Amsterdam: 3 steps in the "correct" way to drink beer!

After a really fun (and fattening) flight to Europe, I was so excited to make it to Amsterdam! It was my first time to visit the famous destination. I was struck by the beauty of the Netherlands' capital city, and it felt amazing to view in person the historic buildings that I have only seen before in movies.

Amsterdam from the air

My sister, Alicia, and her daughter, Elizabeth, drove in from Germany to meet my husband, Nathan, and me. We spent the first day being complete tourists!

We did stroll through the "red light district," but we didn't make too big of a deal about it since Elizabeth is only seven years old. I did spy three young ladies with rollers in their hair, and assumed they were, *ahem*, ladies of the district.  ;)  

The first stop for us after a long, HOT walk through town, was the Van Gogh Museum. I enjoyed learning about the master painter's life and struggles, and it was wonderful to see so many of his pieces in one place.

One of Van Gogh's many self-portraits... ears still intact

Next stop was the Heineken Experience, and it was SO interactive! I don't have enough to describe it, but it was educational and entertaining. You walk through the historic brewery, and learn about the beer brewing process plus the history of the brand. 

I was so impressed by how much there was to do, and how fun they made it. There was even a room that was almost a "ride," but not really. You are supposedly beer that is going through the process of being brewed. It was like one of those 4D cinemas that move and spray water and air at you, kind of like the Soarin' ride at Disney's Epcot. That was my favorite part!

This lady talked us through each ingredient that makes Heineken unique-- she said it's all about the "A" strand of yeast, which is still only used today by the company

Then they teach you the "proper" way to drink beer in order to get the best taste. Here it is in 3 steps:

1. Swirl and smell your beer-- just like with wine, it helps you better appreciate it. Then go in for the drink...

2. Tip your glass (or stein) far back with a firm hand.

3. Take a big swig! If you take sips, you are drinking the bitter foam at the top.

Nathan's happy face after finishing his beer samples-- I don't even like beer, but I confess that I drank some just to say I did. The Experience is REALLY GOOD MARKETING!

Elizabeth and her traditional Dutch pancake, served with syrup and powdered sugar

After the Experience, we wandered around the city a little bit more before heading back to the hotel. Nathan had to head back in to work, so my sister, niece and I explored Amsterdam on our own the second day.

Westerkerk Church

 Lovely canals wind throughout the city

 Obsessed with the Anne Frank House, but the line was more than 3 hours long and we didn't have time for it-- my sister went before, and said it is worth the visit

So pretty!

We stepped into the Amsterdam Tulip Museum, but it was burning up hot inside, so we immediately left. This part of Europe is experiencing a "heat wave," although I'm from Louisiana and Florida so this is nothing to me. However, I am indeed saddened that most places don't have air conditioning! 

We loved the Amsterdam Cheese Museum, which helps you "relive the experience of cheese-making" and allows you to taste the "unique flavor of the best cheese in Holland." It was so much fun to read about making cheese!

Say "cheese," please! #CheeseSelfie

I was all excited to taste the raw milk flavors-- I ended up purchasing the Truffle style

My sister likes the iconic Delftware, so we peeked into one of those stores

After a wonderful two days, my sister, niece and I left and made our way five hours south to her home in Germany. I'm throwing in a couple of village photos, because these are ALL over the country! My sister says they're called "bergs"... she lives in Weselberg, one of these tiny villages (population: 1,340). The view is AMAZING. Country living!

Have you ever been to Europe? What parts did you visit? Comment below, and let me know! Thanks for reading, as always.  :)

Green smoothies: the ultimate health drink!

Want to make a quick, easy meal that's the most healthful, nutritious and delicious drink ever? Try making a green smoothie! 

Check out my CruzTube video that shows you how I make one.

I’ve been making green smoothies for probably about a decade, ever since I read the book Green for Life by Victoria Boutenko. In the book, she talks about how the best way for your body to absorb nutrients from fresh, leafy green vegetables is to blend them into a smoothie. The first time she tried it, she said it smelled awful, really strong like wheatgrass. Although I grow my own wheatgrass and juice it daily, I’m not a huge fan of the smell. As you can see in this video, I just use my special method of drinking it down like medicine, LOL!

But the magic happened when Boutenko added bananas. She said that one simple act transformed the smoothie into something delicious. I always put a banana in my green smoothie, although there are many recipes that don’t call for it.

I used my Magic Bullet blender to make my green smoothies for a really long time, but I’m so glad that they came out with the Nutribullet. It’s just bigger, and I needed that! I recommend using a 20% off coupon (you know you always get them in the mail) and getting yours from Bed Bath & Beyond.

Organic dandelion greens, banana and a mango from Haiti

You could also use a regular blender, but be prepared that it won’t work as well and you will have to blend it longer. Try adding some ice to make the consistency creamier and smoother. Ice also thickens it up without adding any calories. The book The Abs Diet said in a blind study, people who drank smoothies with ice felt fuller longer than those who had the same exact smoothie, but blended without the ice.

If you’re brand-new to green smoothies, try organic baby spinach as your leafy green. It’s a great “starter” since it tastes so smooth! Another tip is to seek out fresh fruits that are in season for extra nutrients and flavor.

There are a million green smoothie recipes out there, but here is my basic formula:

1.  A handful of fresh greens, approximately 1 cup

2.  One banana, fresh or frozen

3.  A handful of berries or fruit like mango, about ½ to 1 cup – frozen bags of fruit are quick because they’re pre-chopped

4.  1 cup of water

5.  Optional—protein powder or Greek yogurt (I add a pinch of stevia if I use yogurt), or even some nuts/seeds if you want the protein and fat while remaining vegan

I typically put all the ingredients into my Nutribullet tall cup at night, and then just blend it in the morning. Then I pour it into a Tervis cup and head to work.

My vessel of choice: it prevents spills and "sweating" plus it keeps the smoothie chilled

It’s nice to use a Tervis with a pattern on it that kind of masks the fact that you’re drinking a green smoothie. Although they are becoming more mainstream now, green smoothies are still not as widely recognized as I wish they were—and I STILL receive comments that make me feel like someone’s judging my healthful drink (don’t hate on my green smoothies, y’all).  ;)

Have you ever tried making a green smoothie? If so, what’s your recipe? Let me know in the comments below!