Friday, January 24, 2014

P'nut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Barz (So fast to make & so fast to disappear)

OMG guys.

So right now, I've been doing the Atkin's diet. It's been extremely successful, and the pounds are dropping. :) !!!!

Even my sweet tooth has gotten relatively calm--which is amazing.

However, work was having a bbq today--and they asked for treats...my philosophy in life is to MAKE all treats that I take to functions (not to poop out and just buy a pack of cookies--where's the fun in that?). My reasoning is that if I have a good arsenal of treats by the time my kiddos go to school--I can be that awesome mom that has the BEST treats. Silly, I know. I have found many delicious recipes, at the expense of mine and Carlos' waistline :)

These things were SO EASY to make. I made them after a 10 hour day of work, 3 hours of class, a parking ticket, and working out! So don't say you can't do it!

It only took ONE bowl to mix all of the goodness together. Minimal dishes? Sign me up. 


 Mmmm.  A lovely sugar coated measuring spoon.


My disaster of a kitchen.


And yes, that's a container of DIET Mt. Dew. It often is the only thing that keeps me going. (also Pandora playing Crazy Love station--nothing like Michael Buble to serenade you in the ol' kitchen)


Ready to go in the oven!


Hellllllllo oooey gooey deliviousness.
Can you believe I didn't eat a whole bar? Or a whole sheet of em?
Honest to goodness. All I did was savor a tiny bite--and I even spit it out (I know it's crazy).

I took these to work...and there was nothing left. I didn't even get to sneak one...which is probably good. They were a hit!


Here's the recipe. 
Modified from here.

Makes 1 9 X 18 pan and a small 8 X 8 pan *so a lot!

Ingredients: 

  • 1 cup butter, melted (2 sticks)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter (like Jif)
  • 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 pinch salt
  • 6 squares of melting chocolate (3 for topping, 3 crushed) 
  • 1 cup chocolate chips  


Directions: 
1. Heat up oven to 350 F. Spray both pans good with cooking spray (so they don't stick) 

2. Melt the butter in a big bowl. Add the sugar (brown and white), vanilla, peanut butter, baking soda, salt, and eggs. Then add the chocolate chips and the chunks of melting chocolate. THEN add the flour. 

3. Bake for 18-20 min. 

4. Let the bars cool for at least 30 min. (This is the hardest part!!!) 

5. Melt 3 squares of melting chocolate and drizzle on top of the bars. Wait 20 min to cool. 

6. Slice and serve! 



Monday, January 13, 2014

Sunday, January 12, 2014

That One Time Hulu Sucked...and the Bachelor Came on a Week Later

Hulu has been good to us...

We've been able to skate by with just Hulu and Netflix.

HOWEVER...
just as El Bachelor aired, ABC switched up their contract dealio, and people with HuluPlus gotta wait ONE WHOLE week to watch it!

I know, first world problems...

However, one friend told me about Aereo...

It's $8/month and you can record live tv. You read that right!

Take a look, you'll be glad you did!

Check it here: www.aereo.com/




#firstworldproblems
#loveit

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

2014 Resolutions...or Life Changes If You Will

Happy New Year!

What a whirlwind year it's been.

Good bye 2013, and hello 2014.

As the new year is ushered in, I've been contemplating the resolutions goals lifestyle changes? that I've been wanting to make. Of course I want to lose weight, I want to be smarter, I want to be more accomplished--I'm sure everyone does!

Here are my concrete goals that I've made (and stuck with for the past 7 6 days (New Year's day counts as a holiday--and not a time to start resolutions)


Physical: 

  • Drink 8 glasses of water a day. 
  • Do two weeks of the Atkin's Diet
  • Gym 3x a week with the hubbs
  • 1 hour long daily walks with Hobbes
Spiritual: 
  • Start and complete PMG by the end of the year (by myself) 
  • Read the whole BOM by the end of the year (by myself) 
  • Read manuals before class
  • Comment at least once in Relief Society/Sunday School
Hobby: 
  • Crochet a scarf before the end of February 
  • Start taking classes to get my black belt in Ju Jitsu
  • Post on this here blog at least once a week
Mental: 
  •  Graduate 
Marriagical: 
  • Be a better wife by uplifting Carlos 

Ready, set, GO! 

*I"ll be following up each month to see how I'm doing! 

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Waterlogged--The APP You Need to Keep Track of Water

So nobody reads this.
#factoflife

However, I will still shout my love of this new app that I just found. It's not your Candy Crush that will consume you and make you spend money, it's an app that will help you make good choices!

Behold...Waterlogged.


This is an easy to use app that does what it says--it helps you track how much water you drink! 

It's free, and it's also very pretty. 

All you've gotta do it go download it from the app store. Your health with thank you. 



I've been using this app for about a week, and I'm in love. I've even gotten my Mom to download it--novel! 

Now I'm off to finish my last 2 oz of water!