And just like that, we’ve put another month in the bag. Unbelievable. Did January fly by for anyone else? I could’ve sworn I was just welcoming the New Year, but that was a whole 33 days ago… At this rate, it’ll be Spring before we know it; and then summer; and then Christmas 😀 But let’s not get ahead of ourselves… Before we start looking ahead, let’s take a look back at some of my favourite things from January.
I think it’s safe to say that my biggest food obsession from January was Annie’s bunny grahams…
The cocoa & vanilla ones are my favourite, but I really love the ginger snap as well. I may have mentioned that I have no self-control when it comes to these little things? Yuuuuuup. You don’t even want to know how many boxes I went through last month. So wonderfully munchable and not overly sweet. Perfection.
On a more savoury note, Dr.Kracker crispbreads…
I love how light and crispy they are, and how the seeds add an awesome taste and variation in texture. The nutritionals are pretty impressive too, with each crispbread containing around 5g of protein and 4g of fibre. They make for a perfect no-fuss snack, as well as a great addition to a snack plate meal… which just so happens to be another one of my January favourites…
It’s no secret that I’m not a fan of lunch, but snack plates make it so much more bearable. If I had to guess, I’d say I had a snack plate for lunch at least 75% of the days from January — I just love ’em that much… This is something I can definitely see continuing well into February.
One thing I hope doesn’t continue into this next month is the lack of recipes here on Spoons. Remember how I said that I wanted to post more recipes this year? That’s still the plan, but between all the travelling and snowboarding I did last month, I didn’t manage as many as I would have liked — just three. Those three, though? They were freaking epic…
Soft and Chewy Protein Granola Bars
Banana Oat Greek Yogurt Pancakes
Flourless Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Muffins
Between 5 batches of granola bars, countless batches of pancakes [for dinner], and two batches of muffins, I think it’s safe to say that all three of these recipes are very much tried-and-true winners.
Things were pretty quiet in the beauty department in January. I’ve been using a lot of the same products that I already talked about in past monthly favourites posts, but I do have a few new ones worth mentioning…
Tarte’s Pure Maracuja Oil. This stuff is liquid gold. I’ve been putting it on my face at night in place of my regular moisturizer, and I’m in love with the results. I was initially a little worried that it was cause me to break out, but I’ve yet to experience any negative effects and I’ve been using it daily for a little over a month. Instead, my skin has been softer, smoother, and overall healthier — any kind of breakouts heal up a lot faster, and hyper-pigmentation lightens up much quicker as well. Definitely an awesome product if you struggle with dry patches during the winter.
For winter hair care, I’ve been using this shampoo and conditioner from Sukin…
The Protein Shampoo is great for clarifying and strengthening, and the Moisture Restore Conditioner
And if you’re wondering what I spent most of January smelling like…
… Dot by Marc Jacobs has been my go-to scent. But because I’m horrible at describing scents, here’s what Sephora has to say about it:
The exuberant top captivates with a delectable blend of red berries, succulent dragonfruit, and sweet honeysuckle. The lush floral heart of the fragrance blooms with the addictive beautiful jasmine, mingled with energizing notes of coconut water and orange blossom. The scent rounds out with a feminine dry down of creamy vanilla, driftwood, and sensual musks.
If you haven’t read The Fault in Our Stars
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten. Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning-author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.
This was the first book I’ve read in a quite some time that completely sucked me in to the point where I was sacrificing sleep just so I could finish it faster — it was that good. The story is told from the point of view of Hazel, who I fell in love with from the very first page of the book. Her wit and humour make the topics of cancer and death that much more palatable, and I found her no-nonsense attitude towards her situation to be quite refreshing.
My only complaint is that the exchanges between Hazel and Augustus are a little far-fetched. The language and references they use are a little too advanced for a 16 and 17 year old, but their banter is enjoyable nonetheless. And while the book deals with some pretty grim subjects and ends a little tragically, I didn’t find it depressing, nor did I have to bust out the Kleenex. I definitely recommend it for everyone.
Aaaand because that review was a little longer than I intended, I’m going to breeze through the rest by saying that these jeggings from American Eagle are some of the best fitting pants I’ve ever worn…
… these Beats Studio headphones
… and I’d be lost without my Moleskine…
After a quiet holiday season, January proved to be a pretty great month for Spoons…
- Kicked off the New Year by starting the 365 Days of Good Memories challenge. Are you guys still keeping up with your memory jars? So far, so good for me.
