The Adventures of Keva Kate

Winter is here! Is your immune system ready??

2009-12-10T08:44:00.000-08:00

Well, friends, winter is upon us and many are fighting hard to stay healthy this holiday season. One great way to do that is to make sure you get five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Okay, so I know we are all really busy and fitting five servings in might seem difficult, but with a healthy smoothie from Keva Juice, it gets a lot easier!

Here are a few fun facts about some delicious winter fruits! Eat 'em up!

APPLES The apple can be traced back to the Romans and Egyptians who introduced them to Britain and finally to America. Today, Americans eat about 120 apples apiece each year. At least 50% of the domestic crop is used in items we use every day such as, applesauce, juice, smoothies, jellies, pies and other popular desserts. Be sure to choose apples that are firm with no soft spots. Avoid apples that are discolored for their variety.

BLUEBERRIES One of the nation’s most well liked fruits, blueberries, have origins in both Europe and here in the United States. The Native Americans were the first to incorporate berries into their diets and lifestyle. Today, berries are appreciated worldwide. Blueberries are sold fresh or processed as individually quick frozen fruit, juice, smoothies, or dried or infused berries.

BLUEBERRIES Blueberries have a diverse range of micronutrients, with notably high levels of the essential dietary mineral manganese, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and dietary fiber. One serving provides a relatively low glycemic load score of 4 out of 100 per day.

CRANBERRIES Cranberries grow on vines in boggy areas. Cranberries were first cultivated in Massachusetts around 1815 and are only one of three major native North American fruits. Some cranberry beds have been around for over 100 years. Most of the U.S. cranberry crop is grown in only five states: Massachusetts, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington. Each year, more than 110,000 metric tons of cranberries are produced in the United States. Native Americans used cranberries for both their medicinal and natural preservative powers. They brewed cranberry mixtures to draw poisons from arrow wounds. They also pounded cranberries into a paste and mixed the paste with dried meat to extend the life of the meat.

GUAVAS A guava is an oval shaped fruit that varies in size from a small egg to a medium apple. The thin skin may be yellow, red, purple or nearly black and the flesh ranges from a pale yellow to a bright red. Guava is sweet with a slight tart aftertaste. Its texture is firm; similar to an apple. Guava is native to South America, but is now commonly grown in California, Florida and Hawaii. It is also known as a Bangkok Apple or Guayaba.

KIWIS Did you know that kiwifruit is more than 700 years old? Kiwifruit history began in the Yang-tse river valley in China, where it was called "Yangtao." The Yangtao was considered a delicacy by the court of the great Khans who cherished its delicious flavor and emerald-green color. In the 1970s it was grown in California and available for the first time in supermarkets throughout the United States. Most kiwifruit imported to the United States comes from Chile and New Zealand. Kiwifruit is available year-round but is often harvested in the fall and winter.

LEMONS Did you know that the lemon originated in China and that lemonade was a favorite of the Chinese Emporers? Lemons made their way to the United States by missionaries and were planted in Arizona in California. Today they produce virtually all of the lemons consumed in the United States as well as about 1/3 of those used throughout the world! Lemons are valued for their many used flavoring the food we eat, as a garnish, and for household purposes.

ORANGES Did you know that, technically, oranges are a type of berry? Me neither! Oranges are highly valued for their vitamin C content. It is a primary source of vitamin C for most Americans. This wonderful fruit has more to offer nutritionally than just this one nutrient, containing sufficient amounts of folacin, calcium, potassium, thiamin, niacin and magnesium. Most of the consumption of oranges is in the form of juice. Eating the whole fruit provides 140% of the recommended dietary allowance for vitamin C, less than the juice, but with more fiber, which is not present in the juice.

PEARS Pears are a pome fruit relative of the apple. One of the earliest written histories or records comes from Homer's reference to them as "Gifts from the Gods." The first pears arrived in the United States by European settlers in the 1700s. Pears rank second to the apple as the most popular US fruit. They can be eaten and used in a lot of the same ways as the apple. One distinct feature of the pear besides the shape is the soft texture. This soft texture is the result of the starch converting to sugar after being picked from a tree to ripen.

POMEGRANATES A pomegranate is a fruit the size of a large orange. The leathery reddish-pink skin shelters the membranous walls and bitter tissue that house compartments or sacs filled with hundreds of seeds. A translucent red pulp that has a slightly sweet and tart taste surrounds these seeds. Pomegranates are grown in California and throughout Asia and the Mediterranean countries.

KEEP IT JUICY!

_{*Thanks to www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov for this great information!*}

2009 Breast Cancer 3-Day RECAP!

2009-11-18T20:54:00.001-08:00

Whew! I'm back! 60 miles is a long way to go, but I made it the whole way!

Day 1 began with an emotional Opening Ceremony at Freestone Park in Gilbert, AZ. Some of the highlights along the route included the students from Gilbert Elementary and the cheering station at Living Faith Church. The kids at Gilbert Elementary literally lined the entire block and cheered and jumped up and down! They even wore pink for us! Southwest Ambulance was there to support us all along the way, decked out in pink. Luckily, I didn't have to visit the ambulance at all. After a long day of walking, we gathered at Benedict Park, our home away from home for the weekend, and enjoyed entertainment by the McClintock High School String Quartet and ASU Dancing Devils.

DAY 1 PHOTOS

On Day 2, we woke up early, ready to hit the trail again. Along the way, we were cheered on by friends, family and members of the community at 50th Street and Ray and Kyrene de las Lomas School. The skies opened up and would you believe it started raining...in Arizona! Who would have thought!? It literally hasn't rained there in MONTHS, but I should have figured it would rain on the 3-Day. The rain cooled things off, but it couldn't dampen our spirits! We enjoyed the support of Girl Scouts galore (and even a couple of Boy Scout troops) and Gatorade snow cones provided by Sun Devil Fire Equipment. That night, we were entertained by the Sun City Poms, Spirit of Phoenix Men's Chorus and Cannedy Performing Arts before we tucked in for the night.

DAY 2 PHOTOS

On Day 3, the walk featured another visit from the bagpipe players, more Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts, some great cheering stations on Mill Avenue and at Papago Plaza, and support from the AZ Women Lawyers Association. Our journey ended with a celebratory Closing Ceremony at Scottsdale Stadium. The Closing Ceremony was super emotional and seeing the survivors walk out in their pretty pink t-shirts really drove home the reasons why I walk the 3-Day.

DAY 3 PHOTOS

This year, approximately 1,700 walkers participated in the 2009 Arizona Breast Cancer 3-Day! Together, we raised over $4.1 million!! Can you believe that!?

I have finally decided to put together a team next year! If you are interested, leave me a comment below or send me an e-mail! Next year, we are hitting up sunny San Diego! Get ready!!

KEEP IT JUICY!

Leavin' on a jet plane...

2009-11-11T11:07:00.000-08:00

I am sosososososososososo excited! I leave for Arizona in just a few hours and I can't freaking wait! The weather here has been windy, cool, and rainy for a while and I am so ready to escape to warm, sunny Arizona! Click HERE to see a map of where I will be walking!

