Keva Kate recycles!! Do you?

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!

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?

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!

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!

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!