Quick, Easy and Healthy: Power Cookies

When craving a cookie or a quick 'on-the-go' snack but not the extra sugar and preservatives- a home made power cookie is the thing for you! A homemade cookie cluster of nutritious and filling ingredients is just the snack to curb your craving, fill you up, and give you energy between meals- the right way. Let's get started! 

Utensils: 

      - Set of measuring cups                                                - Wooden spoon/spatula

      - Set of measuring spoons                                            - Baking sheets

      - 2 large mixing bowls                                                  - Parchment paper

      - Oven 

Ingredients:

•  1 1/2 cups flour alternative (spelt flour, quinoa flour, gluten free flour, I used Cup for Cup)
• 1 3/4 cups rolled oats
• 1/4 cup flax seed
• 1/4 cup hemp seeds
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 1/2 tbs cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup chopped almonds
• 1/4 cup other chopped nuts (I used pistachios and macadamia nuts)
• 1/2 cup crasins/rasins
• 1/3 cup canola/grape seed oil
• 1/3 cup molasses
• 1 1/4 cup almond/coconut milk
• 1 cup chocolate chips (optional) 

**Note: Feel free to add or take away any nuts or seeds- you can make your cookies your own!**

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and arrange racks to be closest to the top of oven and prep 3 baking sheets with parchment paper

• 2. Mix all dry ingredients ( flour, oats, flax, hemp seeds, coconut, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, sunflower seeds, nuts, and raisins, chocolate chips) in a large bowl until thoroughly combined 

• 3. In a separate bowl mix all wet ingredients ( oil, molasses, milk)

• 4. Slowly add in dry mixture to wet one cup at a time and mix until all dry ingredients are combined

• 5. Using two spoons put batter into one inch balls on baking sheets approx. one inch apart. Before putting in oven shape the cookies into tall balls (tip: to avoid batter sticking to your hands, lightly wet them before working with batter) 

• 6. Put in oven for approx. 12-15 minutes, they are done when the batter is set and the edges are cooked

• 7. Allow to cool on trays for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling racks. Yields approx. 30 small cookies. 

• 8. Enjoy! 

• These cookies are not only delicious but are very healthy! They are added sugar free, protein packed, bite sized treats that will curb your sweet tooth and fill you up.  If you want to take them to school, opt out the nuts for a variety of seeds and you've got a school safe snack.  Let me know if you've tried my new favourite recipe. Enjoy!

- Madi 

How To: Simple, Easy Topknot

Having a bad hair day? Or just not enough time to do your whole, "blow dry and straighten" regimine in the morning? Or just looking for easy heatless hairstyles- this top knot is super simple and works on almost any hair length! Perfect for back to school or rushed mornings before work, this hairstyle is not only cute and classic but easy to recreate and one that can be worn casually or dressy. Let's get started! 

Step 1: Take a dime size amount of mousse, or texturizing gel, or hairspray and run in over your hair to smooth down all your fly aways and prevent frizz. (I used the Herbal Essences Texturizing Wax)

Step 2: Very gently, tease (backcomb) the end's of your hair to give more volume and hold and lightly spritz with hairspray. 

Step 3: Messily gather hair into a high pony tail, smoothing down hair.

Step 4: Loosely twist hair into a bun and secure with a hair elastic. Then 'fluff' the hair by gently tugging on small sections of the bun if you feel it needs more volume. 

Step 5: Take bobby pins (specifically open pins) and fasten around the bun to secure and keep the hair in place and pin any fly aways down if necessary.

Optional: Add a fun hair accessory like a scrunchie or a bow!

And there you have it! 5 simple steps to a hairstyle that is pulled together and perfect for any busy morning. Let me know in the comments how this works for you- and good luck!

-Madi

Top 3: Easy Drugstore Lip Products

Taking the time to carefully apply lipstick with a lip brush in a mirror isn't quite something we all have time for- especially when going back to school. And paying big bucks for a lipstain isn't something we all have the $$$ for either. So here today I have put together my top 3 easy, drugstore lip products. 

1. Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain + Balm ($8.99)

Colour: Passion

First up to the plate is the Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm. This is a perfect product for rushed mornings and busy days- all it takes is one application in the morning and the colour lasts all day! It is a felt-tip lip stain making the process of applying extremely easy.  It also comes with a very moisturizing balm on the other end to hydrate lips before applying to ensure an even application of the colour. Its the perfect "apply it and forget it" kind of product- just the thing for back to school. 

