Home made Chocolate Protein Bars AKA amazingness

Wanna hear a story?? **Proud moment**

My 13 year old sister in-law got home from her first day of school, and she was hungrrrrrayyy. Dinner was still a bit away, and I started pulling out the "brownies" from the fridge from setting up so I could try these pups and get a review typed up.... This was my chance. My moment. To get a real, 100% non-biased opinion of my protein bars.... after hearing that she was hungry, I asked her if she wanted one, and she said, "well, I haven't eaten much so I don't want to eat something super bad for me and get a headache...."  and my response went something like... "well... these actually are pretty good for you..." So she decided to have a go. YES!!!! I watched her like a freaking creeper would, and she LOVED THEM!! and even asked for a second one.... WINNING!! One thing I've learned... if its any sort of "healthy treat", has the word protein in it... most people cringe and turn away, spit it out, or try and be nice until you walk away.... but I nailed it on this one.... I got one picky, critical, teenager to like, and want seconds of my protein brownie bars.... SO YOU KNOW THEY'RE GOOD.

 Thank you ChocolateCoveredKatie!!!!!!

HOLLLLAHHHH WHAAAAAAT!?!?

I am STOKED about this. I decided last week that I was going to experiment when I got home from vacay, and TODAY WAS THEEEE DAY. I love love love experimenting with healthy treats... because guess what??? I am a freaking sweet tooth addict. So when I can spare myself just a little... I'M ALL OVER THAT! I got this recipe from www.chocolatecoveredkatie.com, and her site is AMAZING!!! Pretty much my favorite blog a of late... ;)

This recipe was super easy to make, and didn't take me long at all.

Head over to My favorite treat blog for more amazningness... here's whatcha need to know for these pups....

Fudge Brownie Chocolate Protein Bars

Adapted from Black Bean Brownies

• 1 1/2 cups black beans (1 15-oz can, drained and rinsed very well) (250g after draining)
• 3 tbsp dutch or regular cocoa powder (15g)
• 7 tbsp chocolate protein powder (I used Nutribiotic) (45g)
• scant 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup or agave or honey (Honey is not for strict vegans.) (75g)
• pinch pure stevia, or 2 tbsp sugar of choice
• 3 1/2 tbsp coconut or vegetable oil (35g)
• 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/3 cup to 2/3 cup chocolate chips (Not optional; omit at your own risk.)

Homemade Chocolate Protein Bars: Preheat the oven to 350 F. Combine all ingredients except chips in a high-quality food processor, and blend until absolutely and completely smooth. (A blender works if you absolutely must, but the texture and taste will be much better in a food processor.) Stir in the chocolate chips. Pour into a greased 8×8 square pan. Optional: sprinkle extra chocolate chips over the top. Cook the homemade chocolate protein bars 16 minutes. They will still look underdone when you take them from the oven, but this is okay. Let cool, then pat down with a pancake spatula. Refrigerate overnight. The bars will have firmed up and are now ready to cut and eat. Store leftovers in the refrigerator. Makes about 10 bars.

ENJOY FRIENDS!!! I know I will ;)

XOX

Total, 100% honesty with myself.

I am going to do something a little different this time around... I am going to post as if this was my journal. I have a few things I need to confront MYSELF about.... my "come to Jesus talk" with myself (as we would say growing up)... I've got a few things that need to be fixed, and the only way to accomplish that is by a little  alot of reflection, some sacrifice, and serious hard work and dedication. Enough is enough, no more. Tough love is sometimes the best love.. Breathe in..... breathe out.... lets go.

Dear Self,

Today you stooped back into some very very bad habits. It's time to confront yourself. Remember about two years ago when you literately ate ANYTHING you wanted, and how much sugar and sweets you ate? Remember how sad you were? You ate those things not because you were hungry but because you liked the way you felt after. Those 4 cupcakes were good today, but were they really that good? Remember how well you did once at cutting out sugar, and HOW GOOD YOU FELT when you did so?? Yeah yeah yeah, blame it on the fact that you have genetically inherited a gnarly sweet tooth.. you don't take responsibility that you really want that treat more than you want your dreams and goals... that's pretty sad. You know how to eat things in moderation, because YOU'VE DONE IT! You know what to do. But why don't you do it? What is holding you back? Honestly. What are you afraid of? Why do you make excuses? You can't live life in fear anymore. I know deep down, you're afraid of failing yourself, afraid of success. But why? don't you know that you're worth it? Surely you must, otherwise you would have never started in the first place. I don't want to be that unhappy again, and I CAN DO THIS. Sugar is an addiction, and I am addicted. Remember the time (two weeks ago actually) that you quit caffeine COLD TURKEY that you relied on so much? and was so tied down to that you didn't know if you could go a day without it?? YEAH.. YOU DID THAT. You did it then, you can do it again. You've already proved that to yourself. Take a look back at your life... you CAN do hard things. YOU CAN. You owe it to yourself Jessica, to follow through. To achieve your goals. You ARE worth it. You are better than your excuses, and you know that. Either you want it or you don't. So this week, do yourself a favor, and do this. No more sugar. Work hard this week. YOU DESERVE IT!!!!!!! You know WHO you are, and WHAT you are capable of, so make it happen!!!

