Hello!
This little lady really love her kitty blanket! You might remember that we unraveled a giant afghan to repurpose it for blankets donated to the humane society. We finished that project over the weekend and have since moved on to crocheting through my “private stash” of yarn. I’m not sure how many blankets we’ve made, but I’ll post a fun before-and-after soon.
Workouts
Fri - Rest / nap.
Sat – Insanity “Pure Cardio“
Sun - Shoulders & biceps.
Mon – Rest / nap.
I do all of my weekday workouts during my lunch break, but I’ve been feeling so tired (and a little stressed) lately. Maybe I struggle to count grad school as a blessing, but I’m endlessly grateful that I have a little private office for afternoon naps.
Eats
1) The last of our bargain avocados + refried beans + salsa + veggies + runny egg. Our weekend breakfast is usually standard, always tasty.
2) So, I kind of despise Whole Foods. They don’t sell anything that I can’t buy at Trader Joe’s for a better price and it’s always crowded, especially on Saturdays, which is when we do most of our shopping.
BUT, they do often have fun samples and I’ll sometimes drag Chris there for that reason alone. Recently, they had these incredible little chocolates with recipe cards because YOU CAN MAKE IT YOURSELF. Oh my lord.
I scale the recipe way, way down because I could eat this for days; not even gonna pretend. Anyway,
Melt 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Stir in 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder and 1/2 tablespoon of powdered sugar. Spread onto a waxpaper-covered plate and chill until firm (under 30 minutes.)
I can’t really describe the texture (Chris, can you help?), but just know that it’s so, so amazing.
3) Pancakes, PB, chocolate syrup, and coffee. Duh.
Coconut Oil
Did you ever wonder how coconut oil is made? I didn’t, until I started using it hand over fist for chocolate.
This person says that you can shred up the fleshy fruit, squeeze the liquid out of it with a cheesecloth, and then put in the fridge. The curd will harden at the top, which you can scrape off, leaving coconut oil beneath. Neat!
This person agrees with the shredding, but says the liquid can also be fermented instead of chilled, and the curd is skimmed off the top. It can also be spun through a centrifuge.
This person lets the coconut dry, then presses it to squeeze out the oil. I buy from Trader Joe’s and they do it this way, though they use the fruit while it’s “fresh” so maybe they skip the drying process? Not sure.
Have you ever made chocolate before?
You should try it! I don’t know about “traditional” chocolate, but that recipe is super easy and so good.
ps – I just found out that my parents read my blog. Hey, Mom & Dad!!!
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Ooo – chocolate and a new blog layout? Loving it! I have yet to try coconut oil but everyone has been going nutty over it for a while now, I guess I should jump on the bandwagon
Thank you, Allison! I was able to find a 16oz jar at Trader Joes for $4.99, which seemed reasonable. We’ve been having fun experimenting with it
I feel the same way about whole foods, I am a TJs girl forever
. Home made chocolate, my mouth is watering over here! I was actually googling coconut oil and how its made this afternoon, I think I will just stick to buying it as it seems like a bit much work and the same cost as just buying it! Thank you for sharing and sending you good vibes for school 
. Love and shine Courtstar
Thank you so much, Courtney! I can appreciate all of the good vibes that I can get
I’m not a fan of coconut. I can only stand coconut oil .. it’s kinda weird. Homemade chocolates though … never.
ps. I nominated you for the Liebster Award.
http://mouthwateringmorsel.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/2013-011365-and-liebster-award-goes-to/
Right?! I wish I could unlearn the recipe – it’s too easy and I make it constantly!
ps. Thank you, Melissa!!!!!
np!!
and oh man .. maybe I’ll make it one day for some friends as presents!
Wow, I love the idea of making homemade chocolate! I’ll have to give that recipe a try
It’s a really easy recipe, plus we already had all of the ingredients in our pantry. Almost too easy – I make it all of the time, now!
You are so awesome for donating blankets to the Humane Society. Seriously. You rock!
Thanks, Allie! I love to crochet and kittens love to sit on blankets, so everybody wins!
Haha, cute shout-out to the parents! I have yet to share my blog with mine. I don’t know why–I can’t imagine I can say or do anything that would surprised them any more, haha.
