Saladicious in a Glass

I had another friend ask me for the ingredients for my yummalicious morning smoothie again and as I was giving her the ingredients, I was thinking how fun it would be to see them all in a big bowl.  This is what I "drink" every morning.

I throw all of this in my Ninja blender and have the most delicious two big glasses of green over the course of the morning.  It is so sweet and refreshing.  No kidding, it feels like it immediately fills you with light and energy.  It fills me up to lunch. I usually am actually not hungry until a late lunch time.

Saladicious in a Glass

1. Put 1.5 to 2 cups of WATER in blender.
2. Add one FROZEN BANANA (I keep a bag of peeled bananas always in the fridge).
3. Add about a cup of FROZEN PINEAPPLE.
4. Add a couple big handfuls of KALE.
5. Add a couple big handfuls of SPINACH. 
6. Cut up one APPLE (any kind -- I like apples that are less sweet because the banana and pineapple are sweet enough).
7. Peel one ORANGE (I cut the peel off - it's much faster).
8. Put in 2 or 3 tablespoons of HEMP SEED.
9. Put in 2 or 3 tablespoons of GROUND FLAX.

And, yes the blender will be completely FULL, and you'll wonder how it's all going to work out!  Never fear!  Blend on high for as long as it takes for everything -- including the kale, which tends to take longest -- to blend up nice and smoothe.

Drink the elixir of the Gods.  It is so sweet and delicious.  It does NOT taste anything like vegetables.  It tastes fruity, sweet, and light. 

Lazy Healthy Buon Appetito!

Katydids Done Teached Me!

This lovely lady Katydid, whom I was referring to as a boy grasshopper for days joined us in our home several days ago.  The first day she was hanging out on the white black out curtains near the patio door.  The second day she hung out with my dad in front of his picture.  The third day she hung out with Buddha.  And, for the last two or three days she's been on the TV.  I thought she was into the Olympics.

I was worried that she was sick because she hasn't gone outside.  Yesterday I brought her some spinach and leaves -- when I thought she was a he grasshopper.  This morning I found her with one little teeny pellet under her.  The cleaning lady was just here two days ago so I knew it wasn't dirt.  I thought she must have pooped.  A few hours later there were four and when I saw there were four, I noticed one had infintessimally small little antenna!  She's a momma!

And, I'm a katydid grandma.  I'm gonna go out and buy little bonnetts.  No pacifiers needed.  They are quiet.  I gave her a tiny leaf shaped bowl of water and some fresh grass, but apparently she has all she needs.

I started my day by burying a dragonfly. I love dragonflies and had found one on my floor yesterday. I carried it to the orchid and it opened its wings a few times, but it was clearly not in good shape.  This morning it was lifeless, so I buried it with the rosemary tree so I won't forget it.  I thought it was a bad omen to have one die in my presence.  It was about an hour after I buried it that the katydid moved from the orchid to the top of the TV and laid her egg. 

Had she not moved to the top of the TV from the more natural place to have her babies -- in the orchid plant -- I wouldn't have seen the life.

I know this is a great lesson to not be so attached.  I am so sensitive to creatures dying, I have stopped the feeds of friends on Facebook who post photos of suffering animals. I am overly-sensitive to it all. 

But, apparently, the katydid also has another meaning. I own this book but can't find it for the life of me.  Luckily I found a blog writer who had my exact experience of having a katydid alight in her life. From the Best of Mother Earth blog (http://bestofmotherearth.com/2008/08/24/the-katydid.html):

The book Animal Wise by Ted Andrews said: These animals teach us how to blend and shift our energies, to change how we have been approaching things. We may during this time try doing things a different way. These animals often show up in the beginning of a new endeavor when individuals are initiating new lines of work and creative activities.

Synchronistically I am starting a big new project AND I am also doing my best to reignite the fires of my book when not feeling incredibly well. I wrote 150 pages pretty easily over the course of five months, but I have a long way to go to craft it into a good book, so I've been at an impasse.  Perhaps Katy will be my good luck charm in turning the tides, and in doing things differently.  I'm going to say she is.

And, I'm going to remind myself that the Lazy Way to look at death is as much a part of life as life.  One creature dies.  Another is born.

And, I love the way Thich Nat Hanh speaks of death as just a changing of forms.  As Hanh quotes the soul that has passed looking down at his still living love: "Darling, don't you see me in my new form?" 

Here's to Lazy flowing transformation....Gotta go get baby katydid bonnets for the babies now at the local Katydids R Us.

Flax to the Max -- A Yummy Lazy Health Tip

I've been indulging in the wonders of flax seed probably for over 20 years.  When I first learned of its benefits I was told to take the seeds and grind them in my coffee grinder.  Eating whole flax seeds is not as good for you.  Grinding them allows for all thier nutty goodness, oils and enzymes to run free in your system.  

I dutifully ground my own flax seeds for years until, well.... until I became a Lazy Woman!  Lazy Women make smart choices about where their energy is going to be spent.  I simply chose not to make that effort.  

I switched to Flax Seed Oil and lost steam on that one because I didn't find it as versatile as the ground flax.   Several months ago I accidentally ran into the Ground Flax Seed at Whole Foods. Good times.  I had always thought that already ground seeds must not be as potent as freshly ground.  In fact that may be true, but if it's a choice of not eating flax seeds or eating, I think this is a good Lazy choice for me.   Since I have a smoothie each morning, it's super easy to throw a couple tablespoons in my smoothie each morning, and it just adds a slightly nutty flavor. It is such a potent supplement that is really easy to use.



If you have high cholesterol, diabetes, inflammation, heart disease, menopausal symptoms, digestive issues, or oh my God so many other things (google it!) -- Flax Seed will help your system!

If you don't have a smoothie every day, there are lots of creative things you can do with flax seed, including sprinkling them on salads, fruit, grains, etc.  I actually love the flavor of ground flax seed on brown rice.  Yummy!  I learned that trick from a Japanese Restaurant in NY in the 80's!  

But, here is a new one. The other day when I was at Whole Foods, they had samples out of banana slices sprinkled with Ground Flax Seed.  So yummy, and a great afternoon snack that tastes nutty and delicious.  I've had it a few days since trying it.  I actually like it best when the bananas are cold.  Room temp is great too, and maybe it's because it's Summer, but a cold sliced banana with Ground Flax Seed sprinkled on top has an extra little kick.

Buon Lazy Healthy Appetito to all!