Don’t be jealous. My night is all about sipping wine, savoring dark chocolate, and watching episodes of Dexter with my husband. Life is good! 
Snack
Before heading to the gym this afternoon, I snacked on half of a Chocolate Blueberry Protein Muffin with homemade nut butter spread on top.
This was my first attempt at making nut butter and it was so simple! I basically made my very own Nuttzo with Brazil nuts, almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds. I just threw them all in my food processor and out came a delicious homemade nut butter. It was cool! Who knew that making nut butter would be so easy?!?
Workout
At the gym, I ran 3 miles in 27:00 and then jumped on the elliptical for 25 minutes. Sadly, my hip is sore after running two days in a row. 
It looks like a marathon won’t be in my future anytime soon, but I’m still hoping to run a half marathon in June. I just need to listen to my body and not push myself too hard too soon.
During my workout, I got to try my new Water Bobble that the company sent me to try out. The Water Bobble is a filtered water bottle that saves you money, takes care of the planet, and keeps your body hydrated. It’s made out of recycled plastic and automatically filters your water for you.
I really like the Water Bobble’s size, shape, and color, but I’m not sure my water tasted any differently. But, I liked the fact that I was drinking filtered water! 
Snack
After the gym, I ate the other half of the Chocolate Blueberry Protein Muffin with a smear of homemade nut butter on top. It was a great post-workout snack!
Dinner
For dinner, I whipped up an oldie, but goodie recipe: Mediterranean Salad with Chickpea Patties.
I made this recipe for the first time almost a year ago. I can’t believe that I forgot about it. It’s much too good to forget about just like that!
I used Chobani plain Greek yogurt for the lemony dressing, which was a great choice.
With dinner, Mal and I enjoyed a glass of white wine. I can’t remember the last time we had wine with dinner. We used to do this all of the time, but somehow we let this special weeknight ritual go by the wayside. Sometimes, a glass of wine with your hubby, during the work week, is just what you need after a long day.
I really liked the Four Sisters Sauvignon Blanc. It was sweet and citrusy, but not too sweet.
And, for dessert, Mal and I enjoyed Scharffen Berger dark chocolate straight from the package. It tastes a-mazing with a glass of wine. 
It’s time to continue the Dexter marathon. I’m lovin’ Monday night!
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Hey Tina! Sounds like a fabulous night to me
What a yummy dinner too- I haven’t made chickpea patties in forever and now you have me craving them! I want one of those water bobbles! That would be perfect for my Thursday nights when I teach two classes in a row and need to fill up on water fountain water in between.
I love that four sisters wine
I tend to pick wine by the label, and that one was a winner!
I should buy my mom that wine– she has three sisters!
I used to make my own nut butter– I loved trying the different combinations! They’re pretty endless!
That water bottle is awesome! Would love to try that baby.
I love Four sister’s wine! Have a great night!
Love the idea of making your own nut butter, how fun!
Enjoy Dexter
That water bottle is so cool looking. Hooray for glasses of wine with the hubby.
That sounds like the perfect Monday night to me! The first day of the week is hard on everybody, it would be a nice ritual to have something like this to look forward to!
I may need to try making my own nut butter, doesn’t sound that difficult at all.
I love making pecan butter not only because it’s my favorite nut but because it’s sooooo expen$ive in stores. My Magic Bullet can never get it super fine though…so it’s quite crunchy. Equally as tasty though.
I love making pecan butter not only because it’s my favorite nut but because it’s sooooo expen$ive in stores. My Magic Bullet can never get it super fine though…so it’s quite crunchy. Equally as tasty though.
Nice xbox 360 in the background!
I love making my own nut butters! I just ran out of my maple peanut butter!!! Sounds like you have a nice evening planned…enjoy it!
sounds like my kinda night! sorry your hip was hurting, but you’ve made some amazing progress
hope you guys have the most relaxing evening!
Oh, how I love “Dexter.” Not the best show to eat to at times, though, haha. Unless of course it’s one of those blood oranges featured in the opening credits.
Your homemade nut butter looks and sounds delish! Yet another reason I need to invest in a food processor…
Enjoy kickin’ your heels up with the Hub!
I am going to try making nut butter this weekend — it looks amazing!
I had thought about making nut butter but thought it might turn into a clump in my blender. Oh the possibilities of the different flavors.
