One Ingredient Ice Cream, What?!

I first came across this recipe on one of my kids dvd's in the preview section before the movie starts.  I thought it was interesting so I thought I'd give it a try.  It's easy to remember because all they did was take ripe bananas, put them in the freezer, blend up the frozen bananas and eat it.  Easy right?

You can find other variations of this banana ice cream on Pinterest too.

note: peel and cut bananas into small pieces before freezing.

This is what I used:

3 large - Frozen ripe bananas

2 Tbsp - Peanut Butter

2 Tbsp - Nestle chocolate mix

Blender

Directions:

Toss frozen bananas into blender

Add any additional ingredients

Blend till smooth

Consistency is like a very thick marshmallow cream.

I'm not sure if you can freeze and eat later.  This is the first time I tried it tonight and we ate it up right away. 

I have to say, it was better than I thought it was going to be.  I do not like smoothies with overpowering banana flavor so I usually substitute with blueberries.  Although the bulk of the recipe was bananas it had just a slight banana flavor but it's so filling.

Now I know what to do with all our over ripe bananas.  I will be making this again, my girls loved it!

  

 Enjoy!!

Have you tried frozen banana ice cream before?  Let me know if you try this, I'd love to hear from you! 

National Infertility Awareness Week with Amanda @ A Royal Daughter

Today kicks off National Infertility Awareness Week.  Amanda from A Royal Daughter is here to share about the week she has planned on her blog.  Are you struggling with infertility or know someone who is?  I encourage you to follow along with all she has in store this week.

Hi there, have we met before? In case we haven't met, let me introduce myself:

I am a country-living, ice tea drinking, good book reading, farming, ranching, Jesus-loving, curly-headed wife of a seminary professor.   He's a teacher, I'm a writer. He's a thinker, I'm a creative. Together we make our home on a small farm in Texas.

Salena and I have been online friends for a couple of years now. We've followed each other's stories and I can't tell you what an encouragement she has been to me. In fact, the whole reason I'm here today is because Salena encouraged me to open up about my battle with infertility. (You can read more about Salena's story of infertility here.)

April 21-27 is National Infertility Awareness Week, and as a woman who is currently battling barrenness, I am trying to make the most of this painful journey by spreading awareness about infertility. Months ago Salena shared a website with me that offers hope and resources to couples battling infertility. And it is that website, Resolve, that is spreading awareness about infertility this week.

A few facts about infertility:

• Approximately 1 in 6 couples in the United States are diagnosed with some degree of infertility each year. 
• "Infertility" defines the inability to conceive a child after one year of unprotected, well-timed intercourse for women under the age of 35. Women 35 and older may be diagnosed after 6 months of unprotected, well-timed intercourse without conception. (The inability to sustain a pregnancy beyond 20 weeks is also classified as "infertility.")
• 30% of infertility is the result of an ovulatatory dysfunction (i.e. there is a problem with the woman's ovulation cycle).
• 30% of infertility is the result of a problem with the man (i.e. sperm structure or production).
• Women who face infertility often describe their situation as "lonely," "isolating," and "painful."
• There is a large spectrum of treatments for infertility, with varying degrees of invasiveness and cost.

My own journey with infertility:

• My husband and I started trying for a baby almost 4 years ago.
• We were officially diagnosed with "unexplained infertility" in February 2012 (the same month our foster boys were removed from our home). 
• We have tried various therapies and treatments, from "alternative" therapies to traditional western medical treatments, including Intrauterine Insemination (IUI).
• In September 2012 we embraced a gluten-free diet, as gluten intolerance is closely tied to infertility. 
• We've experienced the pain and frustration of two failed IUIs.
• Until last November my husband and I kept our struggle to ourselves. We were completely unwilling to share our story, and to some extent we were unwilling to accept our diagnosis.
• But now I feel called to share my story as a way to encourage others who are also facing this same struggle.

National Infertility Awareness Week:

This week on my blog, I will be dedicating the entire week to spreading awareness about infertility, offering encouragement for those battling the pain of barrenness, and providing resources for friends and family of those facing infertility. Topics will include:

• Ideas for stepping up out of the pit of infertility and transforming negative emotions and energies into productive, worthwhile activities.
• Collaborative efforts from women currently battling infertility, and how they overcame common lies women believe about being barren.
• Online and print resources for those battling infertility as well as those who want to come alongside and encourage and support their infertile friends and family members.
• How to encourage and support your infertile friends.
• Owning your infertility + embracing the waiting period.
• Collaborative efforts from women who have made it through to the other side of infertility straight to the hearts of those currently navigating the muddy waters of barrenness.
• Infertility from the husband's perspective.

There will also be a giveaway during the week with items I've hand-picked to offer hope and encouragement to those battling infertility. My goal is to offer encouragement and inspiration not only to those currently facing the isolation and frustration of infertility, but for those who wonder how they can minister to their friends who are facing infertility.

I hope you'll join us, and help spread awareness about infertility. It is an isolating journey, but it doesn't have to be.

You can connect with me at my website, on twitter, facebook, and instagram. I'm also on pinterest and google. However you decide to connect with me, please take time to introduce yourself!

My thoughts on... You Are More Beautiful Than You Think

Yesterday I posted the Dove Real Beauty Sketches video.  If you haven't seen it you can watch it here.  The full version of the experience can be viewed here.
When I realized what the video was about I started tearing up.  When I watched it through to the end, I was crying.  I couldn't stop thinking about it.  One way I look at it is that others see us clearly everyday.  Whether they know us or if it's just in passing.  We only see ourselves through a mirror and usually it's just to get ready for the day.  When we spend time with others, they see us.  They look at us, the way our hair falls, the way we form our words, the expression of joy, sadness, excitement or fear on our faces.  These things we do not see.  Features that are important to us may be superficial to others but very important to us. The outcome of the two sketches in the video were mind blowing.  Although I have never had the experience, I'm sure my sketches would be drastically different.  It's amazing to see how the first sketch showed the women as serious, closed off and aged.  The second sketch showed the women as happy, open, and youthful.
Maybe because the way we view ourselves is with all our baggage but others just see what we give out to the world.  If only we could see ourselves as others see us.  If only others could see what's really going on inside us as well.  Imagine what a difference that would make.

via

What are your thoughts on this experiment?

You Are More Beautiful Than You Think

. Please take the time to watch this very powerful video.  I cried because I know my results would turn out the same.
I'd love to hear what you think.

Tell Me a Story

book

Last Wednesday the girls school hosted the Tell Me a Story (TMAS) event.  This event is put on by Military Child Education Coalition.  We are not a military family but the girls attend a public school on a base so most of these events are open to all students.
This event is great because it encourages families to come together and to give resources to help bond with the kids.  This is the first time we attended the Tell Me a Story night.  They had a guest reader come to read the story.  It was in the cafeteria but was in a little area with a rocking chair and all the families sat on the ground in front of the story reader.  After the story we all split into groups to discuss the story.  Then we moved on to making a craft.  The girls had so much fun because they are arts and craft "addicts" at home.  They decorated a child with colorful material, yarn, and crayons.  They were so totally focused on the task at hand and did not want any help from us.  Eventually daddy and I were able to lend a hand and I was quite impressed at Dakota's ensemble.  Rudy helped her and not only did Dakota's doll have a cute red bow, she had a sash.  He was so proud of what he did.  I was really excited about the outfit I made for Hayden's girl.  I just made a slit in the piece of material, put the head through and taped it in the back.  Super cute boat neck top, I want it!
In the end, they passed out cookies, and drinks and every family got to take home a copy of the book.
I hope we are able to attend the next one.  It was so much fun.  The girls were so happy.