I like the bars!

No, not the bars that serve alcohol, though I occasionally like those too.  I'm talkin bout the breakfast bars.  As mentioned before, I have been frequenting a lot of healthy food blogs lately, and have picked up on a lot of popular foods in the healthy food blog community.  When Chris and I took a trip to Trader Joe's yesterday, I picked up a wide assortment of various power/breakfast bars to try.  I have yet to try any of them, because it's the weekend.  I like to save the bars for when I need a quick grab-and-go kind of breakfast or snack.  So, I will be following up on this post with reviews of the different bars.  The only bars I have tried in the past are Luna bars, which I do like.  However, they seem to have a strange film that stays on your tongue after eating them, almost like shortening.

Here are the bars I picked up:

2 Clif bars, 2 Lara bars, 2 Pure bars, 1 Flavor and Fiber bar (gnu), and 2 Think Thin bars.  Let the taste testing begin!

Oh, and to be counterproductive on the healthy eating front, I am going to bake something (probably cookies) full fat today.  I have the urge to bake, and I won't hold back.  But, hopefully I will hold back the urge to eat!  I plan to give away most of the cookies (or whatever it is I decide to bake) to my coworker for her birthday.  

Also, to be even more counterproductive, we're having the best pizza in St. Louis tonight with my family!  It's definitely not low-fat or low-cal!  And, it is impossible to practice eating in moderation with Faraci Pizza!  Mmmmmm Provel cheese.  Those of you non-locals may not have heard of Provel, but it is a St. Louis staple!  It's a combo of Swiss, Provolone, and Cheddar.

  (Photo from Wikipedia created by Whitebox)

Oh where oh where has my little dog gone?!

Look what happened to my Wembley!!!

Before

After

The poor groomer looked like she was afraid that I would think she did a terrible grooming job.  But, I knew that with all of the mats in his ears and chin area, he would have to be shaved pretty funky.  Fortunately, though he may look like a different dog, we know he is the same ol' Wembley thanks to his devilish attitude!  Look, his eyes are even glowing the same devil glow!

I'm a planner!

You should check out this fun website that helps you stay on top of your meal planning and shopping lists.  It's free too!  What is this, the third blog about free stuff?!  Anyway, stay tuned for further blogging later today!

Holla!

I'm giving a "shout out" to food2.com They are having a Friday give away and if you give them a shout out on your blog, you will have a chance to win some foody prizes!! As mentioned in my previous post, I love free stuff (especially when it involves food)!

Mix Master

Kelsey, who writes a blog that I have recently become enamored with called Bites and Bowls is doing a giveaway!! I love the potential for free stuff!! She is giving away $20 to Mix My Granola, which looks like an awesome granola! The best part is, you get to make your own granola combinations from their selections of oats, fruits, nuts, and extras! You should check out both of these websites!

Not by the hair on MY chinny chin chin!

Me encanta la Tierra!

It was another wonderful Earth Day celebration in Forest Park!  This is the holiday/festival I most look forward to every year.  The weather this past weekend was amazing.  I like to think that the Earth is basking in her day and gives us the best weather to help us appreciate her even more!  After recycling our massive recycling pile, er, mountain, Chris and I (ok, I) packed a picnic.  I made my favorite picnic staple: lemony olive tuna salad (see below for recipe).  We also brought homemade slaw, whole wheat crackers, an Asian pear, apples, some Cooking Light Vanilla Bean Shortbread cookies, and pita chips with Trader Joe's basil white bean hummus.  My mom contributed some delicious fresh pineapple and dried mango and papaya.  Of course, there was beer and wine to be had as well.  

Lemony Olive Tuna Salad:

2 cans chunk light tuna in water

3/4 - 1 cup red onion, diced finely

1/2-1 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and chopped

1/2 cup chopped parsley 

juice of one lemon

pepper to taste

These measurements are just estimates, I put in however much I think looks and tastes good.

My dad brought his stunt kite along!  He hasn't brought this out since my brother and I were little and had to be held down while we held the strings so that we didn't lift off!  My dad actually made and designed this beautiful kite!  

It was the perfect windy day for flying a kite.  There were so many cute families flying their own kites all over the field.  

My mom and I watched this Capoeira group dance for a while, they were really cool!

After lounging in Forest Park for 5 hours reading, eating, and meandering through the festival, Chris and I went to meet his parents (who couldn't make it to Earth Day) at Racconelli's Pizza in the Loop.  We had a lovely dinner.  Chris and I shared a salad, and we all split an eggplant pizza.  Their crust was the BEST!  Crispy and chewy at the same time.

After pizza and salad, we ended our perfect day with the perfect treat: "'Fro Yo' hands in the aiiiiiiir!"  This is a brilliantly conceptualized frozen yogurt shop.  They have several soft serve frozen yogurt pulls along the wall that are self-serve.  You just pick up a cup, pick your flavor, or in my case flavorS, then you pick your toppings, and they charge you by the ounce.  Delicious, healthier than Ben and Jerry's across the street, and FUN!