by Stacey Terry
So, have you at least gotten the suitcase out of the closet? I haven’t. Actually, I still have to do laundry before I go. It’s a lot of work to go on a trip isn’t it? But if I didn’t do my laundry, I’d have no clothes to wear. And if I didn’t have any clothes to wear, I think the family photo in front of the Christmas tree this year would probably break the ‘most number of comments’ record I’ve received on any of my Facebook photos.
So… unless one is fond of sharp coniferous pine-ies in the hiney, then there are just some things that need to be done before-hand. Which leads me to my tip for you today…
TRAVEL CHOICE #2:
I make sure I know what tools I’ll have access to once I’m there, and what I may need to bring. My goal: make choices that do not allow for excuses.
If you’re sticking to green smoothies like me, then someway, somehow, you’re going to need a blender. As I see it, you have two options:
OPTION 1 - Call ahead to your destination and ask if your family or friends wouldn’t mind bringing an old blender up from the basement or making sure they can find the lid (I’ve learned the hard way that a blender lid can be the start of a great day or the initiative you needed to wash your kitchen cupboards, walls, canisters, light fixtures - you get the idea). If they don’t have one, then pack yours into the car.
OPTION 2 - Don’t call ahead. Just pack your blender. Once you arrive, leave the suitcases in the car initially and show up on that doorstep with just your trusty blender tucked under your arm. At no time in the exchange of greetings and other common pleasantries should you acknowledge that you have blender under your arm. Create an air of mystery. The loser is the one who acknowledges the blender first. Be the ‘winner’ in your family. 
Where there’s a will there’s a way… it all depends on your circumstances and your willingness to apply effort. Maybe the hotel you’re staying at has a restaurant; many times the cook or chef is willing to accommodate guests and would likely make a green smoothie for you if you asked. If you want to maintain control yourself, check to see if there’s a local second-hand store nearby where you can pick one up cheaply, and then you can leave it behind or donate it again when you go.
There’s no doubt about it, figuring out the blender situation is the “ay, there’s the rub” when it comes to being on the road. But people do make this work. In fact, I know there are even “tailgater” blenders out there that plug into your car’s cigarette lighter socket. But uh, it probably goes without saying, please blend and drive responsibly.
And with wisdomy pearls like that, I’m sure you’ll be back tomorrow to check out my last piece of advice for you before you head out for the holidays!
I had spotted his Osterizer some time ago and decided that it would be perfect for trying out some kitchen experiments for raw foodists on a budget!
This is my 
I’ve always been one to experiment with foods, so it was easy for me to try this new phenomenon out. I’m not sure why it deters so many though. It’s great to see the initial look on someone’s face when they find out what you’re drinking and watch it change when they get a taste of the yummy flavor. They are completely shocked. Now, there are times I may not let them try-not all of my creations would make it in a recipe book. I’ve got a few staples I rotate, but I like to try new combos with fruits I don’t typically buy or mix in some new ingredients to see what I get. Here a few of my favorites:
One necessity for those dedicated to making green smoothies on a regular basis is a good blender. I couldn’t afford the popular Vitamix or Blendtec, so I found a comparable blender I absolutely love, my Breville BBL600XL Ikon 750-Watt 51-Ounce Blender. It’s about half the cost of the others, but more powerful and longer-lasting than the typical blender you see at a SAD food follower’s home that barely gets use. As with anything, a preparation technique takes practice and you will get to know what works best with your blender and the ingredients you typically use with time so be patient. For me, I tend to fill it up with greens, add water, blend, fill with greens, blend again, add fruit and extras, and blend again. 15 minutes max, including set-up and cleanup. I found a pair of great thermos containers with lids and straws for storing our smoothies until lunch time and since the straw caps have long been lost, I replaced the them with pen caps to keep them as fresh as possible.
I’ve been traveling quite a bit over the past few months and haven’t always had access to a blender to make my delicious green smoothies. Blenders don’t always pack well, either! I bought a Sunbeam 
The stick doesn’t work well with fresh greens, so when fresh greens are available I use the food-processor attachment. This makes quite a good smoothie. Just make sure that if you are using frozen bananas (or other frozen fruit) that you allow them to defrost a little first so that you don’t overwork the motor. With a little care, it should last quite a while.
Clean your blender thoroughly after each use with a non-abrasive sponge.
