Very Inspiring Blogger Award.

Hey my Gorgeous Readers! <3

Thanks for all of your comments on my last What Kat Ate! I really enjoy having cake and ice cream for breakfast – especially when it involves chocolate. I’m pleased with the results I got back from my AP tests — the credits I will get through them (12 credits total) will be very helpful when I head up to college. I just signed up to take 3 classes this fall before I head up to Idaho: to get a feel of what the classes will be like. I also just got a TB test earlier this week and the doctor passed me off – I don’t have it. (Phew!) But I do get to have that test every year because I lived in Turkey for a couple years when I was a child. The TB test isn’t so bad, so I guess I’ll survive.

Krista from Tiny ‘N Fit nominated me for the Very Inspiring Blogger award!

“Very Inspiring Blogger Award: Keeping the Blogsphere a Beautiful Place.”

Thanks you so much, Krista!!! <3 It really means a lot to me for you to nominate me for this. It MADE my day.

Here’s what I have to do:

1. Display the award logo somewhere on the blog- check!
   
2. Link back to the blog of the person who nominated you. – check!
   
3. State 7 things about yourself- check!
   
4. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award and provide links to their blogs- check!
   
5. Notify those bloggers that they have been nominated and of the award’s requirements-check!
   

7 Things About Me:

1. I love working with kids. They always make me smile and I have the best time with them. (My parents say I still act like a three year old, so I guess I fit right in. )

2. I love almond milk. It is one of my favorite drinks EVER! (btw, Helen Boram shared this hilarious video with me that Silk is featuring. The video was originally produced by a fan named John Brookbank who submitted this to Silk as part of a national contest.)

If any of you enjoy almond milk, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this video.

3. I love line dancing (the Boot Scootin’ Boogie is my favorite!) and dancing ballroom. I may not know much ballroom, but I love watching it and doing what I know. I’m planning on taking some classes (at least waltz – that’s the one I really want to know) while I’m up in Idaho so I can learn more of it!

4. I was obsessed with Barney as a young child. I couldn’t get enough of him. He taught me my colors (Barney – Purple, Baby Bop – Green, BJ – Yellow), taught me this song: “I love you, you love me. We’re a happy family with a great big hug and a kiss from me to you – won’t you say you love me too?” (Haha. Yes, I still remember that. )

5. I’ve never liked raw tomatoes. I like them on homemade pizza, as marinara sauce, in chili, soup, etc. I can stand it in V8 juice, but other than that I don’t really care for them. I will of course eat them if they are on a sandwich, but I’d rather not. I’m weird like that.

6. I love doing arts and crafts. This is a headband holder I “made” out of a paper towel roll.

I measured out enough fabric to cover the paper towel roll, sewed the sides together, fitted it around the roll, and pinned in the sides of the fabric to the shape of the roll. I then cut the center of a toilet paper roll in half and pinned them on the bottom as “legs.” And there you go – a homemade headband holder! I also love coloring, painting, sketching, and cross stitching.

7. I’ve always loved the Middle Age’s Time Period. Knights, Castles, Dragons, Damsels in Distress, Kings, Queens, Princesses, Wizards, etc. I love Robin Hood and King Arthur (I actually have a whole set of King Arthur Nutcrackers), and I used to play the PC game Age of the Empires. (I don’t have the time to play it anymore, but I do enjoy watching my dad play it now and again.)

And here are some of the blogs I’ve discovered recently. (They’re not in any particular order.)

1. Eric @ Health Demystified
   
2. Katie @ Watch Her Shrink
   
3. Taylor @ Taylor Made
   
4. Meagan @ One Fit Pig
   
5. Happy is Healthy @ Beauty is in all of us
   
6. The Nibbler @ Nutritious Nibbles
   
7. Planet Snazzy
   
8. Jess @ A Lot On Your Plate
   
9. Alek @ Run Serve Cook
   
10. Alicia @ Glowing Oasis Pilates
    
11. Sophie @ Sophie Food Files
    
12. Courtney @ Courtney Em
    
13. Mike @ Made By Mike
    
14. Shiney Times
    
15. Kailey @ The Caffeinated Runner
    

Go check them out once you get the chance — you won’t regret it!

…………………….………………………………………………..

Do you like tomatoes? The Middle Ages? Dancing? Almond Milk? Working with kids? I love them. <3

Were you ever a fan of Barney as a child? I was a HUGE fan. Practically obsessed. I even had a Barney rug in my room at the age of 5.

What are some of your favorite past times? I love doing things associated with the arts: baking, playing the piano, drawing, sewing, etc.

xoxox,

Yes, I Did It Again.

Hey my PB Cakes!

Thank you for all of your wonderful comments on the Pancakes I made my Dad for his birthday! It really means a lot to me when you guys comment. Your comments really MAKE MY DAY!!!

Yes, I did it again.

They are just TOOOOO GOOOOOOODDDD!!!

If you haven’t made them yet, you need to make them RIGHT NOW!!!! You heard me — RIGHT NOW!

I was just awarded with the Versatile Blog Award and and One Lovely Blog Award. (But I forgot to write down WHO gave it to me! I’ve been searching and going through posts after posts, but I just can’t seem to find it. So if you did, PLZ tell me, and I will promptly link back to you!)

