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!

Holiday Workout Challenge

Hiatuses are overrated dont you think? Ive missed my blog! :)

So a friend of mine invited me to join a Holiday Workout Challenge on Facebook. Its an 8 week challenge from November 1st to December 26th. Each participant made individual goals they would like to meet, and we also committed to 30 minute workouts, 5 days a week. And if you follow all the rules there is even an drawing to win some fitness prizes. And its FREE to participate. Pretty cool eh?

I wasnt sure how I would do with 5 days of workouts. That is a large commitment especially with my school and work schedule. Not to mention that before the challenge my workouts were very inconsistent. But I was up for the challenge. Especially anything that keeps me motivated through the holidays!

Here are the goals I made:

• I am committing to 5 days of workouts, with 3 of those running.
• Drop one size, and stay off the scale!
• Scale down my pop intake! Im going to start off with one 20 ounce every other day, and hope to be at zero by the end of the challenge!

I have to admit I got off to a rocky start. Than again I was on vacation that first week of the challenge. So tried not to stress to much about it. When I got back it did take a couple of weeks, but once I said enough is enough, I gave it everything I could. I finally had some motivation to get to those 5:45am cycling classes! And now I cant see starting off my Monday and Wednesday mornings any other way! On other days I have been running or doing a circuit/strength training DVD at home. I'm happy to say that I am now in my fourth week of 5 day workouts! It really does feel like part of my day now. Its a habit! I never thought I would be saying that. I just feel healthier. I haven't dropped much weight, but that's okay. Because I feel thinner. I feel stronger. I feel like I'm making better choices. And that's what its all about!

Now that pop goal...yeah that hasn't been going so great. So I think for these last few weeks Ill really try to focus on that a little bit better ;)

Battery Low!

Oh the ups and downs of running....how Ive missed you. Im trying so so hard to get back into running, as challenging as it is! Ill dont think Ill every truly understand how one day it feels so effortless, and another day it feels so hard! All part of the love/hate relationship I suppose.

Today I went out for a run, and was hoping to push out a 5k. Its a beautiful day here in Michigan. Near 70's, sun is shining, wind is low....you dont get many of these days in late October! Perfect running weather right? Not exactly. My legs were feeling a little sore from my strength training session yesterday....so I wasn't sure how far Id be able to go. Once I started running my legs were definitely feeling a bit fatigued. I could barely get out 1.3 miles before I chose to walk. And wouldnt you know at that moment my Garmin than beeps at me, battery low. I thought...you aren't kidding! lol The next mile was a combination of walking and running. Which Im okay with. Not my favorite runs, but I know these days happen. It isnt the first time, and it wont be the last!

You win some you lose some. I pushed through it, and gave it what I got...sometimes thats all you can do! Next time I have one of those effortless runs...Ill appreciate it more than ever!

Sabotage? Fear? Insecurity?

My behavior this week has left a lot of questions running through my head. My plan was to start a running regime this week. Id like to try to run a 5k in October or September. I know its doable since Ive done a few runs on the treadmill in the last few weeks and was able to push out a 2-2.5 mile base. I love how I feel when I run. From the challenge to the strength. So how come I found every excuse possible to get out of it? I need to just get out there and do it. Sure my schedule is INSANE right now, but running will be a great stress reliever.

Another thing this week is I have been a gluten eating machine. I have been experimenting in the gluten free world long enough to know that eating gluten effects me in ways that are not pleasant. It makes me depressed, extreme mood swings, and literally sick to my stomach just to name a few! Yet I keep putting more poison in my mouth meal after meal, snack after snack.

So what am I doing? Sabotaging myself? I know sabotage well. I have done it many, many times. So why do I do it? I think its so much deeper than just making bad decisions. Could it be fear? Fear of what the end result could be. I could be successful and/or happy. Maybe I feel Im not worth happiness....or success....instead I like to punish myself. I think I deserve to feel miserable. Like Im not worthy of goodness. Which leads me to believe this is linked to my insecurities. Oh insecurities how Ive worked so hard to beat you! But you seem to still pop up from time to time.

Not really sure where Im going with this. Just thinking out loud I suppose. I guess its good that Im recognizing that I do the things I do because of an underlying issue. Now what I do about that is what matters....break the cycle....something I also have tried many times before. So what am I going to do different this time? Thoughts for me to ponder on......

Gluten Free Journey

Ive mentioned a little bit in here about my new gluten free lifestyle. Well its been challenging to say the least, and Ive been falling off the wagon more often than I like. I have decided to create a blog on this journey, to keep myself accountable...as well as keep record of whats working for me and whats not! A lot of gluten free blogs that I have fell upon have been helping me tremendously, so maybe blogging about my journey could help others to!

Check it out: www.guiltfreeglutenfree.blogspot.com

Not to worry, I will still be posting here to. Im sure some gluten free posts will get cross posted on both blogs. But I didnt want this one to get override with gluten gluten gluten! :p