I Was Asked To Prom!!! <3

Hey my Lovelies!

Thanks for all of your comments on my Blueberry Coconut Protein Pancake. I will definitely be making the protein green smoothie soon (just need to go to the grocery store first) and some sweet-potato spice bars, peanut butter chocolate chips blondies, and

What’s been going on in my life recently?

I put together these three notebooks with some of my favorite drawings, quotes, handouts, and little scribbles I’ve done with my friends.

A letter I hold dear to my heart. If you would like a copy, just let me know!

Some pictures I drew when I was younger.

From a journal entry I did when I was in first grade. (We lived in England at the time.) It makes me smile to look back at these and remember those days.

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A couple recipes I’ve tried:

Alex’s High Protein Cookies – (you can find her recipe here) I topped each cookie with a chocolate chip instead of mixing them in. Very good! I love how these have chickpeas in them.

Tara’s Coconut Dough Balls – (you can find the recipe here) I loved how coconutty these were. They were gone VERY quickly. 

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Some things I’ve been making:

My Homemade Cinnamon Rolls (whole grain). I made some of these for my early-morning scripture study class a few weeks ago. They were really good and they loved them, too.

My Chia Protein Pancakes – topped them with homemade peanut butter. I blended the pancake batter up in my blender twice this time and added a little more baking powder. The batter was smooth and thick and made perfect pancakes!

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I went to Target the other day…

And I got four blouses and a pair of jeans: the shirts were each $7.00 and the jeans were only $7.45! For jeans that fit really well, I HAD to get them.

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I’ve been spending time with my kitties:

Hi Chip!

Oh, and have I ever introduced our queen of the house?! Here she is:

Hi Dale!

She likes to mess with me.

And eat my clothes.

She’s such a little angel, right along with Chip. <3

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I WAS ASKED TO PROM!!! The young man who asked me was really cute about it; he pulled out the note from a Reese’s pieces box while I was at a football game with him and his family and gave it to me. I was not expecting it at ALL! He’s one of my guy friends and I’m really excited to get to go with him.

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Did you have a nice weekend? The football game was a lot of fun; we learned about birds and insects today in Sunbeams; I also watched four movies this weekend including The Prince of Egypt, Joseph: The King of Dreams, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (the 1997 one), and Disney’s Pocahontas. I loved singing along to each of them while I did some work on my computer. 

Do you prefer working out alone or with a friend/companion? I like working out with friends, as we can catch up with life and both get in a good workout at the same time.

Can you believe that today is 100 years today since the sinking of the Titanic? April 15th, 1912. The history in the textbooks that we learn about always seems like hundreds of thousands of years ago, but it is actually just a few generations ago. I feel so bad for those people who had been on that ship and never saw their families again.

xoxox,

Blueberry Coconut Protein Pancake!

Hey my Frosted Blueberries!

Thanks for all of your comments on my Easter WIAW! I really enjoy frosting cupcakes and baking zucchini bread (my mom bought some more zucchini, so maybe I will finally get to show you the version I make for her). 

What have I been loving for breakfast recently?

Not oatmeal!

This:

My Blueberry Coconut Protein Pancake!

Start heating up a nonstick (or lightly sprayed) skillet.

I set my stove surface burner on a heat/power of 3 (from a Low of 1 to a High of 9).

Mix together the coconut flower, chia seeds, and cinnamon.

Add the egg whites, almond milk, and vanilla.

Whisk it together with a fork…

Until there are no more lumps in the batter.

Stir in banana.

And then fold in blueberries.

Once your skillet is heated up,

Spoon the batter into your nonstick skillet in the shape of a pancake.

And let it cook for about 15 minutes.

It does take a lot longer on the first side than the second, but waiting 15 minutes ensures a better flip later!

Now, time to FLIP! Take you biggest spatula and softly scoot it under the pancake. Tilt the pan to the side and bring the edge of the pancake to the inside corner of the pan, both at 45 degree angles forming a V-shape. Now flip the pancake from the spatula to the pan facing down.

(If you’re left-handed, follow the directions as state above, but flip the directions the pan and pancake face at the angle: pan to the right and pancake to the left).

Let it cook for another 5 minutes until the bottom is a lightly golden brown.

Transfer to a plate, frost it with peanut butter, decorate it with another handful of blueberries, grab a fork, and DEVOUR!

Blueberry Coconut Protein Pancake!

Ingredients

• ½ cup egg whites (up to 2/3 cup, depending on size of egg whites used – 4 large typically work)
  
• 1 scoop (3 tbs) coconut flour
  
• 1 tbs chia seeds
  
• 1 tsp cinnamon
  
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
  
• 2 tbs vanilla almond milk
  
• ½ banana, mashed
  
• ½ cup frozen blueberries
  

Topped with 1 tbs peanut butter and another handful of berries!

