*Edit: sorry about the linkup not being up this morning! I was experiencing server problems last night when I was trying to schedule my post and the code must have gone wonky. It’s working now 🙂
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Happy #thinkingoutloud Thursday! No idea what I’m going on about? Click here!
1. TGITOL! Sorry for going MIA on your guys yesterday, but I came down with a severe case of writer’s block (that I’m still kind of dealing with) and could not for the life of me get my thoughts together for a coherent post. I had every intention of participating in What I Ate Wednesday this week since I skipped out on it last week — and I even snapped pictures of all my eats — but when it came time to sit down and write? Nothing. I know you guys like reading them, though, so that’ll definitely be up next week!
2. For now, I’ll just tease you with a picture of the soft and chewy pumpkin granola bar[s] that I spent the afternoon snacking away on, because they legit knocked my coloured socks off…
Expect the recipe for those… ohhhh…. tomorrow 
3. In the meantime, you can satisfy any chocolate, and/or pumpkin, and/or granola cravings you might be having by heading on over to Savory Style to check out my latest recipe for Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Spice Granola.
4. Also… I [literally] just whipped up the most ridiculous thick and creamy chocolate shake (not to be confused with this one), and I had every intention of taking a picture to show you guys, buuuuuut one spoonful led to two; two spoonfuls led to three; and before I knew it, all I had left was a dirty cup. It’s definitely something I’m going to have to recreate and share, though, because holy.snap was it amazing.
[source]
5. Speaking of amazing…
[from my Instagram]
… how ’bout them mountains? I didn’t take enough pictures while I was up there last weekend to do a full recap, but I’ll be going again in a few weeks, so hopefully I manage to snap some this time around. I don’t know what it is, but I kind of suck at remembering to take pictures when I’m out having fun — it’s like I’d rather be living it than documenting it? Whatever the case may be, it’s not a good mindset to have if you’re trying to be a good blogger! #prooforitdidnthappen
6. I am, however, very good at taking pictures of completely random things…
That right there would be the onboard GPS showing the ridiculously straight highway that constitutes about 90% of the trip from Edmonton (home) to Banff (the mountains). It makes for a very long and somewhat boring drive… but I can’t hate on it too much because it still feels like home and I’m oddly happy to see it whenever I’m away for a while…
7. Riddle me this… Why is it that I can wait around for days to receive a package, and it will always come when I get tired of waiting and decide to go to the grocery store for 10 minutes (read: 30)? Seriously… it never fails. I think I need to have a chat with my UPS guy…
8. And if you’re wondering where I went, the answer would be to Costco to stock up on some necessities…
… and by necessities I mean 4 lbs. of dates and 2.5 lbs. of dried figs. I’m not normally a huge fan of Costco since I find the crowds and sheer quantity of things to be a little overwhelming, but I heard they had good dates and I got tired of paying $7 for a teeny tiny bag of my current biggest addiction, so I put on my big girl pants and braved the madness. It wasn’t horrible… but it was also 10 AM on a Monday 😆
9. Speaking of Monday, this coming one happens to be Thanksgiving for us Canadian folk, which just feels… oddly early. Either way, I’ll be celebrating with the family this weekend, and, as always, I’m in charge of bringing dessert. I brought these pumpkin bars last year, which were a huge hit, but I’m not usually one to repeat desserts, so I’ll need to come up with something new.
10. And I’m not quite sure how it happened, but next week marks the 100th instalment of Thinking Out Loud… or at least of my solo version of it, since I’m pretty sure the linkup is only somewhere in the 40’s. I feel like I should do something special to celebrate, but I’m not sure what — any ideas?
No questions… just tell me whatever comes to your mind! 😀
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Amanda, I am late on this link up, but love it. So looking forward to Thursdays now.
It really does feel too early for thanksgiving and I’m not even excited about the day off cuz I have mondays off this semester anyways 😐
Also, I’m currently in the midst of writer’s block myself and I’m commenting on all the posts to avoid attempting to write tomorrow’s post #bloggerlife
Did you have to buy a membership to go to Costco or do you use your family’s membership? I know there is a fee (I thought so, anyway!) so I didn’t know if it would be worth it for me to get one. To be honest, I want it solely for oats and fruit. I’m not really sure how the whole Costco sha-bang works haha!
