Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites {Paleo}

Everyone loves homemade chocolate chip cookies... but sometimes the best part is eating the dough, right? These chocolate chip cookie dough bites are perfect, since they're made to be eaten straight from the bowl. Cookie dough free of eggs & with good-for-you ingredients~ what could be better!?

I was inspired to create this recipe after I had seen several on Pinterest for "no-bake cookie dough", but made mine to meet Paleo standards. These aren't full of sugar, flour or butter... instead they're packed with nuts, lightly sweetened with honey, and laced with chocolate. They're very Paleo-friendly, and free of dairy, gluten, soy, and processed sugar.

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes with Pecans (Paleo)

Here's a simple, delicious side dish idea- perfect for Thanksgiving, or any time of year! This recipe combines warm fall flavors in a delicious way you can feel good about~ packed with fiber & vitamin A. Now sweet potatoes taste amazing all on their own, but when combined with cinnamon & pecans... they are so much better.

Apple Cinnamon Muffins | Paleo

There's something so comforting about warm baked goods first thing in the morning with a cup of coffee, especially on a chilly weekend.  Muffins remind me of home and my mom and a cozy, yummy-smelling house.

Unfortunately, muffins are typically not your friend - especially the ones that taste REAL good (I'm looking at you Starbucks pumpkin cream cheese muffin...)  

Vanilla Coconut Coffee Creamer (Paleo)

One big question I've heard from several people gone Paleo is, "What should I put in my coffee?". With all of the "amazing" flavored lattes and sinful frappuccino creations out there in the world, it's hard to find Paleo-friendly options. Of course you can always opt for straight black coffee, but I guess I'm not grown up enough for that yet! ;)

What I Bought: Trader Joe's II

I went to Trader Joe's! I stocked up on some essentials & picked up a few new things to try, too. Here's what I got!

Pantry Items

Foolproof Crispy Oven Bacon

My simple, mess-free, foolproof method for crispy bacon every time.  Make sure you save that liquid gold at the end to reuse as a delicious cooking fat!  We love our bacon fat for sautéing green veggies & roasting butternut squash.  Yum!

Pumpkin Spiced Paleo Granola

Healthy eating at mealtime is pretty simple~ stick to meat & veggies and you're good. Snacks can be a little tougher. I usually go for things like raw veggies, Larabars, or trail mix, but it's fun to have something a little different. 

This recipe doubles as a healthy snack & a tasty dessert. It's even good for breakfast. It's perfectly sweet & tastes like a cookie crumble! 

Most granola is over-processed and full of sugar, but this is one you can feel good about indulging in. I use nuts and coconut instead of oats and grains to create the bulk of my granola. Then I replaced the sugar and unnatural binders with honey & coconut oil. No flavor is lost here, it actually tastes better. Any combination of nuts would work, these are just some of my favorites that I had on hand! I also really recommend the Pumpkin Pie Spice from Trader Joe's~ it's inexpensive for a large amount with no additives. 

October Beauty Favorites

Before starting my own blog, I read other people's blogs. Beauty, hair, makeup, lifestyle, fashion, food, home decor, health- you name it. No matter what the topic, I love reading about others' thoughts and seeing what they care about enough to share with the internet world. 

One type of post that I always look forward to (especially from beauty bloggers) is their "monthly favorites". It's fun to see what products have stood out to other people throughout the month, and to see how those products change as the seasons shift. These types of posts are typically found on "beauty blogs", and are popular on YouTube as well. 

Although I'm not a beauty blogger, & I don't do YouTube, I thought I would join in on the fun & share some of my own favorites. Recipes are always my favorite things to share here on my blog~ I love food & sharing healthy tips with people. However, I love makeup & beauty products & all of those girly things, too! So, I figure I will share all of my loves here in one place. 

This post is dedicated to my monthly favorites from the beauty world. Let me know what you think, & plan on seeing more of these to recap each month! :)