“We” may wear short, shorts… but “I” do not… until today.

Perhaps you didn’t know this about me… but I hate shorts.  Most often, I refuse to wear them.  Opting rather, to sweat my ass off in a pair of jeans.  Not today!!

On a recent shopping outing (thanks Tim and Cathryn) – I decided I needed running shorts. I mean EVERYONE else has them.  This purchase then led to the purchase of mesh sorts (what? they were pink AND on sale!).  I was a little hesitant – knowing how I feel about me in shorts (must shave legs, must not miss any, must remember lotion, oh – yes, those are MY spider veins, knobby knees, and pasty white legs).

But, today was a scorcher!!  So, I donned my new mesh shorts.  Wore them OUTSIDE!! *gasp* and didn’t die, nor did anyone comment about how stupid I looked in them (of course I saw no one either).  They were pretty enjoyable – nevermind the fact that I looked like I was ready to play a pick-up game of basketball.  I think I could do this again, maybe even in a place where other people are gathered.

Who knows, I may be turning a new leaf – although… I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Until next time,

Andrea

… and I’m out.

Just a FYI – I will be gone next week.

If you need to know my whereabouts – check out the Where in the World is Ms. Andrea link.

Until next time.

Protein Bars-No Bake Recipe

Hello!  So I have heard there have been some requests for the protein bar recipe I use at home.  There are many variations that can be made but I have found this one to be the easiest and tastiest.

What you will need:

Large sauce pan

9 x 13 baking pan (better to use a tin pan than a glass pan)

spatula

measuring cup

Wooden cooking spoon for mixing the ingredients together

frosting type knife for spreading the mixture in the pan

tin foil or clear wrap

Ingredients:

1 cup of honey

1 cup of organic peanut butter

1 cup of granola (you can use any kind you want- I usually use a basic granola from the bulk section at Winco and sometimes I use the vanilla cranberry kind) watch it though because you don’t want to add unnecessary sugar or carbs.

1 cup of old fashioned oats- the cup must be blended in a blender or food processor to make a finer powder type consistency.

2-3 scoops of Vanilla Protein Powder- Right now I use Elite Protein Powder for all my cooking recipes.

Pam- cooking spray

What to do:

Helpful hint- it is important to have all your ingredients measured and ready to go because once you get started it goes fast!

Spray a light mist of the Pam cooking spray all around the pan.

Over medium heat, melt together the honey and organic peanut butter.

Once the honey and peanut butter are melted and mixed together add the grounded up oats- mix in completely.

Add the protein powder and mix in.

Add the granola and mix in.

Should be the consistency of gooey dough that is sticky too.

Poor the mixture into the 9 x 13 pan and smash down into the pan. Use the spatula to help with this process.

Once you get it all smoothed out evenly, cover it with clear wrap or tin foil and put in the fridge.

Let them cool and set in the fridge for an hour.

Time to cut! Take a knife and run it along all the edges to help loosen the mixture from the sides of the pan.  Then turn the pan upside down and push on the bottom until the whole molded sheet of the protein bar comes out.

Cut with a knife 3 sections for the length of the mold and then evenly down the sides 3 cuts (pieces should be about 2″width x 4″ length).  You should get about 9-12 bars out of one pan depending on how you cut them.  Wrap individually in clear wrap or tin foil and store in the fridge.  Before eating one, you can let it sit for a couple of minutes to be softer and chewier but they are great cold as well.

Any questions, please let me know!

Karly Beth

This is why I run…

Some of you may or may not know that a year ago I had massive jaw surgery.  I won’t get into the details here, but as you can tell by the pictures it was intense.

Let’s just say – now I can chew my food and no longer have to swallow things whole.  Who knew, right?

This is two weeks after surgery - I am smiling as big as I can.

Due to my surgery – I have massive nerve damage to my chin and lower lip.  As recently as two months ago – there were parts of my lower lip that I still could not feel.  As in dead to the world!!

My doctor informed me that to attempt to repair the damage I would need to get my blood flowing.  So, that is what I tried to do.  I hate running – or exercising in general, and I am not all that great at it – but I gave it a whirl.  I started slow – walking for a minute – running for 30 seconds, and have gradually increase my stamina.  In the last two weeks, I have noticed major changes in the feeling in my lip and chin.  The “dead zone” is MUCH smaller, and the rest can feel tingles.  You know what that means – the nerves are growing!!  Hooray.

I am now running 10 minutes miles – 6 miles at a time.  Some people run for their heart – I run for my face.  (and lift for the rest of my body).