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No Bake Vegan Mint Chocolate Coconut Snowballs, Athletic Gear

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Hi Friends, how are you on Tax Day? I could say Hump Day, that sounds much more fun to me than Tax Day! Did you file your taxes or at least file an extension? I filed mine last week and for once in my life, was glad to because of the home-buyer tax credit . We shall see if I actually get the check in the mail in a few weeks.

Scott left for a business trip and is gone until Saturday so I am alone with Skylar.

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Scott took her for a little bit this morning before he left and she got her Daddy Time in , and Scott picked me up this card with a super sweet note from him inside.

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As well as a lovely picture from Skylar. She just turned 3 in February for new readers.

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Reminds me of These Flowers they recently surprised me with!

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After 9+ years married and 11 years together , I am blessed to be married to my best friend. And cards and flowers out of the blue are another little blessing for which I am grateful! I love you, Scott!

Before Scott left today, I went to the gym and I pushed myself, hard , inside the gym and then did cardio outside in the 85F heat. Gotta work on that tan, ya know…haha! Actually, I would much prefer to run outdoors , rain or shine, freezing temps or blistering heat , than run on a treadmill or do indoor cardio machines. I despise them. Too boring! Plus, I find running outside much more challenging, which I like. Never underestimate mother nature. It’s a lot different scuba diving down 20 feet in the ocean than 20 feet deep in pool water type of thing! I actually feel pretty high on life at the moment. Must be all those post-workout endorphins. I am Meathead Earth Mama , hear me roar!

And then, complete with gym sweat and road grime, I went to the bank and Target. I really needed some lifting gloves and for $9.99 at Target I found these.

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I saw nicer ones online but these are the type of thing I really needed to try them on so I went with the Target brand. I think they’re pretty cute (I love the pink stitching because well, I love pink!) and hopefully they will prevent my hands from getting so tore up when I’m lifting.

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And my running shoes were on their last leg. And beyond. So I was thrilled when my new Nikes arrived today. I have been wearing the Vomero 4 for about a year and these are the Vomero 5 they came out with. They seem pretty much the same, but I haven’t ran or walked in them yet.

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I have huge feet . A women’s Size 12. And they are super narrow. Like AA.

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I am also 5’11” so my feet match my legs and the rest of me and don’t look ridic big like whoa! or anything. Well, you may beg to differ but Alyson or Madeline can vouch for my dogs being proportionate.

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Men’s Nikes are what I’ve worn since 7th grade when my feet became this big. They are long enough and of all athletic shoes, I find them the narrowest and they seem to fit me the best and I can actually order online and am generally fine.

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The shoes seemed a little snug when I tried to put my Bake-able Insoles in…

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And glad you all liked the looks of my High Protein Chocolate Coconut Oil Popcorn !

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Green Food: A Kale Salad with Tomatoes, Carrots, Cukes, & Cauli Topped with….

Green salad topped with mixed vegetables - 47 Green salad topped with mixed vegetables - 48 Sesame Ginger Maple Tofu in foil lined dish - 49 Sesame Ginger Maple Tofu in foil lined dish - 50 Three pieces of Sesame Ginger Maple Tofu - 51 Three pieces of Sesame Ginger Maple Tofu - 52 Salad toped with Vegan Creamy Tahini Cesar-Inspired Dressing - 53 Salad toped with Vegan Creamy Tahini Cesar-Inspired Dressing - 54

I don’t eat very much soy at all, but the extra protein is nice and as long as I take it easy and don’t overdo it, I don’t seem to have any glaring food allergy reactions.

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Dessert is a New Recipe! It’s a Spin off and Combo of These….

  1. Vegan Creme de Menthe Bars (No-Bake )
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  1. Raw Vegan Chocolate Coconut Snowballs
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  1. Dark Chocolate Coconut Snowballs
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  1. High Raw Vegan “Peppermint Patties” When I make a dessert these days it has to be: Fast, Cheap, Easy, Very Little Cleanup, and bonus for no power appliances needed.

This recipe delivers on all fronts! As I mentioned in This Post , Various Criteria Must be Met for Me to Call Something a “Good Recipe” .

