Get on the Train!

Anybody remember this song...



Ever wonder where the heck it came from!?
Well - in case you're curious like me....
I've Been Working on the Railroad is noted to have been published in the University of Princeton Songbook in 1894. Another side note- this song is an extremely popular nursery rhyme in Japan. How's that for some useless info you may just need on day in a game of Trivial Pursuit.
Ya. You're welcome...

Ok so where did this rampage actually come from?
Well I'm getting ready to do a product review from a drink company I'm just stoked to tell you all about!
And it just so happens that the name of this company is "Big Train" <- See the correlation?

Big Train is a drink manufacturer that has been going at it for the past ten years.
And when I say 'going at it' I mean they have been ROCKIN' the world with some really tasty and healthy drink mixes. Now they even sell healthy baked good mixes as well.

So what are some of the products?
Well - there is pretty much something for everyone...
Protein mixes, smoothie mixes, coffee, tea, lemonade, etc. etc, etc.
It's awesome.
I was given a few coffee drinks to try - it is their new line, called: "Fit Frappe"
Fit + Frappe = :) Kristen!

ummm. Yum.

It was so smooth and creamy, I never in my wildest dreams would have thought it was made from just water and dry mix!

And it is sooo healthy!

Check it. 

Yeah. Be excited. 

I'm banking on the fact that all their other products are just as delicious since I haven't tried one of their "Fit Frappes" I haven't love love loved!

Thanks Big Train for allowing me to review your product! *The samples were all that was given to me; I received no compensation and as always - all opinions are completely my own. (Because that's just how I roll)

Big Train

It's obvious that I'm a coffee addict...
Ice coffee is my new THANG - it's just so chill. 

So when I find something that has protein, vitamins & minerals, is ubber easy to prepare and tastes good. Ya'll know I'm gonna let'ya know about it, right?!
right.

So here's the low down (ok, wow-don't really know why I'm all 'fresh prince of bel-air' up in here... maybe due to the copious amount of caffeine I've had (due to what I'm about to inform you on) or maybe because I'm eating a BIG bowl of granola from Impact Foods? Or maybe, just because I'm a happy person who knows Jesus loves her :)
...ya probs the last one!

Anywho's - I was so graciously given a sampling of Big Train's products to enjoy and then report back to my lovely readers, and a colorful, happy report it will be!
Big Train is a drink mix manufacturer that makes all kinds of stuff!
You can find something for every taste-bud, nutritional desire, and budget!
I got a sampling of different teas, iced coffees and their newest line - Fit Frappes

I'm going to give you the 4-1-1 on the Fit Frappes, since they are new and delicious and nutritious and, well-because I want to!

These are essentially a healthy frappe that you can make at home with just the addition of water. You can make them hot, cold, or blended - I did cold (oh...if only I had a blender...)

Each serving has around 20g protein, less than 1g sugar, 5g fiber, 20-50% of close to a bajillion vitamins and minerals (give or take) and 130 calories
Like, are you serious right now?! Did anyone else nearly faint when they saw this! I did.
Twice.

All I did was add my wonderful packet - btw - Espresso flavor is the bomb.com
I really hope you clicked that link :P
Anyways, all I did was add my packet to a cup/mixer/blender/thing, add between 12-16oz. water, shake away and pour over ice! I also added a little milk to mine, just to make things even more creamy!

Oh. So. Good. (even better when alongside a peanut butter sandwich!)

I have to admit, it separated a tinsy bit into the grainy-stuff, but that was probably due to not shaking it long enough
All in all-so delicious! And gave me a nice crazy caffeine jolt (the espresso one has about 200mg caffeine)
FYI - a 19.1 oz. canister will only set you back about twenty dollars (and that is 20 - 8oz. servings) way more economical that the buck's Star. (starbucks... sorry, my attempt to be clever!)

If any of you like iced coffee, you should definitely give this company a go, there are a TON of flavors and even non-caffeinated kinds - heck, even those of you who don't like coffee in any form should look at all the great product this company has. From smoothie drinks to hot chocolate (which I also got to sample and both my friend and I agreed it was DELICIOUS!) to low carb baking mixes, I'm sure you'll find something delicious and exciting to try!

