{Foodie Penpals #3} Yummy and Spice

Hello Friends!

A couple of months back I decided to jump in and do this thing I was hearing about called Foodie Penpals.  It was created by and orchestrated by Lindsay at the Lean Green Bean blog.  I literally don't know how she does it....there's over a thousand foodie penpals!  She is also starting a dietetics internship in the next couple of weeks so she must be going crazy!  (Actually she told me she is swamped, but is still awesome enough to round up some vegetarian posts for a new series I have coming up.)

Whole Wheat Lemon Doodles

 Hello Friends!

One thing I love about blogging about food is that I have created a database of recipes.  Mostly semi-healthy baking treats.  Because that is what I love to make most!

I had a craving for snicker-doodle cookies and remembered I made some lemon snicker-doodles for the blog awhile back.  I also had some samples of NuNatural sweetener/flavoring (from my Blend swag bag), and some lemons.  Usually my inspiration comes in the simplest and easiest way possible.

A Few of my Favorite Things

Hello Friends!

I am updating things around the blog (if you haven't noticed) in preparation of when I may or may not have zero time to even write posts, much less work on blog design, etc.

I'm talking about school in the fall!

I have a full load at a university, instead of the community college, that includes TWO online classes.  Let me tell you, online classes SEEM easy, but you basically spend just as much time on them since you have to teach yourself the information, do homework, take quizes AND go to campus to take the tests.  The also involve a whole lotta time management skills.  We will see how it goes.

One thing I want to do is update the About section.  I am thinking it needs to be shorter and just have some links to miscellaneous (I wish you could see how I originally spelled this word...before my spell-check was like "you are a doofus." Okay here it is: miscilanious.  lol.) details.

Now if you'd care to read on...these are some of my favorite things!  (Feel free to copy-paste this with your own answers on your blog and link-back here!  I might even do a link-up...you will find out if you scroll down if this is the case.)

1.  Favorite food.
Peanutbutter.  And jelly.  On toast.  I used to say beef stroganauf, since I LOVE my mom's homemade stroganauf, but if I'm honest about it...peanutbutter is in my life every day.  I do try other nut butters, however I still always have the big ol' jars of crunchy AND smooth Jif on hand.  Dave (the BF) has even bought these for me for Christmas.  This is serious stuff!

2.  Favorite workout.
I like walking outside the most.  With a little run thrown in here or there.  Listening to my ipod worship tunes or no headphones, trying to sort out my thoughts.  In the gym I'd say elliptical or body pump is my favorite.

Faithful Friday #SheReadsTruth

Hello Friends!

Dave (the BF) and I were attending a bible study for a few months and loved it.  It gave us a chance to learn (a lot!) from the wise leaders and it was fun to hang out with a smaller group of people (since our church is rather large).  But.... it got cancelled since the leader moved on to a bigger one...even further away from us.

After the study ended, I'd been struggling a bit.  I really wanted to connect with Christian friends, but could never find the right group.  I'd also been having some issues with things that I saw at the church that I just let bug me more than I should have.  (We are ALL HUMAN.  Just because we are Christians doesn't mean we are perfect.  I need to remember this!)

About a month ago, I decided to join an online women's bible study called She Reads Truth.  And I LOVE it.

{WIAW #33} One Long Day

Hello Friends!

Boy am I having trouble focusing today!  (I may or may not be WAY TOO excited about all of the guest posting I've been doing...it's so fun to connect with different crowds!!  Although, I love blogging for my friends here best!)

Have you ever had one of those days where there's a bazillion things on your mind so you're kind of walking around like a zombie and when someone talks to you--you're a little startled?  Because someone has interrupted your mental to-do slash to-ponder-about list?

The heat may also be a little bit to blame.  The cool front is coming in though...it's only going to be 92 degrees tomorrow!  Perfect for a run right??  (Hey it was 104 out today so I'm excited!)

I was also a little zombie-ish on this WIAW food day.  Saturday I worked at the farmer's market.  I know some of you get all excited about the farmer's market..the fresh produce and buying straight from the farmer..and rainbows and sunshine and saving money...

But have you ever attempted to serve hot lattes and blend up smoothies while outside all day at a market?  I'm guessing not.  It can be fun, don't get me wrong.  I love seeing people I know and testing out new drinks, but holy goodness it was scorching outside on Saturday!!

