Enter Good Buy Gear.  Somehow in a last-minute effort to find something on sale, Josh stumbled onto their website and OMG they had a Nuna Sena Aire (barely used) for over 40% off full price!  Cue angels singing.  Upon a little more digging we learned that Good Buy Gear was a mama-owned, secondhand baby/kids gear online marketplace in Denver, born out of the hope to streamline the process and save busy mamas’ time when selling and buying gently loved gear.  They had so much good stuff on their website (their stroller inventory was amaze, and the other item we were in desperate need of was a travel stroller), and I decided I had to see what this place was all about.  We hopped in the car and went for a visit to their local warehouse and I was impressed.  I knew right away I had to share this place with all of you!  

​​I had the pleasure of chatting with COO and Co-Founder Jessica Crothers about the business and how it came to be.  Jessica and Kristin Langenfield (CEO and Co-Founder) hatched the idea for Good Buy Gear on a getaway to Crested Butte, and by the time the trip was over had decided to go into business together.  #friendgoals  What started as a baby gear swap, soon morphed into a full-fledged marketplace as it became clear that there was a serious gap in the marketplace for selling and buying secondhand baby/kids gear.  Sure, Craigslist and Ebay existed, but there really wasn’t a service that would take the stress off of busy mamas and do ALL the work for them.  Once Jessica and Kristin streamlined the selling process (see below), Good Buy Gear really took off.  I love that this business was created by mamas, for mamas, with the best intentions at heart.  When Jessica talks about her favorite parts of running the business, one of the highlights for her is connecting with and helping other mamas.  Doesn’t that just give you all the feels?

Let me break it down for you and tell you how Good Buy Gear works:

• If you are a busy mama, have stuff to sell, and live in Denver or Boulder metro areas, Good Buy Gear is your new bestie.  Literally all you have to do is schedule a pick-up, AND THEY DO EVERYTHING ELSE FOR YOU.  No other service like this exists in Colorado!  They come pick up your items, photograph them, price them (price is negotiable), list them, sell them, ship them, and then you keep up to 80% of what they make, less a $10-$25 service fee.  Its SOOOOO simple.  No meetings with Craigslist Creepers, no attempts to make your item look shiny and new in a photograph, no hassles emailing back and forth with potential buyers, no price haggling.  You just sit back and relax while the Good Buy Gear crew clears out your clutter (I see you, Marie Kondo fans).  They have a list of items they do not accept on their website, but they suggest donating the items they can’t sell for you to one of their recommended partners.
• If you need baby or kid gear and live ANYWHERE IN THE US, Good Buy Gear is your new bestie.  They can ship most of their inventory to any state for $12.99, or it’s free on orders over $75.  All you have to do is enter your zip code into the website, and it will automatically filter your search to view items that can be shipped to you.  They have everything from UPPAbaby stroller floor models from Nordstrom, to bouncers, pack and plays, nursery furniture, toys… you get the idea.  We not only walked away with the Nuna Sena, but also an UPPAbaby Minu travel stroller and an adorbs cushion for our Stokke Tripp Trapp highchair.  If you live in Denver, you can also cruise over to their warehouse and pick up your item (for those of us like me who love instant gratification LOL) or browse their inventory.  Their team is super friendly and helpful!  They helped us look at so many travel strollers and talked us through the benefits of each one until we settled on the Minu.

A couple other cool things: 

• If you’re feeling altruistic, you can choose to donate the money made from your items to a charity of choice.  I LOVE this option!
• You can use the code GBGXNIKOLE for 15% off a purchase!
• If you’re a first-time seller, you can sign up for their newsletter and get $10 off your first purchase or your first pick-up.
• If you refer a friend, each of you gets $20.
• I already said this, but it’s so awesome I had to list it twice—orders over $75 ship for free!

Alright, mamas, that’s all for today!  Head on over to Good Buy Gear and let me know what awesomeness you find!

X’s and O’s,
Nikole

Let’s begin at the beginning – what is glyphosate?  If you haven’t heard of glyphosate, you’ve likely heard of Roundup – the Monsanto herbicide recently made famous by the court verdict linking it to cancer.  Glyphosate is the active compound in Roundup and is the most widely used herbicide in the WORLD.  It’s used to kill weeds for GE crops like corn and soy, and also to speed up the desiccation process for quicker harvesting of foods like oats and wheat (even though it’s not actually an approved desiccant).
 
