It is a gorgeous day in Boston today. It feels like spring! 
We don’t get a lot of nice days like this during the winter, so when we do, you just have to take advantage of them. So, I went outside for a run this afternoon. It’s been so long since I’ve run outdoors, it took me a good 10 minutes to track down my Garmin. But, I finally found it and set out for a 5-mile run. It felt awesome!
- 8:41
- 8:52
- 9:02
- 9:01
- 8:44
Total time: 44:22
Lunch
After my run, I took Murphy for an hour-long walk around our new neighborhood. By the time I got home, I was SO ready for lunch. I whipped up a quick salad, which was piled high with veggies, crumbled blue cheese, and almond slices. I also drizzled a little balsamic vinegar on top.
On the side, I had a serving of kale chips. Love these things!
Veggilicious lunch + H20.
Snack
I wanted something sweet to eat for an afternoon snack, so I did a little baking. I made a batch of Oatmeal Maple Walnut Bars, which turned out pretty good, but they weren’t as maple-y as I had hoped. 
But, the bars tasted good enough for me to eat four of them! 
Even still, I don’t think they are my best baking creation ever.
Just in case you’re interested, here’s the recipe!
Oatmeal Maple Walnut Bars
Makes 12
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup oat flour
- 1/4 cup chick peas
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1/4 cup barley malt syrup
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp baking powder
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350*F
- Combine all ingredients in a food processor
- Spray 8 X 8 pan with non-stick cooking spray
- Spread batter in pan with a spatula
- Bake for 18-20 minutes
- Allow to cool before cutting
—
I’m considering taking the night off from blogging since I worked almost all day today. I need a serious brain break. Plus, I’m really in the mood to put on my PJs and watch a movie with my boys. Doesn’t that sound nice?
If I don’t see ya tonight, I’ll see ya bright and early tomorrow morning! 
{ 45 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s gorgeous here too! I really hope it stays.
The maple walnut bars look fantastic but what is Barley Malt?
Enjoy your night off from blogging. Everyone needs a break
YOU are a crazy fast runner! Go you!
Enjoy your night off…PJ’s and a movie are totally my idea of the perfect Saturday night!!
take the night off; a blogger deserves it!
Barley malt? That’s a new one to me
Sounds like a perfect Saturday night! Enjoy
I feel like everyone I know is in need of a brain break this weekend! I am doing nothing but a couple of hours of volunteering tomorrow. Enjoy this almost-spring like weather and a relaxing evening!
Great run! The weather here in NYC was perfect for running also. Enjoy your night off.
It was nice and warm outside of DC today, too. Enjoy your relaxing evening.
Take a break I say – everyone needs one once in a while
I wouldn’t mind baking them, I keep seeing chickpeas cropping up all over the blog world in recipes at the moment. It makes me feel like I’m missing out!
Chickpeas in your bars! Awesome idea
Have a good evening
those maple bars sound so good! i’ve never tried baking with barley malt before, is it like a flour?
i hope you have a fabulous night off! i love lazy nights!
Those bars look great, and after your nice run you deserve to eat a few…or four haha!
What a great run! The weather turned nicer here too, and tomorrow should be just as nice! I’m thinking of heading out for my first outdoor run in a long time tomorrow. I can only hope it goes as well as yours did today.
enjoy the night off! you deserve it.
Good looking bars! Congrats on your move!
Enjoy!
Yay for us all finally getting gorgeous weather here on the east coast.. It’s a nice change from the snow and frigid temps. I’m praying for spring to hurry up over here in D.C.!
Good on you for taking a brain break – you deserve it! But when you do get back… do you think the maple flavour could be amplified by switching the barley malt + maple proportions, or would that mess with the consistency of the batter?
The bars look good.
Enjoy your night off. You had a great day with physical activity enjoy an evening of rest.
Great run!!
We’ve had some great weather in southern Ontario too. So sunny and warm (…well, relatively). I’m sad I didn’t get out for a run this morning — chores took precedence.