And I love Whole Foods–To walk around. And then go next door to TJ’s and actually buy my groceries
I need to get with it on making kitty blankets! I got distracted by my never-ending crochet project and making an afghan for myself–which now doesn’t match my new sofa and I have no idea what the hey to do with it. Oh, well.
Hahahaha – so your parents don’t know that you share photos of them online?
Maybe the afghan can go on the bed in your guest room? Or maybe it can be donated to the animal shelter for a very, very big cat
Haha, oh no, they are very aware that I’m constantly taking pictures for blogging purposes when we’re together (and just roll their eyes when I make them wait for photography before we can eat at a restaurant ;D )
Tiger shelter!
I tried to Google a picture of a tiger with a blanket, but all I got were photos of tiger-styled blankets and, oh man…there are some winners
Tiger with a blanket? Done. http://allcreatures.tumblr.com/post/30496654435/via-a-dog-and-her-tiger-cub-terribly-cute
1) I MISS Trader Joe’s!!!!! Shockingly, I have a giant Whole Foods in London that is totally awesome, however, I agree with you on TJ. It’s just a lot cooler and cheaper, and more chilled out.
2) Once I started using coconut oil I never looked back! It’s amazing!
3) Kitty is soooo cute <3
No! I am so sorry to hear that you don’t have a TJ in London
I think they’re owned by a German company, though, so maybe soon!!
That pancake looks SO good:) Love the kitty blanket, too!
Thanks, Sunnie! Pancakes are kind of the best thing ever
I so go to Whole Foods just because of the samples. It’s like an adventure for me and we don’t have Trader Joe’s. I’ve been treated to homemade chocolate last week and it was soo good! The amazing part is that you know the ingredients and can control the amount of sugar!
Yes! Chris loves that we can turn down the sweetness a little bit.
WF sampling is totally an adventure – I get to eat all of the things that I wouldn’t normally buy
Hehe love the shout out! I once used coconut oil to make a chocolate sauce and it was mighty tasty
That sounds so good! I bet the fat from the coconut gave it an amazing texture.
Oh that sounds so tasty! I love coconut!!!
The coconut oil is actually pretty subtle…but I bet you could sprinkle toasted coconut on top before it hardens…oh, my!
Sounds delicious! Love the look of the site (I know, I’m way behind)!
No worries
Thanks, Claire!!
oh lord anything with chocolate and I’m in. Sorry you’re feeling stressed about grad school! that’s gotta be tough. also your breakfast in number 3.. nommmm!
Thanks, Jessie!
You gotta try that chocolate! It’s amazing!
Uh oh, now I’m not going to be able to get the thought of making homemade chocolate out of my head. I’m still obsessing over coconut oil..really neat that you can use it for that purpose!
Ugh, the Whole Foods on Centre Ave is so obnoxious. I do love it, but I only go during off times because I just can’t deal with crowds. And I only go for a few special items! Too easy to spend all your cash there.
I’ve been making it like crazy – it’s just too easy!
Isn’t that WF the worst? I feel like everyone is shopping as if the world is about to end…
I’ve always wondered about homemade chocolate. Now I really have to get some coconut oil and try this.
It was my first time making it and I think most would say it’s not *really* chocolate, but it tasted sooo good. I bought my coconut oil at Trader Joe’s!
Aww kitty blankets!! SO cute!! I have never made my own chocolate, but I NEED to!!
YOU MUST! It’s out of this world!
these sound so good, I still have yet to try coconut oil
I found a 16oz jar at Trader Joe’s for…$4.99, I think. Seemed reasonable!
You’re too cute: “I just found out my parents read my blog”. That’s awesome. I have a love/hate relationship with Whole Foods. Yes, I can get a lot of it for a better price elsewhere . . . but there a couple of items that keep me coming back (organic beans in bulk, organic dry-roasted peanuts so I can make peanut butter, and a good quality almond milk, to name a few).
Your homemade peanut butter always look so amazing! And you’re right – their bulk bins can be pretty awesome, especially if you only want a handful of something.
Homemade chocolate? Life doesn’t get much better than that. I need to try this.
I didn’t even realize, but it’s totally gluten-free AND dairy-free! I hope you enjoy
I can definitely get behind homemade chocolate! Must experiment!
I can’t wait to see how you jazz it up!
Homemade chocolate?! Done and done–I’m so making some this weekend!
It’s so easy! Like, dangerously easy