Usually I would post some opening about being excited that it’s Friday and I’m so glad to be done for the weekend, but since I’m on break right now that wouldn’t be very applicable to me 😉 However, I will say that I’m excited for the weekend because I will finally be around REAL PEOPLE. It gets a little lonely staying at home all day without any friends or family around. Thankfully I have my pets to keep me company, but it would be nice if they could reply back with something other than barks or meows.
The only things that have kept me sane are books, blogs and baking!
Books
I’ve read two books in the past four days: Divergent and its sequel Insurgent.
The books are part of a dystopian trilogy by Veronica Roth. Set in Chicago these books depict a fictional society that is divided into five factions, one for every type of person- Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). The main character Beatrice has reached the point in her life where she is given the choice of which faction she wants to live in. Nothing is as it seems though, and soon Beatrice is discovering that what she thought she knew about her society is wrong, and what she learns may lead to the end of life as she knew it.
The final book is coming out October 22, 2013 and I am beyond thrilled to find out what happens.
Blogs
Here are some new blogs that I’ve discovered recently, mixed in with a few of my favorite posts from blogs that I already read on a regular basis.
Road to RD’s And This is Why We Shouldn’t Compare Ourselves to Celebrities
Clean Eats Fast Feets’ One Year Blogiversary Giveaway
Jessie Loves to Run’s Thursday Thoughts
Peace Love and Oats’ You Do You
Eat Pray Tri’s Snap to It Photography Program
Baking
Here are some of the recipes that I have made in the past week. Some I came up with myself and you may see on the blog soon!
Banana Nut Bread (with pecans)– Recipe adapted from my great-grandmother’s classic banana bread to be grain-free.
Avocado Chocolate Mousse– My parents just raved about this chocolatey dessert (they said you couldn’t taste the avocado!).
Lemon Poppy Seed Bread– Roughly based on a poppy seed cake in a cookbook at home.
Homemade Applesauce– Only one ingredient and very smooth!
Coconut Flour Biscuits– I altered this recipe slightly by whipping the egg whites and removing the baking soda.
As you can see I’ve been keeping very busy 🙂 I’m hoping to respond to all of your comments sometime this weekend, but Friday morning I’m attending my brother National Honor’s Society induction ceremony at school, and I’m hanging out with some friends at the park tomorrow. Hope everyone has a great and productive weekend! 😀
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Share something in each of the categories: Books, blogs, and baking!
Eating 4 Balance 
Thank you so much for the shoutout. You are so sweet! Have a lovely weekend ❤
Thanks Jessie, you too! 🙂
I really loved the Divergent series, and I think it partially has to do with the fact that I had a big crush on Four 😆 If you like dystopian novels, you might want to check out The Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld… that’s another pretty good read.
Same here, I would definitely be in love with Four if I were Tris.
I really like the Uglies series. Those were some of the first dystopian novels that I read way back in Middle School. It’s kind of crazy how many times I’ve reread them actually 😉
I loved the Divergent series and can’t wait for the new book to come out! Hope you have a great weekend! 🙂
I can’t wait for the new book too, as well as the movie! Although like you said before, I’m not sure how I feel about who they picked to play Tris…
I’m not usually a fan of dystopian novels, but you’ve definitely piqued my interest in Veronica Roth’s books. I’m thinking they’ll be great semi-indulgent summer reads. 🙂
Your baking adventures look like they’ve yielded some pretty tasty treats! I sure hope you’re planning on sharing the banana bread recipe!
Have fun at the NHS induction tomorrow, and happy weekend! ❤
Ahhh your holidays sound amazing. I can’t wait for mine.I’ve always wanted to read Divergent but never gotten around to it. And how was that chocolate avocado mousse? It looks great and I know I really should make it some time.
It’s going pretty well so far. I can’t wait to see what you cook up during your time off! 🙂
You should definitely read Divergent when you get the chance. And both of my parents loved the mousse!
It sounds lovely to stay at home and read books, blogs and bake. Like a dream come true for an introvert, although I suppose I’d miss others after a time, although I sure would enjoy a good few days of that. Thanks so much for the link; I appreciate it, and I’m going to check out that photography post because those tulips are spectacular. Speaking of fantastic photography, your pictures are looking good. I like the bread on top of the pan and how you stacked your coconut flour biscuits. Pretty clever. I hope you have a great weekend.
Yes, a dream come true 🙂 Although, there’s quite a bit of cleaning mixed in there as well. Haha.
