Friday Favorites (aka my sweet tooth is showing)

Happy, happy Friday!!!

I’ve been a busy, busy bee during this short week! Between work and working out, I’ve had little time for school work so you know what my weekend is going to look like! I should probably take a day off work so I can get ahead on the school work so I’m at the front rather than the back of the week. *sigh*

Hopefully, my schedule will sort itself out once the new box opens. I need to spend less time in my car – I need that time for getting As!  I haven’t heard officially yet but I know they were planning on next week! EEEPP!

I’m also hoping to squeeze in a dinner and a movie date this weekend with my sailor. I’d really like to see “Into the Woods.”  I ❤ Anna Kendrick! Anyone seen it yet?

So, let’s chat about my favorites this week.  I apparently have a major sweet tooth.

Found this little gem at a cute little store we’ve driven past and thought about checking out but never did. Perhaps that was a good thing because I believe I am now addicted to this stuff.

My name is Jennifer (hi, Jennifer) and I’m an addict. I once ate an entire jar of chocolate peanut brittle in one sitting. And I thought long and hard about driving to get more afterwards.

OMG, have you TRIED this cashew milk yet?!?!?!  It kinda has a sweet taste to it – it’s very different from almond milk – and I’ve been LOVING it in my protein smoothies! I also recreated the Overnight Quinoa Oatmeal using the cashew milk (instead of almond) and adding honey and almond butter (I subtracted the brown sugar). Holy. YUM.

I don’t even remember where I found this coffee but it is so good! The caramel and sea salt flavors are so subtle that all you can taste when you drink is really. good. coffee.

I’m usually a light roast girl – medium roast can sometimes upset my poor sensitive tummy – and I don’t often care for flavored coffee (creamer? yes. coffee? not so much.) but this stuff is pretty smooth and light. I’ve heard/read somewhere that you can actually taste the difference between regular coffee beans (ie. Folgers, etc) and organic (usually more expensive and harder to find) coffee. I believe them!

Speaking of coffee, has anyone tried the Bulletproof stuff? I’m intrigued. It’s really expensive though!

Sometimes, I enjoy having a cup of tea in the evening. I have coffee (usually only 1 cup) in the morning, I drink water all day, and then, in the evening, I’m in the mood for something different. And because drinking wine every night probably isn’t the best decision I could make, tea wins! 😉

I recently picked up these two new flavors (new to me, that is) of tea from Celestial Seasonings. I love their Sleepytime Series and their Tension Tamer (that one has catnip in it. for reals.).

hm. I think I’m being stalked.

I wasn’t too sure how much I was going to like the mint flavor (I’m funny about mint – I like it in gum and with chocolate but I wasn’t sure about drinking it) but I’m all about the flavor of vanilla so I figured the Roibos would be an excellent choice! I had a coupon for .75 (or something like that) off 2 so that’s why I grabbed both. And, I’m happy to report that they are both excellent!

yes, this picture is a little blurry. i cannot explain it.

I’ve recently learned chatting on Facebook (hey, have you liked my page yet?!) that I am an inexperienced tea drinker. I need to change that. STAT.  I need to try Yogi tea and something about dragon pearls. I don’t know. I’m intrigued though. Where do I find such teas?

Have a great weekend! 🙂

– jennifer

Friday five – waffles and more!

Hello, hello!

It’s Friday!

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And it’s time for my Friday five!

or Friday favorites – or Five things on Friday – or 5 food things I think you should try because I say they’re good. 🙂

So, I’ve mentioned that I’ve eliminated gluten from my diet to see how that affects my tummy issues. Again, I know I don’t have celiac but gluten sensitivity is a real thing and the only way to know if that’s what’s eating you is to stop eating it.

So far, I’ve learned two things: 1. Amazingly enough, I didn’t really eat a ton of gluten before (unless you count the nights where I would eat an entire baguette but there was wine and cheese involved and that counteracts the gluten. obviously.) 😉 and 2. I’ve noticed a little (positive) difference already but the jury is still out. I need to give it some more time to see.

Anyhoo, I’ve got 5 new things I’ve tried that just happen to be gluten-free.

