White chocolate Valentine

My night was rather dull. After my nap, everyone went to bed early (8PM) for work or went to work (till 12AM).

I woke up and fixed myself dinner: chicken and onions (staple!) over Miracle Noodles with tomato sauce and asparagus to top it off.

My little cousin and I decided to get to baking. I made Jamie Eason's cinnamon swirl protein bars for the week.

These are fantastic, and I made sure to be careful so they wouldn't turn out so dense. I love these. Did I mention I'm out of have cinnamon? The container of cinnamon was actually nutmeg! Instead, I put in some peanut flour.

Since we were in the kitchen and had leftover white chocolate, we made white chocolate peanut butter cups. I didn't want to go rustling around for my mini cupcake pan so instead, we used these teeny cups. Though the cups are teeny, we filled 'em to the brim and they're ridiculously large and more indulgent than Reese's.

We went with a Valentine's Day theme. It proved difficult to get them out of the plastic cups - definitely used a knife so not child-friendly.

Finally, because there was still white chocolate left and not a whole lot of it, I made homemade white chocolate & goji berry granola bars, except with cranberries and dates to use our stock up. I decreased the amount of honey and oats because it seemed like way too much.

Those are in the freezer. I hope they hold up.

In the end, I had 2 cinnamon swirl protein bars and ~1 large peanut butter cup.

My clothes are kinda gross. Time to change and hop into bed for some reading. I need to fuel myself with something 'cause I totally forgot to eat enough. :(

Early mornin' ain't so bad

Work at 8? :( Not fun. Seeing beautiful, smiling faces? Worth it and then some. I'm so in love with all of them - they're hilarious! :)

I woke up, dressed, and immediately went to The Donuttery before heading home for my own breakfast (chicken and goat cheese quesadilla on a low carb/high fiber tortilla).

For the teacher, strawberry Nutella donut and PB & jelly donuts. He was hungry and downed one in two bites!

For the kids, blueberry, strawberry, devil's food, red velvet, and apple. They really liked red velvet and I was surprised to see that blueberry was least popular. Still, it all got eaten.

Finals week was intense, for me at least. I helped grade, but I'm not good at it. I end up helping students more, which is closer to my job description anyways. Mostly, I spent the whole 4 and a half hours with two really adorable juniors.

I wore yoga pants of course with recycled t-shirt (great fit, funky graphic) cardigan. My cousin and I got the same cardigan, in the same size, except one was stretched out more in the arms (mine, for my extremely massive biceps... or kinda?) Plus, messy up-do.

After work, I took a 3 hour nap and woke up to workout. It was fresh outside and a bit windy, but I'm glad I didn't go for that run because now the winds are howling.

Instead, I tried Blogilates' newest workout, POP Sculpt: Total Body Workout. The squats were great and my thighs were shaking on the holds. Biceps were least effective without heavier weights. Anyhow, 4xs with this video was quite enough. I was sweaty and I anticipate soreness in my posterior tomorrow.

Dinner was a mash-up: corn melded together with egg whites (shared), broccoli, and chicken in fresh orange juice.

I also packed [in my belly] a Siggi orange ginger yogurt, a couple of pumpkin protein bars, which I'll need to make more of tomorrow, and some ginger and white chocolate "truffles."

They're misshapen but good. *Oops, forgot to flip the picture again!

I made these last night by processing cashews and dates (remember I bought these for this sole reason!) mixed with candied ginger instead of fresh and leftover peppermint white chocolate chunks my aunt incidentally gave me yesterday.

How do you hype yourself to wake up?
What makes you excited about work/school?

WIAW #3: How to beat sugar cravings

I have a sugar craving pretty much everyday around 3 or 4. It's a lull in the day, I'm changing jobs sometimes or just getting home. I want to sleep. I drink green tea, but it does nothing for me.

Yesterday, I bought chocolate chip mint almonds for that reason. I've had my eye on these for a long time and they were finally on sale for $5 (originally $8 or 9?). They're super good... then I left them in my car and the warm warm day melted them. Big glob. I put them in the freezer and then big frozen glob. :/

After work, mom and I headed to Costco as we waited for my car (brakes changed). We bought dates and cashews for raw recipes. Then I went to Mother's Market for oat flour (with a $1 off coupon), cheaper protein powder, and free samples of xylitol - they seriously read my mind!

I was in luck. I had all the fixins' for another sweet treat: Jamie Eason's pumpkin protein bars.

My little cousin helped me out. :)

I bought a can of pumpkin the other day after seeing lots of pumpkin recipes even though it's not fall anymore.

One bowl recipes win.

Looks good?


A little under baked actually so I zapped it in the microwave for another 3 minutes (on and off). Then I had one. Yum!