Here are a few more reasons why you should care about this nasty little compound being found in your food:

• Glyphosate has been linked to a number of problems in pregnancy.  Exposure during the first trimester could increase your risk of gestational diabetes (1), and exposure in general has been linked to birth defects and reproductive abnormalities (2). Studies show it’s toxic to human placental cells at concentrations lower than deemed “safe” by your regulatory agencies (3). YIKES.
• So you’re not pregnant or trying to be?  You still want to steer clear of glyphosate, as Roundup specifically has been linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and lung cancer (4).
• Glyphosate also chelates, or bonds to, important minerals from the soil and food, impairing your capability to absorb them when ingested.  This in turn creates foods that are less nourishing for your bod (5).
• Ingesting glyphosate in your food disrupts your gut microbiome (the chemical acts like an antibiotic), which can lead to a host of digestion problems (4).
• Glyphosate impairs methylation pathways, decreasing our body’s capability to detox (4).
• Last but not least, glyphosate can impair the function of the pituitary gland, leading to decreased thyroid stimulating hormone and hypothyroidism (4).

 
DO YOU CARE YET??

So what’s a girl to do?  Studies show that glyphosate residue is found in foods ranging from the obvious (non-organic GMO corn and soy), to the less obvious (oats – even some organic brands!), to the downright mind boggling (Pediasure Infant Formula?!).  One thing that’s particularly important to understand is that glyphosate doesn’t just sit on the outside of plants; it is absorbed INTO the plants. This means you can’t just wash it off, and it isn’t broken down by cooking or baking. Since research is still relatively new in this field, and we really don’t know the full picture on how these compounds are going to affect us long term (especially our children!!), I always advise to limit exposure as much as possible.
 
Here are a few ways to decrease your glyphosate exposure:

• Cut down on your corn and soy consumption.  Non-organic, GMO corn and soy are some of the most heavily contaminated foods.  When you do go for that bag of tortilla chips, splurge on the organic ones, mmmk?
• A good start for the rest of your food supply is to make sure you’re consuming ORGANIC products whenever possible.  Organic farming does not allow the use of any glyphosate-based products. However, the use of glyphosate-based products is so widespread that even some organic foods are becoming contaminated.  Still, organic is waaaayyyyy better than conventional.
• Buy locally, and eat whole and unprocessed foods as much as possible. Many ingredients that go into processed foods travel long distances (sometimes internationally) and have higher risk of coming into contact with conventional ingredients along the way, which can in turn contaminate organic ingredients.
• An EVEN BETTER way to avoid glyphosate is to look for a label recently launched by the Detox Project, an independent research and certification organization, called “Glyphosate Residue Free”.  The Detox Project is dedicated to bringing awareness to the public by testing food for toxic chemicals.  The Glyphosate Residue Free label ensures that the product has been specifically tested for glyphosate and has been shown to have ZERO residue.  While this label isn’t widespread yet, you are definitely going to start seeing more and more of it!

I’m SUPER picky about the quality of supplements I take, and here are more reasons why MegaFood ticks all the boxes for me. 

• MegaFood's products are made with real foods and added nutrients.  Their products provide guaranteed potency PLUS the benefit of health promoting compounds in the real food itself*.
• Not only do they make their supplements with real food, they work with farm partners that share their commitment to organic and regenerative farming.  Bonus!
• MegaFood products make purity promises such as being non-GMO, gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan, kosher, dairy-free, soy-free, AND tested for 125+ herbicides and pesticides.  The icing on the cake is that they are now all certified Glyphosate Residue Free.  BOOM. 

I’ve been using a couple of their products lately and loving them. The first is the MegaFood Energy* Shelf-Stable Probiotics.  I think everyone benefits from a high quality probiotic; taking a daily probiotic may help battle the effects of glyphosate in your gut, help keep you regular (which is so important during pregnancy!!), and so many other things (but that is for another post!).  Here’s a bit more about MegaFood’s Energy Probiotic:

•  It contains 10 Billion CFU of live bacteria and ElevATP®, a proprietary combination of an ancient peat and apple extracts, this formulation supports healthy energy in the body.*
• The acid-resistant capsules help protect the probiotic strains from degradation in the stomach* which allows all that good bacteria to reach the right destination: your lower intestine.
• The formulation is shelf-stable, meaning the probiotics don’t need refrigeration, so you can take them on the go.  This one is SO important to me.  Who wants to take a probiotic that can never leave the fridge??

