Spoonful of Sugar Free

Registered Dietitian

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DIY Thank You Cards

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It is a few days after Christmas, so have you started writing your thank-you cards?

If you are feeling crafty, here’s an easy way to make homemade cards using things around the house.

 

First, you’ll need to gather your materials.

 

I used a few rectangles of colored card-stock for the base. You can find these blank cards at a craft store. White paper, pens and markers, glue stick, and scissors are also needed.

Next, draw your designs on the white paper and cut them out with scissors. Glue them onto the colored paper and add extra embellishments if needed. Here are some ideas to get you started:

 

 

Extra Ideas for Decorating: 

  • Try recycling leftover wrapping paper and ribbons from your presents to use for the card.
  • Glue buttons or beads on the card.
  • Put extra, folded paper underneath some of the drawings to create a pop-out effect.
  • Use stamps and stickers

Finally, cut a rectangle of white paper that fits the back of the card with room on the edges. I used fun-scissors for this so that it creates a wave.

Glue the white paper on the back of the card and you are ready to write your thank-you note! (You’re on your own with this.)

 

THOUGHT-PROVOKING, MIND-PRODDING QUESTION OF THE DAY:

What is your opinion on homemade thank-you notes vs. store bought cards vs. emails?

Personally, I think nothing beats a homemade card because it is much more personal than any of the others. I feel like I can show the person how much I really appreciated what they did with a homemade card.

Also, have you written your thank-you notes yet??

 

Thank You Santa!

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I hope you all had a wonderful holiday this past weekend.

My dog would like to thank Santa Claus for his stocking-stuffer:

What is it? What is it?

Oh Boy! Oh Boy! Oh Boy!

PEANUT BUTTER-FILLED BONE! My favorite…mmmm….

I tell you, that dog probably loves peanut butter even more than me (which is really something!)!

It was a wonderful weekend spent with friends and family. Eating and playing games. Talking and Laughing. Being thankful for what we have.

I created two new recipes this weekend. I promise I will give them to you all soon!

A new roasted nut recipe to give out to friends and neighbors. Will be a perfect gift for New Year’s!

I brought this dessert to a Christmas party, and everyone enjoyed it. I’ll let you all guess what it is…

THOUGHT-PROVOKING, MIND-PRODDING QUESTION OF THE DAY:

How was your holiday weekend? What did you do?

P.S. Please don’t forget to sign up for the New Year’s Sugar-Free Challenge. It will be a lot of fun and I would love for you to join!

New Year’s Challenge Announcement

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Hello Everyone!

I know the holidays are probably making you busy, but if you can take a couple minutes out of your day to think about joining the New Year’s Resolution Sugar-Free Challenge, I would greatly appreciate it. I promised you all a New Year’s Challenge, and here is your chance to sign up! 

I reviewed all of your responses from the last challenge and tried to incorporate as many of your requests as possible. Here are some of the changes I made for this challenge:

  • Challenge lasts the full month instead of just ten days
  • There is an optional “Break the Habit” period of one week where you can eat one piece of sugar per day in order to ease into the challenge.
  • There is an optional exercise challenge for those who would like to jump start an exercise routine with simple exercises for beginners.
  • I created a checklist you can print off in order to keep you motivated and on track.
Eventually I would like to create a calendar or spreadsheet that everyone can access and leave comments on in order to help each other out in a group setting. However, I still need to research this a bit and figure out how exactly to set it up. If there are any computer-geniuses out there, do you know a way to do this? Any help would be greatly appreciated, and it would improve the quality of the challenge.

Still questioning whether to sign up?

Check out these helpful posts:

Take a look at a sample day of a sugar-free challenge HERE. 

Many of the challenge participants reported increases in energy, clearer skin, and some weight loss. Couldn’t you benefit from this?

Click Here to Access the Challenge Homepage and Sign up

I hope everyone decides to take the challenge!

 

Winner of Oxo Egg Beater

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This is just a quick note to say the winner of the Oxo Egg Beater is…

Jessica!

“I’d make meringues and possibly an egg bake for a breakfast casserole!”

Congratulations, Jessica! You will receive an email shortly.

Thanks to everyone for entering and Oxo for allowing me to giveaway this product.

My next post will be a highly-addictive roasted nut recipe, so stay tuned (makes a great gift!)

