Let it Snow!
Notice anything different about my blog layout?
The hint is in the title of this post…
SNOW!! 
Thanks to Mel over at A Taste of Life for showing me where to find it! If you’re interested and have a WordPress blog, go to the appearance section on the dashboard and hit “extras” – you can have falling snow until January 4, 2009! It’s very fitting given what it looks like outside where I am right now.
It has been another fabulous day with my momma. I’m so glad she’s here – I think I’d go stir crazy if I had to wait around for this test on Friday without her. There’s only so much studying I can do, right?!
This morning I gave my second-ever JamFrakas bar a chance.
This time it was the Banana Chocolate Blastocrisp. On the website, it lists the ingredients as follows: “Organic Bananas, Organic Rice Crisps (Organic Brown Rice Flour, Organic Honey, Organic Raisin Juice Concentrate, Sea Salt), Organic Dates, *Organic Chocolate Chips (Organic Chocolate Mass, Organic Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Vanilla), Organic Cashews, Organic Almonds, Organic Honey, Organic Safflower Oil, Sea Salt. CHOCOLATE CHIPS”
The verdict? Well, I kind of liked this one, too! It was definitely not as good as the Peanut Butter Blisscrisp, but it wasn’t bad. I really like the fact that these are crunchier than Larabars. This one tasted a lot like a Banana Chocolate Vivanno from Starbucks – a little “off” but the banana and chocolate were both definitely present. I guess I’m 2 for 2 with these bars – we’ll see if it keeps up!
After a nice workout at the gym this morning, my mom and I headed to brunch at Walker Bros. with Bobby. He had just finished his last final - lucky guy! - so it was extra nice for him.
Aw, how nice are those napkins?!
As usual, the food was not in short supply. We got the best of the best and shared it amongst ourselves. This means a Mediterranean Baked Omelette - a fluffy treat with feta, tomatoes and spinach – and a Dutch Baby Pancake (with strawberries and bananas). I also had two turkey sausage links!
I ate all of the omelette, sausage and fruit, but could not finish that pancake! I was feeling the need for a more savory meal, what can I say? Of course, it was all incredibly delicious, particularly when paired with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.
I also ate the crust of this wheat toast with raspberry jam. The jam was amazing! Have I ever told you that the crust is my favorite part of the bread? Does anyone else feel that way? I know it’s rare, but it’s also nice because most people will take my inner bread in exchange for their crusts 
Just a little fact of the day for ya!
It was a delicious meal with good company, as always 
You may notice that we eat out a lot when my mom is here. It’s mainly because she has SO many favorite restaurants here – we try to pack them all in one trip! It’s great, but it will be nice to get back home and have Papa Bender’s meals again (yay!).
After brunch, my mom and I did a little shopping around. We stopped into Crate & Barrel, which of course is a foodie’s heaven. While I was in there, I had to take a picture of this place setting that caught my eye.
Disclaimer: What you’re about to see may either make you groan or giggle.
Looks like somebody at Crate & Barrel is a fan of a certain book series!! That store just went up by about 1,000,000,000,000 points in my book You know you love it!
Speaking of Stephenie Meyer, I received The Host as a Christmas present from Bobby! It’s the latest non-Twilight book in her repertoire, and it looks like it’s going to be a great read! Here’s a description from her website:
Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away.
Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.
When Melanie, one of the few remaining “wild” humans is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading “soul” who has been given Melanie’s body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn’t expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.
Wanderer probes Melanie’s thoughts, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the remaining human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer’s mind with visions of the man Melanie loves—Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body’s desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she has been tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love.
I will be sure to let all of you know what I think In any case, it looks like another love story, so I have no doubt that I am going to enjoy it. I plan to start it as soon as this final is over on Friday!
The rest of the day was spent studying for my final. We actually stopped at Cosi again for dinner because I had to eat something quick before my review session. Currently I am sipping on white wine and writing this post to you, dear reader I hope that your days went well!
Final Note: Don’t forget about the Vita-Mix Super 5200 Giveaway! I am still wowed by all the entries thus far – I’ve gotten some really great recipe ideas from you all! Thank you! If you’re curious, be sure to check out the comments in that post – there is some great stuff in there!
“See” you again soon!
Love me some momma time as well! Can’t wait to hear how you like The Host. Have a good night.
what a fun day with momma- I LOVE crust too! So funny because I hated it as a kid…and now, I love when i get to the heel of the loaf because it’s like a whole piece of crust
Wow, delicious eats! Love the napkins!
And whoot-whoot- neat snow!
So glad you are getting some quality time in with mom, that’s bound to make finals week more bareable
Oh, LOVE the place settings! Next step, their own stockings alongside mine this Christmas
Hope you enjoy the Host, I did for sure, I really just love the way Stephanie Meyer writes, I feel like I can really relate to her characters. She’s great.
