blogitness

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Protein Balls

Michelle — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 22:25:44 +0000

Saturday afternoon boredom in the kitchen. I seem to have a surplus of peanut butter again. So I did some experimenting. Here it goes:

1/2 cup of plain granola
1/2 wheat germ
1 cup chocolate peanut butter
1 scoop of chocolate protein powder
1 egg

-mix ingredients thoroughly.
- roll into small balls
- refrigerate for at least 1/2 hour
- enjoy!

3 Ingredient Healthy Cookie

Michelle — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 23:12:39 +0000

What do you get when you mix:

-1 sliced apple
-1 cup of protein powder (vanilla) I used vanilla GOtein
-1 cup of peanut butter

Delicious peanut butter cookies!

Simple toss all the ingredients in your food processor and blend til well mixed.

Place teaspoon sized drops on a cookie sheet and bake for 8 minutes at 350 degrees.

Yields 6 cookies

Way Too Cold for Me

Michelle — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:33:23 +0000

Now we are attempting to blog from an iPhone so please excuse any typos!

Last weekend I made the 3.5 hour trip to Buffalo to watch the Penguins take on the Buffalo Sabres and it was cold. You know it’s cold when you get excited to see the thermometer in your car hit 25 when you return to Pittsburgh.

After a very late arrival, we headed out to Chippewa Street– which is much like East Carson Street in Pittsburgh. However, the crowd was more late 20s- early 30s and you didn’t see any girls walking around mini skirts and heels. These people wore boots and jeans. They dressed weather appropriate. We visited a sports bar and enjoyed multiple hockey games from around the league. This bar was packed with people wearing Pens jerseys!

Finding a nice hotel –at a reasonable price– since we were basically only going to be sleeping there. We decided on a Red Roof Inn- I was rather nervous! However, this hotel was gorgeous! Everything was brand new. You could smell the fresh paint. I highly recommend the Red Roof Inn in Buffalo!

The next day it was time for some hockey! The puck dropped at 12:35. Before hand, we enjoyed some Dunkin Donuts! If you have never had a brownie batter donut, I strongly recommend trying one! The game was awesome and packed with Pens fans and we one!

Next it was time for Niagara Falls, USA and the Fashion Outlets of Niagara Falls!

The Falls are beautiful in the winter. However, the mist that typically comes from the Falls was not water…it was actually little pieces of ice! It was cold and windy….next time I return there, I will be making sure it’s warm out!

The Fashion Outlets were awesome. $500 worth of Kate Spade for $120. Yes, please!

We wrapped up our trip with a stop at the Anchor Bar!

blogging from a kindle fire!

Michelle — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 20:05:31 +0000

This is definitely a unique way of blogging. Not too mention the fact that Kindle wants to spell blogging as blotting!

It seems like ever since I started my new job, I am finding it extremely difficult to keep up with blogging. When I worked from home, I would blog first thing in the morning or at lunch time. Now, I find it extremely difficult to do. If I blog in the morning, I fear I will miss the bus and blogging at lunch time would be on the difficult side since I cannot save photos to my work computer.

My questions for you:

1. How to you balance blogging with a full time job? Especially if you are not a morning person!

2. Kindle Fire user, any apps good for blogging?

Hopefully on the agenda for this week :

-Buffalo and Niagara Falls Trip
-Anchor Bar Review
- A Delious Cookie Recipe

Green Apple Active Review and a Discount for You!

Michelle — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 23:42:55 +0000

Who doesn’t love cute workout clothes? There is nothing better than looking cute and getting sweaty! When Liza from Green Apple Active contacted me asking if I was interested in trying out a Green Apple Active outfit I was beyond thrilled!

Here’s a little about Green Apple Active directly from their site (which you should visit):

Over the past twenty one years, Green Apple founder and veteran athletic designer Cristofer Smith and his team have pioneered over 13 brands with wild success, winning several international design awards for his unique fusion of comfort & style. As the brand architect behind names such as Urban Flex, Avia, and So Sporty, Cristofer has earned a reputation and respect within the active apparel industry for mastery over his craft. In 2004, Cristofer turned his attention to the GREEN movement and founded a new company called Green Apple. The company was pioneered with the vision to innovate and create new organic products for the active lifestyle arena.

I had the pleasure of trying the 23′ Clea Jacket with Vintage Wash in Black

This jacket is amazing! Its soft, warm and made from organic bamboo. It looked amazing with the running capris, which you will hear more about later. It was warm enough for a winter jog in Pittsburgh, but it’s also the perfect light weight jacket, which goes perfect over a Pittsburgh Penguins t-shirt or perfect over a tank after a hot yoga session. I seriously see this being my go-to jacket once winter jacket season is over. It’s very flattering and I love the pockets! This jacket is definitely one of those items you turn to again and again!

I also had the pleasure of trying the 17in Essential Balance Runner’s Capri in Wet Slate

I’m a huge fan of athletic capris and absolutely loved the way they looked with the Clea Jacket. The slate and black looked amazing. I’d highly recommend these running capris to anyone. They are comfy. Although, I was a little scared they were going to be too small when I took them out of their packaging, but they were a perfect fit and are true to size at least in my opinion anyways! They look great on and seemed to flatter me in all the right places. They are highly breathable — great for running or yoga. Additionally, they are eco-friendly and organic. Environmentally friendly, look great and breathable, really what more can you ask for?

