Hey friends!!  Once again, I am so sorry for the lack of posting this week.  Last Friday evening, this infection I have been dealing with came back full force and I was out for the count until Tuesday night!  It was AWFUL!!!

I am on some new stronger antibiotics and they seem to be doing the trick.  Fingers crossed this will be the last of it!  

I hope you all had a nice Easter weekend.  Easter is one of my favorite holidays because I just love spring, and pastel colors and ofcourse, the really meaning behind Easter.  Unfortunately I didn’t get to enjoy the day (I didn’t leave my bed for almost 4 days straight), but I did get to make a couple Easter baskets for some special people. 🙂 

My husband gets an Easter basket every year until we have children. 🙂  I have to have someone to make a basket for.  He asked why he didn’t get a “real” basket this year… because you are 30, that’s why. 😉 A dog bowl will have to do.  

I make a little basket for my brother each year too. I always try to find non-candy items to fill up the basket first then add some chocolates!

And my bestie, Rachael, got a special Easter basket this year with an engagement theme.  It is filled with a bridal magazine, a wedding planning notebook, Mrs. and Mr. coozies, ring cleaner, a heart-shaped ring holder, chocolates, a card, champagne, and ring pops.  I just love putting together little fun baskets to show the people I love the most how much I care about them.  

A group of girls got together last night to celebrate the bride-to-be!

SO SO SO happy for this girl!  She is the most giving, selfless person you will ever meet and deserves all the happiness in the world.  So lucky to have a friend like her. 🙂

 

Although I wasn’t able to enjoy any carrot cake on Easter, I made this almond flour carrot cake into little muffins to enjoy throughout the week.  They are SO good and were very easy to make!  A nice little change from my protein bars/balls that I usually make/have on hand for snacking during the week.  The icing is just cashews (soaked in water for at least an hour) and a little maple syrup.  This snack packs a nice punch of protein with the icing and the almonds as the base!  

I also made this almond butter brownie bread to take to my girls night last night!  I may have been sick lately, but I sure have been baking a lot.  

Since my stomach has been upset lately with this bug I am fighting, I am sticking to a lot of very bland food aka carbs.  Last night I whipped up a big batch of protein pancakes to have on hand for quick meals throughout the week.  I didn’t follow any particular recipe, but kind of adapted a few to make my own.  I used a 1/2 cup protein powder (I use vanilla Sunwarrior), 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (add more if batter is too thick), teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg and cinnamon.  I greased the pan with coconut oil and got to flipping pancakes!  I individually wrapped up each serving (around 3 pancakes) and it made about 9 servings.  I ate my serving then threw the rest in the freezer for when I am in a pinch!  I just top mine with almond butter and I am ready to go! Planning ahead is so key for me when it comes to eating healthy.  

And ofcourse a post wouldn’t be complete without a doggie picture. 🙂  Riley got the last of a jar of almond butter and was pretty happy about it. 😉 

 

Thank you so much for your patience as I try to get this sickness under control.  I really appreciate all your thoughts and prayers.  Hopefully by next week we will be back to normal scheduled posts!  

Questions:

1. Highlight of your weekend?
2. Tell me all about your Easter (if you celebrate!)
3. Do you like carrot cake?