Why so glum, chum?

I've been a bit homesick and down about the state of things lately. (I know, I know, what else is new?) I just have to keep reminding myself that this will be a positive experience for me. I'm on the way to making more friends, and (a lack) of friends here is the main reason I get glum at times.  I think I inherited my grandma's perpetual negativity and try so hard to fight it but it's hard staying happy sometimes. I just have to remind myself to focus on the positive!

I like eggs.

I like eggs a lot, actually. As I said in my previous post, I eat smoothies for breakfast on most days during the week, but on the weekends and when I have the random morning off, I like to make myself an actual sit-down breakfast, usually involving eggs! Sometimes I'll even make an omelette for dinner, if I'm feelin' crazy ;)

Egg and sausage wrap with milk and coffee.

Fried eggs and avocado on whole wheat toast and topped with siracha! Served with horchata and coffee.

My version of chilaquiles. I saute strips of corn tortilla until they're nice and crispy, and then set them to the side on a paper towel to absorb the grease. Then I scramble eggs with salsa and add beans if I have them. At the very end I add the tortilla strips back in. Serve with sour cream and and more salsa on top. And avocado on the side, of course.

Breakfast sandwiches are one of my favorite things to eat. This one had eggs, avocado and siracha. Good, crispy bread is a must here.

3-cheese arugula omelette. With siracha. Hmm... sensing a theme here?

Spinach, mushroom and goat cheese omelette with a slice of whole grain toast.

Here is a link to 15 twists on cooking eggs for breakfast.

Smoothies

I don't always make the wisest choices when it comes to food - something I'm trying to change! I do, however, manage to eat a healthy breakfast almost every day. It's later in the day when I break down and reach for the unhealthy snacks or second helpings that I don't really need. One of my go-to breakfast items is a smoothie. Especially during the week when I'm running short on time.

Smoothies are great. They're tasty, quick and easy to make, and can be consumed on the run. There are many benefits to starting your day with a homemade smoothie - it saves you time and money, ensures that you are hydrated at the beginning of your day, provides you with vitamins, nutrients, antioxidants and fiber, and helps boost your immune system.

Here are two of my favorite smoothie concoctions, as well as one basic recipe, to get you inspired.

Just throw all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth!

Coconut Blueberry Smoothie
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 banana, sliced
1/2 cup lowfat plain greek yogurt
1/2 cup almond milk
1/4 cup coconut flakes
1/4 cup almonds

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
1 1/2 bananas, sliced
About 8 ice cubes
1/2 cup almond milk
1/4 cup natural peanut butter
(I think coconut would be delicious in this smoothie as well, but I have yet to try it)

Basic Smoothie Recipe
1/4 cup plain or vanilla yogurt
3/4 cup liquid (milk, juice, etc.)
1 cup frozen fruit (use all one type or mix berries, peaches etc. have fun trying different combinations!)
handful of almonds or rolled oats (something to provide fiber and keep you full longer)
handful of spinach (it sounds weird, but I promise you can hardly taste it!)
If you're using plain yogurt, add a drizzle of honey, agave nectar or vanilla extract to get a bit of sweetness.

The possibilities for smoothies are pretty much endless. Just remember, a smoothie is only as healthy as the ingredients going in it, so use unsweetened fruit and 100% juices.

Here are some more smoothie recipes I've gathered from the internet to give you a small taste of how many different possibilities there are.

Sunrise Smoothie

Green Smoothie

Tropic Smoothie

Banana Oatmeal Smoothie

And besides, Audrey Hepburn is just gorgeous.

Holly: You know those days when you get the mean reds?
Paul: The mean reds, you mean like the blues?
Holly: No. The blues are because you're getting fat and maybe it's been raining too long, you're just sad that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling? 

Paul: Sure.
Holly: Well, when I get it the only thing that does any good is to jump in a cab and go to Tiffany's. Calms me down right away. The quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there. If I could find a real-life place that'd make me feel like Tiffany's, then - then I'd buy some furniture and give the cat a name! 

Holly: You musn't give your heart to a wild thing. The more you do, the stronger they get, until they're strong enough to run into the woods or fly into a tree. And then to a higher tree and then to the sky.

Paul: You call yourself a free spirit, a "wild thing," and you're terrified somebody's gonna stick you in a cage. Well baby, you're already in that cage. You built it yourself. And it's not bounded in the west by Tulip, Texas, or in the east by Somali-land. It's wherever you go. Because no matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself. 

Holly: I'll never let ANYBODY put me in a cage.
Paul: I don't want to put you in a cage, I want to love you! 

Holly: Promise me one thing: don't take me home until I'm drunk - very drunk indeed.