1. It has come to my attention that I have a lot of new readers out there. HI! I’m so glad you’re here. Step out of the creepy lurker shadows and say hello every once in a while, mmmmk? 
2. The winner of the Larabar giveaway is Emily! Congrats – please email me your contact information!
3. My lovely friend Tina is holding a great boot camp challenge and contest SOON! You should go sign up because you could win a whole bunch of great prizes including a lot of CASH!
PS – Tina, I’m using your picture. Just letting you know. 
4. Speaking of my lovely friend Tina, have I told you about how she is going to run the Chicago Marathon in October and is going to be having a sleepover at my house for that weekend? I. Am. So. Pumped. Seriously – I can’t believe I have to wait 8 months until that happens.
5. You all know your almond butter facts. Best advice I got? Maranatha. Store the jar upside down. Whole Foods grind your own. On it!
6. I get to go see The Vow in 13 hours and 50 minutes. The Husband is coming with me. I’m going to bring the tissues because I’m sure he’ll cry or something. Or I probably will. Whatever.
7. I finished Phase 1 of LiveFit this morning. I feel so accomplished.
8. It was never my intent yesterday to have anyone feel like they “had to” cut out any sort of food for any reason. Remember, what I said was that it was advice that I was given – and in no way or form are any of the things listed “bad” for you – especially my coffee and peanut butter! Sherry from the National Peanut Board emailed me about the peanuts and aflatoxins, and while she did not disagree with that statement, she did send me some information on how it naturally occurs in other foods as well, including almonds. I don’t know what’s up with that, but maybe there’s lower levels? I don’t know. There’s always another side to every opinion!
Don’t get me wrong – I love my PB!!
9. It might snow today! Which could be bad news for my date night.
10. Do you like Rudi’s bread? (I do!) You can get a $2.00 off coupon here!
11. I have an intense craving for a red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting. Now you’re going to be thinking about cupcakes all the livelong day.
12. I really enjoy Eminem’s song Not Afraid. Should I be ashamed of this confession?
13. Happy Friday!
{ 80 comments… read them below or add one }
yay for the winner and omg and i LOVE red velvet cupcakes! and now i want them NOW
Hmmmm red velvet…..haha
Happy Friday!
cant wait to see the vow im all prepared to cry lol, and same thing with the cupcakes with all these valentines cakes and desserts on pintrest its all i been thinking about this wk! congrads on the finishing phase one too!
Someone told me today that it’s not a tear jerker like they said it will be! I’m going to find out soon!
I am ashamed to say that if it weren’t for Twitter / blogs, I would still not have heard about The Vow- nonetheless it sounds like something I would love! Tina’s bootcamp sounds awesome- if I wasn’t doing Body For Life now, I would definitely sign up (and you know, rack in some cash
)!
Congrats to the winner!
How fun Tina is going to run that marathon and come for a sleepover weekend! Tina is SO sweet! Love her!
I want to see “The Vow” so bad! I am hoping to just go see it next week, I know this weekend it will be crazy packed!
I love your facts, I have been doing Diva Facts now thanks to you! Hope you do not mind! <3
Of course I don’t mind - you make it your own girl!
Still waiting for that email from you as well! 
Is The Vow out today? I thought it wasn’t coming out until V-Day….oh this could seriously change my plans for tonight!
I love Eminem too….no shame. Gets me through my runs like no other!
Ha! I DO want a cupcake now!
.
I’m thinking of doing Tina’s bootcamp.
Also? I really like that song by Eminem too
You should do the bootcamp! It’d be fun!
I can’t wait to see The Vow!! I also want to see The Woman In Black…Agh! Creepy!!
Thanks for the coupon!
(running to my pantry to turn my Maranatha jar upside down!!)
Have a great day!
My fiance is currently out of town, and will be until the day after V Day, so I’m thinking about taking myself to see The Vow. Pathetic? Maybe. But I want to see it that badly
!
Do it!!!!!
Hahahaha don’t worry…I’mm a (sometimes closeted) Eminem fan as well!
Also, crazy that the woman from the peanut board emailed you! It really shows how seriously people take blogs as a form of advertisement…
It is pretty crazy, isn’t it? Although I totally use blogs as a way to tell me what products I love/don’t love so I can definitely see her concern!
