My bags are packed!
Don’t let Sadie fool you. She was much more of a hindrance to my packing than a help. She can always seem to tell when I’m packing up to leave because she gets extra needy, and that’s saying a lot for the world’s neediest dog.
Even with her constant wiggling under my arms, I managed to pack up my suitcase without much trouble.
Carry on bag, baby. No bag check fees for this girl!
Once I was all packed up, I wanted to get on the road. I had a two-hour drive ahead of me because my flight leaves out of Tampa and didn’t want to take any chances with traffic or potential accidents along the way.
I made myself lunch on the go in the form of a smoothie.
Since I’m sure my eating will be all over the place this weekend, I wanted to sneak in some extra nutrition in the form of spinach into my smoothie. Unfortunately I was out of fresh spinach, but I had a pack of frozen spinach on hand and figured I would give it a try.
I wasn’t sure how the frozen spinach would do in the smoothie, but I got some reassurance via Twitter about using frozen spinach in smoothies earlier in the week, so I figured it was worth a go.
I used half the pack of frozen spinach and couldn’t taste it one bit. Success!
Into the blender went:
- 1 1/4 cup almond milk
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 1 frozen banana
- 1/2 pack frozen spinach
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
I slurped it down in the car.
After a two-hour drive, I arrived at my parents’ house in St. Pete. (My car will be staying with them this weekend to save on airport parking fees.)
Naturally I dug into their food within minutes.
Two clementines…
A few spoonfuls of almond butter….
And some trail mix. I usually pick around the raisins and just eat the nuts, but today I was an equal opportunity eater. Raisins are making a comeback for me!
Time to make myself a sandwich and grab some snacks for an airport dinner.
See ya from New York City! 
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Have a fun and safe trip!!
Have so much fun! Glad you got to scavenge per usual in the parent’s pantry 🙂
Can’t wait for New York adventures!! When you used the spinach, did you thaw it out first or put it in still frozen? I always thought it would make my smoothies too watery. You got a lot of extra nutrition using the half box of spinach too, it’s probably equal to the same amount of at least a bag of fresh spinach!
Love the idea of using frozen spinach! I’ll have to give it a whirl.
Side note – your carry-on bag is adorable! Love the yellow.
thank you! it was a graduation present from my grandma! 🙂
love your vera bradley packing accessories! i’m obsessed with their stuff. our dogs get super needy when we’re packing up to leave somewhere too… i’m always amazed at how smart they are. have fun and safe travels!
I always use frozen spinach. I think it’s easier and colder 🙂 hehe
Hey Julie,
Where did you get your curling iron/straightner case… that would be so handy to have.
Safe Travels!
heeeere ya go! http://www.verabradley.com/catalog/search.cmd?form_state=searchForm&keyword=curling+iron&x=0&y=0
Have a great time in New York!
Your luggage is so cute! Have such a fun weekend!
I love that you still use the old-school Vera Bradley! I have the orange sherbert and turquoise paisley as well. Nice suitcase, too. Where is it from? I need luggage badly!
thanks! it’s a diane von furstenburg suitcase, but my grandma got it from tjmaxx.
Glad the frozen spinach worked out! I always use it in addition to a bit of fresh spinach because 1) it’s already washed, and 2) it’s frozen, so you don’t have to add as much ice, which means the flavour isn’t diluted as much. Win win!! Have an amazing time in NY!
Have an awesome trip! I love the raisins in mixes, I love the salty/sweet combo!
Have the best time in NYC! My boyfriend is there for the weekend too!
Have a safe flight! And thanks for the frozen spinach tip…I have been tempted to use it in my smoothies but didn’t know what the outcome would be.
OMG! i didn’t know maranatha made no stir almond butter!! (i have seen PB) i seriously *just* commented to my husband while stirring our (costco sized, HUGE) jar of maranatha AB that i hate when i don’t get to buy no-stir. of course, costco doesn’t carry no stir (nor do they carry regularly sized jars) 🙂 i guess you make up the difference in price with the added labor of stirring!
safe travels 🙂
I hope NYC is tons of fun! I can’t wait to hear about your adventures 🙂
I tried using frozen spinach in a smoothie once, but it didn’t turn out well at all. The spinach stayed chunky and I could definitely taste it :/ Maybe my Magic Bullet isn’t strong enough… You have given me inspiration though, I’ll give another go this week.
i could see how that happens. the vitamix is one powerful beast and i cranked it up to full power to chop it all up finely.
I’ve used fresh spinach plenty of times in smoothies, but never frozen! Good to know it works just as well 🙂
My dog is so bad about us packing that he has climbed INTO my luggage before…not helpful!!
Have a fun weekend and a safe trip!
