Have a Shake to Boost Your Energy ~ With a Delicious Greek Yogurt Shake

Studies are now showing how healthy Greek yogurt is for the body. It is low in sugar, lactose and liquid whey. It is about the same number of calories as its regular counterpart but packs double the protein and half of the carbohydrates and salt. 

Adding bananas to this shake adds much needed potassium, fiber and vitamin C. It is also an energy booster. Dark chocolate is wonderful for your heart and cardiovascular system. It lowers both blood pressure and cholesterol. Studies have shown that consuming just a small amount of dark chocolate each day has lowered the blood pressure in individuals with severe hypertension. 

The coconut, while it does contain saturated fats, a small amount of it added to your drink will help you to feel full longer, helping to ward off any temptations to eat unwanted calories. The coconut flakes have fiber and fats, both pretty much canceling each other out, but it does add wonderful third flavor to the the shake.

Ingredients:

1 ripe banana, peeled and cut into smler pieces

1 cup plain Greek yogurt, cold

1/2 cup milk, cold

2 oz. dark chocolate, melted

2 T. coconut milk

2 T flaked coconut

1 T maple syrup

1/4 cup crushed ice

Place all ingredients into your blender and blender on high for about 45 seconds. Pour into a large glass and enjoy!

XO

Front Porch Revival ~ How I Prettied it Up!

A few years back I decided to paint the concrete floor of our front porch. I had already painted the back screened in patio floor and it came out fabulous. (To see our back patio floor click here.) But alas, the front porch concrete is not as porous as the back concrete and it does get exposed to more traffic, so as a result the paint had begun to peel.

I tried to fix it a few times but the peeling problem always came back. So last Friday I power washed most of the red and gray paint off. Then I asked you my wonderfully creative readers what you thought should be done about the floor...repaint, cover or simply leave it as is, all chippy looking. 

So after spending about 45 minutes yesterday in Home Depot...yes again...looking at all of the different outdoor carpets they had, what I finally decided to do is to follow the majority of your input and leave it like it is. If at some point I come across a small carpet I think will work then I'll try it under the table, but for now this is it.

I actually think it is beginning to grow on me.

As you can see the front porch is rather small. Someday I would love to yank out the shrub in front of the bay window and expand the porch all the way down to the end of the brick wall. But until then I will be happy with my little spot just outside the front door.

I had purchased the bistro set from Home Depot for $70, cute isn't it? And the absolute perfect size for my porch. I also hung the plant the kids gave me for Mother's Day...they love the fact that it is right in the front of the house. 

I had an old iron piece I bought at Pier One about 6 years ago, so that went on the bare white siding. I wrapped an antiqued flag around a grape vine wreath and used it to adorn the front door for a little touch of Americana. The evergreen in the back I potted at Christmas and had it in my kitchen. It has been living outside ever since and is doing pretty well, although I know she won't be happy forever in that bucket and will have to be put in the ground at some point. 

The perfect spot to enjoy a little wine!

I also threw some bright red geraniums in one of the planters a neighbor was getting rid of...one man's trash is another woman's treasure!

Wishing you all a safe and happy weekend!

XO

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The Classic Look of Window Boxes Filled with Geraniums

To me bright red geraniums are nothing short of classic. They are so cheerful with their dark and light green leaves.

This year I decided to replace my coconut husk window baskets with new redwood boxes. Then I filled them with geraniums, sweet potato vines, and variegated vinca vines. Geraniums love morning sun, afternoon shade and good drainage.

I am very happy with the simple and classic look of both the new boxes and their fill.

Wishing you a wonderful start to your week!

XO

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New Bistro Set and Front Porch Project!

On Thursday afternoon while I was at the Home Depot looking for new window boxes, I ran straight into this little bistro set. It has a tile mosaic top with these cute folding chairs. The set was on sale for $69.99...not bad right? So I grabbed it for my rather small front porch. The cushions I got over at Pier One Imports...OK so they were a little more than I wanted to pay at $25 each, but still they didn't break the bank!