- Celebrated my 29th Birthday! It was an amazing one with tonnes of love from family, friends, and blends. And the cake was definitely one for the books…
- Abnormally gorgeous weather meant I spent most of January snowboarding, with a weekend trip to the mountains tossed in for good measure.
- Thinking Out Loud continued to grow, and I couldn’t be more stoked. My favourite posts to write and read, hands down.
- Spoons hit over 1k followers on Bloglovin. Totally gushing.
- My snickerdoodle truffles took first place in Udi’s Fall Comfort Challenge. More gushing.
- I wrote a post for Disney, and eventually ended up going to Disneyland. Recap to come!
- Some good stuff in the kitchen last month!
Disclaimer: none of the products mentioned above are sponsored — they’re simply ones that I use regularly and love. This post does, however, contain some affiliate links.
Tell me 3 awesome things that happened in January. I know you can come up with 3 over 31 days!
Did you eat Teddy Grahams as a kid? That’s what the bunnies remind me of!
What shampoo/conditioner are you currently using to wash your hair? Always on the lookout for good ones…
Damn, thanks very much for posting this! It is going to be so helpful when I order Fruit Snacks online! Incredible!
Those snack plates look epic. The only thing missing is a wedge of beautiful cheese. Yum.
I use Awapuhi by Paul Mitchell for shampoo/conditioner… I also re-used a brand called Aloxxi I got in my Birchbox a few months ago and loved it!
WOMAN!! Omg, your breaking me! You know you just basically described every.single.issue I’ve been having with my skin lately…looks like yet ANOTHER trip to Sephora is in order! Talking about affiliate links…that’s one you need right there! If they only KNEW! 😆 And a thousand followers? That’s awesome! I got curious and checked mine…yeah, not quite at the 500 mark…womp womp!
No joke, I’ve looked up that book TWICE at the library but it’s all checked out! I’ve also tried to get any of the Mortal Instrument books and it’s the same….grr! But I guess I shouldn’t complain, I’ve got a cute little book I’m reading now that’s kinda like the cat version of Marley and Me and then a couple of Nora Roberts books that I’m sure will suck me in in no time! Ahhh, so good to be back to bookworming! Oh, I wanted to ask you…have you ever read the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon? I saw it in the library and it looked really interesting (time travel, highlanders in Scotland, romance) but there’s like a million books and they’re all like 930Q254 pages long and that kinda made me tuck my tail and run! Ha! I figured if anyone my age had read it, it would be you! 😉
I’ve been loving Giovanni’s Triple Treat Tea Tree Oil shampoo & conditioner! I got it when the weather turned cold since my scalp was getting pretty dry and flaky and it’s worked WONDERS!
And speaking of bunnies (which led to the Teddies), you’ve got to see this: http://eatwithnat.com/2012/02/tiny-teddy-racing-cars/ Seriously, HOW CUTE ARE THOSE?!
I’ve never read that series, but it reminds me of the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan… The problem with committing to a series like that is you get to a point where you want to start reading something else, but you can’t because if you walk away you’ll forget everything that happened up to that point and have to start again 😆
Omg, YES!! That’s why I never start a series until it’s finished…I just KNOW I would forget everything from the last book before the next one came out! Haha!
My moleskin journal is my best friend. It goes everywhere with me and I swear by all of their products. I’m glad I’m not the only obsessed fan. (:
And I’ve been all about snack-plates recently too! They’re just so easy and they curb all of my random cravings. Oh, and I bought my first kabocha yesterday (gasp!). I’m planning to roast it tomorrow for dinner- SO EXCITED.
Three good things in January: Spending more time in the kitchen, getting together with friends, running with the Nike+ watch! I use a lot of different products to wash my hair, but I’m really loving Trader Joe’s Tea Tingle Conditioner. The Shampoo is just okay lol…but I love that it’s sulfate free!
I have a hard time with lunches too; LOVE the snack plate meal idea!!
I’ve been really wanting to read that book! I love it when a book sucks me in like that.
Where do you buy that shampoo/conditioner? I’ve never seen it before! Right now I’m using Jason Naturals apricot shampoo and conditioner, which I really like.
