GF Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Cookies

Every once in a while, I will crave a homemade cookie, especially today. While looking for recipes on trusty Pinterest, I came across this easy to make recipe for gluten free chocolate chip almond butter cookies from this webite. The recipe was super easy and they are DELICIOUS, I thought I would share my experience with you. I'm going to share the recipe but please visit the link I posted for the exact recipe and for some other delicious ideas.

GLUTEN FREE CHOCOLATE CHIP ALMOND BUTTER COOKIES

(as found on here)

INGREDIENTS 

1 cup almond butter

3/4 cups Truvia*

1 large egg

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp sea salt

3 oz. dark chocolate (85% cocoa)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Pre heat oven to 350 degrees F

2. In a medium bowl, combine first five ingredients until blended

3. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons on to baking sheet

4. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly brown

5. Let cool 

- Yields approx. 24 cookies

Calories: 95 

Protein: 3g

Fat :6g

Carbs: 9g

 * The recipe called for Sucanat, but you can substitute for whatever you please

This is the chocolate that I used; found it at Bulk Barn for $3.99

                                              BEFORE                               AFTER

There ya have it! Delicious AND healthy cookies that are super easy and affordable to make! 

CNE Summer Tradition

Hey guys - sorry I didn't write a Friday link up post yesterday. I spent all day at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) and by the time we got home, I was exhausted and went right to bed. Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend so far, minus the horrible weather. We are in the middle of August aren't we?

I thought I would write a little post about yesterday while cooking dinner. I miss my "not so healthy dinner" sometimes .. it's a struggle. On the menu tonight, turkey bacon, oatmeal and fresh fruit for dessert.. can we say delicious? NOT!

Every summer since I can remember my mom and dad would take my brother and I too the CNE. It's held in Toronto and they hold it for a few weeks until school starts. For my brother and I, it always meant that we had school in a few weeks, but now, it meant back to work for me. Yesterday was the only time the four of us (dad, brother, brothers girlfriend and myself) could make it before I went back out to sea. I absolutely LOVE it! It's a gigantic midway with shopping buildings and the notorious food building. This food building is packed with food options that range from normal (pizza) to not so normal (chocolate fried chicken and thanksgiving waffles). I usually stick to the normal food, but it definitely is consider a cheat day. Even though yesterday wasn't as bad as I thought it would have been.

The weather was, well okay perfect, it wasn't too hot but at night, it did get a little chilly. Last year it was SO humid and sticky I suffered from a bit of heat stroke.


One of my favorite things is the little booths that they have in the buildings with various things. I did manage to pick up some healthy snacks .. wait, me buy healthy snacks?

I fell in love with Monkey Butter's Mocha Almond Butter! A great way to enjoy a snack at night with some apples while watching something on television. I also found some flavored soybeans that I couldn't resist; dill pickle and chai latte. I didn't even have my usual ice cream and waffle later on in the evening. I think the fact that I decided it was too cold for ice cream kind of helped. 

They also have a "Beach Bar" which we visit every year for a nice refreshing adult bevie! I love the chairs, colors and the fact that they have sand. Home away from home! :) My bevie choice this year was Richards White.

                                                      

And then there was this .... the GIGANTIC transformer. ABSOLUTELY HUGE!

  

It was nice way to kick off my last weekend at home. It feels like I just got home and unpacked and now I have to pack up again. Oh well, c'est la vie!

Enjoy your weekend everyone :)

Sunday Currently - Aug 10 v. 18

Well a very good afternoon to you all. Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend full of lots of fun. I am coming into my last few weekends of being at home, so I am trying to make the best of the days here with the people I love. So far so good. 

I am linking up with Lauren with this weekends edition of The Sunday Currently. 

C U R R E N T L Y 

READING: Lone Survivor

WRITING: This blog post

MUSIC: I think this week's song would have to go to American Kids by Kenny Chesney, yes again!

