Three (or Two) Ingredient Skinny Avocado Brownies

Disclaimer: I know your first thought is OMG, Kate, you're so creative! Where do you come up with this stuff?! I didn't. You can find numerous variations of this recipe across the Web!

With that being said, ENJOY!

 

 

 

     I promise you I would not recommend or post this recipe if it weren't amazing! I noticed I had one avocado left out on the kitchen counter, and it was becoming extremely ripe (Vaught loves a good mashed up avocado)! We'd just had dinner, so I was trying to figure out what I could do with it before it goes bad. I remembered I had brownie mix in my pantry, so I decided to give "avocado brownies" a try. Thanks to the Internet (cough, Pinterest, cough cough), I've learned that you can replace eggs, flour, and/or oil when baking with simple ingredients such as apple sauce, black beans, and, of course, avocado! I was so excited to try skinny avocado brownies! I consulted a few Pinterest recipes, then proceeded to make my own variation.

 

Oh, and a quick tip: your man is not going to try these if he comes into the kitchen and sees you putting avocado in the brownie mix. Make the brownies, then bring him a big, fudgy slice on a plate with a tall glass of cold milk. Wait til he's got it good and digested to drop the bomb :)

 

I used three ingredients (not including water or the "toppings"):

1 ripe avocado

1 package or box of brownie mix

1 tbls of peanut butter--- This is the optional ingredient. I had to include it because I bake a little bit of peanut butter in everything because it tastes good with everything!

 

 

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350

Grease an 8x8 baking pan with cooking spray (I always bake brownies in my round biscuit pan)

Combine brownie mix, peeled and pit-less avocado, and peanut butter (optional) into bowl.

Add 1/4 cup of water or as needed

Mix til fudgy and pour into the pan

 

 

 

Bake 20-25 minutes then let sit for ten minutes before slicing and serving! If you'd like, add a tablespoon of chocolate chips and a sprinkle of confectioners sugar to the finished product.

 

 

 

These are seriously amazing! And what's better?? You can eat an entire pan of these for around three hundred and fifty calories! Not bad, eh??

 

 

Have a happy weekend!

Yes, I saw it.

    
      I spent hours working on a post about my thoughts on the movie Fifty Shades of Grey last night. The post was very well-articulated but ended up being much longer than I intended. I had it scheduled to post at nine o'clock this morning, but my mind was not at rest with it. I know I've written a really great blog post when I go to bed excited for it to publish the next morning. With this one, I was tossing and turning all night, and I realized by morning I was dissatisfied with what I had written. One of  my personal blogging rules is that I never publish anything I am not passionate about. If there's no sign that I enjoyed what I wrote in the post, I cannot publish it, for I fear that others can sense when I'm being dishonest. Well, I was passionate about this post. Perhaps a little too passionate because my second rule is to never publish anything that would be personally harmful or offensive to others. The post was offensive, as I was intentionally calling out certain individuals I'm friends with on Facebook for the judgment and condemnation those of us who planned to see the movie received.

But what could I say that hasn't already been said?

     I sounded bitter and bitchy, and I'm not one to beat a dead horse, but that's exactly what I was doing. None of the women people bashing Fifty Shades of Grey were going to change my mind, and I probably wasn't going to change theirs, but I wanted them to know how redundant they sounded. All the while, I just sounded mean. I can have a mouth on me sometimes, but I'm not a meanie... Not by a long shot.

     So, this post will be short, concise, and politely worded. I did go see Fifty Shades of Grey last Friday night. My husband and I went to the theater together, although he saw a different movie, and for two hours I sat in a dark, quiet theater and got lost in the imaginary world that unfolded before me on the silver screen. It wasn't the best movie I'd seen in a while, but I did enjoy seeing how the writers and director pulled the story together on screen (I read all the books a couple of years ago). I left the theater with my husband, picked up our baby boy from my aunt's house, and went home. We put Vaught to bed and followed suit not long after. I got up early Saturday morning and went to the gym and then Eric and I made breakfast together like we always do on Saturday mornings.

