do you remember...

I'm not sure if this company is Canada-specific (but I'm assuming it is because the name of the company is "Canada Pure"), but does anyone remember these drinks?!

They used to come in glass bottles that were this blue colour, but unfortunately now they come in plastic, and I haven't seen them in ages. I know they're not the best for you, but I couldn't help but grab one! I remembered black cherry being good, and yup, that still stands!

The fizzinest + the black cherry is exactly what I needed to help me get through some more studying ;)

I located this marvelous drink at The Bulk Barn (yet another Canadian company) in my town which recently expanded, and probably why I've never seen the drink there before. I absolutely love the Bulk Barn to begin with, but seeing as they just reopened, they had some stellar prices on things that I went for anyways. Can you say 50% off organic natural peanut butter?! (note the size of the jar I got - clearly the biggest size they had!)

Normally when it's 20% off, I jump at the opportunity to buy the biggest container of it, but 50% off grand opening sale totally dominates.

Also, since they expanded, this gave them more room to introduce new products like...

Almonds! Kidding...they weren't that small that they didn't have room for almonds before! But, I did notice that they now carry wheatberries, so I made sure to grab some of them! The reason I did grab almonds though, was they were also on the 50% off grand opening sale. Are you getting the sense now that I love Bulk Barn?!

Ok, one last thing - I promise! Another thing that gets me in the store each time, is they're always constantly offering $3 off coupons (when you spend $10) in the newspaper. My mom brought over one of the clippings today, so I figured I better go use it, just for good measure :) It's always nice when $14.46 turns into $11.46.

The only thing I had left to do once I got these baggies home (and you don't even wanna know how bad my Bulk Barn baggie collection is getting!) was to transfer them to some lovely jars.

If I can at least take 2 things out of baggies, it means I'll take less time finding the 30 other things still existing in the bags! Plus, how could you not get those wheatberries straight to a jar?!

I have another $3 off coupon I have to use by Thursday, so I'm taking food suggestions starting...NOW!

QUESTION: What's your favourite item to purchase in bulk?!

i might be addicted to...

Maple syrup. But only the good kind. Aunt Jemima doesn't count.

Weird thing is, growing up I hated real syrup. I'm surprised my parents didn't disown me for that. If it continued, I might have disowned myself!

I'm glad I overcame that horrible, horrible period of time, because now I can't get enough.

Especially when I go over to my mom's house, see a huge gallon of it in her fridge, and have her offer to give me some. You don't ever turn down that offer. You take it home and add it to the next thing you might be addicted to...

Pancakes.

I'm always on the hunt for the perfect, fluffy pancake recipe. I might have found it. I love Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, and enjoyed her pancake recipe, but this one I used this morning, made extra fluffy pancakes.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour (I used wholewheat)
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1.75 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• half a banana, mashed
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup non-dairy milk (I used unsweetened almond, but only had 2/3 cup left)

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder and salt).
2. In a small bowl, mash banana and combine with milk and vanilla extract
3. Preheat frying pan to med-high and add some oil, cook pancakes for a few minutes per side.

I'm sure if I had the right amount of milk that went into the recipe, they wouldn't have turned out as fluffly. But I'm glad I ran out of almond milk. I love me some thick, fluffy pancakes!

And you cannot forget a third and final thing that I might be addicted to...

Peanut butter. Especially on pancakes.

My kinda new fav breakfast. I was on a toast kick for a loooooooong time. I don't know when exactly that changed, but now I'm just your average person jumping from breakfast to breakfast each morning...unless I had a man servant (read: the husband) to make pancakes each morning. Then yes, I'd probably stay on this pancake kick for a while.

My butt may not like it though, so, I'll have these bad boys in moderation ;) haha

And there you have it...I actually might be addicted to the above three foods and I'm not ashamed. I clearly love my breakfast items!

QUESTION: What foods/drinks are YOU addicted to?!

my very first foodie penpals

So, I had this crazy idea last month to get involved with foodie penpals! How could I be ever so crazy to want to have people mail me food and send some back to someone new in return?!

{If you don't sense the sarcasm, this is where I step in and say, it's totally not crazy!}

Me + the chance to try out new foods + sending someone else new foods = match made in heaven!

So let me get to what I received for my very first round! I had the opportunity to have the amazing Maddie send me a package (she blogs over at Mad Health Chick) and she was nothing short than the best foodie penpal! So what did she send me?!

I actually didn't open this box until three days after I received it! You're probably, yet again, thinking I'm crazy, but I used it as my reward for getting through my really busy week of 2 midterms, an assignment and a ton of homework. It was worth the wait! Upon first opening:

She was so super cute and asked if the chips popped on me...which they totally didn't (score!). I knew at first glimpse, I already loved it. But, when I started taking everything out, I was actually in shock. She outdid herself!