Directions

Start heating up a nonstick (or lightly sprayed) skillet. I set my stove surface burner on a heat/power of 3 (from a Low of 1 to a High of 9).

Mix together the coconut flower, chia seeds, and cinnamon. Add the egg whites, almond milk, and vanilla. Whisk it together with a fork until there are no more lumps in the batter. Add the mashed banana, stir it in, and then fold in the blueberries.

Once your skillet is heated up, spoon the batter into your nonstick skillet. Let it cook for about 15 minutes. It does take a lot longer on the first side than the second, but waiting 15 minutes ensures a better flip later!

Now, time to FLIP! Take you biggest spatula and softly scoot it under the pancake. Tilt the pan to the side and bring the edge of the pancake to the inside corner of the pan, both at 45 degree angles forming a V-shape. (I drew in the way the spatula would face, as I couldn’t hold both my camera and the spatula in the same hand and take the picture.) Now flip the pancake from the spatula to the pan, facing down. Let it cook for another 5 minutes until the bottom is a lightly golden brown.

Transfer to a plate, frost it with peanut butter, decorate it with another handful of blueberries, grab a fork, and DEVOUR!

Print This!

Note: If you don’t have coconut flour, you can another flour like almond flour or buckwheat flour (whole wheat and oat would work too) or you can even use vanilla protein powder in its place. If you want to make this EXTRA HUGE, add a tsp of baking powder, split into about 3 smaller pancakes (to help with flipping), and cook until golden brown on both sides.

Nutritional information

Without peanut butter: 290 calories, 21.5 grams protein, 35 grams carbs, 17.5 grams fiber, and 7.5 grams healthy fats.

With 1 tbs all natural peanut butter: 390 calories, 25.5 grams protein, 38 grams carbs, 19 grams fiber, and 15.5 grams healthy fats.

Absolutely the BEST pancake EVER,

And I get the WHOLE thing all to myself!

YES, I do love you oatmeal. You hold a dear place in my heart.

But right now,

I’m having fun with this babe. <3

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What what are some of your favorite pancake toppers? I love nut butter and fruit. Period.

Who is one of your favorite fitness gurus? One of my favorites is Jillian Michaels — I especially love her workouts on her DVDs, as they keep me strong!

Have you ever taken an AP test? Have one coming up this next month? I went in today to the high school I’m taking it at and we went through a lot of the paper work (bubbling-in info, etc.), and now it’s really hitting me. 30 Days, and I’ll be taking both the Literature and Physics AP Tests. I already have my diploma (came a couple weeks ago), but I won’t really feel graduated until after my 17th Birthday, which happens to bet the day I take my Physics AP Test. But now, I REALLY know I need to keep up my studying and work at it as much as I can.

xoxox,

Buttermilk Oatmeal Pancakes!

Hey My Swirly Twirly Flapjacks!

Thanks for all of your comments on my last post about my home gym! I really like that we now have a pretty well-rounded gym here at home, especially since we don’t have a membership to a gym anymore. It also helps that we have five bedrooms in our house with only two kids total. We use one of the two extra rooms as a sewing/guest room and the other as a gym/library.

I asked, and you answered.

Here they are:

My Buttermilk Oatmeal Pancakes!

Combine the almond milk and the distilled vinegar in a medium bowl (or measuring cup like I did). Set it aside to thicken.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

Once the milk mixture has thickened, pour it into a blender/food processor, and add the oatmeal, agave, silken tofu, and applesauce.

Process until the oats are a finely milled.

Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour the oat mixture into the center.

Mix well, but don’t overmix.

Preheat a nonstick or lightly coated with cooking spray griddle.

Use a ¼ cup measurement cup to ladle out the batter for each pancake. Flip pancakes when bubbles rise and break open on the top, or when they’re golden brown on the bottom.

Cook until lightly browned on their reverse side. Repeat with the rest of the batter.

Transfer to a plate, decorate, and devour8!”

Buttermilk Oatmeal Pancakes!

Vegan, Whole Grain, Sugar-Free option*

Makes 4 servings, with about 3 pancakes per serving (depending on the size of the pancakes)

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
  
• 1 cup old-fashioned (or quick) rolled oats
  
• 1 tsp. salt
  
• 1 Tbsp. baking powder
  
• 1 Tbsp. agave nectar or honey
  
• 1 ¾ cup buttermilk: [1-2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk + 1 ½ Tbsp distilled vinegar]
  
• 1/3 cup silken or soft tofu
  
• 2 Tbsp. applesauce or oil**
  

Directions

Combine the almond milk and the distilled vinegar in a medium bowl (or measuring cup like I did). Set it aside to thicken. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Once the milk mixture has thickened, pour it into a blender/food processor, and add the oatmeal, agave, silken tofu, and applesauce. Blend it all up until the oats are a finely milled. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour the oat mixture into the center. Mix well, but don’t overmix.

