We were on the news!! I could see the helicopters above our house. No, there was not a major crime or startling discovery. At least not by most standards. What did we have?
SNOW in the Valley of the Sun! It came very suddenly at about 3:30 this afternoon. My family looked out the window and gasped – I shrieked (not a pretty sound). For my family, it was not the first Arizona snow experience since they live here all year long, but it was for me! I thought that kind of stuff only happened in Chicago 😉 Kidding! But I was seriously jumping up and down because we managed a White Christmas after all.
Then I became a little freaked out because of this startling contrast between the dark clouds and the sun, which busted through the clouds after about 45 minutes of non-stop snow:
Please tell me you agree that is a little eerie?! The snow was so bright against the sun, but the clouds were still so dark! Cuh-razy.
Anyway, that was my big adventure for the day. I’m easily amused.
After sleeping in this morning until 10:00 am (there are some days where I am so not a morning person), I woke up craving normal food. I decided on something I haven’t made in way too long: whipped banana oatmeal!
I combined 1/3 cup oatmeal with 1 cup water and 1 large banana. I stirred everything together until the banana turned into it’s unmistakable marshmallow consistency. I’ve really missed this combination, especially with a big ol’ spoonful of natural peanut butter.
And a mug of Coffee Cocoa…
Truly described how I was feeling when I drank it!
After breakfast, I got started on my re-read of New Moon (finished Twilight last night!) for about an hour or so. Then my brother, dad and I headed to the gym. After a day of feasting, I was in the mood for a good cardio session, so I did 60 minutes on the elliptical machine while reading my new SHAPE magazine. It is so easy to stay on the cardio machines when you read a magazine – I highly recommend it!
We got back and showered just before it began snowing! Once I saw the snow outside, I knew I needed a hot lunch. I decided to incorporate some of our ham leftovers. I cooked up 2 scrambled whole eggs with 1/4 cup Mexican cheese blend and about 1 oz. of leftover ham. So savory and good!
I also had another mug of Coffee Cocoa with a peppermint biscotti. It’s so much fun to dip biscotti into coffee! I’d honestly never done it before yesterday. I have a feeling that biscotti may become more of a mainstay in my diet in the future.
We also got the mail, and I discovered a fun package! The folks over at You Bar sent me some goooooodies!
This is a great company – you can actually custom design your own nutrition bars and protein shakes! The bars are fresh and handmade while the shakes are hand mixed, flavored by freeze dried fruit and packaged in individual serving sizes. They sent me some samples to try out and I’m looking forward to reviewing them. Thanks, You Bar!
Since we were snowed in for the rest of the day (haha, sad what a tiny bit of snow can do here!), I took advantage of the time to read more of my book. My dad made a fire and I sat by it with my pillow and blanket – so cozy! I can’t imagine a better way to spend an afternoon. While reading, I snacked on more of my favorite candy ever:
And had about a 1/2 serving each of these two Target brand trail mixes: Monster and S’mores. Holy yum! These are highly addicting – it’s all chocolate all the time. Sheesh!
Dinner tonight – if you hadn’t guessed the Friday night pattern already – was from Bad Donkey. I decided to switch it up a bit tonight and got their Brix salad.
Not only did it feature that incredible cheesy garlic bread, but it also had fresh raspberries, slivered almonds, and gorgonzola on a bed of spinach greens. I topped it with my own miso vinaigrette and was totally sold. It was a great combination.
On the side, I had a glass of red wine.
And I ended the night with another big piece of VeggieGirl’s vegan fudge.
No, not the whole thing, I swear 😉 I just thought you’d like to see it in all of its glory!
Before I get to today’s random question, make sure that once you’re done here, you head over and comment on this post from Katie of Chocolate Covered Vegan. Each comment means 20 cents toward the Enough Project, and you have until New Year’s Day. Sweet!
Ok, it’s random question time!
Are you wearing any perfume or cologne?
