Boogers Have Never Been So Cool!

So, I am super excited to show you guys this awesome product line called Boogie Wipes! I hadn't heard about these until expecting, and I can tell you right now that I plan to use these throughout all of my child's stages of life. Yes, I will be that crazy person running after my teenager telling her not to forget her Boogie Wipes. Yes, her Dad will be so proud that I have thoroughly embarrassed her, therefore she will not get a boyfriend. I will just be proud to have a kid with a booger-free nose.

Here is the scoop. Boogie Wipes are a natural saline, vegan-friendly product that are not test on animals. These wipes come in packs that are perfectly portable in your diaper bag or purse, a bigger canister to keep in the nursery or in your home, and "On The Run" boxes that contain individuals. These ingenious wipes are made of all-natural, gentle saline. Instead of spraying saline up your child's nose, Boogie Wipes are an easier solution.

Like everything else, I am testing these products out on myself before Baby arrives. If it is not good enough for me, how could it possibly be good enough for my precious child, right? I decided to try the Fresh Scent first. I take out the Boogie Wipe, and it smells pleasant. The texture is also very nice; sturdy yet super soft. These wipes are not heavily saturated like some baby wipes, which made this easy to wipe my nose with. It wasn't cold, and it cleared my nose up quite magically. It was quick and I kind of felt like continuing to use it. So i just patted my nose with it and took in the light and happy scent. I also did the same with the other scents and they were really refreshing. These handy wipes come in Grape, Menthol, and Unscented.

I wouldn't leave home without my diaper bag stocked with Boogie Wipes!

I found that these wipes really helped my allergies too. My nose felt nice and clean after using these wipes. I think my baby will be pleased with such a cool way to clean her nose. Your nose feels pampered afterwards and these wipes moisturize the area. Boogie Wipes are a lifesaver for moms who need to clean runny, booger crusted, or sick baby noses. I can totally see how these wipes can soothe a red, irritated nose. These are also a fun way to keep your kids' fingers out of there! Having something fun that smells great will be a motivator for kids not to go digging for boogers! I can totally see the Grape scent being a huge hit with the toddler crowd as well. These sweet smelling wipes can be found at stores like Target, Babies-R-Us (and Toys-R-Us), Walgreens, Rite-Aid, and Walmart and also online on their website or other online retailers like Amazon, Diapers.com, and Drugstore.com.

What a wonderful and exciting product! I am thrilled to have found Boogie Wipes and they certainly get my seal of approval. What are you using to clean out those boogie-filled noses? If this is your first time hearing about this product, what do you think?

Quick 29g Protein Quesadilla Lunch

This recipe is for a quick to prepare and make, baked quesadilla that is yummy and packed with protein. Between the tortillas and the quesadilla toppings, this meal totals about 29g of protein. And some say us vegan-folk don't get enough protein. Also, this was quick to make; use the toaster oven to make it even faster and cut down on oven preheating time. So let's get started!

Try My Drool-Worthy 'Not-chicken, Cheese, and Spinach Quesadilla with Sweet Mustard' Recipe

• 2 Whole wheat tortillas
• 2 tbsp dijom mustard
• 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
• Handful of baby spinach
• 1/4 cup sliced Daiya cheese wedge in Havarti flavor
• About 5 or 6 Gardein Crispy Tenders

Set toaster oven to 350 degree "Bake" setting. Combine dijon mustard and maple syrup. Place a tortilla in a pan and spread half of the sweet mustard mixture on it.

Layer spinach, Gardein, Daiya, and drizzle the remaining sweet mustard on top.

Place the other tortilla on top. Smash down with your hand to flatten a little bit. Bake in toaster oven for 10- 15 minutes or until quesadilla is crispy and golden.

Cut into four wedges and enjoy!

Fabulous Eco-Chic Jewelry Made From Re-purposed Materials!

We all know that there are serious environmental benefits to buying re-purposed goods versus ones that are made from brand new materials. Plus, having something cool that had a story before, is really neat and interesting. Re-purposed items are usually one of a kind or there are not many of them out there since they are not mass-produced. Whatever the item may be, it is sure to be a conversation starter. With that being said, I wanted to share my cool new statement piece ring with you.