I have my bag all packed and I am ready to go!
  - Broken in tennis shoes? CHECK!
  - Lots of socks? CHECK!
  - Water bottle? CHECK!
  - Body Glide? CHECK! (Every year, this is the most crucial item on my
     list. It is loved my endurance athletes and marathoners
     everywhere.)
  - Everything and anything with a pink ribbon on it? CHECK! :)

If you have anyone you would like me to walk for, please leave me a comment or catch me on twitter. It isn't too late to get your loved one's name on one of my pink ribbons! Again, don't forget to check out the map of where I will be walking!! Let me know if there are any cool things on the way that I should keep an eye out for!

Stay posted! I'll be putting up lots of pics and updating from the road! Woot!

THINK PINK and KEEP IT JUICY!

One week until the Breast Cancer 3-Day!!!

2009-11-06T05:46:00.000-08:00

The countdown is ON!

The Breast Cancer 3-Day is only a few days away and I am so excited! I have been training and I am totally ready! I also can't wait to see beautiful Arizona. I haven't been there in a while and I am looking forward to seeing the area again.

Here is a pic of me from last year in Philadelphia! It was SO cold!

If you are interested in helping Keva Juice reach the $5,000 fundraising goal, please visit:

www.the3day.org/goto/kevakate

I want to thank two special Keva fans named Lionel Lowry and Sheila Bragg for making generous contributions to the fundraising! No contribution is too small and every dollar helps fund life-saving research, education, and treatment.
Also, every donation is fully tax-deductible. Please consider helping us reach that $5,000 goal!

Do it for your grandmother, mother, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, best friend, neighbor, or coworker! Be part of the cure!

I walk because I dream of a world without breast cancer.

KEEP IT JUICY!

Oh, the places I'll go...

2009-10-28T12:33:00.000-07:00

Today, I’m on the road. What’s new, right? I have to admit, a lot of times I like the freedom to travel from place to place, meeting new people and experiencing new things. However, occasionally I find myself in cities, no…towns, that, as kooky as they are, must actually reside at the center of the universe.

Earlier this morning I had to go to the post office. As luck would have it, the closest one was only 3 miles away! Rock! I get about a mile down the road and I realize I am out in the middle of NOWHERE! How a location can transform from a bustling metropolitan area to a rural country landscape in one mile is truly a geographical oddity. I started getting a little nervous and I actually thought to myself, “Man, I would TOTALLY stand out here. I am completely out of my element.”

Two more miles down the road I found the post office. This place couldn’t have been more than 750 square feet! (Surprisingly, I have actually seen one smaller.) Anyway, I walk in and the lady looks at me and says, “Well! Your outfit is so cute! You look so nice today. (pause) You aren’t from around here, are you?”

Obviously, I do a really bad job at blending in. Should I be offended? I'm not really sure what she meant by her comment, but I guess it just means that there is no going INCOGNITO for me!

On a completely different note...
Here is a delicious recipe for homemade applesauce the I promised yesterday. This is a great recipe if you have been apple picking or have just stocked up from your local grocery store. It is simple and tastes delicious!

HOMEMADE APPLESAUCE
5 large apples (I like to use Red Delicious apples because I like the natural sweetness)
¾ cup water
¼ cup white sugar
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)

Stove Directions:
Peel apples. Core and chop into fine pieces. In a medium saucepan, combine the chopped apples, water, sugar, and cinnamon (if desired). Cover and cook over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, or until apples are soft. Allow apples to cool. If apples are not completely softened, mash with a fork or potato masher to desired consistency.

Slow Cooker Directions:
Peel apples. Core and chop into fine pieces. Add all ingredients to slow cooker and stir. Cook on HIGH for 3 hours and LOW for one hour. Allow apples to cool. If apples are not completely softened, mash with a fork or potato masher to desired consistency.

NOTE: Splenda (or any other low-calorie sweetener) can be substituted for white sugar. Or if you like yours REALLY natural, eliminate this ingredient altogether!

ENJOY!

KEEP IT JUICY!

Time to catch up!!

2009-10-27T16:57:00.000-07:00

Hi friends! I'm so sorry I seem to have been gone so long! I just got so caught up in my little adventures that my blog sort of fell by the wayside. I'll do better...I promise! Here is a little of what's been going on in my world...

I started off getting in the Smashing Pumpkin spirit by carving these two super cool Kev-A-Lanterns! Aren't they great!? I might have head a little help from some super awesome Keva friends. :)

After that, my friends and I went to...(are you ready for this?)...IKEA!! If you have not been to IKEA, you are truly missing out on the most awesome experience of your life. Okay, well at least ONE of the most awesome experiences of your life. I had so much fun and found so many things that I just couldn't seem to live without. I may or may not have bought this super JUICY hat. :)On the way back from IKEA, I happened to see this at a gas station. I'm not sure who in the world would need a GIGANTIC plaster cow, but hey, whatever.
Fast forward a couple of days....I got this awesome new haircut! Do you love it? Do you hate it? What do you think? It is A LOT shorter than I have ever worn it, but so far so good. :)
This past weekend, I went apple picking! How fall-ish is that!? I had so much fun and the orchard was unbelievable beautiful!! The trees looked like they were on fire...reds, oranges, and yellows! It was REALLY cold, but a hike through the apple orchards while sipping on a cup of warm fresh apple cider was a great way to start my day!

And no trip to an apple orchard is complete without putting your face in a gigantic sunflower...RIGHT??

At the apple orchard, I got my hands on some Arkansas Black apples and they are juicy and ever so slightly tart. I love them! I'm so inspired to try all kinds of new apple recipes! I have tried a couple that I'll be sharing soon! Trust me, you won't want to miss them!

Until then...

KEEP IT JUICY!

A SMASHING Thirsty Thursday!

2009-10-15T14:13:00.000-07:00

Woo hoo! The SMASHING PUMPKIN smoothie is BACK! If you need help getting in a fall mood, be sure and run over to Keva Juice and get one today! It's better than your grandma's pumpkin pie...I promise!!

Well, what are you still doing here? Go out and get one, silly! :)

And for Thirsty Thirsty I bring you something special! While I can't share the Smashing Pumpkin with you (sorry), I'm inspired to share with you this recipe requested by my tweep, @clmsongrl! I hope you like it!

ORANGE YOU GLAD YOU TRIED THIS SMOOTHIE?
3/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup mango juice
1/2 banana
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 cup strawberries
3 scoops low-sugar orange sherbet
1/2 cup ice

ENJOY!

KEEP IT JUICY!

Fall is FUN!

2009-10-13T11:41:00.001-07:00

This past weekend was so much fun! I had so much to do! My Saturday was packed with SPORTS! On Saturday morning I started my day with a long run (4 miles!) and after that, I was off to get a smoothie from Keva Juice! My Strawberry Squeezer was DELICIOUS!
When I got home, I showered up got dressed for my niece's soccer game! The weather was beautiful! While her team didn't win, they looked super cute out there and, of course, my niece played her heart out!

After the soccer game, I went to a roller derby game! Yes, a roller derby game! I'm considering joining my local roller derby team so I wanted to go and check it out!
It was so awesome! These girls are amazing! Its sort of like Fight Club...for chicks! :) Now I'm even more interested in joining their team and I am definitely going to be checking out some of their practices.

After the roller derby game, I picked up my friend and we went to place downtown to watch my team play FOOTBALL! While my team didn't win (hey, it happens), they are still in the Top 100 on the BCS poll! They'll do better this week, I know it!