I think after my doctor’s appointment- I’ll sneak off to see the Vow. Alone at like 2:00 in the afternoon like a real winner!
HAPPY FRIDAY!
I hope your appointment went okay!
ugh. snow again?! that better be gone by the time i get home!
WF fresh ground AB is the best.thing.ever.
Most likely!
Not Afraid is one of my favorite songs to run to! It makes me feel like I’m in an epic movie scene or something.
Hiii!! Happy Friday! I am thinking about making those cupcakes for my Hubby to bring to work with him on Valentines Day
I secretly love Selena Gomez….(don’t judge)
I love you like a love song baby! That’s my favorite!
Mine too..hehe!
Yay for sleepovers! Y’all will have fun.
Happy Friday!
Good job on finishing phase one of livefit!
Vishnu’s coming to visit this weekend, and I have yet to convince him to see the Vow with me! He thinks it’s going to be exactly like The Notebook, meaning he’ll end up falling asleep. How’d you convince the Husband???
He thinks Rachel McAdams is hot.
I like that song, too. I have also felt “guilty” about liking his music…it seems like someone whose favorite radio station plays classical music & NPR should not be an Eminem fan. I blame it on being born & raised in Michigan. Gotta stick up for those fellow Michiganders!
Okay I admit it, I’m one of those new(ish) readers who lurks. I live in the Chicago burbs too, so hello, sort-of neighbor. Thanks for getting that Eminem song stuck in my head for, probably, the rest of the day.
Wooohoooo!!! Thanks for coming out of the shadows!
Don’t worry, I have a love/hate relationship with eminem too
I’m a new reader! I’m coming out of the woodwork to say Hi! and love your blog Chelsey! Can’t wait to try some of the recipes that you’ve posted
Hi Chelsey! I’m one of your lurkers:) For the record, as a new Houstonian / former New Englander I’m always jealous when you talk about snow…and I will be craving red velvet cupcakes all day today!
Hi Renee!! I have to say though, I’d be jealous of your warm weather right about now!
oh my goodness, i completely forgot about “the vow” coming out today! i might just have to drag my husband along and go see it tonight… woot!
strong work on completing phase 1 of the livefit trainer! keep it UP!
OMG. Maranatha almond butter all the way! It’s the only brand I eat. And…a large jar at Costco is only $6. I have 10 bottles in my pantry right now…can’t live without almond butter.
Please let us know how The Vow is…I really want to go see it!!
I’m planning on getting a jar tomorrow!
I’m seeing The Vow tomorrow…. words can’t express how excited I am
I’ve been wanting a red velvet doughnut with cream cheese frosting…but a cupcake sounds even better.
Oh my gosh - no a donut sounds better!
I like that Eminiem song too….and glad you found the WFs grind your own nut butter. I forgot about that…yes, very non-drippy!
okay, first, store the jar upside down? I feel like I’ll end up making a mess… um I WANT TO SEE THE VOW! Maybe Molly will go with me for V-day… And I LOVE listening to Eminem while I run. I actually have several of his songs on my long distance playlist… several times each.
As long as you put it right side up before you open it, I think it’ll be okay.
Hi Chelsey
I’m stepping out of the creepy lurker shadows. Lol. Love your blog. I’ve tried a few of your recipes and they turned out amazing! Who knew that roasted cabbage could be so addictive 
Thanks! I’m also going to watch The Vow tonight. Can’t wait! Have a great weekend!
Hi Kelly! We’ll have to compare “vow” notes later!
I totally want a red velvet cupcake now!!! Cream cheese frosting is the best. Enjoy your date night!!
I am SO dragging my hubby to see “The Vow” tonight, too! I’m taking him to dinner first, sooo I think it’s fair.
Totally fair! We’re going out for dinner tomorrow night, so tonight we’re just eating whatever’s laying around!
Mmmmm - cream cheese icing is the best! My grandma makes a homemade buttercream/cream cheese icing that is to die for!!! Happy Friday - enjoy your date night.
I’m going to see the vow tonight too!!! So excited!
I saw the vow last night and was pretty disappointed. It was kind of boring =/ but Channing is still beautiful nonetheless. Thanks for the coupon!!
noooooo dont even say that!