Love the name of the wine! Dinner looks delicious. I have made those chickpea patties before, very very tasty.
I love the water bobble!!! you get the coolest stuff.
Wish I had some chocolate around here…mmm
You can train for a marathon! I’m going to start training for a marathon this summer and I will be running 3-4 days a week. I used the runnersworld SmartCoach Training program (which I’ve used to train for my last two half marathons and one coming up). So I wouldn’t give up on the marathon goal just yet!
I love that “water bobble”! Thanks for sharing… I may be doing some further research on it.
I love coming across new products on blogs.
dexter is the best show ever!!
How funny….I had that recipe for lunch today and loved it! I got the recipe out of Health magazine and couldn’t wait to try it! Loved the chicpea patties! My first time making it and definitely a keeper!!
Homemade nut butter is so easy and I wish I did it more often. Tastes so much fresher and is so fun to make.
Your evening sounds wonderful! Total envy coming from the West Coast.
I have a date with a research paper tonight! I would much rather be curled up on the couch with my SO and chocolate!
I think I may have to invest in a food processor. Just so that I can make nut butter for myself- nothing more! ha ha…
That water bottle is really cool!! And so is the homemade nut butter! (As if I need more ways to get nut butter in my house haha)
What a perfect evening – good company + good food + good wine = perfection!! Enjoy yourself!!
Mmm…those chickpea patties look yum-o…tee hee rachael ray shout out. Anyways, that bottle thing looks neat!!! That might save me some money…I constantly ruin the earth with my plastic bottle usage.
Enjoy your night with your guys.
I love Dexter! And wine, can’t go wrong.
Holy YUM – that Nut-Butter Filled Muffin looked dee-lish!
Have a great week, Tina!
Brazilian XOXO´s,
Gabriela
Chickpea patties.. i never even thought to do that! Going to have to try it!
Wine & Chocolate = sooo good together, I really like the concept of a filtered water bottle, tooo!
Has it really been a year since you made those chickpea patties? I made them right after you posted that salad and have been making it regularly since.
I love having a glass of wine with my hubby after a long day. It’s a nice reward after a long day. Enjoy!
I swear wine and dark chocolate is the best combo. I hope you enjoyed!
That water bottle is pretty crazy looking, but the concept is a really neat idea.
Those patties look fabulous! I’ve never tried falafel (sp?) but I can’t imagine these being anything but delicious. Coincidentally, I just bought a can of chick peas yesterday and I actually have all the other ingredients on hand. Can’t wait to try these! Thanks for the great idea!
a night with dexter is a good night for me…I love that show! I actually had a dream with Michael C hall in it last night! and dang, it was steamy
Whenever someone says they’re sipping wine and I’m not? I’m jealous
Sara
dexter! = best show EVER!
Wine with dinner is one of the greatest pleasures of daily life… hope you bring the tradition back! P.S. Dinner and dessert, and even that snack all sound amazing
dexter is next on my list of tv dvd shows to watch.
That’s SO funny that you just made nut butter! I was just pondering using the nut-butter-grinder thingy (that’s a technical term) in the bulk section of my local natural foods store. I think it’s like the coffee grinder where you add a bunch of nuts, and out comes butter. I guess that’s all it does though, just chop it up really fine like your food processor. Maybe I won’t be so afraid of it next time!
I clicked through to the post from a year ago, and it’s amazing to see how much your photography has improved! : ) The recipe sounds great too.
I’ve never seen Dexter, but I’ve heard good things about it and you seem to like it – but then any show is better with chocolate and a nice man by your side
What a wonderful, perfect night. I’m sorry the hip is still sore, but at least there was chocolate at the end of it! Wonderful!
John and I have recently started watching Dexter – great show!
I love the idea of a filtration system within a water bottle. Genius.
Stay dry today!
Sounds like a proper way to start the wk. I am anxiously awaiting this past season of Dexter to hit Netflix!
ok my hubs and i LOVE dexter. I have wrote about it on my blog too
looks like a great night!
I love having a glass of wine on a weeknight. There is something so relaxing about it. Who says a weeknight can’t be a special occasion as well?!
Tina,
Do you (and your readers) find that having wine affects your workouts the next day at all, or are you equally energetic with/without vino?
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