I had never expected to see this much stuff crammed into that box. Let's just say it was an unexpected surprise of the good kind!

Now, to break it down. I was really shocked that most of the stuff I've never tried! This was good because now I have the chance to try them, see if I like them, to know if I want to purchase them myself!

Like, the Enjoy Life gluten- and dairy-free bars...never even seen them before! They were the first things I tried, and they were amazing!! If I can find them around here, I'm definitely getting them again.

Or the teas, have never tried any of these flavours! Also, I'm really excited to try the chocolate bar Maddie sent and actually can't believe I haven't tried it yet (it's mint btw - a total win in my books) ...maybe because when I opened the box, it was all melty! The melty part is totally my fault because, while I didn't open the box for three days, it sat on our TV satellite receptor in our bedroom, and I'm sure you all know how warm those things can get! Oops!

Actually pretty funny, but I'm about to take the Buckwheat Snack (ShaSha Co.) products with me to school today. I'm sure they're amazing, too ;)

And ReBar, it's something I brought with me on Wednesday to school, but didn't end up eating it. I bet it will be awesome, too. Food hardly disappoints me! 

I really loved the addition of the Larabar...you can never go wrong with one of them!

Again, more teas!! I've only tried the one in the orange package so far and it was delish! Next, the spirulina bar. This probably made me the most excited to see because it intrigues me. Sometimes I'm a hoarder when it comes to things that I really enjoy/think I'll enjoy. This goes for coconut water; the husband knows that I have been holding onto my half of a case of coconut water we bought a while ago, while his is all gone. It kills him everyday =). So, I'm not quite sure when I'll actually decide to eat the spirulina bar, but let's hope it clears out before the coconut water does!

And finally, the last two items that I have had before - the sweet potato chips and the dark chocolate peanut butter. Having said that, they are both wonderful and something I would eat again and again, so a nice addition to the package.

I sure think Maddie went above and beyond for March Foodie Penpals and I just want to take a minute to really thank her.

You are awesome Maddie and I really appreciate the amazing package you put together. I am so with you on arranging a meet-up!! Woohoo!

All I can finish with is, I cannot wait for next month - I not only have new inspiration for my future penpal, but have opened a door to meeting amazing new food lovers and bloggers like me.

Have a great Friday everyone!

thursday things

Thursday Things = random facts I feel like sharing (mainly from today, but, honestly, just whatever pops to mind). You should do some Thursday Things, too (or Friday, or Saturday) and link back.

1. I'm on day 6 of working out in a row. Why am I emphasizing this everyday? Well, as a student, some days I'm on campus for 11 hours wishing I could just be at the gym having CrossFit kick my butt. So obviously my vow to workout everyday while on break is totally sticking. Downfall: I smell everyday.

2. I ran tonight (which was less torturous than my Tuesday run...thank goodness) and I'm doing the CrossFit Open workout tomorrow. You know you want to do it, too (7 minutes to do as many burpees as you can). Tina's husband did 119. My hubby said the highest at our gym (from this morning) was 115. He was leaving work as people in the evening were doing it, so there is potential for a higher number.

3. This whole workout thing really puts a damper on having clean hair. I'm sorry hair, but there are sacrifices you have to make for the sake of staying in shape. One day you'll understand.

4. I'm making a batch and a half of cookies tonight. It's kind of like a challenge for the husband and I. We each get a baking sheet and see whose cookies turn out better (ie: mine every. single. time.)

5. I made a ridiculously good hummus yesterday. Look for that recipe here tomorrow (especially if you like artichokes).

6. Yesterday was the first time I ever made hummus. Why have I never made hummus before? Did I really just waste the last 25 years of my life not making hummus...yup.

7. Peanut butter is my drug. I buy it in bulk and it feels like I'm constantly refilling the damn thing. Yet another trip to Bulk Barn tomorrow - let's just hope they don't notice this addiction, or if they do, a discount would be nice.

8. Today felt like spring, but that was just a tease. This is what we have to look forward to overnight and tomorrow:

9. I think I'm addicted to Caffe Americano's...well done, Starbucks. (PS - for the best way to enjoy it: top with soy milk and get 2 pumps of cinnamon dolce flavouring).

10. The husband and I eat this same dish every week without ever getting sick of it...ever. Ever! One little tip: add way more veggies than the recipes asks for. Tonight's addition was: kale, broccoli, yellow pepper, brown mushrooms, onion, carrots, celery and bok choy. Like I said...I eat greens. Now it's time to match my veggie consumption in cookies...I mean, I am doing a bunch of burpees in the morning!