On Sunday, I didn't do anything but read. I know that sounds lame, but I got my hands on this...
...and I could not for the life of me PUT IT DOWN! It is like 525 pages and I made it to about Page 400 or so! They better make a movie out of this one! If you are a fan of Dan Brown's books, I highly suggest picking this one up!

I'm off to go for a training walk for the Breast Cancer 3-Day. How does 12 miles sound?? Sounds like a good walk for today! What do you think of this new logo? THINK PINK!

KEEP IT JUICY!

Thirsty Thursday...on a Friday! :)

2009-10-09T05:55:00.000-07:00

Sorry I missed a Thirsty Thursday posting for yesterday! Not that it is a good excuse, but I was out of town and writing out a long blog post is a little hard on the ol' iPhone! Today I bring you a favorite of mine. I simply LOVE the taste of peanut butter and bananas, so today is a Go Nuts for Bananas Smoothie!

GO NUTS FOR BANANAS
1 banana
1/8 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup soy milk
2 tablespoons honey
3 medium scoops vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup ice

If you really want to up the healthiness of this smoothie, try using a lower sugar peanut butter. The honey adds natural sweetener, so you can cut it out of the peanut butter and still have it come out yummy! Also keep in mind that the riper the banana that you use, the more banana-y it will taste! :)

I have so much fun stuff going on this weekend and I just can't wait! This afternoon, I'm going to be going on a LONG (10 miles, anyone?) training walk for the Breast Cancer 3-Day. Tomorrow morning I'm going to meet my Saturday morning run group for a 4-mile run. After that, I plan on hitting up a Fall Festival near my house. They are having a Chili Cook-Off and I can't miss that! Tomorrow evening I am going to a roller derby game and I am PSYCHED! I'm actually considering joining the roller derby team, so I want to go out and see how much they rock! For now, Sunday is up in the air, but I'm positive I can find some trouble to get into! :)

Just a reminder...I'm still raising money for the Breast Cancer 3-Day that I'll be walking next month in Arizona. Please consider contributing to my fundraising! It is 100% tax deductible and the funds go to support research, education, treatments, and other breast cancer initiatives. Also, if there is someone in your life that has been affected by breast cancer, please leave a comment below with her name or e-mail her name to me and I will put her name on a ribbon that I will carry with me all 60 miles. It would be my honor to do that for you!

THINK PINK and KEEP IT JUICY!

It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

2009-10-01T18:10:00.001-07:00

Show your ta-tas some love, ladies! Don't forget to do your monthly self-exams! Guys, make sure the ladies in your life no how important it is to get checked! Breast cancer doesn't discriminate against race or age. Make sure your loved ones do what it takes to stay healthy!

To help raise awareness for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I bring you this deliciously PINK smoothie! This tasty blend is good for both mind and body! Enjoy!

STRAWBERRY DETOX
1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 cup guava juice
1/2 cup soy milk
1/2 banana
2 large handfuls of strawberries
1/2 cup ice

In other news, we have been fortunate enough to win the very first EVER PURPLE THUMBS UP AWARD! Isn't that exciting!? You can see our cool award over there in my sidebar. Love it! Be sure to check out Jojo's blog at For The Love of Purple!

I leave you with this little jewel! This picture was e-mailed to me by a little Keva Juice fan! Everyone loves them some Keva Kate! Oh, and she made sure to let me know that her favorite smoothie is the Mango Tango! :)

Keva Juice loves Race for the Cure!

2009-09-26T15:27:00.001-07:00

If you haven't heard, we at Keva Juice LOVE ta-tas! :) We are committed to raising funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and finding a CURE for breast cancer!

I participated in the Race for the Cure this morning and I had so much fun! Despite the too-cool-for-my-liking weather and gross drizzly rain, I had a great time! Normally I run the race, as I like to be competitive. This year, however, I was lucky enough to have my mom with me, and since she is not a runner, we walked and still had an awesome time! There were over 6,000 participants and I couldn't be more thrilled.

Not only am I a participant in the Race for the Cure, but I am also a member of the Race Committee. This year I was in charge of the Competitive Runner Recruitment Committee and the Sleep in for the Cure Committee. After MONTHS of planning and meetings, this year's event went off without a hitch (even though it rained)!

Plus, I met these sassy, bodacious broads dressed in pink from head to toe! How fun!

As I got started walking with my mom this morning, I got a little teary. In the background I heard the song "I Run for Life" by Melissa Etheridge. While I am not a huge Melissa Etheridge fan, I can't help but be touched by the lyrics of this song. When I participate in a Race for the Cure or a Breast Cancer 3-Day event, I really feel like I am doing something, like I am doing something so much bigger.

I feel so fortunate that my mom was there to walk with me. I know how many people have lost their mothers, sisters, grandmothers, aunts, best friends, coworkers, neighbors, etc. to breast cancer. I promise to do my part in helping to find a cure! I look forward to a day when we will no longer need Races for the Cure and Breast Cancer 3-Days. Until then, we'll keep walking, running, and racing...striving for a CURE.

THINK PINK! KEEP IT JUICY!

Thirsty Thursday AND a recap!

2009-09-24T06:29:00.001-07:00

I have SO much to catch you all up on! I am so sorry I haven't written in a few days but I have traveling and movin' and shakin'!

First of all, I have to tell you all about Dine America 209! It was so much fun and I got the amazing opportunity to meet some really amazing restaurant industry leaders! And I got some awesome ideas and fun stuff that I can't to throw out there for all you Keva Juice lovers! Just know that great stuff is coming!! :)

While there, I got to hear presentations from Rich Karlgaard, Publisher of Forbes, Alfred Lin, COO and CFO of Zappo's, Robert Baxley, COO of Zaxby's, and Don Fox, COO of Firehouse Subs. Neat!

Here is a pic of me and Alfred Lin from Zappo's. His presentation was the BEST!

We had dinner one night at Hard Rock Cafe! The food was delicious and good times were had by all.

Guess what else!? I got my post card from London from Jessica Lynn over at Jesstagirl and Her Officer! I won her blog contest a while back and I was so excited to get this surprise in my inbox! I have done extensive traveling overseas, but I haven't been to London yet! Maybe one day! :) I LOVE blog contests!!

And last, but certainly not least, its Thirsty Thursday! Today I bring you a little goodie inspired by the Dine America conference! I hope it tickles your taste buds. :)

LIFE'S A PEACH!
3/4 cup peach juice
1/3 banana
1/2 cup sliced peaches
3 medium scoops of low-fat orange sherbet
1/2 cup ice

Ooooh, yummy! Give it a try and let me know how it turns out!

KEEP IT JUICY!

Ahoy, It's TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY! Yarrr!

2009-09-19T19:39:00.001-07:00

Today has been nothing short of awesome. C'mon, who doesn't like to play dress up?? Check out the highlights of my Talk Like A Pirate Day! Don't forget to leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Thirsty Thursday!

2009-09-17T17:26:00.000-07:00

Alright, so how many people have cashed in on the $2 Smoothie deal? Lots of you, I hope! If you have, be sure to leave me a comment and let me know what you got!!

