Homemade Energy Bars

Monday night after I got home from the gym I made energy bars from a recipe I found on pinterest. My best friend Katie also made them, [she lives in Texas and we are kind of like soul twins]. They turned out pretty good but both of ours turned out to be a little too crumbly. We are going to make a few adjustments next time, i.e. more peanut butter and a smaller pan so the bars are thicker and will hold together better. I've eaten one for breakfast every morning and had one as a snack before I left work and headed to Zumba on Wednesday. 

Here's the recipe: 

1 1/4 cup Rice Krispies

1 cup quick oats, dry

2 tablespoons flaxseed meal

1/4 cup raisins (I used about 1/2 a cup)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup peanut butter (next time I will use 2/3-1 cup I think)

1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Warm up the peanut butter and maple syrup on the stove until it becomes smooth. Take it off the heat, add the vanilla, stir it together. Pour the peanut butter mixture in the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix together until it's all coated. 

Spray with your pan or dish with non-stick cooking spray. Dump the mixture in the pan and flatten it out with a wooden spoon. Get a piece of wax paper and lay it over top then firmly press with your hands to further flatten. Put in the fridge to harden. I left mine in the fridge for about 30 minutes.

Yummy! I can't wait to make another batch! Enjoy!

Greek Yogurt

I have been trying all the new and different kinds of Greek yogurt out there on the market as I'm sure so many other people are. Some have been good, some just alright, and others not so good at all. I have been seeing commercials for the Muller brand with the fruit on the side that you dump into the actual yogurt. I've wanted to try it but I was skeptical. I know what I've liked so far and I wasn't so sure about it. I was recently at Kroger and I saw the Muller yogurts were one sale; buy one get one FREE! When I saw that I just couldn't resist. I thought to myself, if I like it them I will have an extra one ready to eat that I got for free, or if I don't like it then it's not like I spent money on the extra one and would feel guilty not eating it. Anyways, it was so good! I really liked it. I need to get back to Kroger before the sale is gone and buy a few more. I want to try all the flavors, because that's just how I am with something new. I want to make sure I know which flavors are good and which ones to not buy again. I had the strawberry for lunch today and I will take my extra freebie almond one for lunch tomorrow. You should definitely try it!

Cocktails for a Cure

Friday after work was girls night out some of my best girl friends. I headed over to my friend Ann's house to meet up with her and our friend Elise. We were heading downtown to the Blue 5 restaurant for a charity event, Cocktails for a Cure. We were going to support the Addy Grace Foundation. I don't know the precious little girl or her family, but our friend Megan and her husband know them. She invited us to go so Ann, Elise, and myself met her there. Addy Grace has SMA, a terrible heartbreaking condition. Now that I have been to the event I want to do some research on the disease and learn more about it.

      

                           my beautiful friends: Ann, Elise, Megan                           Me :)

2 little things

Friday was a good day at work. I have to remind myself it's the little things that can make all the difference. Since work has been not the greatest the last few weeks, it's been hard to keep a positive attitude. However, I ordered new pens and I got them on Friday. Office supplies are delivered on Thursdays, but since I was off I didn't get them... but I had a nice surprise in my box on Friday morning! Some of us also decided we would go out for breakfast instead of taking a lunch break. I love Cracker Barrel. I love looking through the little country store and wanting to buy everything I see. All of the fall and Halloween stuff is already out. I cannot wait for fall! While I was browsing I found Mellocream Pumpkins! I haven't had them in ages! Kind of like candy corn but better! Obviously I had to buy a little baggy. It's amazing how 2 very simple things can change the day around.

Luke Bryan!

Wednesday night Jay and I went up to Rockingham County for the fair they have every year. This year Luke Bryan was performing! Last year I surprised Jay with tickets to see Chris Young. I tried to keep it a secret adventure but Mr. Investigator figured it out. Anyways, when I saw that Luke was going to be there this year I immediately put it in my calendar so I wouldn't forget to get tickets. Jay knew about it this time, I didn't try to keep it a secret again. The date of the concert worked out perfectly, Jay was off Wednesday and Thursday. I left work early on Wednesday and we headed up. The drive isn't bad at all. Straight up the interstate for about an hour or so. When we get there it was raining pretty hard. We sat in the car for a little while and then blue skies appeared! We went ahead and went into the fair grounds, walked around to look at the show cows and goats, then decided to go find our seats. Let me tell you, Luke Bryan puts on a fantastic show! He is so energetic and funny, dancing all around. Not to mention he is hot! (Sorry Jay, it's true. Haha). We've decided that since we have been 2 years in a row it's not something we have to do together every year. I can't wait to see who is performing next year and the years to come. I love making memories and starting annual "traditions" with my man.

He loves taking pictures, can't you tell? Haha 

Meteor Shower & Camping in the Rain

Jay was off this weekend so of course we spent most of our time together. Friday night we decided to go camping, just spur of the moment with some friends. I was supposed to be off on Friday but I ended up going into work for a few hours, I was angry. Oh well. I left at 12 and Jay came right over so we start our weekend and hang out. I packed up all my camping stuff and some extra clothes. I also made Cake Batter Puppy Chow! It was delicious. (I forgot to take a picture of it, whoops!) We headed out to Eagle Rock to my friend's parents property. The weather called for rain, a 60% chance of rain, all night. We set up our tents and started a fire, cooked some hot dogs and burgers. The sky was so pretty. The sun was setting and you could tell it was going to storm. Also with the meteor shower, it just looked so pretty.

Saturday morning we got up, ate some more food, and the boys shot their guns. It is so funny watching them play with their toys. They get so excited. We packed up all our gear and our friends headed down to the river. Of course we went to the river like we do every other weekend! ;) Jay and I went back to his house and got Ruger. I wanted him to camp with us but since it was calling for rain we decided not to. We loaded him and went down to our favorite spot. I just love love love afternoons at the river. 

 Get off my tent!      Another view of our spot       Ruger having fun

Lucky

My grandma's dog, Lucky, passed away this morning. He was such a good dog for her. She loved and cared for him more than anyone else I've ever known. He is in a better place now, happy and healthy. I can see him up there in Heaven playing with my bunny, Scooter. There is nothing on this earth like the love of a pet. <3

"Lord, you have embraced a good friend and loving companion. While we mourn what we have lost, we do celebrate what we had... and in saying goodbye, we renew our pledge to love and care for any creature you entrust to us for its time of life. Thank you, Lord, for the joy this loved one gave us and for making it possible for us to have made this friend's life a good one."

Forever in our hearts, Lucky <3

Dog on a Kayak

Sunday afternoon was typical for us, spent down on the river. As always we brought Ruger with us and we met up with some friends. My friend Crystal and her husband brought her little brother along as well. He has a small "cheap" kayak (and I say "cheap" because no kayak is really ever "cheap") that be brought to go up the river a ways and float back down. So first of all, I absolutely want my own kayak now. And this is what happened:

They make me SO happy!