I can’t wait to recap the Tough Mudder, but I want to wait until I have the photos. You can check out my friend, Mallory’s, recap here, though. Her pictures are fantastic!

A few weeks ago Designer Whey sent me a little goodie basket to try out.

I didn’t waste any time digging into the Peanut Butter Crunch Protein Bar – and it was seriously delicious. The chocolate caramel crunch was just ok, but the peanut butter was the jam! But what I really wanted to do was try a recipe with the protein powder(s). J and I are always looking for something quick to grab before heading to Crossfit and, after 2 miserable failures (seriously, the cookies I made ended up as dog treats!), I finally hit the jackpot.

Homemade protein granola bars!

I based the recipe off this one from the Designer Whey website, but I substituted ground flax for the wheat germ and only used half the oil and honey the recipe called for. I also added raisins for some extra chewiness, which was a great idea. I made them this afternoon and they’re already half gone!

C also loves the Lemonade Protein 2 Go packs. He drinks them before and during his soccer games/practices, and even when we’re just hanging out!

Thumbs up, Designer Whey!

Do you use protein powder? What brand is your favorite?

Due to being a Fitfluential ambassador, I was provided this sample pack from Designer Whey free of charge in exchange for my review.  As always, all opinions are my own.

It’s no secret that I’ve put on a few pounds over the past 2 years (cringe). It started when I was sidelined due to my IT band injury, and continued when I sprained my ankle (right after I finally got control of my IT band issues!) – resulting in me being out of commission for quite awhile.

I could get into the other reasons that that contributed to this, too, but, ultimately, they don’t really matter – all that matters is that my jeans don’t fit like they used to.

At my happy weight. (with long hair!) (and before I learned to bake everything from scratch )

It’s not an easy topic for me, considering it took me so long to LOSE the weight 5 years ago. Also, it can be embarrassing since everyone knows me as the “fitness fanatic”.

But it’s not the exercise that is the problem for me. It’s the food.

It’s pretty simple: I like to eat.

And I especially like to bake for my friends and family.

C’s soccer team!

But, when I bake, I eat. It’s a bad bad habit.

So I’m eliminating the baking from my life for a few months (sorry, boys!). If we have special occasions that require baked goods, then I’ll buy them from the local bakery. Simple solution.

Eliminating baking isn’t going to solve all my problems, but it’s one step in the right direction. I’m also logging my food religiously on My Fitness Pal. Boring, but necessary. Especially on the weekends because that’s when all hell breaks loose. Weekends are my biggest struggle.

But I’m down 9 lbs since January 2nd, only 15 more to go! I’ll check in again at the end of February. Hopefully with good news. I figure if I put it out on the internet I have to stay accountable.

What’s your food kryptonite (the one food you can’t ever turn down)? Mine is cake and ice cream. Hands down.

I don’t usually set too many personal goals for myself. Especially during the holidays (I like my Christmas cookies, guys!). I set tons of training goals, but that’s about it.

So here’s the plan for this month:

1. Crossfit 4x a week. I’m determined to get my muscles back. I was so focused on running this year that I let the weights fall to the wayside (boooo). I want these shoulders back!

2. Organize my baking shelves in the kitchen. I know this sounds so lame, but these shelves are out of control. And J and I have been on an organizing rampage lately. I don’t even recognize our basement anymore it’s so nice!

3. Finish my Christmas shopping before December 15th. I am a last minute shopper. I can’t help it – I love the last minute running around hectic crowds! But this year I want to be calm and peaceful and enjoy the holiday instead of running around like a crazy lady. (I think I’m almost done!)

4. Bake lots and lots of cookies and still manage to maintain my weight. This is a biggie. It’s no secret I love the sweets. Seriously. I love the cookies:

the chocolate covered pretzels:

the cocktails:

You name it. If it’s sweet, I love it!

That’s it. Definitely doable.

Do you have any December goals??

While I was out running tonight letting my mind wander, I wondered if I had ever really shared on the blog what I like to do besides running. I promise you, I DO have a life outside of my Nike Pegasus.

So let me share with you.

• I love to read.
  • But not educational or informational stuff. Give me a trashy novel or celebrity magazine any day.
    
    (source)
  • I wish I could say I read a lot. And when I find a good book, I’ll take it with me everywhere until I finish it. But that doesn’t happen too often these days. Any suggestions??
• Online shopping (duh).
  • I go through spurts. I’ll buy a ton, but then I’ll go months without buying a thing. This month? Yeah, it’s an “on” month (don’t tell J!!).
  • Banana, J Crew, Gap, Nordstroms, and Lululemon are my kryptonite.
    
    (source)
  • I’m a sucker. Gets me every time.
• Music
  • I could never live without it.
  • I can’t tell you how much it warms my heart that C is into music as much as me. He sings in the shower, when he’s getting dressed, when he’s playing on the computer, when he’s helping me in the kitchen – he’s ALWAYS singing!
  • Give me JT (my true love), Flo-Rida, 50 Cent, Eminem, Timbaland, Jason Mraz, Robin Thicke, Michael Jackson, Neo, Usher – or any old school hip hop – no classic rock up in herrrrrrrrrre.
• Baking is my jam!!
  • This is my most favorite thing to do.
    
  • When I’m upset I bake.
  • When I celebrate I bake.
  • Being in the kitchen is my therapy.
  • But it also causes my pant size to increase. So it doesn’t happen as often as I’d like anymore.
  • I originally wanted to start a baking blog. It was called “Heatha’s Sweet Life”. J even created a logo, but it just never happened.
  • I would DIE to have the chance to open my own local bakery. We talk about it a lot. My mom would do the accounting, my dad would be the maintenance man because he’s so handy, C would help me in the kitchen like he usually does, my sis would work the counter, and J would do the PR, advertising, and social media. Now if we only had an investor…….
• Now tell me something about you that I don’t know!

