tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28997144863390677032024-03-14T03:02:58.797-07:00The Messy EaterAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-55064980303529448152014-05-29T20:02:00.000-07:002014-05-29T20:05:31.582-07:00Swimsuit Season......<---SO WHAT?Howdy. <--No, I'm not Southern (actually I'm Northern, but that's not important).<br />
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So, there's this little thing called 'SWIMSUIT SEASON' that is fast approaching or maybe is already here. I don't know the exact DATE it arrives, but regardless, it's apparently PRETTY IMPORTANT to a lot of women out in the world.<br />
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(Note: I am a BIG fan of CAPITALIZING things, so yawl <--[what?] just accept it.)<br />
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<img alt="alison-sweeney-shape-april-2012.jpg" src="webkit-fake-url://D8D3DB7B-4981-4AF6-9306-1B166C704500/alison-sweeney-shape-april-2012.jpg" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;" /><br />
Source<br />
I get the whole hype of it and how it's a reminder on nearly EVERY SINGLE magazine gearing towards women right about now and probably until August.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">"LOSE 10 POUNDS IN 2 WEEKS",</span><br />
"GET READY FOR BIKINI SEASON WITH THIS NEW MEAL PLAN"<br />
"SHAPE UP FOR THE SUMMER"<br />
"YADDAYADDA YADDA".<br />
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Same stuff, same headlines, EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR.<br />
My question is, DON'T THEY GET TIRED OF PRINTING THAT?<br />
Sure, I want to look good in a swim suit, even if that swimsuit is a one-piece with control top because, folks, I do NOT look like Keira Knightly. But the constant reminder of people that they should lose weight in order to look decent in a swim suit (regardless of what kind) is a representation of how our society works, I think. Magazines are hung up on reminding people that, YOU NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT; GET THIN AND <i>THEN</i> YOU'LL LOOK GOOD IN A SWIMSUIT.<br />
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Why?<br />
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Why should women feel that the only way they'll look good in a bikini or swim suit or WHATEVER is if they lose weight? Does every woman <i>have</i> to be the ideal stick-thin that's become the norm?<br />
WHAT'S WRONG WITH CURVES? LOVE HANDLES? LITTLE POCKETS IN OUR TUMMIES?<br />
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I don't know about you, but the only time my stomach is uber flat is first thing in the morning before I eat anything. Or if I go a whole day without eating. Which is rare. Read: never.<br />
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/187462403212528519/">Source</a><br />
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Granted, there are those select few who are actually genetically built with a skinny frame and body. To those women, I pity and envy you simultaneously (think Keira Knightly).<br />
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<a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=M6SkH1wLAHvKyM&tbnid=5BvISUvfCXJv_M:&ved=0CAQQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.someecards.com%2Fusercards%2Fviewcard%2FMjAxMi04YTUzMTM0ODgxZTYwOTM2&ei=hvKHU_KtHoyfyATGi4KQDg&bvm=bv.67720277,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNHeOTazSjhEBejAg1gW7Zv7-_tyHQ&ust=1401504760251506">Source</a><br />
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Let's see...would you rather go ALL DAY without eating just so you look spectacular in a ini mini yellow polka dot bikini with a flat stomach and nausea due to lack of food, OR would you prefer feeling full of energy and life the ENTIRE DAY with a comfortably full stomach that is listened to when it growls.<br />
Why does anyone need to lose weight? It it's to feel better both physically and mentally, then fine. I say go for it. But if it's to fit better in society and the so-called "ideal body", then that's not necessarily a healthy mentality to have.<br />
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For me, I am a one-piece-suit-kind-of-girl ALL. THE. WAY.<br />
Let's be honest here, my belly button hasn't seen the light of day since I stopped wearing tankinis in the first grade.<br />
Ever tried jumping off the diving board <i>without</i> your tankini top riding up to expose your ENTIRE FRONT?<br />
Just, don't.<br />
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So, to all those skinny-ass-phalt girls strutting their lack-of-stuff around this summer in itsy bitsy bikinis, I say <b>go eat some peanut butter</b>.<br />
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Love your body for what it has done for you your entire life so far. DON'T hate on it just because it isn't following the twisted social acceptance of what's known as the <i>perfect </i>body.<br />
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Yeah, that advice is easier said than taken, I know. REALLY, I DO. I struggle with this pretty much every day. I mean, HELLO. STILL WEARING A ONE-PIECE HERE.<br />
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Maybe someday I'll bare the holy belly button to the world.<br />
Or maybe not.<br />
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REGARDLESS, it won't be due to shame of my body.<br />
Nope.<br />
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To be honest, it'll probably have something to do with whether or not I had eaten too much dessert the night before and will be contemplating if I can fit a fifth serving into ma' belly without looking as though I'm the new octo-mom.<br />
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<br />Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-31413561529993258702014-05-27T12:04:00.003-07:002014-05-27T12:04:32.888-07:00Long time no....talkHey there blog! So, about that 14 month hiatus....yeah, sorry about that. NOT intentional. You know how sometimes you have motivation to do things and then they just..disappear? Well, that happened to me for about a year or so. Maybe a little more. HEY, I'VE BEEN BUSY WITH LIFE. Although, to be honest, there hasn't been anything extraordinarily remarkable about what I've been doing. Just more school with papers, exams, finals, you know the drill.<br />
But now, HELLO SUMMER. What the heck took you so long to come around?<br />
Now for three glorious months off from anything having to do with the dreaded C word (you know, the one that rhymes with knowledge). Time to get a crack-a-lacking with this blog o' mine. Cuz I know ya' missed me, right?<br />
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Don't answer that.<br />
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So here's the top ten reasons why I love summer and all its glory, because I'm really loving lists and I think it's going to be a new thing of mine to just make lists in every post. FUN FUN FUN! ;)<br />
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TOP TEN REASONS WHY I LOVE SUMMER<br />
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1. Sunshine = tanning = no sickly, vampire-looking skin that looks HORRIBLE on a Greek person (disgrace to all Greeks, I tell ya)<br />
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2. Fruit, fruit, MORE FRUIT in season; berries, pretty much anything that is in the fruit category gets me FAR to excited. Especially when there's reduced produce at the supermarket and you can get a HUGH JASS bag of slightly old but still good fruit for one buck. Yes, a buck. That'd be a dolla'. Priceless (okay, not really but you get where I'm going with that, right?)<br />
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3. (An extension of 2) MAKING CRUMBLES WITH SAID FRUIT. Best. Thing. Ever. Seriously. I honestly can't think of anything better than fruit crumbles topped with cool whip <--obsessed, ranks even higher on my list than vanilla ice cream (GASP..I KNOW..HOW COULD I).<br />
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4. Tank tops. Sleeveless shirts. I really truly HATE sleeves during the summer. I mean, why the heck do we lift weights and strength train and use the rowing machine (just me?..okay then..) if we're not going to show off our sculpted arms? Muscles? <-- (pronounced MUSS-KULLS) SHOW OFF YOUR ARMS LADIES (MEN? IF YOU'RE READING).<br />
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5. Walks. Outside. Okay, I love the gym and all (I'm a gym rat. Like, the very definition of it. Look it up in the dictionary. That's my picture), but sometimes I get stir crazy. Going outside is SO refreshing instead of looking out the stinking window all the time. AMMMMMazing. <br />
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6. Barefoot. Freeing, airy, MY FEET CAN BREATHE. After months of being constricted to the dark, suffocating cover I call my socks and shoes, FLIP FLOPS ALL THE WAY. Except, you know, when you're running. Or at the gym. Or walking (POWER walking, that is). Then I'd recommend wearing some sneakers. Cuz, you know, it's not as easy as it looks to run in flip flops. Really, I've tried.<br />
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7. Fro Yo. Congratulations, you officially have a valid reason to get frozen yogurt nearly everyday. IT'S HOT, YOU'RE SWEATING, YOU NEED TO COOL DOWN. Forget ice cream; fro yo is OF COURSE healthier than ice cream because, DUH, IT'S YOGURT. RIGHT? RIGHT?! That's a solid argument, right there. Don't let anyone else tell you any differently. Amen.<br />
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8. More time to watch anything and everything on the telly (no, I'm no British, quit looking at me like that). During the summer I usually catch up on tv shows I've missed during the school year because, HELLO, NO TIME = NO LIFE = ISOLATION FROM ALL THINGS ENTERTAINMENT.<br />
Top of my list this summer--Castle, Scandal, Bones, Vampire Diaries, more that I'm probably forgetting but will remember once I hit 'publish' because that's the way my life is.<br />
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9. BOOKS. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to read and when I don't have time it literally drives me insane. During the school year I probably read about a book every two months. That, my friends, is sad. Truly, embarrassingly, sad. (Sniff inserted here). Now, in the past week I've been off, I've read 3 books. THREE. YES. THREE. It's been...glorious. Sigh. If you don't like to read novels, don't tell me. I'd rather remain in blissful ignorance rather than know that sad fact about you.<br />
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10. Um...blogging, DUH.<br />
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There ya have it. Top ten. Right there. In truth, there's probably more to add on to make it something like the top hundred, but, once again, MY MIND IS BLANKING. That and I don't think my fingers could handle that much typing. Read: at all.<br />
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Now, it's time to go practice #1 and #4. Two bird with one stone, right?<br />
(Now that I'm thinking about that phrase, I'm starting to realize just how violent that is. Seriously. HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT?<br />
Why the heck would anyone even want to kill a bird, let alone two, with a stone.<br />
A STONE FOR FUDGE SHAKES. )<br />
No freaking idea.<br />
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<br />Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-7471346145146054712013-03-14T18:57:00.000-07:002013-03-14T18:57:00.376-07:00Sick Day but PI Day!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hi.</span> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Remember me?<br />Yeah, sorry 'bout that....:)<br /><br />This poor little blog was put on the back burner for the past 2 weeks or so. NOT INTENTIONAL! I swear! Sometimes life gets in the way and you have to deal with that. And then you get sick and you have to/ are still dealing with that. </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, today is an official sick day for me! First one in over a year :) <<knock on wood, although I think it's too late for that right now></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, while I spend the rest of the day on the couch with vast amounts of home work, pudding and the DVR, I give you my version of NATIONAL PIE DAY:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R3hyFlaEdu4/UUJ6JUE3zuI/AAAAAAAABa0/n5EYdlvHb3Y/s1600/IMG_0441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R3hyFlaEdu4/UUJ6JUE3zuI/AAAAAAAABa0/n5EYdlvHb3Y/s640/IMG_0441.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The above photos are what happens when you make a pie crust with zero butter or margarine and just whole wheat flour, apple sauce, and brown sugar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hard as rock :)</span></div>
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Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-34595184179843055752013-02-26T19:10:00.002-08:002013-02-26T19:10:05.733-08:00PB&J Protein Bars<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It feels like Thursday. But it's not. WHY MUST IT NOT BE?!?<br />If it was Thursday, all would be right in the world. Everything just seems better when it's Thursday, you know?<br />
The day after Tuesday is Wednesday <--EW<br />The day after Thursday is Friday<--YES!!<br /><br />See my thought process here?<br /><br /><br />Anway, I'm currrently suffering from withdrawal after finishing off one of these beauties I made the other weekend. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6s-WDyFovMo/USGihbmX54I/AAAAAAAABTk/mdfIKjSadME/s1600/DSC00270.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6s-WDyFovMo/USGihbmX54I/AAAAAAAABTk/mdfIKjSadME/s640/DSC00270.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
<br />Saturday I woke up wanting a peanut butter and jelly bar that was
gooey and sticky and messy and just plain tasty. But also something that
wasn't full of sugar and butter. But lots of good stuff.<br />BEHOLD, the <b>PB & J Protein Bar</b> was born.</span><div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PTcj5qskpvY/USGiht0qKxI/AAAAAAAABTo/b4PEJN_RVkA/s1600/DSC00267.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PTcj5qskpvY/USGiht0qKxI/AAAAAAAABTo/b4PEJN_RVkA/s640/DSC00267.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
Basically it's made of bran flakes, oats, protein powder, peanut butter,
maple syrup, applesauce, milk, salt, jam and greek yogurt. A
stick-to-your-ribs kind of bar.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Really, it's not that hard to make. :)<br />
<br />By the way, this kept me full for 6+ HOURS. Yes, hours.<br />Maybe I shouldn't have eaten 1/3 of the pan?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><b><u><br />PB&J Protein Bars</u></b></span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Serves: me, JUST me.<br /><br /><b><span style="color: #20124d;">5 cups bran flakes</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>1/2 oats</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>1/2 cup maple syrup (I used sugar free)<br />3/4 cup peanut butter (I used crunchy)<br />
1/2 cup milk of choice</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #20124d;">1/2 cup applesauce<br />2 scoops vanilla protein powder<br />1/2 tsp salt<br />3 tbs. cinnamon</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><b><br /></b></span>- PREHEAT OVEN TO 375 DEGREES.<br />-Combine ingredients in order, one at a time in food processor and processor until all thoroughly incorporated.<br />
-Take out half of dough mixture and press into bottom of 8x8 inch sprayed baking pan.<br /><br />-With remaining dough, place in mixing bowl and add in:<br /><br /><span style="color: #20124d;"><b>1/4 cup chopped nuts of choice (I used pecans)<br />