     At some point that morning he asked me how the movie was; I had honestly forgotten all about it. I shrugged and told him about a few memorable scenes, then he told me a little about the movie he saw. And I didn't really think about Fifty Shades of Grey again until I sat down to write my post.

     It's okay that we don't all like the same things or feel the same way about certain things. We have the right to our own opinions, as well as the freedom to voice them. While many women people were extremely harsh and critical about the book and movie on Facebook and other social media outlets, I realized that behaving that same way towards them in rebuttal is not the answer. I don't want to be that woman person.

     So, I'll end with this: I saw Fifty Shades of Grey Friday night and have carried on with my life as usual. I enjoyed two hours of solitude and getting lost in the imaginary world that is a movie. I was entertained for sure; after all, isn't that why we see movies in the first place?

The best part of the movie? Drinking a large Coke and eating an entire bag of popcorn all to myself. Yes, that was definitely my favorite part.

The weirdest 29 hours of my life...

The past twenty-nine hours have been the weirdest day and a few hours. Ever. Here's why:

Vaught fell asleep at one o'clock yesterday at my parents' house. Awesome! I thought. He's going to nap for a little while, so I'm going enjoy Sunday dinner with my family! Well, I did get to enjoy Sunday dinner... and Sunday dessert. And Sunday coffee. And Sunday dessert... again? Vaught slept nearly four hours on the couch in my mom and dad's den while we bustled around and carried on conversation in the kitchen. Long naps are not unheard of with him, but they are when we're not in our house. He must have been reeeally pooped from the time change!

 

Napping like an angel at Bebe and Pawpaw's!

Is my mom the cutest or what? We had such a great afternoon yesterday!

I put Vaught to bed around nine Sunday night. At 10:30, he woke up screaming. I was worried and confused. It's like he was four days old again. After checking his temperature (normal at 97.9), feeding him, and rocking him, I put him back down in his crib. He cried for twenty minutes, the maximum amount I'm willing to let him go. I went to him again and repeated the entire process. The weird thing was that he was totally fine the moment I picked him up and held him. I was ready to just give up and stake out in the recliner all night. By this time, it's nearly midnight. He fell asleep in my arms, and I took him to our bedroom and laid him beside Eric. He slept with us for three hours (I broke my rule but only because my little cousin had retreated to his bedroom to sleep on our spare bed) then woke up at three. After a diaper change and a bottle, Vaught was back down (this time in his pack-n-play in the living room) before 3:30 and slept until shortly after nine this morning.

 

All good, as long as I was holding him!

Happy as he could be this morning while watching Paw Patrol

He'll be six months old at the end of this month, and last night was by far the worst we've ever had. I'm not sure if it was the time change, but I think it's pretty good to say we had our first "rough night" at nearly six months old!

 

Averi is great at multi-tasking; she can entertain Vaught and Lola at the same time!

My little cousin stayed with us last night, so she babysat this morning while I worked out at the gym a mile away. It was great having her here so I could get my workout in at the beginning of the day. It was just shortly after taking the photo below that I realized I had a hole about the size of a penny in the crotch of my compression pants... I did not have actual underwear on. Yep, that happened.

 

On the bright side, I had a really good sweat going on in just half an hour; I was dripping!

 

After a shower and some clean clothes (and underwear), I took Averi to the mall, where I did not spend a single dime aside from lunch and coffee; the weirdness continues.

 

Vaught was so good at the mall, just jabbering away while we browsed. When we got home, he went right to sleep (that was around 3:30). It is now 6:32, and he is still sleeping.

Time change or coincidence?? I may never know. I saw that a couple of my friends with babies have had rough nights in the past few days, so maybe it's some weird gravitational pull, or perhaps the results of the stars lining up a certain way?? Ha! I don't pay very much attention to all that, but there was definitely something strange going on. I'm hoping and praying for a much smoother night tonight!

Sneak It In {Fit Friday}

Yes, I love exercise. Yes, I love the gym. Yes, I love eating healthy.

 

No, I don't love to work out all the time. No, I don't always want to go to the gym. And NO, I don't always eat healthy. The struggle is so real sometimes.

