Good afternoon!

My attempt at making Chocolate Mint bars was a huge success.

So minty and chocolaty!

Nutritional Information (1 bar): 189 calories (kcal); 11g Total Fat; 25g Carbohydrates; 0mg Cholesterol; 4mg Sodium; 6g Fibre; 5g Protein.

Check out my bar page- I have updated it with the new bars! I am so excited to try out more versions.

Of course, I had to have one of my bars for my pre-workout snack.

Ingredients in these bars: Raw almonds, dates, peppermint extract, Organic cocoa powder, semi-sweet chocolate chips, Vanilla extract.

I also cranked the beats during my workout:

• “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood (love that song!)
• “Me & U” by Cassie
• “Silence” (Paul Oakenfold Mix) by Delirium
• “London Bridge” by Fergie
• “Touch It” by Busta Rhymes
• and more!

My workout incorporated today’s BBBC Challenge:

• Duration: 47 mins.
• Speed: 4.0-4.3 mph, incline 10-12%
• I did walk/run intervals. On every ‘5’ min. marker, I ran at 4.3 mph for 1.5 mins.
• At minutes 22, 27, 32, and 37 I got off the treadmill and did the following (1 60 sec side plank, left; 1 60 sec. side plank, right; 1 60 sec. camel pose; 1 60 sec. Down Dog pose). I still have one pose left to do later tonight!

It was a fun workout.

Hope you health nuts have a NUTTY Friday.

Good evening!

I hope you all had a great start to the month! Did anyone have any tricks played on them? Besides the one I played on you all this morning that is. muhaha.

I finished my secret order this afternoon with some Glo Banana bars + Bites:

Bars:

I will be able to tell you this week who the lucky recipient of these bars is!

Dinner:

After I saw Kath’s recipe featured on The Mushroom Channel I knew I had to make this!

Of course, I had to put my own spin on things! I am not one to follow a recipe, so I improvised and made it vegan.

I must say, the idea of a green pizza appealed to me for obvious reasons!

Ingredients:

• Homemade Honey Wheat Pizza Dough (Easiest dough you will ever make)
• 4 oz of mixed mushrooms, cremini, sliced (Eric didn’t have any)
• 6 oz baby organic spinach 
• 1 tsp basil
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1/3 cup Light Cream cheese (For Eric’s pizza, it was all we had for cheese!)
• 1/3 cup Soy Yogurt
• 2 Tbsp Almonds
• Cooking spray

I decided to make a his and hers version since Eric doesn’t like mushrooms.

Eric got a deep dish version, mine on a flat round pan:

Next came the spinach mixture:

• 6 oz spinach, sauteed
• 1/3 cup (or a bit less) Soy yogurt
• 2 Tbsp Almonds

Process the green sauce in a food processor until mixed. Almonds add some crunch!

Spread on dough:

Then add the ingredients on top:

On mine:

• tomato
• mushrooms
• St Ives Mexican Ground Round (so good!)

Eric’s:

• Cream cheese
• St Ives Mexican Ground Round
• Tomatoes

Cook in the oven at 350 for about 15-20 mins.

Eric’s Deep Dish:

Mine:

We both agreed that the pizza was better with some tomato sauce drizzled on top. I think because the pizza didn’t have the sharpness of the feta, it needed a little something extra. Next time for this vegan version, I would mix in some pizza sauce to add some kick and maybe a few chili pepper flakes.

See Kath’s original version for the feta and mozzarella recipe!

All and all this pizza was a delicious and healthy twist on the traditional pizza. In the green sauce was about 5 cups of baby spinach- we sure got in our greens tonight!

And yes, I love the white dollarstore plates so much I washed it from lunch and used it again. Eric got the regular ol’ Debbie Travis ones. lol.

I said to Eric, “I think I am going to buy a whole set of these white plates at the Dollarstore!! You know, I think they are better quality than many of our own plates.”

To which he replied, “Good, we can take back all of our china from the wedding.”

*sigh……

Oh and just for the record, I had a 4th tiny slice after those three! I ate about 2/3’s of my pizza. Eric had 3/4 of his.

Eric said that was his favourite pizza dough crust out of any crust he has ever had in his life! I must say I think I agree! It was so fluffy!

Have a great night!

I’m off to do some paperwork. See you tomorrow for FAQ’s!!! There are Soooo many! eek.

Hey there!