I also had everything to make some protein bars a la Protein Pow(d)er: dark chocolate peanut butter protein bars. I made half the recipe and made them half the size of the originals. Cut the kcals with less chocolate too, but they're still pretty substantial.

For tomorrow!

Needless to say I didn't head to TurboKick or Pilates for a second session. That's okay - I need rest for tomorrow's Spartacus Workout!

What have you baked lately?
Do you bake with protein powder? Or you don't hide your desserts, you just eat it? :)

Eat [your heart] out Saturday

Last night, my family had spring rolls for dinner. I had shrimp and Miracle noodles wrapped in romaine.


I told you I wore a mu-mu. Here I am eating an oatmeal ball I concocted last night. Easiest recipe. I had 2 then 1 more in the morning.

Post-workout (boot camp-like class) mini meal: G-free cinnamon bread and 2 egg whites microwaved in a cup - can you tell from the shape?

I snacked on a Schweddy ball I made last night. The recipe yields 3 balls.

An hour later, I went to Bowl of Heaven for their grand opening and received a free small North Shore acai bowl.


Lunch consisted of a half of a half chicken avocado Caprese from Deli-licious. Unfortunately, half a sandwich is ALMOST as expensive as a whole one. I could've given the other half to someone! Anyways, it's good and the rest is for dinner.

A few bites of my side of mac and cheese because this is what I indulge in. That and a sample bite of cupcake. :)

To wash it down, half of a huge can of Zevia cream soda.

I got back home, am watching "The Dark Knight," and got a package in the mail.

I just need batteries.

Best moments in fitness, work, and... Shakeology PB cups!

Happy Friday! I had an enjoyable day at work, of course.

Best moment(s) of the week:

• Props from a retired trainer while doing the Spartacus workout
• Student recommending to another student to come get "good help" from me on his math!
  
• Props from a trainer today who commented on workouts he's seen me do
• Getting a break from my night job, duh!
  

Post work-grocery haul at Sprouts: Western Alternative Bagel in very blueberry, which I've never had, on sale Siggi, and CoCo Libre, also on sale and such lovely packaging!

I never buy a lot. I just go often.

I stopped by Sensitive Sweets after hearing they had refrigerated cinnamon loaves for just $5.50. I sliced it up when I got home and my aunt and I eat had the ends.

Delicious and gluten-free, which means, for a gluten-tolerant person, more chew.

Only time I love the ends of bread.

I told y'all that I'd share some Shakeology recipes. There are several recipes for dessert including the Shakeology balls and the pie.

I stumbled across a post that said Reese's Peanut Butter Cup with a picture of the candy. I thought the recipe was for the candy, made in mini cupcake liners. Nope, it was just a picture. But I was determined to find a way to make it.

Finally, I found a recipe online with a pictures of the real thing.

Announcing Shakeology peanut butter cups, made in sample cups because I couldn't trouble myself to find my mini muffin tin!

Ingredientes:

• 4 oz water
• 1 scoop Shakeology
• 1 tbsp PB2
• natural peanut butter

Directiones:

1. Mix first 3 ingredients together in a blender.
2. Fill half a cup/liner with the mixture.
3. Add natural peanut butter.
4. Cover and fill cup/liner.

*I filled the cups before adding PB.

Enjoy! I'll be in the kitchen again tonight to make something... not sure what. No bake is my thing now that I don't have all my equipment out.

What are your BEST MOMENTS OF THE WEEK?
What quick and easy no-bake recipes have you made to quell your sweet tooth?

I did everything I was supposed to and more...

Okay, so I'm just about done packing and I went to the gym at midnight, but I finished all my tasks. I even had time for a long nap and baking.

I said I would share with you the last cookie I made: chai moons but not in the shape of hearts. I used my Linzer cookie cutter instead.



I put each of the cookies plus spacemen/rockets and dinosaur candy melts in berry baskets. I had also considered the boombox mold and the gnome and robot molds looks so awesome. It was a full night's task and super messy.



I wrapped them up with some holiday decorative tape from Martha Stewart.

Just baked: Butter mints

Clearly, I have a soft spot for a few places in Asheville. One of them in Bake It Pretty; the other is Old Europe Patisserie. Anytime there's a new recipe, I want to try it even if it's not something I'd eat. Here are butter mints.

Maybe when they dry and taste more like candy, I'll enjoy them, but right now they're just super sugary. Somehow my attempt turned out less doughy and more crumbly. Nonetheless, the granulated sugar acted like flour and kept the gooey dough for sticking to my hands.

My first batch was red. I tried to stick my gooey dough in a mold and it wasn't bendable plastic. The mold is a tad broken and the butter mints are still inside.

The second attemp was blue. Actually, the blue turned the mints a retro aqua blue, perfect for these butter mints. Also, I went for a mini biscuit cutter instead. It was no much easier.