 
I’ve also been using the Daily Energy Nutrient Booster Powder™ in my morning smoothies to help keep my brain and bod going through these busy new-mama times.  Their formula combines B12, essential for healthy red blood cell formation, with chromium, which supports a healthy metabolism*, along with a powerful blend of herbs and roots—ashwagandha**, eleuthero, beet root, and green tea leaf extract—for added phytochemicals and support during times of stress.*  It’s super easy to add to a smoothie or juice, and doesn’t taste bad (which is a must for me LOL).
 
And there you have it, Friends!  I hope you learned something today about glyphosate and found a new supplement company to trust with your self-care. And if you’re interested in signing MegaFood’s petition to ban the use of glyphosate as a dessicant before harvest, click here (I know I will be!)
 
X’s and O’s,
Nikole
 
This blog post is sponsored by MegaFood®, but all opinions are (as they always will be) 100% my own.

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
**Ashwagandha is contraindicated during pregnancy.  Please consult with a medical professional if breastfeeding prior to adding this supplement to your routine.

Sources:
(1) Saldana TM, Basso O, Hoppin JA, Baird DD, Knott C, Blair A, et al. Pesticide exposure and self-reported gestational diabetes mellitus in the agricultural health study. Diabetes Care. 2007.

(2) Paganelli A, Gnazzo V, Acosta H, López SL, Carrasco AE. Glyphosate-based herbicides produce teratogenic effects on vertebrates by impairing retinoic acid signaling. Chem Res Toxicol. 2010.
 
(3) Sophie Richard, Safa Moslemi, Herbert Sipahutar, Nora Benachour, and Gilles-Eric Seralini. Differential Effects of Glyphosate and Roundup on Human Placental Cells and Aromatase. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2005.
 
(4)https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/07/03/roundup-linked-to-non-hodgkin-lymphoma.aspx
 
(5)https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/10/25/gmo-glyphosate-soil-biology.aspx

Omg guys, my hubby never watched Friends!  The horror.  When I found this out, we decided to start watching it together, and I'm so glad we did!  There's just something about that show - no matter what stage of life I'm in, there is always something I relate to. We just watched the episode where Rachel "wakes the baby" and I definitely related to that one LO!. Also, the one where Joey thinks he speaks French KILLS ME.  Besides being funny, the show just resonates.  Anyone else feel that way about Friends? Maybe it's just a good dose of nostalgia, but I've been loving every minute of my re-watch.

On to the Shakshuka!

Ingredients:

• 6 organic pasture raised eggs
• 1 - 2 Tbsp avocado oil (to taste)
• One 16 oz. jar Mina Shakshuka sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• Heaping 1/2 cup halved organic grape tomatoes
• 2 large cloves garlic
• 1/2 organic onion, chopped 
• 1 extra large handful of organic spinach

Place avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add onions and saute for about 5 minutes, or until the onions become translucent.  Add garlic and tomatoes and cook for an additional minute.  Add shakshuka sauce and 1/2 cup water and bring sauce to a simmer.  Use a large spoon to make  wells for the 6 eggs, and crack eggs into wells.  Cover and cook for 6 minutes (or longer depending on how runny you like your yolks).  Remove from heat, season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve with avocado on the side.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• One 16 oz. package fresh organic strawberries
• One 6 oz package each of fresh raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. I cut the strawberries into bite size pieces.
• One quarter of a watermelon, cubed.  I don't use the entire quarter, but you can adjust to your taste!
• Fresh squeezed juice from 1 organic lemon
• 4 - 6 chopped dates (to taste)
• Chopped fresh basil (to taste)

Mix all ingredients together and chill for a bit to let flavors mix.  You can eat as is (which is what I usually do), or top with shredded coconut or cacao nibs. Or if you're REALLY feeling adventurous, a scoop of @lunaandlarrys Coconut Bliss vegan ice cream.  YUM!!!

I'm always on the lookout for new functional beverages - I don't do the best at drinking regular water, so having tasty and healthy drinks to grab from the fridge helps me keep my hydration on point. Sooooo when I had the opportunity to try Sapp birch water, I jumped on it! Not only is it 100% organic, free of added sugar, and deeeeelicious, but it's full of naturally occurring nutrients and minerals (manganese is the standout) and infused with adaptogenic chaga mushrooms (see: rockstar of the medicinal mushroom world). This bev is definitely going in my regular rotation--read on to learn about how birch water's health benefits, and why chaga 'shrooms should be in YOUR regular rotation.