Here are the rules I have to abide to in order to accept this award:

1. Post linking back to the person that gave you the award
2. Share 7 random things about yourself
3. Award 15 blogs
4. Drop them a note and tell them about it.

Here are another 7 Things About Me!!!

1. I had an amazing breakfast this morning. Just saying. Breakfast is my FAVORITE meal of the day, and I like to have some fun with it!

2. I just cut my apples the way Kaila does!!

Usually I either eat apple whole or just cut it into quarters, but this was a nice change! I love eating apples this way now (I think I am going to do this from now on)! They are absolutely PERFECT for munching!

3. As you saw up above, I made ME some Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes!!! They are SO GOOD!!!  I also made my Daddy some more too. This time, I woke up at 3:30am because I wanted them to be done by the time he woke up — as a SUPER surprise. After I finished them, I quietly raced to bed and went back to sleep until it was time for me to get up for my Scripture Study Class. I don’t know how he gets up at 4am every morning! Just thinking about it makes me tired!!!! What’s the earliest time you have ever waken up?

4. Tuesday evening, my Daddy came home with his B-DAY CAKE!

It’s an Ice Cream Sundae Cupcake!!! As you can tell, he must have a lot of girl co-workers, because if they were mostly men, he would have just got a pat on the shoulder. My Dad split this with my sister. I have got to make a healthy version of this! Katie, save me!!!

5. Talking about birthday cakes, my mom and I just went and got me My Birthday Cake!!! I got to pick it out and everything! I also get to make another one of those Cookie Pizzas and some Party Chip Cupcakes!

I don’t know if I am going to eat any of the cake….. It isn’t the healthiest thing, and it would most likely give me a stomach ache. At least I am going to make me a Single Lady Cupcake (REESE’S perhaps?) with some Bananner Ice Cream (or a Single Lady Banana Cream Pie) for my “Cake and Ice Cream” so I can have some along with everyone else. We’re also having pizza. And for this, I am going to use a Flatout and make myself a Healthier Pizza (with LOTS AND LOTS OF VEGGIES!).  I know my girl Kelz will do the same. (and so will a couple of other girls). What would you do?

6. We just had our first call-in for the 28-Day Detox Challenge I am doing. And I LOVE IT!!! Oh my gosh!!! I wish this could be SO much longer than just 28 days!!! This week we are going to focus on cutting out Caffeine (which I don’t have a problem with), Alcohol (I DEFINITELY have no problem with this), and Sugar (which I’ve pretty much cut out anyways). But, sometimes when I eat fruit, I eat it by itself and I become hungry soon afterwards because it is digested so quickly. So I want to make sure I eat a fat or protein with my fruits so I’m not hungry.

Some of the other things I am going to strive to do this week include eating BALANCED meals, eating MINDFULLY, continue listening to my body, continue drinking more water, and continue exercising regularly. What are some of the things you are striving for this month?

7. I have for you MY FIRST REVIEW!

Disclaimer: I WAS NOT PAID TO REVIEW THIS PRODUCT! This is my opinion and my opinion alone on this product.

Jen from Kelapo Coconut contacted me and asked if I would mind reviewing their Coconut Oil. I quickly agreed — I mean, who can say no to coconut oil!?!

Kelapo™ Virgin Coconut Oil’s mission is that with every jar, they hope to deliver the freshest, highest quality coconut oil and ensure the fair and ethical treatment of the farmers who cultivate it.

As the FIRST Fair Trade oil on the market, their products are 100% organic, vegetarian, and free of trans fats. Plus, they incorporate eco-friendly practices to protect and preserve the planet’s natural resources.

Coconut oil can be used anywhere you would use butter, like in Cooking, Baking, and Sauteing. If you want to check out some of Kelapo’s Coconut Oil recipes, click here. What I like about Kelapo’s Coconut Oil is that it is Organic and Fair Trade! You don’t see a lot of Fair Trade products out in the market, so I especially love that.

I don’t use Coconut Oil all of the time. I will use it, but I don’t want to go crazy over it. I use it when I want the Coconut Flavor. I do use in it my baking (check out my recipes and you’ll see!). I personally don’t think there is enough research and such on it, but like I said, I strive for balance. I don’t want to only eat coconut oil — I want to focus on my Omegas and Unsaturated Fats, but Coconut certainly tastes good!!!! It works really well in My Coconut Chocolate Date Muffins, My Chocolate Date Cake, and many others. And, it gives it that coconut flavor that you just DIE FOR!

Alrighty, time to tag people!!!!

1. Kimi @ Time For Happiness
2. An Apple A Day
3. Rach @ This Italian Family
4. Lea @ Healthy Coconut
5. Kerry @ Foody Two Shoes
6. Molly @ Molly Runs Fresh
7. Brittany @ BrittFit
8. Allison @ Oats and Spice
9. Lauren @ A Full Measure of Happiness
10. Kat @ Keep’n The Faith
11. Sophia @ Raven Waves
12. Christin @ Purple Bird Blog
13. Katie @ Yes I Want Cake
14. Jil @ Big City Lil Kitchen
15. Christina @ Sweet Pea’s Kitchen

Do you prefer Large recipes, Medium-sized recipes, or Single Lady recipes? I like Single Lady recipes!

Do you like Coconut Oil?

How do you handle Parties? Birthday Parties? What do you make for them?

xoxox,