Milkshakes, Cookie Dough Balls and Ice Cream for Breakfast!

The latest BIG NEWS in our house:

Are you ready???

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WE ARE GOING ON VACATION TODAY!!!!!

!!!!!!

YIPEE!!!!!!!

Yup, that's right: Hawaii bound! A WHOLE six days away from the cold and snow...

... Sand, relaxation, aloha.

Ah.

I just cant wait!

Because as you can tell, we have had ANYTHING but warm weather around here.

But it sure is beautiful!

Look at all that snow though:

We have had some good inside time lately:

Eli is so patient with her!

Here are some views that are noteworthy.

This was from a winter hike in the flattop area:

Powerline Pass.

We recently discovered Elyse is a good cross country skiier too!

Go Lysey go!

The Idiarod!!

Elyse needed a nap after all of those adventures.

Who can blame her?

 

So what's an Alaska girl to do when she has to get in beach body shape?

Drink smoothies, of course! ;)

Here is one of my favorites:

Blue Velvet Smoothie

Yum!

Blue Velvet Smoothie Recipe:

* 1 scoop protein powder

* 1/2 Greek Yogurt

*1/2 cup blueberries, or in my case just berries

* 1 teaspoon pure cocoa powder

* 1 tablespoon flaxseed meal

* 5 ice cubes

Blend and enjoy!!

The picture below is not my picture but Chocolate Covered Katie's !

It's her Cake Batter Ice Cream!

Mine looked just as good, but I forgot to take a picture...

So I am borrowing hers

(Thanks Katie!)

Ever have a craving for raw cookie dough?

If you are female, chances are you have.....

So I got that craving recently.

And induldged in it.

BUT in a healthy manner of course!

(Andrew! Get those hands away from my treats!!!)

Yum....

Raw Cookie Dough Ball recipe:

■2/3 cup pitted dates

■handful of chocolate chips or Sugar-Free Chocolate Chips/Carob chips

■1/4 cup cashews

 I did walnuts... they seem to grind better

■1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract

■tiny pinch of salt

Blend the dates, cashews, salt, and vanilla.Costco sells som KILLER GOOD dates! YUM!!! You can either blend the chocolate with the other ingredients or chop it separately, then mix the pieces into the dough.

Make bars, balls, or shapes of whatever size you want. They are extremely pliable.

 

Andrew and I also had a date night recently

...complete with Spaghetti cupcakes and ice cream for two!

Recipe to come for these!!

Last but not least, Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwiches

...for breakfast!

(I know... radical!)

But so delicious-- and healthy!

(even though it kind of melted in these pictures.. oh well! Still really good.

If you are impatient and want the recipe, go to chocolate covered katie's site and search for it-- yum yum!!)

OH!!

And my new obsession:

The Kangakid!

Cant wait to use it in Hawaii!!!

Came with this bear!

How cute is that?

Well, gotta roll!

Little time left before our ride shows up

(Thanks Lindsey girl!!)

Blessings!!

XOXO

(See you in Hawaii)

Aloha... We Are 6 Months Old Now!!

Eating our way to Hawaii!

One last treat at a time...

Yes, this in no way for a hawaii bound girl to prepare for swim suit season...

But its just too hard to stay away from the good stuff!!

Iy yi yia....

In other news, guess whose a little bit older now...?

That's right!!

A whole six months old..

Wow.

Time flies!

She is eating like a champ and sitting up on her own...

What a big girl.

Oh, and waving... kind of ;)

She is in love with that singing cookie jar!

(I know this picture is blurry, but it acurately depicates what life is like with her right now: a lot of MOVING!)

Her relationship with Pockets the bear has changed a bit as well....

It has gone from love to the realization that she can now take him down!

Love....

...to wrestling!

Pretty little girl!

.. and pretty happy too :)

You know, after a lot of evaluating and some days of calm, I realizethat I also ride a roller coaster of busy-calm in my life. Mom always told me this seemed to be a pattern in a pilot's life, but I also think it stands very true in a pilot's wife's life... And really, anyone's life.


