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Delicious Berry Smoothie | Recipe

smoothie recipe muffinchanel This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

This simple smoothie is so delicious. With just five ingredients + ice, this smoothie is healthy and easy to make.

This berry smoothie is my favorite for a healthy breakfast or an afternoon treat. The sherbet makes it a little on the dessert side, but I like how the fresh berries and juices give me my fruit serving for the day. It’s super easy to make and is delicious!

You’ll need:

  • 12 oz. Raspberry Juice
  • 9 oz. Orange Juice
  • 1c. Scoop of Raspberry Sherbet
  • 1/2c. Scoop of Raspberries
  • 1/2c. Scoop of Strawberries
  • Ice

smoothie recipe muffinchanel  strawberrysmoothie recipe muffinchanel sorbet blender

Combine all of your ingredients into a blender and pulse until the ice is blended & you have that perfect “smoothie” consistency.

smoothie recipe muffinchanel  cute glass straw yum

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Blog Lifestyle

Simple Meals | Spinach Pasta with Pesto

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

This recipe is super easy and delicious. It’s a pasta casserole that is perfect for staying warm and snuggly during these winter months. This dish is great for an easy date night dinner or perfect for lunch time leftovers. Yum!

I found this recipe on thkitchn.com and made a few changes to better suit my taste.

muffinchanel vegetarian spinach pasta pesto simple meals quick easy ingredientsIngredients

8 ounces spinach pasta (I like linguine!)
6 ounces fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped
2 large shallots, peeled and thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 ounces Asiago cheese, grated
1/2 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
1/2 cup half and half
6 ounces basil pesto
Freshly ground black pepper
2 large eggs
Olive oil

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. 

Boil 4-6 quarts of lightly salted water in a large pot and cook the pasta according to the package.

Set cooked pasta aside.

muffinchanel vegetarian spinach pasta pesto simple meals quick easy pasta

Peel, wash, and thinly slice the shallots.

Roughly chop the baby spinach

muffinchanel vegetarian spinach pasta pesto simple meals quick easy spinach

Mince garlic

muffinchanel vegetarian spinach pasta pesto simple meals quick easy garlic

Grate the cheese

muffinchanel vegetarian spinach pasta pesto simple meals quick easy cheese

In a large bowl, combine the half and half, basil pesto, eggs, and greek yogurt. Wisk together until smooth.muffinchanel vegetarian spinach pasta pesto simple meals quick easy sauce

Combine the spinach, cheese, shallots, and cooked pasta in a large bowl.muffinchanel vegetarian spinach pasta pesto simple meals quick easy salad

Lightly grease a 9×9 casserole dish with olive oil and mix in pasta mixture with the pesto mixture.muffinchanel vegetarian spinach pasta pesto simple meals quick easy combine recipe

Bake for 30 minutesmuffinchanel vegetarian spinach pasta pesto simple meals quick easy bake 350

Let cool for about 10 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

muffinchanel vegetarian spinach pasta pesto simple meals quick easy serve

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Blog Health + Beauty Lifestyle

Jus By Julie – 3 Day Cleanse | REVIEW

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I ordered the Jus by Julie 3 Day Cleanse because my cousin mentioned it to me and I’d been interested in a detox of some kind. I found a deal on Groupon and scheduled my delivery. This was my first juice cleanse and I was very excited to try it out.

The ordering process was very easy. What’s great is that you can select the date you want your juices delivered and they overnight the juices so they are super fresh and ready to go.

The Cleanse was delivered overnight through Fedex.

muffinchanel jus by julie review three 3 day cleanse fedex overnight

muffinchanel jus by julie review three 3 day cleanse juice bottles bundles ice packs

Inside the box was a large green insulated bag with 3 clusters of 6 bottles of juice and ice packs banded together (18 bottles total). My juices were cool feeling (not cold) by the time I was able to open them.

muffinchanel jus by julie review three 3 day cleanse juice bottles

I put all of my juices in a cooler and was ready to start the cleanse the next morning. Information in the box said that one should freeze the juices if not able to drink them within three days.

muffinchanel jus by julie review three 3 day cleanse freeze refrigerate




Day One

muffinchanel jus by julie review three 3 day cleanse day 1 one

Jus Lineup

  1. Morning Glory – romaine, celery, spinach, apple, kale, banana, strawberry, water
  2. Spicy Lemonade – lemon, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, water
  3. Sweet Spin – spinach, kale, pineapple, banana, mango, water
  4. Acai Blend – acai berries, strawberries, banana, water
  5. Choco-Nana – chocolate, banana, strawberries, water
  6. Sweet Spin – spinach, kale, pineapple, banana, mango, water

Near the end of the day, I was feeling tired and kind of weak. I’ve seen other reviews where people feel very energized on the first day but I was seriously dragging.