LISTENING: "I Know What You Did Last Summer" is playing on the television

GUILTY PLEASURE: Chocolate chip frapp from Starbucks

THINKING: About all the things that I am going to have to do in these next 11 days 

NAIL COLOR: I had my nails done on the weekend and I'm not 100% sure of the name of the color but it is similar to this and it was by OPI ... 

SMELLING: Nothing .. I think I am catching a cold 

DRINK: TinyTea Tea Tox

WISHING: For a good week, great weekend and that I can start getting things together

FOOD: Nothing right now but I am STARVING so I will be rummaging through that kitchen soon enough

HOPING: The weather holds out for our annual CNE trip on Friday

TV SHOW: Today is the first day of Shark Week 2014!! It's one of my favorite weeks of the year ... sorry not sorry! So between Shark Week and PLL, I will have plenty to watch this week 

WEARING:  Sunday staple

LOVING: That we are having some nice weather these days. It hasn't been the hottest outside but at least the sun is shining and there hasn't been any rain ... knock on wood

WISH LIST: For someone to come and cook for me right now

NEEDING: To get back on track after the weekend

BLESSING: Everyone and everything that I have in my life

FEELING: A little bit on the meh side today .. it was a very long and busy weekend

CLICKING: Keyboard

EXCITEMENT: Annual summer CNE trip on Friday :) Can't wait

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful week!

Bedroom Makeover Ideas

I've decided that my bedroom needs a little make over. Since I'm only home for about a month to two months out of the year, it's been difficult to find the time to actually get down to it. I thought about leaving lists and pictures for my dad and brother to start it all, but I am not so sure how I feel about that. How badly can they screw it up if there are lists and pictures right??

I thought I would share some of my ideas with you guys and get some comments and suggestions. My room is not huge by any means but it's big enough to never stay clean. Right now my walls are white, except for one that has wallpaper that I did not choose. Here are my wallpaper ideas ...

WALLPAPER

I am IN LOVE with Damask wallpaper. My dad, however, isnt a huge fan but I am sure I can talk him into it. My initial thoughts were to have the wallpaper on two walls and then have the other two painted white. I have been playing around with the color of the wallpaper, but I definitely want the two other walls white.

I am also thinking of maybe doing a striped wallpaper ... 

                                   

FIXTURES 

I also want to put a small decorative chandelier. Nothing too fancy or big and I don't think I want it to work, just a decorative piece. 

SHELVING 

For my shelving, I thought of just having something hung up on the wall instead of a shelving unit.

CLOSET ORGANIZATION

I have a fair sized walk in closet but it's not being used to it's full potential. I thought I would put some shelving in there to help it stay clean and organized, because honestly, it never does. I also need a place to put my shoes other than the millions of places they already are.

                  

And instead of doors, I want curtains ...

BED

Unfortunately, my bedroom isn't big enough to hold my dream bed, so for now, I guess these choices will have to do ...

What do you guys think? Any helpful hints and suggestions ?

In My Bag

While looking through my Bloglovin' feed this morning, I came across this really interesting link up presented by Heather, Lisa, Becca and Rachael - hope you enjoy!

If anyone knows me, they know I LOVE a good purse/bag. I usually carry a bigger bag and have A LOT more "stuff" in it, but traveling has helped me narrow it down to the "necessities" of what I actually need in my bag. I also change my purses every month and every season, so yes, I may have a collection of purses.


So .. this is my current bag by Vera Bradley. It's smaller than my usual sized purse but it hold a lot more than I thought it would.

Here is what is in my bag ...

• Make up bag by Bath & Body Works
• Wallet by Michael Kors
• Gum 
• Mints
• Aleve
• Prescription medication
• Comb
• Passport holder
• Pen
• Sunglasses by Betsey Johnson
• Nail file

My make up bag is usually a bag within a bag ... 