This gorgeous and one-of-a-kind ring was made from a very talented artist, Lisa DiSciascio. Lisa is the creator and wood-gatherer behind Starlight Woods. Starlight Woods is a delightful jewelry store offering eco-friendly tree branch turned to jewelry creations and you can find these beautiful works of art on Etsy.

Love this ring!

Want to know what is so neat? The jewelry and accessories at Starlight Woods are born from storm damaged trees and fallen branches gathered by the artist during hikes with her family. What a wonderful thing!

If you are planning on giving one of these fabulous pieces as a gift, rest assured knowing that every purchase is automatically gift-ready in a gift box and wrapped with twine.

How gorgeous is this ring?! I adore it!

I absolutely love eco-chic accessories because you can feel good about them. You know exactly what they are, where they came from, and it is comforting to know that the item and it's materials were sourced responsibly. I don't know about you, but it makes me ill to think that some small child in another country is working in a factory to make the cheap accessories that you find in those superstores. Furthermore, they aren't great quality at all and they are something that everyone else is wearing. That's what I love about this Starlight Woods aqua cocktail ring; it was thoughtfully sourced and created, its a stunning fashion piece, great quality, and didn't harm anyone or anything in the making.

As you can see, this ring is super sparkly and girly. I love the aqua-turquoise color, which can match any outfit. All of the items in the Starlight Woods Etsy store are such lovely designs that you can wear them every day with any outfit, dressed up or dressed down. This ring is made from re-purposed wood and so light on my finger. I love a big statement ring that doesn't feel like it is weighing me down. This is a gorgeous ring that is so feathery that you don't even notice you're wearing it...until when of course you receive a ton of compliments on it or when the sunlight hits those attractive sparkles.

This ring, and many of the others from Starlight Woods, have a brass base that is adjustable to fit any size finger. The adjustable band is also great for when you want to switch and wear it on another finger.

This ring is absolutely fantastic and so are the other creations from Starlight Woods. In their Etsy store you can find beautiful pendants, earrings, rings, bracelets, cuff links and also sentiment jewelry that has sayings or quotes on them. There are also pieces that can be customized or personalized. Perfect for gift-giving and giving gifts to yourself as well! I think the "Best DAD Ever" tie clip is such a cool and modern gift for Father's Day, especially for new dads. I had my husband in mind when I saw that and think it would be a cool gift for me to get him for his first Father's Day. If you check out the website you will notice pages and pages of the coolest jewelry and accessories, so check it out for yourself.

Love the sparkle in this ring!

So if you are looking for a fashionable new piece or want to check out really pretty eco-friendly jewelry, find Starlight Woods on Etsy, Facebook, and Twitter!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/starlightwoods

https://www.facebook.com/starlightwoods

https://twitter.com/Starlightwoods

Top 10 Fun Things To Do When You Are Pregnant

1. Get a 3D Ultrasound

Our baby has my nose, but pretty much looks like a little mini version of my husband!

2. Have a Recording of Your Baby's Heartbeat Put Into a Keepsake Teddy Bear

We just press the frog whenever we want to hear our baby's heartbeat!

3. Journal Your Pregnancy

I've been journaling each week and put keepsakes in here too, like ultrasound pictures, our holiday card, and the baby shower invite!

4. Take a Prenatal Yoga Class

I love taking prenatal yoga class, it is a great way to bond with baby and connect with other pregnant moms-to-be!

5. Do a Plaster Belly Casting

This was a really nice activity for hubby and I. We were both so impressed on how the casting turned out and we can see exactly where the baby was positioned! He did a great job with this, I just had to stand there. Hubby is a great artist!

6. Pamper Yourself

Mani, pedis, and other pregnancy-safe spa treatments are a must; your body is hard at work! When I called my doctor to ask her if I am allowed to get a mani-pedi, she said, "ABSOLUTELY!".

7. Go to a Baby Expo

These are great and you get samples, freebies, coupons, raffle tickets, and info from each booth! Hubby was one of the only guys there. Having your hubby by your side is a nice way to share the experience, plus who else will grab you all LaraBar and pita chip samples he can get his hands on?

