Engagement Pics

Jamie and I went home to Florida this past weekend for our engagement photo session. We drove home on Friday, April 24th which was exactly 6 months till the wedding. The weather was beautiful, warm and sunny. Picture Perfect! Here is one of my favorite pictures from the fun day. I just love love black and white pictures.

Spring in Bloom

Spring is here! Spring is here! I have decided that not having a "yard" is no excuse for not having my own garden. There is no time like the presence so I have spent the past 2 days at Lowe's and Hobby Lobby getting my supplies. I am so happy with my new porch creation, a beautiful site after a long day. The pictures above are the finished product.

Friendly Combo

Spring snacking has begun! I love springtime foods because of the abundance of fresh produce that allows for many different combinations to satisfy my palate. The combination is a great tummy filler because of the fiber and protein combination. I topped organic butternut squash puree with 2% cottage cheese, sliced banana, cinnamon. Fiber and protein quickly fill you up because they slow down digestion = fuller longer.

Spring Coffee Buzz

There are some who say coffee is a "no go," while others are comfortable with a double shot of espresso with extra foam with every meal. For me, I find myself somewhere in the middle. I have been drinking coffee 1-3 cups everyday since I was a junior in high school, about 8 years or so. When I first began I would load my coffee cup with sugar and creamer, one of the reasons why I had to lose 100 pounds. Once I saw the error in my ways I switched to black coffee, a quest that took some getting use to. With the introduction of the Splenda craze I found a new alternative. Since my college days my coffee flavorings have been going through phases. I know many people are anti-Splenda because it is "so bad, not natural, horrible creation." Well, I eat very healthy (see blog title) and I figure if God wants me dead then He is going to do it whenever He wants. So, my current favorite coffee craving is in the freezer.

Coffee Brain Freezer Smoothie:

• 2 cups regular cold coffee
• Splenda, too taste
• 1 tbs. dark chocolate coco
• ice cubes to desired thickness

Place all in a blender and blend to smoothie consistency and ENJOY!

My best-friend Kashi stopped by for a visit

Oh Kashi how I love thee, let me count the ways. Kashi recently introduced new bar flavors and I became giddy like a child when I finally found them in my local grocery store. I am a sucker for anything pumpkin flavor so I quickly grabbed this flavor for my first taste test. Kashi did it once again, perfection in a bar. It is a little taste of fall all year round. Enjoy everyone!

Here come the Greeks!

Greek yogurt time, Greek yogurt time. I have been wanting to try Oikos Greek yogurt for some time but always kept putting it off. Telling myself that my current yogurt flavors were doing me just fine. The price conscious person inside me also said stick with the cheaper stuff at 40 cents per container instead of $1.40 for Oikos. Every once in a while I like to treat myself especially after a few hard days of work. I decided on the classic flavor vanilla for my taste test and paired it with an apple. The combination was a winner! The yogurt was not a sweet as most yogurts which was surprisingly satisfying for my very strong love for all things sweet. The texture was also firmer than other brands that created a different food sensation that my mouth enjoyed. My local stores in Atlanta have only been carry the vanilla flavor but I am on the hunt for others to taste test. I cannot wait!

Ok, I finally get it!

Peanut butter is one of the most highly underrated foods eaten in our culture. For the past 2 years I have eaten peanut butter almost everyday. I have never settled on a personal brand favorite, usually just buying whatever is on sale. But for some time now I have heard many great reviews about almond butter, especially Barney Butter especially from the bloggings of http://www.katheats.com/. I heard about free samples being offered from the website so I decided to seize the opportunity for a taste test. I received two free single serve samples and paired them with my favorites, an apple and banana. I figured I should pair the almond butter with something mild so I could get the full taste of Barney Butter. After savoring the moment, that wait was definitely worth it. Great texture, with a slight almond taste that was not over bearing. I especially enjoyed the convenience of the single servings that were great for me at work. I highly recommend Barney Butter and have finally found a personal brand favorite.

Outrageous Double Chocolate Brownies

Beautifully delicious comes to mind as see theses pictures. Baking is something that brings me great joy especially when it is for others. Work can be stressful especially in the healthcare fields such as mine. I love to bring something to my co-workers who give so much of themselves to others while pulling a 12-hour shift. Sometimes you just need to take a minute for yourself to revive, recharge, and regroup. Chocolate is a great way to do that, so enjoy!!

• Duncan Hines Milk Chocolate brownie mix
• Mini chocolate chips
• Sprinkled with confectioners sugar