LizzieBars: the Homemade Alternative to LaraBars :)

Happy Tuesday! Today is totally confusing me. We had yesterday off of work, so all day long I kept thinking it was Monday. Short weeks always feel weird. Our weekend was busy! We celebrated my dad's retirement this weekend in Greenville, SC. It was lots of fun to be with family. We even did a little bowling on Saturday!

 

On Sunday, we headed home to do some painting at the house!

(Family shot on the front porch)

 

We were very lucky that our house was move-in-ready. There wasn't anything we HAD to do before living there. However, there were a few projects we needed to do ASAP. One of the bedrooms was decorated for a little boy- or a paleontologist. :)

As attractive as these dinosaurs are...they are kind of scary for a guest room, right?

If you are wondering how many coats of paint it takes to cover dinosaurs... The answer would be 5: 3 coats of primer and 2 coats of paint. Here's a (sort-of) after shot. We still need to apply a second coat- hence the taped outlets.

 

We were also painting this bedroom over the weekend:

This bedroom has an interesting wall-decor-technique. Those are wooden slats nailed to the wall. That made this paint job pretty tedious. We had to paint the wall color first and then go back and paint all the slats. The husband was ready to call a professional within the first hour, but we finally finished it last night!

After:

I still want to add a little color to this room. But I like the way the blue and white is kind of calm and peaceful.

 

So... on to the food. (I know that's why you stopped by!) Do you have a favorite energy or snack bar? I feel like I have tried them all. I've become really picky about energy/protein/health/snack bars. I've started looking at ingredients and most of them are full of...well...crap. Lots of sugar, lots of preservatives, lots of not-so-good-for-you ingredients. But then I came across LaraBars. Larabars are great.

Their ingredient list is short, they are made from real food, and most of them don't even have added sugar. My favorite flavors are Banana Bread, Cherry Pie, and Apple Pie.

My only complaint about Larabars is the fact that they tend to be a little on the expensive side. I decided to try making my own, just to see if I could.

Introducing... LizzieBars!

I decided to try a different flavor so that I wouldn't be comparing it directly to Larabars: Honey Cranberry Almond. I started by throwing some dried cranberries, dates, and into the food processor. I pulsed the mixture until the items were slightly chopped. Then I added about 1/2 teaspoon of honey and a few drops of vanilla, just to boost the flavor. (I know adding honey means adding sweetener, but if think the health benefits of honey outweigh this tiny bit I used.) I continued to blend the items until they were more finely chopped and the mixture started to stick together.

Next, I pressed the mixture into a glass baking dish lined with waxed paper. I put the dish into the fridge for a while to help the bars to "set" and then cut them into bar shapes and bagged them into snack-sized baggies.

I really liked the Honey Cranberry Almond Mixture. I do want to try and attempt a banana bread flavor and maybe a cinnamon apple flavor.

Larabars OR LizzieBars are great for a pre-workout snack or a post-workout snack. They also are great for afternoons when you eat lunch really early and work late and need something to get you through the day. Because these are made with dried ingredients, I would think they would keep at least a week or two in the fridge- but I can't say for sure.

Let me know if you try making your own!

 

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CFCP Food Essentials

So, I get this question a lot: what are your pantry/fridge staples? I was thinking I had done a post on this, but i searched and I guess somehow I never have! I always think it is interesting to hear what other people buy at the grocery store, so I thought some of you out there might be interested in knowing MY staples. It's kind of like when you go to someone's house to visit and you peek in their medicine cabinet or bathroom vanity. I'm just kidding. I've never, ever done that. Or maybe I have. You'll never know.

Eggs. I always, always buy eggs. Except for today, when I forgot them. So I have to go back tomorrow. But I eat eggs almost every day. Fried, scrambled, hard-boiled, or added to burgers or patties to hold them together. Hard boiled eggs are my go-to breakfast item when I am in a rush, and they also make a great pre-workout snack.

Everroast Chicken Breast (Boar's Head) from the deli. I get 1.5 lbs every week. Makes great lunches, pre-workout snacks, regular snacks. When I need an easy protein, this is it. Add some almonds and an apple- that's lunch in a pinch.

Lemons. I buy a bag every week or every other week. I add lemons to regular water, sparkling water, chicken, fish, salad, sliced apples (keeps them from turning brown), and more. Nature's condiment!

