Pinterest: The New Facebook

I've been hooked on Pinterest for a few months now, and it's only getting worse (better?). I love finding new recipes to try, and home remedies, and crafts to fill my time (wait, what time would that be??). I feel like I am able to be more creative - whether that means we are adding one new meal a week into our "rotation", or if it just allows me to let my mind wander, and create ideas and ways to use crafts and other things that I "repin". The other thing it has encouraged me to do, is to use the internet more effectively. The long and short of it is, Pinterest is now my "most visited" site on my computer. It bumped out Facebook about a week ago. I'm okay with that though, because I feel like something good and productive {eventually} comes out of Pinterest. To prove my point, here are the things that I have made, thanks to Pinterest:

Table Runner

S'mores Cookie Bars

Ghost Chili  (I found this on Tasty Kitchen, and actually made it last night for dinner. Leftovers for lunch today!)

Chicken and Cheese Lasagna Rolls

Easy Lasagna

Pork Chops with Apples and Garlic Smashed Potatoes (dinner tonight - a repeat already!)

Turkey Stuffed Peppers (okay, okay, this one I looked for after watching The Biggest Loser - dinner tomorrow)

Grilled Balsamic-Crusted Pork Tenderloin (Sunday's dinner)

Homestyle Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup (Saturday's dinner)


So technically, I haven't actually made those last 3 links yet, but they are on the menu for this week, and we've already bought the food for them (not the pork tenderloin yet...). Thank you Pinterest, for opening me up to more than just salads and the usual chicken dishes.

The table runner is technically not all the way finished (and it's longer than in the tutorial). Also, it never would have happened without my dear friend Michelle. She helped me. I am sewing impaired. I picked out some fabric on Saturday. One side is white with little black bats, and the other side is just an orange on orange damask-y print. It sits on my piano so I can put out my Super Saturday crafts, and one of the 3 Halloween decorations I own. I just have to hand stitch the one end of my table runner, and then I'm done. Don't worry, Michelle, I will finish it this week!! :)

If I'm not already following you on Pinterest, let me know. I'm always looking for new, fun things to try!

xoxo

Chocolate Raspberry Almond Protein

I've been experimenting with some different flavors for protein shakes/smoothies, and I finally found one that I love!

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1 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk (I used Blue Diamond brand)
1 1/2 scoops vanilla protein powder (2 scoops = 1 serving of my protein powder)
1 cup frozen Raspberries**
2 tsp Unsweetened Baking Cocoa
1/4 tsp (+ a drop more) Almond Extract
A handful of ice

I put about 2/3 of the Almond milk in with the frozen raspberries and blend that first, then add the powders, then more milk, ice and extract.

Nutrition Stats (when made exactly as above): 229 calories; 18.6 g Carbs; 4.7g Fat; 18g Protein.

This makes a LARGE glass. I like to use straws, and since my straws are small, this takes me about 20 minutes of continual sucking to finish. It's my new favorite snack!


**I freeze my own raspberries so I don't have added sugars or anything. When they are cheaper at the end of the summer, I stock up, and then wash, dry, and freeze. voila!