A Green Monster, a Strange Dog, and Boots that Don't Walk.

Hello all! Happy Wednesday!

Yesterday was such a fabulous day, after hearing that I was given the Liebster, I also found out that I won the $50 Kirkland's gift card from the giveaway over at Savvy Southern Style! (She has a really fun blog, go check her out, I'll wait!) I told you! Fantastic blog, right?

Anyhoo... today I am starting the day with a Green Monster, 

 It's non-fat greek unsweetened yogurt, organic pomegranate juice, 2 fist fulls of organic baby spinach, a cup or so of frozen organic blueberries, and 3 or 4 slices of organic frozen peaches. Oh, and a squeeze of local honey, just to sweeten a bit.

 It's really delicious, and trust me, you CAN NOT taste the spinach!

Now, about that strange dog... we had to say goodbye to our beloved 10 year old golden retriever Libby a few months ago (R.I.P. , sweet girl), and it has been a huge adjustment not to have a dog in the house!

I was out at Home Goods not long ago, and saw the quirkiest dog statue, and for some reason, I wanted it to come home with me and sit on the staircase. Mind you, I have never bought a statue before. EVER.

But here is our new dog, and so far, she has not shed at all! ;-)

 See? I told you she was strange! I have NO earthly idea why I was determined to bring her home!

 Maybe for the whimsy? She has really weird ears. They look almost human. Hehe.

 But still, there she sits. In Libby's old spot. Maybe it just made me sad to have to look at the empty space that Libby used to like to occupy. Or, maybe a strange looking dog statue just makes me smile... 

This was our sweet Liberty Bell just a few days before she passed away. See? She's much prettier. (No offense, quirky statue dog.) 

 And finally, my boots that don't walk. I spotted these in one of my local antique stores, and fell in love with them. I plan for them to hold vintage umbrellas, but for now, I filled them with a few sticks.

I am on the lookout for some vintage umbrellas, and a fun little bench to fill the empty spot to the left, that I purposely cut out of the pic. ;-)

Hope you are all having a fabulous day! I am getting ready for my parents to fly in from Nashville for a visit tomorrow! So excited! Better go get those chores done!

xo

-Lisa

Healthy Life Post # 2. Carrot Apple Ginger Juice.

Good Morning! Happy Tuesday everyone!

Today I drew a blank when I sat down to write a post. I am mid way through about 18 different projects right now, and may possibly need an intervention of some kind! I am like a ping pong ball at times, bouncing back and forth from project to project. My goal this week, is to SLOW DOWN, and focus on getting one thing completed at a time. (Probably not gonna happen though! Crazy ping pong-ing is just how I roll!) Maybe a more realistic goal would be to reign it in, and focus on the few things I KNOW I can complete this week! Does anyone else suffer from this crazy design ADD/OCD thing? Tell me I am not alone!

So, in the interest of a healthy, zen like focus today, I thought I would share the juice I made.

It is very refreshing, and is a nice change from my usual green juice. Plus, any time I drink my fresh juice, I feel like a million bucks! It's a great way to get a ton of nutrients quickly. Love that!

Carrot Apple Ginger Juice.

I use the Breville Juicer. I talked about it in my Delicious Green Juice post.

Here are the ingredients. I use organic fruits and veggies. Wash everything, and slice lemon in half, core apple, and top carrots. (Though you could juice carrot tops, I think, but I don't.)

 I used 2 granny smith apples, 1 gala apple, 8-10 carrots (depending on size, mine were not that big), 1 lemon, and a hunk of ginger. If you are new to juicing, I would suggest using about half this amount of ginger. It's got a lot of zing to it. I use a lot, since it keeps inflammation in the body at bay. Chronic disease, like autoimmune diseases, cancer, and so many others need inflammation in the body to thrive. Ginger is an excellent anti-inflammatory. And, as a cancer survivor, I strive every day to eat tons of anti-inflammatory veggies and fruits.

 This was truly the best thing my husband EVER brought home. Believe it or not, I was reluctant about it!

 Fresh juice is ready in under a minute. NOT kidding!

 The **KEY** is to use LOTS of ice. It is soooo much better when it's super cold!

 It usually makes between 20 and 25 ounces. I drink a large glass, and my son a small glass. He loves it, by the way! He drinks the green juice I make also! Not bad for a picky 5 year old! That should give you an indication of how yummy it is!

 If there is any left over in the pitcher, I give us a small re-fill.

Cheers! 

Maybe this will give me the razor sharp focus I need, in order to prioritize my projects today! 

