Coffee Protein Shake

Being as I am out of creamer (& too lazy to go to the store) I decided to try a little idea I saw on Pinterest. A Coffee Protein Shake! This is perfect because some days I just prefer to "drink" my breakfast...but when you have a protein shake or smoothie AND coffee it is too much. Brian and I both loved these!

I modified the original recipe from one my favorite websites: SparkPeople
Here's what I used:
-1 cup Vanilla Almond Milk (skim works too!)
-1 scoop Protein Powder (mine is GNC Cookies 'n Cream
-1.5 cups of brewed coffee (Dunkin, my fav)
-1 small banana, sliced
-2 handfuls of ice
-1 packet of Stevia (if needed)



Toss it all in your blender and blend until smooth. Here's a little trick I learned: a standard size mason jar screws right into most blender bases! Just removed the blade & base from the bottom of your blender pitcher and screw onto the jar. I haven't used the blender pitcher since I discovered this. Don't go throwing your pitcher away though, you might need it to make a large batch of margaritas! But wait, single serve margaritas?! Excuse me while I run to the kitchen...)



Since I've been having these (Coffee Protein Shakes, not Margaritas) every morning I decided to freeze some leftover coffee into coffee cubes. Now I replace some of the ice with my coffee cubes for a less watered down shake. I also like to brew my coffee before bed and let it cool overnight...I know you coffee purists are cringing right now.



Thanks for joining me for my 1 Pinterest Project Per Week - Week 8 post! (Yes, I know I missed a few weeks...I'm human!) Let me know if you try this out!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful Mom! <3 I'm so lucky to have an amazing mom who is also a great friend. :) Happy Birthday Mom - and Happy Phillies Spring Training!!



Now that I am working from home I spend a LOT of one-on-one time with our dog. Lately every time I leave him alone he takes these sunglasses from Brian's nightstand. I was going to do a little Dog Shaming but instead got this adorable picture. I think Wrigley is trying to tell me he is done with snow!



I can't wait to share a new Iced Coffee Protein Shake recipe I discovered, look for that later this week! Until then...have a lovely Valentine's Day!

Office Makeover Has Begun! White Desk & Painted Walls

I could have easily called this post "A Love Letter to My Desk" but that might be a little weird. Now that the office walls have been painted my new (old) desk got to move in. I love this desk. It is the first piece of furniture I re-did! 10 years ago I bought it for $30 at a dusty, cramped resale shop while visiting my grandparents. I have fond memories of my grandpa letting out a few swear words while trying to jam it in the backseat of our car. Yes, I was the 18 year old who re-did vintage furniture to take with me to college. What can I say? :)



I've learned a thing or two about painting furniture in the past 10 years (i.e. NEVER spray paint your kitchen table.) and this desk has gotten a little extra distressing along the way - but that makes it a bit more special. I love how the bright, glossy white pops against my newly painted "Light French Gray" walls!(by Sherwin-Willams) I'm so excited, the "bones" off my office are in place - the walls are painted, the chandelier is up and now my desk is in place. I can't wait for the whole thing to come together!

Kraft Paper Wine Bottle Labels

Hooray for happy accidents! An Etsy customer requested a set of my Wine Bottle Table Number Labels to be made using ivory labels instead of the usual white. I figured no problemo, I can do that! Nope. Not quite so easy, the ivory labels wouldn't take my ink. They looked terrible. I was so upset, ready to refund my customer's money when I did a little research and dicovered kraft label paper! Who knew?!



I love the way they turned out and I think my customer will too!