Preheat a nonstick or lightly coated with cooking spray griddle. Use a ¼ cup measurement cup to ladle out the batter for each pancake. Flip pancakes when bubbles rise and break open on the top, or when they are golden brown on their bottoms. Cook until lightly browned on their reverse side.

Transfer to a plate, decorate, and devour8!”

Print This Recipe

*To make sugar-free, in place of the agave use 2 packets of stevia. (Or you can even just replace the agave with 1 Tbsp. more of applesauce.)

**I like using applesauce when I plan to top my pancakes with nut butter, and oil when I plan to top them with fruit, like jam, preserves, or applesauce.

I topped mine with my Homemade Sun Butter and some fresh blackberries (which were on sale — score!).

I really love how healthy, filling, and satisfying these are! We all (as in, each of my family members) topped our pancakes differently, with a variety of things, which included: sun butter, preserves, maple syrup, smart balance lite buttery spread, applesauce, berries, etc! We DEVOURED these in two seconds flat!

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What is your favorite pancake topper? I really like to use nut/seed butters and applesauce (or preserves to make PB&J pancakes).

Do you like breakfast for dinner? I think breakfast for dinner is the BEST! My whole family enjoys it, so I made these for dinner tonight!

How do you keep organized? I like to use lists and schedules/calendars to keep my day organized. I list down what I want to get done that day, and I love being able to cross things off as I do them: a fully crossed off list at the end of the day is something I really like seeing! I’ve also been recently scheduling my day. I had been falling behind in my schoolwork, and so for this past week I’ve really scheduled myself (practically minute by minute; not quite, but close) so I could focus and plan in the time to get some things I’ve-been-needing-to-get-done done. It worked! I’m all caught up. The schedule isn’t restrictive: things come up and it has to change a lot, but I still like to write it up because it helps me stay focused. It gives me a visualization for my day. For the rest of the stuff I have, I use bins, shelves, labels, folders, dividers, assigned places, etc. to keep things organized.

xoxox,

P.S. Sun Butter Recipe coming soon! I made it today and have it all ready for you!

This Single Lady Eats!

Hey all of my Yubby Dubby Cutie Pies!

Thanks for all of your comments on my Recipe By Special Diet page. I’m really excited about the new organization. You guys blow me away with all of your love and support. Thank you for always being there for me! It really means a lot to me.

I love Single Lady Recipes. Because sometimes, you really only need to make one item of something – and not an entire batch of them.

Here are some of this Single Lady’s lovelies she’s been trying. (Note, most of these are in single-lady servings, but a couple are not, like the dips – but the rest are.)

SkinnyTops – as babies! Topped with walnut butter, unsweetened finely shredded coconut, and dried cranberries. The coconut gave these a minty flavor. That really surprised me – I did not expect that. I’ve never had a VitaTop, so I can’t compare these to them, but Katelyn hit the nail on the head with these!

Red Velvet Single Lady Cupcakes. I haven’t baked much with coconut flour, so this was such a great way to expand my baking. I really liked how Kat got the flavor of this. The only substitution I made was that I used oat flour in place of whole wheat, which I was out of at the moment). It didn’t rise as much (because I made that substitution), but the flavor was there.

The Breakfast Cookie. This is definitely something worth waking up to! I made it a cinnamon raisin version with vanilla protein powder, a dash of cinnamon, and some raisins to add the finishing touch. I enjoyed this right before we left for our trip.

Heather is like the pro at pancakes. Her Super Fluffy Peanut Butter Carob Chip Pancakes have won my heart. She taught me how to make my own vegan buttermilk! I had never done that before, but this got me over that speed hurdle and now I can fly! It was so cool to see how the vinegar really thickens the non-dairy milk (I used soy) and makes it like buttermilk — but vegan! And these are true to the name – SUPAH FLUFFY!

Lactose Free Lizzie’s Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Pie Dip. And that’s what it tastes like – Pumpkin pie with chocolate chips in a dip form. Perfect for the holidays.

This is the Brownie Batter Dip from Teen Eat Live. Talk about brownies straight into your mouth! I can’t stop digging my spoon into it! My bowl is already less full than pictured.

And now for some yummy single-lady eats!

On our trip (that I mentioned), I had a couple snacks (since it WAS a 6 hour drive). Those included Sugar Snap Peas. They are awesome! My favorite part is the beans inside them. The way sugar snap peas also remind me of edamame, but you can eat the outside of these where with edamame you don’t.

