Monday, July 2, 2012

Sweet & Salty Granola & Wedding Showers

Hey All! Happy almost Fourth of July! I hope you have a good one. Plans?? We’re headed to my Aunt’s house for a party. I cannot wait. I wanted to share with you a couple things today: 1. A Z bar review, 2. a granola recipe, and 3. a little bit about one of my besties wedding shower this past weekend.

Z Bar review:

I recently received the new Zbar Crispy Cookies ‘N Cream bars to try out (disclaimer: I received these bars for free). I was super excited to try the new flavor, as I’m a big Zbar fan.

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The bars are definitely sweet, but very delicious. They’re the perfect substitute for an oreo, cookie in general, or other sweet craving. They tasted cocoa krispie-esque to me.  I enjoyed mine after a workout:

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Recipe:

I attended one of my best friend’s wedding shower this past weekend. All of the bridesmaids and the mom’s of the bride and groom helped make the food for the occasion. Since I was traveling to Boston from Charleston, I made something I knew wouldn’t get too smashed up on the plane ride, granola!

For one of the granolas, I used Heather’s recipe with a few modifications. The ingredient list is shown below, and the baking instructions are on Heather’s blog:

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups old-fashioned oats
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin & sunflower seeds
  • 1/4 cup sesame seeds
  • 1/2 cup slivered almonds
  • 1 cup sweetened coconut flakes
  • 1/3 cup dried currants
  • 1/3 cup dried apricots, diced
  • 1/3 cup dried figs, diced
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup natural cane sugar  
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 egg white

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This granola is unreal good!

Shower!!

As I mentioned above, I headed to Boston this past weekend for the shower:

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I hadn’t been back to Boston (where I went to high school) in a VERY long time. It was so fun to walk (and run!) around my old town.

Even more fun? My friend Kelley’s bridal shower! I cannot wait for Kelley’s wedding- it is going to be incredible.

Kelley’s sister, Future Groom, & Kelley:

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Kelley’s Mom & Sister did a TON of work for the shower. Everything was just perfect. Some of the food:

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The centerpieces, which included cookies and some of Kelley’s favorite candies (circus peanuts & sweet tarts- I am a HUGE circus peanut fan too):

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More food:

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My granolas:

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Even more food:

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The cake:

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The favors:

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The games (hilarious):

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My bestie:

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Bridal party (I’m the tiny tot in the back row, middle/left with the white/navy on):

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Such a great weekend!

And now, I’m home with my favorite girl! It was SO hard to leave her:

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What did you do this past weekend?