Christmas Dream List
Surprise! I’m home. No, I didn’t run the 5K I had signed up for a couple weeks ago. After taking a week off from running, my left knee and left quad are still hurting. 
I ran around the block Friday morning to assess the pain and it would have been a very bad idea to run the race. I didn’t talk about it much last week because I thought they would feel better in time. Nope.
I’m pretty bummed out especially because the weather was perfect for racing. Oh well, there will be many more chances once my legs stop hating me. Anyone else have quad pain? I’ve never experienced anything like this before. Humph!
So I’m home for Thanksgiving Break now. I only had to skip 1 class to come home for 10 days! Totally worth it if you ask me.
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I helped my parents fix up some of their homes today so it was a pretty un-foodie-ful day. I’ll leave you with some FUN randomness instead:
Theo Chocolate Review
Debra, from Theo Chocolate, graciously sent me some 8 bars (!!!) of complimentary organic and fair trade chocolate to sample. When Debra first asked me whether or not I would like to try their chocolate, I literally took one look at the website and knew the [obvious] answer to that question.
So many interesting and quirky flavors: Bread & Chocolate, Coconut Curry, Fig, Fennel & Almond, Cherry & Almond, Spicy Chile, Dark, and Milk.
I hinted that the Fig Fennel & Almond caught my eye and I was so thrilled to see it in the package 
Of course, I broke into it first!
My Thoughts
I am going to review the flavors as I try them. Although I could probably try every flavor in one sitting, it wouldn’t be as special for my taste buds You can tell that the chocolate is of the highest quality before it even enters your mouth, seriously! The cacao scent is just so robust and rich. This is not chocolate to shovel in, rather to be enjoyed thoroughly.
Fig Fennel & Almond: Mmmm I’m not the biggest licorice fan but the three flavors mesh so well together with the chocolate. I would have preferred to have more of a fig presence–some fig seeds would have been nice. Bread & Chocolate: I did not know what to expect biting into this. Would there be chewy bread inside? No, instead there was a pleasant crispy texture throughout. The texture further accentuated the richness of the chocolate. *Between the two, I’d say the Bread & Chocolate flavor wins, but barely.
More flavor reviews to come!
Christmas DREAM List:
I came home to see some newspaper ads on the counter. I have a soft spot for these ads because 1) There are coupons galore and 2) I get a kick out of seeing what’s on sale.
I came across two ads that got me drooling, wishing, and hoping. Disclaimer I actually do NOT expect to get these items whatsoever. This is simply a DREAM list!
1. A Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer
This kitchen appliance is a dream come true and essential for my future baking endeavors. Look at all the COLORS!!!! There are over 20. I originally thought I would definitely choose RED (my favorite color) but look at the green–both so p-p-pretty!!
Look at all the attachments: Pasta Roller and Cutter, Ice Cream Maker (!!!!), Food Grinder, and Rotor Slicer/Shredder. LALALALALALA!
2. Canon Heaven
If you haven’t noticed, I am a Canon girl all the way. My Canon camera has served me well the last 3 years. I couldn’t have asked for a better companion at all the college parties, sorority functions, European travels, and now my FOOD
Camera porn:
Obviously, I would love to own a Canon SLR but I don’t exactly have the budget for that right now. But a girl can dream, right?
Alright. I hope you enjoyed the non-foodie-ful post. I figured this week will be crazy with food anyways, might as well take it easy!
Okay off to answer some emails, do some work (chyeah, RIGHT), and bake?
I did the same thing. Missing 1 class is totally worth 10 days at home! Enjoy your fam & the chocolate =)
That chocolate looks scrumptious! The bread & chocolate totally caught my eye….reminded me of when I was a kid and use to stick bread sticks in the nutella jar. Ummmm…oh, the old days!!!
Sorry to hear that you legs have been giving you issues. It’s so frustrating that we try so darn hard to stay healthy and our physical body rebels. Bummer…
A. I LOVE theo chocolate. Their dark with cherries&almonds is sooooooooo good.
B. We have the EXACT same wishlist. I can not wait for the day I own a KitchenAid mixer!!!
C. Sorry about the run, but have so much fun at home with the family!
I want a stand mixer too and I most definitely would get the bright green one!!! I think my favorite part of it would be the pasta attachment! Or maybe the grinder attachment! It’s really cool!
I would really like to have a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer one day. And I really love the red also. If I win the lottery, I’ll buy one and one for you also LOL The chocolates look great, except the curry since I don’t like curry LOL I’m not a Canon girl, I’m a Sony. My boyfriend only buy Sony camera. It’s the second he buys and this one I really like it. http://www.flickr.com/cameras/sony/dsc-h5/
THEO IS MY #1 FAVORITE CHOCOLATE BRAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have never heard of Theo Chocolate but it looks (and sounds) absolutely amazing! You are so lucky to get to try all those interesting flavors. Their wrapping is so adorable and unique too.
I actually have the green apple Kitchen Aid stand mixer and I love it! Still wishing for a new camera though, like so many of us bloggers.
