Energy Bites

So, before I get into the real post, I just want to mention that a ton of people found out about my blog at school. It seemed like all of a sudden people were mentioning that they liked my blog or had seen my blog, and it was kind of weird at first. It’s not that I didn’t want people at school to know that I have an “internet life,” it’s just that it felt kind of separate. I’m not any different on my blog than I am in real life, but I do think of my blogging self as a whole different part of me. Anyway, I guess what I’m trying to say is that if you have a hobby or extracurricular activity that you’re passionate about, don’t worry if people find out about it. It’s who you are and it’s a part of you, regardless of what other people think about it. And, if you happen to be from school and you’re reading this… lemme know (;Ok, sorry, moving on to the real post now...

One of my friends from school brought some peanut butter balls to swim practice and she let me have one. Not only was it absolutely amazingly tasty, but it was the perfect snack to have right before a workout. She told me that she found the recipe on Pinterest so I did some digging and found it myself. I didn’t have all of the ingredients on hand so I kind of changed it around a little bit and I happened to really like the way they turned out! Here’s what I did, but if you want the real recipe to make these energy bites, click here.

Ingredients:

1 cup of dry oatmeal (old-fashioned oats) 3/4 peanut butter (I tried almond butter, but it wasn’t sticky enough) 1/2 cup chocolate chips 1/3 cup honey 2 table spoons chia seeds 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Pour everything in a bowl and mix it together. I found that using my hands to mix was much easer than using a spoon or whisk. 2. Put the mixed bowl into the fridge for at least half an hour 3. Roll into balls about 1” in diameter (or however big/small you want them)

Seriously, that’s it. These energy bites are so simple to make and so easy too! If you make them be sure to post a picture on Instagram or Twitter and tag us so I can see!

xox, Chloe

Chocolate Bark Recipe

I have this problem where I want to be healthy when it comes to food, but then I see chocolate and I eat it. It’s like my brain doesn’t work with me. But who am I kidding, chocolate is worth it. And this chocolate bark recipe? Yeah, it’s more than worth it. My brother and I always cook when we are bored and we decided to create our own chocolate bark combinations earlier this week after seeing some drool worthy combinations in the chocolate aisle of our grocery store. We had some crazy ideas in mind (think seaweed) but we decided to keep the combinations rather simple. And they’re all beyond amazing I might add.Here are the combinations we went for, but you can seriously add anything you want. That’s the beauty of this recipe. -Croissant Crumbs (try saying that in a French accent) -Peanuts and Banana Chips (Chocolate Chimp) -Popcorn (kettle corn would also be amazing) -Banana and Coconut (a tropical sweet) -Potato Chips (the perfect salty + sweet combo)

Here’s what you do. It’s painfully easy.

1. Melt a whole bunch of chocolate chips. We melted ours over a pot of boiling water so that we could make sure they didn't burn.
2. Cover a cookie sheet with wax paper and then pour your melted chocolate onto the baking sheet.
3. Evenly spread all your chocolate.
4. Add toppings as desired. We placed ours in strips but you can create any pattern you want.
5. Stick your chocolate in the fridge until it’s hard.
6. EAT. (the best part)

I’d say the whole process takes about 30 minutes (not including the chocolate drying in the fridge.) It’s easy and delicious. A killer combo in my book.

If you make chocolate bark then we want to see! Tag us in any pictures that you post (@popcosmo).

xox, Chloe

Free Computer Background Images

It's been so long that I've done any free computer background images for you. It's time I created something besides phone cases, right? So I started drawing, but thought why not ask what you wanted? So, I turned to my Twitter friends and asked what words you wanted their computer to say to you all. {Hey, why not, soon our computers will be talking to us - since our phones already do, haha!} And after hearing what you said, I got inspired and started creating a few designs. Thanks for the inspiration, y'all! Enjoy your free computer background images and let me know what you might want next....

Here are the images you can select:

ONE:

TWO:

THREE:

To download, click here:  HELLO  |  DARLIN'  |  BELIEVE |

Mac Instructions: In Safari, simply click and drag the photo to your desktop and right click. Scroll through choices and select "Set Desktop Picture".

Enjoy and let us know what you think in the comments below... & what would you like to see next time?

xox ~chloe

Hostess Gifts

As you know, last week I took a little beach trip to visit my bff, but before I headed out I was racking my brain for ideas of what to take to say "thank you for letting me stay with you." You know, the perfect hostess gifts for both my friend and her mom. For my friend, jewelry or a gift card is always welcome, but I wanted to buy her something girly and cute that her boyfriend wouldn't think of getting her. And I wanted to purchase a special gift for her Mom, because let's face it - without her Mom's permission, my little visit wouldn't have happened (and she happens to have a super-cool Mom who I adore)!

