Good morning, bloggies!!! 
I am in SUCH a good mood this morning! It must all of those feel-good endorphins from my early-morning workout! 
So, something weird happened this morning. When I took Murphy out to do his business, I actually found myself singing while I walked along. Guys, I don’t sing. You know those people who just sing all of the time? Like the people on American Idol? They just break into song whenever the mood arises? Well, I am sooo not one of those people. I actually have a terrible singing voice and pretty much only sing along to the radio when I am totally alone in the car. So, when I realized that I was singing out loud while walking around the neighborhood, it really surprised me. I guess I’m really feeling good today! Oh, how things have changed since last year… or even just 6 months ago. As cheesy as it sounds, I feel like I am finally living!
Snack
Before heading to Body Pump with Marie this morning, I snacked on a Sunny Hemp granola bar, which was so yummy. This bar is my favorite of the ones that Nature’s Pride sent me to sample. I also chugged a big bottle of water. Not surprisingly, I was feeling a tad parched after drinking that huge-ass beer last night. 
Workout
Body Pump was pretty good this morning. We had a substitute instructor, which was sort of a bummer because I really look forward to the Thursday morning class with “Vicky,” who is really motivating and sort of funny. Plus, she whizzes right through class and doesn’t spend a lot of time talking. We’re usually done in 45 minutes or less! I’m barely awake at that hour, so the class really flies by. Before I know it, it’s over!
I felt like my normal self with lifting today. I challenged myself, but I didn’t feel like I was going to die like I did on Tuesday night. I actually felt like I needed to increase my weight on the biceps track. Maybe next class?
Breakfast
When I got home, Mal was in the middle of eating his breakfast, so I snagged a few slices of apple from him. He’s so nice to share!
I wasn’t starving for breakfast, so I decided to do some baking, which is truly one of my favorite pastimes. I find it relaxing and it allows me to get creative in the kitchen. And, of course, there is usually a scrumptious treat to enjoy afterward.
While I baked, I drank an iced coffee with vanilla soy milk.
This morning’s baking experiment: Blueberry Coconut Bars!!!
I’ve been wanting to try coconut flour in my baking, so I gave it a whirl this morning.
Blueberry Coconut Bars
Makes 12
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup coconut flour
- 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed meal
- 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 1/2 vanilla soy milk
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350*F
- Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl
- Coat 8 x 8 baking pan with non-stick spray and pour in batter; smooth with spatula
- Bake for 40-45 minutes until cooked through
- Although to cool before cutting
- Enjoy!
The result was a wonderful blueberry-flavored baked good with hints of sweet coconut. It reminded me of a blueberry cake– moist, smooth, and very soft. I ended up eating a whole row of these babies! Holy yum!
OpenSky Deals
Lots of great deals this week!
- Chia seed + flaxseed bundles for only $13!
- Save $22.34 on the MyPressi TWIST! Just use the code IceCoffee at check-out.
- Adorable cupcake products in my special Cupcake Aisle.
Question of the Day
What do you wish you had more time for in your life?
{ 77 comments… read them below or add one }
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hi-i’ve been reading your blog for awhile and thought i should say hi. i enjoy all your quick recipe ideas-especially the 3 minute cookie!
between being a full time grad student, wife and new mom to our 3 month old i feel like i could use extra time for just about everything! most especially working out-i’m finding it practically impossible these days but your post about the body pump classes really makes me want to find my way to the gym somehow! have a good thursday
:O Those bars sound amazing! If only I knew where to get coconut flour…
I wish I had more time to do what I want in my life atm – everything seems so full of uni work/exams :’( Baking would be the big thing…it’s totally therapy, I adore it! I haven’t done much recently though (apart from some amazing white chocolate and cranberry cookies the other day :p).
Have a good day!
hahaha i am totally one of those people who sing ALLLLLLL the time – my post this morning was actually about the song I was signing while I was making breakfast this morning — I’m SUCH a nerd.
I wish I had more time for cooking/baking — I do what I can, but really wish i wasn’t always rushing to get dinner on the table!
Glad you’re feeling so good, Tina! What do I wish I had more time for…for once in my life I feel pretty good about the time I have for things. I can’t think of anything that I’m missing out on at the moment. That makes me feel like singing
I wish I had more time for so many things! I feel really happy with my life now too, but sometimes I wonder why we all have to work so much? I’d love to spend more time reading, spending time with people I love, cooking, exercising, everything!
I’m having one of those mornings too. I didn’t sing out loud, I just feel really good!
And those coconut bars look so so good!
Mmmmmm, blueberry coconut! I wish I had more time in my life to write. I love writing, but I find that I push it to the back burner when things get crazy. Thanks for reminding me!
What do I wish I had more time for in my life?… What a loaded question, Tina!
Actually, *blush*, exercise! I’ve been stumbling over my mental blocks lately, trying to reason myself INTO exercising, I know I’d feel sooooo much better! Just trying to get out with a toddler is such a mental block for me though, it’s like, totally overwhelming! So yeah. I wish I could figure out how to make alone-time to get some genuine, fun, wholesome, rewarding exercise in.
(How’s THAT for a loaded answer? 
)
Those bars look delicious! I wish I had more time to spend with my hubby – the weeks are always go-go-go and the weekends are over before you know it!
I love all your baking creations!!!
I have a horrible singing voice too
But I do it anyway!
Haha did little birds help you get dressed this morning to? Glad to see you’re in such a good mood! That blueberry cake/bar looks yummy!
I wish I had more time in my life for everything! Work, family life, exercise, cooking…I need another 10 hours a day.
That breakfast could be a Starbucks pastry!!! You are pretty much a barista with that iced coffee too. A singing one
I, too, know that I’m happy when I catch myself singing out loud. So glad you’re less stressed now than you were before! Keep it up!