This is a good one! I always love hearing what people use to smell good 🙂 I am currently wearing Amazing Grace from Philosophy. I just got it for Christmas from my aunt, and I can’t get enough – it’s amazing!
Crazy that you have snow! I am kind of jealous…
No joke–I am wearing the SAME perfume. I also have the body wash:)
What part of the Valley are you in? My folks are in Scottsdale and as far as I know, they didn’t get any snow!! I’m up in Prescott and dang it, even I can’t getting any snow here! Though I did wake up to a little frozen pond/puddle in my yard from the rain yesterday. 🙂
I’m wearing Sensi by Armani.
Wow delicious eats. And you bars sound interesting!
OMG snow in the dessert!! HAHA how awesome!
In answer to your questions – I am using City Glam by Girgio Armani ATM, and its excellent. My favourite one is Jean Paul Gaultier Classique!
ooh, how exciting for you with the snow!! fantastic salad 🙂 I’ve been wanting to try those bars… can’t wait to hear how they are.
i’m not wearing anything right now, but my faves are Heart by Garden Botanika and Adidas moves for her
I’m so jealous of the snow! We haven’t had anything more than flurries this year.
I’m not wearing perfume now, but I usually wear Philosophy Pure Grace or Amazing Grace. I think they smell great without being too strong for work.
That last picture of the snow is so crazy looking…almost eerie with the black sky and white snow. I can’t believe it’s snowing there. I just moved back from there (we only lived there 4 months) and I want to go back so badly because of the snow in Chicago. It doesn’t look so bad down there.
Those You Bars are so cool, I just checked out the website and I think that creating your own is awesome. I might have to try it.
I’m wearing Miss Dior Cherie- I just got it for Christmas =)
YOU have snow and I don’t?!?!??!! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH THE WEATHER THESE DAYS?!??!?!?! Craziness.
Whipped banana oatmeal with PB + Biscotti + Coffee Cocoa + Fuuuuuuudge = holy yum x100000000.
I always wear my signature scent = Chanel No. 5 🙂
Happy Saturday!!
Woo hoo for re-reading Twilight, you’re my girl, Jenn. I’m about to finish Breaking Dawn, tear… 🙁
Yummy looking freebies!
And I love the snow, lucky you!!
I’m not wearing any currently (7am) but when I do, it’s Armani Code or Escada brand…loves em!
It’s definitely a little weird – cactus + snow! I bet you thought you could escape the Chicago weather, but you brought it with you!
I love Amazing Grace! I always borrow my mom’s. I also love Falling in Love from Philosophy as well.
That is crazy about the snow, especially with the dark clouds. Did you guys have thundersnow?
As for your question, I love my Bulgari Au the Rouge, spicy and different. Unfortunately, I’m almost out so I’m going to have to go searching for it.
i’m glad you got a white christmas!
your lunch looks so good—you know how i love my eggs!
i’m not wearing any perfume right now since I just woke up but i usually wear Ralph Lauren Blue or if I’m just bumming around I like Lovespell from Victoria Secret.
I’m loving these random questions–so fun!
Wow, the snow seems so out of place next to the cactus! Weather is so weird– it was 80+ here yesterday!
Jenn, thanks so much for mentioning my blog post; it mant so much to me!!!
Snow???? That is total craziness. That picture is def a little eerie!! I can’t wait for the you bar reviews. Hope today is warmer in AZ!
Yay for the snow in AZ! I love having a white Christmas, unfortunately we didn’t have one this year.
My scent is Ruehl 925 – I love it.
Girl that is the ONLY way to eat biscotti!! That 2nd picture is kind of creepy!
My perfume right now….Betsy Johnson – love it!
wow – a white christmas??? that is awesome! i was really hoping we would get snow :/
love the snow!!!
I am wearing Bath and Body Works Vanilla Sugar, got it from my hubby for Christmas!