First things first: Have you entered to win a pair of tickets to the 2012 Silver Spoon Awards party yet? There’s still time! Go here.

So, when I found out that I got into the NYC Marathon last year through the lottery I immediately started making a list of “must go-to” places. On the top of my food list was Levain Bakery, and on the top of J’s food list was Doughnut Plant. Since J organized the Sunday chaos of chasing me around the city (and running with me!), I felt I owed it to him to visit his #1 rather than mine.

And I’ve been thinking about those darn cookies I missed out on ever since. I’ve seen them on Food Network and so many blogs that I finally decided to take matters into my own hands and try making them myself.

And, OMG, I’m SO GLAD I did.

They’re crispy on the outside and chewy/gooey in the center, and as big as your head. The perfect cookie!

I used 1/2 Trader Joe’s chocolate chips and 1/2 of a chopped up semi-sweet chocolate bar. The different chocolates and walnuts added such a great texture to the cookies.

If you’re looking for cookies to impress, give these a shot! They were best within 3 days of baking so I wouldn’t recommend baking them ahead of time if you’re planning on taking them to a picnic/party/event. But they’re super easy so it’s not really necessary to bake them ahead of time!

Enjoy!!

Do you have a favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe? I’m still searching, but this one’s pretty high up on my list now….

I knew I wanted to make bread this week but was struggling with which way I should go with it. And then way J cracked open one of his home-brews Sunday night, inspiration struck. Beer bread it was.

I scoured Pinterest for the perfect recipe, but I just couldn’t decide. So I made two.

One with half whole wheat and all-purpose flour (and oats!) and one with self-rising flour only.

I fell in love with the whole wheat loaf. It’s doughy, oaty, and chewy, just the way bread should be!

J fell for the white loaf. It’s dense, a little sour, and can hold up for a sandwich!

But I bet they’d both be amazing with a little spread of butter and a bowl of soup.

I think this is the first time I’ve ever made beer bread that didn’t come from a Tastefully Simple box. And they were just as easy (simple?) to make from scratch. Throw all the ingredients in a bowl, mix, and bake. Easy peasy.

What’s your favorite kind of bread? Have you tried to make it at home?

For being a self-proclaimed chocoholic, I’m not a huge chocolate cake fan. I’ll always pick white or vanilla or strawberry or spice or carrot (you get the idea) over chocolate. Not sure what it is, but besides Hershey’s Perfect Chocolate Cake (ah-ma-zing), I have yet to gush over a chocolate cake.

But when I saw this recipe last week, I couldn’t help myself. I had to try it.

The batter itself was worth the time. Check it out.

Rich, creamy, and light, almost like frosting!

I wanted to take a spoon and eat the “cake” right out of this bowl.

Lucky for the boys I didn’t do that.

Because now they have this delicious cake to get them through the week.

And also lucky for them (and me?) that, again, it’s not my favorite. Have at it, boys. Bundt it up.

What about you? Chocolate or white cake?

I have a bad habit of buying up holiday candy the day after the holiday when it’s on major clearance (even though we don’t need it). And now I have bags of Easter m&ms left and not enough ideas to know what to do with them!

So I went straight to one of my favorite baking blogs for inspiration. She only had a few m&m recipes, so it didn’t take me long to decide on the XXL M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies.

I don’t have a fancy muffin top pan so I just made regular cookies.

But these didn’t turn out so “regular”.

They are AMAZING.

Even better the next day. In fact, if you make these, I INSIST that you wait until the next day to eat them. The flavors are spot on!

Plus, the texture is killer. They’re dense and chewy with just a slight hint of salt (I always add a tad more salt than the recipe calls for – I’m a sucker for the salty/sweet combo).

I still have 2 bags left (one plain and one peanut) – what would you make with them?!

I’m on a roll, kids. I’m on a roll.

The key lime pie I made this weekend turned out DELICIOUS. And it’s so easy it’s kinda silly.

I used this recipe for the pie and the only substitution I made was to use fat free sweetened condensed milk instead of regular (you know, to make it “healthy”).

Btw, don’t you just love the 10 year old’s finger print? I wanted to taste the firmness of the pie and C thought it was an invitation to taste test! Boys…….

The crust looks a little funny but I guess I just went up too high on the side of the pie dish? Whatever. It still tasted ridiculously good.

And I will tell you this: graham crackers, butter, and sugar = amazingness. Seriously. Make your own crust – it’s crazy easy and tastes heavenly.

What? Don’t you like cool whip? Cool whip was invented for pie. I’m sure of it. So pile the stuff on! It’s Cool Whip Free so it’s “good for you”, right??

Are you team cool whip or team whipped cream?? Cool whip is for pies and whipped cream is for ice cream in my book!

Thanks for all the nice comments on yesterday’s post! My race is on the 22nd and the runners for NUUN’s Hood to Coast teams will be announced on the 24th, so we’ll know the outcome of both soon enough. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for both!

To celebrate the holidays I always like to bake something festive for the boys. We still have cookies in the freezer from Christmas so a cake it was.

I’m still on the hunt for the perfect cake recipe, so I took a chance and tried this one that I found on allrecipes.com. It turned out nice, but still not what I’m looking for.

But the frosting. OH, THE FROSTING.

Do you not just want to stick your face in that bowl? So creamy and more delicious than I can tell you.

The recipe is a little time consuming (and time sensitive!), but so worth it. I’m serious. I’m not sure I’ll ever make another frosting (besides cream cheese frosting, duh). This is perfect. I got the recipe here.

This cake is probably the reason my legs felt so heavy on my run yesterday.

But so so worth it.

Do you have a go-to cake recipe?? Please share!