Pinterest is the bestest: Homemade Granola Bars

I'm pretty sure this recipe just keeps evolving! This was orignally adapted from Rachael Ray and revised by Lauren from the site Lauren's Latest.

http://www.laurenslatest.com/no-bake-chocolate-chip-granola-bars-easy-healthy/

So I decided to add my own spin to the recipe since I didn't have everything it called for in my pantry... and voila!

Here is the recipe!

3 Tblsp butter
1/4 cup honey
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups quick cooking oats {not rolled oats!}
1 cup crispy rice cereal (Substituted Honey bunches of oats)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips (Crumbled 3 squares of a Hershey's chocolate bar)
Pinch of Cinnamon



...I also added a few pinches of flaxseed...


First I combined the dry ingredients:

:: Mix your oats, cereal, and cinnamon(opt) in a large bowl. You'll want to wait to add the chocolate chips until the end since they will melt if you add them in right away, however a few added chips in the mix may not be all bad! My friend added butterscotch chips to the mix and the melted flavor was fabulous!

Now time for the Wet Ingredients:

Combine honey, butter, and brown sugar in a pan. Bring to a bubble, then reduce and cook for about 2 minutes. Add Vanilla before mixing with dry ingredients.

Pour Wet ingredients over dry ingredients and coat all dry ingredients...

Next you can use a small baking sheet, glass pan, etc to put mixture in... make sure to pack it in tightly since that's the key to getting it to stick!

Now you can add the chocolately chippys on top! I crumbled a Hershey's bar since that's all my pantry contained, but anything chocolatey will work!

And VOILA!!!!

                                                                                   

YUMMALICIOUS!

He is not here, for He has RISEN!!

Easter... what a wonderful day!! Began our day with our amazing church family and saw lots of wonderful people! After service they had a Helicopter drop the candy for the kids... that was about the coolest thing ever! After church we had the family over for Easter dinner and another Easter Egg Hunt. A fun filled day, but I needed to remind myself at the end of today what the day was all about...

"There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay." Matthew 28:2-6

                                   "HE IS NOT HERE; HE HAS RISEN!!!!!"

                                                          
                                         Happy "Jesus is Alive" Day!

Our first ever 5K!!

A few weeks ago we signed up to run our first 5K and what better way to do it than as a couple! We ran it with several friends which made for a great time! As a girl I had to treat myself to a new running outfit for the run... since I usually run in whatever is clean and not very fashionable!

But wouldn't you know when we got there they gave us free t-shirts for participating so we couldn't help but all be matchies! The run was simply fantastic!! My hubs and I didn't run together as he's quite a bit faster than I, but our awesome friends Joe and Diana stayed together and looked awesome as they finished! This was a first for ALL of us so we were all pretty stoked!! The run was so relaxing... we ran on gravel and pavement at times. The start of the run was along a stream then took a turn around a field of cows and finally back along the stream to the finish line. It was the most relaxing run, but I found it extremely hard to set my pace and dare say it took me probably atleast a mile into it! Lots of fast runners were passing by which reaked havic in my mind for the first bit until I was able to set my pace and get comfy! It was really nice... I was mid pack with lots of space around me to just relax and run... simply awesome! The best feeling in the world was rounding the corner to the finis line! As soon as I turned and spotted the finish I sprinted... looking to my left there was my wonderful husband cheering me all the way to the finish line... it felt amazing! So excited to start preparing for a 10K and many more to come!

                                              Here are some pictures of our awesome crew!

                                                                          Pre Race...

The awesome finishers!!

                                                                              
                                                                         

Pinterest is the bestest!

So, my sweet friend told me she wanted to start blogging about pinterest ideas that she actually brought to life... so I decided to do that as well!!

This is not my first Pinterest project, but one that I have captured! My husband and I own a home and recently cleared out his office to make it in to our spare bedroom... within two weeks we had a queen size bed, frame, cabinet, etc... to make our spare bedroom fantastic and paid little or nothing for ALL of it! I love how God blesses us even in the little things in our life!

One of the only things I was missing was a nice picture to put above the bed in our spare room. The theme in the room was yellow and grey so when I saw this I knew right away what my colors would be!

I found the idea on pinterest to take a canvas, simply paint a vine and use the bottom of a pop bottle to create the flowers. I let my imagination take charge and "A" Vine turned in to several vines with Many flowers, but 45 minutes later I had single handedly created a masterpiece! Or atleast I would like to think so! ;) 

This is my first real "painting" ever and I'm quite proud! Below is the link if you also would like to "take-on" this project and I can assure you, you will not be disappointed!! Good luck and happy painting!


       http://alphamom.com/family-fun/holidays/cherry-blossom-art-from-a-recycled-soda-bottle/