Monday mornings are difficult for everyone, whether you have to go to work or not. I’ve had the luxury of working from home lately, so a lot of times, my Mondays still feel like the weekend. But there’s a still a weird vibe: It’s almost like I can feel everyone’s exasperation with having to go back to work. It makes me want to stay in bed longer.

Smoothie bowls make it easier to get up. This morning, I gathered everything I had left in my refrigerator on the counter and decided to a make a mixed berry banana smoothie. I topped it with some almonds and chia seeds for crunch.

I also put some sweet and salty granola on top. I heard about a brand called “Purely Elizabeth,” and I thought it sounded like the title of a Judy Blume novel. Then, I tried their granola. It’s very, very good. It’s the perfect amount of sweet and salty, and offsets the sweetness from the berries.

I’ve been trying to be more physically active lately. Winter is a time when I feel like doing is sitting on the couch and drinking endless cups of hot chocolate, but I have to strike a balance. Yesterday, I drove out to Augusta, MO, and went on a long hike by the Missouri River.

Today, I went on a five mile run and I had to start walking in the middle. I guess my body is still reeling from yesterday. Here’s a song that I listened to today on my run. It’s good for moments when you feel like calling Uber to pick you up halfway through a run. It also makes me feel like a badass.

Mixed Berry Smoothie with Sweet & Salty Granola (from me, to you)

Ingredients

1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/4 cup frozen raspberries
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1 cup almond milk
1 banana
banana slices, frozen raspberries, fresh raspberries, chia seeds, granola and almonds for topping

Directions

Blend the blueberries, raspberries, yogurt, milk and banana on a blender on high until smooth. Top with banana slices, sweet and salty granola, frozen raspberries, fresh blueberries, chia seeds, granola and almonds. Enjoy!