Bag of apples and 6 bananas. These two fruits are so portable. You don't need any utensils to eat them, and they don't make a mess. In the fall, I always buy Honey Crisp apples by the 3 lb. bag, and other times I buy Pink Lady or Gala apples. Why 6 bananas? I have no idea. Just seems to be the magic number.

Ground beef- grass fed if they have it where I am shopping. I use ground beef to make hamburger patties, Paleo meatballs, Chili, and more. We eat it every week. If it is on special, I always stock the freezer, too! It's a great price at Trader Joe's, and I just heard that Aldi has it for a great price. I guess I need to learn how to shop Aldi!

Almonds or cashews. I usually buy one or the other every week- because it's a portable yet healthy fat and sometimes you just need something crunchy!

Breakfast sausage. Some people are camp bacon. Some are camp sausage. I am camp sausage. I add it to scrambled eggs, frittatas, sweet potatoes, and more. I am trying a new brand this week: al fresco. I hope I love it! It's got a pretty clean ingredient list!

Sweet potatoes. I used to despise them, but my tastes have really changed! I used to disguise them, but now I even like puréed sweet potatoes!

3 lb. bag of yellow onions. Onions go in almost everything I cook- breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Veggies- tomatoes, zucchini, and frozen green beans. We eat these almost every week because they are so easy to add to any meal. Zoodles, anyone?

So... Those are the staples I buy every week. You all know how I love to order groceries online... And Harris Teeter keeps my frequent purchases on my list from week to week, so I can shop for groceries in a snap! Then I just send the hubby to pick up the order! By the way, our local Harris Teeter is offering free pickup this week! So if you haven't tried this service out... Now is a great time!

So tell me...what are YOUR grocery staples?

In other news... I am heading back to work after 11 days of rest and relaxation. Starbucks, please have my Grande Bold Blend ready. I will be seeing you early in the morning!

 

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Local Restaurant: Culina & Slawsa for Cookouts!

You know how sometimes things are just meant to be?

Like this past Sunday. I woke up thinking about brunch. Breakfast/brunch is my favorite eat-out meal, and I was sitting on the couch sipping my coffee and feeling bad that I STILL have not been to Culina, a new-ish local restaurant in Rock Hill.

And then...

in my email...

Boom. Daily Deal. Culina.

See? It's like it was meant to be. I made a reservation for 12:15 and after church, we headed out to brunch.

 

Culina is open nightly for dinner, but they also feature a weekend brunch.

 

The menu features items like Shrimp and Grits and Eggs Benedict, but I already knew what I wanted:

 

Yes, you read that correctly: "Cheerwine Chicken and Waffles." I have been eyeing this menu item for quite some time.

 

 

(For those of you not in the south... If you aren't familiar with Cheerwine, you are missing out. It's like Cherry Coke, but way better.)

The chicken was so crispy on the outside and tender on the inside! The Cheerwine sauce was sweet, but not TOO sweet, and was a perfect waffle topping!

What is it with chicken and waffles? It seems like such a weird combination, but it's really genius. Sweet and salty all on one plate.

Not pictured: Bloody Mary. Culina has a Bloody Mary Bar. The server brings your drink to you, and then you add whatever additions you like!

The husband went with Eggs Benedict.

 

I stole a bite and it was delicious! Especially the potatoes! Our server let us know that Culina's dinner service is different from the brunch service. Dishes are served more family style and sharing is encouraged. I love family style since I like to steal food from everyone sample all the items on the table. I'm like a seagull, I guess.

If you decide to visit Culina (and I think you should,) I would make a reservation, because it is small. You can make a reservation by visiting their website.

 

 

 

Now... On another note... Are you ready for the Fourth of July? We are having a little family cookout he at home, so I made a special trip out to The Peach Stand this week for Slawsa! You can't have a cookout without Slawsa! If you haven't tried it, what are you waiting for? It's so yum. And this is a condiment made by a small, fairly local company. You'll be supporting a great small business by buying Slawsa!

 

 

 

Don't forget the Slawsa!

 

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Techie Travel Tips

Welcome, friends! I have been noticing some new Facebook friends and readers from new locations! Whatever brought you here, I am so glad you came to visit! Be sure to follow my blog (see the right hand side of the page) so you get updates, and be sure to follow me on Facebook and Twitter for extra content. There are links on the right side of this age to follow me. Just scroll down.

I know many of you have been reading all my posts about my recent trip to San Antonio, Texas. I have mentioned before that I was there to attend the ISTE Conference. (ISTE=International Society for Technology in Education.)