Birch water comes from birch trees (duh). Birch trees spend the entire year absorbing rich and diverse minerals from the soil and the sun. During just a few weeks in the springtime, they release sap (or birch water) infused with nutrients and ready to drink. Birch water is naturally low in sugars, containing only about 3 grams of sugar per 10 oz. The beauty of collecting this delicately sweet sap is that it leaves the birch trees unharmed, allowing them to continue growing through the rest of the year. Also a stellar benefit is the fact that it gives us a reason to cultivate birch forests instead of cutting them down for their wood. #winning

Birch water's superstar mineral is manganese. Why do you care? Here are just a few of the many reasons to get more of this mineral in your life:

• Manganese plays a key role in the production of digestive enzymes, helping your bod turn food into useable energy and amino acids.
• It's also used in numerous free-radical-fighting enzymes, including arginase, glutamine synthetase and manganese superoxide. These work as antioxidants in the body, helping lower levels of oxidative stress and inflammation that can lead to heart disease or cancer.
• Manganese helps form important enzymes related to bone formation, keeping' that skeleton of yours sturdy.

Sapp's birch water is particularly special because they infuse it with wildly gown organic Chaga mushrooms, turning this already nutritious water into an adaptogenic functional beverage. Here's a quick breakdown of Chaga's benefits, and why I use chaga products in my weekly routine:

• In case you're not already in the know, Chaga is a fungus (erm, mushroom) that grows on the outside of birch trees in very cold climates. Chaga mushrooms grow wild in places like Siberia, northern Canada, Alaska, and some northern areas of the continental United States. Although it might not sound the most appetizing, it actually has a delicate flavor (and you don't taste it at all in the Sapp lineup).
• Chaga is known as an adaptogen, a substance that helps the body deal with stress, both physically and mentally. Chaga is particularly good for providing a gentle and balanced uplift of energy.
• Chaga has one of the highest ORAC scores of any food. ORAC stands for “Oxygen Radical Absorbent Capacity”, and the higher the ORAC value the better a food’s ability to protect the body from disease-causing free radicals. It also means that chaga mushrooms are one of the best sources of antioxidants.
• In animal studies, chaga mushrooms have helped to boost the immune system by increasing the production of certain immune cells. These help regulate your immune system and make sure your bod is keeping out nasty bacteria and viruses.
• Chaga mushrooms have been shown to reduce inflammation. I'm always bringing it back to the digestive system, and chaga has me particularly jazzed since it's been shown to reduce inflammation due to ulcerative colitis in animal subjects.
• More digestion benefits: Chaga stimulates bile production, which in turn helps break down dietary fats.

You ready to go get your own bottle of Sapp birch water??? You know you wanna! Check them out at www.sapplife.co. 😋

X's and O's,
​Nikole

Happy Sunday, beautiful people!!  I'm all about pretty food, and I'm all about supporting optimal digestion.  So obviously I decided to make a gorgeous digestive tonic to start my Sunday right.  Read on for the recipe and alllllll the details on how each ingredient contributes to the tonic.

BUT FIRST:  I haven't been to Costco in a hot minute, and I have to say they have some sweet new offerings.  I was so excited to find not only C2O coconut water, but their 100% organic line!  I drink a loooooot of coconut water, but I'm pretty picky about what kind I drink and where it's sourced from.  I love love love this line of C2O because it's 100% organic and FREE of preservatives and sweeteners.  Boom.  No nasties in my hydration, thank you very much.  It's also sourced from inland freshwater coconuts, which have a naturally sweeter taste than the coastal coconuts (coastal varieties tend to be a little saltier).  Since it's preservative free, you'll find your C2O keepin' it fresh in the cooler section.  Anywaaaayyy I just thought I would share since it's a stellar deal on a product I think is the bees knees.

Okay now for the delicious stuff.  I made my digestive tonic with C2O coconut water for optimal hydration post Sunday morning sweat-sesh, and a few key ingredients to support digestion.  