(Never heard of WIAW?  It's a fun way of sharing what I ate for a whole day...for more details on my WIAW click here.)

Nutty Cookie Bar

Hello Friends!

Is it hotter than hot where anyone else lives??

Here in Nebraska it's been in the hundreds of degrees with ludicrous humidity.  How the heck is a girl to run outside when she rolls out of bed at 9am (don't be too jealous, I worked last night) and it's already 86 out...and feels like 88?? 

I don't know about you, but before I run, I like to have some breakfast.  Usually the peanutbutter toast kind.

Or...if I really want some energy on the run...a nutty cookie bar!  (The bar that I wasn't necessarily going to share with you just yet, but you all insisted on in my WIAW post.)

Food Network Star...and the Winner is...

Hello Friends!

I am a tiny bit obsessed with Food Network.  (Can anyone relate??)

From Chopped, to Cupcake Wars, to Food Network Star.

The premise of this show is to find the next, well, Food Network Star.

Three mentors are selected, this year it was Giada De Laurentis (LOVE her!  She actually tweeted me back last week so we are pretty much BFFs), Alton Brown (I like watching his show Good Eats), and Bobby Flay.  Each of these stars selected a team of their own to mentor.  Week after week the teams were wittled away, eliminating one contestant each week.

{Friday Five Foodie Finds #23} Sweet Tooth Day

 Hello Friends!

I just looked at my google countdown and eek!  Only a month left until I head  back to school!

I'm sad the summer is half-way over since I've been having so much fun with blogging things, writing lots of guest posts (three new ones will be up on blogs next Tuesday and another one I need to write today!!), reading, doing Foodie Penpals, going out of town...and babysitting the cutest twins ever created! 

"old" picture of them...before they were walking

I just found out that my little twinies are going to be starting daycare soon, so I won't be able to play with them as much...breaks my heart...and I'm not even their mom!

I'm happy I get to see them today!  (Even though they are teething with a cold.) :-)

It's time for another Friday Five Foodie Finds post!  I like to check out what other food bloggers have going on around the web and am showcasing my favorite finds.

{WIAW #32} A Chocolatey Day

Hello Friends!

Well, what can I say.  I adore chocolate.

And apparently it's good for you.  Antioxidants and whatnot.

This WIAW {What I Ate Wednesday} (<--check out that link for what WIAW is all about to me) is a compilation of the past two days that were chocolate-filled.

Guess What? I'm Gonna Try Again!

Hello Friends!

The half-marathon.

The daunting 13.1 mile run.

I've attempted training for it twice now.

The first time, I hurt my back at work.  Not only did I have to discontinue training, I was unable to work for a couple of months.  That. Was. Awful.

The last time I tried to train for the half-marathon, I got sick.  I got a bit depressed and frustrated for awhile and didn't run for about a month.

The Color Run Rant

Hello Friends!

Okay you know how you get super excited about something and the closer it comes the more excited you get and the anticipation grows and grows and well, it's not all that you had hoped for?

This is how the Color Run was for me.  So many amazingly cool pictures on the Color Run website and everyone was having the time of their lives..... and then I wake up late.  Or should I say...for some reason I kept hitting and hitting and hitting the snooze button.

In with the New + Giveaway Winner

Hello Friends!

I made a very exciting and scary purchase this past Saturday, as I referenced in my post earlier this week.

Exciting because I have had the same car for eight years.

Scary because I have been so blessed to never have had a car payment.  In my whole life.

I got my car from my dad when I was 17 years old.    It was four or five years old when I got it, but I thought I was the coolest kid in school.

My beloved Plymouth Neon has been through so much with me.  Through the end of my high school years.  Through my first (and only other) relationship.  Driving hours upon hours as a part of a "business team." Driving my first year to a school an hour away.  Traveling to see Dave (the BF) when he was working out of town.  I've had many an epiphany driving in the Neon!

{WIAW #31} Outback Steakhouse

 Hello Friends!

 Yesterday was a day filled with  fun, food & fitness!

Very fitting for this month's WIAW theme.

What is WIAW?  It stands for What I Ate Wednesday.   This is basically a peak into my food (and fitness and fun) life on one day out of the week.

