Thinking Out Loud #16

Happy Thursday and ONLY THREE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS🙌 I might be a tad excited for Christmas, BUT I have all my shopping done and everything is wrapped so I can sit back, relax, and enjoy these next few days. Surprisingly this weeks thinking out loud isn't very festive, which was totally unintentional, but still random as always. Let's get this TOL party started🎉

1. I'm semi obsessed with all the Obama Biden memes. The other night I probably spent 20 minutes scrolling through some of the memes. I think my favorite meme is still Biden looking out the window (see it here) but this one is definitely a close second. I really don't care what your political party affiliation is but I think everyone can appreciate these memes😂

2. DAIRY FREE YOGURT WIN🎉 I might have shared about Daiya before but seriously this stuff is so good. It's a gluten, dairy and soy free alternative to greek yogurt. It's super thick and creamy, plus unlike other dairy free yogurts it actually contains protein. The macros for one container are 20C/8P/4F and it contains 150 calories. It's hands down the best dairy free yogurt I've had that actually packs a nutritional punch. The only downside is it isn't sold in a big container and these individual containers run about 2 for $3 so it adds up. I treat it as more of a special treat to have one because I don't want to be dropping $1.50 on a container of yogurt all the time (college budget problems).

3. SaladPower reformulated their drinks and they're so good👌 I'm not getting paid to say that, but they did send me a case of their juices to try. My favorite so far is the veggies and mango but that changes depending on what I'm in the mood for. I definitely recommend checking them out because they are definitely different from the other 'healthy' juices on the market. Take it from someone who hates juice- literally I haven't had juice in probably 10+ years) these are worth trying. Each of the flavors is packed with superfoods, vitamins, nutrients, and low in sugar. 

4. Maybe I'm just obsessed with memes in general😬 I saw this meme while I was scrolling through instagram and I busted out laughing. Seriously this is the story of my life in meme form😂 my family, friends and boyfriend all know a hangry Rachael is generally not a pleasant Rachael. I a drop in blood sugar when I'm hungry for causing me to get hangry. 

5. These energy balls are already gone. They didn't even last three days in the house before they were gone, but I'm not the only one eating them so I don't feel too bad😬 They are the chocolate superfood energy balls I shared on Monday and I promise they're super easy to make. It took me less than 10 minutes to get them thrown together and rolled into balls. They also disappear just as quickly as they appear....

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6. Does anyone else love glitter?🙋 It's one of my favorite parts of the holiday season because it's literally EVERYWHERE! I have gotten so many Christmas cards with glitter and they make me so happy! Of course my Christmas cards included glitter too😬 I have seen pictures on pintrest of people doing glitter photoshoots and now I really want to do one. My mom HATES glitter but I've always loved it. I'm not very girly at all but I love me some glitter👌 

I'm going to end things there this week, what better way to end than with a sparkle?😜 Have a great Thursday and have a very Merry Christmas!!

What are you doing for Christmas this year?
Do you have any memes you love?

Chocolate Superfood Energy Balls

Happy Tuesday, I totally typed Monday there and had to backspace🙈 Obviously it's one of those days. On the bright side there's only FIVE days until Christmas!! I'm excited for Christmas this year (I'm excited for it every year) but I do need to finish up some last minute shopping. This year I got to it and got stuff done early because I was not about to be one of those people in a shopping frenzy come December 23rd and 24th.

Anywho, this weekend was pretty laid back which was very much needed after weeks of craziness with my dad in the hospital. I finally got back into the kitchen and did some much needed meal prep. One of the goodies I whipped up was these delicious chocolate superfood energy balls. They're super easy to make and loaded with vitamins and nutrients, plus they're the perfect snack for on the go!

Chocolate Superfood Energy Balls

• 10 Medjool dates, pitted
• 3 Tablespoons cocoa powder
• 2 Tablespoons nut butter of choice- peanut, almond, coconut
• 2 Tablespoons chia seeds
• 1/2 Tablespoon ground flaxseed
• 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• OPTIONAL: pinch of turmeric
• OPTIONAL: sprinkles (<-never optional)

In a food processor place all ingredients except the sprinkles (if using). Process until everything is coarsely ground and dough like.

