Good morning! 
I’m so jazzed right now. I have some exciting news to share with you guys! First, let’s whiz through breakfast!
Breakfast
This morning’s bowl of oatmeal was a good one. 
Some how the random mix of ingredients worked well together!
In the mix:
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed meal
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- Pomegranate arils
- Raisins
- Sliced almonds
- Cinnamon
- Scoop of peanut butter
I also drank some iced coffee with breakfast.
New Blog Debut
Introducing… Trading Up Downtown!!!!!
Trading Up Downtown will probably be a lot like Carrots ‘N’ Cake, but with a different focus and NuVal-goodness mixed in. My new blog is about healthy living in a city with a budget-friendly focus. As you probably know, being healthy doesn’t have to be expensive.
I hope you guys pop over and read my new blog from time to time. I plan to update it most days of the week, so check back, add me to your blogroll and Google readers. 
You can also follow me on Twitter at TinaTradesUp.
12 Days of Giveaways
Thanks to everyone who entered! Here are your winners:
Element Bars Giveaway
#11 Natalie
on Dec 9th, 2009 at 4:53 pm [edit]
Oaty core with cranberries, chocolate chips, almonds, agave, and omega 3 boost
POM Giveaway
And your 10 winners!
392 533 320 37 546
171 474 756 721 206
Congrats to the winners! Please email me at tina@carrotsncake.com with your full name and mailing address.
Question of the Day
What’s the quality you like most about yourself?
{ 55 comments… read them below or add one }
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It looks great, Tina! I’ll make sure to visit for some NuVal tips!
Love the look (and title…how creative!) of the new blog!
I need to buy a pomegranite! I can’t believe I haven’t had any yet this year, when they’re one of my favorite fruits.
I think the quality I like most about myself is that I’m usually able to look at life with a positive spin on it.
I am very passionate…I really like that about myself.
so sad my number didn’t get picked for the POM apron
better luck next time, I guess! Congrats on the new blog, it looks great 
Congrats on the blog Tina! Looks great
I think my best quality is that I’m really open minded when it comes to pretty much everything – new people, places, foods, etc. Life’s too short to be boring!
Yay! I’m #546 for the apron giveaway! I CAN’T WAIT!!!
How can I contact you????
Can’t wait to check out your new blog!
The quality about myself that I like the most is that I’m always looking to learn more and experience new things, see new places and appreciate the ones I love.
I already added your new blog to my blogs that I check everyday (try to!) list.
Congrats on the new blog!
So exciting that you have a new blog! Can’t wait to follow this one as well
Congrats on the new blog!
what a great oatmeal mix! congrats on the new blog!
cant wait to check it out…but i have to go to class now! ha.
jenna
Yay Tina, congrats on finally coming up with a name for the new blog! The layout looks so nice, as well
I saw your blog pop up on my facebook wall yesterday and smiled! That’s cool
And my favorite quality about myself is that I have an optimistic attitude & I am an overachiever! I always try to go the extra step, all with a smile. Hehehe
Added you to my blogroll! I luv that you have a website for NuVal to make things easier on finding what scores high by your recommendations!….thank you!
Enjoy!
Well congrats on the new home! I still don’t know how people manage 2+ blogs at once, I can barely stay on top of 1!
Excited to read your new blog!
Congrats on the new blog.
I like that I am so insightful and intuitive.
I’ll be sure to stop by the new blog . ..
What do I like about myself – I’m actually smarter than anyone knows and so is my BF, which makes for the most interesting conversation, yet we don’t really do “smart” jobs!
Congrats on new blog!
I’d like to think I’m a pretty glass half full person even in hard times. I love that about myself because it makes me feel strong.
The new blog looks great! Congrats! As for your QOTD – Confidence. My parents instilled in me the importance of having confidence at a very young age.
Can’t wait to start following the new blog. My ability to listen. I love making people feel happy.
Love your new blog girl!
Very cool about the new blog!
The new blog looks really intereting!!
I am very non-judgemental which I think is an important quality.
My favorite quality in mysel is I’m pretty funny haha I think humor can be used in most situations to make people laugh
I’m tough or perhaps resiliant is the better word for it? Both physically and mentally, I’m able to overcome challenges and negative experiences by facing them down and moving on.
Oh yay! I am very excited to start reading your new blog since I live in boston and eat healthy on a tight budget!
I love that I’m a morning person. I feel so energetic in the morning and feel like I can accomplish so much when I wake up.
Cute new blog!
i love your daily questions!
my quality i suppose is that i can laugh at pretty much anything, you gotta find humor in life!
Congrats on the new blog!!
I like my ability to make friends easily – makes life lots of fun!! :O)
I like that I’m “persistant”. It sounds much better than “stubborn”, too
i like that i’m honest. nowadays people try to be too pc and I think honesty is still the best policy.
Congrats on your new blog! I will have to check it out.
The quality I like most about myself is my creativity.
I believe in living life with positivity, and I always practice what I preach!
Congrats on your new blog! I just saw that Barney Butter is now sold at Shaws (at least the one in Newton) – and it’s on sale this week!! Maybe that’s a good tip for your new blog
@Val: I heard that!!!!!! I can’t wait to venture out to Newton!
Congrats on the new blog – I’ll have to check it out. The quality I like most about myself is my desire to help my friends and family. I’m very dependable and there for the good times and bad. I am not a fair-weather friend.
Awesome! I just checked out the new blog and it’s great. Love the title. I can’t wait to read about healthier groceries!
awesome new blog!
I’m currently in LA for my job and last night I saw Demitri Martin at a restaurant and thought of your blog when you mentioned you saw him in Harvard Square. The nose helped me pick him out haha. Only one guy I was with knew who I was talking about when I said he was next to us!
I thought you weren’t announcing the winner of the Element Bars until this afternoon? I’m so bummed!
Can’t wait to check out the new blog. I think it’s filling a much needed void… how to eat healthy on the cheap!
I like my sence of humor and that I’m a good listener
Congrats on the new blog!!
The physical quality I like most about myself is my curvy shape. I’m glad that running and changing my eating habits haven’t changed my curves!
The personality quality I like best about myself is my leadership skills.
Another blog + writing a book. I don’t know how you do it all. Good luck!
What a GREAT question! I feel like we always spend so much time thinking about what we want to change about ourselves that it is nice to celebrate what we like about ourselves! Kudos to you for posting a question that makes us celebrate ourselves in a postive way! I am going to say that what I like most about myself is my mental toughness!
I really like my sense of humor. It has helped me through a lot of hard times!!!! Congrats on the new blog, I am loving it so far!
Mmm what a nice question!! I like that I am generally just HAPPY and UPBEAT! My friend asked if she could put me in her pocket to get her through tough finals week.
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