It doesn't have to be the food I ate on Wednesday, however this is the day of the week we share on Jenn's fun link-party!

Motivation to Move

Hello Friends!

This post is for me, but you can read this as well. ;-)
--------
It takes a bit of motivation to get out and run and/or workout after taking time off.  Maybe you've gotten sick and it's time to get back out there.  Maybe you just got busy with life and fitness goals were set on the back burner.

Whatever the reason, however long you've been out of the game, you can start fresh...today!

Success! Rice and Edamame 3 Ways

Hello Friends!

I've been devouring this batch of edamame and rice I made last week for three days.  That's the beauty of cooking for yourself (and yourself only)...leftovers!

Thank You Shape Magazine

Hello Friends!

I hardly ever take time to sit down and read a magazine.  This was evident in my mad cleaning fit that took over me on Monday.

I found about 15 magazine issues (that I paid for!) that I still haven't read...and I only subscribe to two monthly magazines and one magazine that comes out...every so often?  I'm just a tad bit behind on my reading...

Most of these magazines are now stacked next to the back deck where I plan on soaking up some rays and drinking in all of the new fitness moves to be had (as well as finding out how to retire rich).

I have added "read all of my magazines" to my summer to-do list.  I know, my life is rough.

When I grabbed my first magazine from the list on Tuesday, I was delighted to see Malin Akerman on the cover of Shape Magazine.  I love her work in 27 Dresses where she plays a high-strung bridezilla and in The Proposal where she plays a very sweet ex-girlfriend who lives in small-town Alaska. 

I flipped to the page with her interview and was further delighted to see the interviewer asking her how she got in shape (no pun intended) for this particular shoot.

New 4th of July Tradition (Hopefully!)

Hello Friends!

I hope everyone had a safe and fun 4th of July!

The BF has been out of town all week so I celebrated without him...and with HIS family.  I felt bad, and missed him, but really I had a great time.  (Sorry Dave!)

Tuesday night we went over to his aunt and uncle's house where we blew up a watermelon and many other fun fireworks.

Since I already posted about that, I will tell you about a (hopefully!) new tradition...going to his sister's boyfriend's cabin on a lake.  (Please enjoy the pictures taken on my Blackberry..since it's awkward taking my fancy camera everywhere.)

It was approximately 105 degrees when we arrived so after standing outside for 2 minutes, we decided we would cool down and jump in the water.

{WIAW #30} Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4^th of July! (again!)

Well hey there again friends!

I kind of want these 1970s patriotic shoes ;-)

Not only am I sharing some amazing no-bake oreo balls today, but I am also sharing a W.I.A.W. {What. I. Ate. Wednesday.} with you as well!

The theme for this month could not be more perfect for my day yesterday, so I just had to join the W.I.A.W. party today!





(More info on my W.I.A.W. posts here.)

No Bake Party Treats

Happy 4^th of July!

Hey all of you last minute party people!

I have some yummy treats you can make for the 4th of July without using your hot oven (I mean really, its been in the 90s here...at 8am...we don't need to turn on the dang oven too!).

Chobani Greek Yogurt Giveaway

Hello Friends!

It's the moment you've all been waiting for. ((Dramatic music..))

I've hinted at it in yesterday's weekend fun post and in my Foodie Penpals post and even back in my Friday Five Foodie Finds post.  Plus on Twitter, my Semi-Healthy Blog Facebook page and even told my family and friends about it.

It is time to giveaway....

 a whole case of Chobani Greek Yogurt!!

Weekend Fun + Giveaway Teaser

Hello Friends!

Well I feel like I haven't had a moment to breathe this weekend...although that is probably an exageration.  I am alive, afterall.

Friday I was talking on the phone with the BF (who was on his way home!) and I started squealing and saying, "It's here!  It's here!"

I could see from my window that my Chobani greek yogurt case had arrived. 

(Get excited for a giveaway coming soon!!)

{Foodie Penpals #2} Family Recipe

Hello Friends!

Well I am late to the Foodie Penpals party (there are already 281 posts linked up on this month's Foodie Penpals reveal post), but that's okay right?

It's been a busy weekend hangin out with the BF, going to an outdoor 4th of July concert, working at the farmer's market (so. flippin. hot.), church and seeing a friend for a going away party.