Add sprinkles into food processor and pulse a few times to mix them into dough.

Use your hands and scoop out 1/2 to 1 Tablespoon of dough and roll into balls. If the dough is not sticking together gently squeeze to help bind everything together. 

Repeat until all dough is gone. Store energy balls in the refrigerator for optimal freshness. 

Recently and Thinking out Loud #15

Happy Thursday! At times this week has felt like it's flying by but other times its felt like it's dragging by, plus I keep getting the days mixed up. I blame lack of sleep and the utter craziness of the past two weeks for having me totally confused. The hecticness (is that is a word🤔) is also to blame for me being MIA from the blog basically since Thanksgiving, but I do have some new recipes lined up to test and share so I'm excited about that. This weeks thinking out loud is going to serve as a TOL and recently life update all mashed into one. Basically it's still a ton of randomness so on that note, let's jump right in! 

1. Last week was total chaos because my dad was in the hospital all week. The hospital isn't close so when I went to visit it was a 30 minute drive in good traffic, in rush hour it was closer to 45 or 50 minutes. Making that trip multiple times a day for a week was exhausting. I'm happy to share that my dad was discharged Saturday and went home to finally get some sleep, because if you've ever been in the hospital you know that it's near impossible to sleep while you're there. Despite the long drive to and from the hospital I have no complaints, everyone from the nurses to the doctors were incredible and I'm so thankful for the wonderful care my dad received. 

2. In the midst of all the craziness last week I took some time out to meal prep to make life easier. I made roasted sweet potatoes and my one pan oven fajitas but I forgot it at home🙈 I was bummed, but luckily there was a Panera right next to the hospital so I was able to run there and get a quick bite to eat. I ate my meal prep when I got home for dinner because I was way too tired to even think about cooking. Meal prep saves the day once again.

3. Saturday night my boyfriend and I had date night and the down time was much needed after a very long week. We got food and then went and saw Office Christmas Party with Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman. Let me just say if you want or need a good laugh then go see this movie! We laughed so hard, the movie really is hilarious and I definitely recommend going to see it. It was the perfect way to end a chaotic week, not to mention the company wasn't half bad😜

4. I know it's really late, but we finally got the Christmas tree up. With everything going on we just hadn't had time to get it up and decorated, so we got it up and decorated Sunday night. I've been sharing some pictures of my favorite ornaments over on my instagram story. This year I really want to get or make an ornament that I can have Cora's paw print on. I've seen people make salt dough, get the print and then bake it but I'm not sure how that would hold up. If you have an recommendations comment and let me know! 

5. A big thank you to the team at SaladPower for sending be a box of their new and improved drinks! I'm super pumped to test out the newly perfected recipes especially the fruity ones😋 I will do a blog post with my thoughts on the new recipe. 

6. This meme had me literally laughing out loud because this is seriously how I am when I'm waiting for a package. Anyone else guilty of constantly looking for the mail/UPS/FedEx truck when you know your package is supposed to arrive?! I may be in my 20's but I still enjoy getting mail- as long as it's not bills, no one likes getting those.

7. Shoutout to Panera for saving me from being seriously hangry more times than I can count in the past week. Between forgetting to pack food going back and forth to the hospital and being super hangry when I left the doctor on Monday Panera has saved me and fellow drivers from potential the danger of driving while hangry. My go to is always the Thai Chicken salad but I get it without the wonton strips and no vinaigrette dressing. Every Panera I've ever been to has been so accommodating of food allergies that it makes life so much easier. 

8. I have to share this because I was super pumped (no pun intended) to get gas for $1.25/gallon!!!!!! I had a ton of Kroger points and was able to use them to get a dollar off per gallon. Nothing beat the feeling of filling up my tank for only $22. Fellow Midwesterners know how awesome Kroger points are. 

I'll end things there this week. Have a terrific Thursday and be on the lookout for some new recipes (FINALLY) next week!! 

How do you like to unwind after a long week?
What is your favorite place to grab a quick bite to eat on the go?