1/3 cup chopped dates<br />1/4 cup maple syrup<br />1 scoop vanilla protein powder<br />Mix together and set aside</b></span><br /><br />-In small mixing bowl, add in:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><b><span style="color: #20124d;">3/4 cup jam of choice (I used raspberry and strawberry)<br />
1 individual container Strawberry Chobani (or any other flavor of choice)</span></b><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">-Spread jam mixture over bottom dough layer in pan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">-Spread remaining dough topping mixture on top.<br />-Bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">-Let cool for at least 1 hour to set before cutting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />*Or just ignore everything I said and cut immediately and serve with whip cream :)</span></div>
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Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-30646794063465991782013-02-21T17:54:00.003-08:002013-02-21T17:54:58.048-08:00Too much exercise & dessert (<--I know, NOT POSSIBLE;))<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">THANK GOD IT'S ALMOST FRIDAY!!<br />Yes, I realize that this was a 4-day week due to President's Day. No, that doesn't mean it seemed any shorter. <Story of my life><br /><br />Anyway, this past week I've worked <i>very VERY </i>hard at not overdoing my workouts. Yes, I said overdoing. Cause, you see, I tend to work out longer than I really need to. What I <b>NEED</b> to do is learn how to exercise for a proper amount of time and not any longer than that. So, the questions I have for myself are the following:<br />1. How do I get to that point where I'm comfortable with less? The saying goes, "<i>less is more</i>", which is something I definitely need to follow.<br />2. What workouts are out there that make me feel the burn in a shorter and overall more efficient time?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><br />GAH! The problem is that I don't really know the answers. Well, okay, I <i>sorta </i>don't know. I DO know that I need to shorten how long I exercise. So the past week or so I've been slowly decreasing. Instead of going cold turkey, I've cut work outs by 5 or 10 minutes. Nothing major, but just enough so that <b>I know</b> I'm making improvement, even if it<i> is</i> small and seemingly minuscule What matters is that I'm actually doing it instead of just <i>telling</i> myself, "<i>Oh, I'll just go longer this time round and the next time I exercise I'll go shorter"</i>. Nuuh. Not doing that this time. I'm doing it the <b>right</b> way this time.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The other things going on that I've been working at is not over snacking. You see, the problem I have is having a dessert after dinner because my sweet tooth tells me too. Now, I don't have a problem with dessert after dinner every night. Or even everyday. (<i>Every meal? Too much? Yeah, thought so..;</i>))</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eDizZatWqUQ/USLTBsik8wI/AAAAAAAABVA/xAH_NVWXSUM/s1600/DSC00305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eDizZatWqUQ/USLTBsik8wI/AAAAAAAABVA/xAH_NVWXSUM/s400/DSC00305.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanilla Pudding Peanut Butter with thawed cocoa powder & maple syrup combo </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />The issue I have is not overdoing it. What starts out as a small little something turns into a full out dessert fest. Like, <span style="font-size: large;"><b>MEGA!</b></span> Next thing I know I've gone from comfortably full after dinner to <i>OHMYGOSH I NEED SWEATPANTS </i>full. (<i>Ignoring the fact that I'm usually wearing sweatpants to begin with, in which case I would need <b>BIGGER </b>sweatpants)</i>. I'm talking about cutting back from 2-3 portions of dessert (<i>even if it IS healthy because then it turns into too much of a good thing, which I've learned IS possible. But that's for a different story some other blog post</i>).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2WEyKp4bBoM/USGiGJcecEI/AAAAAAAABTc/XAsnSyCxaOs/s1600/DSC00268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2WEyKp4bBoM/USGiGJcecEI/AAAAAAAABTc/XAsnSyCxaOs/s400/DSC00268.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PB&J Protein Bar.. RECIPE IS COMING SOON, PROMISE</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> So, for example, instead of having <i><b>2 small bowls of cereal</b> </i>or <i><b>3 squares of chocolate</b> </i>(<i>the dark stuff, really good especially if it's of the coconut variety..SORRY...RAMBLING...anyway..</i>) I would just have <i><b>ONE small bowl of cereal</b></i> (<i>shredded wheat, vanilla almond milk, & peanut butter </i>anyone?) or <b>ONE square of chocolate. </b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4U_QsXIVFlU/USbOxQKZFPI/AAAAAAAABYY/zZOx7rzz31M/s1600/DSC00313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4U_QsXIVFlU/USbOxQKZFPI/AAAAAAAABYY/zZOx7rzz31M/s640/DSC00313.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cocoa powder, maple syrup mix frozen and then microwaved until gooey with caramel rice cake</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sounds simple? It is most definitely NOT! I just love to eat dessert. And snack. But maybe too much. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YcYr5yDT8EE/USLT68_mGwI/AAAAAAAABVY/AU1ExbI4HTg/s1600/DSC00299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YcYr5yDT8EE/USLT68_mGwI/AAAAAAAABVY/AU1ExbI4HTg/s640/DSC00299.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">turkey, mozzarella, egg wrap with sauteed spinach + salsa and cheddar rice cakes</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />ALSO, I've been working hard on eating full meals and not skimping (which leads to the mega dessert snacking). Instead of<b> half a baked potato</b>, I need to eat T<b>HE WHOLE DARN BAKED POTATO.</b><br />It's the little things in life, really :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, thank you for reading my ramblings, and if you didn't, I forgive you.</span><br />
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<br />Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-37870370694459013652013-02-18T18:30:00.001-08:002013-02-18T18:30:46.458-08:00My Weekend of food & fitness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Happy <strike>Moan</strike> Monday everyone!</span>! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Although, it hasn't been <i>that</i> bad of a day over here since I didn't have any classes (thank you Presidents!), so it was a somewhat relaxing day/weekend if you don't take into the homework reading and online tests and papers to write ;)</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Over the weekend </b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I ventured to Marshalls looking for clothes and food. Marshalls and TJ Maxx have the most amazing food that's in random corners of the stores. I discovered a whole area of 'healthy eating' food that is AMAZING!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Why have I not gone back there before?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My foodie finds include the famous Love Grown Granola (Apple Walnut Delight flavored) that seems to be everywhere in the blog world, and a new-to-me Sweet & Crunchy Cinnamon Cranberry Almond Rice Stix! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Almond Rice Stix are crunchy and chewy all at the same time with a nice tartness coming from the dried cranberries. Very tasty!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WDn4qz28FOI/USGhMfcSV0I/AAAAAAAABSc/bu0FfR-F3RM/s1600/DSC00279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WDn4qz28FOI/USGhMfcSV0I/AAAAAAAABSc/bu0FfR-F3RM/s640/DSC00279.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've been eating this little bars straight out of the bag, dipped in peanut butter and on top of greek yogurt with fruit, cinnamon and (of course) peanut butter. Tasty breakfast :)</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NyQppEqopxk/USLb-3ewFeI/AAAAAAAABW4/v_kuciSky08/s1600/DSC00280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NyQppEqopxk/USLb-3ewFeI/AAAAAAAABW4/v_kuciSky08/s640/DSC00280.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Of course, <i>some </i>greens were consumed. Key word: some.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">spinach & greens salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, onions</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u><b> PROTEIN SNACK PLATE</b></u>: The <b>best </b>deli ham from Costco, low-fat cottage cheese with herbs, and cheddar rice cakes (so, so addicting; they taste like cheetos, no joke)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> New running shoes!!! So excited; they're <a href="http://www.onlineshoes.com/womens-asics-gel-scram-blue-lightning-lime-p_id284125?adtrack=gpa&term=Women%27s+Asics+GEL%2DScram%99&offer=">Asics Gel Scram </a>and are SOOOOOOOOOOO comfy!! Also vibrant, which I love :)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vt8Tp5QgZ4A/USLWjrBfoJI/AAAAAAAABV0/__MueoRxdZo/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="484" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vt8Tp5QgZ4A/USLWjrBfoJI/AAAAAAAABV0/__MueoRxdZo/s640/photo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My version of Compression Socks. Be jealous.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I took these shoes for a trial run on the Mr. Mill. <br />8.5 miles in 75 minutes. Walked for 3/4 mile. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Averaged between a 8 min an 8:30 min mile with a 2.0 % incline.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--zwOafU3oRE/USLW9E8H1jI/AAAAAAAABWQ/jMPsLoqzjsc/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--zwOafU3oRE/USLW9E8H1jI/AAAAAAAABWQ/jMPsLoqzjsc/s640/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Gotta admit, it was a rough run despite the comfy shoes; partially due to not sleeping well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b> NOTE TO SELF:</b> Don't read in bed for 45 minutes, it causes you to STAY AWAKE FOR +2 HOURS LONGER.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After foam rolling/ stretching for a ridiculous amount of time on and FINALLY showering after many (and I mean MANY) hours of watching the<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1219024/?ref_=sr_1"> Castle</a> marathon on t.v. (dangerously addicting, I tell ya).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Although, my post-run dinner was extra delicious and the standard meal of <b>bacon parmesaen beef burger with a baked potato, veggies, and COPIOUS amounts of ketchup</b>. And parmesaen. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-avG7EzI8aPU/USLTppBiO2I/AAAAAAAABVQ/cx7mcmtYnYs/s1600/DSC00307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-avG7EzI8aPU/USLTppBiO2I/AAAAAAAABVQ/cx7mcmtYnYs/s640/DSC00307.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1/4 of a bottle of ketchup and parmesaen were added after. <Saved you from the nasty image :)></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Meet two of the loves of my life (besides peanut butter, naturally):</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meet Mr. 'San and Mr. Chuppie. We see each other on a mealy basis (yes, sometimes even for breakfast)<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">For <b>dessert, </b>one of these guys with my protein ice cream:</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2WEyKp4bBoM/USGiGJcecEI/AAAAAAAABTc/XAsnSyCxaOs/s1600/DSC00268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2WEyKp4bBoM/USGiGJcecEI/AAAAAAAABTc/XAsnSyCxaOs/s640/DSC00268.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That would be a PB & J protein bar made by yours truly. Heaven in ya mouth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But that's for a whole other post :)</span><br />
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<br />Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-78419656908876675222013-02-14T17:56:00.002-08:002013-02-14T17:56:35.136-08:00Happy S.A.D.!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, so true.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In other words,<br />Happy Valentines Day to all you couples out there!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />Right, well the the thing I look forward to the most every year is making dessert :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Homemade dump cake made with canned crushed pineapple, canned cranberry jelly all mashed up, bran cereal, oats, vanilla protein powder, and applesauce. I enjoyed a couple of huge servings (read: half the pan) along side some cool whip, <a href="http://messyeatereats.blogspot.com/2013/01/new-classes-new-life-more-carbs.html">vanilla cake batter protein ice cream</a>, vanilla protein peanut butter I blended together in the food processor, and a crushed caramel rice cake.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dessert in all its messy glory.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I enjoyed this bowl of deliciousness x2 as an after dinner/ <strike>Valentines Day</strike> S.A.D./ post- run dessert. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Earlier this afternoon I took ran 9.22 miles (I'm a numbers fanatic...it's my bday date:)) and walked for 1/4 mile or so. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Instead of going at a constant speed and incline, like I usually do, I alternated with going an 8:34 min/mile pace to a 8:00 min/ mile pace and everything in between while switching the incline from 1.5-3 %. Surprisingly, it wasn't hard for me to maintain my pace. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Maybe I should do it more often?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dinner (yes I I'm talking about dinner AFTER I talk about dessert. This is normal in my life) was homemade meatloaf made by moi made with BAKED POTATOES (I. Love. Thee) and broccoli/ kale with a large side of cottage cheese, ketchup and parmesaen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> Always parmesaen. I'm never without it at any meal besides breakfast. Um..fruit and parmesaen anyone? No thanks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Picture taken pre-parmesaen/ <i>more</i> ketchup/ cottage cheese explosion </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I had a great run partly due to the fact that I made sure to take yesterday easy by power walking a little and biking for 40 min or so and stretching/ foam rolling like crazy. And eating properly. Beef burger with bacon, cheese, bake potato and kale the night before anyone? YES!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On a side note, I got these BEAUUUUUTIFUL flowers from my Mom today. She says I'M her Valentine!<br />(Cue all the 'AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW')</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Thanks Mom :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Note: She gave me chocolate too, but not much is left so you can just use your imagination: picture 90% dark chocolate bar.Yum. Ever tried spreading CRUNCHY cookie butter on a chocolate square? DO IT.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And because I couldn't help myself, I'll leave you with this:<br /><br /></span><br />
