Paleo, Gluten and Dairy Free Bars

SO STOKED TO TRY THESE! I saw them online at http://fitviews.blogspot.com/2012/08/paleo-energy-bar-recipe.html. 

I consistently buy Lara bars, which can get expensive at $1.69 or something like that a bar. I started looking online for recipes since they didn't seem to be that hard to make. I found this one and was so happy that I had a food processor and most of the ingredients on hand! 

I am definitely going to experiment with these and see what flavors/textures I can make. New favorite thing right here. 

Here's the recipe: 

Dates (I added about 22 Deglet Noor Dates, de-pitted) 

About 1 and 1/4 cups roasted (not salted) almonds

1/4 cup pumpkin seeds (raw)

1/2 of an 88% dark chocolate bar 

Next time I am going to try using more dates/less dry ingredients to make them more malleable. I might try adding more dried fruit as well. 

Paleo pacakes

Here are my paleo pancakes! Not too bad for a first try. I also highly recommend Pure Maple Syrup. This one is local and organic which is awesome! I have noticed that I use a lot less syrup when it is natural (and it tastes better). Way worth the extra 2 or 3 dollars.

Here is the recipe:

2 eggs
1 banana
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Fruit for the top

The boyfriend added all natural peanut butter as well. (not paleo, but still looked delicious).

If you want extra protein, adding some egg white or whey protein can make these pancakes fluffier. You could also add any type of gluten free flour to make these pancakes gluten free and not paleo.

My other new concoction is a ginger yerba mate tea (seen behind the pancakes).

Loose leaf Yerba Mate tea
Ginger
Stevia

Best early morning/middle of the afternoon drink ever!

Coffee Scrub

I tried a new body scrub today that consisted of coffee grounds, brown sugar and grapeseed oil. My skin has never been smoother! I love it and am forever saving my used coffee grounds to make it.

You need:

3/4 parts coffee grounds
1/4 parts brown sugar
a dash of grapeseed or olive oil

You don't need very much (even for full body)

The Wonders of Baking Soda

I have always hated shampoo and conditioner. So much so that a few years back I just stopped using it. I did not replace it with anything (other than a boar bristle brush, which is meant to even out grease) and needless to say it was gross. I went back, reluctantly, to using shampoo. For the past year or so I have been using baking soda for shampoo and apple cider vinegar as conditioner. I usually mix about 12 oz of water with 1-2 tbsp. of baking soda and add in a few drops of lavender essential oil for a nice clean smell. Same for the apple cider vinegar. I am able to do this once or twice a week without my hair looking greasy! 

I also have been using baking soda as a mask for my face at least once a week. Combine baking soda and water until it has a paste-like texture. Then spread onto your face and leave until dry (or take off earlier if tingling sensation). 

ALSO, I have been using it as deodorant. Mix it with cornstarch, coconut oil and essential oils and put in the refrigerator until hard. So far it has worked well! It doesn't have that overly fake smell that most regular deodorants do. 

I have heard of people mixing it with strawberries for toothpaste but haven't gone that far.  I highly recommend all of the above uses for baking soda. 

New cure for my tummy troubles!

Truce Juice in Minneapolis! 

Apple/Lemon/Ginger 

Immunity Juice

Gluten Free, Dairy Free Pancakes

So in an attempt to use up all of my baking foods (flour, sugar, etc) my boyfriend made gluten and dairy free pancakes for me this weekend. I am making the switch into eating Paleo, or as close to it as possible for my lifestyle and budget. Therefore, I am getting rid of all grains and refined sugar and going back to what the ancient civilizations ate- meat and vegetables (with some fruits and coconut flour in there too). I am mainly doing this 1. just to see if I can do it and 2. to see what the hype is about. But enough about Paleo, here is the non-Paleo, gluten and dairy free recipe. 

2 eggs

4 tablespoons grapeseed oil 
2 cups sweetened coconut milk
3 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla extract
2 1/3 cups buckwheat and brown rice flour mix
2 tablespoons granulated sugar (or stevia)
1 1/2 teaspoons gluten-free baking powder (I omit this if I’m in a pinch)
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon xanthum gum 

1-2 tsp cinnamon

(could add cocoa powder to make chocately as well)

You could also use dairy free butter instead of oil, or any kind of oil as well. We also topped with fresh fruit and only the best (REAL) organic maple syrup! Delicious! 

There is no such thing as a bad run

Distance: 2.21mi, time: 26:21, pace: 11:55min/mi, speed: 5.03mi/h. 

So yes, this run was much slower than normal but I needed to get outdoors on a beautiful 50 degree day! It was so nice to go outside at 7:00 p.m. and have enough light to see. Granted, I have never run in so much slush before. My shoes and leggings were completely soaked (so much so that my feet kept slipping on my yoga mat after!) Well worth letting my shoes dry out by the radiator. 

Mondays

Are always better with red wine.

How teachers spend their snow days

Lesson planning with other teachers over a nice hot cup of ruby lemon mint herbal tea.

After of course, waking up at 4:45 a.m. to get dressed, drink coffee and get ready for the day only to be told on the way out of the door that school is cancelled! Here is why:

We got a good foot (or more) of snow. Take that Georgia! Shoveling this morning was a good workout that's for sure... So I will stay in at the coffee shop, drinking warm beverages and chatting with Serenity (http://www.destinationclassroom.blogspot.com/) until I decide to walk home in the middle of the road since it is easier than trying the sidewalks.

Motivation

This my evergrowing motivation wall! Back of the door so I see it when I wake up.

21 Day Yoga Challenge

http://www.yogajournal.com/21daychallenge/

I had found this yoga challenge right at the beginning of this year. I found it helpful to challenge me to do yoga daily. For the first week and a half or so I followed the videos in the intermediate track but then  grew slightly bored of the assigned videos and switched to finding my own yoga videos on youtube. Every day during the week (I try to do it on weekends too but it doesn't always happen) for almost 6 weeks I have done at least 15 minutes of yoga daily. I have found my favorite yoga videos to do (and my not so favorite videos). After sticking with doing yoga 5 times a week, even for short bursts, I have found an increase in flexibility and a decrease in negative energy. While I still am quite stressed out with the education program I now have a calming and productive outlet.

I also recommend that if you decide to do this challenge to opt out of receiving emails....they are just trying to sell you things...or make up your own collection of yoga videos!

5 dollars in the mail...

Got me a delicious gluten free and vegan brownie on a stressful day! Thanks Grandma! 

Snowy Day

My run was not quite what I was expecting today. However, I do love when it is warm and snowing (warm meaning over 10 degrees). I have learned this winter that I love to run outside when it is snowing and people have shoveled. I have not slipped/fallen once this winter! Knock on wood.

What are the chances that this would happen on a day off of school? It is wonderful! No need to commute anywhere. 

Perks of working with kids

You find cute little notes like this in your pockets!

A Good Reminder

Every person knows something different. Everyone has experienced life differently. This is something I like to remind myself of on a daily basis. No one feels the same, acts the same or experiences the same. It is what creates this beautiful place. I think that we can learn something from every person we meet. Try learning something new today and every day. So happy to have found this quote.