Good Morning friends!
Today, I've got another fun "bar" idea to share with you for your next celebration!
You gluten-free people out there are going to be exceptionally excited about this one...

PRETZEL BAR

by Gluten Free Frenzy

I recently had the opportunity to work with Chandice from Gluten Free Frenzy on a couple of Chalkboard Signs for a Pretzel Bar she was working on in collaboration with Glutino.

It turned out really cute and I'm thinking you all might be inspired to create one yourself!!

Such a cute idea, right?
Especially knowing even your guests with gluten sensitivities can join in on the fun!!
Are you feeling inspired to create one of your own?

The signs are now available in my shoppe...

 24x36 Pretzel Bar :: Casual sign 

24x36 Pretzel Bar :: Sophisticated Sign

11x14 "The Works" Sign

Be sure to check out Chandice's full blog post with all of the details of her set up and the inspiration behind the whole Pretzel party and "The Works" sign. Such a cute story!!

Happy "almost Friday" my friends!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
It's always so fun to be introduced to new people through referrals from previous collaborations.
Thrilled that Jessica with Fantabulosity is the one that sent Chandice my way!

P.S. I'm back in yoga pants again today...but there are only so many days in a row I can wear my uniform. *giggling* (see my Stitch Fix post).

GOOD THiNGS | Best Ever {Fresh} FRUiT Cake

For most people…

"Fruit Cake" typically warrants wrinkled noses and groans during the Christmas/Winter Holidays at it's very mention.

Thankfully...this isn't the season for "fruit cake"! 

And... as you can see from the image below...

there's no need for wrinkled noses and groans because...

what I'm sharing with you today isn't your traditional "Fruit" Cake…

Fresh "Fruit Cake"

Made completely of fresh fruit...

this cake is sure to turn heads while still tending carefully to the heart health of those we love.

Click the "Read More" link below to get the rest of the details on the most delicious and nutritious fruit cake ever!

BOOK | Small Plates and Sweet Treats

I absolutely LOVE Aran Goyoaga, author of the beautiful food blog: Cannelle et Vanille.

You've seen my attempt at recreating her gorgeous, healthy, wholesome dishes here.
(I even added her recipes to my "Promise Me" journey last February).

Aran has a way of sweeping you away into a different world with her gorgeous food photography.
She has this amazing connection with food linking her to fond memories of her childhood.
Her natural ability to convey the recollections of growing up in the Basque country oftentimes makes you feel you are there, sharing the experience.

There's a distinct feeling I get every time I look at her lovely food presentation...
or listen to the way her love of wholesome foods is directly tied into her love of family;
The family she grew up in...
and her own little family she is now raising.

I have been anticipating the release of her first book and I'm thrilled to say it's now available for pre-order.
The book is a lovely guide to how "Gluten-free food can be delicious and beautiful... and satisfying"
Check out the charming book trailer to see for your yourself...

Although I must warn you...
you may be unable to overcome the overwhelming desire to purchase the book. NOW.  *wink*

Wouldn't this be a fabulous gift for yourself...

or someone you know?

KEEPiNG iT REAL

You know that feeling you get after you've watched an amazing movie...an inspiring movie?

That feeling that makes you believe you can do anything...

Lighting that spark within you that reconfirms your dreams aren't out of reach

and reaching your fullest potential is just around the corner?

(I remember watching Flashdance and then dancing non-stop for weeks afterwards - thinking that was my calling in life). *blushing*

Well...I get that same feeling every time I visit Aran's food blog.

Her recipes inspire me to cook healthier for my family.

I've said before...

she's actually living the life (through cooking) that I feel I should/could be living.

Aran comes across as very organic...

genuine...

and approachable.

I like that.

I know I'm going to love her book.

family | Happy 13th Birthday Ema

My middle daughter, Emalyn Anne...
turned 13 this past Friday.
thirTEEN...*sigh*

Where did the time go...seriously?
I remember like it was yesterday...

My ongoing efforts to convince this serious tomboy what a beautiful GIRL she was/is...

and how her silliness and laughter would warm my heart and light up any room...

She's still serious...a very deep thinker...
and she's still got the silliness and the most beautiful smile in the world.