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;)<br />Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-5165688295721135872013-02-12T18:48:00.000-08:002013-02-12T18:48:05.104-08:00FATTY FAT TUESDAY!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">H</span><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">A</span><span style="color: yellow; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">P</span><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">P</span><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">Y</span> <span style="color: cyan; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">F</span><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">A</span><span style="color: yellow; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">T</span> <span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">T</span><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">U</span><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">E</span><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">S</span><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">D</span><span style="color: yellow; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">A</span><span style="color: lime; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">Y</span><span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">!</span></span><br />
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<img height="280" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSE0nD_2l7PnRCPO_xL32uAiREUSIf3JBbA6nMzu27EURwCQkMkHQ" width="400" /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span><br />Yay! An excuse to eat fatty food!<br />Everyone, go get a cheeseburger.........(I had one yesterday...ohymygoshsogood)<br />Or maybe some chocolate avocado pudding?<br />WHAT?! Yes. You can thank Jessica at <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/">howsweeteats</a> because that lady is a darn DELICIOUS GENIUS (I mean that with the up most respect and no creepiness whatsoever, honest).<br /><br />Between studying for, yep, MORE TESTS, I've had time to um, eat and shower? Maybe with running and strength training thrown in?<br />Yeah.<br /><br />Anyway, lately I've been in a rut of sorts with my work outs. I pretty much do the same workouts every week, which <i>can't </i>be beneficial to my body, right? I've read that if you consistantly do the same thing over and over again, you won't see results.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I can definitely</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> say that this is true.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Every week I run the same amount of miles on the same days, then strength train or walk for the same amount of time for the same distance and time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I know that this isn't good, but I can't seem to get out of the rut.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Any suggestions? Tips?<br />I've been thinking about increasing strength training and decreasing cardio, but I'm kinda sorta afraid. There's a nagging thought that my body won't improve, even though I <b>know</b> that's not true.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Be not afraid...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sigh. My mind s</span><strike style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ometimes</strike><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> always corrupts my logical thinking skills. GRR!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Okay, rant. Over. Moving on to a happier note, FOOD! MY REASON FOR LIVING! (I joke, don't worry).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><br />Lately, I've been enjoying food of all kinds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Costco granola bars with sunflower seeds and nutty goodness </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>GREEK YOGURT</b> of all flavors. Favorite right now is Black Cherry <<i>swoon</i>></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Vanilla Whey Protein Powder. SO. DARN. GOOD. Tastes like vanilla icing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Nuf said.<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Newly replenished stash. YES.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Homemade vanilla peanut butter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I was saying earlier, the <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2013/02/chocolate-avocado-pudding-yep-its-a-thing/">chocolate avocado pudding </a>Jessica from howsweeteats is GAH! Delicious. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yummy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Scrumpitous (<--ok, that sounds like squid and shrimp..or is that just me?) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I made it earlier in preparation of FAT TUESDAY, and it did not disappoint. Can't even taste the avocado. :) <br />LOVE IT! I will officially be having it tomorrow for breakfast with peanut butter. <br />pb + chocolate = match made in heaven</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I halved the recipe, so it should probably gone by... 8 o'clock tomorrow morning?<br />Yeah.<br /><br />Hope everyone had a Happy and Fatty Fat Tuesday!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'll be spending the remainder of it with this guy:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Quite uplifting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">;)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-91150555449275670392013-02-05T17:55:00.001-08:002013-02-05T17:55:35.440-08:00Random Things TuesdayDay 5 of February = 5 Things<br />
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1. Anyone ever eaten breakfast out of two peanut butter jars? Yesterday I was STARVING for breakfast and had some cereal with yogurt and protein powder and banana and cinnamon (details probably aren't important, but whatever) and scraped every last, um, scrap of peanut butter until there was just my tongue inching in the jar for any last bites (there weren't) and I was STILL hungry so I grabbed my second almost-empty pb jar out of the pantry and proceed to put in all the fixings and consumed that. SUCCESS.<br />
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2. Note to self: Next time I run 10.5 miles, remember not to eat a hugh jass salad 2 1/2 hours before.<br /> 'nuf said.<br />
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3. To my Physics teacher: What possessed you to give out a lab, test AND homework on a Tuesday? Don't you know that <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1832979/?ref_=sr_1">Hart of Dixie</a> is on? Sigh. Men.<br />
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4. Speaking of obsessions (Hart of of Dixie, NOT Physics..shudder), everyone needs to watch <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1837576/">Scandal</a>. <div>
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No, seriously. I. Am. Obsessed. Fitz and Olivia are my favorite couple besides, of course, Rose and Jack, Buffy an Angel (yes, those are all forbidden loves. The best kind). And if anyone doesn't know who the couples I just mentioned are, SHAME ON YOU. (I joke. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Not really</span>).<br />
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5. I feel the need to make <a href="http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2013/02/04/sex-in-a-pan/">this </a>. Katie is a genius. And so is the title. Tehe.<br /><br /></div>
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Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-28385411004913908912013-01-30T18:27:00.002-08:002013-01-30T18:27:31.679-08:00Happy Hump Day!! (humps as in hills, roller coasters, camels backs..)<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Happy Hump Day everyone!<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For some reason, this weeks has been slow as MOOOOOOOOLLLLAAAAASSSSSEEEEEEESSSSSS.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Or is it just me?<br /><br />However it's going for you, we are over the hill people! Over that hill! We are descending down, just like that roller coaster at Cedar Point! What was it called, again?<br /><br /><img height="400" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR-xAluW4pzFDCOVmLWx5WmD_rYmeHy1fd5L93Yvac_RsILZf6nHw" width="357" /> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oh right. TOP THRILL DRAGSTER.<br />THD and I have a love/hate relationship. You see, I love it when I have an empty stomach, but it hates me when I just ate a GINORMOUS salad full of um, beans and a subway sandwich the size of my face.<br /><br />Anyway, moving on to real life now because the last time I went on the THD was two summers ago (oh summer, how warm and sunny you are and how I miss you so..)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Classes and life has been CRAAAAAAAAAAAAZY! I forgot that once you reach a certain age, teachers don't care that you have a life and decide to go you massive amounts of homework that make you want to curl up on a couch and watch Titanic (and cry, not drool over Leo..although I do that anyway).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sigh. I'll never let go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What was I talking about?<br />Homework. Besides this thing called 'homework' (what is THAT? WHO INVENTED THAT? WHY?), there's all these tests. One after the other. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">BUT, to get me through these long, suffering school days, I've worked off my frustration by sweating and (of course), eating. :)<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've been really loving MR. ROW because it makes me feel so dang good. Like, very strong (until I stand up and realize that my entire body feels like jello).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img height="240" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQAY2fD9svF7IZEHNbvn7JXjjT_XV9UQLpjWT70QnxRVOQpk_lo" width="400" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">No, that's not me. One, who wears pants to the gym? Too hot. Two, I am NOT a blond. No siree..</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Spending 30 minutes on MR. ROW has definitely firmed my body up just a <span style="font-size: x-small;">wee bit </span>since I started using it a month and a half ago. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">MR. MILL (aka my treadmill) has been dragging lately. Maybe because I've been staying up later and getting up earlier? Oh well. It's the winter funk that happens every year. (Actually, it was 63 degrees here today <wtfudge?> and tomorrow it's going to be 27 with snow storm, but whatever..)<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My favorite part:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Food.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7eS2z3ezqSc/UQHVwY16maI/AAAAAAAABK8/APSCEDiGiN8/s1600/DSC00179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7eS2z3ezqSc/UQHVwY16maI/AAAAAAAABK8/APSCEDiGiN8/s640/DSC00179.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My standard sandwich for lunch as of the past 2 weeks has been the above beauty. That, my friends is a whole-grain flat out wrap full of melted mozzarella, ketchup, SPICES, spinach, turkey pepperoni, parmesaen (you can never have too much cheese), ham, and turkey. Eaten with a side of more parmesaen and ketchup on the side to dip AND cheddar rice cakes that taste like cheetos but are actually GOOD FOR YOU.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">HOLY YUM!!!!!!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> You can all be jealous. I don't mind.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(And I just realized that I don't really know how to spell parmesaen and am too lazy to look it up on my computer because my fingers are too tired from being used 5 days a week <READ: SCHOOL>)</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z3Y8X0YEaa0/UQHWfpBHk3I/AAAAAAAABLM/H6SgkO6ulUc/s1600/DSC00213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z3Y8X0YEaa0/UQHWfpBHk3I/AAAAAAAABLM/H6SgkO6ulUc/s640/DSC00213.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And of course, my <a href="http://messyeatereats.blogspot.com/2013/01/new-classes-new-life-more-carbs.html">vanilla cake batter protein 'ice cream'</a> has been made NUMEROUS times to go along side my <a href="http://messyeatereats.blogspot.com/2013/01/t-f-g-i-f-my-brownie-obsession.html#more">black chocolate 'brownies'</a> and extra peanut butter.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xewK0VaGCIU/UPYazwXMF-I/AAAAAAAABIs/QYrE-ws5k-M/s1600/DSC00167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xewK0VaGCIU/UPYazwXMF-I/AAAAAAAABIs/QYrE-ws5k-M/s640/DSC00167.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's like a 'lil party going on in my mouth every time I take a bite.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Side Note: There's no pics of these two beautiful creations together because, well, every time I make them I they end up getting eaten before I remember to grab my camera. So, yeah. Just use your imagination.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8Gnf5-o2VU/UQnRo0whCYI/AAAAAAAABNc/PlcuyqzBSMg/s1600/DSC00175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8Gnf5-o2VU/UQnRo0whCYI/AAAAAAAABNc/PlcuyqzBSMg/s640/DSC00175.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Also, I'd like to thank Menchies for getting me through these difficult times. They've been there when I needed them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At least, until my gift card for free fro yo runs out and they leave me no choice but to spend my own money.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">THE HORROR!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(Again, no pic of the fro yo, sorry, because I forgot to take a pic before I <strike>inhaled</strike> savored every bite. By the way, the peanut butter and strawberry flavors SWIRLED together tastes like legit, straight up pb&j.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Heaven. In. My. Mouth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">More pics (and hopefully of real food this time) to come soon!!<br /><br />For now, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">HAPPY NATIONAL CROISSANT DAY!! </span></b><br /> (don't ask)</span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-70499486165618631472013-01-24T17:44:00.000-08:002013-01-24T17:46:36.596-08:00New Classes = new life, more carbs<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">WOWZA! Is it really Thursday? ARE YOU SURE?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We're so close to Friday, but yet, so far. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">People today kept saying to me, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Gosh, I can't believe tomorrows Friday! It feels like we're so close to the weekend! Wow that went fast!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Um, no. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Not for me.</span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This week has gone by soooooooooooooooooooo slowwwwlllyy (like molasses) that it's hard to believe it is a 4 day week. Definitely feels like, ooo a 10 day week? Yeah.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tuesday was the start of a new semester, which means new classes, new teachers, and more homework.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> YIKES!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I thought finals week was rough (was it really only last week?! WHAT?!). Day 3 of classes and we've already been assigned chapter(s) <---(that would be more than one) of reading, tests to study for, POP QUIZZES (oh how I loathe you) and the promise of more to come. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How kind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">This was me on Tuesday. Minus the whole forgetting what I ate part. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">HOW CAN YOU FORGET WHAT YOU ATE?!