It is crazy warm in Pennsylvania today. We might even break the record high. So no snow here!
I can’t wait to read what you think about the You Bars, I have been wanting to try those for a while now.
wow…snow in AZ where you are…this makes me worried about my drive cross country! haha! that and i’ve never actually seen snow fall >O
and i can’t wait to hear what you think of the you bars…i think i saw them for the first time through carrots n’ cake’s blog and thought the concept was cool/neat! whoohoo!
that’s AWESOME you had a snow day!!! it started a little here, but since it had been raining a ton, it didn’t stick! SO EXCITING!!!
love all of the eats.. let us know what you think about the youbars! i was going to order some once, but they were a little pricey so i decided against it.
i totally agree about cardio with a magazine– it makes it go by so much faster!
enjoy your day!!
I’m excited for the YouBar review as I’ve looked at their Website before. Mmm, there is that chocolate peppermint biscotti again. I bet it is amazing in coffee, and I love the supersized PB spoon in your oats. That is always my favorite part!
No perfume in my world as strong smells bother my husband. I do dab on some essential oils every so often. Peppermint and grapefruit are my favorite combo.
Sadly, I can not wear fragrances as it gives my daughter a migraine! 🙁
Those clouds do look spooky…kinda like a BAD thunder storm is rolling in…only I guess this one carried snow!
Your salad looks fabulous! YUM! And I love all of your quirky mugs! 🙂
That IS quite creepy! But so exciting that you got a white Christmas! 😀
And I have tried the reading on cardio machine thing–it IS easier to keep going for longer! Except I get so distracted by the noise around me that I don’t get much reading done 😛
Yummm PB&B oatmeal is such a simple but decadent combo! I miss it too–since I have no PB or B in the house!
And I don’t wear perfume! Although I always think they should have perfumes that smell like FOOD–I hate the ones that are supposed to smell like “flowers”…so nauseating X_x
Cool picturess- that looks so crazy with the cactuses..cacti…:D I wear Miss Dior Cherie I love it! I want to try out everyone else’s but when I go to the store I can try out about two before I feel like I’m gonna sneeze or pass out!
Just out of curiosity, do you live in Desert Highlands? The weather is pretty wacky all over the country!
Your blog is great. I love it!
My perfume- Viva la Juicy (Christmas present!)
Oooh, snow!
Can’t wait to hear what you think about the YouBars!
Snow? Crazy! I bet that was a surprise! Your Christmas celebration looked awesome and the day after looks like a blast too 🙂
I got Burberry perfume for xmas, and it is great! I highly recommend it, along with reading magazines during cardio–always a good idea if you can make it so you’re not too bouncy!
The snow this year has been crazy! Seattle was buried in it, which never happens. But it’s fun to have a white Christmas!
[…] know what is going on here but it was 72* today! How crazy is that! I mean, it’s snowing in Arizona, and people here were walking around in shorts and […]
I don’t find your snow sun and dark sky that creepy. Snow in the desert, is a sharp contrast though.
Here in Canada it’s not unusual for there to be a dark sky like that with the sun coming through, with intermittent snow. I’m sure it is very uncommon in the desert though.
You salad sure looks yummy:P
That salad looks amazing – too bad raspberries are NOT in season, otherwise I’d try out the combo.
Enjoy the You Bars – the whole concept is pretty cool. I’m interested in hearing how you like them.
[…] We’ve had quite the turnaround in terms of weather in the past few days. It went from freak snowfall to short sleeve golfing weather in a span of two days! We headed to the course early this morning […]
I’ve looked at the YouBars site before, although I think I’d lean more towards getting the shakes then the bars. But I’d definitely give them a try.
I’m wearing Ed Hardy by Christian Audigier (I had to go get the bottle in order to spell that, lol) It has a light, cucumber-type scent, it’s very yummy and not overwhelming.
FYI, Bear and I don’t want to get sick… http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/product.php?prod_id=62426
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