Well, I was thinking about my trip and how many "techie tools" I used throughout the week. I thought that some of you might want to try out some of these as you travel this summer. Let me know if you have other "techie travel tools" to share! Just post a comment so others can see your favorites, also!

1. Touchnote

This has quickly become my very favorite App! Touchnote turns the photos on your phone or iPad into postcards or greeting cards that you can send to anyone- anywhere- in the world! You simply use the app to design the postcard. Check out the card I designed for my coworker, Barb:

(Front)

 

(Back)

 

For this postcard, I used Pic Collage to design the collage, and then I uploaded my collage onto the postcard. I filled in Barb's address and hit "send!" The postcard cost me 1 credit, which was about $1.25.

And then...

How easy is that? I am HORRIBLE about sending cards to people, mainly because it means I need to go to the store, buy a card, buy stamps, and them put it in the mailbox! With Touchnote... I can send them from my device! Plus, the cards are very high quality- nice and glossy and sturdy! They arrive quickly, also!

 

2. Yelp

You have probably heard me mention YELP before. Yelp is one of my favorite apps (also a website) for finding great places to eat or entertainment!

As we were walking through San Antonio, there were several times where we weren't sure where we wanted to eat, so I pulled up Yelp and searched for "restaurants nearby" or "breakfast/brunch nearby." Yelp quickly compiles a list of places that are close to your location (using GPS). You can view menus, price lists, and reviews all from the Yelp App. Plus, the many Yelp users leave photos and tips that help you to decide what to order!

I have never been let down by Yelp! AND Yelp always helps me to find unique, non-chain restaurants and locations that aren't the typical tourist traps.

 

3. Cluster

My sister Meredith actually told me about this app and it is great! More and more, I find myself snapping quick pics with my iPhone, and I am sure you do, too. Well, after a few days of travel, I find myself with dozens of pictures, and I would love to share them with my friends or family. However, if you are using your phone, then it is difficult to send multiple pictures to one person. With Cluster, you can upload multiple pictures at once and then share with friends and family. If they have the Cluster App, then they can quickly access your entire photo album! You can also email the album to anyone with an email address- regardless of whether they have the Cluster App. Talk about a time-saver, right?

Just create a new cluster...

 

Pick your photos...

 

Add details so you remember what each cluster contains...

 

And Boom! Cluster created. From here, you can share away with friends and family.

 

Only downside- you can't seem to import pics from Photo Stream into Cluster- they must be in your Camera Roll.

So there! Three techie tools to help make your vacation more fabulous! What are YOUR favorite "techie tools" when you travel? Please leave a comment with your favorite app or website!

 

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Random Things I am Loving

Sometimes it's fun to do a mish-mosh post. Sometimes this is how my brain works- lots of random thoughts floating around. Does anyone else have this problem?

Sample work scenario: get back to the office after visiting a school. On the drive back, I start thinking about an article or strategy that I know is located in one of the books on my shelf. Get back, browse the shelf. See the title Getting Smart and remember that my ipad dinged on the way here- an email. Stop and check email. It's from a coworker asking for a resource. Stop everything and look for that resource. While looking, come across a notepad where I wrote myself a reminder a week ago but then lost. Reread note and realize...

Need I go on?! Tell me I am not the only one.

So now my random brain wants to tell you some random things I am loving. If I were Oprah, this would be my "Favorite Things" Episode and you would all be getting free products. Unfortunately, I am not Oprah.

 

1. Tazo Wild Sweet Orange Hot Tea

This is the best hot tea I have ever had. I mean EVER. If you like oranges, get this tea. You will not need any sweetener at all. The flavor is that intense. It's orangey and tangy and perfect for a late afternoon sip.

 

2. Blogilates

I love this blog/site. Recipes and simple Pilates videos you can do at home. Cassey is likeable and she puts good music with her workouts. No equipment needed!

 

3. Trader Joe's Jalapeño-Stuffed Olives

 

These are the best healthy alternative I have found to a jalapeño popper. Perfect size, perfect amount of heat... Love them!

 

4. Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream

This stuff is wonderful if you get dry hands. I have been using it for a week and my cuticles have done a whole turnaround.

 

5. Bath and Body Works Forever Red

I bought some products at BBW a few weeks ago and I am loving this fragrance! People are starting to look at me like I am crazy because I am going around smelling myself. Just kidding. Or maybe not. But seriously it smells really good.

 

This isn't one of the 5 things, but I am also loving this photo of me and the husband.

 

What are you loving right now?

 

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