Smoothie-licious

Smoothies are always a great way to get an instant shot of fruits and vegetables, full of vitamins and nutrients. Here are two of my favourite ones.

This first smoothie a great pre-workout smoothie filled with potassium and protein. 

Protein a macro nutrient that is composed of amino acids is necessary for body and muscle function. Without protein muscles can atrophy and the body can function at peak levels. Nuts, milk, yogurt and hemp hearts are all filled with protein.

Potassium keeps muscles strong, reduces involuntary contraction (aka. cramping), reduces hypertenstion and maintains fluid and electrolyte balance in the body. Bananas are an excellent source of potassium and electrolytes. 

Banana Peanut Butter Protein Powerhouse
Yield- 2 cups

Ingredients:
1 Banana
1  cup skim milk
1 TBSP natural unsweetened peanut butter
1 TBSP unpasteurized locally produced honey
1-2 tsp vanilla (or seeds of one vanilla pod)
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 TBSP hemp hearts

Blend all ingredients together and serve. You can also substitute plain yogurt for vanilla yogurt but then you might want to remove honey and vanilla. Vanilla almond milk or coconut milk can also be used in place of the dairy for a vegan version. Coconut water can be added for extra electrolytes. 


This second smoothie is a great pick me up for those days you are really hungover or just after a workout. Avocados are naturally filled with potassium and protein. Coconut water is also high in electrolytes and one of the best natural post-workout beverages. Berries are high in antioxidants which can help with proper cellular function. Both oranges and honey are rich in many vitamins and nutrients that are very beneficial to cellular repair and digestion, etc. in the body. 

After I drink this smoothie I feel like a million bucks! 

The Hangover Cure

Yield- 2 cups

Ingredients:

1 full orange- peel removed

1/2 avocado

1  cup coconut water

1 TBSP unpasteurized locally produced honey

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1 TBSP hemp hearts

1-2 tsp Greens +

handful of berries (like strawberries or blueberries)

Blend all ingredients together and serve. To make a vegan friendly version add the other half of the avocado, add a little more coconut water and remove the yogurt. 

Enjoy!

Last Day for Skill Share Class

Well today is the last day of my SkillShare class. I have been working on my illustration all day and my eyes are going a little buggy. I feel it is at a finished state now. Here is the final piece. Enjoy! 

Skill Share Class

So I have been in hiding for a while... I apologize. We did some major events for work all in a row with large numbers of people and I have been planning like crazy. Now that everything is done life is starting to slow down again. Whew. No more festivals for a while I hope. :)

In other news, I have recently been taking an illustration class on Skillshare from Brad Woodard. This is the first class I have taken so far on this site but I am loving it. He is teaching us about illustrating Colour, Pattern and Texture. Usually I use Photoshop for most of my work but I have really been wanting to learn Illustrator. So to challenge myself for this class I have been trying to do everything in Illustrator. It has been a struggle and some times I feel like it takes me so much longer to even put the design to reality, but I have made it work... sort of. The class ends soon, which is sad but I feel that I have learned a lot so far. 

Here is my interim design. It is not really done yet but I am a little stuck. We are illustrating either the word LOUD or the word quiet. This design is a representation of quiet. Let me know your thoughts.