Change, Sun, & Juice.

Yes, the last time I wrote - there was snow on the ground. And after surviving my first New England winter, I went on the conquer some changes a bit bigger than the seasons. I realize that I have completely disregarded spring and summer, but this was nothing like hibernating I assure you. Here is your 10 point explanation of what happened:

• Goodbye Le Cordon Bleu! Thanks for teaching me Pommes Anna and other such wonders.
• Andrew & Ashley got hitched! 

• I drove a truck from Ohio to Massachusetts. 14.5 hours, overnight, alone = CHAMPION.
• Mom, Aunt Loris Ann, Rita, & Brenda came to visit Boston and it was brilliant!

• Kate came just a week later. We went to visit Sammy and Jaime in NY. She worked a 9 hour day with me on the truck. We played with Esther and Paula. Winning.

• Manager Sara at CLOVER.
• SURPRISE!!! One of the best visits home I have EVER had. 10 days, beach, CAT semi-reunion, Phil Shane, grunion hunting, 4th of July parade/fireworks, HUGE amounts of family time, Shayna's beautiful baby bump. So much love.
• Bestest girls I know almost anywhere.

• Snapshot of my every. single. day:

• Meditate, cleanse, love, repeat. Thanks to Kris Carr, I pulled off my first seriously, amazingly, healingly, wonderful cleanse.

One year ago I moved to Boston on a whim. I remember the extremely uncomfortable first night (let's actually make that, first 2 months). And again, I am staring at a completely packed up and empty room, just as on that first night. An apartment turned into a home, turned now into yet another place I have to leave. With this week comes a new apartment, new roommates, a new neighborhood, a new year. Is there anything to fear in this? My first instinct is yes, but I know that the true answer is: never. With the unbelievable changes which have accompanied this past year (no really, I cannot BELIEVE them), I have chosen not to fear the new. I can finally embrace change? Yikes, I just might be growing.

Notes to begin:

1. I have actually been meaning to write this post since BEFORE the drinking chocolate post. It's funny that the relevance of it in my life has increased so much since that time.

2. This recipe is one of the most flexible in the world - you can basically throw anything into that blender. No joke.

3. FRESH PRODUCE.

4. This is my summer anthem. I dance around like a fool when I hear it. Makes me happy every time:

Green Smoothie

Yield: 3-ish cups

Difficulty: Easy

Prep time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

3 fatty kale leaves

1 generous handful spinach

1 cucumber

1 pear

1 granny smith apple

1/2 inch piece ginger

Water

Directions:

Wash all fruit and veg.

Peel anything that needs a-peelin' (i.e. cucs).

Cut up fruit and veg into chunks.

Throw into the blender with some water (add as much as needed). Blend on HIGH until completely smooth.

Chill. Or not! Drink up that sunshine!

Notes to end:

1. Make this taste yummy for yourself. You want more sweet? Add another piece of fruit or some juice in place of water. If you want it creamy or with some fat? Avocado. Mm! Or some kind of milk - coconut milk is oh-so-amazing in these things.

2. Okay, so it is green and thick. Don't freak out. These actually taste quite good. Why, Sara? Why would you even suggest such a thing? I drink mine in the morning and this is what I get: a meal that fills me for HOURS, energy like I haven't found anywhere else, a place to get all of the nutrients from leafy green things that I just cannot handle eating in many other ways (yet).

3. Save the rest in the fridge for up to 24 hours. 

4. Research green smoothie recipes because there are some people out there with a knack for making these things taste like candy and rainbows :)

Well, that felt good. And I am back. And I love ya'll.