I’m excited to check out the photography challenge too. And thanks Meghan! I’ve been trying to take better pictures because they were looking a little worse for wear and PicMonkey can only do so much! Glad you can tell a difference 🙂
It looks like you’re taking advantage of break so far – tons of fun and tasty eats! I’ve seen a handful of avocado pudding-like recipes, I’ll have to try one soon…
This one was really easy and my family loved it. You should really try it and let me know what you think!
Thank you so much for the shoutout! I’m having some trouble with my blog right now so when people click on the link it won’t take them to the site. Hopefully it’ll be fixed soon!
That’s totally fine. I’ll leave it up and let me know if I need to change the link to get it to work! Hope you get your blog all doctored up soon 🙂
I would love to see that avocado chocolate mousse recipe appear on your blog 😉 ive been wanting to make a version but am worried ill end up wasting ingredients because itll taste funky. And as for blogs, I’m recently discovering yours today! 🙂 looking forward to checking it out!
Actually, you’re in luck because the mousse recipe isn’t mine 🙂 The link to the recipe that I followed is above. The only thing that I didn’t add to it was the water, but other than that I followed the instructions exactly. I couldn’t try it because of some of the ingredients, but my parents who tend to turn away from strange desserts said it was just very chocolaty and they couldn’t taste the avocado at all!
Thanks for the comment. Hope you enjoy looking through some of my past posts. I’m off to check yours out now 🙂
That banana bread looks so good! It’s always so great to adapt an old classic family recipe like that. And I’ve read Divergent (thought it was pretty good, entertaining for sure) but I never got around to reading Insurgent. I think I’ll wait for the third book to come out before getting back into it. I hate waiting for books to come out haha
Yes, I was kind of sad that my mom wouldn’t be able to eat her great-grandmother’s banana bread anymore so I knew I had to adapt it 🙂
I hate waiting too, so I was pleased that I had books 1 and 2 and could read them both one right after the other in three days.
mmmm- coconut scones sound awesome. I am really into coconut lately!
Coconut is such a great ingredient— I can see why you love it 🙂
I really want to read those books. They’re definitely on my summer reading list. I love dystopian novels. It’s nice to read something a bit out of the ordinary. I’m reading the Eragon series at the moment (bit geeky I know, but I love it).
Looking forward to the banana bread recipe – I love a good banana bread, nom nom.
Is your summer reading list a million miles long too? Haha. I have so many books that I want to get through and just not enough time! 😦 Divergent should definitely be at the top though.
I tried reading Eragon a few years ago, but I think I was too young to appreciate the complexity of it (same with Harry Potter, which I now LOVE). I’ll have to give them another go sometime.
please come make those coconut flour biscuits for me. please oh please
I’ll see what I can do 😉
It has been forever since I have had applesauce, even though I grew up in a family who ate it all the time. I would love to try making my own.
Growing up we almost always had a jar in our fridge, but we didn’t eat it all that often. I’m going to make another batch soon and take some pictures so I can post it. It’s really too easy to be called a recipe 🙂
Baking and books are like my favorite things. That poppy seed bread looks amaazzzing. And same with the banana one. Are you going to post that recipe?
Same here 🙂 I’m planning on posting both soon! I just have so many recipes that I want to post. haha.
I’ve heard great things about the Divergent series…but haven’t gotten around to it yet! My reading pile keeps growing. Baking is always the best type of “therapy” for me =)
I’d heard good things about it too, and have actually owned the books since December 25th… but I have to be in the right mindset to start a series. This past week was apparently it! 🙂 I need to take a picture of my reading pile(s). Just ridiculous 😀
Baking is a great therapy!
Your week sounds heavenly! I love the divergent series…such a good one 🙂 i keep seeing the avocado/chocolate combinations in the blog world these days and i want to try it…a combination of two of my favorite things? Can’t go wrong with that!
I personally didn’t try it, but I think it’s safe to say that you’ll love it Caitlin, especially if you love avocado and chocolate. The recipe link that I included above actually has banana too. How can you wrong wrong with 3 amazing things? 🙂
What a face on that puppy dog! And I had so much fun reading Divergent–but never picked up the sequel for some reason! I’m ready a trashy urban fantasy right now, then taking on some nonfiction next, since I’m sure I’ll be done with my current read soon.
Don’t you just wish we could know what animals were thinking behind those faces? 😀
Sounds like you’re on quite the reading kick. I’m so glad schools out so I can read more! On my third book for my summer reading list so far!
Lemon poppy seed bread looks great!!!
Thanks you guys 🙂
I love homemade apple sauce, so simple and so good! Can’t wait to see your recipes 🙂
Me too! Thanks Claire 🙂
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