I owe a HUGE thank you to Mara for helping me out with my formatting issues. Thank you, Mara! You’re a lifesaver 
Good morning, and a splendid one it is, actually, because I heard a rumor on the news that there may be some sunshine! Move over, grey skies… we are done with you for the season, thank you!
Yesterday I woke up with high hopes of going to the gym, but sleep kept me in bed an extra hour instead. This seems to be my new story… I made a bowl of Larabar oatmeal to wake me up, hoping to re-create the deliciousness of last week’s.
- 1/2 cup oats cooked in 1/2 cup water
- cinnamon
- 1 banana
- 1 mini Cherry Pie Larabar
- 1 scoop Maranatha almond butter
It was good, but not as good as when I made it with the Coconut Cream Pie bar. I guess I’m just a little cuckoo for coconut right now 
To work, I brought an apple, orange, honey wheat pretzels, raspberry-flavored Chobani (!), big salad, and celery (which I did not eat).
In the salad mix:
- romaine
- 1/4 block tofu
- grape tomatoes
- soaked goji berries
- pumpkin seeds
- pine nut hummus
- tamari-peanut dressing
I was a hungry beast all day… I’m pretty sure that my body and metabolism don’t know that I’m not exercising as much as I used to! We’ll all be in for a rude awakening one of these days… but I’m not too worried about it. Really. I snacked on a Chocolate Chocolate Chip NuGu Dark bar, which I really liked! 10g of protein, 5g of fat, tastes like a candy bar.
When I got home from work I enjoyed the dregs of a bottle of Yellow Tail Pinot Grigio while I made dinner.
When I was at the library this past weekend, I checked out Dreena Burton’s Eat, Drink & Be Vegan, which I’ve had on my wish list for two years. There are so many recipes I want to make! I settled on her Cocoa-Coconut Chili.
It was divine. While the vegetables were cooking, it smelled like brownies baking in the oven. When I added all of the coconut goodness, it smelled even more amazing! I served my portion over Trader Joe’s Harvest Grains Blend with avocado and sharp white cheddar. I can’t wait to eat this again for lunch!
I enjoyed a dessert plate (dried fruit, Gina’s superoon, chocolate almond butter) while I watched half of Deliverance and Gossip Girl. Did you watch? What did you think? Which character is your favorite?
Off to work! I’m sorry I’ve been a little absent from blogland recently… I’ll be back as soon as I have a spare moment. Enjoy your day!
Some things in this post look familiar
I was ecstatic that it wasn’t raining this morning!! Sun would be nice, but I’m thrilled to bits that it’s even dry.
<3 <3
Glad that bar gets the seal of approval! GC sent me that one but I haven’t tried it yet. YAY for Mara!! She’s a lifesaver!
Your chili looks so colorful! No need to apologize for being MIA – I’m right there with ya! Have a good day
I’m so glad I could help
Sometimes being nerdy pays off!!
That chili looks STELLAR!!!
What an awesome salad! My lunch usually consists on a granola bar and a banana!
I’ve never seen Deliverence…I feel like I need to, being from the South and all
I feel like everyone is going crazy for coconut in the blogosphere lately!
Ah! The trader joe’s grains blend really makes a meal, doesn’t it? Although that amazing chili looks like it could kick some major butt on its own- yum! Great lunch salad- I love how you can switch up salad toppings and make new creations every day. Hope you have a good one
gossip girl is my monday savior! you HAVE HAVE to read the nymag recaps – they are unbelievable.
lil’ j is really something these days… and what are those extensions? they have got to go.
mara is a technological genius
i’m so glad you liked that chili! every time i go through that cookbook, i think about making it and then never do. good to know it’s a winner
hope you have a wonderful day <3
a few things: i really want ED&BV…mara is brillz…my metabolism gets confused too when i workout less…and larabar over oats is brilliant, especially the cherry pie which is a bit too tart on its own in my opinion
I love GG so of course I watched. I’m kinda already bored with Serena and Nate together though.
Your dinner looks fab!
Thanks for the kind comment, Katie. It’s so weird because I’ve dealt with personal tragedy before…but this time I am having just a totally different reaction. I guess I feel angry because since I’ve lost someone due to untimely circumstances, I feel that I shouldn’t even need a second wake up call. Ah well, I can only move forward!! Your blog is definitely a source of inspiration to continue to live life with persistence, flare, and fun!
Yum! That NuGo bar looks good.
I am cookoo for coconut as well…actually I will have to have some tonight…I am feeling sickly, so some green oats with coconut sound rather tasty for dinner.
I spy some honey wheat pretzels! Aren’t they yummy!
OMG…that chili looks amazing! i have been meaning to buy ED+BV forever!
no worries about being MIA – life gets busy
I am loco for coconut these days too…the chilli looks divine. Hmm. I am thinking it would be a fab combo if I crumbled my coconut cornbread muffins on top.
Enjoy the sunshine!
If there’s one thing I miss it’s white wine! Yummy!
Really glad your formatting issues are resolved. I hate having those kind of problems!
Those oats look amazing! Yum yum.
Hello Love!!!!
I am loving the mini larabar addition in your oats!!!
I love honey wheat pretzel sticks!! I never buy them unless Im ready to eat the bag in one sitting because thats what I do!! lol! They are so yum!!!
Oh I have had that cookbook on my wishlist too!!! Loving the recipe you made from it!!!!! Looks amazing and the glass of wine!! Girl we are soul sisters!!
Hope you have a great night!! xoxo
glad you got the formatting stuff handled…what a pain glitches are…I think im the queen
and thanks for telling me you bought a running skirt! Where did you get it? was it just the standard nike black variety? I kinda was really go all out if i get one but i fear getting too hot with the shorts and the skirt flap…so still on the fence…what kind did you get?
oxoxo
i always LOVE your posts! i need you to make me OATS asap!
It’s so funny my post today was titled CooCoo for Coconut!! I got Raw Coconut butter over the weekend and I am obsessed with it! The oats look so yummy, I like combining Larabars with greek yogurt, I must try it on my oats
I recently made Dreena’s cocoa coconut chili, it’s delicious! I love chocolate in chili.
I love NuGo bars! They’re made right here in Pittsburgh, so I feel like I’m eating local when I grab one for a snack!
Wonderful site, where did you come up with the info in this blog post? I’m pleased I found it though, ill be checking back soon to see what other articles you have.