Maybe for your 100th you could right 100 facts about yourself 😛 or small sentences (ie. I like figs). Better get started 😉 😉 😉
Impatiently waiting for that pumpkin granola bar recipe! I clearly haven’t made enough pumpkin stuff lately [that’s a joke, I’ve made SO much pumpkin goodies].
And seriously Costco is the BEST place for dried fruits. Oh an oats. I get two giant bags for like $8 or something and I just grind up one for oat flour and use the rest for oatmeal, granola, ect 🙂
YES! Dried figs ♥ And dare I say I’m actually kind of enticed by the sound of a chocolate smoothie right now? I think my taste buds are reverting back to chocolate lovin’… I just had the most delicious and fluffy chocolate cake ever, so I’m kind of on chocolate cloud 9.
Also, that view is inspirational. So beautiful!
Oh I can’t wait to try the granola bar recipe! They look SO good!
The costco near me was carrying the most wonderful 5lb (!!!) bags of medjool dates for 2 years and then they just stopped. We’ve asked so many times and nobody there knows what happened 🙁 Very sad times. The pumpkin granola looks SO yummy, can’t wait to try it out!
http://youtube.com/sparklesandsuch26
Your mountain pictures are always glorious – makes me want to visit Canada. Luckily I’m going up to my version of the mountains this weekend 🙂
It literally took me like 5 minutes to figure out what TGITOL meant. Yeah I’m having a slow day haha.
I love stocking up on dried fruit at Costco. Except I have the worst forgetfulness while I’m there. I can never remember whether I need to buy something or not. So usually I err on the side of caution and I buy it…. which explains why I have 3 giant bulk packs of Mary’s Crackers in my pantry right now lol.
More outdoorsy pictures, please….they refresh the soul for those of us who miss the mountains but can’t readily get there. Going to Walmart ( in the States) early in the morning (before 9) is the best time…the shelves are stocked and people haven’t flocked to the store yet. Peace and tranquilty.
I’m the same way with forgetting to take pictures. Although, I think it’s good to live in the moment not stuck behind a camera all the time.
I’m still smirking at your #8 Costco! Who knew dates were so expensive! I’m not a huge date fan and they are in EVERY bar I gravitate too! I can’t believe you’ll be on 100 TOL’s, that’s crazy! Is a Canadian Thanksgiving, similar to a US Thanksgiving? Sorry, might be a dumb question…but I’m curious! xoxo, ganeeban
A Moen faucet add completely takes over when I go to your blog. Usually I have to refresh 3 times. I am using an iPad. Do others have this problem?
So, I’m pretty sure that you just broke the record for the most mouthwatering recipe teases in a single post. Not that I’m complaining, now that I actually have a chance to make them, but HOWDOIDECIDE?! I wonder what our company will think of having granola bars for thanksgiving dinner… 😉
I get you on the writer’s block. That happened to me last weekend. I actually had time to write and nothing would come out. Then suddenly on Sunday afternoon it was spilling out of me. I wrote for 6 hours straight, had to force myself to shut down to go to bed.
Woah! 100 TOL post next week? Fantastic. 🙂
Congratulations, I just only wish I hadn’t missed about 70 of them. I was always a bit of a late starter 😉
The pumpkin granola bars sound like they’re something for the weekend, looking forward already to that recipe tomorrow.
And as a fellow hill walker / rambler. I’m looking forward to your future mountain pictures muchly too. I finally got the best of my recent ones with the Mrs just posted! 😀
MMM i love being on dessert duty! Those pumpkin bars sound fabulous. I LOVE thanksgiving!:)
100 TOL posts is amazing! I know what you mean about living life rather than documenting it. I have felt the same way! Actually that is usually my excuse when I go somewhere and end up taking zero pictures:)
SO MANY DATES AND FIGS–love. The only thing on my mind this early is coffee—-shock.
Gorgeous!! Did you know I’ve never been West?! How crazy is that? My parents and sister moved to Alberta in the last 5 years so I really need a trip to the Mountains. Jasper and Banff are on my to-do list. I don’t see a link up for today? Maybe I just missed it.
I definitely recommend Jasper and Banff! Gorgeous! I have the same problem about going out east 😛 And sorry about the linkup! I ran into some server problems last night and the code somehow didn’t go through — it’s up now!
Woot Woot Congratulations on 100! That’s fantastic! I always have writers block I feel like? I never know what to write till I sit down and start writing.