How do I manage? I've taught myself how to "sneak it in." You don't always have to change into gym clothes, lace up the sneaks, and actually drive to the gym to get in a good workout! And you definitely don't have to always eat a salad or a plate full of vegetables to eat healthy or enjoy the not-so-good-for-you foods that you love. One of the ways I keep my sanity is by getting exercise in a little throughout the day in ways that don't require that I go to the gym, as well as choosing modified versions of my favorite not-so-healthy foods.

     One thing I miss about teaching is the opportunity to get in some exercise doing almost anything! I stood for most of the day, but any of my students can tell you that Mrs. Pace was never hesitant to break out into some lunges or calf-raisers while they were working. At first this made for some strange looks from my kids, but it was only a matter of time before they were completely accustomed to it. In addition to that, I would jog up and down the halls any time I had the opportunity. I know my "hallmate" teachers had to think I was crazy for doing so, but it was my way of fitting exercise into my job!

     While I'm completing my master's degree, I'm working at a real estate office, where I'm the "assistant credit manager," as well as the office gopher; I have desk work to do on a daily basis, but I also do a lot of errand-running for the owner and my mother (working with my mom is the coolest thing ever). Any time I have the opportunity, I break into a jog when running errands around "the Square" in the town where I work. When I'm stuck at my desk inside the office, I'm known to do a few standing pushups against my desk, wall sits, and I do twenty-five squats every time I'm sent to one of our two vaults. I'm not sure when this became routine for me, but squats are always a good idea, right? We also have a tall, narrow staircase leading up to the second floor, and I'm known to run the stairs a few times throughout the day.

     As far as eating healthy, you know that this is not my strength. One thing I struggle most with is definitely my diet, but I've realized that I don't have to do completely without those foods that I love. I can still enjoy a big, juicy hamburger now and then, but I eat it with a small salad or steamed vegetables on the side. I still enjoy a good dinner out with my family at our favorite Mexican joint, only now I order tortilla soup with avocado, and I go a little lighter on the chips and salsa! I love brownies and have recently discovered Fiber One fudge brownies; 90 calories in one!!! I warm them with a little bit of peanut butter on top for the ultimate dessert!

It's all about balance, from eating to exercising! Moderation is key, and it's okay if you don't always get it right. Earlier this week I had a doozy of a day and was craving chocolate soooo bad! Instead of eating an enormous slice of chocolate cake, I walked to the pharmacy next door for a small bag of M&M's, which I shared with my mother. Find small ways you can sneak healthy eating and activities into your day and note the changes you feel in yourself and energy level in a short time!

*How do you sneak fitness into your day?
*What healthy eating habits or tricks work best for you?

FreeShipping.com--Best Customer Service Recommendations

FreeShipping.com-- Best Customer Service Recommendations

At FreeShipping.com, customer service is always a top priority, but not all businesses emphasize it. If you’re interested in doing business with a company that offers superior customer service (and who isn't?), you should be on the lookout for a variety of qualities and behaviors. Find out how you can gauge whether a company that you may want to do business with offers great customer service.

 

Use of Technology

The use of technology can be especially important in maintaining great customer service. A great company will maintain a file of data regarding a customer’s order history, habits, and behaviors to make the shopping experience easier and more personable for the customer. Some companies even develop a profile of their clients so that they can make appropriate suggestions for products that might interest them.

 

Treating Employees Well

Employees who are happy at work are more likely to provide top-notch customer service to their clients. Companies that are well regarded for treating employees fairly are often quite successful, as employees who feel like they are appreciated are almost always more productive.

 

Availability

When a customer has a problem with an order or a billing issue, he is usually frustrated, and the last thing he wants to do is sit on hold for an hour waiting to speak to someone over the phone. Businesses that offer good customer service make it easy for customers to reach them. They operate during hours that are convenient for their customers to make contact, and if they can’t address a concern immediately, they return phone calls promptly.

 

Problem-Solving Skills

According to a FreeShipping.com review, a good customer service representative will have exceptional skills in problem solving. Even the best of companies is bound to make a mistake once in a while, and the sign of good customer service is how the team turns the problem into a chance to exceed the customer’s expectations. Employees should be diligent in ensuring that proper corrective action is taken immediately, without further inconveniencing the shopper.  