Just look at everything I got for $14 dollars:

Two Blue Check Placemats:

4 Ivory Stripe Placemats:

All Together:

1 Square Plate + 1 Angled Bowl:

5 Cards:

= $14

I was one Happy Customer!!!

Do you shop at the dollarstore? What are your favourite things to buy there?

Eric and I started buying all of our cards at the dollarstore last year…I figure we have saved over $500 by buying these instead of your traditional drugstore Hallmark cards. Every little bit helps!

Then I went to the Bulk Barn for a Glo Bakery order:

Contents:

• Dried Cranberries
• Raw Oats (that whole bag was only $2.55 CAD!)
• Raw Cashews
• Raw Pecans
• Honey Dates
• Organic Coconut Oil (was about $8.50 which isn’t much more than my Nivea moisturizer!)
• Wilton’s 56 Piece Master Tip Set (!!!!!)
• 3 piping screws

I am so excited to use my new piping tip set!! I felt like a pro when I purchased that. Some day…;)

I am really excited to try the Coconut Oil Moisturizer trick! I took a small spoon and rubbed some into my hand because I had to test it out immediately! My skin has been so dry lately.

It is now 4 hours since I rubbed it on my hand and my skin feels like a baby’s bottom!! I have a feeling this stuff is going to be my saviour for dry skin.

Then I worked on a secret order for a special someone in the media!

          Sweet Pecan Glo Bar (left)                                       Pistachio Glo Bar (right)

Pumpkin Spice ‘n All Things Nice Bars:

More on this secret order later!

Tomorrow I need to make my Glo banana bars to finish off the order! I had a small set back in the kitchen today with the bananas. Basically I burnt the banana slices to a crisp in the oven! Rather than getting frustrated, I simply decided to try again tomorrow.

Tonight’s Question:

As you may know, tomorrow is April Fools Day!

Now I have never been one to think up cool pranks, but I always dream of doing so. My challenge to you all tonight is to think up a fun prank I can play on Eric tomorrow!

Have you ever played a funny prank on someone? What was it? Has someone ever played one on you for April Fools Day?

Don’t forget to watch Kris Carr’s inspirational video on Oprah if you didn’t get a chance to earlier today. My favourite quote from the video:

KC: “This is what I have for breakfast everyday.”

Dr. Oz: “Now when did you start doing this?”

KC: “When? When I got the wake up call.”

Dr. Oz: “Oh you didn’t do it at all before?”

KC: “No! I did Martinis before. [Pauses] Now I do green things.”

 

Good evening! [I don't know why but whenever I say 'good evening' I always picture myself saying it in a creepy dracula voice....muhauha....I'm weird I know!)

I hope you are all having a great weekend!

I have had a busy day- we have been doing laundry non-stop (it's amazing how much accumulates in 2.5 weeks!). We also had lots of errands to run today- Christmas shopping, etc.

I had to buy my secret santa gift which just so happens to be for my BOSS! Agh, could I have gotten a more difficult pick? How do you buy your boss a secret santa gift for $20 and not seem like a cheap skate. I think I spent about $25-30 on her even though the limit was $20.

I got her a set of 4 really neat looking Martini glasses (she always jokes that she's "going straight home to have a big, fat martini" LOL) and I got her some Bailey's chocolates. I hope she likes it! If not, I will pretend like I didn't get her. lol.

There is definitely a buzz of activity in all of the shopping centres- we even noticed a lot more traffic on the highway early evening, apparently everyone was leaving the malls and heading home for dinner like us!

When we got home we were quite hungry so I made us some mini pizzas with salad on the side. Quick and easy!

We did some Christmas decorating too...

Eric also put a couple red and green spot lights out front of the house and decorated a plant with lights indoors.

And they're spent...

We're supposed to be going to see the cartoon called 'Bolt' at the movies tonight, but I'm not so sure after seeing these two...lol. The fun never stops around here!!! haha.

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I also attempted to re-create the Pecan Pie Larabar tonight, with somewhat disappointing results...

Ok, maybe I am being a bit hard on myself. After the success of my Banana Bread Larabar, it was hard to take it when my Pecan Pie Larabar was not a spitting image (and taste).

I mean, it was only 3 ingredients, how hard could it be?

