All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make, the better.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Hello all! Hoping you all had a wonderful weekend!
We spent some time doing some more spring cleaning – and by that I mean mostly me. It was time to (finally) get to a closet project I’d been dreaming of for a while (but hadn’t the courage to tackle).
So I did it…and (seriously)……it feels just as good as I thought it would!
Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant.
- Robert Louis Stevenson.
Today is also the first anniversary of the day I woke up and started something new – the idea for Not So Fast was officially born a year ago today. My how time flies!
It is wonderful to see the journey that has emerged from starting this blog (and this super fun project). It is one of true community – and THAT my friends is a (very) beautiful thing – so thank you (truly) for the support, appreciation, & the sharing & sheer inspiration that overflows from this wonderful blogging community!
You all amaze me. Truly, you do!!
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
– Helen Keller.
So, let’s get to this yummy smoothie now, shall we?
The More:
More fresh fruit to start the day means more simple natural sugars to get you going. More bananas (from fair trade farms) means more good hearty nutrition with minimal calories and heaviness. More blended goodness means digesting is a snap – so lightness is yours for the day!
The Less:
Less sweets and extras in your smoothies means simple ingredients on hand are all you need. Less of the fancy stuff means ingredients are attainable and cheap – so you can get more for less – and feel great doing it!
Light Peach & Banana Smoothie:
- (2) bananas, fresh or frozen
- (1) cup peaches, frozen or fresh (you can also sub nectarines)
- (3-4) dates, pitted
- (1- 1.5) cups almond milk
- (4-6) ice cubes
- cinnamon or cardamom to sprinkle on top (optional)
- a lovely cinnamon stick to dress up the glass (optional too of course!)
Combine all of the ingredients in your blender and blend on high until frothy and beautiful. Feel free to add more almond milk or water as needed to get the mixture rolling.
Enjoy on your deck (in a clean mason jar maybe 
) with a good book, view, or just one or two quiet moments to yourself.
The best things in life aren’t things.
~ Art Buchwald
Be helpful. When you see a person without a smile, give them yours
– Zig Ziglar
With all this nice weather – smoothie season is about to kick in to high gear – I am getting giddy just thinking about it!
Here is a quote that I found particularly awesome this weekend:
Life is not about weathering the storm….it’s about learning to dance in the rain.
- What smoothies are you loving these days?
- Got any tips on how to dance in the rain?
Let’s get moving, shall we? I am already…
Yours in Less,
Happy anniversary! Yippee-yahooo! And kudos on the closet project…girl…my closet…sigh. But oh that smoothie – that could inspire me to get my a** in some serious cleaning gear!
Thanks Ann! Yes! I was a little bitter as it took a while…but wow! The results are amazing….I axed about half of my closet. Determined to live with less in as many areas as I can, it’s pretty hard (and I cheated (just a little) – hopefully I will share more soon!
Happy Monday girl! xo!
Cleaning out stuff always feels good. It appeals to my (well buried) OCD tendancies. Happy anniversary. Yummy looking smoothie – that is the only way I’ve been able to get peaches into my weird fruit disliking kids.
OCD – I can totally relate to that!! You can hide a lot of things in there can’t you? Love it!
I think I will try it!
Let us know how it goes!! Thanks!
Oh to have a beautifully organized closet…happiness. I have several spaces in my home that are currently in need of purging and organizing. I can’t wait to try this smoothie! I’ve never thought to put dates in them before.
Happy Monday!
Thanks Deb! The best part about the closet cleaning was the purging…hard to do but so worth it! I hope you enjoy the smoothie!
Lots of green smoothies for me! I just can’t get enough of banana/spinach/tahini/cinnamon smoothies
Wow – that sounds so amazing! Do you have that on your blog? Yum! Thanks!
I’ve never told a girl this before, but you have beautiful dates. Congrats on the very admirable anniversary – this smoothie sounds delicious.
Love it! That IS something this girl lives to hear! And thanks for the congrats – it’s been a super fun ride so far!
I bet it is!
Congratulations on the passing anniversary! What better way to celebrate than by making a healthy smoothie! I love smoothies, so much that my favorite job thus far was managing a small business smoothie shop! I was able to make HUNDREDS of creations! This ensured I was never bored with my natural energy and tasty meals!