Wordless Wednesday

Alright, so this post won't be completely wordless since that would essentially mean I'm not talking, and if you know me at all-you would know I need to talk!

So here goes more of a 'extreme-picture-laden' Wednesday :)

The day started off AMAZINGLY! ...probably since the very last thing I did the night before was watch this:

For anyone who wants to know-I cried when they finished their 5k. Sap-I know, but I just can't help it! I can't wait to help people overcome their fears and do more than they ever dreamed possible!

So I got up-and in celebration of my personal training aspirations did a Jillian Micheals workout! Ain't no betta way to start the day!

Oh wait, there is - I remembered to grab my Bible before heading off to breakfast in the dining hall. This always makes my day get off to a great start! I love beginning the day in The Word. If you're looking for a way to start your day off right, do it with Jesus! You won't be sorry :)

And to make my day even better, I got to try my sample of this:

Chike Nutrition Ice Coffee Mix

AHHHH! You guys- seriously, I don't even know how to explain how freakin' amazing this stuff is! I'm not sure if it has like a-kajillion more times the caffeine as coffee (ok-actually I do know, it says on the package that it has about the same amount as one cup regular caffeinated coffee). But it seriously got me so 'jived' (<- word of the day!)

It was delicious tasting and is sooo good for you! Seriously-it was like a party in a coffee-shop in my mouth! 

 

And I can have a good excuse for drinking it, because it has so many vitamins and minerals and PROTEIN! 20 g worth! Ya... pretty much like 3 eggs! :O 

It comes in a nice little single serve package like so...

And you put it in 10ish ounces of water (or milk) like so....

And mix (with a fork, blender ball, just shaking, anything!)

*Chike also sells a bunch of other flavors of single mix-in protein drinks, if you aren't a coffee-Fein like myself!

It is soooo smooth! Honestly, I can NOT take just mixing any kind of protein powder with just a liquid, I think it taste chalky and gritty and have to just use it in a smoothie to be able to bear it. But this-this was something special! It mixed in so easily and quickly and tasted like a creamy, decadent latte! I gave it a splash of milk, just because I wanted it to go farther, added so coffee ice cubes and away I went! Happily slurping my way through the day....

Slurpin' through some Chemistry homework... believe you and me-ice coffee Chike Nutrition style really makes Chemistry easier to bear! Fun almost! ...almost...

I also snacked on some hummus dip in a cute little single serve squeezable package-cute no?

And got to try yet ANOTHER one of my product review samplings - Crunchies.

It's freeze dried pineapple!

Look at those stats! :O The whole package had 150 calories. Wowza! Not to mention 180% of your vitamin C need, 6g fiber and 12% iron. And the only ingredients: pineapple!

Crunchies has a bunch of different freeze dried snacks, both fruits and vegetables; mixed blends, seasoned goodies as well as organic options.

They are so good for you, fun to chop on, delicious and an easy to grab snack!

So after Chem lecture, Physiology lecture, Chem recitation, Physiology lab (where I go to be the volunteer to have my urine analyzed! Woo-hoo! ..too much sharing? :/ Sorry!), working on a group project for over 2 hours, and homework, homework, and more homework - how do I reward myself?

With a HUGE bowl of granola of course!

Yum x 3!

But now I feel like this....

So I'm off to bed! Goodnight and God Bless!

*If you actually made it to this point in the post-I am honored, amazed and wish I had your attention span!

~Chike Nutrition and Crunchies only sent me samples to review. I was not given any other compensation. All opinions are my own.~

Sunday Funday!

It's Sunday! I <3 Sundays-how bout you? They're just so peaceful... relaxing and, and, smile-inducing! (yes-it's a new word!)
My Sunday consisted of...
Church-of course!

yes-Catholic and proud!

picture found here <-- awesome and hilarious site!