So what did my cheesecake loving daughter request for her birthday dessert this year?
Fruit. Salad.
*sigh*

Don't get me wrong...
I'm thrilled she actually asked for something healthy.
The creative side of me was frozen though...
No baking?
What was I to do?

I enlisted the help of my awesome Facebook Fans...
and after some wonderful feedback...
I decided on creating this...

A "Fruit Cake"...









Using a watermelon as the "base" of the cake...
I then used pineapple, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, apples, strawberries and kiwi for the cake decor...

She had no idea what I had created...
So right before we brought it out with the candles lit...
I said, "I know you asked for fruit salad but I just HAD to make you a cake"...
(She of course rolled her eyes and was a bit disappointed at my announcement)
AND THEN...
She was pleasantly surprised to see I really did listen to her request...
And she thought it was SO awesome...
she's thinking of asking for one EVERY year! *wink*

Happy 13th Birthday my sweet, sweet Em!

KEEPiNG iT REAL

The toughest part about making the "fruit" cake was cutting the rind off of the watermelon...

and carving it into a round "cake"

But once that was done...

It all came together rather quickly.

And it was surprisingly satisfying...

I quite enjoyed it!!

Oh...

just in case you didn't know...

the two images at the beginning of the post...

those are scrapbooking layouts I did years ago -

back when I was all-things-scrapbooking.

(That's for an entirely different post). *wink*

Ema continues to beg me to start back up...

She loves looking through the albums.

That's one of the reasons I decided to include the layouts in today's post...

{gluten-free} energy pops

my very first gluten-free snack...

(if you don't count the gluten-free peanut butter cookies from last week). *wink*

i call these energy "pops" - because they are tiny enough to just "pop'em" in your mouth.

these are intended to be cut into "bars" but i liked the idea of a cute round "pop" instead.

they DID turn out cute, didn't they? *wink*

they are actually pretty darn tasty and weren't difficult to make at all.

ema took some with her to school and i've had a few "pops" already today...

peanut butter

agave nectar

brown rice crispie cereal

sunflower seeds

pumpkin seeds

raisins

dried pineapple

vanilla

& a bit of salt

delish.

here's the recipe

enjoy your tuesday everyone!

hugs!

Keeping It Real:

i cut the post short because ella is screaming to get up from her nap...*grin*

{gluten-free} peanut butter cookies

and so the journey has begun...

after a visit to the doctor on monday, i've committed to go 30 days gluten-free.

i thought this was a reasonable sacrifice...

considering the $500 lab fee i would incur for food allergy testing.

i shared my commitment with ema over breakfast yesterday morning.

she whole-heartedly volunteered to make the trek with me.

we quickly skimmed the internet & a long list of foods we COULDN'T have...

and that was pretty discouraging for her.

so...

after packing her a gluten-free lunch to take to school...

and thinking about her sweet gesture to tag along with me on this journey...

i spontaneously decided -

at 3 o'clock in the afternoon -

to make these half-dollar sized gluten-free peanut butter cookies.

needless to say, it put a little "spring" back in ema's step when she returned home from school.

i must say...

they are REALLY easy...

and pretty darn tasty.

they aren't absolutely "to-die-for" in my opinion...

but what's not to love about peanut butter and sugar?

(and trust me...there's A LOT of sugar).

a side benefit to having made these?

it meets the requirements for TWO of my goals #11 & #39...

go here for the recipe

before i sign off -

as of yesterday morning,

we've officially received the "approval" from the bank.

they have indeed accepted our offer on the short sale we've been trying to buy since august/september.

we are beside ourselves.

completely excited.

completely relieved to finally have an answer.

and mostly...

we feel SO fortunate.

it's a GORGEOUS home.

we must close by march 30th.

the inspection is scheduled for today.

wish us luck!

Keeping It Real

I was SO excited to make the peanut butter cookies with Em yesterday.

BUT...

she had invited a friend over and they ended up making the cookies together. (*sniffle*)

I was kind of looking forward to the "together-time".

But you know...it's okay.

They had a lot of fun together - & it'd been awhile since they hung out together.

And i LOVE to hear/watch my kids having fun/interacting with their friends.

Besides, I got to do the 2nd batch all by myself (after they ran off to play and totally forgot to put the first batch in the oven).

And baking by myself is really nice too.

Don't worry. They came back to sample some...*wink*