berry berry good

Recently I started a new Saturday morning tradition. I don't set my alarm (let's be real, my internal alarm clock doesn't believe in sleeping past 8:30 anyway), I get a big cup of coffee and crawl back into bed to read. This morning my reading material of choice was the June SELF edition.

An article about sunscreen stuck out to me.

Do you know what is a great combination with wearing sunscreen?

Eating berries.

Berries contain antioxidants, beneficial in vitamins C and E, which help to fight free radicals (unstable, damaging electrons that can lead to cancer).

Green tea is also great for suncare-it contains catechins, antioxidants said to be beneficial for long lives. 

Whether you like berries and green tea or not, it is SO important to lather up on the sunscreen. I put sunscreen on under my makeup every morning, no matter what. If I am at the beach or on a run, I wear a hat. 

A few years back when my friends and I were at the beach for senior week, they might have been calling me "soccer mom" for wearing a baseball hat at the beach. I didn't care-it worked.

While I still love a good baseball cap, this year I got a nice floppy, stylish hat for days in the  backyard pool.

from here

Now go grab a handful or two of berries, a hat, SELF magazine, and enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!

back in the ring

After a few months of a kickboxing hiatus, I took a class tonight. I have been doing it in my basement but it is just not to same to be without an instructor. I forgot how awesome it feels to literally kick somebodies butt. When I think back on all of the reasons that I began to love kickboxing, (maybe I will share on this blog someday?), I am thankful for them. They have led me to so many new things that I discovered I love!

Holy Guacamole

Lately I have been so hungry for guacamole! I was never fond of it before but lately I have been craving it like crazy. I experimented with my own recipe last weekend which was great, but still not as good as this:

In moderation, guacamole is great! Avocados contain monounsaturated fats which can lower cholesterol levels. These are good fats (but still fat, so don't go crazy). They also contain sodium, potassium, fiber and vitamins.

All in all, guacamole is a great choice every once in a while. Just be careful not to pair it with salty, fried chips every time!

Raspberry Chocolate Green Monster

I used to be one of those people who never got sick. A cold, the flu, anything...it didn't phase me.
That was until I started working with kids full-time. What I thought was allergies earlier this week has had me in bed all day today. I have plans tomorrow night that I am eager to participate in, thus I have been drinking my weight in vitamins and antioxidants!

Here is a smoothie I just made that was perfect. I have been on the green-monster kick for a while but this one takes the cake.

Raspberry Chocolate Green Monster
1 cup Kale
1 cup ice
1/2 cup soy milk
1 container Raspberry greek yogurt (I used Oikos but normally Chobani)
blueberries
strawberries
tiny bit of chocolate protein powder

Health facts about this smoothie

Kale: Iron, Vitamins K, C, A, calcium.

Soy milk: Calcium

Greek yogurt: protein

Blueberries: antioxidants

Strawberries: Vitamin C, fiber, antioxidants