Sincerely, Self

I am honestly sick and tired of being sick and tired. Today I realized how much better I could be doing. I know I can do it, but honestly lately, I have had ZERO drive. I've fallen out of a few habits, and I need to stop. or start? hahah! Guess what though? The beauty about life is that whenever you DECIDE that enough is enough, YOU are responsible for that change. This week, I am going sugar free. I know I can do it, yes it is going to be hard, but I can do hard things. I will be on vacation, but that is NO EXCUSE. remember, no excuses? So here we go.

This is my goal for this 'READY SET SUNDAY' for my goal setting.

"The Heavens just opened up!!"

Alright guys.... curiosity killed the cat today. Or the heavens just opened up... you pick ;)

Two things:

1. It FREAKING MAKES MY DAY when my shakeology comes a day early. I mean SERIOUSLY.
2. I am ALWAYS on the hunt for new healthy TREATS!!!! <----did you know I've been cursed with a wicked sweet tooth???

So here's how my mind was working today...... I kept thinking to myself: .....man.... I am hungry for something delisssshhhh right now... ugh.... wish my Shakeology was coming today... sigh....I need to get on and find some recipes I can make..... Nla for her always has some AWESOME recipes on their website ( Go check it out btw...)...mmm those look good... and easy...... coconut butter??.... I know what coconut oil is... but what's coconut butter??..... maybe I should ask my coaches group.......who is here??..... is that my Shakeology?!?!?!?.......

BAM!!!

I got my Shakeology, and also found out about the coolest thing I've come across yet....COCONUT BUTTER!!!!

Did you know there is a difference between coconut butter and coconut oil?? I figured so, but I was, and sort of still uneducated about the whole coconut this and that.....

"Think peanut butter vs. peanut oil. One is thick and smooth, while the other is liquid (at room temperature). Coconut butter includes the meat of the coconut, while coconut oil does not."

I also just found my newwwwww favorite blog for healthy(er) treats.... yipppppppeeeeeee!!!! If you haven't been over to chocolatecoveredkatie.com you probably should get over there right now.. or after you read this ;)

I did find out however, how to MAKE your own coconut butter... isn't this UHMAZING!!! I think it is!!! SO I think maybe today, or this weekend, I will experiment with this, and make some bomb diggity treats..... ****STAY TUNED-Check back Sunday for review ;)****  but from the amazing website, this is how I learned how I can MAKE my very OWN coconut butter... check this out:

Homemade Coconut Butter

• Shredded, unsweetened coconut (full-fat)
• Oh wait, there aren’t any other ingredients!

I took a bag of shredded coconut (Let’s Do Organic brand) and simply blended it in my Vita-Mix for about 3-5 minutes. (Note: If you use a food processor, blend for 10-ish minutes.) That’s all there is to it! Chocoholics can also make Homemade Chocolate Butter.

Side note: Depending on where you live–and the temperature/altitude–you might have trouble with this recipe. It works perfectly for me (and many of the commenters). Coconut butter is very tempermental and reacts oddly in different climates. I wish this would work for everyone, but a few people have left comments saying they’ve encountered trouble. So please know before trying that there’s a chance this recipe might not work for you. Also, if it refuses to turn to butter for you, it might be worth a shot to add some coconut oil to the blender… sometimes that fixes things right up!

I can't wait to get baking!!!!!!! 

Happy Thursday everyone!!!! 

My chaotic, wonderful, beautiful mess.

Well... It's been a while!!! 

I wanted to share with you my crazy life the past few weeks, and why I've been a little MIA. :)

We are officially moved into our new place, where my husbands wonderful family were kind enough to take us in for a while we get a few things paid off. I am absolutely in love with living here. I have never felt so relaxed in my entire life, and I know this is where I want to be, and where I belong. Let me paint a picture for you... The house sits on 20 acres. They have 3 MASSIVE gardens where everything you can think of grows. We have 2 dogs, 2 grown cats, and 4 kittens. Life out here is slow. Kids run wild outside, and there is so much room to run and be free. I love this lifestyle. 

This past week I also decided to quit some of the supplements I was using. Last Monday night I noticed some pain in my kidneys, and right then and there, I decided enough was enough. I quit COLD TURKEY. and let me tell you...... for those who have not had an addiction to caffeine and stimulants... you REALLY feel like you are dying. I didn't realize how much I was really relying on those stimulants and caffeine to get my by every single day. It was rough, but I have been 6 days with absolutely ZERO caffeine. I honestly am so proud of myself. There is a night and day difference to how I feel... I AM FINALLY feeling like my normal self...calm, chill, go with the flow... my anxiety has completely stopped, and I feel so calm and okay again. I definitely made the right choice. This past week, I have LITERATELY slept every chance I got, and I am so glad I made time for me to jut get better. 

The only thing I am taking everyday is my Shakeology, and I just feel so much better inside when I give my body something SO GOOD. I am getting natural energy, and it still helps curb my monster appetite ;) 

My goals this week are to listen to my body, but to get myself a good workout in again. I will stay consistent with my blog, and get a post up on Thursday... (stay tuned its gonna be good!) and to keep my body energized and fed well!

I hope everyone has an excellent week!!!!

XOX