1 -Tiara Soy Candle / 2 - Peony Diffuser / 3 - Milk Eau de Toilette/ 4 - Fresh Peonies / 5 - Coconut Bubble Bath

So I started thinking of all the gifts I would want. And Archipelago has just about everything I fancy in my room & bath, plus the most amazing scented lotions (not too heavy, scented - but not too much, and moisturizing - but not greasy) and even travel and gift sets. Soooo, anything and everything Archipelago are now tops in my list for hostess gifts - and gifs for moi.  In fact,  have the most wonderful Peony diffuser in my room and some of their lotion on me right now -- you know, I was just making sure that they were amazing enough for my bff. Turns out Archipelago is scent-sational.

Disclosure: Archipelago sent us products. However, all opinions regarding them are our own and we wouldn't tell you about them if we didn't totally truly love them. Obviously. 

Hunger Games Prints & Decals

SPONSORED POST

The excitement is stirring around popcosmo for the Hunger Games premiere this week. We have a one-track mind: yes, we love books and movies, yes, we have our tickets; yes, we pre-ordered; yes, we are getting there early; yes, we've considered dressing up, but we know we'll chicken out. The only thing we can't tell you is what "team" we are... we love Katniss, Peeta, Gale, Rue, Cinna... and the list goes on. We are on pins and needles. And we don't want the excitement to end, so we've scouted the MOST adorable artwork we've seen for the Hunger Games so that we can remember this feeling forever... at least until Catching Fire comes out! When we saw Ashley's artwork, we knew we had to tell you all about it. And, not only is it cute, but the price is right and you can customize the colors!! Ashley's AfterNinetoFive is a team that everyone can love! (Oh, and non-Hunger Games fans, there are plenty, puh-lenty of other adorable artwork options!)

Not only is her artwork aaah-mazing, but Ashley, from Nine to Five Decor is pretty cool herself. "I'm a die-hard Hunger Games fan, even though I wouldn't last more than a few seconds in the Arena. I was Team Gale in the beginning, but I was swayed by the boy with the bread....

After Nine To Five (the blog and the shop) were born when I jumped head first into the world of entrepreneurship. I now work at home in my living room, battling our two dogs and cats for a place to work on the couch. I work 60+ hour weeks, but it's totally worth it because I love my job. Today, my favorite color is yellow, and my favorite song is "Come Down To The Water" by Maroon 5 - yep, it's off the Hunger Games soundtrack."

PRINTS: Wall prints are 8" x 10" and are printed on glossy paper... ready to frame. Colors are customizable.

DECALS:

1. Team Gale  2. Team Katniss 3. Team Peeta  4. Girl on Fire 

These Hunger Game decals are perfect for walls, mugs, laptops, storage bins, cars, appliances and more.  Colors can be customized!  AfterNinetoFive uses 5-year calendared vinyl which can be used indoors and outdoors. When properly applied, these decals can last up to 5 years outside and up to twice as long inside. ? The decals are easy to apply and best applied to smooth, hard and clean surfaces. Included with your purchase are directions, transfer paper (that easily allows the smaller pieces of a design to stay put when you’re applying your decal), and a utensil to smooth your decals. All of the decals are removable, but not reusable. When removing the decals, some touch-ups (paint or otherwise) may be necessary depending on the surface and age of the decal.

Contest CLOSED: Win your choice of  1 unframed print plus 1 decal!! Colors CAN be customized. Visit After Nine to Five for more.

Whether you are Team Peeta, Team Gale or Team Katniss, we are pretty sure you or someone you know is Team Hunger Games and hope that you are loving this artwork as much as we do!!

Contest open through 11:59 p.m. on 3/25, enter once daily per email address, winner contacted by email on 3/26. Winner must respond by 3/28 or another winner will be selected. Winner must provide a correct email address below (to be used solely for this giveaway). Winner picked by random number using Random.org. and posted here, Facebook and Twitter. Follow us and friend us!

To enter, tell us Team Katniss, Team Peet or Team Gale. It’s that simple, good luck our Hunger Games artwork giveaway!

Stickers that will make you smile!

Ok, so we are sticker junkies. How can you not love a little something that just makes you smile?? Creative Outlets are fun little stickers that give your outlets an "electric personality"! We just love the idea behind these clever little stickers. ? Matthew Caliman designed them because he is "an illustrator and designer who loves to transform the everyday things we? normally wouldn’t look twice at — into something special." He wants "to live in a world in which there are always surprises to be found, and even the things we take for granted can delight us!"

We definitely take delight in the fact that we can mix and match them and place them all over the house, from the bathroom to the desk. Our electronics are perfectly happy too... I think we saw Siri smile. ? Thanks for making Creative Outlets stickers teen-friendly!