And now for Thirsty Thursday! Today I bring you Tangerine Tantalizer. With the fall weather coming up and the flu already starting to go around, this tasty jewel is packed with TONS of Vitamin C to help you fight off the cooties! Keep in mind that if you are starting to feel under the weather, you can always throw in an extra packet of Emergen-C to boost your immune system!

TANGERINE TICKLES THE TONGUE!
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup guava juice
1/2 banana
1 packet of Orange Emergen-C
1 tablespoon honey
1 handful of strawberries
1 handful of sliced peaches
1/2 cup ice

Enjoy, Keva Luvas!

KEEP IT JUICY!

Oh, Mango Tango, I love you.

2009-09-16T18:07:00.000-07:00

Geez, Louise. I'll be honest. This week has been killer. I have been so busy. You probably wouldn't believe me, but being Keva Kate is a pretty demanding job. I've been working on some new fun promotions for all you Keva lovers, talking to LOTS of Keva guests and store owners to find out what they think of all the cool things going on, and planning some super duper adventures that I have coming up!

The weather has been getting cooler and the days have been getting shorter and I am so excited that fall is here! To me, fall means comfort foods and football games. It means raking big piles of leaves and then ruining them by jumping right in. It means apple cider and pumpkin-flavored...anything! :)

I have been feeling a little under the weather lately, so I made sure to grab a Mango Tango this morning...and I even threw in an extra Emergen-C...just for good measure.

KEEP IT JUICY!

Come and get some Keva Juice luv!

2009-09-14T06:10:00.000-07:00

In addition to the awesome $2 Smoothie promotion that is going on right now, Keva Juice is also introducing the Keva luvCards! All you have to do is get a punch every time you get a smoothie and after 10 punches, your next smoothie is FREE! Yes, FREE! Do you luv it or what!?

Check 'em out! Aren't they cool!?

I went to see Extract this past Friday night and I loved it!! It got mixed reviews among the group of friends that I went to see it with. I found the humor to be somewhere in between a dark comedy and something I would expect from an independent film. But, since I like indie flicks, I thought it was great. Plus, if you're a guy...great eye candy from Mila Kunis...and if you're a chick...great eye candy from Jason Bateman (and I guess from Ben Affleck, if you're into him)! Not the best movie ever, but I would definitely recommend it for some good chuckles and some really witty one-liners!

My Saturday was filled with going for a good run, hitting up Keva Juice, and then hitting the road for a 20-mile bike ride! I was really pushing it on Blue Betty! Ha!

On Sunday, I just played around most of the day. I was going to go for a run or bike ride but my legs were sore, and, to be honest, I was just TIRED. I did, however, make time to hit up Keva Juice for a Peanut Butter Chocolate. I'm pretty sure that smoothie is the best thing ever invented. :)

KEEP IT JUICY!

$2 Smoothies?? Say what?

2009-09-11T13:03:00.000-07:00

Yes, you are reading that correctly, my friends! $2 Smoothies kicks off tomorrow! Run, don't walk, to your nearest Keva Juice to get your fix!

I think I may just use this awesome promotion as an excuse to get a Keva Juice EVERYDAY!

Here is one of the new wall graphics going up in selected locations! This baby is printed 4 feet wide! That's big!

And this is one of the new counter graphics!

I've got a big restaurant convention coming up at which I plan on making my debut appearance. To mark such an occasion, I was given these ridiculously cool business cards! What do you think? Are you loving them as much as I am or what?? :)

As always, my friends, KEEP IT JUICY!

_{*Please note that the $2 Promotion applies to the 12oz regular blend smoothies.}

Thirsty Thursday!

2009-09-10T11:06:00.000-07:00

Is it Thursday already!? Criminy! Where has the week gone? Having Monday off for Labor Day has totally thrown off my whole week! :)

Well, since I got ridiculously busy last week and wasn't able to post a Thirsty Thursday recipe...it looks like you will get TWO today! Woo hoo!

Someone on my twitter requested the Oreo Speedwagon the other day, so here you go!

OREO SMOOTHIE
3/4 cup non-fat milk
1/4 cup oreo crumbs
1/4 cup chocolate cookie crumbs
5 medium scoops vanilla non-fat frozen yogurt
1/2 cup ice

And now for the bonus...one of my personal faves...

RASPBERRY RENDEZVOUS
1 1/4 cup raspberry juice
1/3 banana
1/2 cup strawberries
3 medium scoops orange sherbet
1/2 cup ice

As always, give them a try and let me know what you think! And if there are any special request for recipes, be sure to comment below or e-mail me!

KEEP IT JUICY!

What's in your mix?

2009-09-09T05:35:00.000-07:00

Since I stay pretty active, I am ALWAYS looking for some good tunes to add to my iPod. I thought I would share my top 50 favorites. These tunes are great if you are running, biking, working out in the gym, cleaning around your house, or if you just want some upbeat songs to boogie too! There some rock, pop, and even a little country thrown in the mix!

1. 3oh!3 - "Don't Trust Me"
2. Alice Deejay - "Better Off Alone"
3. Amber - "This is Your Night"
4. Anita Ward - "Ring My Bell"
5. Beyonce - "Sweet Dreams"
6. Black Eyed Peas - "I Got a Feeling"
7. Black Eyed Peas - "Pump It"
8. Boys Like Girls - "Love Drunk"
9. Britney Spears - "If U Seek Amy"
10. Cascada - "Evacuate the Dance Floor"
11. Christina Aguilera - "Keeps Gettin' Better"
12. Cobra Starship - "Good Girls Go Bad"
13. Cupid - "Cupid Shuffle"
14. Danity Kane - "Damaged"
15. Enur - "Calabria 2007"
16. Estelle featuring Kanye West - "American Boy"
17. Flobots - "Handlebars"
18. Harvey Danger - "Flagpole Sitta"
19. Hole - "Celebrity Skin"
20. INXS - "Pretty Vegas"
21. John Legend - "Green Light"
22. Kate Nash - "Foundations"
23. Katy Perry - "Waking Up in Vegas"
24. Lady Gaga - "Just Dance"
25. Maroon 5 - "Makes Me Wonder"
26. Kanye West - "Stronger"
27. Me First and The Gimme Gimmes - "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
28. Metro Station - "Shake It"
29. Michael Franti and Spearhead - "Say Hey (I Love You)"
30. Muse - "Supermassive Black Hole"
31. Mute Math - "Spotlight"
32. Ok Go - "Here It Goes Again"
33. Paolo Nutini - "New Shoes"
34. P!nk - "So What"
35. Pitbull - "Hotel Room Service"
36. Pitbull - "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)"
37. Rihanna - "Disturbia"
38. Robert Randolph and The Family Band - "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That"
39. Rock Kills Kid - "Paralyzed"
40. Save Ferris - "Come On Eileen"
41. Scissor Sisters - "I Don't Feel Like Dancing"
42. Shakira - "She Wolf"
43. Taylor Swift - "You Belong With Me"
44. The Caesars - "Jerk It Out"
45. The Darkness - "I Believe in a Thing Called Love"
46. The Fratellis - "Flathead"
47. The Killers - "Mr. Brightside"
48. The Veronicas - "Untouched"
49. U2 - "Beautiful Day"
50. Weezer - "This is Such a Pity"

What's in the mix on your iPod right now? What do you work out to? What kind of music gets you going?

I'm back in action!