Yay for figs and dates at Costco! Those are some of the main reasons I go too:)
Ahhh, that cat! Story of my life. I made butterscotch Rice Krispie treats for my pop, and I set four aside for moms d dad. Mom and dad ended up only getting two. Haha
I have no idea what TIOTOL means. Am I really that out of the loop? Whatever, I will go sit with that kitty and eat a cookie. Or one of your bajillion figs 😀
When I saw the #99 this morning I was like wow!!! Congrats! It seems like it has passed so fast! I think it is awesome that you are living life and forget to take pics sometimes. Nothing wrong with enjoying yourself and not worrying about anything else! 🙂
Living trumps blogging any day, all day. Enjoy your weekends and your mountains without worrying about photo documentation. We’ll survive. Barely, but I bet we can make it.
You’ve got 99 problems and bars ain’t one. The handful of bar recipes I’ve tried have all been hits (I think the blueberry ones might be my favorite) and I can see you’re still up to your bar shenanigans.
Costco trip was worth it yes? My father in law goes for me, and he won’t set foot in there on a weekend. Smart man, and I’m also a lucky girl. I give him my list, and he grabs what I need.
100th already? Eh, what an exciting thinking out loud post for you to look forward too. Thanksgiving on Monday? Sigh… I wish I were Canadian right now about now. Oh wait, nvm, because then i’d have to cook & well I’m not in the mood for that. Haha!!
Pumpkin granola bars need to be in my life, stat!
Beeeaaautiful mountains! I’m always surprised how different they look than our mountains.
Cosctco = my love. But nottt when it’s crowded!
Uhm. Maybe it’s just my phone? But the link up button seems to be missing?
I can’t believe it’s your Thanksgiving already. I am not ready for you to celebrate it either lol. It just feels way too soon. Although the holiday food is always welcomed.
100?? Wow, congrats!! So cool.
And the mountain views…..it makes me miss my Swiss Alps so much. Snowboard season is NEAR!!!
And YES for living instead of documenting!! It happens to me every weekend and then I’m like, shit….what about MIMM? #bloggerfail
Thinking that I have slept less in the week since my son was born than any other time in my life- but couldn’t be happier. Riddle me that one 🙂
And that picture is stunning!! Is that for real because I need to be there ASAP. Yes fall, yes!
I think this fall has brought a lot of people having writers block. I don’t know, I have felt unmotivated to blog but at the same time had so much to say. I cannot even explain it. Congrats on 100 Thinking Out Loud Posts. That is a seriously huge deal.
I want those pumpkin granola bars for breakfast! Those look yummy. And i dont think you’ll have a problem coming up with a new dessert to bring for thanksgiving 🙂 congrats on hitting TOL 99, we’ll have to celebrate next week or something for sure!! 😀
All I can think of is pumpkin bars now. Looking forward to 100th instalment – how about 100 thinking out loud thoughts in one post!? Whoah I don’t think I have 100 thoughts a week let alone on a Thursday :/
Wowie 100 Thinking Out Loud posts is definitely worth celebrating- CONGRATS :)! Those granola bars look super, Amanda…so much that I am slowly forgetting about the delish chewy Quaker bars I grew up loving! Just the mention of a smoothie has me craving one- I guess it helps that it’s over 30* outside! I absolutely love number 5 photo- sights like that make me wonder how can this really exist in real life…too gorgeous!
Writer’s block is the worst! I think it’s better to take a day off than force something, but I’m glad you felt up to the 100th TOL. That’s crazy; congrats!
And I appreciate the granola bar tease you’ve got going on there…boy oh boy, do those look incredible!!
LOL I do the same – create awesome recipes then eat them to quickly ! Glad to know I am not the only one and those mountains make me want to come to Canada….
WOW – Congrats on TOL reaching 100!!! That’s EPIC!!! And speaking of EPIC – that picture of the water and the mountains -wow!!! Glad you braved the crowds at Costco – they have THE BEST deal on dates – and that’s where I go too!
Looking forward to oogling picture of those pumpkin granola bars tomorrow!
Congrats on 100!
You just made my hungry heart happy with the granola bars, and granola in the jar. Oh man.
Excited to see the other recipes you post up, and what you bring for Thanksgiving dessert. I’m not a dessert repeater either, keeps things fun that way. 🙂
Dude, 100 TOL posts? Bloody epic. I think for your 100th post, you should do a vlog eating sardines.
And lol. Story of my life. A taste test ending up in an empty plate. But…it means you can recreate and re-eat. BOOM.