Then I spent the better part of yesterday morning removing the tile pattern I had painted on the porch floor about three years ago. It had begun to peel so with the power washer I was able to get up most of the paint.

Than last evening I enjoyed my little pre-dinner appetizer with a glass of chilled white wine while sitting at my new table. (To read about this yummy appetizer just click here.)

But still, not sure what I want to do with the floor yet. I could paint again but this time it will need at least a month to really let it cure and most likely not a reality for me with my crew. Another option is to leave it as it is looking somewhat weathered, or for a third option I could try to find some other floor covering  idea.

Not sure what to do...what do you think?

Hope you are enjoying this first weekend of June!!!

XO 

Delicious Peanut Butter and Banana Pie with Homemade Chocolate Syrup

It always seems that I have at least one or two bananas that eventually begin to turn brown, of which I do not want to throw out, and typically I end up making banana bread with them. So today I went on perusing the good old net to find something beyond the standard banana bread and I ran straight into this recipe. I found the adorable blog Chocolate Covered Katie a healthy dessert blog, and she made a no-bake peanut butter pie. It looked amazing and lucky for me I had 3 very brown bananas and all the other ingredients on had I needed to make the pie. (Since I only had 10 inch spring form pan, mine is rather flat.)

Ingredients:

1 cup peanut butter

3 bananas

1/4 cup melted coconut oil

2 tsp. vanilla extract

a pinch of kosher salt

4 T. powdered sugar

I blended all of the ingredients in my blender until smooth. 

For the crust I had to improvised since I REALLY wanted chocolate but had no chocolate graham crackers or cookies. Unlike Katie, I did bake my crust for about 5 minutes in an oven set at 350 degrees F.

So for the crust I used...

2 1/2 cups crushed regular graham crackers

1/2 cup of heath bar, crunched

2 heaping T cocoa powder

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 cup butter melted 

1/4 tep. kosher salt

Toss all the dry ingredients together and then add the melted butter. Press the crust into a prepared spring form pan and bake. Remove and let cool.

Pour peanut butter banana mixture over the cooled crust and set in the freezer until it firms up.

To serve, remove from freezer and let set for about 10 minutes. Drizzle with chocolate syrup and crushed peanuts and enjoy!

Since my kids cleaned me out of store bought chocolate syrup, I had to resort to making my own. It was pretty easy though, all you need is...

1 cup Hershey Cocoa powder

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1 tbs. real vanilla

In small saucepan whisk together the cocoa and sugar, add the water and salt and over medium heat gradually bring the mixture to a slow boil. Make sure to stir constantly and cook for about 4-5 minutes. Remove pan from stove, add the vanilla and let cool completely. Mixture will thicken upon cooling. Store in the frig in an airtight container for up to one month.

By the way, this dessert got two thumbs up from both the kids and the old hubster.

Ciao 4 now!

XO

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Our Memorial Day

Today was a beautiful day spent in Califon, N.J at the town's parade and war memorial dedication. As we approached the parade route, this was the view of the bridge. 

The parade was not a long one and it had all of the usual parade participants.  A bag pipe ensemble...

...some local cheerleaders who stopped to show us a routine...

...and the antique cars.

Representatives of a few of the local fire departments.

A brigade of civil war re-enactors who gave us a six gun salute. 

And after the parade all gathered at the new park to hear the mayor's words of remembrance.

And his words of thanks to this 93 year old WWII veteran.

A veteran who helped to make sure, along with all of those who lost their lives, that we may live in freedom in this great country of ours. The high school choir sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and all rose to their feet clapping and cheering afterwards.

On November 19 1863, 150 years ago this year, President  Abraham Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address...

"It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

God bless the brave men and women who have served and are serving now in the armed forces. 

God bless those who served and did not live to come home 

God Bless this great nation,

God Bless America. 

Memorial Day Remembrance

(source of image)

Wishing you all a safe and happy day as you remember and celebrate the bravery of our fallen soldiers. May they know what they have done for us and this great nation and for that we can't thank them enough for their dedication to the United States of America.

May they Rest In Peace

God Bless