Green Smoothies with Aloe Juice, Weird Fruit Things and Christmas Trees

We have finally unpacked everything that we were planning on unpacking at our new place and are slowly getting acclimated. One side of the garage is packed to the ceiling with the other stuff that we aren't going to unpack, but there's plenty of space for one of the cars on the other side of the garage. That's "Little Red's" spot when we bring him down after Christmas.

I have found a new hair place, new nail place, two new vets for Phantom (one is a cancer specialist), new places to shop, etc. There's an overabundance of grocery stores and pharmacies in the area in all directions around us. Take your pick. We also found a farmer's market that is very, very close. The produce is AMAZING! My green smoothies have never tasted better.

While at the farmer's market we discovered this Aloe juice drink. It comes in different fruity flavors that are all good, but I really like the pineapple flavor the best. We have been adding this to the green smoothies. The Murph takes his produce and protein powder to work and makes his smoothie for lunch sometimes.

I really love this New Zealand whey protein powder made from grass fed cows. I feel healthier just reading the label!

We decided to try these for the first time. They are like grapefruits, only sweeter and were very good, but I have no idea what they are called. Pommelo or something... maybe.... ??

Yes, Pomelo. (I had to google it) They are the grandparents of the grapefruit. (that's what google said)

I still add cilantro and kale and a few different fruits, usually a banana and pear or strawberries. I add the cilantro because it helps remove toxins, such as mercury, from the body and I had high levels when I tested two or three years ago. I haven't retested yet to see if the mercury levels have gone down, but hopefully they have.

 It doesn't hurt continuing to eat the cilantro and I still have one silver filling left in my tooth so until I get it out, I will assume I am still getting mercury leaching out of it. I can't wait to have NO silver fillings left in my mouth. I had no idea the dangers of them when I had them put in.

Finding a local dentist is another thing on my list!

The cats have settled in somewhat. Phantom is okay wherever we are. Ed is pretty cool and laid back too.

 Cadence - not so much! He disappears up under the box springs during nap time and we don't see him for awhile. He feels safer there.

I put two Christmas trees up over Thanksgiving weekend. These are the only two trees I moved down here. All the others were given to charity. I really miss my big, gynormous tree, but it was too heavy to move and was over 10 years old anyway. Time to buy another big tree when we purchase our own house down here. After this move, I'm all for getting rid of everything rather than moving it. Packing, moving it, then unpacking it....

Next time I think I'll just get rid of everything, move with nothing and start over with all new stuff!

Yeah!

Red Things

In honor of Valentine's Day week I am doing a post about my favorite red things.  As most of you know by now, if you've been following my blog, I prefer pink over red any day.  Christmas and Valentines are the only time you will see me wearing anything that's red, but I do have some things red.

Here are some of my favorites.

My favorite red cowboy boots.

Cowboy Boots - Durango (old) similar Here;  Dress - BCBG Maxazria  (old)

My favorite red dress.

Red Dress - BeBe (old) similar Here, but only two sizes left;  Bracelet - BeBe (old); Necklace - antique

My favorite red nail polish.

Nail Polish - OPI Big Apple Red

My favorite red lipstick.

Lipstick - Mac Russian Red

The only red work out clothes I own other than shirts I get at races.  Worn rarely, usually twice a year.

Workout shorts - Nike (old); Workout tank - Addidas (old);  Running Shoes - Brooks Glycerin (not red!)

My favorite "red" products.

 

Perfume - Versace Red Jeans;  Body Lotion - Bath and Body Sensual Black Currant Vanilla; Mascara - Maybelline Stiletto Waterproof, of course;  Lip pencil - Mac Cherry

And last but not least, my favorite socks with my favorite red M-dot Ironman logo.  

The definition of M-dot in the urban dictionary is....

M Dot
	An "M DOT" is a nick name for a crazy, tough, risk taking person. It's a way to describe someone in a fierce and violent way.

And this is the logo for Ironman?  Coincidence?  I think not.

