Fun With Chocolate

Our tenacious one saw a post on the computer somewhere (maybe Pinterest), and decided she needed to do the same activity.

Said activity?  Chocolate bowls filled with candy or ice cream.

For two days she has been talking about making these bowls.   She showed me the post and together we watched the how-to video and then she made her shopping list:

• Balloons
• Melting chocolate (Milk chocolate and white chocolate so her sister who can't have chocolate could share in the fun.)
• Candy from the Bulk Food store: Skittles, Jelly Belly jelly beans, lemon drops, and licorice bites

First melt the chocolate and blow up the balloons.   Next dip the balloons into the chocolate to cover the bottom and part way up the sides.  If you tip the balloons to make 'petals' the bowls look really cool when they are done.

Put the chocolate covered balloons in the fridge to cool.  When cool, pop the balloons and carefully peel them away from the chocolate. Fill the bowl with candy or ice cream.

Viola!  Candy bowls.  And a happy girl!

 


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Working Out

I went to the gym today for the first time since October.  I'm surprised (though I shouldn't be) at how great it felt to get my heart pumping and my feet moving.

I spend 30 minutes doing circuit training which is cardio plus a full body workout.  Then I spent 15 minutes on the elliptical.

It's amazing how much mental preparation goes into getting myself to the gym.  I've been thinking about it for a couple of months now.  My gym bag has been packed and sitting by my bed for that long.    I've been telling myself I need to, want to, should go.

But the cold days are hard for me.  All the layers, the boots, gloves, etc necessary just to get the kids to school every day.  Plus, there have been all those days when they didn't go to school because of snow and cold.

Saturday I had lunch with a friend who told me she has been working out at home and being accountable to a group online that does the same workout routine she is using.  She told me how much it helps having someone to report to once her workout it done.  Then she offered to be my accountability partner.

I guess that was the boost I needed.  I texted her when I was done and got a great cyber pat on the back.

Now I'm sitting here with my (aching) legs up, relaxing and trying not to fall asleep while the kids do their homework.  It's going to take me a while to get back into my routine but I'm ready to start again.  My bags is repacked with my clean workout gear.  My mind is wrapped around the idea that Monday, Wednesday and Friday are gym days.

Oh, and there is that reminder that I will be mother-of-the-bride again in four short months.  I want to be able to dance the night away and not be too tired to enjoy myself!

www.centeredinchrist1.blogspot.com