• Pineapple: This fine fruit is packed with an enzyme call bromelain, which helps your bod break down proteins into individual amino acids.  Pineapple has also been shown to reduce symptoms of ulcerative colitis and acid reflux, and the high fiber content helps to keep your elimination on the reg.  Studies also show that fruits high in fiber help to prevent colorectal cancer, so bonus!
• Ginger: The gastroprotective activity of ginger has been well documented and studied.  Since it is highly anti-inflammatory, it can provide powerful support of many inflammatory digestive disorders. Ginger root also contains PREbiotics, a type of plant-based fiber that feeds good bacteria in the digestive tract to help them grow. Last, ginger is amaze at reducing nausea.  If your tummy is feeling unsettled, have some of this drink! (Or make some ginger tea, one of my other fave digestion supporting tonics.
• Collagen peptides: This super soluble, tasteless collagen has been shown to increase the integrity of the epithelial lining of the gut.  In other words, it helps heal from and prevent what is commonly known as "leaky gut".  The high level of proline and glycine in collagen peptides also helps to support proper stomach acid production.  This is super important, as stomach acid facilitates the proper absorption of nutrients.  When your stomach acid production is on point, you're absorbing more nutrients and your bod is functioning at a higher level.  You can get them in both marine and bovine forms, depending on your dietary preferences.

You guys ready to make this tonic or what!?!

Recipe:
Blue Pineapple Digestive Tonic 

Ingredients: (serves 2)

• 16 oz C2O 100% organic coconut water
• 1 cup organic fresh or frozen pineapple chunks
• 2 heaping scoops collagen peptides
• A thumb's length of fresh ginger, peeled
• Juice from 1 whole organic lemon
• 1 tsp Blue Majik blue spirulina

How To:
Blend all ingredients together.  Best served over ice with a bamboo straw, obvi.

X's and O's,
Nikole

​Pictured above, the Fawen soups come in three fab flavors (all organic!): Broccoli & Cauliflower, Beet & Cabbage, and Sweet Potato & Red Lentil. Besides being delish, what gives Fawen a spot on the list of Whole Nikole approved ish? Let me tell you.

• The ingredients are organic & 100% vegan (also Paleo!). This is something I never compromise on. If I'm going to buy a packaged product for convenience, I will NOT compromise my ingredient standards! Let's be real here - we all live busy lives, and who the heck has time to home cook every meal? AmIRightorAmIRight??? Buuuuuut, we still shouldn't put crap ingredients in our bods, so it's important to have standards, people. STANDARDS.
• The veggies used to make the soups are WHOLE VEGGIES - they're never juiced or pressed. Why is this awesome? Because it means the veggies in Fawen not only have the awesome vitamins and minerals of the veggies, but also the F I B E R, so your bod digests them slower and you stay satisfied longer (blood sugar balance, baby). Keeping the fiber also means the soups are lower in sugar (like waaaaay lower), than your average juice. So to answer my title question (Is souping the next juicing???), my answer is a resounding YES.
• The soups are made with ZERO artificial ingredients, preservatives, or sweeteners. Yeah, this one speaks for itself.
• The soups are an easy, healthy snack, as they don't have to be refrigerated and are delish straight from the container. Ima say that one more time. They are delish straight from the containerrrrrrrrr. Fa real. This is super stellar for those times when you want to throw something in your bag for an on-the-go snack, have a mid-day work refuel, or munch a post-workout pick-me-up. How many dashes can I use in one paragraph???
• Fawen values sustainable, environmental practices. This is a big one in my book. This company walks the walk! Fawen maintains a low carbon footprint by sourcing locally from organic farms, which are pesticide and herbicide-free, and their Tetra Pak is eco-friendly, recyclable, and BPA-free. In addition, Tetra Paks are also generally lighter than glass and plastic, which makes Fawen not only easier for you to carry around, but it also requires less fuel to transport and reduces their carbon footprint. Boom.

Let's talk about how I enjoyed my Fawen. I kept it simple with the Broccoli & Cauliflower, warming it in a saucepan and topping with hemp hearts for my breakfast veggie. I used the Beet & Cabbage as a base for a bee pollen infused smoothie (recipe below). The Sweet Potato & Red Lentil didn't make it out of the container - I drank it with an eco-friendly bamboo straw. I have to say, I was particular to the Broccoli & Cauliflower, but all the flavors were super tasty! When you all get some Fawen (you know you wanna), tell me what your fave way to enjoy it is!!! Speaking of having some Fawen in your life, you can buy it in stores in the NYC Metro area (check out their store finder on their website!), or snag some from their website (www.drinkfawen.com) or on Amazon with freeeeeee shipping.

Without further ado, here is your new fave beet based smoothie recipe.