</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've been seriously longing for the days of elementary school where my biggest concern of the day was whether or not I'd get to be star student. You know, the special teacher's pet child for a whole that consisted of special treatment and special snacks and nap time? Nap time. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sigh.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I miss you.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So this week has been spent getting used to new classes and my new schedule of morning classes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ugh.<br />There's a reason I didn't have classes in the morning first semester;)<br />Anyway, I've had to switch my work outs to afternoons instead of mornings, which honestly hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be because of three things, I suspect:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm actually <b><span style="color: red;">AWAKE</span></b>, not just 'sleepy and going through the motions'</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;">I have more </span><span style="color: #f1c232;">ENERGY</span></b>, which makes sense I suppose; my stomach usually can't handle any food if I run right when I wake up in the morning, and little food if I cross train and strength train in the morning, MEANING: I didn't have the energy food gives me, resulting in a lackluster work out. Every day. So this leads me to:</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><b>I now eat two meals and a snack before I work out</b></span>. Now I get to eat and digest THEN work out, which is SO much better than just waking up and working out. I give props to all of you who have no choice but to work out first thing in the morning because of your schedules. Major props.<br /></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Moving on, I HAVE made time to bake and eat this week. <i>Of course I have</i>.<br /> I experimented with a new version of my family's recipe for Halva:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p_pHOi0vw1E/UQHWyc39lwI/AAAAAAAABLc/sZ98UEmJ4lw/s1600/DSC00224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p_pHOi0vw1E/UQHWyc39lwI/AAAAAAAABLc/sZ98UEmJ4lw/s640/DSC00224.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Halva is a greek dessert made out of cream of wheat, water,sugar, butter and cinnamon. My mother and I started to experiment with different substitutes for the original 5 ingredients a while back and now use somewhat <i>healthier</i> ingredients. For the most part.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">:) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />This is a good pre-work out snack or breakfast with some greek yogurt and fresh fruit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> It is definitely one of those gut sticking foods that stay with you for <i>hours and hours</i>. And I do mean <i style="font-weight: bold;">hours.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I had several pieces after dinner one night (carbo loading at its finest) and ran right when I woke up the next morning feel great! Recipe to come soon!<br /><br />Speaking of carbo loading..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nelxBTX3QVQ/UQHWXSuYbYI/AAAAAAAABLE/SKUKauPxOPA/s1600/DSC00211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nelxBTX3QVQ/UQHWXSuYbYI/AAAAAAAABLE/SKUKauPxOPA/s640/DSC00211.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've been experimenting in the kitchen with some granola recipes. I made this almond-maple granola the other night, but it's still a work in progress..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">granola, peanut butter sauce, strawberry jam, vanilla protein ice cream = YUM</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However, that hasn't stopped me from eating the trial run batches :)</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7xMC-71GMc/UQHXW3HYbTI/AAAAAAAABLs/goRT_H6fSdo/s1600/DSC00216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7xMC-71GMc/UQHXW3HYbTI/AAAAAAAABLs/goRT_H6fSdo/s640/DSC00216.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">more granola with OIKOS TOASTED COCONUT VANILLA GREEK YOGURT</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On strength training days I've been having this new concoction I like to call </span><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Vanilla Cake Batter Protein Ice Cream.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It may look plain and boring, but HOLY SMACKRAL is that good. Like, mouth watering good. To me, it tastes sort of like cake batter. But that's just me. There's hints of coconut (of course), vanilla, maple, and a <i>slight </i>hint of banana. <i>Ever so slightly.</i> It all blends together to make a creation like nothing I've ever tasted</span>.<br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Except maybe cake batter :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u><b><span style="color: #ffd966;">Vanilla</span><span style="color: blue;"> </span><span style="color: magenta;">Cake Batter</span><span style="color: blue;"> </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">Protein</span><span style="color: blue;"> </span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Ice Cream</span></b></u></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2 cups vanilla soy milk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/4 cup sugar free maple syrup</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp salt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp vanilla</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mix ingredients in a freezable container. Cover and chill for 2-3 hours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 chopped frozen banana</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 pkg sugar free vanilla pudding mix</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 scoop vanilla protein powder</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/4 cup + 2 tbs. coconut flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">-After freezing milk mixture, thaw slightly in microwave for 45 seconds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- Place mixture in food processor and blend along with banana.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> -Add in remaining ingredients, one at a time, until chopped banana is broken down and remaining ingredients are blended thoroughly and mixture is thick, similar to soft serve.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">-Move to a bowl and EAT!!<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">NOTE: This makes a HUGE serving, so you can always freeze any remaining soft serve you don't eat in the freezer again. Just make sure you thaw it out again when you want to eat it later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2ND NOTE: This tastes SOOO<span style="font-size: large;"> SOOO </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">SOOO </span>good with my <a href="http://messyeatereats.blogspot.com/2013/01/t-f-g-i-f-my-brownie-obsession.html#more">black chocolate brownies</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Especially topped with my vanilla peanut butter sauce. But I'll tell you about that later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Alright people, I'm off to try to make sense of what-ever-the-heck I'm supposed to be studying for a test tomorrow!<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">OH! ONE LAST NOTE!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3RD NOTE:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: x-large;">HAPPY NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER DAY!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple;">Do me a favor, will ya?</span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Eat some peanut butter for me.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">:)</span></div>
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Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-57647357632024948242013-01-18T08:57:00.000-08:002013-01-18T08:59:14.785-08:00T F G I F, My brownie obsession<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>T.F.G.I.F.!!!!!!!!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (FYI: T.F.G.I.F. = <b>Thank Fudge'n God It's Friday</b>) <--THIS IS A PG BLOG PEOPLE, PG!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Is it really Friday?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Really?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> REALLY? ARE YOU SURE?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Thank the gods. I thought this day would never come. <strike>No joke.</strike></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week has been spent burning out my brain cells all for <strike>nothing</strike> finals.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And now I'm done. That's it. You know how I celebrated?<br />Brownies with my cat while catching up on the DVR.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e5t_4NOltsk/UPl-R34by2I/AAAAAAAABKg/rJdX4G-Ro0k/s1600/IMG_0121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e5t_4NOltsk/UPl-R34by2I/AAAAAAAABKg/rJdX4G-Ro0k/s640/IMG_0121.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">He's got a tough life, my cat</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How anti-climatic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I mean, after all those hours of frantically skimming pages for any details on topics I didn't notice and absorb like a sponge the first time I studied them, that's it?<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>REALLY?</b> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(so I have this new favorite word, in case nobody noticed <strike>cared</strike>)<br /><br />Honestly, though, this is what I feel like after the past 4 days:<br /><br /><img height="638" src="http://thelongbroader.molotovminds.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/cat.bmp" width="640" /><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I kid you not.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So now all that's left to do on my EXTRA LONG WEEKEND (4 days, that's right, BE JEALOUS:))</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is to sit my butt down and not move except to go to the kitchen and maybepossiblyprobablynotbutthatwouldprobablybetmi go to the facilities.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> As in <b>LOO</b>ISE (get it? LOO as in British version of..... but female because, hello, female over here)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And in regards to my<a href="http://messyeatereats.blogspot.com/2013/01/horror-films-fast-running-banana-bread.html"> last Friday post</a> that began with the unfortunate face of a certain singer, I give you my wishful response:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sigh. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If only. (I'M JOKING, I SWEAR!)<span style="font-size: xx-small;">** Fingers crossed behind back**</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But now, as promised, I will share with you the food that has kept me going this whole week. These 'brownies' are COMPLETELY good for you. I swear. I made the first batch on last Friday, demolished it by Sunday, then the second batch on Tuesday, which <sadly> was finished off last night. Rest in peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Moment of silence, please)<br /><br />SO, as I was saying, these are not ordinary brownies. I don't know if other people would call them brownies, but I do because, well, there's chocolate in them and they're gooey. I would HIGHLY recommend serving a piece (or the whole pan) of these with whip cream, vanilla ice cream, and/or peanut butter sauce (one part peanut butter to two parts milk with two scoops vanilla protein powder mixed in and/ or vanilla pudding mix).<br />But that's just me.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, there are something rather <i>interesting</i> ingredients, as I was saying last post. <b>DO NOT BE AFRAID</b>. You won't even know they're there if you follow my instructions!</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hMYgGaYpDY4/UPl6h1l3R7I/AAAAAAAABJU/kEKTXdSV0wc/s1600/DSC00191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hMYgGaYpDY4/UPl6h1l3R7I/AAAAAAAABJU/kEKTXdSV0wc/s640/DSC00191.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't knock it til ya try it ;)<br /><br /><b><u>Black Chocolate Brownies</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">YIELDS: Who the heck knows; I just ate out of the pan.</span><br /><br />1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/2 cup vanilla soymilk<br />1.2 tsp salt<br />1 tsp vanilla extract<br />1/4 + 1 tbs cocoa powder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/2 cup peanut butter (or any other nut butter!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/2-3/4 cup sweetener (I used maple & caramel syrup)<br />1 scoop vanilla protein powder (optional!)<br />1/4 cup almond flour<br />1/4 cup coconut flour<br />1/4 cup chocolate chips<br />1/2 cup mix ins (I used crushed peanut butter filled pretzels, chopped dates, & pecans)<br /><br />-Preheat oven to 400 degrees farenheit<br />-Using a food processor, process black beans, milk, salt, vanilla and cocoa powder. Add in peanut butter and sweetener and process.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Then add in optional protein powder though coconut flour (or any other flour) and blend again.<br />-Finally, add in mix ins and chocolate chips and blend for about 5 secs, just until incorporated.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0p0NYETLLFg/UPl7pPp6RvI/AAAAAAAABJk/LAG2tR5APSw/s1600/DSC00184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0p0NYETLLFg/UPl7pPp6RvI/AAAAAAAABJk/LAG2tR5APSw/s400/DSC00184.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Doesn't that just look so appetizing?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />-Pour batter into a loaf pan, top with chocolate chips (optional!) and bake for 45-47 min.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4nSNDJ-sOFM/UPl8FVwR6zI/AAAAAAAABJ8/yw3zJ7k83oo/s1600/DSC00185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4nSNDJ-sOFM/UPl8FVwR6zI/AAAAAAAABJ8/yw3zJ7k83oo/s400/DSC00185.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />-Take out of oven and place in freezer for 30 min to cool and firm up. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MxmMVWp8MQk/UPl8RtKnmAI/AAAAAAAABKE/UY1fLxRmE-c/s1600/DSC00186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MxmMVWp8MQk/UPl8RtKnmAI/AAAAAAAABKE/UY1fLxRmE-c/s400/DSC00186.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />-Cut and <b><span style="font-size: large;">EAT!!!!</span></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d1AZsHMXntI/UPl6f0IouSI/AAAAAAAABJM/biN6q9TSnJ4/s1600/DSC00193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d1AZsHMXntI/UPl6f0IouSI/AAAAAAAABJM/biN6q9TSnJ4/s640/DSC00193.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><br />You should really eat these because ya know what they say:<br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<i>Beans beans the magical fruit...the more you eat the more you....</i>;)"</span></blockquote>