 

Treating Customers like Media Reps

One of the least expensive and most effective ways to attract new customers is through word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied clients. Businesses of all sizes overlook this strategy, but the most successful organizations will use good customer service as a way to reach new audiences. Businesses should encourage word-of-mouth referrals by offering each customer a great experience every time he or she shops.

Requesting Feedback

Customers want to feel important and like they're really valued by the companies with which they choose to do business. Smart businesses request customer feedback on a regular basis for this reason. Moreover, no matter how proactive a business is at trying to prevent problems, it is impossible to get in front of every issue that customers experience. Creating a simple way for customers to provide honest feedback can generate invaluable information about what needs improvement.

Good customer service is just as important when doing business online as it is in person. Investing in a FreeShipping.com membership is one way to save money while experiencing great customer service.

**Disclaimer: I received compensation for this post.**

Podee Hands-Free Baby Bottle GIVEAWAY Winners

Thank you SO much to everyone who entered! I hope this is the first of many giveaways on my blog! 

CONGRATULATIONS to Rachel Lloyd and Carol Cornelius! You've each won a hands-free baby bottle! I will be contacting you this evening for your mailing address and will ship your bottle tomorrow. 

This was also my first experience using Rafflecopter, so I wanted to share that with you. I highly recommend Rafflecopter for giveaways, and it will probably be my main method of hosting them from here onward. It's free and super easy to set up! I have lots of experience with Rafflecopter as a contest entree as well and have never had any problem entering a contest. The winners were randomly selected for me at 9 this morning. Here is the photo of the winners' names. 

Again, thank you to everyone who entered and to everyone who's "keeping pace" with me. Worry not if you didn't win: these amazing bottles are only around $20 on amazon.com for two! 

March Goals

Happy First day of MARCH, and GOODBYE, February!

As for February's goals, I think I did quite well! I'm not sure if I lost six pounds or not. I had lost a couple then gained a few around Valentine's Day. I'm sure I've lost it all by now, but I'm boycotting the scale for a little while. I feel really good, and that's what matters.

I went entirely meatless every Monday throughout the month. I thought I might get really creative with dinner on Mondays, but I didn't. My go-to meal was a cheesy enchilada with veggies on the side.

I had a guest post!! If you haven't already, read Emily's post!

I have pretty much mastered blog link-ups! I participated in a lot and met many new blogger friends!

As of yesterday (yes, just yesterday!) I have a healthy savings account! I'm so proud that I met and even exceeded my savings goal!

To me, March is the longest month of the year, and we've got so many fun things coming up this month! Vaught attends daycare at a private school, so the program follows the school's holidays, meaning the week after this, we get SPRING BREAK!!! I'm so excited to get a week at home with Chubs! My good friend is going to babysit one day so I can work a little, but I'm still getting plenty of time with him. We have our family photo session with our photographer on March 21st, and then Vaught turns six months old on the 25th.

Okay--goals!

1. Start running again. Yes, I do still run but not nearly as much or as far as I used to. I used to set out from my driveway and not return until I'd killed at least four or five miles. I really miss it! As the weather gets nicer, I want to pick it up again.

2. More sponsored posts. I work hard to get my name out there and get sponsored post opportunities, but they're on high demand, and there's a lot of competition! I've been extremely fortunate with my blogging, but I put so much work into it... I have my days when I'm so proud of all that I've done, but I also have days where I feel like I'm just wasting my time. Those days are few though, and I feel that everyone experiences that! 

3. Get a booty. March will be the month of squats and lunges for Nike shorts weather is upon us!!!

4. Clip coupons. This has become a "thing" amongst a lot of my friends. I'm already purchasing the Sunday newspapers for articles for a graduate school project due at the end of the semester; I'm going to start putting those coupons to use instead of throwing them away!

5. Save more. There's never anything wrong with saving more money! It's good for me, my family, and our future. It's so nice to know that there's a little there in case we're ever in need. You never know when you're going to need it!

What are some of your goals for this month??