Mmmm...Paleo Cookies

Just recently, I told you all that I had adopted more of a Paleo way of eating (read more here). Like I said, it isn't a full-blown Paleo diet, but I've cut out a lot of grains (pasta, bread, rice, etc.) from my daily meals.

Enter the Grain Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

 
 I followed the recipe exactly, as this was my 1st time making them and I didn't want to screw them up. Honestly, they don't taste like your everyday chocolate chip cookies...but come on, they're grain free. You can't expect them to taste exactly like normal cookies. But I thought they were super yummy! They became my dessert for about a week and allowed me a little treat that didn't mess up my daily meals/goals :)

Ingredients I used: Trader Joe's raw honey, Bob's almond meal/flour, A&H baking soda, Organic coconut oil, Trader Joe's sea salt, Vanilla Extract, & Enjoy Life's mini chocolate chips (dairy, nut and soy free chips)

*these products were the toughest to find

Unfortunately, I had to go to 3 different grocery stores to get everything that I needed (a local Harris Teeter, Trader Joe's & Earth Fare)...it just happened that none of the stores had everything I needed - but sometimes you gotta work for eating healthy, right?! :)

Have you ever made these grain free chocolate chip cookies? Do you have any other grain free recipes to share with me? I'm definitely looking for more!

Another Surprise Package!

I can't say it enough...I love getting mail, especially packages! Anyone else with me??

They just always have such a nice, personal touch & it makes a person feel good to know that someone out there is thinking about them and wanting to brighten their day, just a little bit.

I met Jenn when I was living in Monterey, CA. I was having a hard time meeting people (as is sometimes the case when you move somewhere not knowing anyone) and decided to join this knitting group on Meetup. The group contained about 5-10 ladies (all different ages) who got together every week to eat, knit & chat...it was a blast! Anyway, Jenn was one of the leaders of the group and we very quickly became good friends...going to get coffee or dinner, taking short road trips, attending the midnight release of Twilight's New Moon at the local Borders, and even taking a sewing class together. Our love for knitting, DIY, Twilight books/movies, etc. bonded us for life, I'm pretty sure! :)

Have I mentioned that she is one of the craftiest people I know?! She knits, crochets, paints, cooks, makes handmade cards, sews...you name it, she does it...or she'll figure out how to do it! She has such great ideas - I just love them all. She has a blog too - Piles of Patterns, and she's promised me that she'll be updating soon!!

So I received this uber-thoughtful package from her and had to share it:

It was partly a belated birthday gift - even the gift bag was personalized!

Cutest handmade card AND envelope - it says "Sparkle & Shine"

Some AMAZING sea salt caramels from Lula's Chocolates in Monterey (I also featured them here on Friday - so you can see what the caramels actually looked like). Needless to say, they're gone by now, not a trace of them left! :)

A darling bookmark that displays the quote: "Where there is love there is life" ~Mahatma Gandhi. I am currently putting it to good use, as I'm starting the 3rd book in the Fifty Shades of Grey series!

Some fun 'create-your-own' magnets...you just stick a picture or piece of scrapbook paper or whatever you want behind the glass, stick the magnet on and you have personalized magnets for your fridge! Very cool idea - will have to share my finished product when I'm done.

And finally, a beautiful, handmade cowl - made from jersey knit material. It is soft, light-weight AND reversible (you can see both sides in the pic)!! I love it and have a feeling that I'm going to get A LOT of use out of it.

So as if I hadn't listed out a lot of ideas & suggestions for care packages here, there are many more options above, if you enjoy DIY/crafts/sewing/etc. Jenn knows me SO well, and this package screams it - I love her thoughtfulness and can't wait to send her one right back!! Thanks Jenn :)

Do you all have any other items you enjoy receiving in the mail or in packages? Please share!!

I've Been Tagged...

Alright, so I was tagged by my good friend Jen, over at A Little Blue to share some information:

 

1. four shows that you watch: 

(1) vampire diaries

(2) one tree hill

(3) gossip girl

(4) greys anatomy

2. four things you are passionate about:

(1) my marriage

(2) my friends

(3) helping others

(4) crafting

3. four phrases you say a lot:

(1) I love you!

(2) No freakin' way!

(3) What the...

(4) I'm tired.

4. four things you've learned from the past:

(1) don't sweat the small stuff

(2) there are definitely things worth fighting for

(3) communication is the key

(4) patience is a virtue

 

5. four places you would like to go:

(1) Ireland

(2) Italy

(3) Australia

(4) Bora Bora

 

6. four things you did yesterday:

(1) worked out/ran on the treadmill

(2) read another chapter of Atlas Shrugged (long book, not easy to get through)

(3) looked for jobs

(4) took a nap

7. four things you are looking forward to:

(1) Christmas

(2) 2011

(3) our 2nd wedding anniversary in March

(4) turning 27 (okay maybe not, but I'm trying to be optimistic)

8. four things you love about winter:

(1) watching snow coming down to cover the ground

(2) wearing lots of hoodies, scarves and cute hats/gloves

(3) drinking lots of hot chocolate with marshmallows

(4) winter activities: ice skating, sledding, snowball fights

 

9. four bloggers who should share their list of fours:

(1) jenn

(2) angie

(3) curt

(4) devan

Surprise Package

I was super excited when I opened up the mailbox yesterday and found a package from one of my good friends, Jenn, over at Piles of Patterns! She has always been so thoughtful and knew just what I needed:

A thoughtful note, yummy Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark & some of my favorite yarn (this one's called "Sunshine Yams")...isn't it gorgeous?! Very pumpkin-y and fallish :) I can't wait to knit something up with it. 

Thanks so much Jenn! You're the best :)