8. Go to a Baby Brunch/ Seminar

We went to a baby brunch in Boston and learned useful baby tips, saw baby products, and I won a gift certificate in the raffle and the goody bag was spectacular!

9. Go to a Vegan Buffet

Loving buffets like the one at the Grasshopper and at Rasoi!

10. Walk Around the Baby Stores as Much as You'd Like

Chances are you won't get sick of the baby stores and you will always find something that the baby "absolutely needs". Whether you are with your partner or make a trip by yourself just to browse around, it really becomes a favorite hobby.

And for now, the Dirty Vegan is signing off. I hope your day smells baby sweet!

Window Cord Safety in the Nursery and Throughout the Home

I started thinking about window safety, now that we are expecting our first baby. I was going through many safety issues and checklists for the nursery. There are a lot of things to consider when baby-proofing your home. I was going through crib safety when I started considering the window cord safety thing.

Obviously you want your crib to be up to the most current safety standards, such as secure screws and bolts, checking that it has not been recalled, having slats that are no more than 2 3/8 inches apart, and ensuring a tight fit with a firm mattress that you cannot fit two fingers between the mattress and crib on all sides. Your crib should be new. You never know what recalls happened, if you have all of the correct parts, if it contains lead paint, or if a hand-me-down/ used crib is up to the most recent safety codes. I've seen cribs on the cheap (seriously $99 at Ikea), but if you still cannot afford a new crib, find a way to afford a new crib. Also, your crib should contain nothing besides your mattress protector pad with a tight fitting, fitted sheet over it. Everything must fit properly and securely, another must-have new item - your fitted crib sheets. The elastic will wear after washes and uses, plus you never know what size, plushness, or protector pad size someone else used on their mattress and how much that may have stretched the fitted sheet, therefore another item to seriously avoid getting used.

Your crib should not be so close to a window that treatment cords pose a strangulation hazard. Which is what brought me to think of cord safety, a baby-proofing item that many people do not realize must be paid close attention to.

Your baby will come in contact with windows. Be sure to keep them secure. I've heard stories where babies have fell through window screens. Babies will climb and explore, so keep your eye on your baby always. The cord of your window blinds and other window treatments can pose a danger. Therefore, window guards and cordless window coverings exist. There is also a great service provided by the Window Covering Safety Council, in which they will provide you with free repair kits that will baby-proof your existing window treatments. I ordered two kits that will take care of my 8 blinded windows. The kit includes information and the website is a wealth of knowledge on cord and window safety. The website will tell you how many windows each kit will safeguard.

There are so many baby-safety topics. This is only touching on one because of this wonderful free service, and slightly covering some crib safety. This is not even close to all that you should know about child safety, so be diligent and do your research on every topic imaginable. There are so many useful websites out there where you can get all the information that you need in order to ensure that your nursery is as safe as can be. Also, use any free resources that are available to you. You can always ask the hospital or your doctor for information, advice, and brochures. If you are getting information from books and other literature, be sure that it is current and up-to-date. So if you need a free window repair kit to ensure the safety of your baby or child of any age, definitely utilize the service provided by the Window Covering Safety Council. They ship free kits to United States and Canadian addresses. Keep those babies safe, happy, and healthy, Everyone!

Vegan & Pregnant: How to Get Your DHA

You are vegan and pregnant and want to get your DHA on? No problem, here are some great sources of omega 3's and tips on how I do it.

Some sources of vegan omega 3 fatty acids are: flax seeds and flax oil, blue algae, walnuts, canola oil, soybean, wheat germ, and chia seeds. Most plant-based sources of omega 3's are ALA. The ALA sources are turned into EPA and subsequently DHA, by your body. Basically, your body will do what is right for your body and your baby. Our bodies are pretty smart. Impressive right?

Here are some sneaky foods that slip in omega 3's. You probably eat a lot of omegas without even realizing it...

Vegan Smart Balance products such as their Light spread and Peanut Butters are good sources of omega 3's.