I have been putting spinach in my smoothies, until my sister told me that raw spinach has absolutely NO nutritional. She said it needs to be cooked?! Have you ever heard this? I’m going to look into it deeper. If its true, I’ll be using kale in smoothies instead.
um. I think our nails are painted the same color…and I think your dad won’t like that color 😉 Nice girls wear clear nail polish 😉 Safe travels! xox
when i wore this nail polish at thanksgiving he asked me if i was playing in the mud earlier that day… 🙂
What color is your nail polish? I love it! 🙂
I have the EXACT same question. I NEED to know!
Me too! LOVE the color!
Love the idea of frozen spinach! Whenever I buy spinach for smoothies I end up throwing some away; it just spoils so quickly. This is the perfect solution!
Good to know about the spinach, as fresh is NOT available on my tiny little island.
that’s such a good idea to use frozen spinach! I bet it helped make the smoothie thicker too!
I use frozen spinach all the time. 🙂 In fact, I rarely use fresh spinach, because I like the extra thickness that the frozen spinach gives a smoothie.
Your carry-on bag is really cute. I desperately need a good one for all of the times we fly to Boston for weekend trips! Mine is just too and doesn’t allow for much packing.
Have fun in NY!
How clever! Good idea 🙂
Haha I always pick out the raisins from trail mix – or out of anything for that matter! It’s the only dried fruit I cannot stand.
your blog name is so adorable!
That trail mix looks so good!!
GREAT idea to use frozen spinach….never thought of that, but why not!? I bet it just adds to the frozen yumminess.
My dog is the same way when I pack – they definitely know when we are going somewhere!
Have a great trip!
Painted fingernails!! They look super pretty, great color!
Have fun!! I loved your last post about wearing tights. Being a Florida girl who had to move to Ohio, I was faced with the same dilemma. I’m going to a wedding tomorrow, and since it’s going to be in the 30’s and snowing, I’m going to have to wear tights … but I’m just not a fan!
Aww Sadie looks so sad!! She’s going to miss her momma :). I hope you have such an AMAZING time in NYC. I love that city so much and wish I could go more often!
have a fun and safe trip! I can’t wait to see more on your posts. 😀 And your smoothie looks uber thick and creamy! I love it.
It’s good to know that frozen spinach won’t mess the taste up! I made your chocolate smoothie today for lunch! 🙂 I ended up using carob powder instead of cocoa and it was super smooth. I also added spinach too 🙂
Have a safe and fun trip to NY!
Good idea with the frozen spinach. I don’t make smoothies much in the winter, but my fresh spinach would go bad sometimes when I make them every once in a while in the summer.
Have a safe trip, I haven’t been able to be at the computer a lot so I’m not sure why you’re headed to NYC but enjoy it! Miss Sadie is hilarious. My doggy, India would do that too!
I only ever use frozen spinach in my smoothies! Plus it means when it’s on sale I can get an extra bag and keep it ready in the freezer, it won’t go bad!
I love that you have almost all Vera travel stuff – I do, too 🙂
I am yet to get on the green monster wagon…for it’s worth, I’m munching celery right now while sipping my smoothie so that must count for something!
I’ve been wondering about the frozen spinach idea…good to know!
safe travels and have fun!! i’ve never tried the spinach smoothie, but some of my friends have…their’s looks like the swamp thing but your’s actually looks like it could be tasty…hehe. 😛
I LOVE putting frozen spinach in my smoothies. And honestly, despite that fact that it’s 9:30PM, I’m now craving a smoothie…haha! 😉
Is that Essie nail polish??? LOVING the color on you lady! Have a blast in NYC!
Hope you had a great flight to NYC! 🙂
I’ve never put frozen spinach in a smoothie but since I have some in my freezer I might as well give it a try. 🙂
Oh lord, I cringed when I saw your shoes laying there all exposed and ready to get shoe germs all over your clothes! My husband laughs cause I am a freak about shoes being in a bag when you pack them so they cannot touch anything else and spread the funk of everything you walked on :-/. So on that note have a fantastic trip. NYC is my favorite weekend trip!
I tried frozen spinach in a smoothie once and didn’t like it! But, if I remember correctly, I used in a very simple banana, spinach, almond milk smoothie so perhaps there just wasn’t enough flavor in there to mask the taste. Chocolate would PROBABLY help!!
Hi! I very recently discovered your blog and absolutely love it! There are a zillion protein powders out there and I have no clue how to choose one that tastes good. Do you use a specific brand? Any advice? Looking for chocolate and also vanilla. Thanks!
I’ve never thought of using frozen spinach! I always have a TON! Thanks for the tip!!
I tried frozen spinach once, but my blender didn’t seem to be able to break it up well. Definitely jonesing for a vita-mix!
FUN! Love your scarf. Have a GREAT time 🙂