3 awesome things that happened in January: visiting my friend Andrea in Toronto, learning to open up to John and be more vulnerable, and meeting up with Gabby and Suzanne for dinner!
I find mine in Planet Organic, but I think I’ve seen it in a few other local health food stores as well. And I’m so happy for you and John — I’m glad you were able to open up to him a bit more 😀
I am so proud of you for all the growing you have done in this community and the amazing series you created for us to join in. As a brand new blogger, these weekly series help me feel part of the blogging community and give me ideas to write on. Thank YOU!
I love Goldfish crackers and Cheez-its…if I’m not careful, I can easily eat a whole bag in a day…the snack monster comes out.
I use Aveda shampoos…love the smells and that they are all natural…totally worth the splurge to me.
1000 followers on Bloglovin? What an awesome, awesome achievement!!
I never thought I would say it but I am loving your jeggings, they don’t look like other jeggings I’ve seen before at all they look more like actual jeans.
Those crackers sound amazing, I wish they had them here in Australia.
I also loved The Fault in Our Stars, it was such a beautiful book.
I use an Australian organic company called Moo Goo and they have a cow on their label, very cute and not harsh on the hair at all.
They actually feel like regular jeans too… except stretchy and comfortable — that’s what I love most about them 😀
Bunny Grahams – so good.
Three amazing parts of my January…1) visiting my mom in Florida 2) feeling a little more free without school and 3) simplifying my life.
You had an awesome start to 2014! All of those delicious recipes…nom. I need to try your muffins ASAP.
I loved The Fault In Our Stars as well. I cried like a baby.
So I was having a hard time remembering that pancake post – so I went back to see if I commented on it (which I did). Well, it just so happens to be during one of my post surgery days. I’m going to blame my lack of memory on that! So happy you shared the link because the will now be on my list of foods to make. You think subbing the eggs for flax egg would work?
I honestly have no idea — I don’t have a lot of experience using flax eggs with pancakes, but it never hurts to try 😀 I’m sure they’d still taste amazing, I just don’t know how they’d hold up.
There’s a shampoo & conditioner that I get from the Swanson Vitamins website that I really love a lot. I don’t use it all the time, since it’s not the cheapest stuff (though really not too expensive either), but my hair always looks better when I use it!
January most definitely flew by! I used to love Teddy Grahams, but I am now also addicted to the Annie’s Graham Bunnies. I also LOVE their cheddar bunnies! and mac & cheese, and fruit snacks… I pretty much love any Annie’s product haha!
The cheddar bunnies were actually my first Annie’s addiction — there’s a box hanging out by the grahams in my pantry… which is seriously just asking for trouble 😆
I’m hungry and reminding me of your birthday cake doesn’t help. I’d eat the whole thing + half of your snack plates at once… 😛
January marks one year since Mr Right decided that being in a (very, very) long-distance relationship was worth a try after all and said yes. Unfortunately, nothing else memorable happened this January.
The shampoo and conditioner look good. We don’t have these here though. There are some good ones probably but I can’t read the labels and I love my hair too much to risk. Also, I bought a quite expensive anti-dandruff shampoo a few months ago and I ended up using it just twice before I decided I had enough of resembling tumbleweed. My hair had a rough time last year so now it gets some special treatment. I’m using Ducray’s Anaphase shampoo and Anastim Concentrate, which have been doing a good job so far. I also finished a pack of Anacaps and I think my hair will get back to normal eventually. I like masks too. I’m currently alternating between the Fructis 3-minute undo dryness reversal treatment and damage repair mask. Too much work just to keep my hair on my head. Ugh!
I, literally, blinked and January was gone. I have NO idea where it went. In fact, it went so stealthy that I almost forgot to pay February rent. …I remembered around 445pm on the 31st.
The Fault In Our Stars. Greatest. Ever. I’m thinking of rereading it. Maybe I’ll start tonight. There goes my sleep…
I have yet to find Annie’s grahams. I can’t find them anywhere. I want to see why it is all the rave! I also have never tried crispbread. You know what I have had? Those snack plates. Lunch is my least favorite meal, so like you, I’ve been having snack plates up the wazoo to bare through it.
I need to get my hands on that book. A lot of reading is in order,
Like all your recipes, you have proved to have posted three amazing recipes. Seriously.. mouthwatering.