Really, please tell me I'm not the only ping-pong-er out there!??

Here's to a productive, fun day!

See you tomorrow!

xo

-Lisa

Lemon Pasta Salad with Chicken.

Good Morning! Well, it's Monday alright! 

Why are Monday mornings so much harder than any other day of the week? It's not like I was out clubbing last night!! (Or for the last decade, for that matter!) I was home and in my jammie pants by 9pm. (Granted I do stay up late, but still...) I can not figure out why Monday's are different from any other day? Maybe it's just having the two days off from the crazy morning before school thing?? Whatever. He's at school, and mama has until 5pm today. (Thanks to Grandma!!) Can I get an Amen?

This weekend I made one of my, dare I say...WARM WEATHER favorites for a picnic at the beach. I got this recipe a few years back from my friend Mia. I was not even a huge lemon fan back then, (I am now) but this dish is so refreshing and yummy!! I gave you a sneak peek in yesterday's post. It is so easy and my family loves it. Wanna see?

Here it is...

 I just served it with sliced tomato and cucumber that I threw into another container for our picnic.

 I had a loaf of organic french bread from Whole Foods with it also. I am not a big bread person, but the boys ARE!

I had it for lunch yesterday also. And I broke out my "new to me" thrifty find chargers that I posted about here.

 Look at that fresh grated Parmesan Cheese. Mmm-mmm!

Here's the recipe...

Lemon Pasta with Chicken.

• 1lb. Pasta -(I used Fusili. I usually like Gemelli, but I could not find it in the store.)
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• The Zest of 1 Lemon
• The juice of 1to 11/2 Lemons
• 1/2 cup Green Onion chopped
• 1/4 cup FRESH parsley chopped
• LOTS of shredded FRESH Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese.
• 1 Rotisserie Chicken (Using only the breast meat) (I buy organic at Whole Foods. SO good!) If you would rather make your own chicken, use the cooked meat from 1 whole breast. (2 boneless halves.)

Bring lots of salted water to a boil in a 4 to 6 quart pan. I actually use half chicken broth, half water for extra flavor. (I do this a lot with grains too.) Boil until al dente. Chop onions and parsley and put in large bowl. Add olive oil, and lemon zest and juice. 

Drain pasta but do not rinse. Let pasta cool almost completely before tossing with green onion, parsley, lemon, and olive oil. While pasta cools, dice or shred chicken. Make sure that it has cooled a bit also. Add to large bowl. 

Once the pasta is cool, I just dump it in on top of all of the ingredients, and toss gently. Great a generous amount of Parmesan cheese on top of the pasta and give it a toss. (I like a lot of cheese, but add to suit yourself.)

That's it. Super easy and YUMMY!!

Hope you all have a great day! I am going to take advantage of my RARE extra time today. I am hitting the antique stores before I head to the gym for a hard workout! Then I get to come home and clean, clean, clean! Whoo-hoo! Every girl's dream, right? ;-) 

Actually, I kind of like it. I always feel amazing when it's done, and then I sit for 5 minutes and take it all in with a satisfied grin before it gets destroyed by my little hurricane. (Oh, AND the big one too!-Actually more the big guy!)

See you tomorrow!

xo

-Lisa

Linking to the following...

Today's Creative Blog

Meatless Meal. Chickpea Pasta with Almonds and Parmesean.

Hey Everyone! Hope you are having a great day! 

Since we try to limit the amount of animal protein we eat here at Casa Budget Design Girl, I thought I would share one of our favorite recipes. This is a recipe that I got from my sister, and so far, everyone that we have served it to LOVES it! 

It is so deilsh!

Here is the recipe.

Chickpea Pasta With Almonds and Parmesean.

1T. olive oil

3 cloves garlic

7 cups low sodium chicken broth (I use organic.)

1/2 t. red pepper flakes (I use more like 1/4 t.)

Kosher salt

1 pound multigrain spaghetti or angel hair pasta 

1 15oz can Chickpeas (I use organic.) Drained and rinsed.

1 Cup flat leaf parsley

1/2 Cup grated fresh parmesan cheese

Chopped almonds (or I have also used raw pecans) to taste for topping.

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over med-high heat

Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the broth, red pepper, and 3/4 t. salt and bring to a boil.

Add the pasta and cook, stirring, until the broth is nearly absorbed and the pasta is al dente, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chickpeas and the parsley. 

Divide among individual bowls and top with parmesan and chopped nuts.

...Just serve it with a big salad and some bread, if you like. 