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<br />Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-53933899884756124202013-01-15T19:21:00.001-08:002013-01-31T15:41:57.120-08:00WTF....and CRUNCHY COOKIE BUTTER!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is pretty much how I feel EVERY Tuesday:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_k0js7RGONz3aFXfZTxBHQY0GU5tf4CJR6rCm0b3wnFcWNa6z-bpa7VdyP_dzAv-LDFogm2RPtAZ66AqD8zkkq57HWZNQIQE9elYY4btZ-znyqu0u4RDI6ve0YI7actJG4B0flv5iK_0/s1600/tuesday+quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_k0js7RGONz3aFXfZTxBHQY0GU5tf4CJR6rCm0b3wnFcWNa6z-bpa7VdyP_dzAv-LDFogm2RPtAZ66AqD8zkkq57HWZNQIQE9elYY4btZ-znyqu0u4RDI6ve0YI7actJG4B0flv5iK_0/s400/tuesday+quote.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But hey! Tomorrow's Hump Day!!! (mind out of the gutter people....)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This week is Finals Week, which basically means that my life consists of<br /><br />Studying</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Eating</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Studying</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sleeping</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Studying </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Running</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Studying</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Shower?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Studying</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Notice a pattern here?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">BUT, I have been enjoying <strike>some</strike> a lot of treats to get me through this depressing and PANICKING time of need :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Like....</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UTsuQm7JdB0/UO9phn92CSI/AAAAAAAABDU/PThRSlEl1Ew/s1600/DSC00126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UTsuQm7JdB0/UO9phn92CSI/AAAAAAAABDU/PThRSlEl1Ew/s400/DSC00126.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">Banana Soft Serve</span></b>...okay, this isn't a treat. It's more like a staple. My family thinks I'm slightly weird for storing chopped bananas in the freezer, but they don't judge.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3nmX_JQZTFk/UO9r3_1t_WI/AAAAAAAABEc/aDB3pm9Ukc4/s1600/DSC00154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3nmX_JQZTFk/UO9r3_1t_WI/AAAAAAAABEc/aDB3pm9Ukc4/s640/DSC00154.JPG" width="480" /></a><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And,</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> the one,</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> the only..</span></i>............<br />
<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">CRUNCHY COOKIE BUTTER!!!!</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Okay, so maybe this is just cookie butter with a crunch to it, but there's just SOMETHING about it that makes me get all...excited. Inside.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> And out. <---but only when no one's looking</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's ESPECIALLY good when used as a dip for those cinnamon pita chips from trader joes that got cut off in the above picture because the </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>CRUNCHY COOKIE BUTTER</b></span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> stole the show.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Which is totally understandable.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But you know what goes even better with the </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>CRUNCHY COOKIE BUTTER </b></span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">than cinnamon chips?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2kevpxZiM6U/UPYX74OLr6I/AAAAAAAABIQ/Erit0K1QNBA/s1600/DSC00169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2kevpxZiM6U/UPYX74OLr6I/AAAAAAAABIQ/Erit0K1QNBA/s640/DSC00169.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Okay, not the BEST picture, but, you see, I was in the middle of eating..er..<i>finishing</i> the batch of these when I sorta kinda remembered I had a blog. A food blog. Right.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">BUT DON'T WORRY! I'm making a new batch of BROWNIES (yes, they're brownies, just with some rather..umm..<i>interesting</i> ingredients:)) as soon as finals are over. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Which is <strike>never</strike> Thursday.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So until then,</span><br />
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Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-4249469891580541502013-01-11T20:25:00.000-08:002013-01-11T20:42:59.735-08:00Horror Films = Fast Running? & Banana Bread!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Happy Friday!!!!</span><br /><br /><Insert Friday Song of Choice></span><br />
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<img height="266" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQzC6iQyp8hnn4Nz75nQL_3H5c8ne_Yn6NSIhltubucNENCHFXQDw" width="400" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&tbo=d&biw=1366&bih=677&tbm=isch&tbnid=_JpXt25E8lY2PM:&imgrefurl=http://thetrendguys.com/2012/09/29/5-funny-pictures-for-9292012/rebecca-black-get-high-on-friday/&docid=Q_S55YldaFAaHM&imgurl=http://thetrendguys.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Rebecca-Black-Get-High-on-Friday.jpg&w=500&h=333&ei=Ys7wUIiQJsjr0QGcg4G4DQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=800&sig=113922040339659877945&page=3&tbnh=139&tbnw=246&start=61&ndsp=33&ved=1t:429,r:72,s:0,i:308&tx=72&ty=18">Source</a></div>
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(<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">the song we all love to hate)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(please ignore the subtitles; they mean nothing about me, I swear)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">First full week of 2013 down, and only 51 more to go! (And no, I'm not that smart, I had to look that up; but I'm flattered if you thought I was :))</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1st semester classes are nearly over; now all that's left to do is STUDY STUDY STUDY for finals and pray I don't bomb.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The only interesting part of my week was hearing about that<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/kids-tongues-stuck-water-bottles-kill-doctors-article-1.1236701"> girl who got her tongue stuck in a metal water bottle</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">poor kid. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I ALWAYS carry my handy dandy and trusty water bottle with me, so I was especially curious to hear about that. I tried to stick my tongue in my bottle, but it wouldn't stay. Very discouraging, I'll tell you.</span></div>
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Just for you, I restrained myself from putting up a picture of my tongue in there. Just use your imagination. (Second thought, don't..too gross)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On a much less-disgusting note, Thursday was a good day solely because of the run I had in the morning. 8 miles at an average of 8:20 min/mile (give or take 10 seconds) all in the comfyness of my basement and Supernatural. Ever seen that show?</span></div>
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<img src="http://images.wikia.com/supernatural/images/b/bc/Supernatural.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(they deserve to have a large photo, trust me)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I just started watching the series in the morning on TNT because it's on everyday from 9-12, which is usually when I run these days. The network runs through the whole seriess, and they're just showing season 1 now, so I'm watching/ recording all the episodes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">OHMYGOSH does it get your heart racing! (And no, not just cuz of their looks, they don't hurt, either;)) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This show is SO IDEAL FOR RUNNING because I'm constantly on edge and for some crazy reason run faster while I'm watching. For example, when the guys are chasing or being chased by a demon, ghost, murderer, etc., I START TO RUN FASTER.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">WHAT THE HECK?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is a new thing for me and I'm probably-most-likely going to obsess over this for the next week or so. Maybe I should start watching horror films while I run?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But, as I mentioned in my <a href="http://messyeatereats.blogspot.com/2013/01/foam-roller-murder-and-what-fuels-my.html">previous post</a>, my runs have been pretty spectacular, in part, to this lovely thing of carbs:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c1IISBdos9o/UO9sOoP32mI/AAAAAAAABEs/Rzg5D0q51Io/s1600/DSC00159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c1IISBdos9o/UO9sOoP32mI/AAAAAAAABEs/Rzg5D0q51Io/s640/DSC00159.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is what I call Banana Berry Coconut Jam Grape Bread. Too long? O.K., how about Banana BCG Bread? Whatever the name, I still like it. Now, I made this recipe two ways; one with berries, oat flour, bran flour and coconut flour(<a href="http://messyeatereats.blogspot.com/2012/12/obsessions-1-2-of-many-more-to-come.html">yes, I'm still loving coconut</a>), and the other way with no berries and just oat & coconut flour. I decided I liked the version <b>with</b> berries and less oats, but you can substitute whatever you want!<br /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Behold, I give you:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #f1c232;">Banana </span><span style="color: red;">B</span>.<span style="color: blue;">C</span>.<span style="color: #a64d79;">J.</span><span style="color: #4c1130;">G.</span><span style="color: #e69138;"> Bread</span></u></b></span></div>
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<i>Dough</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2 cups oat flour </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 cup coconut flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 cup milk (<i>I used vanilla soy milk</i>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp. salt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 tsp. vanilla</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 cup sweetnener</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3 large and VERY RIPE bananas, mashed</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/4 cup dried fruit and/or chopped nuts (<i>I used craisins and pecans)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Filling</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 cup grapes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/4 cup sweetener of choice (<i>I used maple syrup</i>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/4 cup flour of choice or corn starch (<i>coconut flour works well)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4 tbs. jam (<i>I used strawberry jam)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">-Preheat oven to 400 degrees.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>For the dough:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">-To make oat flour, process 2 cups oats in food processor until ground into flour.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">- In a medium bowl, combine oat flour with coconut flour, milk, salt, vanilla, sweetener, mashed bananas, and mix-ins. Mix well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>For the filling:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">-Wash grapes and place into food processor. Blend until foamy liquid forms. Add in sweetener of choice and flour and process again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">-Take a normal loaf pan and press half of the dough mixture into the bottom and press down firmly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">-Pour grape puree filling on top of dough. Drop jam on top of filling and swirl with a knife. -Take remaining dough and spread on top of filling (it will be clumpy; that's okay!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> <b>NOTE</b>: <i>I added blackberries to the top of the bread right before it went into the oven; I DEFINITELY recommend doing this!!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown on top.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iYR51D0W8c8/UO9t4ybNlcI/AAAAAAAABFk/N2mTCg9QbFc/s1600/DSC00156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iYR51D0W8c8/UO9t4ybNlcI/AAAAAAAABFk/N2mTCg9QbFc/s640/DSC00156.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Let cool (if you <i>REALLY </i>feel the need, which I didn't and ended up suffering from a burnt tongue for the rest of the night. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But, really, it was worth it :)</span></div>
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Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-22782509825579063952013-01-10T18:16:00.001-08:002013-01-11T20:26:11.364-08:00Foam Roller Murder (and what fuels my runs as of late)<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yesterday during my run I was thinking about (besides not tripping, veering off the treadmill <yes, I'm a wimp and run inside, in my basement, with a t.v.> and into the the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band poster my Dad got AGES ago) how often I stare at those men in outrageously colorful outfits.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I mean, I've been running in the basement for a good 4 years and every time they stare at me with their <strike>smirfy</strike> smirky expressions (my opinion), it just makes me want to hurl my i pod at them until I realize that, well, IS MY I POD. And that I'm too broke to fix it or get a new one. It's already too cracked from dropping it on my previous runs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(not my fault)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">cracked i pod. I know, I'm abusive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The past month or so I've increased my runs from 5-6 miles to 8-10. This has been a HUGE accomplishment on my part because it took me a good 6 months to build up my endurance after taking a break from running due to health reasons.<br />There have been MANY injuries during these 6 months (yeah, I'm talking about YOU ya stupid ankle).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">NOT my foot. I swear</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But recently my runs and overall work outs have been <b>A-MAZING</b>. With an emphasis on the <u>A-MAZING</u>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Maybe partly due to the fact that I've started to actually stretch? As in, more than a quickie 2 minute stretch down to my pointy toes and back up? I got a foam roller for Christmas and WHOLY MACKRAL does that thing work! I mean, sure it feels like murder while I slowly and painfully roll my muscles over it, but the after effects are worth it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">the murder weapon, in all it's shady glory</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At least, that's what I tell myself while I'm rolling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Besides the <b>A-MAZING </b>effects of foam rolling and stretching (who woulda' thunk, right?), FOOD (my love) has played a big roll. <---ha ha, get it? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">GREEK YOGURT! Dannon Oikos came out with a (new to me) brand of greek yogurt called TOASTED COCONUT VANILLA. May I just say that this stuff is like crack in a container? Like crack on a spoon..then in your belly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Too weird?