I wish I had more time for reading, I miss books! Those bars look delicious, you are so creative.
If I had more time I would give it to Antranig. He is working 12+ hours a day lately and we don’t get to spend enough time together these days.
I wish I had more time to see friends, cook, bake and workout. Oh and for being creative, like painting or something. I think I probably COULD have more time for this stuff but it’s more a matter of setting out the time, you know?
Those blueberry bars sound delicious. When you bake, do you just add whatever ingredients you think will be good or base it on a recipe? I always have to use a recipe because I’m so nervous it would turn out bad!
I wish I had more time to just HANG OUT and do nothing!
This has happened to me a few times lately. I don’t know if Earth Fare just has good music or if I’m just feeling so good being surrounding my nutritious goodies but I have found myself singing or humming it out walking through the aisles. Actually one day one of the employees joined in with me and started dancing! Pretty awesome!
Those bars look SO good! Glad to hear you are de-stressed
I have never heard of coconut flower, bars look great! I wish I had more time to try new things, like cooking class, pottery class…
oh gosh . . . don’t ask me that question . . . man I wish I had 40 hours every day. I would divide them up for work, family, blogging, and school, oh wait and sleep MORE SLEEP!!!!!!!!
By the way, the beginning of your post put a big smile on my face.
ahahahah that’s so funny! i’m glad you found yourself singing this morning! that’s kind of hard to imagine for me. i sing pretty much everywhere! yes, i’m one of *those* people.
i wish i had enough time to paint and write for myself! since i’ve been in college, all of that time has been sucked up into some time vortex or something :/, but it’s a good thing i’m leaving school to go to improv and comedy writing school in chicago, so now i will hopefully have plenty of time! as well as making my parents proud of this choice! hahahah
hope you have a good rest of your day!
I wish I had more time to cook, I usually rush around doing everything every night! And then suddenly its after 8 and nothing has been finished! If only there were more time in general!
I can hear the happiness in your voice through your typing, if that makes sense and doesn’t sound to creeper:) haha… I wish I had more time on the weekends to rock climb, but I’m a student so my weekends are usually filled with working to pay bills:( Can’t wait for summer!
A couple of years ago I had no time in my life. I worked full time and taught yoga full time and had freelance writing gigs too.
Then last September I threw it all in, quit work and moved out of London. I still teach, I still write, I still work a little but I now have time for me, which is beyond awsome!
I do sing though, ALL the time! My other half says I’m like a jukebox….
I finally found a gym with Body Pump and I joined last night. I tried the class this morning and I looooove it. Hopefully I will have arms like you did at your wedding for my upcoming wedding!
Thanks for introducing me to Body Pump!
I’m curious as to what song you were singing?
I wish I had more time for outdoor activities. I love to ride my bike and run outdoors and hike but my job makes it hard so I’m always trying to scramble on weekends.
i definitely wish i had more time (and money!) to travel, workout, and test recipes. i LOVE doing those things and it would be incredible to be able to more often!
yummy that looks so yummy!!! That’s funny that you caught yourself singing today. While on my run this morning, I was singing out loud too….I have no idea what got into me! hahaha
Glad you’re enjoying yourself. I went to BodyPump yesterday for the first time in a while. I forgot how much I enjoyed it.
I wish I had more time for sleeping. I can never sleep late, and actually hate doing it, but getting to bed early is so hard for me because I’m so lazy about it! If there wer eonly a couple more hours in the day I think my problem would be solved.
I am such a singer. I can’t sing my way out of a paper bag but that doesn’t stop me. I’ll have a song stuck in my head and just start singing it out of nowhere.
I sing ALL the time (when I’m by myself). And LOUD. I just belt out tunes like a pro. Of course, I suck though.
I only catch myself singing on good days. haha. It always makes me laugh when I notice it.
I wish I had more time to read. I love reading but it’s time-consuming!
Mmmmmm those sound amazing!!! Like a blueberry muffin, almost.
haha i had a feeeling you two were going to see the c’s play! such a fun date night! aw tina, i loved your comment about “living” and how you were singing this am. it makes me so happy to hear people talking about living and being happy in the moment. surely your singing walk was JUST that
YAY for good moods!!
Those blueberry bars look fantastic. I need to make some homemade granola goodness ASAP!
Jenn
That looks GREAT! Such a yummy morning treat.
I wish I had more time for cleaning my house and just relaxing or doing fun stuff. Speaking of time, how do you have time to go to the gym and bake in the morning? Do you just get up ridiculously early and get it all done before work? Do you go into work late? Or was today one of the days you’re working from home?
I actually do the burst into singing one line of a song deal every chance I get. Sometimes, a song or line get’s stuck in my head and you just have to let it out!
I wish I had more time so that I can take up dancing again. That and learn photography.
@Tracey @ I’m Not Superhuman: I woke up at 5 this morning and didn’t have to be into work until 10.
SLEEP!! I wish had more time for sleep!
I’m so not a singer either – I really have to watch myself at the gym when I’m in my zone, ipod on etc that I don’t start singing out loud – they’d probably kick me out if I did.
I wish I had more time for me…to just do the quiet things I love.
That’s so awesome that you’re loving your life so much that you’ll sing just out of the blue. You’re an inspiration to other women to take advantage of life and live every minute to its fullest.
I wish I had more time to read and to take naps.
I love getting my workout in in the morning…sets the tone for the day!
Blueberry coconut bars look delicious. We love baking with coconut flour!
wow those bars look yummy! i wonder if i could make them with whole wheat flour and just add coconut???
I’m glad you’re in such a good mood- happiness is contagious
I wish I had more time for SUNSHINE! Now that the weather is warming up I hate being stuck in the office all day. I’d like to take advantage of the good weather while we’ve got it!
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