Nature's Path makes it easy to get your omegas. Just slather on some vegan buttery spread and pure maple syrup to their Chia Plus Waffles and you are loading up on DHA in a delicious way!

If you don't eat enough of the food sources that contain omega fatty acids or simply don't like those foods, you may also choose to pop a vegan omega 3 DHA supplement. DEVA brand makes one.

As you can see, it is easy to include omega 3's in any meal. If your lunch includes a salad, make your dressing with flax seed oil or sprinkle on some walnuts or chia seeds. Add some Smart Balance Peanut Butter to apple slices or celery sticks. Or if you were wondering about the blue algae, have some spirulina in your smoothie or add it into foods you eat. Chlorella and spirulina are what the fishes eat, and non-vegans say, "get your DHA by eating fish", but why do that when you can just get your DHA by eating exactly what the fishes eat. I know I'd rather not eat my friends, and fish are certainly my friends.

Odwalla's Superfood Smoothie contains 1500 mg of spirulina!

What are some of the ways that you include omegas into your diet? Have any tips or recipes that you'd like to share?

Vegan Organic Fair-trade Gourmet Chocolates, In Time for Easter!

I would like to begin today's post by saying, I HAVE NOT HAD CARAMELS THIS GOOD BEFORE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. Got my hands on some scrumptious vegan candies from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates and let me tell you, there are hardly words for how I feel about them. As I am sampling a variety of their confectionery offerings, trying to decide which is my favorite, I keep saying to myself (out-loud and by myself...hello, crazy person), "This one is my favorite, yum! No this one is my favorite, yum!".

Oh yes, all that you see here is in fact vegan-friendly. Sjaak's has a whole vegan section on their website and trust me it is pretty unbelievable. Sjaak's has you covered for holidays and all-year-round. Let me talk to you about these amazing vegan chocolates...

YES, that is a vegan peanut butter filled chocolate Easter egg! YES, those are vegan salted caramels!

Vegan "Milk" Chocolate Salted Caramels

In my entire life, vegan and my non-vegan past, I have never tasted caramels like this before. I honestly feel that Sjaak's are the masters in caramel making. This is the softest, most perfect tasting caramel I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying. If there was ever to be a caramel-making contest, I know Sjaak's would win, hands down, with their vegan caramel. With the soft delightful caramel, covered in their vegan milk chocolate, with a touch of sea salt and the nicest slight vanilla aftertaste, I feel like I'm in heaven. These caramels are also perfectly packaged and pretty. I am hooked.

Chocolate Easter Egg Filled With Crunchy Peanut Butter

I didn't think it was possible. I didn't think vegan stuff like this even existed. Vegans look no further, you can finally fill those Easter Baskets. Not only is this egg packaged really cute, the taste is out of this world. Exactly what you would imagine. Sjaak's are masters in vegan candy. Holy crap.

Chocolate Bars in "Milk" Chocolate with Creamy Caramel & Dark Chocolate with Almonds

I want these for Easter, I want these for Mother's Day, heck I even want them for Father's Day...I will just order them for hubby and steal them! That is how good these are. Vegan milk chocolate with a gooey caramel center...I've been looking for a vegan version of this candy bar for quite some time now. The dark chocolate and almond is also fantastic. I've never tasted dark chocolate this smooth before. I don't know how Sjaak's does this, I don't care, just never stop making these candies. Okay, thanks!

Eli's Earth Bars in Treasure Bar, Dream Big Bar, & Celebrate Bar

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates also make a line of candy bars called Eli's Earth Bars. They are organic, they are fair-trade certified, and they are vegan. Also, 5% of proceeds are donated to a charitable children's organization. Why wouldn't you fill your child's Easter Basket (and Halloween bucket, and Christmas stocking, and Valentine's mailbox, and birthday party favors or gift bags...) with these candy bars? A portion of proceeds go to charities that help children, so that's an amazing thing. These are absolutely knock-your-socks-off delicious, and charitable - can't beat that. What do these bars taste like, you ask? Besides rainbows and magic...

The Treasure Bar is a chocolate covered, peanut butter crunch and caramel bar. It kind of reminds me of a nougaty, peanut, caramel bar that I've had in my past, but so much better.