I also had a yummy red apple and some almonds (unpictured).

I saw this Cashew Cookie Larabar at Kroger’s and HAD to grab it. (It has cashews in it!) I haven’t tried it yet, but I know what I am going to do with it.

And one of this single lady’s favorites:

Nut Butter!

When we got home from our trip (it was a 6 hour drive there on Friday and then 6 hours back on Monday), I found that there was

NO NUT BUTTER IN THE FRIDGE.

None.

Nada.

Zip.

I almost fainted.

Once I contained myself, I quickly went about fixing that! J
I made a big batch of mixed-nut butter (mixed so it helps me get variety of nuts): about 3 cups of walnuts (which I toasted in the oven at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes), 2 cups of raw hazelnuts, and about 1 cup of unsalted dry roasted peanuts, and then added a big handful of raw cacao nibs, two pinches of salt, and a dash of cinnamon.

I also made HOMEMADE BREAD after making the nut butter! This stuff is my FAVORITE. Nothing store-bought can ever beat this. I baked it not only for my family, but to also share it with the young women in my church and their parents at our Young Women in Excellence program, where we share some of our accomplishments this year in Personal Progress (a program that helps us become more like our Heavenly Father) and share our talents.

The smell of freshly baked bread that fills the air is like a magnet.

Everyone ends up in the kitchen, impatient for a slice. If you keep a window open, your neighbors drop by for a “visit.” Fresh-out-of-the-oven bread with mixed-nut-butter is SO good! Fresh-out-of-the-oven bread is good period! But it’s extra yummy with nut butter.

The next recipe I’ll be sharing is for my Cookies N’ Cream Milkshake, and then it will be Sun Butter time!

Do you like Single Lady Recipes? I love how you can make ONE cupcake, ONE cookie, or ONE pie, especially if the craving is quenched with ONE of something.

What snacks do you like to bring on a trip? Some of my favorites are raw fruits, vegetables, and nuts.

Do you make your own bread? nut butter? Homemade bread and homemade nut butter just can’t be beat! Also, I’ve been thinking of doing a remake of my homemade bread post (but as a new post). I’ve gotten better at it and have some improvements to show you! If you would like me to share, just leave a comment!

xoxox

Protein Chia Pancakes!

Hey my Cuties!

Thank you for all of your comments on my first WIAW (well, I called it What Kat Ate Wednesday, but I digress). I really loved doing it. WIAW is so much fun — I’ll have to do it. On another note, one of my readers had a question about what I posted. You can read it here.

I have been striving to listen to my body and give it what it wants — tuning in to the signals it gives me.

And recently, it has been wanting PANCAKES.

Do you like Pancakes?

I absolutely ADORE Pancakes! If I don’t have oatmeal in the morning, it’s because I’m having pancakes. I absolutely LOVE my morning oats, so if I am going to have something else, it had better be good.

Not only are these delicious, they are also packed full of protein and fill you up!

Click here for my recipe. I’m blogging over at Alex’s Blog today. She is a girl living a Sugar-Free Life, and she is such an amazing person inside and out. Go check out my recipe, and then check out her story. And if you could answer the third question on my post, that would be amazing.

EDITED: Here’s the printable version. Print This!

xoxox

A Patriotic RED, WHITE, And BLUE.

The Flag — The Star Spangled Banner — Independence.

Oh, and Pancakes.

That is what I think of on the 4th of July.

The United States Revolutionary War era is my favorite time period to study in history.

I am especially grateful for our founding fathers who risked their lives for the freedom of all men. They knew they could be killed for signing the Declaration of Independence, but they did it anyway. They did it willingly. There was something of greater value — something they wanted most desperately — something they would gladly die for for us: our FREEDOM. Our founding fathers knew it was imperative, and so do we.

Just like our founding fathers before us in 1776, men and women today are fighting for that same freedom and for our rights and protection. They have left their families to serve their country. And there will still be many more who will follow in their footsteps.

Today we honor these men and women.

These heroic individuals are who we celebrate this day.

What they did — what they do.

A Patriotic Red, White, and Blue.

Happy 4th of July!

Enjoy the fireworks!

Enjoy your time with your family!

Oh, and enjoy some Pancakes.

This is my favorite Pancake Recipe minus the Chocolate Chips; layered with Strawberries, Bananas, and Blueberries; and topped with Walnut Almond Butter. (The recipe will be next!)

What are you doing this 4th of July? We’re having a BBQ with some of our friends over. My Dad is grilling and I get to make the treat! I uh-DORE making treats!

Are you doing anything even if you don’t live in the USA? I made pancakes for my family this morning too. They love it when I make pancakes.

xoxox

P.S. picture sources: #1 #2 #3 #4

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,