2009-09-08T06:54:00.000-07:00

Okay, okay, I know I haven't been around much lately. I am so sorry! I miss you, blog friends! I promise to be much more diligent about my updating this week!

How was your Labor Day? I spent it riding around on Blue Betty and hanging out with friends. After all, how can you let a Labor Day go by without time spent with friends around a barbecue?

And just because I know you are all DYING to see her again...
Please do not hold my no make-up look against me. Besides, who gets all dolled up to exercise? Well, who other than Mariah Carey? :)

Blue Betty loves Keva Juice too!
Well, now that Labor Day has come and gone, it's time to start thinking about fall! Do you have any fall traditions? What is your favorite thing about this time of year?

For me, the best things about fall are the cool weather and comfort foods. I can't wait to start whipping up pumpkin and squash dishes! Oh, and I'm especially looking forward to a pumpkin smoothie that is coming up!

Some of you may know that I grew up in Louisiana...land of top notch cooks. I have been asked by Twitter friends @the_pink_owl and @nololos to share my super-secret-super-awesome gumbo recipe. And, of course, I'm happy to oblige. You can find it HERE. If you try it, please remember that a good gumbo takes time and is NOT a 30-minute meal. As long as you are patient with it, you won't be disappointed.

I (heart) Blue Betty!

2009-09-06T20:59:00.000-07:00

I got my bike! I am so excited I C.A.N.N.O.T. function. I love her. I don't mean to leave you all high and dry! I promise!

Pics of me and Elvis giving Blue Betty a spin coming tomorrow! Promise!

It is definitely a SUPER Saturday!

2009-08-29T16:14:00.001-07:00

Today is awesome and, despite this raging headache that is attempting to bring me down, I am having a freaking awesome day!

I went bicycle shopping today!! The last bike I had was probably a Huffy 10-speed when I was like 14 or so. As soon as I turned 15 and I was old enough to work and make money, I felt I could not be bothered with such "little girl" things like riding bikes and rollerblading. Anyway, I fell in love with this beauty at the first store I went to:

It is amazing. I am not the racing bike kind of girl, so this bike is right up my alley. It is navy and has military style stars and stripes, polka dots on the seat, a pin-up girl on the frame, and beautiful white leather handles...with leather streamers!! Are you serious? Plus, it even comes with a bell. I couldn't stop ching-chinging it in the store! IF I get it, I plan to put a basket on each side of the back tire so that I can ride it to the grocery store and back. How freaking quaint is that!?

I'm pretty sure that if I get that bike that I would need to dye my hair black, wear pin curls and red lipstick, and change my name to Betty. Love it!

While browsing the bike store, I made friends with the store pet, a black and white cat...with three legs. I have never seen a three-legged cat before and watching him get around was pretty interesting. It did kind of weird me out, but since the cat was nice, I got past it. I asked the shop owner what his cat's name was and he said, "Oh, the white and black cat? His name is White and Black." Huh. Guess he didn't feel like getting too creative. Oh well.

I was having a really good time chilling in the bike store, and then, out of nowhere, I got stung by a wasp! I have pretty bad allergies, and since I had never been stung by a wasp, I was hoping my face didn't blow up like a balloon. Lucky for everyone involved, I'm fine...well, other than the small red welp on my finger. Crisis averted!

When I got home, I found out I won a blog contest hosted by Jessica Lynn over at Jessta Girl and Her Officer. I am so excited because I never win ANYTHING! She is going to be traveling across the pond soon and will send me a postcard from her trip! I love getting mail so I can't wait to get my cool postcard! Be sure to check out her blog too! Her blog is super fun and I love hearing about all the wedding plans she's making!

Okay, so I didn't sit down to write this blog with the intentions of writing a novel, so my apologies for being so long. :) I'm off to make dinner and watch a scary movie!

KEEP IT JUICY!

Donate Blood. It's about LIFE. Pass it on.

2009-08-28T07:48:00.000-07:00

Today I gave blood. *shutter*

I absolutely HATE needles and I am really not a fan of giving blood, but I do it because I can. I do it because if something were to ever happen to me or to anyone I love, I would want the supply to be there. Plus, they called me yesterday and told me that the supply for my particular blood type was low and I just wanted to do my part.

(I apologize in advance for not looking more...presentable. :) The weather is GROSS today!) Notice my Keva Juice cup tucked snugly underneath my arm. I was ready in case I needed a boost in blood sugar!!

Here I am with my wrapped up arm. I requested the yellow smiley face tape since it is so rainy and dreary outside.

The best part about giving blood (other than, you know, knowing that I'm helping people) is the free t-shirt! Doesn't take much to make me happy! Ha! :)

If you can do it and you are willing to, I highly encourage you to consider donating blood. In addition to helping save lives, donating blood is also good for your body.

* Giving blood every 6 months has shown to lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes in people ages 43 to 61
* Donating blood rids your body of excess iron. Excess iron is thought to contribute to early onset heart disease. This preserves your heart and vascular health.
* Giving blood regularly helps flush your body's circulatory system and keeps it healthy.
* An awesome added bonus of giving blood is that you get a free mini-physical where they inform you of your blood type, blood pressure, and iron level.

(Statistics provided by the American Medical Association)

Do you give blood? :)

Thirsty Thursday!

2009-08-27T18:27:00.000-07:00

Oooooh, yummy! It's Thirsty Thursday! I know I am getting to this blog late in the day (my deepest apologies), but I couldn't let a Thursday go by without passing along another deeeeelicious Keva Juice specialty. Today's treat is the Hawaiian Holiday! I had this for the first time today and it is AWESOME!

HAWAIIAN HOLIDAY
3/4 cup orange juice
3/4 cup pineapple juice
1/3 banana
6 medium strawberries
3 small scoops orange sherbet (low-fat, of course!)
1/2 cup ice

Please give it a try and let me know how it tastes! And, as always, if you have any awesome smoothie ideas, please be sure to leave me a comment or e-mail me!

BREAKING NEWS!
There is an AWESOME promotion coming up in just a couple of weeks! I can't reveal all the details yet, but I promise it will be really good! And, who knows...you might just be seeing me around your local Keva Juice SOON! EEEEEEEEK! I'm so excited!!

I like to eat, eat, eat eeples and beeneenees!

2009-08-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

I love fruit! I could seriously eat fruit all day, every day. However, I get tired of eating the same things the same ways, so I try to mix it up pretty often. Peanut butter, honey, and fruit sandwiches are my favorite! If you have never had one, you are seriously missing out. Plus, this sandwich makes and EXCELLENT post-work out recovery snack! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

I usually use bananas that look like this. The riper the banana is, the more banana-y flavor it will have. I'm not sure if "banana-y" is really a word, but whatever... :)

I start out by using two slices of whole wheat bread. Try to use whole wheat or multigrain bread instead of honey wheat or white bread. Whole wheat and multigrain bread is typically lower in calories and fat and usually has higher fiber.

Slap some peanut butter on one side. I use low-sugar natural peanut butter since it is lower in calories and carbohydrates. While you shouldn't be scared of carbs, you should be careful to make the most of the grams you take in.

Layer slices of your favorite fruit. My favorites to use in making this type of sandwich are apples and bananas. However, feel free to mix it up and experiment!

Next, squeeze some honey on the other slice of bread. Layering the ingredients this way will help the bread stick to the fruit on the inside.

