Sweet & Salty Chewy Date Bites

I'm having a serious love affair with dates right now. Where have dates been all my life? The way dates trick you into thinking you're eating something so much more sinful then it is has got to be the highlight of my…of my…of my….of my day, of my kitchen, of my life? It can't possibly be life because that would be so sadly pathetic. I wouldn't want you thinking dates can actually be the highlight of someone's life. No, people have much more important life highlights. Like drinks with friends, or cute new hairdo's, cozy Saturday mornings. Now friends, hair and family sound like things people might highlight - not dates. Unless it's a date with this guy. 

Skillet Popover {Quick & Easy Panekkoeken}

A couple things I'm absolutely loving right now and have been wasting, no literally dragging my feet through the thickest, darkest, murkiest thick sand letting time tick by without telling you about essential beauty items I've been adoring and with every tick my brain says TELL THEM. Come, let's talk. Your fabulous self awaits with this face wash by Dessert Essence. My skin has never glowed so - it's so glow-ey my skin has literally outshown itself - I almost need to tame the sheen. And speaking of skin, I've been needling - not sure if I'm really satisfied with the results for the amount of pain (yes, this is a mini torture device). 

Coconut Oil Popcorn

Who doesn't love popcorn? Show me the man who doesn't love popcorn and I'll show you the man deprived of life with je ne sais quoi, or the joie de vivre as the French say. Oh, la la I'm Lady Marmalade. And my knowledge of French sayings ends. My girlfriend hosted Ladies Night and served her version of Coconut Oil Popcorn which I had to immediately recreate in my own kitchen, because if you know me - I. Adore. Popcorn. Like, a lot. The popcorn I used is from the co-op I serve as a Board Member to - the Local Roots Food Co-Op. It's organic and local - score and double score. Guilt free snacking - think after school snack, kids are home for the weekend - big bowl of popcorn sitting around, or an in-home moving night - of course! Getting your fill on healthy fats, fiber-licious, crunch-tastic, salt-lastic, hmmm-mmm, yummy-lation. Love these cute dollar store popcorn bags I picked up, too! Start poppin' people. 

Chocolate Coconut Cream Cups

Discovering an unbeknownst bag of sugar coated high fructose corn syrup Peanut Butter Crunchy Bars in the backside passenger seat while trying to stow Aussie Licorice into same passenger seat pocket has me incredulous at my candy hoarding abilities. How did I forget that bag!? Sweet Tooth Insanity. And when Sweet Tooth Insanity nags at my being, but I'm (lamely) trying to be wholesome because a trip to the Yucatán Peninsula is very near in my future, candy cravings have to become really truly wholesome. 

White Sangria {A Big Bowl of Booze}

It's Friday! Guess what I forgot to do? Yep, you guessed it - forgot to turn the TV on Wednesday night for the replay of Downton Abbey. Lame! Loser! Can NOT remember when shows are on! I need my British accent // rich lady mansion tea party // dinner party dresses // English etiquette cup filled!! And I'm really failing. Why don't I throw a party for Buffalo housewives with a big bowl of booze to solve my problems!? Just kidding - bowls of booze don't solve your problems. But they should! Just kidding again (that is, if Travis' Mom or my Dad is reading this). I know one thing bowls of booze do - cause giggles. Lots of um.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Between Saturday morning playdates and gym sesh's, plating up Saturday night Thai Coconut Shrimp Soup, and getting to church on time, without having any slick television show recording systems how do normal, organized people remember when their favorite shows are on?? I missed Downtown on Sunday evening! My world is OVER! Thankfully TPT recognizes spazzes like me and replays Sunday's episode on Wednesday night. I may need to program a reminder into my phone. 8pm Wednesday. 8pm Wednesday. 8pm Wednesday. If Downton isn't your thing, turn on some football and make this dip - the (wo)men in your life will be ever so grateful. 

Cabbage Steaks

DOWNTON IS BACK! Hoooooorahhhh! My snark cup has been filled to the brim as TPT replayed Season Four Downton Abbey leaving me completely up to date on all the drama (Lady Mary - what a slut!, poor Anna - another rape?, Oh, Daisy!, Oh, Lady Edith!, the black musician and Lady Rose - how hot!?) and ramping us up for the big hurrah Season Five which premiered last Sunday. In anticipation, my beloved Grandma sent a newspaper clipping basically foreboding Julian Fellowes may not write another season of  Downton and may be in its last season - say it isn't SO! How did you like the Season Premier? I CANNOT believe James was fired! He is way too hot to ex off the show! I mean, really! In other unrelated news, I'm eating healthy after all the merriment, eating, and eating and by eating healthy I mean vegetables atop vegetables atop lean protein with a side of 60 minutes of cardio. Amen. Eat Cabbage.