Averie’s No Bake Vegan Mint Chocolate Coconut Snowballs 3 Cups Coconut Flakes (I use sweetened and inexpensive from the grocery store; use what you prefer) 1.5 Cups Cocoa Powder (can use Carob) 1 Cup Maple Syrup (you can use agave, honey, or yacon) 2 Tsp Vanilla Extract 1/4 Cup Coconut Oil (Melt it first if it’s solid) 1/8 to 1/4 Cup of Creme de Menthe OR 1-2 Tbsp Peppermint/Mint Extract Optional: 1/3 Cup Mint Chocolate Chips/Chocolate Chips/Carob Chips/Cocoa Nibs Combine All Ingredients & Stir (The order in which you combine the ingredients doesn’t matter)

First I combined the Dry Ingredients

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Then Add & Combine the Wet Ingredients: First I Melted 1/4 C Coconut Oil and added Creme de Menthe, Vanilla Extract, and Maple to the bowl

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Stir Until Combined

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Store in a Container or Portion into Bowls

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Freeze and Enjoy!

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The Recipe Will Not freeze rock solid because of the Coconut Oil and the alcohol (Vanilla Extract, the Peppermint Extract and/or the Creme de Menthe) thus preventing a really solid freeze…

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Can you see the Little Chocolate and Mint Chips Coated in Minty Chocolate?

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I am either the Dessert Ball Queen and prefer my chocolate and coconut to be of this variety:

Raw Vegan Coconut Oil Chocolate

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Yoga Today is a Seated forward bend (Paschimottanasana). If you’re a runner especially, you really need to think about stretching your hamstrings in a seated forward bend or standing forward bend where you’d fold over at the waist and touch your toes. Running shortens your hamstrings, and forward bends will counter that and helps to lengthen them back out. And doing so will help you prevent injuries.

For the non runners , this pose also helps to stretch and release your lower back and since we all spend too much time sitting at our computer and not doing our backs any favors, forward bends will also help your back .

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And with the traditional ashtanga style toe-hold

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Gym & Weights Workout Today: Please See My Gym Workouts Tab and look for Upper Body Workout with Super Sets

I updated The Tab with The Workout I Did Today and boy, it kicked my butt!! In the best way, though! I did the whole thing…including everything after the “ If You Still Have Energy ….” Comment. Enjoy the Workout!

**LAST CALL CONTEST ENDS THURSDAY 4/16/10 Tip of the Day: My $25 Custom Chocolate Shopping Spree Give Away !!!!!!

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  1. For those of you who lift regularly, how many days a week do you lift and for how long are you at the gym? Do you work hard and pretty much keep your heart rate up doing set after set , or do you luxuriate a little more and rest more fully in between sets? My trainer told me that you should rest about 60 seconds between sets , but shouldn’t rest longer than 90 seconds. He also told me that I shouldn’t be on the gym floor for longer than 45 minutes based on the workouts he gave me. Being that I don’t rest anywhere near 60 seconds between sets (bad girl!) and am usually in turbo mode zooming from one set or exercise or machine to the next, I get his whole workout done in about 25 minutes, and then throw my own stuff in for about 15-20. After that 40-45 minutes, I am indeed ready to pack it in. How much time do you rest, spend on the gym floor, and how many rest days per week?

  2. Taxes. What’s the biggest refund you’ve received or the biggest amount you’ve owed and had to come up with? I have received refunds in the 4 figure range and owed in the 5 figure range. Not fun at all. Don’t even ask. But yeah, painful and stressful beyond belief. Thankfully this year wasn’t one of those kind of years! How did taxes go for you this year? Not trying to get all personal or anything but I hope you all get fat refunds and can splurge on something with your “found” money!

  3. Fave Place to Buy Athletic Gear? It’s the type of thing that I could save a lot of money by ordering things like sports bras, shoes, workout gear, yoga clothes, running shorts, you name it , all online ….but, if it doesn’t fit you have to send it back and then end up spending tons of money on shipping it back. Do you buy clothes, shoes, athletic stuff online or in person? What are your fave stores or websites?

Stay Tuned For Another Great Dessert Recipe and Blogger Meetup Details…