The Dream Big Bar is a chocolate covered, caramel, peanuts, and peanut butter bar. It is really smooth and crunchy and the flavors mingle together so nicely that you will feel like you're dreaming, but its real and its vegan.

The Celebrate Bar is a chocolate covered, caramel, coconut, and almonds bar. It is my favorite because it just melts in your mouth and the flavor combos are like, "Pow! Let's celebrate!". Amazing.

Sjaak's certainly has a way with candy and caramels. I'm not one to tell people to go out and buy things, I kind of just objectively share my opinion BUT after this post you'd be crazy not to want to try this stuff. Simply said: a vegan's dream come true.

Cereal, How I Love Thee. Let Me Count the Ways...

I have been craving corn flakes. You know, the kind that you grew up eating as a kid as you sat in front of the tube and watched Saturday morning cartoons. Yes I'm serious, kids did that back then, instead of playing around on their smart phones as toddlers, like they are doing now. So back to the flakes...

To my surprise (not really surprised at all), as I scanned the boxes in the grocery store's cereal isle, all of the corn flakes were filled with junk. Junk, trash, chemicals, trans fats, preservatives, and cancer-causing ingredients. No way am I going to put that trash in my temple body, especially my pregnant (and soon-to-be-nursing) body. Plan B, what will be my Plan B?

Luckily, I was introduced to Erewhon Organic Cereals, by Attune Foods, (you know, the makers of the probiotic dark chocolate candy bars and other wonderful products that you can find at Whole Foods) just in the nick of time! Erewhon Corn Flakes definitely fulfilled my cereal craving and then some.

Corn Flakes...hmmmmmm!

You will be delighted to know that Erewhon Corn Flakes contain no GMO ingredients. These cereals are NON GMO Project Verified. Yes, I mean it, a corn product that actually is real, old fashioned, corn and not some creepy GMO science experiment. The taste of this cereal is real, delicious, honest to goodness corn flake cereal. That is exactly what I was looking for. Golden in color, the way nature intended it, what cereal from corn should look like. I enjoyed a huge bowl (or two, or three, or four...) of these corn flakes with cold almond milk and I thoroughly enjoyed every solitary bite.

Ingredients: Organic Milled Corn, Sea Salt. <--- doesn't get much better than that now, does it?

Oh wait it does, each serving (who eats only 1 serving anyways?) contains 60mg of potassium, 3g of protein, and even some Vitamin A, Iron, Phosphorus, and Magnesium. Its not the hugest amounts of these vitamins and minerals, but again, who only eats just 1 cup of cereal? We go through boxes and boxes of cereal in my household per week; cereal is an important thing. Moving on...

Crispy Brown Rice, Gluten-free, tastes like I remember it!

I also tried the Erewhon Crispy Brown Rice, Gluten Free cereal and it reminded me of cereals past but way better. This actually tasted nutritious...because it is. You don't get that brown rice taste, it tastes like a white rice cereal would taste, however you get that nice fulfilled and satisfied feeling after a bowl of these little treasures. Gluten-free, contains 2g of protein per serving and less than 1g of sugar. Its healthy for your children too and they will never know its healthy. Shhh, it will be our secret.

Ingredients: Organic Brown Rice, Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Sea Salt.

Low on the Glycemic Index and safe for your health-food kick. You'll forget though, this cereal tastes that good; not kidding. Dirty it up, you ask? Do what I do and add a splash of Silk creamer to your vegan milk. For some reason I do this only when I eat rice cereal. I'm glad to have finally found a brown rice cereal that I love; this will be a staple in my cupboard for sure!

Last but certainly not least, my personal favorite, a superfood-cereal-powerhouse!