Attempt  1 Combo

• 1/2 cup dates
• 2/9 cup pecans (essentially 2/3 of a 1/3 cup) then I topped it off with almonds (1/3 of 1/3 cup)

Sorry to be so confusing, it has been one of those nights in the kitchen!

Attempt #1 proved to be quite sweet, and when I ripped open an actual Pecan Pie Larabar, my re-creation was much darker in comparison. *Sigh. It was still very tasty though! And I will certainly be eating Attempt #1.

Attempt 2 Combo:

• 1/3 cup dates
• 2/9 cup pecans (essentially 2/3 of a 1/3 cup) then I topped it off with almonds (1/3 of 1/3 cup)

I reduced the amount of dates in order to make it a bit less sweet, lighter in colour, and more pecan-y.

Directions:

1. Put dates in a food processor for about 45 seconds. Remove from bowl. Set aside in a small bowl.

2. Add nuts and process for about 45 seconds.

3. Combine and mix together with hands. Prepare to get sticky. (Remove Rings!)

4. Divide into two equal halves. Place each half in the centre of a piece of saran wrap and form into a bar shape (or whatever shape you desire!)

I guess I was so down and out about the outcome of this Pecan Pie attempt, I forgot to take a picture of the final product. I guess you will have to use your imagination! Or see this post!

I compared my result to the real Pecan Pie Larabar, and the real Larabar won hands down in taste. My attempt was still tasty, but I have by no means perfected it yet! I need to find the perfect combo of those 3 ingredients. Maybe someone else will have better luck than me??

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Some Barcelona honeymoon pictures:

Spinning Gelato. Need I say more?

On the hotel balcony

Being geeks

hehe...action shot opening the champagne!

Love that pic…its our champagne reflecting on the ice bucket

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Gosh now I can barely keep my eyes open! I guess the 6 hours of sleep is catching up on me!

See you tomorrow!

I learned that it is the weak who are cruel, and that gentleness is to be expected only from the strong.
- Leo Rosten

Oh yes. I did.

I re-created the Homemade Banana Bread Larabar.

Is your mouth watering? Mine sure is.

Here is my own recipe that I developed tonight- It is simple, easy, economical, and pure raw nutrients.

Oh She Glows Homemade Banana Bread Larabar

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup dates
• 1/4 cup dried banana
• 1/3 cup raw almonds

Directions:

1. Slice 1 small banana. Lay banana on greased baking sheet.

2. Cook banana at 175F for 2-3 hours until dry. You can use a food dehydrator to simplify this process (I don’t have one!)

Eric worked from home today and he so kindly prepped the banana for me. I almost died laughing when I for home and opened the oven:

hahaha….have you ever seen such a sad sight??? Thank God he used our old, beat-up baking sheet! I had to pry these bad boys off with my fingers.

But boy did the house smell wonderful when I got home from work.

3. Roughly chop 1/4 cup of dates. Add dates and dried banana into food processor. Process for 1-2 mins.

4. Remove from processor bowl, set aside in a small bowl. Add 1/3 cup raw almonds to food processor and process for 1 min.

5. Add almond mixture to date/banana paste and blend well with hands. Divide into 2 halves.

6. Set each half on a piece of saran wrap. Fold wrap over each piece and roll flat with a rolling pin or soup can. Shape to your liking. Makes 2 bars.

The real thing:

My (cheaper) replica

Each bar has approximately 230ish calories, 5 grams of protein and 2.5 grams of fibre.

The taste test? Awesome banana flavour!!! Pure, natural goodness. This is my favourite flavour yet.

Tip: Use very ripe, brown bananas for extra flavour.

7. Refrigerate bars.

These bars would be awesome for moms-on-the-go who want easy, natural, preservative-free snacks for their kids (and themselves). You can also use these bars as a pre-workout snack that is light and won’t weigh you down.

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What am I most ashamed of in my kitchen you ask?

This was the clue:

Krista guessed it right!

My old, tired, unorganized, dirty recipe collection!

Can you believe these are my most cherished and frequently used recipes???

And this is the way I treat & display them…

Just disgraceful.

My new year’s resolution is to CLEAN UP THIS MESS and organize it into a visably appealing recipe book!!

I’m curious- what are your New Year’s Resolutions?

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A random photo or two:

Stay tuned tomorrow for my cookbook collection…as well a what I am eating for lunch!

And now for a fun quote:

A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book.
- Irish Proverb

Eric just showed me this video and it cracked me up so I had to share!