Flip they honey side of the bread down and enjoy your lunch! I love eating these sandwiches with pretzels because I really enjoy the combination of salty and sweet.

Either one of these sandwiches packs in healthy monounsaturated fats and oils, high protein and high fiber, magnesium, folate, and large amounts of Vitamins A, B3, C and E. Whew! Healthy AND yummy! WIN!

Try it and let me know what you think!

KEEP IT JUICY!

THR? RHR? Whaaaaat?

2009-08-22T12:47:00.000-07:00

The idea for this post came to me while I was out running with my Saturday morning run group this morning. I started monitoring my heart rate a few months ago and I have seen and felt a tremendous improvement in my time spent doing cardio exercise, so I thought I would share...

When starting an exercise/cardio plan, most people will walk/jog/run as fast or as long as they can (with 30 minutes being the minimum) and call it a day. While this may work at first for a little while, eventually you realize your body isn't changing anymore.

A while back I was having trouble getting motivated because I felt like I was exercising all the time, but I wasn't losing any inches. And we all know that when most people say they want to "lose weight", they probably really mean that they want to "lose inches" (ie, they want to tone up and look thinner). I'm a runner and, while I run often, I noticed that I just couldn't change my body shape. It was then that I really started paying attention to my target heart rate (THR).

Paying attention to your THR and exercising in it can help you maximize the benefits of your cardio and your body's fat-burning potential. In general, your THR is 60-75% of your maximum heart rate. When you exercise and your heart rate goes above your THR, you still work and strengthen your heart, but you end up training your body for endurance exercise instead of working to burn fat.

Finding your THR is pretty simple. The Karvonen Method of calculating THR is the most effective method because it accounts for your resting heart rate.

1. Take your resting heart rate (RHR) as soon as you wake up. Count
your pulse for one minute. Try taking your RHR for several days in a
row and averaging it for a more accurate number.
   Keva Kate RHR = 67

2. Find your maximum heart rate (maxHR) by subtracting your age from 220.
   Keva Kate maxHR = 220 - 26 = 194

3. Next, find your heart rate reserve (HRres) by subtracting your RHR from your maxHR.
   Keva Kate HRres = 194 - 67 = 127

4. Calculate the lower limit of your THR (THRlower). This is 60% of your HRres plus your RHR.
   Keva Kate THRlower = (127 * 0.60) + 67 = 76.2 + 67 = 143.2
   (I round to 143.)

5. Calculate the upper limit of your THR (THRupper). This is 75% of your HRres plus your RHR.
   Keva Kate THRupper = (127 * 0.75) + 67 = 95.25 + 67 = 162.25
   (I round to 162.)

So, that means my THR range is 143 - 162. When my heart rate is in that zone, I am maximizing my fat burning potential.

To help you keep track of your heart rate while you exercise, I highly recommend wearing a heart rate monitor. Personally, I use a Garmin Forerunner 405. This monitor is quite an investment, but has LOTS of neat features like virtual shadow runners, pace timers, and heart rate zone monitors.

However, most people getting started are looking for something a little more low key and affordable. There are several great options out there for under $100. Be sure to check out the Polar FS1, Polar F4, Garmin Forerunner 50, and the Nike Triax C8. All of those are really great and dependable monitors.

I know this was a long post, but I really hope it helps! KEEP IT JUICY!

Thirsty Thursday!

2009-08-20T11:07:00.000-07:00

Hey hey hey! It's that time again...THIRSTY THURSDAY!! Woo hoo! Today's choice was inspired by a fellow Twitterer (@carrgoesvrooom) and is a great choice for late summer early fall! To me, fall means football, crisp weather, and cranberry and pumpkin flavored...everything! :)

CRANBERRY KICKER
1 1/4 cup cranberry juice
1/2 banana
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup raspberries
3 small scoops raspberry sherbet
1/2 cup ice

Toss in the blender and blend away, my friends!

This one is really tasty and it is one of my favorites! Please let me know if you tried it and how it turned out!

On a side note, I'll be starting my training for the Breast Cancer 3-Day tomorrow and I'm a little nervous. Luckily, I have one of my friends joining me so that will help get me going!

KEEP IT JUICY!

Keva Kate and Keva Juice LOVE Ta-Tas!

2009-08-18T11:01:00.000-07:00

It's OFFICIAL! I am registered for the 2009 Breast Cancer 3-Day in Arizona! I am so excited! This will be my 5th year walking in the Breast Cancer 3-Day and I can't even begin to tell you how thrilled I am to be reaching my 300th mile for Susan G. Komen for the Cure!

The Breast Cancer 3-Day is a 60-mile (YES, 60 as in 6-0) walk to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure in their efforts to support breast cancer survivors and activists fight to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cure to breast cancer.

Every advancement in breast cancer research, treatment, education, and prevention in the last 25 years has been touched by a Komen for the Cure grant.

I walk the Breast Cancer 3-Day ever year in honor of my grandmother and in celebration of my aunt. Walking the 3-Day is a very personal journey for me, but it is really so much more than that. I have watched my friends' moms and sisters battle this horrible disease and I have witnessed how unfair it can be. I am COMMITTED to being part of the solution. I walk for every grandmother, mother, sister, aunt, best friend, co-worker, and neighbor that has ever been affected by breast cancer.

If there is someone you would like me to walk in honor of, please
e-mail me and let me know. I would be honored to add her name to a ribbon that will be tied to my back pack. I will carry her name with me the whole way.

If you are interested in contributing to my fundraising efforts, please visit: www.the3day.org/goto/kevakate!

So, it looks like I need to get to training! I'll be posting updates on how all my training is going so be sure to check back!!

Here's a pic I took at last year's walk! (It was REALLY cold!) Enjoy!

Keva Kate coming to a store near you!

2009-08-17T11:20:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!! I am so excited! I've been working on some super-sweet-super-secret Keva stuff and I can't wait to share it with you! Unfortunately, I can't tell you just yet! Sorry... :(

I had a really fun photo shoot this morning as part of the new Keva Kate awesomeness heading your way. I felt so special! In my head I was singing RuPaul's "Supermodel".

"Work! Now turn to the left! Work! Now turn to the right! Sashay, Shante! Supermodel!..."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

KEEP IT JUICY, GUYS AND DOLLS!

Indoor Rock Climbing and MORE!

2009-08-16T07:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was such an awesome day! I was soooo busy, but I had so much fun! Here's the skinny...

1. RUN. I started off the morning with my weekly 4-mile run. I'm in a running group that meets every Saturday morning so it keeps me motivated. (Sorry, no post-run pics...a sweaty and exhausted Keva Kate is NOT pretty!)

2. FAMILY TIME. Around lunchtime, I went to eat and visit with the family. I got to play with my new 10 day old...hmmm, nephew or cousin? What do you call your cousin's baby? Anyway, I went and visited the 10 day old little man and he is a cutie!

3. INDOOR ROCK CLIMBING! HOLLA! I climbed for about 2 1/2 hours and I was so tired! I used to rock climb all the time but I hadn't been in a while. I really need to work on my upper body strength. I had a fantastic time, but I am a little sore today (not too bad though).