Keyword here being "crazy".  70.3 is only "half crazy".  Just so you know.

Phantom's Christmas Present

Below is Phantom enjoying his new scratching board that he got for Christmas.  Hopefully he will keep his claws out of the furniture now.

Holiday Fashions

Herve Leger Uncontrollable Dress

Tejani Bracelet

Herve Leger Uncontrollable Dress

Dress:  Herve Leger;  Shoes:  Calvin Klein;  Bracelet: Tejani similar Here; On nails:  OPI You Only Live Twice

Herve Leger Cyclone Dress

Kate Spade Necklace

Herve Leger Cyclone Dress

Christian Louboutin Pumps

Dress:   Herve Leger similar to this one that's on my wish list;  Pumps:  Christian Louboutin;    Necklace:  Kate Spade;  Bracelet:  David Yurman similar Here

I had a really tough time this year finding cocktail dresses to wear during the holidays.  Every time I found one I loved, my size was sold out.  I had terrible luck this year.  Finally, I gave up and decided to try out Rent the Runway, a company that rents out high end designer clothing.  I hesitantly signed up not really knowing what to expect, but just the thought of getting my paws on one of those Herve Leger dresses was enough for me to take the plunge.  And I was not disappointed.

Since I could rent a dress for $25 with every dress I rented at full price, of course I decided to try out two different Herve Leger dresses.  I was so excited when they were delivered to my door.  I had so much fun wearing them.  I told the Murph I wanted one if I could ever grab one I like on sale.  I thought I would like the one shoulder cyclone dress the best, but the winner was the black uncontrollable dress.  If I can find that one deeply discounted, it will be mine!

Since the deal was if you rent one dress, you can get another dress for $25, I rented two more dresses.  This one by Milly is the one I ended up wearing to my own Christmas party.  I love the sparkle and my Jimmy Choo's were perfect with the dress.  I rented a gold Trina Turk dress as well, but it didn't go with the Jimmy Choo shoes as well so I chose the Milly dress.  Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to wear the Trina Turk dress before I had to send it back to Rent the Runway.  Four days is just not long enough!

Milly Chained to you dress

Jimmy Choo Vamp

Dress:  Milly Chained to You;  Shoes: Jimmy Choo Vamp;  Necklace:  Tejani

Herve Leger Dresses and Kate Spade necklace all from Rent The Runway.  All shoes and other jewelry are mine.

I highly recommend renting if you want a high end designer dress for a special occasion where you will only wear the dress once or you can't afford to spend $1,000 on a dress. I will say it is really hard sending them back if you rent one you really love.  I wanted to keep all of these!

Merry Christmas!

Ed says, "Hope everyone had a very, Merry Christmas and was on Santa's nice list like I was this year."

Phantom says,"Just give me another slice of that honey baked ham and throw in some bacon and a sugar cookie.  I'll try harder to stay off the naughty list next year.  I promise!"

And Cadence....

Well, we haven't seen him most of the day since my brother got here bringing along his little purse dog/rodent who he calls Sassy.  He's a little attached to this particular canine, but my cats don't care for her that much.

Here's a picture of Cadence in his favorite spot during calmer times on Christmas Eve.

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without pulling out the only ugly Christmas sweater I still have leftover from the mid-nineties when the Boy was small and I purchased such things.

Ugly or not, I would like it better if it had cats on it instead of dogs, but we had a dog back in those days.  A very super-hyper dalmatian named Spot.

More pictures of our Christmas day with family below.  I forgot to take pictures of not only the food, but also my mom.  I'm going to assign someone else to be in charge of the camera next year.  I don't do a very good job.

Look who got a new Coach bag for Christmas. My niece.  Lucky girl!

.

Ed's beat!

This mess is still waiting for me in the kitchen.

Wish I could train Phantom to clean the kitchen and wash dishes.

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!  We are having a line of strong storms coming through Alabama right now.  I heard that a tornado touched down in downtown Mobile.  I am so glad the Boy is home and not down there right now.

Stay safe everyone!