Yummer nummers!!!

I LOVE granola bars.  LOVE THEM!!!  Would eat them all day long if I could.  But alas, they are pretty expensive so I am spared from being tempted.  I should mention that it isn't the Quaker granola bars that you can buy a box of 10 for $1.50 with coupons.  No, I love LARA Bars.  They are pretty pricey but so good.  And good for you.  They only have a handful of ingredients all of which I can pronounce and can pick up at the grocery store.  No specialty stores required.  LOVE that!!!

The alternate name of this post could be things I LOVE.

So, I bet you're anxious to get to the recipe I used.  So, here ya go!

1/2 cup cashews
handful of chocolate chips
1 cup dates

Line a 8x8 baking dish with plastic wrap before you start getting your hands dirty.

Put your nuts and chocolate chips in your food processor (I used my magic bullet).  Grind them up but don't make them dust.  Empty the food processor into a medium size bowl.

Don't rinse out the processor.  Put dates in and grind them up.  (Here is where I made a mistake. I used dried dates and didn't add any liquid.  Don't do that.  If you use dried dates add apple juice or water.)  Once they are ground up put them in the bowl with the ground nuts and use your hands to mix them.  If they are not sticking, add more ground date.

When everything is combined put them into the baking dish and flatten them out.  Put them in the fridge for about 10 minutes to firm them up then cut them into 3 pieces.  Store them in snack bags in the fridge.

There are so many variations you can do.  I have some powdered chocolate peanut butter that I am thinking about adding to my next batch.  I am excited to make my next batch and see what mixtures I can come up with.

Share with me your varieties.  I want to hear how you like them.

Easy squeezy!

3 in 30 challenge week 2 update

This has been such a fun filled week!  I am excited about where I'm heading. 

Last week, I think I mentioned that I had to do a little change to my savings goal (Goal # 3)  to get my husband's vision and mine to match up a little closer.  My overarching savings goal is VACATION.  I want to go to sunny and warm California with our little guy for a fun filled week of LegoLand, San Diego Zoo, Knott's Berry Farm, and time on the beach and in a pool.  Hubby wants a new car.  In all fairness, his car is a dinosaur but it reliable and we just spent a few hundred dollars making it run well and safe so I think he's good for a few more months.  I really wanted to do car buying the Dave Ramsey way but he really wants a nice ride.  Since he's put up with this car for so long I want to get him what he wants. 

Goal # 1 was go give up soda.  I am doing really well on this challenge.  I did have a diet cherry limeade from Sonic last weekend but don't classify that as a soda.  Still struggling to get enough water but am getting better. 

Goal #2...getting to the gym and running.  I have been 3 days so far this week.  I took tuesday off so I could go to the blazer game with a girlfriend.  My plan is to go tonight because if I don't then I get to go in the morning.  I really like lazy mornings at home but I am going to do what it takes to make this goal.  I still haven't started running but found a program I want to do.  I'll report that progress next week.

So that's where I am.

Hope you are having a successful time at meeting your goals.

Oh Happy Day

Have you ever had a song stuck in your head that so doesn't fit the circumstances you are facing but totally matches your mood?

Well, that's me today!!!  Oh Happy Day is playing over and over again in my head even though Boston is currently on the radio.  My day started anything other than happy. 
I woke up not feeling rested at all and took my shower.  When I got out of the shower and went to turn on the coffee maker, I saw my littlest love was up and watching tv.  TV before school is a "No No" in my house.  I went over and sat next to him on the couch and started talking to him.  He started snarling back.  Some mornings it just sucks to get up and have to go to school.  I reminded him of the tasks he had to accomplish so we could get out the door and get him to school on time.  (His school is about 25 minutes away.)  As he went into the bathroom to brush his teeth, he turns to me and shouts "You're ruining my life!" and shuts the door. 

Since the door was closed there was no responding to that.  I went to the kitchen to get breakfast started and lunches packed and coffee made.  While I was mid-routine, my little darling comes out and tells me he's very sorry for using such hurtful words and he knows I'm not trying to "ruin his life" and gives me a hug.  After this his attitude improves and he becomes helpful to the point of helping feed and water the dogs before we leave.

We get to school right in the knick of time.  Whew. 

Oh I should also share that while I am going thru the morning routine, work calls with a crisis.  I know it's a crisis because it can't wait til I get into the office.  That set the tone for the work day.  Crisis management.  The weird thing is that even though I have been dealing with one rush to the next crisis, I am not feeling frazzled.

So I guess even though the circumstances and situations of today are crazy and chaotic, being in the place of recognizing God's undying love for you by showing up and calming His child when the storm rages, makes for a VERY Happy Day!

I hope you are enjoying the pleasure of God's company in your day too!