How I'm staying cool

Ah, summer. Glad you're finally here. I love nothing more than high temperatures, over-sized sunglasses and lounging around by the pool reading trashy magazines and high-brow novels. Alright, you got me, I don't read trashy magazines. I rarely even buy magazines (but am currently on a little Runner's World kick, ha, get it?).

Yesterday I had a great deal of inspiration to keep myself cool, but also staying semi-healthy to make up for the liquid calorie fest in which I'd indulged the night before.

After breakfast, I had this craving for carnival fare. However it'd have to wait. Lunch was the leftover "light dinner" I was supposed to have at Applebees, but instead binge drank. The meal itself wasn't half bad. It was on the lighter options: Grilled Shrimp with Island Rice and Veggies. I had several skewers of very spicy and deliciously flavored shrimp, steamed veggies and the most surprising and wonderful rice I've had in a very long time! Why island rice, you might ask?? Oh, because it was FULL of tropical flavors, inside the seemingly average side of rice they stuffed slices of mandarin oranges and one of my favorite fruits of all -- PINEAPPLE! Went well with the piña colada I had the night prior, hehe. The rice was a very tasty surprise and I might have to make this at home some time. In all the dish was 550 calories, but since I only had half of it the night before I had extra room for my carnival-inspired snack. Sidenote: I beefed up my lunch by adding some more veggies because I had eaten most of them at dinner. In went some edamame and carrots then it all went into the microwave for Round 2 of eating.

Do you like to eat crappy carnival food? The 4th of July is rapidly approaching and I could NOT wait until then. Last summer I visited my sister in Newport Beach and she told me about how much she looooves frozen bananas. Intrigued, I purchased one but was not pleased. The banana was WAY too hard to eat, but the chocolate melted by the second. It tasted alright, but it was hard work!

So I bring you my healthier take on this goodie. I've had a banana in the freezer for quite some time now. Putting it aside on the counter for five-ish minutes, I whipped up a bowl of microwave chocolate! The contents included a handful of semi-sweet chocolate chips, a splash of milk, a veeeeery tiny cube of butter and a spoonful of Maranatha's dark chocolate almond spread. Frankly, I didn't have the patience to wait for it to melt on a double boiler, nor the patience to clean it up, so in the microwave it all went. Two minutes later I had creamy, blended melted chocolate, with a dark twist.

Upon finishing I sliced off the ends of the semi-thawed banana and set forth with the daunting task of peeling a frozen banana. Which, wasn't actually difficult at all! Since I lacked the foresight to put a stick in the banana when I froze it, I plopped it down on some parchment paper and spooned the chocolate right onto the banana. Then rolled it around in some chopped walnuts and indulged in some girly, pink sprinkles.

Don't judge: I know this looks disturbing but it's SOOO GOOOD!!!

Perfection! My only complaint is that I left the banana out to thaw for too long. Imagine that. It kept sliding out of its chocolate casing, but still, was like a party in my mouth. A 4th of July party? Maybe. I'll let you know next week.

During the afternoon, Woodstock started to get a little stir crazy, so I had to find a way to occupy him. While it's taken four months, he's starting to understand asking to go outside to do his business!! YAAAAY!!! Every time he had to go, he did it outside yesterday and once today. This is a big day, people!!! But, he loved it outside so much, he brought the outdoors in. I was reading blogs and before I knew it, an entire flower bush sat in my dining room. What the heck?!? I attempted to put it back outside, but I think the damage is done.

I didn't do it!!

This is why we can't have nice things.

The two of us were by ourselves because J.D. was out for the second night. I was a good girl and cleaned the house after being away for two weeks took the dog out for a loooong run at the dog park after his destructive little afternoon. Time whizzed by, I didn't even realize we'd been there for an hour! But I think Woodstock made a girlfriend there ;) He played with a short-hair lady weenie FOR-EVER! They were so cute. He was actually kind of sad to leave.

When I came back home, I played around with that new basil plant I purchased. Because I'm silly and forgot to buy tomatoes and mozz. Oops.

Instead, I was craving a green smoothie! What do you want from me, I'm sick?!?! I can have breakfast for dinner if I so please :) So I tested out a Basil Green Smoothie:

• 1 peach
• 1/2 c blueberries
• 1/2 c strawberries
• 1/2 c mixed melon
• 1 c spinach
• 6 basil leaves
• 1/2 c skim milk
• 1/2 c orange juice
• 1/2 scoop Aria protein powder
• splash raspberry extract
• handful of ice

And you know what, it actually turned out pretty good! I may have gone overboard with the basil, so if you're a first-timer, maybe opt for a little less. I'm a huge fan of basil in desserts, especially with strawberries. I sampled after the addition of each ingredient so that's where the tweak of raspberry extract came from. And the orange juice; I had so much basil it needed to be cut with some acidity. For those of you who are pros at green smoothies: HOW DO YOU GET THEM SO GREEN?!?! Mine always look sickly brownish. I did notice, however, after refrigerating the other half that it appeared to have gotten greener after about 20 minutes. Thicker too. Interesting, maybe that's the trick??

I imagine this would be good with more strawberries, mango or even a banana to absorb the savory flavors. I was just a little banana-ed out today and my mango's not ripe enough yet. It could use some playing around with, but it turned out to be pretty darn good.

If you're craving a sweet, fruity smoothie this is not the thing for you! However, I wanted fried egg whites and toast with lemon curd, so it was the perfect compliment to a salty-sweet meal. Last night I started attacking our pile of post-vacation laundry because in just over and hour we're off to brunch with J.D.'s parents. I hear they have an omelet bar so you KNOW my camera will be in tow.

Question: What kind of smoothies do you like?? Do you ever get adventurous with weird flavors?