I just wanted to let you know that I just stumbled across your blog and I am enjoying it thoroughly. Keep up the great work.
Rosany
Nothing wrong with a night off! Don’t you hate it when you make something and it doesn’t turn out? That always happens when I’m making something I’m really looking forward to. Like the other day when I went to make kale chips … I was practically dancing in the kitchen, but ended up burning them!
Enjoy your movie!
K
Brain breaks are always necessary. Have a great night!
such a nice day in Boston today Tina!! can it stay like this??
Those bars look glorious!! How do you come up with these great recipes?!
Way to go on your run. 5 miles in 44 minutes is awesome. And what better way to refuel than with tons of veggies =) I wouldn’t worry about eating 4 maple oatmeal bars…with all of the calories you burned on your run your body was probably still needing some more fuel
is your table from ikea? i just looked down at my coffee table and think they look similar!
oooh, the sunlight looking in on your food looks wonderful! have a great night of movie watching; I’m in the mood to watch love actually or some other awesome chick flick
Dang! Those are fast splits! Way to go on the exercise + veggies today =]
Oh my gosh – I love kale chips now too! Just tried some with my dinner and added a little grated Parmesan cheese before putting in over. So good!
Enjoy your night off! I enjoy taking a night off every now and then….it’s exactly what I’m doing tonight.
Please post how you make your kale chips. Thanks!
It WAS absolutely gorgeous out. If only I knew it was going to be so spring-like. I saw so many runners out and was jealous they were out. Hopefully the weather will be as nice tomorrow morning. I have a 9 miler planned. Eek
mmmmmm Oatmeal Maple Walnut bars! I want to make those but maybe just add some more maple syrup or some maple extract?
Enjoy your night off with your boys!!
great job on the run! that’s super fast!
I made kale chips today too! Thing about them is I can eat the entire head of kale, and not even notice until it’s gone. I LOVE them!
Kick your heels up (you deserve to after that awesome 5-mile run+walk) and enjoy your first Saturday night in the new abode!
You lunch looks incredibly vibrant, filling, and delicious. I think you packed in all of the USDA’s recommended servings of vegetables in that meal as well.
Also, after reading your breakfast post…I have to get a mop to clean up the drool puddle caused by your incredible baked banana oatmeal. Holy. Yum.
wow, it snowed all day here…you’re a lucky girl with that great weather! way to go on the 5 miles…and the fabulous veggie lunch
That’s a LOT of veggies!
It was really warm up here in NH too… I felt silly out and about doing my errands with a winter hat on! New England weather is crazy.
Those bars look awesome! Still more excited to try kale chips, though
Isn’t running outside absolutely glorious? …Funny how I wasn’t saying that last week when it was -6C and it was snowing while I was running…
Sometimes you just need to chill on the couch – I actually cancelled plans for last night so I could relax on the couch and watch the Olympics!
Yesterday was gorgeous! John and I went out to dinner, and Newbury St. was packed like it is during the summertime – I guess everyone was taking advantage of the milder temp.
I’ve discovered pure maple extract as a fantastic addition to baked goods. It has a super strong maple flavor, so you don’t have to use a ton of maple syrup. I think I picked up a bottle at Whole Foods. Check it out!
Everyone deserves a “night off” now and again!
I love hour long dog walks. I think I always enjoyed them almost as much as my black lab.
Even though I live in the South, I’m a big advocate of taking advantage of good weather during January and February…pretty days are few and far between!
Those are some awesome running paces!
I love taking advantage of the nice weather for a long run outsite! This week has been good for that, sunny days in the 50s-60s… perfect running weather
Can’t seem to find barley malt syrup, what else would you use in place of it? These look yummy and would love to try them!
I’ve never had Kale chips but they look delish!!
Kale chips is on my menu for tonight!
I’ve never heard of barley malt syrup and these bars look/sound great! I hope you enjoyed an evening ‘off.’ Always good to take time to relax and enjoy a movie with your boys once in a while! You definitely deserve it!