When Andrew is away, it seems the happenings in Alaska increase in number and spike right in the middle of his away time. Then, after a couple of days of nothing (my calm before the storm), he comes home and tornado season hits! This tornado runs through our clean home, ending at his exhausted body in our bedroom where a very weary traveler begs for a brief break from life from his family. Then, its back on base/town doing post mission errands and preparing him, for once again, another trip. Except now. From this point until May, Andrew is home with us!

Well... Sort of home. ;)

More details to come on all of our upcoming changes.... and all the surprises that come with it!

Until then, stay tuned for a TON more healthy (and a little bit unhealthier) snacks to be posted tomorrow before take off.

(EHHHH!!!)

Blessings, xoxoxo

Elyse's First Ray-Bans and Maple Cinnamon Cakes with Healthy Frosting!

Shopping today was very productive

(unlike many of the shopping days we have had! HA!)

Elyse and I enjoyed Lindsey's company today... and we found Elyse something very fun at Target:

Her first sunglasses.

They kind of look like Ray-Bans to me though!

"You want me to do what with these??"

.... you can tell she is a bit unsure what to do with these!

But she'll dig 'em for a bit!

She's ready for the sun, dad!

Time for VACATION!

Silly little sun girl.

Can't wait to take a vacation now!

Now, on to the Cinnamon Maple Cakes with heatlhy frosting!

I had snack duty today at our Romans Bible Study so I whipped up a couple of these.

It got some raving reviews from the gals, which was honestly surprising to me!

(I mean, it was good-- but they really really enjoyed it. YEY!)

Soooo... I guess I will share what I made with you too!

The recipes include both the original, my alterations and the short-cut

 

Ok, my pictures for this little treat does not do it justice.

Let's look at Chocolate Covered Katie's:

Yum!

Cinnamon Maple Cake... (or muffins!)

Makes 1

(but if you make them in muffin tins, it will make two hardy ones)

■1/2 cup oats

■1/4 tsp vanilla extract

■1/2 tsp cinnamon

■sweetener, such as 1 1/2 T maple syrup or 1 to 1 1/2 packs stevia

■1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

(You can sub pumpkin or mashed banana)

■1/4 cup milk, creamer, juice, or water

■heaping 1/16th tsp salt

■Optional, for a more-buttery flavor: 1 T oil or nut butter

(if oil, scale the other liquid back)

■Optional: handful of raisins, chopped walnuts, brown sugar for the top

The quick version/my atleration:

* Oatmeal packets, measured to the amount called for in oats

(for example: 1/2 cup oats=1/2 cup instant oatmeal packet)

(add vanilla, applesauce, milk, salt and nut butter if you choose to use it)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine raw oats, spices, applesauce, and liquid. Pour into a small baking pan, loaf pan, or 1-cup ramekin (or the muffin tin). Cook for 15-20 minutes (10 minutes for the muffin tin), or more until it’s firm. Finally, set your oven to “high broil” for 3 more minutes (or simply just bake longer, but broiling gives it a nice crust). Don’t forget to spray your tins first, if you want your cakes to pop out.

Nutrition Facts:

(based on the Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal recipe on Katie's blog)

Calories: 180

Fat: 3g

Protein: 7g

Fiber: 9g

(Katie's note: All flavors are pretty similar, nutritionally-speaking. I usually add some form of nut butter to my boatmeal, but I’ve calculated the nutritional info without the optional nut butter for those of you who wish to keep it low-cal.)

Healthy Cinnamon Bun Frosting:

(also from Katie's blog)

■1/4 cup mori-nu silken-firm tofu

■3-4 T vegan cream cheese (or Neufchatel cream cheese)

■1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract

■2-3 T non-dairy milk (but works just as well with milk)

■sweetener to taste (such as sugar, stevia, agave, xyhitol etc.)

Combine all ingredients in your blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Makes about 2/3 cup.

Calories per tablespoon:

■ Calories: 10

■ Fat: 0g

■ Protein: 0g

■ Sugars: depends on how much you add (sugar-free if made with stevia)

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Very yummy!

It seems I have been cooking a lot lately....

but without a husband at home, I have a lot more time than I usually do!

Since my life had been so busy before this week, I have been taking a couple of days of resting.

And baking.

I'm sure it will plain off once my hubby gets home

(which will be here very soon, I pray!)

But for now, bake 'em up if you can!

Blessings!

XOXOXO