In an attempt to make the mornings at our house a little less hectic and to prevent the days of opening the fridge or pantry looking for a snack that won’t ruin supper but will give us a bit of energy before the next meal, I went searching for a yummy snack. After hearing many people talk about these easy no bake energy bites, I decided to give them a try. These small treats are perfect if you need a little something sweet but you don’t want to feel guilty about it after you eat two or three.

Moms, how about these for dessert instead of those sugar filled Little Debbies for your child’s lunchbox? These bites are something you can feel good about your child eating and the recipe makes enough that you can throw a couple in sandwich bags throughout the entire week. Lunchboxes, breakfast, midday snack, post workout pick me up, take them on a hike with the family or day on the lake, sweet bite after dinner. These really are the perfect snack for any time of day!

The best part, no baking!

Here’s the ingredients

 

• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup old-fashioned oats (raw)
• 2/3 cup sweetened shredded coconut
• 1/3 cup flaxseed -ground flaxseed would probably work best for this but I just used regular
• 1/3 sunflower seeds
• 6 Tbsp chocolate chips (I didn’t have minis on hand but those would probably be best)

 

Mix all the ingredients together and let them hang out in the fridge for about 30 min. After that, roll mixed ingredients into small balls and place in a container to keep in the refrigerator.

Enjoy them all week long. That is, if you don’t eat them all before then! Enjoy!

Recipe Source Cooking Classy Recipe Blog (adapted)

 

Confession: I have always thought front door wreaths were a bit much. I mean Christmas time, totally acceptable to have a wreath on the front door but mid January I could never understand. Now that I am a homeowner, something must have struck me one day regarding my attitude towards a wreath on the door for every season. I have decided that I will from now on look at front door wreaths as a preview of that person’s home. It’s like a cover of a book. I’m not exactly saying I will judge your home by the wreath on your door, but just know if it’s a boxwood or some sort of live greenery with a gingham or buffalo checked bow, I’m coming inside your house.

After taking all the Christmas decorations down, I felt like the front door and really just the entire house in general looked like a moving truck had just stopped by and taken half of the house with it. That seems to happen every year. All these beautiful lights and greenery are there and then once you take it down you feel like you need to immediately run to Marshalls and Target to buy the entire home section.

Needless to say, I decided it was time to give this DIY thing a try to clothe my bare front door. First thought to self, it may be January, but I refuse to have a snowflake wreath on my door. This certainly isn’t the most wintery looking thing, but it represents me and our home, our nest. It’s like you’re saying this is what I want people to see and be welcomed by before they enter my home. I wanted a simple yet fun wreath to help tell the introduction before the chapters unfold as people walk through the doorway. Sorry to get deep. You’re probably like really, on a DIY project? Can’t help it. Regardless, I am pleased with the way this turned out!

Did I mention, my favorite thing is you can take off or add any embellishments. year round, for any season! Plus here’s the best part….You need 2 items to make it. Two, people! Sign this girl up for a project with 2 materials.

 

Here’s what you will need:

A coat hanger

A roll of burlap -10 yrd roll. 5 in wide

Any add ons, flowers, greenery etc-I try to keep this stuff limited and as natural looking as possible.

I found this fun craft by Tara over at justcallmehomegirl.com. Check out her site. She has some great tips and inspiration!

DIY Burlap Tutorial Here

My embellishments came from Hobby Lobby and can me found here and here

xo,

Audrey

Last month, I decided to uncover a special gift that has been sitting in my closet for almost five years. As I type this I am really hoping I’m not the only one who has items sitting in their closet, untouched for five years. Can anyone say PURGE?! This gift is too special to ever purge. That special gift is my Brother sewing machine I received from my textile teacher in high school. Mrs. Allison told us on the first day of class, if we made a pair of pajamas by the end of the semester, one student would win a sewing machine. Don’t let me fool you, I do not have a competitive bone in my body, but I was bound and determined to win that sewing machine and by golly  I did.

From the day I took the dusty cover off the beautiful white machine, I haven’t been able to put it away. I have been thinking of little projects I can make. One of these new creations are tea towel pillows. There’s something about a tea towel that makes me really happy. I think they make me think of girly parties or the perfect house warming gift. And for pillows, well you can’t have too many pillows can you? A house without pillows would make for a very uncomfy house. So, that being said, I thought the print on a towel would make a very lovely pillow. Plus, the size of a tea towel just happens to be a great size for a pillow. After refamiliarizing myself with my machine, just like that, a nest pillow was created. I have only made a few, but more will be cranked out in the near future. Who knows, if I let my creative juices flow too much…this girl might have to get a shop.

Dusting off that sewing machine and actually using it really made me feel alive. Creating is one of the many things that make me feel fully alive and really close to the Lord. Sit for a moment and think about something that makes you ALIVE. Have you thought of it? Now, when is the last time you did that thing, or went there, or spent time with those people? If you read my last blog post, you know I am a recovering approval addict. In an effort to heal and let go a bit, I have really tried to be intentional about paying attention to the things that really bring me joy, things that may have been sitting in the closet for five years, like my sewing machine. Maybe those things that bring you joy need to be dusted off and put to use. Do you feel me when I say sometimes our lives can get a little dusty and we forget about things we used to do or places we used to go or people we used to spend time with. Now, some hobbies or time spent with certain people might need to stay in the closet and locked tightly. However, if you haven’t picked up the tennis racket in years, or read a book lately, or caught up with an old friend, do it, read it, call him or her. The Lord longs for his children to experience joy and to experience all that He wants to graciously give us sometimes requires really reflecting and paying attention to the things that bring us the most joy. Get that dust cloth out and go do something you love this weekend!