4. KEVA JUICE! I totally needed a boost after all that activity! I went and grabbed an Oreo Speedwagon at Keva Juice! It was taaaaaaaaaasty! Highly recommended!

5. Tar-jay and Best Buy. I was a woman on a mission. There was a specific movie I was looking for and while I didn't find it at my beloved Tar-jay, my local Best Buy never lets me down! I finally found the DVD I was looking for! SUCCESS!

6. OH, BURN! No really, I burned my hand while making dinner. NOT smart, folks. Ugh. I never professed to be Martha Stewart. (I'll spare you the pics of that one too.) :)

7. The Muppet Show Movie! I was totally in the mood to channel my inner kiddo and watch The Muppet Show Movie! You know you love it too! Don't hate! Besides, how can you not like a movie where Kermit the Frog sings a song that was nominated for an Oscar? Yes, an OSCAR! Ha!

And, that's it! One FAAAAAANTASTIC day! I hope this weekend is treating you all well too!

KEEP IT JUICY!

It's Friday! Woot Woot!!

2009-08-14T06:59:00.000-07:00

It's FRIDAY! It is B-E-A-UTIFUL outside and I have lots of fun stuff to get into today! Hopefully I'll find some trouble to get into today! ;)

Besides, how could your day not start off right when you wake up to this handsome fella? :) Meet Elvis.

I told my 16 year old nephew that if he ever wanted to get the chicks that all he needed to do was take Elvis for a walk downtown. Elvis gets aaaaalllllllllllll the ladies. With a face like this, who could resist??

Oh, and on a complete side note...can anyone tell me what in the world this is supposed to be? I went to dinner last night and this was parked right near me. I know it is hard to tell what it is, but it is a truck with a lit candle sitting on top. Why would anyone do that??

KEEP IT JUICY!

Thirsty Thursday!

2009-08-13T13:08:00.000-07:00

Woo hoo, its that time again! Thirsty Thursday, boys and girls! I'm super psyched to share this one because I just tried it today and it is DEEEEEELICIOUS!!! Today's tasty treat is called the Acai Allure and I hope you love it as much as I do!

ACAI ALLURE
1/4 cup raspberry juice
1/4 cup soy milk
3/4 cup acai berries
4 scoops of natural raspberry sherbet
few ice cubes

Give it a try and let me know what you think! It is super yummy and has a really unique flavor!

Did you know that acai berries increase energy, improve your digestion, help detoxify the body, and improve the appearance of skin? Plus, it is high in fiber and helps reduce cholesterol. Awesome! Talk about a super food!

Old Faithful

2009-08-11T14:28:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I know I'm not the only one out there that has "old faithfuls." You know what I'm talking about...your favorite dishes at your favorite restaurants. At just about every restaurant, I have one or two "old faithful" dishes. For me, "old faithfuls" become just that for one of two reasons: 1) it is a dish that is so spectacularly unique to the restaurant, or 2) I feel like I'm getting a tasty dish for a really good value (read = good eats on the cheap). :)

I rarely, if ever, venture outside of my "old faithfuls."

However, in the last week, I've felt unusually frisky and ordered outside my norm at two (yes, count 'em...TWO!) restaurants. And you know, I was disappointed beyond all belief in BOTH dishes. That's what I get. :( I should have known. The very second I took a bite, I thought to myself, "WHHHHY?? WHHHHY DID I DO THIS!?." I felt so let down because I walked away hungry and like I had wasted my money. And the way this economy is going, who wants to feel like they're wasting they're money?

That brings me to reason #2,335,687 why I love Keva Juice. While I do have "old faithfuls" at Keva, I am NEVER hesitant to try one of their new smoothies or juices. Knowing that they use real fruit and 100% fruit juice (no concentrate here, ladies and gents) gives me the confidence that no matter what I try, I know I'll love it! Keva Juice smoothies are always tasty and blended to perfection.

So, tell me, what are some of your tried and true "old faithfuls"? What are some things you've been disappointed in?

PS - Not to name names...BUT a certain Asian-style chicken dish at a certain fast food restaurant is NOT worth the money! ;

Keva Kate recycles!! Do you?

2009-08-09T14:16:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I happened to catch the new episode of Brooke Knows Best. Yes, I know, I'm not exactly the "target demographic" for that show, but hey, it's mindless TV and sometimes I like it. :) Anyway, this latest episode dealt with her new roommates efforts at "going green". Oh, and don't even THINK about turning off the water supply while I'm in the shower (if you saw the episode, you know what I'm talking about).

Watching that episode last night actually made me more aware of what I do to "keep it green." Today, I made lunch. As usual, I made sure that as the different food containers were used up that I washed them, took the paper off, and sorted them in my recycling bins. I then wondered, "Do other people go to this much trouble when they make lunch??" Most of my friends don't. However, I think the main reason they don't is because they really don't know what they can or can't recycle. And since they don't know, they just don't do it. To help you get started, here is a little guide to plastics! Enjoy!

PETE represents plastics made from polyethylene terephthalate. This is the most widely recycled plastic and is commonly used for soft-drink bottles, water bottles, and medicine containers. This plastic is also commonly used in textiles which how a plastic bottle can be turned into fabric!

HDPE stands for high-density polyethylene. This plastic is usually brightly colored and can be found in the form of grocery bags, detergent and fabric softener bottles, shampoo and conditioner bottles, and motor oil bottles.

V represents polyvinyl chloride (PVC or vinyl). This plastic is most commonly used to make restaurant take-out containers packaging or packaging for precut fruit in the grocery store.

LDPE stands for low-density polyethylene. You will find that most sandwich bags, dry-cleaning bags, and fresh-produce bags at the grocery store are made of this material.

PP represents a class of plastics made of polypropylene. Manufacturers use this sturdy plastic to make syrup bottles, bottle caps, yogurt cups, diapers, and drinking straws.

PS stands for polystyrene, also known as Styrofoam. This type of plastic is most often used for drinking cups, food containers, and packing peanuts.

OTHER plastics represent…well, everything else! Products labeled as “other” are made of any mixture of the above plastics or possible an additional, less commonly used plastic. These plastics are generally not recyclable at most recycling centers.

Please remember that not all plastics are accepted at all recycling centers. Be sure to check out earth911.com to find out what the recycling center near you accepts!

Let's all do our part to keep things a little GREENER!

KEEP IT JUICY!

Thirsty Thursday!

2009-08-06T12:44:00.000-07:00

Hello there! It's Thirsty Thursday and I know you are all anxiously awaiting this week's sneak peak into the Keva Juice kitchen! Well, today I offer you this little tasty treat. This recipe is the basis for the Strawberry Sqeezer and the Bananarama on the Keva Juice menu.

Strawberry Squeezer/Bananarama
8oz apple juice
1/2 banana
4 scoops of non-fat yogurt
handful of strawberries
few ice cubes

If you're in the mood for a Strawberry Sqeezer, just toss in a few extra strawberries. However, if you're craving a Bananarama, try adding a whole banana instead of a half.

AND, if you are feeling like you really really deserve a treat, you can always substitute that non-fat yogurt for some vanilla ice cream! Delicious!!

KEEP IT JUICY!

Do I drink enough water? Do you?

2009-08-05T05:06:00.000-07:00

Drinking enough water seems so hard sometimes. You know the old rule: drink eight 8oz glasses of water a day. If you aren't used to drinking that much water, it can really seem like a lot! Trust me, I know!

