2.25.2011

savings, the bike, and treats

SAVINGS AND MILK
I've been thinking about milk lately and cutting out cow's milk. I have been drinking almond milk for awhile and using it in my recipes. What are your thoughts on the nutritional benefits of cow's milk? If you don't drink cow's milk, what do you drink?  Almond milk is cheaper than organic cow's milk and I can find coupons for it too. Here is a great list of organic coupons.

I've been really good about looking for coupons and being a wise shopper - inspired by some great money saving blogs and RunBlondie!
Best new blogs and websites I've found for savings thank you for letting me know about these, readers!

Money Saving Mom
Organic Deals
Saving Naturally
Health E Savers
For the Mommas


Coupon Mom


THE BIKE
Today I was able to get out on my own and go to the bike store. I was educated on the components but I couldn't tell you much about them.  The bike man let me know that I should look for a 50/51 cm bike and the cheapest one that they sold there was pretty cool looking but $500. Can I find one for about $200? I actually have zero space for one and would really like to borrow one. I don't know what to do. I have the two triathlons lined up - one April 17 and one June 26.  I'm not sure if I'll get into this or not, so I'm stuck. I'm really not in a spot to spend $500 on it.

TREATS!!!
HEMP FUDGE
I learned about hemp 'fudge' from the Non Dairy Queen. The only thing I started adding to it was chocolate superfood. 

I use 2 T hemp protein powder from Trader Joe's (*side note*: I just ordered Nutiva's Hemp protein powder from Amazon for $8.50 on subscribe and save - anyone tried it?TJ's is $10)
1 scoop of Amazing Grass Chocolate Superfood
1 to 1.5 T water

This isn't very sweet but then I add some TJ's creamy peanut butter and some whipped cream.
I like to eat it right out of the bowl

but you could make it into nice balls too!

back in the bowl with some whipped cream. What a great treat!

one bowl treat
 Tonight's dinner - eat clean pizza with non clean cheese on top (and humnut sauce underneath) : )


Dessert
a variation of 2 bite brownies
I mixed these ingredients:
2 cups oatmeal
1 2/3 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 c maple syrup
2 T ground flax
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
2/3 cup milk
2/3 cup coconut oil
1 ½ tsp vanilla


Then, I split the dough in half. To one half, I added 1/4 c cocoa, 1 scoop amazing grass (I'm obsessed) 1/2 square baker's chocolate, 2 T chocolate chips and 1/4 c coconut oil. I melted the coconut oil and chocolate, then added in the cocoa. This was one batch. The other batch - I added a mashed banana and 1/4 c coconut and then a handful of chocolate chips to half and blueberries to the other half. Fruity cookies  = healthy, right??  Wink wink.

This is a great recipe and versatile.  I love making vegan things - I ate alot of the dough before it was baked!

8 comments:

  1. oh wow, that hemp fudge looks good! I wish we had a trader joes here! I always see some of their great products on blogs.

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  2. you should try to borrow...if you DO get into it, you'll definitely want to have spent MORE than $500!! and if not, yeah, it's a lot to spend to have it sit in the garage. Can you see if any of the teachers where you worked have one to lend?

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  3. My bike is from toys r us.... i hope it survives my possible Sprint tri this summer!!!

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  4. I don't drink cow's milk as it makes me ill so instead I drink:
    Goat's milk (semi skimmed - full fat is too like the cheese!) but in moderation as too much off that can start to make me a bit grotty too.
    Soya milk (sweetened alpro soya for cereal and tea, soya light for coffee as it doesn't split oh and choc soya milk seemed to keep me alive during pregnancy!)
    Oat milk, almond milk and rice milk are also good alternatives but harder to get hold of so only get them if I'm at a health food shop.
    Could you contact a local bike club and see if they either know someone from whom you could borrow, or know someone from whom you could buy 2nd hand?

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  5. My road bike is still in pieces from the ironman, but if you want to get it put back together (not a huge deal - just haven't done it), you're welcome to borrow it for the races!

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  6. I'm so excited to see you've registered for another full marathon too! If you can do it with two little ones, surely you can help me find my mojo to do it with just one.

    Even if you don't fall madly in love with tri's this season, a bike is still something you'll be able to enjoy for years to come. Of course borrowing one would be a great, but I think there are many reasons you can find to justify spending $500 in it. Just think how much you're going to be saving on groceries now anyway :)

    I'll occasionally buy almond milk for myself. It's easy to get it for $1 a half-gallon or less with sales and coupons. Emily had a lactose intolerance problem at first, and our pedi said soy milk was the next best choice for kids (more protein and calories than other non-dairy milks). I don't feel comfortable giving her mass quantities of soy products either, so it's back organic cows milk now that she can tolerate it.

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  7. Invest in the best bike you can afford. I made the mistake of getting a cheap bike from Craigslist. Then Santa got me a decent bike, and it makes such a big difference. I love my nice bike.
    Having said that, the first place I looked for a bike was not the place for me...super snooty people, not interested in me when I said I was interested in a bike in the $500 range. Santa found a nicer bike shop. All to say, do not give up on biking. I was reluctant, but it is a great way to cross train.

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  8. That fudge and pizza both look so yummy. Maybe I need to eat something! :)

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