Erewhon's Supergrains, Buckwheat & Hemp cereal packs a nutritious punch, let me tell you. I love hemp, it is a perfect food for your body. Bodies love hemp. Buckwheat is also great for your body and the combination gives you fiber that your body needs to haul away harmful waste in your intestines. This cereal contains a whopping 6g of protein, 5g of dietary fiber, 9% iron, and 2% calcium. If you eat your cereal in generous portions the way I do and pair it with your nutritious vegan milk, you have yourself a super breakfast. This cereal is organic, it is gluten-free, and contains absolutely no GMOs. Six ingredients, that is it. Cereal that is so close to the whole food itself that your body can immediately begin to utilize it as fuel for your functions. This cereal is tasty too; if you eat any type of bran flake in the morning or use it for baking, I recommend trying Erewhon's Buckwheat & Hemp cereal. You can even process some in your blender and use it as a really healthy breadcrumb. I would suggest using it for breadcrumb in stuffed mushrooms; I think that would make a delicious and hearty appetizer.

All three of these cereals will be making regular appearances in my pantry and I'm excited to try other Erewhon cereals. Attune Foods makes other great vegan-friendly products, so keep your eye out for them at Whole Foods. It was exciting to share this with you because as you know, I am very passionate about good food and I'm obviously not going to keep it all to myself. These cereals are great finds and I feel comfortable feeding them to my family. That is a rare occurrence these days, as there are a lot of gross ingredients in packaged foods, so it is a relief to find products like these that work for the health conscious.

The Holy grail and ass-kicker of cereal! Yum!

The Taste of Her Cherry Hurraw!

Vegan? Check. Organic? Check. Cruelty-free? Check. All-natural? Check. Fair-trade? Check. Raw? Check. Delicious and delightful? Check and check!

I have recently gotten my mitts on the fabulous Hurraw! vegan lip balms and I am in love with them!!! Now that I have experienced Hurraw! balms, I'm not certain how people lived without them before. The flavors are fantastic! The ones that I have tried so far are Grapefruit, Almond, and Green Tea, however Hurraw! has just about any flavor to tickle your fancy. Here are some of their scrumptious lip balm flavors...

• Coconut
• Vanilla Bean
• Black Cherry
• Mint
• Orange
• Almond
• Grapefruit
• Licorice
• Lemon 
• Cinnamon
• Chocolate
• Lime
• Root Beer

And coffee house inspirations such as...

• Coffee Bean
• Chai Spice
• Earl Grey
• Green Tea

They also make lip treatments of sorts...

• SPF 15 Sun Balm (for day)
• Moon Balm (a night treatment for your kisser)

These vegan lip balms are pretty darn amazing and probably the only ones I will ever use. I am determined to own one in each flavor! I like that this is finally a vegan and all-natural lip balm that is not in a tin where you have to stick your germy finger in and smear it all over your lips only to have a goopy mess, a dirty finger, and possibly the flu. Also, I love the shape of the stick (which is easy to twist and has a great feel), they are not round but a nice oval-like, lip shape. It goes on cleanly, especially if you are right out of the shower and putting this on before you apply your makeup. I can see this being my everyday, all-day balm as well as a beauty item as well. I would recommend any makeup artist have this in their kit to apply before lipstick, as it makes your lips so super soft! These balms feel so good on your lips, making them super addicting.

It is nice to see a petroleum-free, no bees wax, truly vegan and truly healthy balm. The ingredients aren't scary, they are recognizable and nourishing for those lovely lips of yours. So here is what I thought of my flavors...

Grapefruit: refreshing, sweet, and reminds me of spring! This actually brings me back to childhood because I got a fruity lip gloss palette as a small child in my Easter Basket and this is my all-natural, vegan chance to relive that wonderful memory. This also gave me a little hint of healthy pink on my lips (but in a nice tiny way, this one is mostly clear). Gorgeous!

Green Tea: as soon as I opened this one a really pretty scent came rushing up to my nose. This is a really nice, fragrant, balm that makes me feel spunky. With hemp oil and matcha, this is high in antioxidants, omega fatty acids, and nourishment for your lips. Love it!

Almond: what a treat to wear on my lips! This balm is like wearing a dessert. It makes me feel sweet and girly too. This is a great kissing lip balm - you know for when you are on a date and you want your lips to be inviting (basically looking healthy and natural enough to be kissable, but then have a real delight for the senses). Yum, my favorite!