The best way to dance in the rain: MOVE! That’s all I can say..jump, run, twirl. SMILE!
Thanks Brit! I can only imagine the myriad of wonderful smoothie tricks you have up your sleeve! We should chat!
Nothing makes me happier than after a fun run in the rain….I am the one waving and clapping out there! Love it! Happy Monday! xo
Who’s got a new picture…?!?!? (You look gorgie’).
Happy Anniversary from down under to my first blog buddy from afar. You know how much I love IPOM.
The smoothie looks divine. We have been slightly less healthy over the past few days with Dad and nephew asking for a ‘Jo special’ banana milkshake three days running…
I am sure the love from the ‘Jo special’ more than makes up for any lack of nutritional sustenance (hey – did I hear bananas? you are good!)! Especially from you! Now I know what to ask for when I visit
Thanks J for all the support and wonderful words – the feeling is ever so mutual! Loving the giant connections from so many great peeps around the world. So amazing and you are SUCH a giant part of it!
xo
OOO…this is my new favorite blog….don’t tell anyone. We decided to drop off the map and move to the mountains so my hubs could home school and I work at an education and retreat center. We live on 1/5 of what we made before and we are all much better for it. Check out my blog http://www.marinatingonline.com
So inspiring!!! As always! Might have to pick your brain about how you started Not So Fast!! You rock!! Much love…ames
Aw, thanks Ames! So happy to have your support and encouragement – it’s an evolving process (still in the works), but it’s brought me here and that’s a mighty fine place to be! You might rock (just a little) more! xo
whatever! get outta here lady!! haha!
I usually stock up on soy milk because I drink many liters a day of it…. But I’m going to specially go to buy some almond milk so I can try out this recipe…. I think the almond milk may add more creaminess and flavor compared to soy milk.
Great call! You might like the difference – if you’ve ever considered making almond milk too it’s very easy! Let us know how it goes will you? And have fun Frances! Cheers!
Happy kick-up-your-heels-you-did-it-girl (and I don’t mean your closets!) anniversary! so happy Shira that you took the plunge and am looking forward to seeing how your bold creative venture inspires and informs us in the coming year! Much luck, many blessings! (and I love the sounds of your smoothie!)
Thank you Spree! I am thrilled and excited too to see what will unfold…the community here has inspired and motivated me greatly – thank you for the inspiration back! I just love the beauty that you present to us on your blog and the way everyday seems a grateful celebration! Blessings back! Hugs! xo
I found your blog from Terrified Tastebud! If Deb likes your work I know I will. Cheers on this post and I hope to see many more
Thanks so much – and a big thanks to Deb too! So glad to have you – I hope I won’t disappoint (hehe)! Cheers, and welcome to IPOM!
I am excited to be following and thanks for following me. That is a real treat
Of course! I love Colorado! your blog looks great!
Thanks! We travel often but have been in Colorado almost a year. Italy will always be the predominant travel component of the blog. I am glad you like what you see. Keep in mind there will be occasional fiction
You guys are cute! Two of my favorite bloggers meeting… gets me almost as giddy as smoothie season
And congrats, Shira!
Thanks Deb! This is the cutest comment ever, I think
xo!
GREAT recipe!!! Fresh fruit is always wonderful and I’m so glad you use almond milk. Cinnamon is a perfect addition to most everything as well!
Thanks! It is indeed! Any milk would work but I’ve usually got a little fresh almond milk going – it’s the favorite here! Thanks for stopping by!
Oh yum! I really need to put in the bucks and buy a new blender. I am so missing out on smoothies. Congratulations on the anniversary! I always know when I open my bloglovin’ that I am going to find something tasty and wonderfully inspiring in this space you’ve created. Well done dear!
Oh thanks Hillery! I just got a (fairly) decent new blender, after I passed up some decent older ones in the thrift shop – honestly I was tempted though, cause there are some good finds!
Hugs!
Thanks for the Congrats! Loving all the blog love – thanks for being awesome at what you do and following your creative passion!
I don’t care for bananas in smoothies (in fact, I don’t care for bananas and my mother is allergic to them). I’m a fruit and yogurt smoothie kind of gal. But I love frozen peaches in smoothies (and berries) and cardamom and I like the way your red cloth looks in the photos.