Recipe:
Bee Pollen Infused Fawen Energizer Smooooothie

​Ingredients (serves 2):

• 1/2 container Fawen Beet & Cabbage (approx. 8 oz)

• 8 oz unsweetened vanilla nut milk
• 1 banana, frozen
• 10 - 15 frozen strawbs (depending on how big they are)
• 1 Tbsp chia seeds
• 2 tsp bee pollen for a bonus energy boost (plus a tad additional for a pretty topper)
• 2 Tbsp. Vital Proteins collagen peptides for gut health support (or equivalent serving protein of choice)

How-To
This one is super complicated. Put everything in your blender and blend. Top with additional bee pollen, eat that ish, and conquer your day. I know, that was hard, huh?

X's and O's.,
Nikole

Follow Fawen on Insta at @fawensoup and sign up for their monthly newsletter on their website to receive exclusive discounts and product updates, fun events, and plant-based living inspiration!

I'm going to keep this one short and sweet today because I'm busy praying for Russell Wilson to get it together so I can win my fantasy football matchup this week!!! (SMH)  

This layered smoothie might change your life. FA REAL.  It's packed full of protein, healthy fats, and crazy potent energy boosting amazingness. Yes that is a word;  I use it all the time, mmmk? Also this pic didn't quiiiiiite meet the Whole Nikole standards, but I had to post it anyway because the smoothie was SO DANG GOOD.  

Let's talk about how this jar of awesome will keep you going all morning with sustained energy that won't cause an afternoon crash.

Energy Boosters

• Spirulina: Considered one of nature's richest and most complete source of total nutrition, spirulina contains over 100 synergistic nutrients. It is specifically rich in B vitamins, which may explain its ability to provide sustained energy after consumption. In addition to boosting your energy, spirulina is also an extremely potent source of antioxidants, a complete source of plant protein, and a powerful detoxifier and immune booster.  It pretty much kicks ass in the health department.
• Bee Pollen: The range of nutrients found in bee pollen makes it a potent natural energizer. Did you know that bee pollen contains almost all of the nutrients required by the human body to thrive?  Say whaaat???  That’s why the German Federal Board of Health has officially recognized it as a medicine. It’s rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins, lipids and fatty acids, enzymes, carotenoids and bioflavonoids. This makes it an antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral booster food that strengthens the capillaries, reduces inflammation, stimulates the immune system and lowers cholesterol levels naturally.  BOOM.
• Cacao Nibs: These little superstars can stimulate your brain and boost your mood by telling your brain to release specific neurotransmitters and endorphins.  This in turn gives us a sense of alertness (see: focus!) and contentment.  Cacao nibs contain the highest concentration of flavonoid antioxidants of any food in the world, help control blood sugar and blood pressure, and are totally YUM.
• Coconut Yogurt: About 60% of the fatty acids in coconut cream are medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). MCFAs are rapidly metabolized into energy by the liver, so they supply your bod with a quick energy source. BONUS ALERT!!  The MCFAs found in coconut cream/milk increase your body's energy expenditure and tell your body to go into fat-burning mode.
• Other Stuff: The remaining ingredients in this layered smoothie are nutrient and protein dense, giving your body the essentials it needs to stay energized, keep your blood sugar balanced, and keep your brain sharp through the day.

You ready to make this baby or what?

Recipe:
Layered Rainbow Energy Smoothie (makes 2 large or 3 smaller servings)

​Bottom Layer:

• 1 and 1/2 small containers Coyo Mixed Berry Coconut Yogurt​

Middle Layer:

• Remaining 1/2 small container Coyo Mixed Berry Coconut Yogurt
• 3/4 cup vanilla nut milk of choice (unsweetened)
• 1 banana, frozen
• 1 Cup frozen pineapple
• 1 tsp Spirulina

Top Layer

• 3/4 Cup vanilla nut milk of choice (unsweetened)
• 2 Tbsp raw almond butter
• 3 scoops protein powder of choice (shoot for ~30-35 grams protein)
• 1 Cup frozen strawberries

Toppings:

• Frozen blackberries (or blueberries would be delish as well!)
• 1 Tbsp PER SERVING raw cacao nibs (I like Navitas Naturals)
• 1 tsp PER SERVING bee pollen
• Shredded coconut, to taste

How-To
Start by adding the coconut yogurt to the your container to make the bottom layer, and then put your container in the freezer.  Next blend together your middle layer ingredients and gently add on top of the yogurt.  Put the two layers back in the freezer. (Keeping your smoothie in the freezer between layers helps the layers stay thick so they don't all mix together right away.  I mean, you want this to be pretty, right???)  Repeat with the top layer ingredients, add your toppings, and EAT UP.  Then let me know what you think! 

X's and O's,
Nikole