Get Smoothies Delivered to Your Door with GreenBlender

I was recently approached by GreenBlender and asked if I would be interested in receiving a sample shipment of their smoothie service to test out, and I immediately said I’d be very interested! With 2017 upon us, I feel like so many people have goals to live healthier lifestyles. However, adding better choices into our routines can be daunting and discouraging. GreenBlender is here to help take the guesswork and difficulty out of healthy eating.

You can sign up for one of their three plans to receive weekly smoothie shipments. These boxes come to your home packed with ice packs to ensure the contents stay nice and fresh. And trust me, you’ll want them to stay fresh because each box is packed with quality ingredients.

Before seeing the tasty ingredients though, you’re greeted with a menu of sorts. Each box comes with five unique recipes that coordinate with your box of ingredients. The recipes are conveniently labeled with various categories, so you know which smoothie is low in calories, high in protein, energizing, and more.

After reading through the weekly menu, the unboxing continues to unveil a hearty helping of fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, and boosters. The ingredients are almost always organic (and marked when they rarely are not), in-season, and locally sourced.

I was amazed to see how much produce they were able to fit in the shipment. I’m very picky when it comes to selecting fruits and vegetables. I’m the girl that will search through seventy apples to find the perfect one with no bruises. I was happily surprised to see most of the produce was very well selected. My clementines were pretty smashed, and my pears were rather bruised. However, that may have been due to rough package handling and not the fault of GreenBlender.

I loved how all of the ingredients were clearly labelled. It was convenient if you come across an ingredient you have not used before. Everything is also measured and bagged, so all you have to do is open it and add it to your blender! They really took all the guesswork out of smoothie making.

As you can see, there was no shortage of unique and surprising ingredients in my package. Many I had used before and several I hadn’t even heard of! 

The first smoothie I tried was the Goji Clementine Smoothie. Each smoothie recipe claims to make two servings (with each serving being only 12 ounces). It seemed to me more like one to one and a half servings, but maybe that just means I eat too much! Haha!  

The Goji Clementine Smoothie was citrusy and refreshing and claimed to be high protein, immune boosting, and increase glow. It definitely tasted healthy. If you love being able to taste the real ingredients in your smoothies without them being hidden behind sugar and other unnatural substances, I bet you’ll enjoy these recipes.

My second smoothie to try was the Kiwi Apple Detox. Containing ingredients like collard greens, cucumber, ginger, meyer lemon, and more, I was skeptical about how it would taste. I’m not a lemon fan, so I didn’t enjoy it, but my husband gave it slightly higher praise.

Like I said before, my box included ingredients for three other smoothies, but I won’t review them all here. Suffice it to say, if you enjoy smoothies that taste all-natural and allow the flavors of the ingredients to shine through, you’ll definitely enjoy these smoothies. If you prefer smoothies from Smoothie King that are loaded with extra sugar and preservatives (like me), they may not be your cup of tea…er, smoothie.

Final thoughts? GreenBlender is a great company that provides unparalleled convenience when it comes to making your smoothies at home. As long as you have a blender, ice, and water, you can use the ingredients they send you to create five smoothies every week without having to set foot outside. I personally think you could simply go to the store and acquire the ingredients on your own for a much lower cost, but I totally understand many people craving the convenience and ease of having a healthier lifestyle delivered right to their door.

Have you tried GreenBlender or a similar service before? Let me know your thoughts below!

I was sent this product for free to provide my unbiased review. All opinions, as always, are my own.

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on these links or make a purchase using these links, I may receive a small percentage of the profit at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Hoots of a Night Al!

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10 Motivational Movies for the New Year!

Happy New Year! Every year, most people come up with goals or resolutions they hope to accomplish throughout the year. Whatever your plans for 2017, I wanted to share some movies I find inspirational, heart-warming, or just plain enjoyable to watch. If you’re having trouble getting started with your goals, maybe these will help! Or they can just be an excuse to break one of your resolutions (you can’t watch a movie without buttery popcorn and a soda, right?)…

Without further ado, I present 10 motivational movies for 2017!

 

If you want to be more adventurous this year…

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty 

It is impossible to watch this movie and not be struck with a desire to travel more, explore the world, or at least step out of your comfort zone. From cheering on Ben Stiller’s lovable Walter Mitty character to admiring the beautiful scenery, this movie will push you to jump off the couch and book a flight somewhere new.

 

If you want to be more thankful for each day this year…

About Time

I literally cannot watch this movie without crying. The premise sounds a bit silly, but this movie is anything but. Amazing acting, a phenomenal soundtrack, and moments that tug at your heart strings, means everyone will love this one. Warning: it will make you want to hug your parents ASAP.

 

If you’re hoping to find love this year…

When Harry Met Sally

This movie is a classic for a reason! Full of funny moments, it will remind you that almost every love story has a few twists and turns before happily ever after.

 

If you want to improve your culinary skills this year…

Chef

“Healthier lifestyle” resolutions mean many people will find themselves spending more time in the kitchen this year. While Chef may not showcase the healthiest foods, it’s still an enchanting movie that will leave you wanting to pull out your skillet and knives.

 

If you’re hoping to overcome something this year…

The King’s Speech

Unexpectedly hilarious, perfectly portrayed, and based in fact, this movie shows that even royals in the public eye have struggles they must overcome. Only an amazing film could make you feel sorry for a king.

 

If you want to read more this year…

Pride & Prejudice

Considering this is one of the most beautiful, romantic movies of all time, it may just nudge you to pick up the book version after you finish it. The soundtrack alone makes this one worth watching.

 

If you want to embrace being yourself this year…

Little Miss Sunshine

Quirky, heart-warming, and laugh-out-loud funny are all perfect to describe this one-of-a-kind movie. It’s the perfect movie to watch when you’re doubting the importance of your individuality.

 

If you want to be more courageous this year…

The Help

Unlikely alliances, a desire for change, and courage are the themes of this book-turned-movie. They’re themes anyone can relate to, which leaves everyone rooting for Skeeter and the maids she’s trying to give a voice to. (Full disclosure: the book, as usual, is even better than the movie!)

 

If you need encouragement to Keep Moving Forward this year…

Meet the Robinsons

The Disney film got lost in the shuffle somehow, and I so wish it hadn’t. We follow orphan Louis on his journey as an inventor with the dream of finding his birth mother. The eccentric characters he meets along the way teach him it’s okay to fail as long as he keeps moving forward with his goals. The ending will undoubtedly leave you crying happy tears.

 

If you’re hoping to start fresh this year…

Good Will Hunting

Emotional, gripping, and hopeful, the journey Matt Damon and Robin Williams take the audience on proves it’s not your past that defines you and that it’s never too late to start fresh. It may be just the push you need to start a new chapter in your life.

 

There you have it, ten very different movies that all offer a different source of motivation. If you have a favorite inspirational film I left out, let me know!

 

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on these links or make a purchase using these links, I may receive a small percentage of the profit at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Hoots of a Night Al!

 

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