Oh thanks! I think you and my teenage daughter would get a long miiiiiighty fine, she’s not a banana fan either and did drink this but really prefers ice and fruit (nothing else)
I love yoghurt in smoothies too….especially with strawberries (or anything frozen)!
Haaaaappy Monday!
Happy Anniversary for Not So Fast! I have to go read up more about it now. i had no idea!
LOVED the Ralph Waldo Emerson quote.
Thanks Rande! So glad you enjoyed it! (Weird, I just found this comment in my spam folder – weird!)!! Cheers!
Happy Anniversary Shira – may your pursuits continue… as usual an amazing narration with extraordinary quotes to ultimately derive at a shake which looks equally amazing and promises even more… I love reading your posts Shira – Genuinely!
Thank you Ishita! I love following your adventures as well! Cheers to great blogging connections – I always appreciate your comments! xo!
Feelings are mutual:)
Another beautiful recipe shira! Do you have a smoothie for breakfast or more as a mid-morning booster? I really want to find a recipe that would be a good sub for my oats on those mornings when I’m rushing at the door. Do you have any suggestions?
Hi Sarah! I often have a smoothie in the morning to sustain me until I get hungry for something more substantial in the afternoon – I find the avocado/green based smoothies to be very long burning and they give me sustained energy for many hours….I have also added hemp hearts too – these are incredible in the morning! Just a few tbsp. and its amazing how long they satisfy for! (Actually, it’s totally bizarre I have never found oatmeal that filling, I think I am odd that way!!)….I hope that helps! I’ll post more recipes as summer gets on..keep me posted if that helps at all! xo!
Thank Shira! That is a huge help. I’ll def try a green smoothie and see how I go
It looks completely delicious. Where do you buy your bananas?
Thanks! I buy bananas at any organic store….a recent discussion at my work determined that Fair Trade is almost more important than organic when buying bananas (workers are treated quite terribly on banana farms) – if you can find both that is ideal! xo!
Thanks!
Ah, yes I love smoothies season…actually mine tends to be year round
Even when the snow is following hard I may start my day with a smoothie. This looks yummy! I should get some dates for my smoothies.
Ha yes! Me too – my teenage daughter can drink one everyday! Dates are soooo good to sweeten up sour fruits (like frozen cranberries) – I use them religiously!
Great photos! I look forward to my morning smoothie everyday- you can do so much to it.
Great quote- just goes to show it’s all about your attitude and how you perceive situations.
(Although I prefer dancing in warner rain haha)
xo
Jocelyn
Ha! thanks Jocelyn! Warmer rain – definitely better than cold!
Appreciate the kind words! Have a FAB day! xo!
Gorgeous photography as always Shira! I am super excited about this because I’m having smoothies more and more now the weather gets warmer and am always looking for flavour inspirations. Thanks girl!
Thanks Anna! Stoked for the smoothie season too! I hope you like it
! xo!
This smoothie looks utterly delicious – your presentation and photos are stunning
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks! A pleasure to have you here!
MMMMmmm, smoothies, You know Shira, your blog has inspired me recently to eat much more “clean”. I feel the past year I’ve been eating a lot of processed foods that I’m trying to wean myself off of. Keep it up!
Wow – thanks Anna! I am so very happy to hear that – and happy to keep it going too
! Thanks for the lovely kind note – and keep up the good work!!! xo!
Happy Anniversary!! I loved the quote about dancing in the rain (I may have to use that for one of my daily quotes!). The smoothy lookes delicious (and I will try it out as soon as I can comendeer some peaches
)and I love how you used natural ingredients to sweeten things up! Great post!
Thanks girl! It’s a great quote isn’t it? I just loved it!
This is happy food;) love it! Will try some of these as soon as possible! Merci!!
Yes, it certainly is! Thanks for stopping by!
This smoothie sounds yummy! I’m so into juices lately:)
Fabulous! It is delicious!
I did a combination of this smoothie…almond milk, dates, bananas, and a little orange juice
Oh and I topped it with cinnamon. Thanks!
Sounds brilliant!! Now I think I have to revisit that recipe too – your sounds delish!
haha well I love the peaches addition, I just didn’t have any so I made do