</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ROJ9jENWXks/UO9ttjFScEI/AAAAAAAABFU/MItWt1Ez6Y8/s1600/DSC00160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dUFCZEfiU0s/UO9rPiJrLWI/AAAAAAAABEE/0UYeb5Jw1Sw/s1600/DSC00162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dUFCZEfiU0s/UO9rPiJrLWI/AAAAAAAABEE/0UYeb5Jw1Sw/s400/DSC00162.JPG" width="400" /></a><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ROJ9jENWXks/UO9ttjFScEI/AAAAAAAABFU/MItWt1Ez6Y8/s400/DSC00160.JPG" width="400" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The BEST fuel that has powered me through my latest work outs is hands down this coconut ( I'm obsessed) berry banana bread that I made a few nights ago. I had 6 extra ripe bananas needing to be used up before my father "accidentally" threw them out because of their smell (he just doesn't understand how precious those babies are) so I created my own banana recipe with some rather interesting ingredients. Recipe to come soon! (Cuz I know everyone's so eager..;))</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've been eating a large amount (read: half a loaf) the night before my morning runs/ work outs and feel SO full of energy! It's full of yummines (yes spell check, that is a word) and is especially tasty with<b> TOASTED COCONUT VANILLA</b>(<---it deserves the extra emphasis. trust me) greek yogurt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Of course, there's SOO much more food, but if I put all of them in this post, you'd likely be reading until tomorrow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For now, I'm off to go mourn over the last of the coconut banana bread that I just finished for dessert after dinner. <sniff sniff></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Poor thing. It didn't even last 2 days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And that was the 2nd loaf.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-43946637513812741212013-01-07T17:22:00.003-08:002013-01-08T17:28:04.214-08:00Frenzied Mind, Magical Coconut Bars, & CHOCONUT MEDLEY<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have you ever had a major project or presentation you had to work on that could determine the next stop in life? And if you failed it that could mean you were DOOMED? And you had all of 2 weeks to work on this and then comes the night before and you're running around like a crazy person with a <strike>knife</strike> bag of chocolate chips trying to remember where you put the flash drive with your presentation on it?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> No? Just me? Well then never mind.... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've been in a frenzy-filled-ohmygosh-I'm-not-going-to-finish-this-in-time state of mind the whole weekend over this presentation-project.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">AND NOW I'M DONE.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, now I get to relax and focus on more important things, like food. And the pursuit of happiness. And the shocking and devastating discover I just made 22 minutes ago when I found out my DVR didn't record The Biggest Loser premiere last night. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But mostly food. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4lmoKG5q7-c/UOtunpJbCxI/AAAAAAAABCQ/NrI3hSYkDcM/s1600/DSC00111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4lmoKG5q7-c/UOtunpJbCxI/AAAAAAAABCQ/NrI3hSYkDcM/s640/DSC00111.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've gotta be honest, the only things that got me through the last 3 days (besides chocolate chips), are Angela's AMAZING <a href="http://ohsheglows.com/2012/12/18/lightened-up-magical-coconut-bars/">Lightened Up Magical Coconut Bars</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Key word: Magical. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I made these on Saturday (in preparation of my full out frenzy mode the following day) and um, well...there's about 3 bars left.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The only change I made to the recipe was using brown sugar instead of coconut sugar, and using 1 cup crushed bran flake cereal (processed in a food processor) and 1 cup crushed graham crackers (because I ran out of graham crackers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The ending result was a slightly less sweet crust, but the sweetness of the coconut, chocolate chips and nuts more than made up for it! SOOO GOOD! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another sweet treat I've been enjoying is a mix of some random things that have been in the fridge for far too long and might have grown something on them (like, I dunno a pair of legs or eyes or <god forbid> some hair....ew) if I hadn't used up the ingredients. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've been enjoying this as a dessert after dinner. It's full of protein and has been good fuel to eat the night before a run or even after it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I give you, the <b>Choco-nut Medley</b>. There's a little bit of tofu, some cocoa powder, coconut flour, sweetener and some other random things:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(don't mind that awkward college letter in the background....)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>Choco-Nut Medley</u></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/4 pkg firm tofu</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">about 1 tbs. vanilla extract</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">about 1/3 cup milk of choice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 cup applesauce</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">little more than 1/3 cup cocoa powder</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4 big spoonfuls coconut flour (or any other flour of choice)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1/2 cup sweetener of choice (I used sugar-free maple syrup and hazelnut syrup)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">optional: any add ins (I put in some dried fruit, nuts, and topped it with some</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> cool whip<----ohmygosh so yummy:))</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Blend tofu, vanilla, milk, and vanilla in food processor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Add in cocoa powder and coconut flour along with sweetener of choice. Blend again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Eat out of food processor (If you wanna be like me) or be neat and scrape out of food processor into a nice bowl and eat like a fancy, proper person.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">NOTE: This can be very sweet or not sweet at all depending on what flour you use, so adjust sweetener according to your own taste buds)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">SECOND NOTE: I LOVE to dip pretzels in this. Amazing. Truly.</span><br />
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<br />Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-38446309061626552992013-01-03T18:47:00.001-08:002013-01-11T20:28:15.033-08:001-3-13<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's 1-3-13 today!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This won't happen again until next January on 1-4-14. Weird, huh? It feels as if the New Year went by really fast and suddenly we're all back at January again. NO!!! I really am not a fan of January. Or February for that matter. And March. Also April. And yes, even May. Basically January- May I don't like. (My apologies to all those who have birthdays, anniversary, etc. during these months. To each her/his own, I suppose). Maybe because during these months it's mostly cold, wet, rainy, dreary, so the natural thing to do is stay inside, watch movies and trash t.v., eat, and also maybe because there's (for some of us), school involved. The countdown after winter break begins and it feels NEVER ENDING until the last day of school arrives. You get back from break and start counting down until Spring Break, then St. Patricks Day (because everyone knows OF COURSE you're supposed to play hookie from work or schools and watch the parade. Wait. St. Patty's is on a Sunday this year......never mind) and FINALLY Memorial Day (yes, it counts, that one day means a lot to some of us).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> But going back to the cold weather; there's just no WARMTH. Your skin gets all pale and dry (unless you're one of THOSE people who carries cream around with them everywhere they go..I'M LOOKING AT YOU MOM), and then when the sun finally emerges and the temperature rises high enough that you don't need to wear 6 layers and extra fuzzy socks, you have to tan in your back yard (because you're so pale it's <i>embarrassing) </i>until your skin looks not so vampire like THEN you can go out with the normal people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I don't really know where I'm going this ramble.</span><br />
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Any-who, speaking of New Years Day (I wasn't, was I? Oh well), my family and I celebrated with the traditional Vasilopita (similar to <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/vasilopita-2/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=vasilopita&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page">this recipe</a>, but we omit the almonds).</span><br />
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t's a sweet bread made for Easter and New Years. During Easter we braid the dough and put a dyed red egg in the center. For New Years we put in a foil wrapped coin and cut pieces for everyone. Who ever ends up with the coin is supposed to have good luck for the rest of the year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(I've gotten the coin a few years ago and just managed to pass Biology. That in its self is pure luck right there).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well, THIS year when we cut the bread, the coin JUST SO HAPPENED to be smack dab in the middle between my piece and my brothers. Hmph. Personally, speaking from a completely unbiased and non-prejudiced point of view, I'd say the coin was 70 % embedded in my piece and 30 % in my brothers'. But no one did and now we're sharing it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Although, really, I think I need the luck more considering my pale skin that needs help tanning and <a href="http://messyeatereats.blogspot.com/2012/12/gooooodbye-2012.html">walking in heels</a>. <--(-that needs MAJOR luck, as in it will take a miracle.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">:)</span></div>
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.</span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-11270111886649160212012-12-31T19:17:00.004-08:002013-01-01T17:41:25.919-08:00Gooooodbye 2012<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Um..HOW THE HECK IS IT ALREADY THE LAST DAY OF 2012? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No, really; HOW? Where did the year go? WHERE? I don't remember much of the year, to be honest (and no, I wasn't high, drunk, or in a coma, I swear). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It feels like the older you get (and I'm really not that old. honest.), the less you remember. Or maybe the faster time goes? Or maybe all of the above?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inserting a big self-suffering sigh here. Because of this 'revelation', I've determined that in 2013, I need to make more delicious and messy food. Also, maybe finally figure out how to walk in high heels for longer than 3 minutes and somewhere that's <b>not</b> my home. And possibly discover the secret of taming my lion's mane hair? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Any tips? Maybe something that doesn't include mayonnaise? (which, I'm sorry to say, has already been tried. As in, taking a jar of mayo and lathering into my hair because my mother claimed it was a good idea and then just resulted in me sitting for 20 minutes with mayo-covered hair, rinsing with shampoo, drying, and finally ending up with mayo-scented hair that smells as unappetizing as it sounds).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, please people, anything besides mayo?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, my goal for this year has been to watch 2012 before 2013 (if that makes sense to anyone). This film was an obsession of mine when it came out in 2009. It honestly made me excited for 12/21/12.</span></div>
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<img alt="2012 Poster" src="http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTY0MjEyODQzMF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMTczMjQ4Mg@@._V1._SY317_.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Of course, when the day actually came and went, I was slightly depressed, but also sorta kinda happy because, let's be honest, I definitely would NOT be one of those people who made it onto the arcs and survived. I'd probably be the person running to the supermarket and buying up all the non-perishable foods (ie: dark chocolate, cookie butter, and pretzels) and then attempt to bribe the officers in charge of those crafty Noah's-Arc-Copy-Cats with my goodies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pathetic? Yes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> True? Sadly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, let's hope for a new year full of food, laughter, and most importantly, mayo-free hair.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">:)</span></div>
Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-38667989323589008502012-12-28T17:04:00.002-08:002013-01-11T20:49:43.227-08:00New Drink, Spooky the Hunter, & COOKE NOOKIE PEANUT BUTTER HUMMUS<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So today I discovered I'm slightly addicted to Arizona Arnold Palmer's Half & Half Iced Tea Lemonade. Now normally I detest iced tea with a capital D, but this time I made an exception since there was lemonade involved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I've determined it can only be drunk from a goblet because it reminds me of the Goblet of Fire (or what my mind thinks a goblet of fire looks like) from Harry Potter. I've read all the Harry Potter books and honestly believed I'd get an admissions letter when I was 11. Turns out I'm a muggle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> And yes, I thought all of this while drinking my iced tea lemonade. I don't know why.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Ask my brain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On a random note, my cat apparently has appointed himself the hunter of the house. He spends his days hunting food crumbs and taking pleasure in stabbing them with his paws in addition to eating, drinking and sleeping his days away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Tough life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Hunting until I took a picture and he decided to glare at me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(please excuse the cracked, dirty floors..someday they'll get washed)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few weeks ago I was at Whole Foods (the closest to my house is 40 minutes away, so I go twice a year because I can't bring myself to drive that far) and discovered the new love of my life (it changes every week or so..I KNOW, I KNOW, I fall in and out of love too easily these days...) :</span><br />
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This, my friends is PB Crave: Cookie Nookie Peanut Butter, AKA, the love of my life (for a week). Imagine a reese's peanut butter cup smashed up into a butter form. Oh my. Cookie Nookie just makes you want to curl up on a couch and hug this jar, doesn't it? No? Just me? Right then...</span><br />
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I made sure to stock up on this, so I have enough jars to last me until...mmm... February?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><HINT HINT MOM></span><br />
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WELL. WELL. WELL. WELL. (Did you know that if you stare at a word to long, it starts to look weird?) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight I decided to make hummus...er..sweet hummus. Peanut butter hummus to be specific. Cookie Nookie Peanut Butter hummus if you want to be really specific. </span><br />