Good luck studying, and enjoy your wine!
I love family.
Good luck with the rest of your finals! You’re almost there!
Love the snow and your post! Good luck with the rest of your finals!
me too! the crust is the best part of any bread…give me the end of a loaf of bread any day
Love yours too! I left you a comment a while ago when I was adding people but didn’t know if you got it! hah and I just left the 193848th comment on your give a way post, soo awesome
can’t wait to see who wins.
ohhhh…i like the snow!!!!
i like the crust too!! i actually eat that first and then the rest of the sammie! my mom things i’m a dork for it! hahah!
yay for that breakfast! holy cow!!! i’m in love….
gluck on friday!
That snow is seriously the coolest thing ever, Jenn. Seriously.
Hi Jenn,
Looks like you are having a tasty and delicious time with your Mom. I like that place setting, but did not get the Twilight reference at first.
i love the snow! i saw it last time and i thought “oh how COOL!” too bad it doesn’t snow in san diego
and haha.. i haven’t seen the movie yet, but my friend e-mailed me with only one line: Please go see Twilight.
My mom and I were at Costco and she saw the Twilight book and got it for my youngest brother.. he kind of cringed when he saw it (I’m sure the girls at his high school have been gushing about it).. but now he’s halfway through! And he’s still too “cool” to admit that he likes it..
I’ve been meaning to try those Jamfraka bars, but I can’t seem to find them anywhere. They sound great!
Yay for Walker Bros! That napkin is so festive–love it. Sounds like you had quite the eclectic meal. Yum!
Your breakfast looks delicious! I haven’t had a glass of orange juice in so long but after seeing your picture I am craving it!
I saw those cards there too and loved them! ALL YOUR FOOD IS MAKING ME HUNGRY! Maybe I should have had more then cereal for din din…lol
The snow is great!
And I looooove the dinner. I like the crust best too.
the snow is so cool!!!!!!
your lunch looks delicious….specially the baked omelet!!!
good luck on your finals!
I love the blog snow- how cute! Glad you’re having fun with the mama! The eats look great- I haven’t gone out for breakfast in forever! Cute place cards too- love Crate!
I love the snow Jenn! It’s so cute!
I have to say, I groaned at what I can only assume was a Twilight reference!
I didn’t know you were a crust eater! I used to hollow out loaves of bread when I was a kid (my family hated me) so it looks like we’d do well sharing a loaf together
LOVE THE FALLING SNOW!!!
I too love the crusts of bread!! They’re heartier in flavor.
Sounds like it’ll be a great book, for sure!!
BEST OF LUCK ON FINALS, GIRL!!
i’m very wishy-washy about the crust, it totally depends on my mood, sometimes i love it, sometimes i hate it! haha except crust on rye bread, i ALWAYS HATE that.
good luck on your final!
Ooh I’m going to go check out the entries… I could always use more Vitamix ideas!
And I love the snow! Kinda makes me wish I had a wordpress account
/
OMGosh! That is the biggest pancake I have ever seen!
I’m dying to read The Host, but I’m dying even more to read Midnight Sun! I’m so tempted to read the leaked copy that’s online, but I know it would be wrong
LOVE your snow layout! Good luck tomorrow!
THAT BREAKFAST! Yum!!
I liked the PB jamfrackas bar too – it’s the only one I’ve liked to far though.
Good luck studying!!
Oh my god, that snow is adorable!! =)
Glad I could be of assistance and help you find the snow!
Oh, and I totally love the crust of bread, I always have. My favorite parts are always the heels and I save them for last!
OOHHH of course you can plug http://www.theholisticdoctorisin.com. PLEASE DO!
WOW! All that breakfast food made me drool!
Love the snow, too!
Good luck with the studying….
it made me giggle! It also took me a few seconds to get it..lol…
I can’t wait to hear your review of the book!
your food looks great! I’ve never had a white x-mas how glorious!
http://theplatedecorator.blogspot.com/
I adore Crate and Barrel. Every time I got in there I want to redecorate!
I LOVE the new layout!! I also really only like the crust of breads- i think it may be the crunch!
those place settng are absolutely gorgeous!
Kelly Turner
http://www.groundedfitness.com
Crust is da bomb. ‘Nuff said.
I found out how to make snow on my blog today too! So cute!
Crusts of bread are LOVE!
Longtime blog lurker coming out of hiding here at the mention of SNOW <3. And speaking of Christmas presents, I’ve read The Host too! It’s a really, really good book. Dare I say it (OMG) I love it more than the Twilight Saga! It’s more of a Sci-Fi-ish kick, if you’re into that, but it’s still got all the romance. I guess it just has more originality, straying away from the somewhat cliched vampire/werewolf/mortal idea. I bet you’ll love it.
Haha I’m an Econ major and I’m studying for an economics test too, so the part about Santa’s monopoly made me laugh. Good luck on your exam!