These extraordinary balms can be found in natural stores all over, just check out the store locator on the Hurraw! website to find a retailer near you, or just shop online right on their site. It will be a challenge not to purchase them all and have them in each and every flavor, but if you wanted to it wouldn't put a dent in your wallet. These balms are such a great price for such a special vegan and all-natural product. What a treat, seriously! So when you see me around town, chances are I will not be without a Hurraw! lip balm in my pocket - I am honestly loving these so much. Try Hurraw! out, you will adore them too.

I say Hurraw to these!

The Dirty Vegan's Everything Bars

These bars are so amazing that I really don't have words for them. So I'm just going to post the recipe. However, I do want to mention one thing...these may become your new favorite food. Just saying.

The Dirty Vegan's Everything Bars Recipe
makes 16 bars

What you will need:

• 10 oz of chocolate sandwich cookies (I used 365 brand from Whole Foods), crushed
• 10 tbsp vegan butter (I used Earth Balance Buttery Spread), melted
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes (I used Edward & Son's, Let's Do Organic)
• 12 oz package vegan semi sweet chocolate chips (I used 365 brand from Whole Foods that are vegan)
• 1 cup pecans, chopped
• 2 Jokerz bars by Go Max Go Foods, cut into chunks

What you will need to do:

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Line a 13x9x2 inch pan with a piece of parchment paper. In a large bowl, mix together crushed cookies and melted butter then press into pan in an even layer. Bake in oven for 5 minutes then let cool slightly. In a large bowl combine coconut flakes, chocolate chips, and pecans then spread evenly into pan onto the crust. Finally, sprinkle Jokerz chunks on top and bake for 18 minutes. Let cool completely then transfer to the refrigerator to chill overnight. Cut into squares. Enjoy your new favorite food! 

Tip: Best eaten room temperature.

Look at that melty deliciousness...just out of the oven!

Store bars in an airtight container!

What Time Is It? Cookie Time!

Peanut butter cookies are timeless. They are also very easy to make with minimal ingredients on hand. The go-to for when you want cookies but don't have a ton of ingredients or don't feel like getting too complicated. I made these cookies yesterday for my sweetie. They were fast and easy to make and he loves them. I needed time to get ready for our Valentine's date, and wanted to make him a treat for all the sweet things he sent to me throughout the day. You can make these with or without the frosting. The frosting is from my cupcake post this week and you can find the recipe here. Have fun and happy baking!

Peanut Butter Almond Cookies

What you will need:

• 1 1/2 cup flour (I used Bob's Red Mill Garbanzo Bean flour)
• 3/4 cup cane sugar
• 1 cup chunky peanut butter (I used Trader Joe's brand)
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 tsp pure almond extract

What you will need to do:

Preheat oven 400 degrees. Mix together the dry and wet ingredients into a dough. You can roll these into balls and pat down a little on an ungreased baking sheet or you can use cookie cutters in your favorite shapes. Bake for about 10 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Let cool completely before you remove from the pan (or they will break apart because they retain heat in the middle). Enjoy with a glass of almond milk perhaps!

Happy Valentine's Day To Me!

What a Valentine's Day I've been having today! I woke up to hear a sweet voice say to me, "Happy Valentine's Day", romantic greeting cards, received a delivery of a delicious bouquet of heart-shaped fruits, and just got a velvety box of vegan chocolates delivered to me, all from my wonderful husband! I couldn't be more excited for our date tonight! I did want to share these chocolates with you because they are from a company who makes these gourmet sweet treats in vegan and gluten-free options. How cool is that?

Sweet Pete's in Jacksonville, FL! They ship to your door!

A knock on the door. A package. I opened the cardboard box. To my surprise, a giant, velvet, heart box!

I opened the heart-shaped box. Did I mention how nice and velvety it felt? How adorable, a little caramel of sorts. I ate it. It tasted like caramel, butter toffee - chewy with a little crunch.

Oh my! This box has the most delicious marzipan candies, chocolate covered cherries, caramels, filled heart candies, and more! Absolutely delightful! I have the best husband ever!

Just wanted to share with you. This candy company will definitely be a lifesaver during all of the candy-related holidays...which are like every single holiday. Hope you have a sweet day too! Happy Valentine's Day!