THOUGHT-PROVOKING, MIND-PRODDING QUESTION OF THE DAY:

How was your weekend? What did you do?

I had a very productive weekend. Finished a lot of holiday shopping, roasting up a new recipe, and getting ready for Christmas!

Healthy, Homemade Gifts

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I’m glad everyone loved my Holiday Gift Ideas. Now, as promised, are my favorite homemade, food gifts for the holidays:

Chocolate Mint Crinkle Cookie Dough Bites

The favorite holiday cookie turned healthy! No-one can resist these because they taste just like Girl Scout Thin Mints!

Pumpkin Bars with Coconut Cream Frosting

A new favorite of mine that combines the flavor of pumpkin pie with a creamy non-dairy frosting. Perfect for pumpkin pie lovers.

Pecan Sticky Buns

A Pecan Roll made without grains, sugar, or dairy. A great gift to bring to brunches.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookie Dough Bites

Peanut Butter and Chocolate. No more needs to be said.

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Just like Reese’s cups, but with no added sugar. Give this homemade version to a friend and I guarantee they will love it.

Grain-Free Pumpkin Spice Bread

It’s a bread with no grains and no flour. Can you believe it? Wow your guests with this.

Breakfast Bread

Forget the fruit cake and make this tasty bread instead. Full of whole grains, nuts, fruit, and spices.

Pumpkin Spice Latte Granola

This granola combines the favorite flavors of the season: pumpkin, cinnamon, and coffee. It also takes less than ten minutes to prepare.

Ways to Package Treats for Gifts:

  • Save your leftover glass jars to pile in granola or cookies (see the pumpkin spice latte granola above for the idea). Tie a ribbon around the jar and create a homemade label with paper and colored pens.
  • Buy “Chinese Takeout Cartons” (can be found at Michael’s Craft Store). They come in different colors and patterns and can be filled with tissue paper before adding the treats.
  • Paper Bags can be decorated with tinsel, ribbons, and paint.
  • Re-Use small decorated boxes. Fill with parchment paper to line the box.

Extra Package Decorations:

  • You may wish to print off the recipe for the homemade treat you are giving, and then attach the recipe to the gift along with a card.
  • Instead of making the treat, make the “Gift in a Jar.” Layer all the Dry ingredients of your recipe in a jar and attach directions on how to add the wet ingredients. Decorate the jar with ribbons.
  • Make a gift basket that combines homemade treats with fresh fruit (like pears and pomegranates), nuts, coffee, tea, cute mugs, fuzzy socks, or any other stocking-stuffer you can think of.

THOUGHT-PROVOKING, MIND-PRODDING QUESTION OF THE DAY:

What are your favorite homemade treats to give? Feel free to provide recipes below!

Also, what are your favorite ways to package them?

 

Holiday Gift Ideas 2011

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Have you already finished all of your Christmas Shopping? Or are you like me and have yet to begin? Ooops…

Either way, here are some fun Gift Ideas for those on your shopping list. (Or you can give them to me because I know I’ll like these!)

For the Coffee-Drinker:

Fill a cute mug with your favorite coffee beans. $5-$10.

For the Foodie: 

Engraved Spoons by Wooden Hive. I would love one of these with “Peanut Butter” imprinted on it! Under $10.

For the Chef:

Ceramic Measuring Spoons. This is from Crate and Barrel, but they can be found at many different cooking stores. Under $10.

For the Chef-Wannabe:

Love this Tea-and-Crumpets Apron from Anthropologie. $32.

For the Health-Conscious: 

od-3

The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan. $12-$18. Explores food in all forms. From manufacturing and processing to scavenging.

For the Philosopher:

Uncommon Friends by James Newton. Five famous men and their friendship. My favorite book.

For the College Student:

I adore my magic bullet and use it just about every day for smoothies, oat flour, and fudge balls. It is very small and portable. I believe mine was bought at costco for under $50.

For the Environmentalist: 

Reusable, Glass Straws. I have yet to use one of these, but I love that they aren’t made from plastic and come in different shapes. $6-$15 each.

For Everyone: 

Healthy, homemade goodies! I’ll do a different post with homemade treat ideas in the next couple days.

THOUGHT-PROVOKING, MIND-PRODDING QUESTION OF THE DAY:

What’s on your wish list this year?

I need a new digital camera this year. Any suggestions???

P.S. Don’t forget to enter the OXO Egg Beater Giveaway!