I definitely didn’t mean to go dark on the blog yesterday. In fact, I wrote a way-too-wordy blog post that I ended up scrapping at the last minute because it was a big-time Debbie Downer to read. I wasn’t sharing anything major and the blog post was simply a recap of my Wednesday but Wednesday, honestly, was just an all-around annoying day.
It was filled with phone issues that had me running to four different stores (and the issues still remain unresolved), pregnancy nausea that resurfaced with a bang, losing my car keys and more and it just felt like a big whine fest when I wrote about it on the blog even though it was simply a real recap of my day. I didn’t enjoy writing about it so I figured you guys wouldn’t enjoy reading about it, so I hit delete and now here we are today. A new day! A better day. FRIDAY!
So let’s dive into your usual Things I’m Loving Friday post, shall we? Below you will find a short roundup of some things that are making me smile this week, including a must-try festive St. Patrick’s Day recipe, a sneaky giveaway and more. I hope you guys have a fantastic weekend and enjoy the luck of the Irish on Saturday!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- 26-Week Ultrasound
(26-week ultrasound photos of our baby’s head and feet! <3 )
Hooray for a wonderful ultrasound and answered prayers! I had an appointment with a specialist yesterday morning to monitor our baby and look at my placenta and it went so well. We got to see our little one in enough detail to see fuzzy hair on our baby’s head and it was incredible. My doctor told me our little one is about 2.2 pounds already (I’m measuring slightly ahead – a big change from my pregnancy with Chase when I was behind the whole time) and looking great. Seeing our baby move and hearing our little one’s heartbeat is simply the best even though I think I’ve held my breath for the duration of every single ultrasound we’ve had so far.
Chase is still 100 percent convinced our baby is a boy and tells EVERYONE we’re having a boy with such certainty that even his preschool teacher said, “Congrats! You’re having a boy!” to me on Monday. I had to laugh and tell her that we don’t know and we won’t know until our little one arrives, despite Chase’s very vocal claims otherwise. He kind of has me drinking the Kool-Aid at the moment and part of me is leaning toward thinking we’re having another boy even though all of my physical symptoms seem to align more with the old wives’ tales for a girl this time around. We will see!
- High Protein Frozen Mint Hot Chocolate with Collagen
Thank you to Great Lakes Gelatin for sponsoring this shout out!
St. Patrick’s Day is tomorrow and if you’re looking for a way to celebrate with a little treat that’s actually pretty darn healthy, I have the perfect festive drink for you! It combines two of my favorite flavors – chocolate and mint – for a frozen mint hot chocolate that packs a serious protein punch thanks to the addition of Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate. The recipe is creamy, frothy and chocolaty but doesn’t taste like a total sugar bomb. It’s a high protein frozen hot chocolate you can feel good about drinking, whether you choose to enjoy it on St. Patrick’s Day, as a post-workout snack or a healthy sweet treat at the end of the day.
Print
High Protein Frozen Mint Hot Chocolate
- Prep Time: 2 mins
- Cook Time: 1 min
- Total Time: 3 mins
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: dessert, sweet treat
Description
A high-protein, creamy treat to enjoy when you’re craving a combination of rich chocolate and refreshing mint.
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk (a higher fat milk will yield a creamier drink)
- 3 tablespoons Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
- pinch of salt
- 1 heaping cup ice
Instructions
- Combine milk through salt in a high-speed blender until mint leaves are fully blended into the chocolate liquid.
- Add ice and blend until desired consistency is achieved. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cocoa powder if desired.
I’ve been buying Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate for about two years now and love it because it dissolves so easily in my morning coffee or tea and makes a great addition to smoothies without altering the flavor of my favorite beverages. You can read more about why I first fell in love with collagen and continue to use it regularly in this post: Benefits of Collagen. The short version: I love it for improved digestion and hair, skin and nail health as well as bone and joint health. And yes, I do use collagen pregnant! I feel like it was my primary source of protein for a while there when I was on an all-carb diet for nearly two months. Ha! My doctor gave me the a-okay to continue using it, but definitely check with your doctor, too!
***GIVEAWAY!***
If you’d like to give this recipe a try or simply wish to try incorporating collagen into your diet, I think you’ll like today’s sneaky giveaway! One PBF reader will win two containers of Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate and one of the 20-count single-serving packs of the travel-size collagen packets you can throw in your bag to enjoy collagen on the go. (These are great for adding collagen to coffee or tea when you’re out and about.) To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post telling me how you currently like to enjoy collagen or one way you think you’d like to try using collagen if it’s something new to you! I will randomly select a winner next Friday morning.