Then some delicious coffee with a great friend! :) (talk about food for the soul!)

btw- this was a mocha blended coffee drink with a squirt of coconut per my request - not trying to boast-but GREAT idea Kristen :)

Oh! I also had the idea of using up some of my saltines I had stolen borrowed from the college cafeteria earlier this week with some hummus in a cute little squirt package! Fun huh?

Well that pretty much sums up my day... I better actually go do some homework so I feel at least a little productive :P

Have a BLESSED Sunday!

Double Mug Recipes

Who loves COFFEE???? ME! That's who! In celebration of how much I love all things coffee - today I had coffee to the second degree. 

See those two? Beautiful. 

The left is healthy banana bread in a mug and the right is a Iced Mocha! AHHH! YUM!

This recipe is pretty easy...

In a bowl combine: 

3 TBSP. flour (I used Grandpa's gluten free flour blend and it worked perfectly!)

3 TBSP. sugar (or stevia, or 1 1/2 tbsp. honey/agave/maple syrup)

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/8 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. cinnamon (optional)

Then add: 

1 mashed banana

1 egg (or 3 egg whites, or 1/4 cup egg beaters)

1 TBSP. Greek yogurt

1 TBSP. milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract 

mix thoroughly and pour into a coffee mug that has been sprayed with cooking spray

~Microwave 2-3 minutes, it will puff up and possibly run over :S But ya know-it's worth it! :)

Then let it sit a minute or so before digging in! 

Want to put it just over the top? I thought so.... To really hit a home run with this yummy treat do as Kristen does and top it off with 1 TBSP. peanut butter and a small handful of granola. 

You will NOT be sorry! 

So now for coffee recipe numero dos - Ice Mocha!

Pretty simple as well - 

-1 cup coffee chilled

-1 TBSP. cocoa powder (or chocolate syrup if you'd rather)

-1 tsp. stevia (or sugar, honey, agave, etc. - just something sweet... no you may NOT throw me into your cup :D

-pinch of salt

-1/4 cup milk

-frozen coffee ice cubes

~Mix up coffee, cocoa, sugar, salt and milk & our over frozen coffee cubes. If you'd like-top it off with some whipped topping

Who's having an over the top super-deeeee-duper day now? Hopefully all of you! 

Coffee Coffee Coffee!

I LOVE COFFEE! 

(warning-this isn't a regular recipe or review post... completely random, completely me!)

As you can probably guess, coffee is just one of those things that makes me oh so very happy! I love how it tastes, smells, everything! (well-not really how much it costs :S ) 

Licking the CoolWhip off the top is a hobby of mine... 

No.. that isn't a real McDonald's frappe-it's homemade-of course!

Coffee and sunshine!? Yes, please!

Coffee just helps me get stuff done-don't you agree?

Actually though, coffee (in moderation) can be beneficial to one's health. How so you ask?

Well... according to Webmd.com (pretty legit source I'd say!) coffee has been show to aid in memory, reduce risk of certain cancer and depression, reduce risk of Type 2 diabetes, the list goes on and on! 

However, with anything-moderation is key! 

And, no matter how healthy something is-when you drowned it with unhealthy additions (i.e. that sugar and full-fat cream), it becomes more of a vice than a virtue.

Here are a few ideas to help you have your coffee and drink it to! 

For blended coffee drinks:

Blend about 1/2 cup strong coffee and 1/2 cup milk in a blender with coffee ice cubes*

Add flavor enhancers such as: 

-sugar free syrup

-1 TBSP peanut butter (YUM!)

-low sugar ice cream/frozen yogurt

-cinnamon/nutmeg

-1 TBSP. unsweetened cocoa

-1/4 cup shredded coconut

*Coffee ice cubes: (noun) a delicious addition to homemade blended coffees that won't dilute your drink. Made by freezing cooled coffee in ice cub trays. A brilliant idea that deserves a Nobel Peace Prize. 

For warm coffee drinks: 

Steam 1/2 cup milk in microwave and add hot coffee

Add the same flavor enhancer's as above and enjoy!