Yay for being home at last! I only had to skip one class for our ten days of freedom too:)
Keep us updated on any baking projects!
home! nice
I still ahve until tuesday night. love hte rviews– those chocolate slook gooddd
xoxo
shelley
yay your HOME!! OMG, that canon camera looks absolutely amazing. my brother and sis in law bought me a sony cybershot and i love it and all but the pictures i take at anaheim stadium are horrible. i can’t get close to the players and it sucks. i wish i had a better camera even though i just got one.
enjoy the chocolates!!
I hope your legs are feeling better soon!
oh…. Theo is one of my favorite dark chocolate brand! you lucky girl!!!
You have a long christmas gift list, don’t you?
and… you’re at home already? 10 days with your family? that’s awesome!!!!
Oh there are soooo many things on my Xmas wish list that I’ll NEVER get – just cards and socks! that’s okay – but I’d love to have a spiralizer, books galore from Chapters!! (love books and browsing), and…a new job…and more time
okay enough!!
Oh those chocolates look great and I’m glad to hear you’re taking care of yourself!
That chocolate looks so cute on the outside,and divine on the inside.
I would like that stand mixer too. and a french press.and a blender. oh wishes…
No quad pain, but my hip injury is ongoing…so frustrating. BUT, means you get to hang with the family! Have a great time! Bread chocolate sounds awesome
Now I need to go google cameras…aaaaah, and kitchen appliances. A gal can dream.
SO glad to hear you’re home! Hope you enjoy it!! Chocolate samples? Oh man- they look just so incredible. Can’t wait to see the rest of your reviews. I have a stand mixture that I received as a gift a few years ago and I LOVE it. I hope Santa treats you well this year and brings you a few items from your wish list
Those flavors all look incredible! I really want to buy some now, but I have to eat up my Halloween candy stash first, haha. I want an SLR, too :/
I’m a cannon girl too.
I hope your quad is feeling better! Can you do some light yoga to stretch it out and see if that helps??
I totally covet a Kitchen Aid mixer. And the SLR camera. I’m thinking of getting a regular point and shoot Canon thought. Which kind do you have? Your pictures always come out so great!
thanks for the chocolate review!! i LOVE your christmas list
now i wanna get your same camera! my dad actualy wanted to buy me a canon. =D
sorry about your quads. my quads have been hurtin ga bit too. and my knee is bothering me too, but not during my runs, weirdly. just when i walk.
the run was AWESOME!
hahaah Allie I swear we have the exact same X’mas list. It was freakishly coincidental that RIGHT before i came to your blog, I was browsing Canon Powershot SD 780 on Amazon. I’m IN LOVE with the red and gold ones. OF corse, Cannon because YOU recommended it!!!! I’ve notified all relevant parties (aka present providers) of my wishlist! Do your parents have access to yours? hehehehe
Yay for free chocolate. All those flavors sound SO enticing!!! You’ll be SURE to do a great job reviewing them. Just your pictuers alone are making me salivate!!! *drool*
Hope you’re having a beautiful weekend. Hope you’ve got a chance to stop by to enter my birthday giveaway!!!
Allie,
Thanks for the comment back! I’m sure if you decided you wanted to get into nutrition you could handle the science aspect- but with your back ground in Marketing and obvious love and knowledge of food and exercise you could also do something more on the PR/ business/ community side of things too! So many options out there.. I am in the same boat as you as far as “still trying to figure out life”
That chocolate also looks amazing… I love anything spicy so I am excited for your review of the Chili Chocolate one!
And I’m totally with you on the “camera porn” now that I am back to blogging I am so jealous of everyone elses pretty pictures haha.
best,
J
Glad you are home and good for you for listening to your body and skipping the race. If your body wasn’t feeling it, it’s soo good that you didn’t push yourself.
Ohhh, my Christmas wish list definitley as a digitla SLR on it, as well as other quite wishful items…. a new laptop, a garmin, a vitamix…..
Hey, you never know what Santa will bring!
Okay, I am glad I’m not the only one who is drooling over a kitchenaid mixer!
Glad you’re home safe for 10 days of no school!
I’m only posting on Sunday nights because my weekends are so blah in eating!
Aw hope everything starts feeling better soon. Injuries are the worst.
Um I would like a Vitamix, a trip to the Marine Corps Marathon or the Nike Womens Marathon, an immersion blender. LOL I want either running stuff or food stuff. Either would be great
Oh I’m sad from running pain too
I haven’t been able to run for over 3 weeks due to a sore hip it makes me sad. That chocolate looks amazing and I love the cute packaging. Hopefully you’ll be back to running soon I hope I am! x x
Have a wonderful time at home for 10 days! Sorry to hear about your knee & quad. Did you try googling what it could be yet
Google is my BFF.
I can’t believe that kitchen aid mixer has a pasta roller! I wish mine had that!
I’ve never had theo chocolates, but would love to try them some time! My current favorite is the Black and Green organics. I hope your legs are feeling better soon!
I soooooooo want a Kitchen Aid mixer. My parents have had one forever, and I miss using it!
Those two items are on my wish list/dream list as well!!!
*gaaaaaaaaaaasp* I want a visit from the chocolate fairy too!
And a good camera!
And I am so jealous of your 10 day break! I’m having to skip one class and I get 5 days x_x