Good luck!
I never think of my car as “old” but it’s 13 years old so I guess it’s technically getting up there, huh? The only time I really feel like my car is getting older is when I want to use some kind of new(ish) technology like Bluetooth and it’s not compatible or when I check the maps function of my car’s GPS and half the highways around me don’t even exist. I wanted the ability to easily stream music in my car before my long road trip with Chase a couple of weeks ago and ordered this Bluetooth adapter from Amazon.
The adapter worked like a charm and the set up was a breeze. The sound quality is great and I highly recommend it to anyone driving an older vehicle without the ability to stream music from their phones. The adapter also has the ability to charge your phone at the same time, so that’s a huge plus! It let me jam out to the Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and listen to my favorite NPR podcast (Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me) among streaming breaks of Pandora’s Baby Einstein station so I was a happy camper!
- Chilly Cow Chocolate Brownie Batter Ice Cream Bars
Purchasing these Chilly Cow ice cream bars was a valiant attempt at portion control on my part after downing my bodyweight in Moose Tracks ice cream a few weeks in a row. Though a big bowl of ice cream will always have my heart, I must give these bars rave reviews. They are incredibly creamy and chocolaty and seem to do a decent job of satisfying my sweet tooth at the end of the day. And yes, I’ve definitely downed two in a row a couple times now because I loved them so much but that’s better than half of a half gallon of ice cream, right!?
- Friday Flashbacks
Corned Beef and Cabbage Creamy Leek Soup (A comforting recipe to keep on hand if you have any corned beef leftover after St. Patrick’s Day!)
Upper Body Superset Workout (A strength workout that combines weights and resistance bands for an upper body burn!)
Question of the Day
Today’s Questions of the Day correspond to the sneaky giveaway above:
- For my fellow collagen fans: How do you currently like to incorporate collagen into your diet?
- For the collagen newbies: What is one way you’d like to try collagen for the first time? In your coffee? In a smoothie? Let me know!
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
I would add it to my iced coffee.
I love to put collagen in my oatmeal in the morning!
I’ve never tried collagen, but that smoothie looks like a great way to start!
I’m so curious to try collagen in my coffee (and smoothies, and oatmeal)! I’m curious if you found anything in your reasearch about how to find safe sources of collagen?
I love to add collagen to my smoothies! I’ve been trying to incorporate it more since I am pregnant and heard that it can help reduce your chance of getting stretch marks!
I’ve been so curious about collagen but haven’t tried it yet – I’d love to try some in my morning coffee!
I haven’t tried it yet but I so want to because of all the benefits and the fact it has less taste and texture compared to protein powder.
I would love to incorporate collagen into smoothies. I need all the help I can get for my hair and nails.
I haven’t tried collagen yet, but I’ve heard great things and would love to try it in my morning coffee.
I use it in my chai tea in the morning and also in my green smoothie which has spinach, kale, chia seeds, orange and apple. It’s great to add to oatmeal as well
I like to add my collagen to water with a splash of Gatorade or coconut water. It’s a great, little bit sweet afternoon pick me up!
I have never tried collagen but will if I win some! I would add it to my daily cup of cocoa or tea or as others have said, a summer smoothie! Thank you for the giveaway!
I’ve been wanting to try collagen for so long but it’s just so expensive!!! I can see myself blending it into smoothies or stirred into my oatmeal.
I have been wanting to try Great Lakes collagen since you first blogged about it! I cannot buy it where I live. I would looove collagen in my morning coffee.
You hooked me almost 2 years ago. I was very vitamin deficient and my hair fell out. I have mine in morning coffee. I immediately noticed the joint pain in my knees and fingers went away. Recently stopped taking it and pain in fingers and wrist came back. Started again and pain gone. DOG
COLLEGEN for life!!!!!!!.
Oneponychick66@hotmail.com
Julie: Ever since you first mentioned using Great Lakes Collagen, I placed an order and I love it! Use it in my morning coffee/tea. I’m nearly 73 and the Collagen has made a remarkable difference in my hair and nails. My daughter is now using it too. Will definitely try your Mint Hot Chocolate!
I would love to try collagen. I would stir it into my coffee. I have heard it is good for small joint arthritis (hands)—maybe that’s why your feet fell better!
I put collagen in my smoothies for an added boost of protein and to help my joints, skin, and hair.