2. Covergirl Lipperfection Jumbo Gloss Balm ($8.99)

Colour: Coral Twist

 Lipstick application can be a pain- but not with these jumbo crayons! They are extremely easy to use and quick to apply. The Covergirl Lipperfection Jumbo Gloss Balm are very moisturizing and add a nice wash of colour with pigmentation that can either built up or worn sheerly. The consistency is just like chapstick, it glides on the lips first with a sheer amount of colour; but with a few more swipes it can turn from a light wash to bold and bright.  This is a three in one product- lip balm, gloss and lip stick in one.  Saves time and money!

 3. Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm ($7.99)

Colour: Tiger Lilly

For those girls who don't want a lot of colour, just something natural for that, 'your lips but better,' look, this is the product for you. This Burt's Bees tinted lip balm is not only 100% natural (yay!) but is extremely moisturizing and provides a subtle sheen and pigment to the lips. These are extremely easy to wear and are truly the epitome of a hassle free lip product.

 There you have it! Three extremely easy, no brainer, hassle free products to add a little something to your lips without the fuss; and from the drugstore. Enjoy!

-Madi

How To: Wake Up in a Good Mood

Now that summer has drawn to an end and the back to school season is here, late summer nights and lazy mornings are replaced with busy homework, early bed times, and very, very early wake up times. Hopefully with these few easy tips will help you to wake up feeling happy, refreshed, and in a great mood.

1. Prep the night before

Before your head hits the pillow, be sure to have everything prepared for the morning. Have your clothes laid out, your breakfast planned and your bags packed to ensure a stress-free, relaxing morning.

2. Gentle Alarms

Waking up to a harsh, "BEEP BEEP BEEP," first thing in the morning, frightening you out of your deep sleep won't start off your morning in the best mood. Opt for a gentle song to wake you 5-10 minutes earlier than the time you need to wake up to slowly allow your body to awaken before getting ready. For all the iPhone users out there, I have recently discovered this app called 'Sleep Time' that will wake you up anytime between the time you set, to half an hour prior to wake you up when you are sleeping the lightest rather than interrupting a deep sleep- it really works like a charm!

3. H20

Drinking water first thing when you wake up will make a world of a difference. Keep a water bottle right next to your bed so right after you wake up you have easy access to a few big gulps of water to get your system running.

I have found these few tips very helpful when trying to have a happy, stress-free morning to set the mood for the rest of the day. Preparing the night before, waking up softly to a gentle sound, and starting off your day with a few cups of water are the perfect tips to wake up happily. Enjoy!

-Madi

Quick, Easy & Healthy: Brownie in a Cup Recipe

Craving a brownie but don't want to make a mess, don't want to spend a lot of time, don't want all the sugar? Then this recipe is for you. A brownie in a cup- the perfect serving size of a 'healthy' brownie that will satiate your tastebuds in just a few short minutes. Let's go!

Materials:

- Microwave safe mug
- Set of measuring spoons
- Regular spoon
- Microwave

Time:

-Preparation: 2 minutes
- Cook: 1 minute
- Total: 3 minutes (yes, 3 minutes!)

Ingredients

- 2-2 1/2 tbs. spelt flour (or quinoa flour, or oat four)
- 4 tbs. sweetened apple sauce
- 3 tsp. cocoa powder
- 1-2 tsp. regular sugar
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of baking soda

Instructions

1. Add all ingredients into the mug
2. Stir with spoon until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed, until you reach a smooth consistency
3. Add in chocolate chips to the top
4. Microwave for 1 minute (or until firm)
5. Allow to cool for 2 minutes
6. Enjoy!

1.                                                                                        2. & 3.

4.                                                                                        5.

This recipe can be easily altered to add more of one ingredient and less of another, to make it sweet, just add a little more sugar, to make it even more moist, add more applesauce. It's fast, moist, and delicious.










When craving something sweet, but not craving a mess or extra sugar- this brownie in a cup is just the thing for you. It takes about 2 minutes to make, a minute to cook and 'wa-la' in three minutes you have a delicious, healthy brownie! Bon appetite!


-Madi