Hello, Monday!
Where did that weekend go? Holy moly! 
And, Christmas is in just 4 days?! Are you ready for it? Shopping done? Travel plans set? I think I’m looking pretty good all around. I’m ready for some serious R & R and quality family time. Bring it on! 
Breakfast
This morning was definitely an oatmeal morning.
In the mix:
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1/3 cup canned pumpkin
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed meal
- 2 scoops of peanut butter
- Raisins
I drank my iced coffee before breakfast this morning. Surprisingly, I wasn’t starving when I woke up like I usually am– probably because I ate a million Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies last night. 
I made Mal take them to school for his teacher friends. I can’t be trusted around those delicious treats!
Got Questions about Bread?
Remember the giveaway that I hosted on National Bread Day for the Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day book? Well, the authors have been busy answering questions from their readers– including how does whole grain flour stack up against white flour as well as questions about vegan and gluten-free diets: Eating Well Should Be Healthy Too.
Trading Up Downtown
New on Trading Up Downtown: Traveling On Christmas Day
Question of the Day
Are you traveling anywhere for the holidays?
Tags: Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day, Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day, Trading Up Downtown, Traveling on Christmas Day
VeggieGirl — December 21, 2009 @ 9:38 am
Everyone’s traveling to MY home for Christmas and New Year’s, as always
Lily @ Lily's Health Pad — December 21, 2009 @ 9:38 am
I’m travelling from SC to MO. A nice 16 hour car trip…
amanda @ fake ginger — December 21, 2009 @ 9:39 am
Are you ever going to switch over to hot coffee?!
It’s only in the 30s here and I’m shivering at just the thought of iced coffee.
Tina — December 21, 2009 @ 9:41 am
@amanda @ fake ginger: I think it’s in the low 20′s here today.
Nicole — December 21, 2009 @ 9:42 am
No, unfortunately. It is so hard to be away from my family for this Christmas. That is one of the sacrifices that military families make though. I have my husband and friends over here in Germany, and all is good!
Jess (Fit Chick in the City) — December 21, 2009 @ 9:45 am
No traveling for the holiday’s for me! Too much hassle, esp since NYC airports are the worst in the country. =)
Jessica @ How Sweet — December 21, 2009 @ 9:46 am
Just local traveling for me.
Meg — December 21, 2009 @ 9:48 am
Headed up to Boston tomorrow morning. Can’t wait to see some snow! Happy Holidays!
Britt - Runnerbelle — December 21, 2009 @ 9:48 am
Everyones comes to us!
We are venturing in to Boston on Wednesday for the Bruins game though! We try to get a game in while my dad and brother are here. Love that we can hop a train near our house and be in Boston in just over an hour.
Jennifer (Running With Cake) — December 21, 2009 @ 9:49 am
I am so happy to NOT be traveling over the holidays! Beyond a 30-minute drive to the in-laws, I’ll be warm and cozy in my own house! Happy Holidays everyone and safe travels;-)
skinnyrunner — December 21, 2009 @ 9:49 am
i love to bake but hate to have baked goods in my house bc i will eat them all!
we traveled from southern California to HOuston for Christmas.
Jill — December 21, 2009 @ 9:50 am
Yep–to Victoria, B.C!
Jennifer — December 21, 2009 @ 9:59 am
We are staying in La Jolla and are happy to be doing so!
Food Makes Fun Fuel — December 21, 2009 @ 10:10 am
We’re driving to NH Christmas day to be with my dad’s side of the family. Luckily that’s 90 minutes tops
Danielle (Coffee Run) — December 21, 2009 @ 10:11 am
I can’t believe christmas is so soon!
Emily Eats and Exercises — December 21, 2009 @ 10:12 am
I’m looking forward to having some downtime. We wanted to go visit my boyfriend’s family in Indiana, but we’re saving some money this year.
We’ll have fun at home though!
Susan — December 21, 2009 @ 10:23 am
4 days! Ahh I’m not ready at all – I need to go to the mall today and I’m shakin’ in my boots!
Cait (Cait's Plate) — December 21, 2009 @ 10:23 am
I would’ve eaten a million of those chocolate peppermint bark cookies last night too! They looked SO GOOD.
Kelly — December 21, 2009 @ 10:30 am
After years of battling Thanksgiving and Christmas traffic, DH and I finally wised up and convinced my family to celebrate Christmas a week early — so this past weekend was travel and Christmas for us. Which means I get TWO long weekends to RELAX! Waaaaaaaaahoooooooooo!
katherine — December 21, 2009 @ 10:32 am
I’m headed to Oregon to meet my new baby niece!!
K — December 21, 2009 @ 10:40 am
The only thing I have left to do is bake up a storm! All my gifts are bought and wrapped so I’m glad that’s over with. Now I can just enjoy the week
Tamara — December 21, 2009 @ 10:42 am
It’s below freezing and the snow keeps piling up…I guess it’s too late for that “switch” to hot coffee now :p
Erin — December 21, 2009 @ 10:43 am
I’ll be home for the holidays but most of my family lives near here anywhere. It’s my first holiday season back in the US in 3 years so I didn’t want to go anywhere!
brandi — December 21, 2009 @ 10:48 am
how fun! looks like you guys had a good weekend. We got about a foot of snow, too! So pretty
and congrats on the new car!