Day Two

muffinchanel jus by julie review three 3 day cleanse day 2 two

Jus Lineup

  1. Morning Glory – romaine, celery, spinach, apple, kale, banana, strawberry, water
  2. Spicy Lemonade – lemon, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, water
  3. Sweet Spin – spinach, kale, pineapple, banana, mango, water
  4. Chia Berry – strawberries, chia seeds, lemon, pomegranate, water
  5. Not So Chunky – peanut butter, banana, water
  6. Sweet Spin – spinach, kale, pineapple, banana, mango, water

I was a little agitated all day and feeling tired and weak again by the end of the day. I did have some steamed broccoli to help calm me down and I felt instantly better.




Day Three

muffinchanel jus by julie review three 3 day cleanse day 3 three

Jus Lineup

  1. Morning Glory – romaine, celery, spinach, apple, kale, banana, strawberry, water
  2. Spicy Pome-nade – pomegranate, lemon, maple syrup, cayenne pepper, water
  3. Sweet Spin – spinach, kale, pineapple, banana, mango, water
  4. Chia Berry – strawberries, chia seeds, lemon, pomegranate, water
  5. Island Coconut – coconut meat & water, date, cinnamon
  6. Sweet Spin – spinach, kale, pineapple, banana, mango, water

I felt pretty good in the morning; clean and “light”. I was feeling tired and annoyed near the end of the day and had a few almonds to tide me over. I wasn’t a fan of the Island Coconut. I wish I’d gotten another of the Not So Chunky or Choco-Nana instead.

Overall Cleanse

I liked this juice cleanse because it was very simple. I looked forward to the variety of the next flavor and the numbers on the bottle made everything very simple. My favorite juices were the Spicy Lemonade, Chia Berry and Spicy Pome-nade. The Choco-Nana and Not So Chunky were very welcome when it was time for juice #5.

I tried to wait 2-3 hours between juices and I drank a lot of water in between. Anytime I was feeling hungry, it was time for my next juice. I wasn’t really ever feeling “hungry” but I’d feel grumpy and irritated, which is usually a side effect of hunger for me.

One thing that was interesting to me about these Jus By Julie juices is that they are blended; not cold-pressed. I haven’t really seen any other juices that are blended and I thought it was cool because the juice feels more “substantial” with pulp and seeds included. The juices aren’t overly chunky, don’t get me wrong, but they aren’t strained juice like you may have seen from other companies so the texture might be a little weird to some.

Maybe it’s because they’re blended, but I thought it was weird that each juice contains water as an ingredient. There is already water in all of the fruits and vegetables so I don’t know why any would need to be added. Especially when the Cleanse + shipping was a pretty penny, I definitely don’t want to feel like I’m getting watered down juice.

I was a little disappointed when I found out that these juices were not Organic. I think it’s really important, especially with fruits, to be chemical/pesticide free. When I do another cleanse in the future, I’ll make sure to find one that’s only Organic.

I am happy with the 3 day Cleanse; it was the perfect amount of time and I do feel detoxed and “cleaner”. I think my skin is looking brighter and I feel encouraged to make better choices with diet and exercise.

If you are interested in the Jus By Julie cleanse, check out their website or if you’ve done the 3 day cleanse, let me know what you thought. 🙂

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Blog Health + Beauty

Josie Maran Argan Milk | Review

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

I’ve been incorporating the new Josie Maran Argan Milk into my nightly skincare routine and I’m excited to review it. I love the Josie Maran Argan Oil and I love how Josie Maran Cosmetics uses organic ingredients in all of its products.

Packaging

The Josie Maran Argan Milk comes in a sleek 1oz bottle for $56. Similar to the Josie Maran Argan Oil, the Argan Milk is dispensed through a glass dropper. The construction of the rubber-squeeze end of the dropper is more solid that the older bottles of Argan Oil — the stopper in my little bottle of Argan Oil sometimes pops out of the top :/ But the Argan Milk bottle has a substantial weight and the dropper seems durable much like the new bottles of Argan Oil.




muffinchanel josie maran argan milkIngredients

Aqua (Water)** (and) Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil* (and) Propanediol** (and) Glyceryl Caprylate** (and) Glyceryl Undecylenate** (and) Phosphatidylglycerol** (and) Sodium Benzoate** (and) Xanthan Gum** (and) Citric Acid**.
*ORGANIC **NATURAL

Essentially, this Argan Milk is just Argan Oil and water. The Argan Milk doesn’t contain any parabens, sulfates, or phthalates. Yay!

Use

Apply 3 -5 drops of the Argan Milk day and night. The applicator is similar to the dropper that comes with the Argan Oil, but the dropper part is slightly more tapered off so you can really control how much is released. It’s recommended that you follow with a few drops of the Josie Maran Argan Oil/Argan Oil Light.

Consistency

MC MuffinChanel Josie Maran Argan Milk Review Application ResultsThe Argan Milk is lightweight, smooth and silky feeling. I try to lightly spread the Argan Milk all over my face with my fingers before pressing it lightly into my skin. The Argan Milk’s silkiness quickly absorbs into your skin and leaves a slightly tacky feeling. The Argan Milk absorbs like a serum, but with a slightly more creamier consistency than a gel-like consistency.