I would like to try collagen in my coffee and smoothies. This recipe looks especially delicious!
I love incorporating Great Lakes collagen into my morning coffee every morning! I got my mom hooked too, and she said she’s noticed a difference in her hair and nails. I have definitely noticed a difference in my skin complexion from when I’m using it regularly to when I’m out! I love it!
I always put collagen in my morning smoothie and love the extra dose of protein it adds, especially after a workout!
Started additional get it to my coffee in Feb. Already see a difference in my skin!
I actually never knew people took collagen until reading your blog Julie! But ever since hearing about it, I’ve wanted to try it. I don’t know any other ways to use it, so I would probably try it in my coffee or morning smoothie first.
I’d love to incorporate collagen into my smoothies or morning coffee- thanks 🙂
I just started using collegen this week. So far I’ve put it in coffee and a smoothie. I’m excited to see other ways people use it.
I have been afraid to try collagen so this would give me a great opportunity. I would add it to coffee or smoothies. I need all the extra protein I can get and haven’t found any protein powders I like. Congrats on a healthy pregnancy. I think it’s a girl.
I would love to add the collagen to my coffee and smoothies!!!
Currently, I put collagen powder in my smoothies but would like to try it in my coffee. I am interested in the brand you use and would live to try it!
I’d love to try it while i am breastfeeding my second child, I’ve heard great things!
I have been wanting to try collagen since you first raved about it! I’d really like to try incorporating it into my hot tea or smoothies and I could use all the extra protein I can get since I’m still breastfeeding after 16 months and I’m feeling exceptionally run down. What an awesome giveaway! Thank you!
That’s amazing your new little one is measuring ahead and your ultrasound went great. I really wish you’d share your weekly pregnancy updates like you did with Chase because I enjoy reading them so much but understand your reasoning regarding not sharing them.
I’m on the ice cream train too right now! We have had a few 75-80 degree days and I went through a gallon of Blue Bell cookie two step (vanilla ice cream with chocolate cookie (Oreo) pieces and chocolate chip cookie dough) and it’s amazing!
I ordered some collagen from Amazon right after reading this mint chocolate smoothie recipe! I’m planning on throwing in some spinach and drinking it for breakfast next week. 🙂
I put collagen in my coffee (when I remember), just to add some protein! I love that it has other benefits as well. I would love to add it to your mint iced chocoate recipe on this post! Also find a healthy non-cafineated drink to add OT to during day!
I love that Great Lakes Collagen is tasteless so I would love to add collagen to my morning coffee! I drink so much cofdee I should probably try incorporating something healthy into it 🙂
I have just started exploring collagen and have tried several brands, but I think Great Lakes is the best! My skin has a marked improvement, including from my hormonal breakouts. So far I have just been mixing it in water, but mixing it into a smoothie or homemade protein bars sounds like a next step for me.
This is DEF the way that I would like to enjoy collagen!! This smoothie looks amazing!! 🙂
I’d love to start trying collagen in my morning coffee! I need to boost my bone density, so I think this would be a great addition for me.
I’m pregnant and used it during my first pregnancy as well. It’s a life saver to get some protein when all you want is carbs. I mix it in oatmeal at breakfast!
I’ve been eyeing collagen for awhile now. I really need to make the jump & just try it already! Ha!
Adding it to my morning coffee sounds quick & easy to start out.
I put it it my coffee! You can’t taste it and I’ve noticed better skin and nails.
I jumped on the collagen bandwagon per your recommendation! I add it to my coffee in the morning. I have definite seen the benefits! love it!
I put collagen in my coffee with mct oil and pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon ?
I mix it into my coffee or smoothies! Definitely made a huge improvement to my hair!
I love to incorporate collagen into my coffee and smoothies.
P.S.-I am with Chase, I think you are having a boy #boymama!
I love adding some collagen to my smoothies! I’d also love to try it in this frozen hot chocolate 🙂
I’d love to try collagen mixed in a drink like this one, but most days, I’d probably mix it into coffee in the morning!
I put it in my homemade ice cream with a frozen banana base!
I move love to try it in smoothies
I just started using collagen a few weeks ago, so I haven’t gotten too creative with it yet. So far I’ve just been using it in smoothies, but need to branch out!
Love Great Lakes collagen! I use t every single day and put in in everything from overnight oats to coffee to smoothies. Every Single Day!
I have ‘collagen coffee’ every morning! It’s a great way to get a shot of protein right out of the gate!