Beth @ DiningAndDishing — December 21, 2009 @ 10:49 am
I’ll be travelling to Cleveland to see my family. I’m driving with a friend – thank god – i hear flying is a nightmare after the eastcoast snowstorm this weekend!!
Shannon (The Daily Balance) — December 21, 2009 @ 10:54 am
just traveling around locally – luckily the Mister and I don’t have to go far — REALLY looking forward to seeing everyone
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) — December 21, 2009 @ 10:56 am
I think Murphy is pretty interested in that bag of goodies too…haha.
Such a cutie!
I am so *not* ready for the holidays. I’ve only purchased one gift. I’m always that last minute Christmas shopper, out on Christmas Eve. Sad, but true.
MelissaNibbles — December 21, 2009 @ 11:10 am
Newport, RI is where I’ll spend the holidays. I love it there. So pretty.
Janna (Just Flourishing) — December 21, 2009 @ 11:13 am
I ammm… going to Florida on Thursday!!!
jenna — December 21, 2009 @ 11:19 am
ahhh i know! christmas is in 4 days! whooooo
oats look great!
just hanging around mass. for the holidays
enna
BethT — December 21, 2009 @ 11:21 am
I am staying here in SF. Yay!
Christy — December 21, 2009 @ 11:24 am
The only traveling I’m doing is walking straight to the couch to open presents
Luckily, my relatives travel to our house so we don’t go anywhere!
Amanda @ Cakes and Ale — December 21, 2009 @ 11:27 am
Yes – we’re driving to Toledo, OH from Chicago. My husband’s family lives there, and we switch off spending holiday’s here (with my family) and there. Not looking forward to the drive at all, but it will be worth it for some quality in-law time!
Anne @ the doctor takes a wife — December 21, 2009 @ 11:41 am
We’re making the EPIC drive from TX to MI. It’s about 20 hours w/ stops, so we’ll be tired kids come Wednesday night!!
I can’t be trusted with goodies either… everything I made yesterday was off to work with hubby today!!
Maria — December 21, 2009 @ 11:49 am
We are staying in Salt Lake this year. It is going to be nice to not have to travel and stress! Should be a relaxing holiday for us. We do have family coming the week after Christmas, it will be fun!
alison — December 21, 2009 @ 12:01 pm
i love, love to bake but do not like being left in the house with the baked goods, haha. i’m always like take–eat–out of the house! but they are delicious.
Lindsey @ Eat, Read, Run — December 21, 2009 @ 12:12 pm
We are traveling to upstate NY and so far the weather report is looking okay! The chocolate peppermint bark looks amazing – I couldn’t have in the house either. Ohh the holiday deliciousness – part of me almost wants it to be over already.
amanda — December 21, 2009 @ 12:13 pm
We went home for Thanksgiving so we wil be staying home for this holiday. I am planning to exercise, watch movies, and just relax all day long.
Emily — December 21, 2009 @ 12:37 pm
I actually just posted about the benefits of sourdough bread versus yeast risen bread on my blog. Maybe you could them what their thoughts are on that?
http://healthnut-em.blogspot.com/2009/12/let-it-snow.html
Joelle (The Pancake Girl) — December 21, 2009 @ 12:44 pm
I’m traveling straight home to Vegas for Christmas.. I can’t wait!
Ali (food, fitness, fashion) — December 21, 2009 @ 1:00 pm
I am staying around Boston for the Holidays, just the way I like it!!! It was an oatmeal morning for sure, I was disappointed that I used mine all up yesterday!
Chelsea — December 21, 2009 @ 1:45 pm
We’re staying home and then leaving on Christmas Day to go to Idaho to see my sister and the rest of my family is coming too!
Heather @ The Joyful Kitchen — December 21, 2009 @ 1:58 pm
We’re headed to Texas for the holiday! Can’t wait to go back to the town I grew up in!
Kelly B. — December 21, 2009 @ 2:29 pm
We will be home for the holidays!! But we are leaving the 28th for the BEACH!!!! Yay!!
Lynn (The Actors Diet) — December 21, 2009 @ 3:13 pm
i’m actually on virgin america (free wifi for the holidays) right now en route to NYC!
Julie @ Pickley Pear — December 21, 2009 @ 4:52 pm
Headed to Florida tomorrow, then the Bahamas for Christmas. Check the blog for all my future restaurant reviews, on location.
Maria (realfitmama) — December 21, 2009 @ 7:00 pm
Those peppermint bark treats looked amazing and I am dying to make them, but with all the other food I’ll be cooking this week I think I’m going to save them for a New Year’s Eve treat and serve them during our party!!
Michal — December 21, 2009 @ 9:24 pm
Thats such a cute mug!
Carolyn — December 21, 2009 @ 11:20 pm
I still have to wrap presents and finishing shopping at one person.