Haha my major confession? Never had red velvet cake. Don’t really get it!
Have a great weekend and date night! Your husband is a good sport for going along to chick flicks
I LOVE that Eminem song. Totally gets me pumped. Back when I could eat almond butter, I lived off Barney Butter. So good!
I’m really hoping that they overestimated the snowfall, I’m driving to Michigan tonight!
And cream cheese frosting is the best!
no way, jose. Not Afraid is a fantastic pump up song.
I’m crossing my fingers the snow doesn’t ruin date night for you. I need to live vicariously through all fun activities this weekend!
yep - i could swim in cream cheese icing. cept it’s too thick. i could lather myself in it. cept it doesn’t sudz.
dang.
i’ll just eat it with my mouth.
Probably the best option.
So funny you mention about storing the almond butter upside down, I just bought 2 jars at Costco and the checkout lady randomly told me that (a customer told her) and that is awesome advice!!
I meant to write this on your other post but forgot. From what I’ve read, the aflatoxin is not a concern as long as the peanuts are roasted. But I read in Brendan Brazier’s book Thrive (and Kris Carr’s book Crazy Sexy Diet) that roasted peanuts are high acid forming in our bodies. I don’t know if you subscribe to the whole theory of alkalinizing and acidifying foods but the basic theory is that our bodies work better at an alkaline pH and that alkalinizing foods like fruits and veggies prevent disease while acidifying foods stress our bodies and can make us more susceptible to disease. Anyways, I think maybe that’s why holistic docs are against peanuts, not necessarily the aflatoxin thing.
Thanks Meagan!
I signed up to do the Boot Camp with Tina, I can’t wait…
Good luck!
Have fun at The Vow…I really want to see it, too!
Red velvet cupcakes….mmmmm….not a bad idea for valentines day!
I hope you make cupcakes so I can have a virtual taste!
Happy Friday Chelsey! Hope you have a good date night. I really want to see the vow, so hopefully it’s good!
Ooh gurl thanks for the coupon. Also the almond butter storage tip? Did not know that! Have fun seeing the Vow, I want to see that so bad! I get to see The Descendants though, have you seen it? Have an amazing weekend!
I haven’t seen it - heard it was great though!
Hope you’re having fun watching The Vow right now!! I so want to see that movie. Although not as much as I want it to be 8 months from now!!!
Mmm red velvet..reminds of that disneyland one you posted awhile back!
Hey chelsey - I saw the Vow this afternoon and it was really cute! Enjoy it tomorrow!
I am a newish reader. I am gluten and dairy free and love anything fitness related. I can’t remember how I stumbled upon your blog but I am glad I did! Congrats on finishing the first phase of live fit trainer! You got me motivated to try it and I am loving it! I needed to get back into weights after having two kids. This has been perfect for me. have a great weekend!
Stepping out!
All the way from Sweden. Love your posts. Love clean eating. Love the fact that the world is a little duckpond thanks to the Internet.
I am starting my new blog very very soon - in Swedish
- and wants your brutal opinion about the title of it… I will write about simplicity, purity, vegan living and the BIG questions from a small persons perspective. Here goes:
1. Odd Godliness
2. Urban Idealist
3. Unmistakable Living
There we go. So Universe (coming through Chelsey - and her lovely readers - today
, you take care of the voting and I’ll take care of the writing.
And yes, we should both be ashamed of liking ‘not afraid’, but that’s OK. Everyone has flaws. Even the sun for Gods sake.
Love and a perfect weekend from Sofia <3
Well, just great. It’s time to gk to bed and now I want a cupcake.
I mean go. See, you got me all confused with the cupcake talk.
Will be emailing you this weekend. 
New reader over here (and living in Chicago, as a matter of fact)! Adding your blog to my rotation and I like what I’ve read so far. Thanks for all you do!
Julie
HI!!!! I have been a creepy lurker for sometime now. Your blog is awesome and I have even referred a lot of my friends who are probably stalking your blog too. I have been thinking about trying the LIVEFIT, but struggle with giving up the cardio during PHASE 1. . . Hmm. . . decisions. . . decisions. . .
Keep up the good work….