graciously offered him that one.  He liked it, but said he could taste the spinach.  I doubt it.  When I make a lasagne with tofu in the ricotta cheese he never notices, but if I mention it, all of a sudden he was all too aware of the offending soy product.  Anyways...

Attempt #3
Before heading to work, combined fresh strawberries, nonfat vanilla yogurt, as much baby spinach as I could.  Took this one to go on my walk to work.  I had just enough time to finish my smoothie by the time I arrived at my floor.  Delicious.  And, it didn't really take all that much time to make.  Plus, I noticed that my usual 10:00am sweet snack craving was mysteriously missing.  Hmm, we may be on to something.

Unfortunately, I've run out of fresh fruit.  Fortunately, I just remembered that we have bags of frozen fruit that I use to make T's baby food.  Seriously, I just remembered that as I was typing this post.  Maybe I need to add some ingredients that will help with memory.  Or maybe just get more sleep.  Anyhow.  I've missed a day, but I'll be back on the smoothie wagon tomorrow!  My original goal was to do 3 a week, but I'm finding that I'm enjoying them so much, that's not much of a challenge!

One thing I will mention is that these smoothies are thick and tend to give me a green "Kool-aid" mustache.  I may have to invest in some straws.  Perhaps some of these cool reusable glass ones?  Or these stainless steel ones?

Check out Angela's blog for her recipes and those submitted by other readers, or just do what I do and use what you have!

It's all fun and games

Miss T had her 9 month check up yesterday. 
Even though she is a lazy little butt, and is perfectly content not to:
crawl,
roll,
pull herself up,
or cruise
she is a wonderfully healthy little girl. :^)

Since I like to brag about her, here are her stats:

Head 43.5 cm = ~50th percentile
Weight 17 lbs, 1 oz. = ~20th percentile
Height 28 in. = ~60th percentile

Anyways, in the monthly motor skills evaluation, there were several questions that I simply couldn't answer about her development.
Not because I don't spend every available waking moment with her
Not because I couldn't understand the question
But, because the question was about a nursery game that I had no idea
I was supposed to be playing with her.

Now, I've never been the kind of woman who oohs and ahhs over every single baby I see, and I certainly didn't dream about becoming a mom until just a couple of years before Miss T's arrival.  So, I was horribly unprepared for the enormity of nursery  protocols that I'm just supposed to know about!

Well, wouldn't you know, my free American Baby Magazine has a nice little article in this months issue about the essential nursery games. 
On their website, they have a list of those you need to know.
I know 6 out of 10.  I'm so sorry Miss T!  Oy.
I have a lot of catching up to do.
Wouldn't you know, the one that was on the sheet at the doctor's office 
is also on this list.
Guess I should have known that one.  Bad mommy, bad mommy.
 
I'll admit which one, I don't know the "Soooo big" game. 
There. 
I said it. 
Phew, that feels better.
 
If there are any others out there, who also have just about no clue, the Just Mommies websites and a quick little description about this one and a few others.
 
I guess, instead of reading all those pregnancy books, I should have been reading nursery rhyme books to prepare for this phase of motherhood. 
How big of a silly mommy am I? 
Soooo big!