First of all, it's really important to know why drinking water and staying hydrated (especially during the summer!) is important. Water makes up 60% - 70% of your body weight. Just about every system in your body depends on it! Water helps regulate your body temperature and protects your body organs and tissues. It carries important nutrients to your cells and organs and helps dissolve minerals to make them accessible to your body.

Whether your goal is to lose weight, keep your heart healthy, get more energy, or improve your skin, drinking enough water is absolutely necessary. Now that you know how important it is, how do you get in the habit?

Here are some tips to get you started:
1. Carry a bottle or mug around with you all the time. Try to drink enough so that you never feel thirsty.
2. Get your body moving! Exercising will warm your body up and make you want to drink more water. Be sure to drink water before and after you exercise to stay properly hydrated!
3. Substitute a glass of water for one drink a day. If you normally drink two cups of coffee in the morning, try drinking one cup of coffee and one cup of water. If you would normally get a soft drink with your lunch, have a glass of water instead. You get the idea.
4. Write it down! Keeping track of how much you are drinking will make you more aware and will help form your new habit!
5. Try water flavor packs! Flavoring your water can help you drink up to 20% more water a day! Did you hear me? 20% more! And it tastes good! I do this all the time and it really helps for people who get bored with drinking pure water.

In addition to water, be sure to drink your fruit and veggie juices to help you stay hydrated. Not only does the water content contribute to your daily amount, but the vitamins and nutrients in juice is essential for keeping your body healthy!

Do you drink enough water? If so, how do you stay in the habit? Please share! I know I'm not perfect and I don't always drink as much water as I should, but I WILL today! Consider me armed and ready! I promise I'll drink it all!

It's hot out there, so stay hydrated and KEEP IT JUICY!

Get to know me!

2009-08-03T16:37:00.001-07:00

As promised, here are 10 more things about me...

1. My favorite band of ALL time is Guns 'N' Roses. Journey, however, would have to hold spot number 1 1/2. :)

2. I don't like to nap on my couch without being under a blanket. I don't care if it is the middle of summer and 100 degrees outside, I want my fleece blanket.

3. As a teenager, I went through every phase under the sun. Pink hair was a really good look on me.

4. I think the two most powerful movies I have ever seen are American History X and Fight Club.

5. Several women in my family have been affected by breast cancer and I do as much as I can to raise awareness for the cause and support breast cancer initiatives.

6. I am deathly afraid of fire. I'm not afraid of fires in fireplaces or even bonfires, but seeing a building on fire scares me to death.

7. I looooooooooove rollercoasters! I'm particulary about them though. I'm a little wary about old wooden ones, but I love the big fancy ones at newer theme parks.

8. I love to cook. I love to try new foods with new recipes! These Louisiana roots of mine run deep...cooking is what we do!

9. Community service and volunteer work is very important to me. I feel so lucky to have had the opportunities I have had in my life and I feel it is my obligation to give back and do my part.

10. I got to meet Mario Lopez when I was 8. Yes, I STILL have a crush on him. *glassyeyedstare* Oh, Slater...

HAHAHAHAHAHA! Those were the days!

PS - The grilled chicken caesar salads I made on Saturday were delicious! All I did was marinate the chicken in Dale's Seasoning for about half an hour and then grilled them on each side for about 7 minutes! Perfection!

I am determind to relax today!

2009-08-01T10:38:00.000-07:00

That's it, I'm putting my foot down! I am determined to relax today. I have been so busy lately, and some days I'm just not sure if I'm coming or going. And I don't like that. At. All. So, today I am just doing what I want to do. Yeah, yeah, call me selfish. :)

I got up this morning and met the Saturday morning running group for our weekly 4-mile run. I was so disappointed at my time, but hey, that's what I get for not pushing myself in the last couple of weeks. I'm not going to beat myself up over it. I'm just going to let it go and try to do better tomorrow! After the run, I went and got a Bananarama smoothie from Keva. The potassium in the bananas keeps my muscles from aching and they are an EXCELLENT recovery snack. As much as Future Husband of Mine and I run, I'm pretty sure our apartment is never without bananas and strawberries.

Last night, FHM and I went out to eat dinner. I have been craving a chicken caesar salad for the past week, so I already knew what I was getting. I was so disappointed!! It was THE GROSSEST chicken caesar salad. EVER. It had so much dressing that the lettuce was all wilty and, for some reason, it tasted like bacon. Gross. So, to get my fix, I'm channeling my inner chef and making my own this afternoon. I marinated the chicken in something new, so I'm hoping it is yummy! *keepingmyfingerscrossed* I love the caesar dressing made by Naturally Fresh. Who am I kidding...I love all of their dressings! If you have them in your grocery store, I highly recommend them!

Happy summer grilling!

Thirsty Thursday!

2009-07-30T15:37:00.001-07:00

Lucky for you, it's Thirsty Thursday! Every Thursday I'll be posting a new and yummy drink! Today's drink is a called the Summer Berry Smoothie. Blend it up and let me know what you think!

SUMMER BERRY SMOOTHIE
1 banana
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup frozen cherries
4 ice cubes
1/2 cup orange juice
3/4 cup non-fat yogurt
1 teaspoon honey

Toss in the blender and puree until smooth!

Keep it fresh, folks!

Cool features headed this way!

2009-07-29T16:58:00.000-07:00

*sigh*

I must admit, I am so displeased with the "plain Jane" look my blog is sporting. I'm working on it though, so keep an eye out for a new jazzy look. (On that note, if you have any good ideas, send them this way!) For now, consider me a work in progress.

It was so blah outside today and I just couldn't get motivated to go for a run. It's okay though, some days are like that. :) I live in a really cool building that has a really nice gym (well, "nice" for an loft building) and I guess I could have hopped on the treadmill, but I'm really more the outdoorsy-type.

Speaking of running, I am in the market for a really cool running skirt. I see girls at races all the time wearing them and they all look so cute. I have tried on dozens of styles and I cannot for the life of me find one that doesn't hike up my backside when I start moving. I like some of the ones at Athleta but I haven't broken down and tried them. Anyone have any suggestions?

Keva Kate has arrived!

2009-07-28T17:31:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

I know that no one is reading my blog...yet...but I'm really excited about starting it! I have so many great ideas and things to share and I just can't wait to get started. In the next few days this blog will go through a few facelifts until I find something that fits JUST right, so please bear with me!

Just to get going, here are 10 facts about me (who knows, if you're lucky, I might post 10 more juicy secrets tomorrow):

1. I am definitely a girl on the go! No moss grows under these feet!

2. I really enjoy being outside on a pretty day.

3. I have a dog that I am totally in love with.

4. I like feeling healthy. No, I'm not the picture of perfection, but overall, I like feeling like I take care of myself.

5. On bad days, I try really hard to remember that it could always be worse.

6. On good days, I try to remember to be thankful.

7. I love love love love loooooooove to cook. So if you have any good recipes, toss 'em my way!

8. I like bright colors because they make me feel spunky!

9. Though I get busy just like everyone else, I try hard to stay involved in my community.

10. I'm super excited about stepping out into blogland. I've been hanging in the shadows for a while and keeping up with some really fun blogs and I just feel like it is time for me to jump in and try it out too!