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Mmm. mmm. MMMMMM. It's good. It' really good. Like.....GOOD. If you don't have the famous PB CRAVE COOKIE NOOKIE PEANUT BUTTER, that's okay. Really. It's going to be all right. Deep breaths. Now here's what you do; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Take regular generic peanut butter (if you're a texture-ish person, get some crunchy peanut butter)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Take chocolate chips. Melt chocolate chips. Pour chocolate chips into peanut butter. STIR TOGETHER.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Voila. There you go. You can even take once step further and throw some whole chocolate chips into the mix. Be a rebel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Where was I? RIGHT. COOKIE NOOKIE HUMMUS.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, here's what you do for the hummus:</span><br />
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<b>COOKIE NOOKIE HUMMUS</b></span><br />
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Get out your food processor. Pour rinsed & drained a 15 oz. can of chickpeas, 2 tbs. milk (I used vanilla soy milk), about a teaspoon of vanilla, 3 TBS OF THE COOKIE NOOKIE PEANUT BUTTER (key ingredient here, people), and 1/4 cup sweetener of choice (I used sugar free maple syrup). Next, process. Process until mixture is smooth and chunk-free (because, really, who wants a big chunk of pea? No thanks, I'm good.). </span><br />
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Then, if you want , add a sprinkle of cinnamon for a kick. But only if you want.</span><br />
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Dump into a cereal bowl (for optimal eating) and top with chocolate chips or raisins. I love to eat it with pretzel sticks, maybe some apple slices, on top of cereal..YUM. :)</span><br />
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NOTE: I WOULD HIGHLY ADVISE YOU TO NOT, I REPEAT NOT EAT THE WHOLE DIP IN ONE SITTING. Now, normal, rational people probably would not, but I just thought you should all be warned.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Because, let's all be honest here;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> the majority of us are not normal, rational people.</span><br />
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GOOD NIGHT!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-90173942320059049652012-12-27T10:07:00.000-08:002012-12-27T21:10:19.516-08:00Vacation & MY Homemade Version of Cookie Butter<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello again!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I sincerely hope everyone has had a happy holidays the past few days!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Personally, I've spent the past week thanking the heavens for not ending the world last Friday, celebrating the renewal of the Earth by making (and eating) desserts like my life has depended on it (because, you see, I thought the world was ending at the time so I was preparing myself. Don't judge.), spending copious amounts of time with family, and running my little heart out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have to tell you, Christmas desserts make for wonderful fuel for 9-10 mile runs<---personal distance records, thankyouverymuch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Especially for long runs. Especially with homemade cookie butter. Oh yes. I went there. You've all heard of cookie butter, right? (and if you haven't, well then I'm truly sorry for your loss. Truly.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This past weekend I bought Biscoff cookies( at Big Lots!; they have this foreign food aisle that I've recently discovered and am thoroughly obsessed with. I kid you not.) because, well, THEY'RE BISCOFF COOKIES. If you haven't had these cookies yet, that's okay. I forgive you. Trader Joes has this Speculoos cookie butter spread that is OHMYCOOKIE AMAZING. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Out of this world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Heaven in your mouth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Healthy crack. <---er...what?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Right, well, it's just really really gobsmack'n good. I wanted to try to create my own version of it with somewhat healthier ingredients. I used coconut cookies and BISCOFF cookies (yes, yes, I know. These aren't exactly "healthy", but IT'S CALLED COOKIE BUTTER for a reason, right?) I basically threw some cookies in my food processor (okay, well technically it's my Mom's, but I use it WAY MORE than she does and she'll tell you that it's hers and if she reads this she'll make a point of telling me it's NOT mine and how I use it too much and will probably break it one of these days and then I'll have to buy her a new one.) along with some flavored soy milk, molasses, spices, and some peanut butter / cashew butter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Let me just say (type), that this has been my favorite thing to eat for the past week. I slather it on anything and everything sweet</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (I tried it with savory foods, and, well... let's just not talk it about, okay?)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It doesn't taste EXACTLY like the Trader Joes's version but similar, I'll be honest. BUT, it IS </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At least, that's what I tell myself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Homemade Cookie Butter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">inspired by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Trader-Joes-Speculoos-Cookie-Butter/dp/B006KK4GUO">Trader Joes Speculoos Cookie Butter</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/3 pkg. Biscoff Cookies</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 1/2 cup cookies of choice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 big dashes of ground cloves,</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> nutmeg, & ginger</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 heaping tbs. cinnamon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 1/2 tbs. molasses</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup nut butter of choice (I used peanut & cashew butter)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 -3/4 cup vanilla soy milk </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Get out your food processor</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Add in cookies,spices, & molasses; process until fairly smooth</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Pour in milk and turn on processor. Continue adding milk and consistency is like that of nut butter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4.Add in nut butter and continue to process until smooth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Taste. If you believe the cookie butter is not tasty enough, add in more of the spices used until taste is satisfactory to YOUR palate. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. ENJOY!!!!!!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NOTE: This is absolutely delicious with pretzels, apple slices, bananas, or (my personal favorite) with a spoon. :P</span></div>
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Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-85220178982946098132012-12-18T18:49:00.000-08:002012-12-27T18:29:03.728-08:00meet Cy & Row<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, lately I've been mildly fascinated by this machine at my gym that's been there for god-knows-how long. Every time I go to the gym, I get on this machine that I call Cy (the brand name is Cybex). He (Cy) and I have been together going on a 3 years and 3 months so far. And we haven't gotten tired of each other.</span><br />
<img src="http://www.evolutionary-fitness.com/images/sce/cybex-arc-trainer1.jpg" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Meet Cy.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Yet. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, so the rowing machine is positioned almost in front of Cy, so it's been staring at me for a long time. Like, A LONG TIME. Well, a week or so ago I decided to cut my time with Cy short and head over to introduce my self to Row. And my gosh it was love at first pull. I didn't think I'd love this little guy more than Cy, but I think it's just about neck-and-neck. Row takes care of your WHOLE ENTIRE BODY. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who does that? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WHO ELSE DOES THAT?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Definitely NOT Cy (no offense, buddy)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<img src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRrSSee5cBXKdjwlBm4xoNCsbokZdMNPtdxlY5fyZ79wpNMDt2dNQ" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">My new found love; Row.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I'll tell ya, he's a wonder, that Row. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, I think Cy may be getting jealous because he has had his time cut short ever since last Sunday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't tell him this, but I have a date with Row tomorrow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SHH!!!!</span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-53653681169154090602012-12-17T19:32:00.004-08:002012-12-27T18:30:44.405-08:00OBSESSIONS #1 & #2 (of many more to come): COCONUT & CHOCOLATE; IN FUDGE FORM <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LFuAa5ENwgY/UM_eJ5vAMCI/AAAAAAAAA6A/gvTSiZZ6CJw/s1600/DSC00172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LFuAa5ENwgY/UM_eJ5vAMCI/AAAAAAAAA6A/gvTSiZZ6CJw/s640/DSC00172.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you ever get a craving for something? Something that you can't quite put your finger (or in this case, mouth) on? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes I'll be standing in the kitchen, spoon in hand and a good fifteen different types of food just layed out on the counter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Sweet...salty...sweet & salty...I don't care, you pick.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday night I had this intense urge for coconut. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> And chocolate. But mostly coconut.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Have you ever tried these two together? OOOOOHHHH MY GOBSTOPPER is this combo good!</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a41AhdrhWBE/UM_eqGUMc1I/AAAAAAAAA6c/pl7Mr6T5EBk/s1600/DSC00164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a41AhdrhWBE/UM_eqGUMc1I/AAAAAAAAA6c/pl7Mr6T5EBk/s640/DSC00164.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(yes I know this looks like something unappetizing, but MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER PEOPLE!)</span></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It's like a match made in heaven. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yin and yang. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brown and white. <---what?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Right. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well. My point is that this combination is AMAZINGLY good together. Also, in case you haven't noticed, I have a slight obsession with coconut. Case in point, the last two recipes have been centered around C-O-C-O-N-U-T.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Coconut oil, coconut flakes, coconut shower gel, coconut chap stick (yes, it exists. Go buy it.) coconut flour (SO SO GOOD, I just bought it for the first time and AHHH!I think I'm in love! But more on that some other time..), coconut cream, coconut sparkling water, coconut greek yogurt (this is like crack. No seriously. I think there's something in the ingredients that makes you eat one a day and buy more every time you're at the grocery store even though you have a huge pile at home sitting on the top shelf of your fridge because you're afraid that at any moment their going to be recalled by those big food distributors and they'll be forever gone from your life so you just HAVE to stock up while they're there.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_cRPcNGopTA/UM_eoBKXWII/AAAAAAAAA6U/jy-jw7z9_wY/s1600/DSC00161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_cRPcNGopTA/UM_eoBKXWII/AAAAAAAAA6U/jy-jw7z9_wY/s640/DSC00161.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Also, I love chocolate. To the point where I HAVE to have chocolate, even if it's just <span style="font-size: xx-small;">a little bit</span> EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT.</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's no way out if it. It's like it's calling to me. Controlling my mind. Forcing me to reach for the chocolate..<i>.</i></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"just a tiny piece...no that was too small..one more sliver...what? where'd it go?...just another small taste..really, after this you'll be done, I swear.."</i></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think I need psychological help. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zhuytDi8RVo/UM_eW6sevRI/AAAAAAAAA6M/zFWGh5ZP15E/s1600/DSC00168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zhuytDi8RVo/UM_eW6sevRI/AAAAAAAAA6M/zFWGh5ZP15E/s640/DSC00168.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Chocolate Coconut Fudge</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">adapted from <a href="http://heathereatsalmondbutter.com/2010/10/06/2-ingredient-fudge/">here</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 15 oz. can coconut milk (light or regular)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 8 oz. pkg. Bakers baking chocolate squares (sweetened or unsweetened)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp. vanilla extract</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup sweetener of choice (brown sugar, maples sryup, agave, honey, splenda, etc.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Note</b>: If using unsweetened chocolate, sweetener is necesary as the taste of the fudge will be very bitter. Also, if using sweetened chocolate, sweetener may not be necessary <taste to make your own decision>)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Optional: Add in coconut flakes, more chocolate (in the form of chips because YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH CHOCOLATE), dried fruit, nuts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Turn stove top on to medium heat and place a medium sized sauce pan on top. Unwrap chocolate squares and place in sauce pan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Using a spoon, stir chocolate squares until fully melted. Add in coconut milk and continue stirring.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- 2 minutes before removing sauce pan from heat, add in sweetener (if using) and vanilla. Stir to combine. Remove from heat and add in the add-ins (if using). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Pour fudge into an 8 x 8 baking pan and either store in freezer to harden completely, or store in fridge until cool.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b>Be warned</b>; the fudge mixture will be VERY hard if stored in freezer, and VERY soft if stored in the fridge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jXzxI3jEjpA/UM_d9yf-ahI/AAAAAAAAA54/2q5P5FlWMys/s1600/DSC00174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jXzxI3jEjpA/UM_d9yf-ahI/AAAAAAAAA54/2q5P5FlWMys/s640/DSC00174.JPG" width="360" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, it's very tasty. And messy. So bring some extra napkins, K?