Sunday, May 16, 2010

Oh happy Day!

Happy Sunday!

How are you all?? Did you have a scrumptious weekend. Half of my weekend was food-less due to my 24 hour fast. And you know what? The fast went wonderfully well. I drank so many fluids (including some awesome Oso coffee, which I was actually craving..very weird) and chewed some gum. It wasn't until I broke the fast and started eating again, that I got a nagging headache. This is a researched phenomenon found in women who fast which "goes away" after a couple of fasts. As I never get headaches, this was the worst part of the whole thing. Yet, I loved how much I learned about the mental aspects of my eating patterns. I feel that I don't listen enough to my body, listening more so to that "voice." So, this process is teaching me to step back from listening to my way-to-active mind which I think is something I haven't done in a long time.

I'll do a weekend re-cap post tomorrow, but I wanted to tell you about a day that I've been waiting for for 7 months! I am officially finished working at my second job..wahoo!!! I'm not sure if I shared my story but since moving to Nelson, I've been the breadwinner. When we were both working , Ryan worked in construction and made nearly double my wage. When we moved to Nelson I luckily kept my day job and have been working via a server. Ry tried to get a job here, giving out more resumes than I have in my entire life! Yet, not one call back. So, I had to try and because of my experience working in a coffee shop, I got hired. I'm grateful that I had the extra income, it just sucked that the company was brutal to work for. I made it through though and even with all the missed social events and such, it helped me to step outside my comfort zone. We went through a roller coaster ride with my emotions (ya, I worked through some serious emotional baggage), our finances, and in the end I feel so much more connected with the hubby (and myself). Now that I'm done working there I feel like I'm moving onto a new stage of my life, a time where I get to focus on my passions. This makes me ECSTATIC!

I played around in the kitchen the past couple of days! I'm loving making bars lately as they come together so quickly and they are so versatile. So, when I was out of my usual protein bars, I decided to whip up something using sunflower seeds ( my fave!). I came up with a bar I like to call scrumdidliumptious bars or scrum bars if you get tired of the long name:) These bars are so divine and again just make them with what you have or add more ingredients if they seem to basic for your taste!


Scrumdidliumptious Bars

1/2 cup sunflower seeds (soaked is best, yet I skipped that this time around)
2 tablespoons flax seeds
2 tablespoons shredded coconut
2 tablespoons raisins
2 tablespoons honey ( or sweetner of choice)*
2 tablespoons Vega Vanilla Chai powder **

Process sunflower seeds in a food processor first. Then add in the flax seeds and shredded coconut. Add in the raisins and sweetener, keep processing until well incorporated. Add in the protein powder last. Once you get the smooth consistency, spread the delciousness onto a pan that is lined with plastic wrap (don't need to do this if you don't want to, just makes for easier clean up). Place in the freezer for about 20 minutes and enjoy!


* If you want to make these with with less sweetener go for it! I made them with half the amount and they still tasted delish:)
** This stuff seals the deal for the flavor aspects but you can use whatever protein you have and play around with the flavors (cranberry chocolate chip, perhaps? goji berry orange?)

I loved these so much! They were sweet and a little chewy..perfect:)


I love seeing WHOLE foods together to make something delicious!

Out of the freezer and ready to be devoured..yum!



Ry ate these and raved about them..so I'm guessing they hit the spot:)


I know these don't compare to all the absolutely gorgeous ice cream cakes that are being produced around my neck of the blogosphere, but these were all I could muster in my kitchie..lol!


Have a wonderful evening everyone!

11 comments:

Nelly said...

aww i am so glad that you are done working for a crap company...i know how it feels to work for a company that is not appreciative of the hard work and hours you put in! it must also be tough working two jobs!!!

john was out of a job for two years and i too was the breadwinner, it ain't fun...BUT...it's worth it at the end of it all...you help each other out...that's what it's all about, right?

have a beautiful night my girl...

Lindsay @ http://pancakesnpajamas.blogspot.com/ said...

So exciting you're done with your second job! I had to work two jobs for a similar situation and I think I really grew as a person! I'm sure it's bitter sweet you don't have to go back! :)

Averie @ Averie Cooks said...

the bars look great, melissa! i am surprised you can get them to stick together with just 2 tbsp of honey...wow, that's great! and i love seeing whole, real, flecks of food when i eat a bar. nothing pulverized!

thx for the great comments and getting caught up and the contest entries. you were busy, i love it!

Lauren said...

Those bars look amazing, and so simple! They look like something even I could make haha. I really wanted to try my hand at a raw ice cream cake too, but I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet. Apparently they aren't too difficult, but very time consuming.

I'm happy you are finally done with your second job. It sounds like you did some growing and learning, but it must have also been incredibly difficult and it must be quite a relief to be done. I've never worked two jobs, but I've worked long hours while being in school full time, which was brutal, so I can only imagine how hard it was for you.

Glad the fasting is going well for you! I hope the headache doesn't happen again, and you continue to feel good about the whole thing. Listening to your body is the way to go. <3

Kris | iheartwellness.com said...

Congrats on your fasting!! Can't wait to hear more!

I am also congratulating you on leaving that job that you didn't like! You deserve to be happy and free when you are trading your hours everyday ;)

MMMMM I love bars....i have an obsession!

XXOO

Melissa said...

Hey Nelly - Wow ..you see I have nothing to complain about working my measly 7 months...2 years? Crazy! But yes, you do what you have to do as you are in it together! Hey, I'm going to be going to school for 4 years so I owe the hubby some off-work time.
Yes, companies who don't value their employees make me mad:(

Hi Lindsay- Thanks for stopping by:) Yay for growing through tough times! That's awesome. Yes, it is bittersweet for sure! I mean it was nice having the income..just the company sucked..lol:)

Hey Averie - I know I was quite amazed myself how well they came together. Thanks for your sweet comments and you are very welcome for the comment love:)

Hey Lauren - you could so make these:) I want to make one of the cakes but I just don't have the equipment or funds to do it quite yet. I'm thinking about making one for the hubby's b-day at the end of June..we shall see! Wow working while going to school? That's way more tough than what I did..great job! It's brutal to do it but such a relief to have funds coming in! Thank you for your kind words about the fasting..the headaches are definitely down and I'm going to try another one soon:)

Hey Kris - Thank you for your sweet words about my second job. I agree:) and I totally have a bar obsession too!

HiHoRosie said...

Hey Melissa! So glad the fast went well...except for the headache of course. Good for you! And I'm one of those that doesn't listen to her body often enough either. Very inspirational my dear - when I'm able to I'd like to do this too. Small scale. :)

Yay no more 2nd job! How nice! So glad things are looking up and going great. You and Ryan have worked so hard and deserve so much. Hope things continue to swimmingly on your path.

Yum on the bars! These, among other things, are on my list of things to make. Need some protein powder. :)

ac said...

WHOLLLLLY KRAPPP THOSE KRACKERS LOOK GOOD.

But that may also be because I'm naturally attracted to anything green. Ha!

:) aletheia

shannonmarie said...

Oh you used my favorite word to describe one of my favorite portable foods. I love it!

evergreen said...

Good to know you are having happy days!

Your bars look awesome, and the name sounds like something out of "Willy Wonka...lol!

(what runs) Lori said...

Ah... Scrumdidliumptious Bars. I'm making these. Tonight. Seriously. These look awesome. Not sure how I feel about the Scrum bar shortening of the name (reminds me of scrotum..?) but they sure look delicious!

I'm glad you are feeling good- and able to take some YOU time along with the coffee shop job. Seriously, extra income helps and working in coffee had always been my favorite type of job. Everyone's so happy (and overly caffeinated. ;) )