THE SUPER SMOOTHIE

I got this recipe from my stepmother for a super-green health smoothie. I tweaked it a little bit, and it is my most favorite way to start the day. A few people have asked me for the recipe, so here it is!

You will need:
 *1 cup of berries, fresh or frozen. (If you use all fresh berries, I suggest adding a few ice cubes to keep it cold- I usually do half and half. Blueberries and strawberries are my favorite because they have smaller seeds.)
*1 cup (at least) of greens, such as baby spinach and arugula. You won't even be able to taste it! (I wouldn't recommend using kale, unless you want to chew your smoothie.)
*1 Tbsp. of flavored Omega-3 fish oil (I use this this stuff from Max Muscle in peach-mango smoothie flavor, it's actually pretty delicious.)
*1 Tbsp. ground flax seed (Seriously, buy this stuff in the bulk-bins at Winco, you'll save a ton of money.)
*1/2 cup oats (you can skip this if you're going low-carb, but I like it because it tends to keep me fuller longer.)
*Cold green tea- I brew 5-6 tea bags with about four cups of water, then pour it into a pitcher and leave it in the fridge overnight (adding more water to it if it's too strong). Add enough tea to allow everything to mix together.
*1 scoop vanilla protein powder. I've been using this stuff, but you can use whatever protein powder you like.
*Blend it all together and enjoy your healthy morning! This smoothie is packed with energy, antioxidants and essential fatty acids.

Shannon B.

Shannon's happiness list:
Family
Friends, really close friends
Trust
Laughter
Excitement
Morals
Ambition
Memories (with pictures as well)
Animals
Booze
Being in nature after smoking on a sunny day
The ocean




The thing that makes me the most happy:
Seeing the most important people in my life truly happy.

Sarah L.

First of all, I would like to thank my friend Sarah for being my first contributor! I would like to share her happiness list:
"sunshine, water, music, honesty and love :)) ♥ as for other material tangible things, the list is all silly and not as inspiring. haha ♥"

Sarah does some amazing artwork, you can check out her stuff here.
You can also check out her Flickr page here.
(I love having artsy-fartsy friends!)


I can appreciate a small, simple list like this one. It's easy to forget about the simple things, especially when we are constantly surrounded by technology. Water and sunshine, who could argue with that?

I try to get back to the wilderness whenever I can. One of the best memories of my life is the summer of 2007, when my best friend and I packed up all our belongings and got jobs in Yosemite National Park, living out of a tent cabin without a TV, computer, internet, or any phone reception. My days off were spent hiking, climbing, exploring, and swimming in the Merced river. It really is such an amazing place, and if you haven't been there, please add it to your bucket list. You'll never know how small you really are until you stand next to the granite giants that envelop the valley. I love Yosemite!

What comes after?

I graduated with my Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature in December, 2011. It was truly the proudest moment of my life.
Months later, I have realized that nothing really changes after graduation. I mean, you're done with classes and homework, but after the spark of excitement dies you kind of just go back to real life, confused about what you're supposed to do next. At least, that's how I feel.
It look me over 5 years to finish college and I still have no clue what I really want to do with my life.
Someone once asked me what I would do for the rest of my life if money wasn't a necessity. And I thought, I'd write. I'd write about what I know- my family, my history- I guess this is where I begin.

I feel that as I grow older and take on more responsibilities, I sometimes forget about the simple things that make me happy. I've started this blog mostly as a happiness inspiration- I want to share what makes me happy, and I want to hear about what makes YOU happy, too.