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-73579158956739115332012-12-14T17:40:00.002-08:002012-12-14T20:28:10.447-08:00The amazing GOOEYNESS of Coconut Jam Fruit Nut Roll<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CQdUM0r_GOw/UMvTjD96G2I/AAAAAAAAA3Q/nk1du9ccXVM/s1600/DSC00098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="384" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CQdUM0r_GOw/UMvTjD96G2I/AAAAAAAAA3Q/nk1du9ccXVM/s640/DSC00098.JPG" width="640" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">GAH! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Let's all just take a moment to appreciate how beautiful and amazing the above piece of amazingness looks, shall we?)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last weekend my Mom and I were <i>attempting</i> to make baklava the way my YiaYia (grandmother) did for so many years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Key word: <b>attempt</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's just say we accidentally measured out more cinnamon that was necessary and the ending product was um, shall we say pure cinnamon-y?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was oh so many leftover walnuts from the filling, I decided, <i>what the heck.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do you have when you take 4 phyllo sheets, ground up walnuts, coconut, coconut oil, apricot & raspberry jam, and chopped dates?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">HEAVEN IN YOUR MOUTH, THAT'S WHAT.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel like we have to take one more moment just to appreciate this beautiful glory in all of its <i>mess <--(get it? "mess", as in 'messy eater'...HAHAHAHA...)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sigh. How I love thee. ^^ </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(this is as big as the pictures would get, trust me; if I could get it any larger, I would :))</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LJfQr9J6MrU/UMqYCPUa2zI/AAAAAAAAA1A/_uBZaR2b9yI/s1600/DSC00104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LJfQr9J6MrU/UMqYCPUa2zI/AAAAAAAAA1A/_uBZaR2b9yI/s640/DSC00104.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LOOK AT THAT GOOEYNESS<----yes, that is a word.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(at least since I added it to auto correct it is)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I mean, really, how could you say no to this glorious mess of a food?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><br />Coconut Jam Fruit Nut Roll</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 phyllo sheets</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup coconut oil, melted</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup ground nuts (I used walnuts)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tbs. cinnamon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup chopped dates</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup jam (I used raspberry & apricot, but feel free to use any other combo!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 tbs. coconut flakes, sweetened or unsweetened</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Take out a cookie baking sheet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Process nuts and cinnamon in food processor until chunky, not nut butter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Melt coconut oil using microwave or stove top (whichever you prefer).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Lay out first phyllo sheet on a flat surface. Take melted coconut oil and a pastry brush (if you have one). Dip brush into oil and lightly brush over the edges and center of sheet of phyllo. Gently take remaining sheets of phyllo and repeat. BE VERY GENTLE because the phyllo is of the up most fragility.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Once the 4th sheet of phyllo is on top, take cinnamony ground nuts and scatter across the length of the middle of the phyllo sheet, avoiding the edges. Do the same with chopped dates, jam (may be in clumps; that's okay!), and coconut flakes. Lightly coat the edges of the phyllo sheet with coconut oil.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Gently, (VERY GENTLY) take top of phyllo sheet, lift the edge, and roll the layers of phyllo towards you, until all parts of the sheets are rolled up. VERY GENTLY lift the rolled up phyllo GOOEYNESS and place on to cookie sheet. Take remainder coconut oil and brush over outside of phyllo roll.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Put into oven and bake for AT LEAST 25 minutes or until golden brown. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Let cool for AT LEAST one hour or (even better) over night for optimum taste and for all the flavors to set in. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NOTE: I WOULD HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND WAITING OVER NIGHT TO EAT THIS just because it tastes best then. Honestly. I'm serious here. I don't joke about something this amazing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SECOND NOTE: The use of the word GENTLE. Phyllo is a very fragile pastry. Think of it as a newborn. Just don't sing to it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SECOND NOTE: Um, nothing really..I just wanted to have third note :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-30087119103197283582012-12-12T19:42:00.003-08:002012-12-27T18:30:13.135-08:00Coconut Lemon Bars & quite possibly the end of the world<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I figured since today's supposed to be lucky and all because of 12.12.12., I might as well continue this EVEN THOUGH I took a year and a half break. This blog and I had a bit of a break up last year, but I think we're getting back together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We haven't decided yet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ANYWAY, the world's supposed to end next Friday and I decided, what the heck;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Why not blog up until the end?</span><br />
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I was thinking about food and um, well food while watching Cupcake Wars because, well, you just can't watch that show without having something in your mouth because it just seems wrong.</span><br />
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Right?</span><br />
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So while I was watching this magnificent show and seeing them make a hot dog cupcake with cheese in the middle, I had a light bulb moment.</span><br />
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Lemon Square Cupcake.</span><br />
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You know, at the time, it seemed to make sense. Now that I think about it though, I'm starting to </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">realize it may not to others. </span><br />
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My mind, at one point, got lemon squares out of hot dogs. </span><br />
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Then again, this was pretty late at night(think 7:30pm, I KNOW, so late, right?) and my mind </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">might have been corrupted by the exorbitant amount of chocolate chips and dates( <----- good combo, really) I was shoving into my mouth. </span><br />
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Then again, I still don't know how I went from</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> hot dog cupcakes---> lemon bar cupcakes ---> lemon bars</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh well.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWk88ba_4zsymOA_UcwFrV3_nGQrGF3VOZm_hBSMAlz-wX8L2AvGvw0q2M97cae6kKUwKBKEv_rbveM4YXTVNnMlNZ8oHa_YjQa4cudiVsUTIopgT2vaOntIGCux0_Dvr6VSXTCPClFm8/s1600/DSC00096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gcSCI1gU02A/UMqaDHD9UfI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/WXhEy45uVsQ/s1600/DSC00087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="632" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gcSCI1gU02A/UMqaDHD9UfI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/WXhEy45uVsQ/s640/DSC00087.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<u><b>Coconut Lemon Bars</b></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">adapted from Mom's Best Desserts</span><br />
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<b>Crust</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup almond meal</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup oat flour (oats ground up in food processer)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pinch of salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup greek yogurt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 tbs. coconut oil</span><br />
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Preheat oven to 350. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mix all ingredients together in medium mixing bowl.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Press dough into 13 x 9in baking pan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bake for 20 min.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take out and immediately pour lemon filling (below) on top.</span><br />
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<b>Lemon Filling</b></span><br />
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5 egg whites</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup sugar of choice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tbs. coconut oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup lemon juice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup corn starch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 packet lemon jello (<--strange? Yes. Tasty? YES!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp. baking powders</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup sweetened coconut flakes (optional)</span><br />
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Beat egg whites til stiff white peaks form with blender.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Combine remaining ingredients together and mix by hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fold in egg whites and stir gently.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pour mixture over still hot crust and return to oven for 20-25 minutes, until top is slightly golden brown.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NOTE: Lemon Filling will be expanded and risen upon removal from oven. Let lemon bars sit for at least 30 minutes in order for the filling to deflate and set.</span><br />
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Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2899714486339067703.post-38051774765078018372011-07-21T14:47:00.000-07:002012-12-14T20:26:40.690-08:00Cinnamon Sugar Donut Muffins<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, here's the thing;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had <i>every</i> intention of blogging last week.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the week before that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then the week before <i>that.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so on.</span><br />
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Can you see where I'm going with this?</span><br />
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I know, <i>I know.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm rambling again, aren't I?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Moving on to food.</span><br />
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I made these muffins once, then immediately again because they were gone after I left the room. </span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seriously?</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Yeah.</span><br />
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So, I've learned this time around; make muffins. HIDE SOME. Set out the rest of muffins. DO NOT leave the kitchen.</span><br />
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Ever.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<b><u><br />
Cinnamon Sugar Donut Muffins</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">adapted from <a href="http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/breads/muffins-that-taste-like-donuts/">tastykitchen</a></span><br />
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1 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 1/2 tsp. baking soda</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp. salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp. nutmeg</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp. cinnamon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3/4 cup. brown sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 flax egg</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3/4 cup skim milk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spray mini muffin tin with non stick cooking spray. Set aside. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon in a small sized bowl.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mix together unsweetened applesauce, brown sugar, flax egg, and skim milk in a medium sized bowl.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add wet ----> dry. Mix gently and only until incorporated.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spoon muffin batter into sprayed muffin tins until just slightly under the top.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bake for 15-20 minutes.</span><br />
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*1 tbs. ground flax seed + 3 tbs. warm water. Let sit 10 minutes until gelled</span><br />
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MEANWHILE, prepare cinnamon sugar topping;</span><br />
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Cinnamon Sugar Glaze</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/4 cup Earth Balance or other margarine</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2/3 cup brown sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 tbs. cinnamon</span><br />
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Place margarine in a microwavable bowl and melt in microwave until liquid.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add 1/3 cup brown sugar and 1/3 cup cinnamon to melted margarine stirring to combine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In separate small bowl, combine remaining 1/3 cup brown sugar and 1 1/2 tbs. cinnamon.</span><br />
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Once muffins are taken out of oven, shake out of muffin holders while still hot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Carefully take each muffin and dip into the liquid cinnamon sugar mix, then into the dry cinnamon sugar mix.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let cool for about 10-15 minutes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
The combination of cinnamon sugar glaze with <i>more </i>cinnamon + sugar added on top makes these muffins addicting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Very addicting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They melt in your mouth and are doughy and delicious.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Really.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
That's why there are no more in the house.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
And that's <i>not</i> my fault.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Honest.</span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06496856862191608272noreply@blogger.com2