2 1/2 cups chocolate rice crisp cereal (we're big fans of Nature's Path cereal around here)
6 candy canes, crushed into small pieces
1 cup sliced almonds
22 ounces white chocolate chips  (or a block, if you chop)

Combine the chocolate cereal, crushed candy canes, and almonds into a large bowl. Toss around the ingredients until they are well combined.

Melt the white chocolate until it is entirely smooth, using one of the methods described above.

Pour the melted white chocolate into a large bowl. Pour the chocolate-candy cane-almond mixture into the melted chocolate. Using a rubber spatula, and moving quickly, combine all the ingredients together until everything is coated well.

Drop rounded spoonfuls of the mixture in little mounds onto a parchment-paper covered baking sheet. (Don't worry about being too careful about how they look. The more splattered, the more real, I think.) You can put a lot of these spoonfuls onto the baking sheet because you're not baking them. You don't need to leave room for spreading. Put the baking sheet in the refrigerator (you'll probably have another one filled too) to allow the treats to harden, about 30 minutes. Store the snowflakes in the refrigerator in a covered container.

Makes about 40 snowflakes.

--
-Melissa-
"Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible."

Reverb11 - Day 2 - Surprise!

Prompt 2: What was the most surprising thing that happened to you this past year? What did you learn from that surprise?

Well anyone that knows me probably knows the answer to this one. This year I embarked on one of the most amazing journeys ever. Something that felt unspeakable at the beginning of this year, but 10 months later I ran my first full marathon!

My running history was lacking some prior to this year. I did run one half marathon, and handful 5k's and 10ks. But inconsistent was my game! A couple months going strong, than maybe a couple miles here or there if I was lucky. So when I decided I was going to run a full marathon I begin to question my sanity. But with the support of Team In Training it seemed possible! And what better way to motivate myself than to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I poured my heart into fundraising and training. And after 5 months, over 500 miles trained, and $24o0 raised...I completed my first marathon. Amazing. Anything is possible my friends.

And that is exactly what I learned. If you put your mind to it, put in the work, and trust the process...you are capable of doing absolutely anything! Having faith in yourself is such a powerful thing. I am proof of this! After completing my marathon I really saw how strong I was - mind, body, and spirit! And I can remember the exact moment this year when I really embodied this...when I really saw who I was becoming. And of course I had a facebook status about it. And it went something like this...(as you will see the bonus of training for a marathon is losing weight :) )

Well Ill be damned....lets pull out those skinny clothes! Im fitting into clothes I wore in my early 20's! Me in a small? Hell yeah! In 25 days I will be running a marathon! Me run a marathon? Double Hell yeah! Anything is possible my friends, anything at all! Quit thinking about it and do it! Let go of the coulda, should, woulda's and thrive in this journey called life! Climb and knock down those mountains because I know you can! These are the moments of our lives friends...YOU determine your journey..and it has amazing written all over it! <3

Now if you would of asked me if running a marathon would have brought out this inspiring, athletic self...I would of said, did you say marathon...your crazy!! Isnt it amazing how life unfolds when you just let go? :)

Reverb11 - Day 1 - One Word

Well hello there. Its been a minute eh? :)

I cant believe its been almost an entire year since I blogged. Ive missed you! Ive thought about getting back into blogging...but just didnt find the right way to get my fingers moving again. So many thoughts...where do I start? That was the common question in my mind. So I would tell myself, Ill just start tomorrow. Well here I am 12 months later! LOL

I recently came across a fun little writing prompt project that screamed, perfect opportunity to start blogging again. Life is better when you blog, Mel. :) Go for it!

The project I found is called Reverb 11. The purpose of Reverb11 is to reflect on the past year and manifest whats to come in the new year. Now I know what your thinking....this could feel like a lot of pressure right? That was my thoughts exactly! But as I read on I felt more at ease. For the entire month of December there will be daily prompts that will allow me to focus on different areas of my life. Definitely makes it a little less scary, and little bit more exciting! A little push to get me going :)

So here we go!

Prompt #1: One Word

Imagine its one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2012 for you?

I really had a hard time just picking one word...and I think after this month is over it may change quite a few times. But the word I am picking now is Be-YOU-tiful!

Over the last year I have really been coming into my own. Peeling off the layers and finding out who my true authentic self is. Through this process I have seen inner beauty I never knew was there. Its such a great relationship Im building with myself. Learning, growing, accepting, and loving. Its been a wonderful journey, and I can not wait to continue to explore my authentic self in 2012! So my word is about just that, being me, beauty inside and out!