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Amelia's Amazeballs: No-Bake Fig Newton Energy Balls
I’m sitting on a plane flying back home after a short trip to Maine feeling refreshed for a new week as I type this post. I absolutely love my life in North Carolina, but I do miss being close to family. Last week involved a lot of sad and challenging cases at work, but after a weekend of playing with my sister’s new puppy, Arlo, and family I’m starting the week back with a full heart. Now, instead of balls for days on my iPhone, I have photos of Arlo for days. But don’t you worry – I have …
Friday Favorites #3
Happy Friday! Here's another summary of the things that have been making me happy this week. As always, I'd love to hear highlights from your week or anything that you're currently loving. <3
Ninja Foodi
![Foodi Ninja](https://us.simplerousercontent.net/uploads/asset/file/4832736/IMG_1823-768x1024.jpeg)
This is one of my new favorite toys. I held out for a long time during the instant pot craze telling myself I was fine with my slow cooker and oven, and that I didn't need another kitchen appliance to take up space in the kitchen. Then the air fryer craze started, and that was super…
Whole30 ALDI Recipe Roundup
21 Whole30 Recipes You Can Make From One Trip To ALDI
We are all busy people. Committing to Whole30 (or no sugar, cutting out processed foods, etc.) takes a lot of mental energy and precious time trying to remember what you can and can't eat, finding recipe ideas, and prepping and cooking in the kitchen. When I did my first Whole30, I spent a long time searching for compliant recipes to create a meal plan in preparation for the week. I felt excited until I was at my third grocery store tryin…
Amelia's Amazeballs: Salted Chocolate Coffee No-Bake Energy Balls
![No Bake Salted Chocolate Coffee Energy Balls](https://us.simplerousercontent.net/uploads/asset/file/4832727/IMG_1727-768x1024.jpeg)
You guys. I hate to play favorites but when chocolate and coffee are added, is it really a level playing field? I made these last week and then popped them in the freezer curious how they would hold up. Yeah...put these puppies in the freezer. They maintain a nice texture and biting into the slightly chilled chocolate tastes a whole lot like a truffle.
Like all Amazeballs, these are crazy easy and quick to make. They don't have any added sugar, but the dates provide plenty of sweetness …
Friday Favorites #2
Let's just say this week hasn't been all sunshine and puppy dogs (literally) like last week. Some weeks veterinary medicine is a tough gig, especially when delivering difficult news to owners and difficult good-byes outnumber the upbeat wellness visits, successful treatments, and focus on preventative care. I have an amazing job that is both challenging and rewarding, and fantastic coworkers whom I love getting to see every day, but whew, what a week. That's all the more reason to take a min…
The Ultimate ALDI Whole30 Shopping Guide
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Here it is! As promised, I've put together an ALDI Whole30 shopping guide complete with a printable list you can take with you to the grocery store at the end of this post. While I've tried to be very careful to include only products that are consistently Whole30-compliant, I do recommend glancing at the ingredient lists just to be safe. Or you can be a rebel. For example, I didn't include sunflower seeds because the type of oil they use seems to change every few months, and I'm trying to…
Amelia's Amazeballs
No-bake Sunflower Raisin Energy Balls
If I could insert the crying laughing emoji after this title, I would. I know the name is ridiculous, but I like alliteration and I couldn't help myself. I'm going to try to refrain from TWSS comments for this series, but I'm married to a man who can quote pretty much every episode from The Office so I can't make any promises.
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I like to call these energy balls, because I make them for days at work when I know my coworkers and I are going to be on t…
Friday Favorites
I thought it would be fun to share some of the things I'm loving at the end of each week as a way to share any good finds, and also to reflect on things that have made me smile. I'd love to hear what you're loving this week in the comments!
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Puppies This time of year we get a lot of new puppy visits, and it's THE BEST. Getting a little puppy cuddle time in during my work day is certainly a perk of the job, and I love seeing the excitement (sometimes along with mild exhaustion) of their fam…
Starting 2019 With A Fresh Perspective on Healthy Food
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The holidays are such a fun and magical time of year, until I’m over it. You know what I mean? When December arrives I am all about the Christmas music, decking my house with twinkle lights and greenery, attending and hosting parties, baking special treats (hello you gorgeous cinnamon orange pull apart bread), and shopping for the perfect gifts. But after a few weeks of Yuletide cheer and indulgences I am ready for a clean slate, organization, and some fresh new goals. For a lot of people, t…