Results

The Argan Milk really preps the skin for the Argan Oil/ Argan Oil Light. It’s quick-absorbing and definitely hydrating. My skin’s texture is more even and those winter dry spots are gone! I’ve actually been using the Argan Milk on the back of my hands as a treatment the last couple of nights and following with the Argan Oil. Even my hands are looking and feeling softer! If you aren’t a fan of the Argan Oil (which is amazing! Try it if you haven’t!), then I still think the Argan Milk would be a good addition to any skincare regimen as a way to get the benefits of Argan Oil without sacrificing your regular moisturizer.

I’ve been using the Argan Milk as a night serum, but I think this would also be great for the day time as well. Again, it’s so light and absorbs quickly, that I think it would work well under makeup. Overall, I love the new Josie Maran Argan Milk. It’s the perfect way to get the added benefits of Argan Oil and long lasting hydration.

❤ Bonus: Even Svetlana loves Argan Milk!

muffinchanel svet love josie maran argan milk review

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Blog Lifestyle

Holiday Travel Essentials | Flying

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

With the holidays right around the corner, many people will be traveling to visit friends and family, or just going on a vacation. Whatever your reason, air travel may be in your near future.

Whenever I fly anywhere, I purpose to pack as lightly as possible. No one wants to lug three suitcases and two totes through the airport; trust me. So, unless you’re going to be away for more than two weeks, try to fit everything into one duffle/suitcase and one larger “carry-on”/purse. Winter time can be more difficult, since many of our sweaters and jackets are bulky, but if you wear or carry some of the larger items, you’ll be fine.

I actually carry on all of my luggage, rather than checking a bag. No one wants to stand around the luggage carrousel after a long flight, waiting to find her bag with the pink ribbon (Tip: always give your bag some kind of distinguishing characteristic if you are checking luggage to help you identify your bag quickly and easily!)

Once you’re on the plane, you’re ready to sit back and enjoy the flight! Here are my travel essentials for your trip:

Large Tote — Think “Weekender Bag”

This will be your go-to bag for all things travel. Big enough to hold all of your essentials, but small enough to slide underneath the seat. I like this handbag by Michael Kors.

Water

rei trader joes water bottles fruit bars muffinchanel

Fill your own water bottle once you are through airport security, or just buy a bottle from one of the many stores past the security gates.

It’s important to stay hydrated on the plane since the air can be very dry. Yes, the flight attendants will bring you a beverage and maybe a snack, but those cups are small and the attendants aren’t there to keep refilling your glass. So come prepared with your own water…

Snacks

…and your own snacks. Plane food isn’t the best especially if you are on a short flight. You won’t be served a meal and if you get a snack, it’ll be a little packet of trail mix or something of the like. That’s fine in a pinch, but I’m all about being prepared and eating more than 5 mini pretzels, so I like to bring fruit bars. The “this strawberry walks into a bar” kind from trader joes are my favorite.

Hand Sanitizer

Purell muffinchanel

Don’t want to eat with dirty hands, of course. But you also want to protect yourself from all the germs on the plane. Anytime you touch your face, eyes or mouth, you want your hands to be clean.

Neosporin

NEOSPORIN muffinchanel

This may sound gross, but it’s a travel pro tip — put a little neosporin on your pinky finger and line the inside of your nose with it. It’s your own personal barrier against breathing in those germs!

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Blog Lifestyle

Organic Gluten-Free Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes | Wholesome Chow

Organic Gluten-Free Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes!

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here

These cupcakes were a lot of fun and very easy to make!

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees

In a medium bowl combine:

  • 1 1/4 cup Milk — we used Coconut Milk
  • 1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar

Let mixture sit for about 5 minutes or until foamy

  • Add 1/4 cup oil (we used avocado oil) and whisk well

Whisk Baking Mix into the liquid ingredients and blend until smooth

So easy, right!? Then we poured the mixture into our cupcake pans, greased with coconut oil, and popped the tray into the oven for 18 minutes.

Bake for 18 minutes at 350 degrees
Bake for 18 minutes at 350 degrees

While the cupcakes were baking, we made the Organic Gluten-Free Vanilla Frosting Mix! Yay!

Wholesome Chow Vanilla Frosting
Wholesome Chow Vanilla Frosting

The mix was super easy to make — just combine vegan margarine (we used Coconut Oil) and the mix and voila!

IMG_2290

By the time we were done, so were the cupcakes!

Mmmmm, fresh cupcakes warm from the oven!
Mmmmm, fresh cupcakes warm from the oven!

After letting the cupcakes cool for 15 minutes, we added the frosting.

vegan cupcakes muffinchanel

These cupcakes are awesome! Even if you don’t have a food allergy or dietary preferences, you will enjoy this mix and frosting. You can order this and other organic, gluten-free baking mixes from wholesomechow.com.

I want to try their Lemon Poppy Blueberry Muffins next!

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Blog Lifestyle

Vegan Lunch – The Plum Cafe

This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here20130831-133200.jpg

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We had a vegan lunch today at The Plum Cafe. I’ve never eaten at a vegan place, but it was really good. I would definitely come back here.