Lovin' Summertime!

Today was a special day. It was special because my friend Annie and I got a whole day to shop at the Williamsburg outlets without any kiddos!! The last time we had been there was before Ezra was born and we had Emma and Titus with us. We had such fun today, and got some great deals. We preggers propped our tired feet up and finished off the day with a late lunch at Olive Garden. Sadly I didn't take any pictures of Annie and I shopping (although Annie got some pictures of a few manequins: POST THEM ANNIE!), so pics of my shopping bags will have to do!! We found great deals at the Children's Place. Dress shirts and shoes for .99 cents, socks, insulated gloves and hats for .19cents- that's right .19 CENTS!!!
I just love shopping at Gymboree, but usually even their sale prices are a little high for my bargainness. Not today! They had a lot of really affordable marked down items. I managed to find matching shorts for Elliot and Ethan (I found lots of matching clothes for them and Emma at Children's Place, too- so FUN!!). I can't wait to take a picture of my boys in their surfer trunks!

This picture has nothing to do with our shopping excersion. Michael and I grilled shrimp, chicken and kielbasa kabobs for dinner tonight- yummy, yummy, yummy! Don't you just love the taste of real charcoal grilled food?!

This past week while in South Carolina, Michael met with his nutritionist and had a great visit. While I was waiting for him, I ran across this recipe in one of the office magazines and tried it out for Michael this week. It was very good, but I had a hard time getting them to form as balls, so I pressed the mixture into a cookie sheet, popped it into the fridge for a few minutes and then cut them into bars. If you like sweet and salty, you'll love this!

Peanut Butter Oat Bites

2 tbsp. unsalted butter

2/3 cup creamy natural peanut butter (I used crunchy PB)

1/4 cup confectioner's sugar

3 Tbsp. honey

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cup rice krispy cereal

1 cup quick oats

1/4 cup raisins (I didn't have any, so I put crushed almonds in instead)

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (I didn't have any minis on hand, so I crushed regular choc. chips in a food chopper)

1/4 c. salted peanuts (I didn't have any peanuts on hand, so again I substitued crushed almonds)

1. Melt butter in saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter, conf. sugar, honey & vanilla. Stir in rice krispies & oats and allow mixture to cool.

2. Stir in raisins & chocolate chips. Form into 1" balls and roll each ball in chopped peanuts. Store in the refrigerator.

Let me know what you think it you try this out! (and if you have any success in making these stick together better :)