And delicious. Even for eaters of gluten. 🙂

Waffles!

These Nature’s Path Organic waffles are da bomb!

They’re nutty and kinda sweet (but not sugary sweet) and thicker than an Eggo and they’re perfect. They toast up beautifully (I set my toaster to a little over medium) and aren’t soggy in the least.

A serving is 2 waffles and gives you 210 calories, 7 grams of fat (1 saturated), 5 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of protein. A perfect addition to an egg breakfast or even slathered with almond butter and topped with a banana. YUM!

The only downside I’ve discovered is there’s only 6 in a box so…once your family tries them, they’re gone just like that. #hidethemnow

Crackers!

These crackers crispbreads (ooh la la!) are AMAZING.

They are light and airy with just the right amount of crispy crunch and go so very well with hummus. Yes, they do.

And cheese. And eating. 🙂

I forgot to get all the calorie details but 4 crispbreads is a serving and nets only 60 calories.

Oatmeal!

Okay, so this is a big deal for me because you know I love my oatmeal.

What I need to find is a tub of gluten-free oats so I can go about my normal business with oatmeal in the mornings, baking oatmeal type things, etc.

I’m okay with the pouches sometimes but they’re flavored and usually have more sugar than I want.

But, this Chex Oatmeal was all I could find (haven’t been to Fresh Market yet) and I had a coupon.

Luckily, I liked it! 🙂

I’ve had the Maple & Brown Sugar (I know, I know. It was cold and I was in a maple-y kind of mood) made with milk and I added some almond butter and blueberries. NOM!

The Maple & Brown Sugar and the Apple Cinnamon are both 170 calories whereas the original rings in at 130 calories. The main difference is in the sugar. 12 grams in the Maple & Brown Sugar, 13 grams in the Apple Cinnamon, and 0 grams in the original.

Granola!

I really didn’t expect to find gluten-free granola so I was totally stoked when I did!

I love my Greek Yogurt as a morning snack and I was really trying to figure out what I was going to top it with (besides fruit, of course). These KIND granolas are so delicious!

As you can see, I really like the Maple Quinoa Clusters. 🙂

Jerky!

Who doesn’t love beef, or pork, jerky?!

Well, that used to be me but I’ve changed my ways. What I don’t prefer is MSG and other crap in my jerky so I’m always on the lookout for really good jerky.

Found these two Krave jerkies at my Harris Teeter and I was intrigued by the flavors.

Holy. YUM.

I have bags of these in my desk for added protein in my afternoon snack before I head to CrossFit. 🙂

I also really like these because I don’t feel like my teeth are going to come out just trying to eat a piece of jerky. Gah, that’s the worst!

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Talk to me: What new things have you tried lately?

– jennifer

Five on Friday – Five Things I Love About CrossFit

Hello, hello!

Happy Friday!!

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I know I’ve said probably a hundred times that I love CrossFit.

If you haven’t tried it yet or have only talked to people who are in the “I hate CrossFit” camp, you probably don’t understand why.

Some of those “CrossFit haters” probably don’t understand why they hate it either.

On the flip side, there are quite a few CrossFitters who hate running – or anything that’s not CrossFit. But, that’s not what I’m here to talk about. Back to the story….

Anyway, here are 5 reasons why I love CrossFit.

1. All the tall socks!

photo credit: Spikes Consulting, LLC

Who says you can’t make a fashion statement while lifting heavy things or jumping onto tall boxes? 🙂

2. Making new friends (read: family)!

the 5am class from my Florida CrossFit box. I miss them!!

3. Muscles!

Strong is sexy!

And, my newfound strength actually benefits my running! I’ve gained both speed and stability, as well as endurance. #winning

4. Gaining self confidence!

I never, ever would have even CONSIDERED running outside in public in just a sports bra and some short shorts before CrossFit.

Never.

I didn’t even like wearing a bathing suit out in public.

and finally…

5. I’m learning to let go of fears and do new things!

You have no idea how long it took for me to even be able to go upside down!

Talk to me: Do you love CrossFit? Have you tried it? What do you love about your workout routine?

– jennifer