Green Apple Active is a wonderful company with a great cause and high quality, budget-friendly workout gear!

Want to get your self some Green Apple Active gear? Use code blogitness at checkout for 20% off now thru the end of Valentine’s Day!

And now for a preview of products soon to be released by Green Apple Active:

Snow

Michelle — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 16:29:07 +0000

I don’t know about you guys, but temperatures in the teens and below and snow just aren’t my thing. I’m not a fan of wearing jackets, shoveling snow or spending two hours in my car to make it home from work on a Friday night. I’m ready for spring and most certainly ready for my trip to Disney World! — I’ve been shopping for Spring clothes since the minute I booked the trip — I already have way more than I need to go on a 4-day, 3-night trip. The thought of spring just makes me happy.

Another thing that makes me happy is the sale Dick’s Sporting Goods is currently running. Take an additional 50% off of clearance merchandise? Don’t mind if I do!

These for $15. Thank you Dick’s! I don’t think I have ever owned a pair of Reebok shoes, but I am quickly becoming a fan. They are comfortable, light-weight and seem to support my messed up feet very well.

What’s your favorite brand of sneakers?

Another thing I am loving?

I found this at Target a few weeks ago and am obsessed. The perfect on-the-go snack. I can’t believe I only tried Nutella for the first time a few weeks ago, it’s wonderful. I’ve already composed a very long list of recipes to make with Nutella.

Off to write some freelance articles and stay warm!

Enjoy your Saturday!

What’s Your Latest Fitness Obsession?

Michelle — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:00:37 +0000

What’s your current workout/fitness obsession? Last year, I used to love, love, love kickboxing classes at the gym. They were fun and a great workout, which is awesome. However, the gym that I enjoyed the kickboxing classes at became very inconvenient with work and other commitments, so it’s been awhile since I’ve partaken in this awesome activity.

However, the other day I found myself doing random kickboxing moves in the kitchen, which prompted me to do some googling for some home kickboxing options. I came across this great HIIT workout..

Quick Meal: Crockpot Cheesy Ravioli

Michelle — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 10:10:45 +0000

Delicious and Easy!

Ingredients

cooking spray
large jar of pasta sauce (about 50 oz.)
1 can of diced tomatoes (14.5 oz.)
1 can of condensed cheddar cheese soup
2 teaspoons garlic, minced
1 bag frozen cheese ravioli (25 oz.)
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese

Instructions

Spray slow cooker with cooking spray.
In a separate bowl, combine pasta sauce, tomatoes, cheese soup, and garlic. Mix well.
Spoon ⅓ of the sauce into the slow cooker, top with ⅓ of ravioli. Sprinkle with ⅓ cup of cheeses over ravioli. Repeat twice.
Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours.
Serve warm.

*Recipe from barnsandnoodles.com

Major Online Shopping Addiction

Michelle — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:09:44 +0000

Yep, MIA again. One of these days I’ll get my stuff together!

Is it just me or is this the best time of the year to go shopping? Cold weather clothes, warm weather clothes, they are all on sale! My absolute latest shopping addiction is Hautelook which is actually a Nordstrom company. I’ve purchased $100 pieces of jewelry for $10. $94 pairs of shorts for $14. I love a good bargain! Make sure you check it out! Another good one to feed online shopping addictions. RueLaLa.

Workout of the Day:

I found this to be a perfect quick workout before the shower. It gets your heart pumping and makes you want that shower even more!

Hockey is back! Is anyone else as excited as I am for the return of hockey season? Especially the Pens!

Surprises and a Giveaway Winner.

Michelle — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 23:36:55 +0000

Guess who forgot to publish the quick post she made for yesterday to announce the giveaway winner? This girl. I try to stay clear of my computer on holidays.

Anyways the giveaway winner is:

Angela @ Health’s Angel

Congrats girl! Please e-mail me your contact info so I can pass it along to the Protein Bakery!

Who loves surprises? As much as I love surprises, I think being the giver of a surprise can be just as much if not more fun. Although, sometimes it can be hard to keep it a secret. Especially when your surprise involves Disney World! Yep, that’s right, I’ll be heading to Disney in the spring with my boyfriend for his 30th Birthday present. Florida in May will be an awesome change from the unpredictable weather that we (Pennsylvania) sometimes find ourselves in. My birthday is in May too…sometimes it is 80 degrees sometimes its 50.

Four days and three nights (at the Animal Kingdom lodge savanna side is going to be amazing. Especially since I have not been to Disney since I was 13. I think the happiest place on earth and acting like a child again is the perfect way kick off year number 30. Well, there may be some drinking around the world in Epcot.

Since it’s been awhile, I need your help!

I’m looking for recommendations of where we must go and places we must eat! I purchased the dining plan.

All and all I’d say this surprise was a complete success. It definitely was not what he way expecting as his surprise!

What was the best surprise you have ever given or received?