I think I need to splurge on some Beats headphones. 😀
Congrats on all of the successes of January! May all the future months be just as swell. 🙂
I’m almost tempted to say that lunch is no longer my least favourite meal — how have you been enjoying your plates? 😀
I’ve been loading them up with different fruits, wraps, and my all time favorite trail mix that has dried cranberries and blueberries, cashews, almonds, and sweet yogurt drops (kinda like Hershey kisses, but made from yogurt). To. Die. For! 🙂
I’ve had that book on hold at the Library forever! I think I’m like number 21 or something. So maybe I’ll read it by the end of the year! Guess I could just buy it too…
I am obsessed with your protein granola bars! Sooo good, especially crumbled up in yogurt. And I am just starting to read The Fault In Our Stars!
I LOVE teddy Grahams, and I totally still eat them sometimes haha I really need to get my hands on some Annie’s bunnies! I also loved TFIOS, and am super excited for the movie! 🙂 I use Matrix Biolage Fiberstrong shampoo and conditioner, I love it! Working out of a salon/spa has turned me into a hair product snob
Noooo, the two weren’t related at all… although it would have been awesome if they were #wishfulthinking
I am ALL about those veggies and cracker plates!! HOLY YUM! Of course the baked treats too..my favvvorrrite. I cannot wait for your Disney post..I am seriously like frothing at the mouth for it. Did you get to go for free to write a review!?!? Or get some kind of wicked awesome deal?? STILL JEALOUS ABOUT THAT! You totally deserve it though.
ah man those AE jeggings are da bomb!! so cute!
Lets seeeee. this january 3 things i did that were awesome were: 1-Lots of snow/cold days (thats no really something I did thats awesome, but its still awesome!) 2-Made great progress for my upcoming race 3-Some frieken legit almond butter at Fresh Market! Vanilla Almond Butter—-YOU are my love! <3
I loved (and still love…) teddy grahams.. I still buy the little pre-packs in honey flavour and take them to work with me haha, but I did try the Annie’s bunnies last month too!! Sooo addictive, the chocolate are by far the best. I don’t know if I like them more than Ted’s enough for double the price tag though…
I really love Tresseme products! I use the naturals line. I mean, no drugstore brand is really the same when it comes to haircare, realistically, but it does a great job! I love the salon L’oreal stuff.
For drugstore, have you ever tried the Organix line? They have a coconut shampoo and conditioner that I keep going back to.
I read The Fault in our Stars last month too! LOVE. I agree though, some of the words I did have to go back and read a few times to understand!
3 things in january… hmm…. I turned 15, I bought a dslr camera(!), and my blog turned one!
I love the idea of making snack plates for a meal. They are so easy AND so delcious, yet I never remember to make them. I think sometimes I try to over-complicate my meals..I need to get back to more simplicity!
this is so not funny but it is at the same time but my mum broke a tooth on those crackers…well our version of them! Ever since then I’ve been skeptical to give them a chuck in my grocery basket lol! I’m keen to see what recipes February brings.
Have you heard of Tiny Teddies? Google them. Seriously. BEST. EVER.
They look the same as Teddy Grahams! They even have all the same arm positions… I wonder if they taste the same. I think I see a trip to Australia in my future… just to taste-test.
Have you seen the trailer for the Fault in Our Stars movie?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ItBvH5J6ss
Looks promising! Even if it isn’t as good as the book it looks like it will be good.
I have! And it definitely looks like it’s going to be a good one. I managed to avoid the waterworks while I was reading the book, but I have a feeling that the movie will get me 😯
Yes!! Ahh they were my favorite, and I love the bunnies, too. The boys have a lifetime supply in their house, which is fabulous. We have bunnies with afternoon snack almost every day 😀 Three awesome things from January….I got to see Wicked again with my mum, Joe turned 30 and we finally got to celebrate his birthday together, and I made your bars, which are amazing 🙂
Yep, those granola bars were a favourite of mine too this month – I literally baked replacements five minutes after finishing my first batch! 😉
In January I applied for university, registered for my first half marathon and rid myself of science courses for life! 🙂 🙂
Congratulations on all the blogging success love!! You’re becoming a starblogger more and more 🙂
I so want to try tarte products, but not available here unfortunately 🙁 oh, and regarding hair products, I LOVED organix (I bought this in NY) with Shea Butter andArgan Oil. Works wonders.
Your muffins are on my toplist to try!!