butter love. the best kind of love

How does one finish off 5 days of living, breathing, thinking about personal health?

With peanut butter fondue of course.

That's right.

Last night thanks a friends sister I experienced the most phenomenal desert known to mankind.    Not only did we have fresh strawberries and banana's with dark chocolate fondue... but wait for it...  melted peanut butter.

Oh GAWD.

It's now monday morning and this is all I can think about.

Source

But really, if this week has proven anything its that health = happiness and for me, peanut butter = happiness.

Do It...

trust me.  you won't regret it...

Read The Happiness Project - The New York Times bestseller by Gretchen Rubin.

I'm not sure if its because I'm currently floating deep amidst my "Nourishing The Soul" experiment (Day 2 to be precise) or because I am painfully jealous of this women's bravery - but either way this book is sure to awaken the 6 year old in you who once believed nothing was impossible.

The book written from her own perspective follows Gretchen Rubin as she quits her job, throws her fate to the wind and embarks on a one year journey in the "search of happiness".  Now all Eat Pray Love resemblances aside, the author doesn't just stuff her face with gelato, eat pizza, sleep with young Italian men and practice mediation just to prove anything to 'society' - rather she studies.  She studies everything from Aristotle to Oprah to her children's sleeping patterns.   She looks at work, life, society, herself and her surroundings.  Oh and best of all?  She determines money CAN buy happiness.

All in all, this book is raw, revolutionary and real.

So don't doubt me. Do it.

A Lesson in Nourishing the Soul

 As of tomorrow today at 5:30pm I am officially taking a 3-day vacation (I know minuscule to many, but GIGANTIC to me) Feels like the first vacation I have had in FOREVER.  And while it’s not really a “vacation” in the traditional sense… I’m not hoping on plane, going to a tropical island, camping or cruising on any boats….

Even better, I’m simply taking some “Me Time”

Now what exactly is Me-Time?  (I know cheesy title, not to be confused with being punished to the corner like a 5-year old)

“Me-Time” is a time or place where you can nourish the soul, balance your needs, eat delicious food (oh my god I might even be able to MAKE my own dinners), breathe and best of all relax.

In all reality – I will likely spend this time sorting, cleaning, packing and un-packing my house (I’m supposed to be moving during this so-called meditative period).  Nonetheless, I am taking this time off to unwind, understand and try and prioritize my heart. 

To be totally frank, I am not a meditative person.  I need 2 (large) cups of coffee to get out of bed, I find Yoga too slow, I get road rage, I’ve been called Type-A (more than a few times) and I HATE the smell of hemp.  But lately, it feels like my life/work/sanity is taking its toll on me and I need to figure out a better way to do things.  I need to get rid of this permanent pit-in-my-stomach feeling, the constant cortisol-rush and the adrenaline hang-overs.

While I don’t want to add fuel to the fire and put pressure on this sacred me-time, I am in essence setting a challenge for myself (I know, I know,"challenge" is probably contradictory to the theme, but read back to “Type-A”) 

Whatever. It's my blog - I'll do what I want to.

So today at 5:30 I am challenging myself to slow down, seek peace and remember to breathe.  In essence it will be part vacation, part science experiment.

SO WISH ME LUCK!

53 Days, 18 Hours, 44 Minutes

Until  I attempt my second ever, half-marathon.

Not even 3 days after my first half-marathon, my mother so lovingly, suggested we do a "mother-daughter"  half-marathon.  Apparently - still riding high on the post-run endorphins - I agreed.  So now in less then 2 months, I, along with my Mom will be running in the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Half-Marathon.

Sounds cute doesn't it?  Maybe not when your mother is already a seasoned marathon runner, who at the age of 65, can quite literally, kick my ass.

Not going to lie - I'm scared folks!  I've never run that kind of distance on terrain I'm not familiar with. When I did my last only half-marathon, I had practiced running the route nearly 10 times.  Without being able to envision the route, I have this awful feeling that the distance will feel so much insurmountable if I can't picture it...

Crazy or not, this one's got me N.E.R.V.O.U.S

Blog Believer

Sure I have a full-time (and rather demanding) job.  But somehow, amidst news releases, magazine deadlines, client events and hundreds of emails, I always manage to find time to research new healthy living blogs. And by "research" I of course mean endless, borderline-obsessive hours of reading, browsing, meandering and observing the wonderful world wide web.

My name is Amelia.  And I am addicted to Blogs.

So much so, that I would like to share with you all the fantastic blog {Plate+Simple}
written by the incredibly inspiring (and fellow Vancouverite) Hilary Detwiller, this blog is what blogs are all about; creativity, insight and motivation (a few great recipes also doesn't hurt).

{Plate+Simple} focuses on healthy vegan eating, wholesome recipes, creating a happy lifestyle, running, yoga, and as she says "spreading the love"

So today, in honour of Hilary - and all that makes my day go faster - here is her recipe for the easiest Coconut Date Macaroons ever!

Ingredients:

2 large or 3 small ripe bananas, mashed well

2 tablespoons of oil

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

4 medjool dates, pitted and minced

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Directions:

Heat oven to 375 ̊. In a large bowl, combine well mashed bananas, oil, vanilla, salt, shredded coconut and dates. Stir thoroughly to ensure that all ingredients are well combined.

In a smaller separate bowl, combine flour and baking powder and whisk to combine. Pour dry ingredients into wet and stir well. Dough will be loose and sticky.

Using a large spoon or ice cream scooper, form large balls out of the dough and carefully place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until tops begin to brown slightly. Remove from cookie sheet immediately.

Makes about 9 large cookies

I've just done a bad bad thing...

Or at least I am about to...

I can't believe I am crazy enough to share with the entire blog world, the secret to my existence... the secret to my happiness, my sanity and the only reason I call myself a cook.

enter: Rebar's Cranberry Hazelnut Granola  (shamelessly stolen from my Mother's cookbook)

I'm not joking when I say, this is probably the worlds best granola.  And to make matters worse, it' so easy, even I can make it!  Nonetheless, I must take this moment to warn you all - Granola is not for the chintzy-hearted.  There shall be no skimping on the dried fruits, the honey layering or the coconut shreds.  As far as granola goes - the bigger the better!

And thus, I give to you: 

Cranberry Hazelnut Granola

Ingredients:

• 3 cups (720 mL) large flake oats
• 1 ½ cups (360 mL) barley flakes
• ½ cup (120 mL) oat bran
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut
• ½ tsp (2.5 mL) salt
• 1 cup (240 mL) hazelnuts, coarsely chopped
• ½ cup (120 mL) pumpkin seeds
• ½ cup (120 mL) sunflower seeds
• ½ cup (120 mL) vegetable oil
• ¼ cup (50 mL) water
• 2/3 cup (160 mL) maple syrup (or honey, or a combination)
• 1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla
• 1 cup (240 ml) dried cranberries
• ½ cup (120 ml) dried blueberries

Makes about 8 cups (2 L) ....or if you are like me, then about fifteen big handfuls

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the oil, water, honey, and vanilla. Combine the wet and dry mixes and stir thoroughly.
2. Spread the mixture out onto two baking sheets (or do it in two batches). Bake at 250°F for 20-30 minutes. Stir the mixture every 10 minutes to ensure even baking and remove from the oven when golden brown. Cool and stir in the dried fruit. Seal and store for up to 1 month.

If you want to make the Granola even more BADASS, you can also try these combinations:

• Almonds, wheat germ, dried cherries
• Pecans, flax seeds, dried mango
• Walnuts, dried apricots, and figs

Voila!  You have PERFECTION :)

You can thank me later...