Half-Homemade Orange Pineapple Salsa

Signs of spring are starting to pop up everywhere, but they haven't quite made it to the produce department at the local grocery store yet. Oranges and strawberries are coming into season, and I am so excited to have fresh fruits adorning my fruit bowl once again. Between my love of fresh fruit, my Pact to commit to 5 fruits and veggies, and the need to eat fresh produce before it spoils, I sometimes find that we are out of the good stuff before it is time to head back to the grocery store for a full shop.

Strawberry Banana Chia Smoothie

I love bananas...they are a great source of potassium but I enjoy them most when the peel is still a bit green and the banana is still a bit underripe. Once they yellow completely, I lose interest. Ripe bananas generally find themselves on the direct express to my freezer for use in banana bread. Not anymore! My Strawberry Banana Chia Smoothie is a great recipe to use too-ripe bananas without waste and its as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Cajun Roasted Tomatoes

I'm a sucker for tomatoes...they have always been one of my favorites. Overall, not a bad thing to be sweet on. According to WebMD, tomatoes are high in lycopene, a type of carotenoid found in red foods, responsible for delivering us a healthy serving of antioxidants. Eating tomatoes with a healthy oil, like olive oil, helps the human body absorb lycopene and carotenoids in general. The majority of a tomato's carotenoids are found in its peel, making roasted tomatoes the perfect triple threat. Roasted tomatoes are a quick and versatile side dish that can be dressed up to match whatever main dish is on your table that night. Cajun Roasted Tomatoes pack a lot of flavor into each tiny bite - full of garlic, paprika and pepper. A little cheese melted on top adds a luxurious touch and an extra punch of flavor.

Grapefruit Ginger Anti-Inflammatory Green Smoothie

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away"...not in my case! I've been battling a mysterious pain in my left eye for almost 4 months. After countless eye doctor exams, specialists and tests, advil has been the answer.

Why I Refused to Wear a Purple Ribbon This International Women's Day

International Women's Day was yesterday, Wednesday, March 9. On Tuesday, I was handed a little purple ribbon with a note to join in "wearing the ribbon in support of International Women's Day" the next day. I took the ribbon, said "thank you" and as I continued walking, I started to ponder awareness ribbons in general. What do they mean? When do we wear them? What types of causes are they typically associated with? After some light Googling, my questions were answered.

According to the Smithsonian, awareness ribbons can date back to the Medieval Ages, when a knight would receive a ribbon, or a piece of fabric, after jousting. In the United States, the tradition of the ribbon began in the 1970's when yellow ribbons were tied around trees to welcome home veterans. The folded lapel ribbon, popular today, dates back to 1991, when the red ribbon became the icon for AID Awareness. 1992 became dubbed "the year of the ribbon" as organizations scooped up colors and ribbons to tie to their cause.

Today there are hundreds of colors and patterns of awareness ribbons. When I scrolled the list of colors, hues, and patterns and their associated causes, I found a general theme. These ribbons were to raise awareness (obviously) for victims of disease, disorders, and conditions. There are 33 causes associated with the purple ribbon (I'll gladly slap on my ribbon for any of those causes) but womanhood is not one of them. In fact, womanhood, is not associated with any color ribbon. Womanhood is not something to raise awareness about. Being a woman is not a condition, an incurable disease or something to fight. I am not a victim of being a woman; I am proud to be a woman, and for that reason, I did not wear my purple ribbon. 

#BeBoldForChange IWD 2017

Monday Vibes!

Happy Monday! Only five days until Friday 😆