• Nail file
• Mascara - Maybelline Collossal Volume
• Foundation - Covergirl & Olay Simply Ageless
• Pressed powder - MAC
• Concealer - Covergirl & Olay Simply Ageless
• Concealer - Almay Smart Shade
• Eyeliner - Avon
• Lipgloss - Victoria's Secret
• Lipstick - Cover girl
• Blush - NYC
• Bronzer - Wet N Wild
• Tweezers
• Make up brush 

What's in your bag??

Sunday Currently - Aug 3 v.18

Hey Guys! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend, I know I did! A little rain and thunder did NOT stop us from enjoying the Blake Shelton concert last night. You'll read/see all about it during this weekends edition of TSC, linking up with Lauren. 

C U R R E N T L Y 

READING: Lone Survivor - not enough half way through and already such an amazing read. 

WRITING: This edition of TSC and LOTS of emails, as usual.

MUSIC: Song of the moment -- XSCAPE by Michael Jackson .. I have it on repeat!

LISTENING: To a random movie playing on television.

GUILTY PLEASURE: I think this week's guilty pleasure goes to Vera Bradley! I don't know what it is or why, I just can't help myself.

THINKING: The last thing I had to eat was my dinner last night at 4:30 and I haven't eaten anything since and I'm not hungry ... that's a tad bit unusual for me. 

NAIL COLOR: Cab Fare by Sephora OPI

SMELLING: Nothing.

DRINK: Tiny Tea Tox 

WISHING: That this week goes smoothly as I have lots of plans and need to get a few things done for my next contract.

FOOD: Nothing right now

HOPING: I do not get sick after being in the rain and cold all day and night yesterday

TV SHOW: Have not watched much of anything other than PLL ... trying to get caught up as much as I can before I leave

WEARING: Pajamas and there is no shame in me admitting that

LOVING: LAST NIGHT! Even though it rained all day/night and threatened to storm, the concert last night was amazing! I have been to my fair share of concerts before, but they have all been in stadiums in doors. I have never been a country concert outside - I have never in my life seen anything like that AND it was nothing because of the weather. Such an amazing night with amazing friends even though we all came home covered in mud from head to toe!

                

WISH LIST: A massage would be HEAVENLY right now ... 

NEEDING: To eat something

BLESSING: Everything and everyone in my life

FEELING: Exhausted, but no complaints because it is the result of an amazing night

CLICKING: Keyboard and phone 

EXCITEMENT: 18 days until I'm back at work which means pay checks, islands and warm weather

Thanks for stopping by and reading! :)

Oh Hey, Friday v4

Happy Long Weekend to any Canadian readers :) ! I blinked and all of a sudden it's no longer July. Linking up with September Farms and The Farmer's Wife for this weekend's edition of ... 

ONE
Looking forward to some concert fun tomorrow! I used to work at a concert venue so I never had to worry about which band is going where because I caught most of them at my job. Since changing jobs, haven't seen too many concerts. I am heading over to Darien Lake to see Blake Shelton anndddd The Band Perry just happens to be one of his openers. Friends, country music and tailgating ... great way to start off the long weekend!

TWO


Hello August is right! August 1st means 20 days until I'm back at work. Which also means, I have 19 days to get WAY TOO much done. I thought I would have plenty of time, but everything just has a way of creeping up to you!




THREE
Hockey season starts soon! It's going to be different not being home for this. My family never misses a game and it's quite entertaining being around when there is a game on. Let's hope there are a few hockey lovers on the ship who will join me in watching the games ....

FOUR
Did anyone else tune in to Leah Remini: It's All Relative last night? I can definitely share in her fear of flying. I am no where near as terrified as she is, to the point where I need a therapist. But the whole "have to work myself up" to get on a plane .. oh yeah, it's real!

FIVE
Almost done season two but I came across this the other day on Twitter, and I can't help but notice how similar Hanna and I really are ...

Enjoy your weekend everyone and I hope August is a good one!