Bon Appetit! 

xo

-Lisa
Linking up to the following...
Stone Gable: On the Menu Monday

Sweet Sunday Morning. Dairy-Free and Thrifty!

Don't you just love the pace of Sundays? Ahhhh. I really don't feel guilty if I spend a little time looking through my magazines, the paper, or a good book.

This morning at our house we are going dairy free. I bought some Almond milk, and some coconut milk creamer (hazelnut flavored) for coffee. My son is lactose intolerant, and I usually buy Lactose free milk, but I've been wanting to get away from that for a while now. So, on my last trip to Whole Foods, I picked up these...

You know what? We really liked them! I had the Almond milk with some granola, and my son actually drank a glass of it! I think we can do it! Even if only part time, initially. Actually this almond milk is cheaper than the lactose free milk I normally buy for the little guy. (Bonus!)

While I sat perusing a new book I picked up, the little guy drew pictures at the table. *sigh* I love quiet time!

 The book has some interesting tips.

My son working on his "construction site" drawing.

Hope you all have a nice end to the weekend!

xo

-Lisa

Blogging, Breakfast, and Meal Planning.

Well, it's Monday, and I find myself playing catch up today! Got up, made kiddo breakfast, packed his lunch for lunch bunch, and hurried off to school.

I decided to come back home, and get my ducks in a row this morning. Besides, I needed more coffee, and had not eaten breakfast. While I was checking email, making my list for today, having breakfast, and trying to figure out my meal plan this week, it occurred to me that #1- I am a crazy multi-tasker, and #2- This would make a good post for a Monday. I KNOW that I am not the only one running around like a chicken with my head cut off on this (or any other) Monday!!

Here's what my Morning looks like right now...

 I like to sit at my kitchen island to blog. (And have breakfast, and make lists, and plan dinners!) :-)

 I am looking through some of my favorite cookbooks. The World Kitchen -William Sonoma, Clean Start -Terry Walters, and If it Makes You Healthy- Sheryl Crow & Chuck White. I like to eat clean and organic, and have done so since my Cancer diagnosis almost 3 years ago.

My breakfast today is greek non-fat yogurt, sprinkled with organic raw pecans, organic dried cranberries, some Trader Joes Maple Pecan Granola, with unsweetend organic coconut added, and a drizzle of local sage flower honey. I know it may sound ca-ray-zay, but it is DELISH!

 I also made a blueberry, peach, banana, pomegranate juice smoothie for the little guy this morning, so I made extra for me. (Organic as well.) Um, and COFFEE!!! Can't give it up! No. way. no. how.

 So far, I just have tonight's salad figured out...

 Here are pics of the books I am referencing today.

 And now, I'm off to run errands, and hopefully fit in a work out before picking up my son! It's hat day today for SURE!

 Have a great day! I have lots of fun posts planned this week! Stop back again tomorrow!

xo

-Lisa

Healthy Life Post #1. Delicious Green Juice

Today I thought I would share my delicious green juice how to with you. I got into juicing after my cancer diagnosis, and honestly, on top of feeling really good about all those veggies and fruits I am getting in one glass, I really love the taste of it!

Even my 5 year old likes it!  He is very picky when it comes to "eating" his veggies, but this child will drink things he would NEVER consider eating! Love that! Needless to say, we juice nearly every day.

Here's what I usually use...though, yesterday I did not have any celery (I usually use 3 to 4 stalks, with leaves if possible) , so I used a small head of romaine in it's place.

 I use only organic fruits and veggies to juice with. I want to have the purest juice I can drink, without any pesticide residue. But, I know it's rather pricy in some areas, so do what you can, and wash the non-organic stuff REALLY well.

• 2 or 3 leaves of kale (stems removed)
• 2 leaves swiss chard (stems removed)
• 2 apples (sometimes I use just one really large) this time I used 1 red, and 1 green.
• 1 large cucumber, or several small persian cucumbers.
• 2 small zucchini
• 1 1/2 to 1 inch piece of ginger. (depends on your taste)
• 1 lemon

Juice away! I use the Breville juicer, and I really love it.

 Just feed the veggies and fruit through the chute. I usually core the apples, and remove seeds, and cut the lemon in half. I find I get more juice that way.

 I wind up with around 24-25 ounces. Perfect for 3 glasses. When the hubs is away, I just drink double!

 Delicious green goodness! My son used to call it "Green Lemonade"!

Stir well, and pour over LOTS of ice. Trust me on this! It's so much better super cold!

Cheers!

Linking up to...http://amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com/

I'm off to the happiest place on earth today! Disneyland, here we come!

xo

-Lisa