There’s No Place Like Home

Written by on in Breakfast, Tidbits and Treats

Winter break has officially arrived here at Eating Bender! I finished my last exam at 2:00 pm yesterday afternoon and headed straight for the airport with my mom. It was a bittersweet ending because on the one hand, I now have three straight weeks of free time and the holidays to look forward to. But on the other hand, the end of the quarter brings me one step closer to graduation, and although I’m looking forward to “what’s next,” I can’t help but feel a little sad that the end of college is getting closer every day.

Upon my arrival last night, I was told that I had a package with my name on it!

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Isn’t it amazing how a package that simply says “Jenn” arrived safely? 😉 Haha, obviously I blacked out the address information for privacy reasons!

As some of you may know from this post, Melissa of Trying to Heal and I did a little blogger exchange! I’ve got to tell you, when I saw what she had been baking up in the kitchen recently, I was secretly wishing and hoping that I might get in on some of that action.

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How cute is that card? You can imagine my reaction – think: jumping and screaming – when I opened the box and saw that my wish had come true!!

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She sent me an entire plate of delicious, homemade cookies and goodies! I could not have asked for anything better! Clockwise from the front we have:

  • Lemon whipper snappers
  • Peanut butter strips
  • Gingerbread strips
  • M&M blondies
  • Peppermint bark
  • White Oreo bark
  • Dark Oreo bark
  • Strawberry whipper snappers
  • Dark chocolate covered Oreo
  • White chocolate covered Oreo

In other words…HEAVEN!!

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On a plate!!

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My family and I have been snacking on these treats ever since, and we all agree that everything tastes incredible. So from all of us:

Thank you, Melissa!

As a family that usually slacks on Christmas cookie baking, it is the perfect treat and it made coming home that much better :mrgreen: You rock!!

My first treat was a gingerbread strip – the first official gingerbread cookie I’ve had this holiday season. It was chewy and everything that gingerbread should be.

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I also split a peanut butter strip with my Papa Bender…

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And had a bite of an M&M blondie before giving the rest to my little brother to enjoy (he loved it, by the way)!

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Simply delicious. Yay!

This morning I woke up pretty early and started out my day with a mug of Coffee Cocoa. I’m trying NOT to feel as the mug says…

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But of course, I won’t feel totally at ease until I get my grades next week 🙂 Yes, I’m one of those people – perfectionist ’til the end.

After the mug of deliciousness, I wasn’t feeling all that hungry, but Melissa’s plate of heaven was calling my name again so I decided to try a strawberry whipper snapper.

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YUMMY! I’ve never tried anything like it before! It tasted like strawberry cake, which I later found out is just what the recipe calls for. I will definitely have to make these sometime!

Eventually, I decided to round out breakfast with a bowl of Special K Red Berries and unsweetened almond milk.

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Fun Fact: I love this cereal, but I always pick OUT the freeze-dried strawberries because I don’t like them. My mom always tells me to just buy normal Special K, but then you wouldn’t get the strawberry flavored sugar crystals (which I’m sure are super healthy for you), right?!

I also had a slice of rye bread with a Laughing Cow Swiss spread on top like buttah. Only it tasted like cheese.

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And now here I am, typing to you :mrgreen: I’ve got plans to start The Host today as well as a trip to the gym wedged somewhere in there. There’s no place like home!

The giveaways are never-ending! Check out this post from Maggie over at Say Yes to Salad to enter to win Pumpkin Pecan Butter!

And don’t forget about my Vita-Mix Super 5200 Giveaway, which ends this MONDAY, DECEMBER 15 at 11:59 pm! I’m so looking forward to figuring out who the winner will be!

Happy Saturday, everyone! I’m off to catch up in blogland.

31 Comments

  5. Congrats on finishing exams and being home!! Christmas break is the best, I can’t wait for mine to start!

    Melissa’s treats DO look amazingg, glad you are enjoying them 🙂

    I can’t wait for you to start the Host, it seriously is a great book, it solidified my love for all things Stephanie Meyer (as if there were any question)! Enjoy your day!

  7. Aww wow! So happy you are spending time with your fam! And what an awesome bunch of delish treats you received from Melissa!!! I’m jealous!!!

    Have a lovely break Jenn!

  8. wow that plate of goodies looks AMAZING!!!!!! i’m so glad you’re home safe and sound—doesn’t it feel great : )

    enjoy your break!

  9. Those look so good Jenn! Especially the blondie. I love how the m&m coloring stained the ooey gooey inside. YUM.
    I’m really excited to see what you end up doing for work after graduation.

  10. Oh my! Those treats from Melissa look out of this world! Home baked goodies are just the best, aren’t they? Glad you’re home! Enjoy your time and get lots of relaxing in!!

  12. I totally feel ya on the bittersweetness! But good work on finishing, that is the BEST feeling of relaxation 😀 OMG those treats look amazing, makes me sad that I suck at baking… AND i agree with you about that Special K- the berries are nast but the flavor is oh so good!

  19. Happy to hear you made it back home safely! Haha…that comment about finding out grades is so true–we may have been seperated at birth 🙂

  23. What a nice surprise! A big plate of beautiful Christmas cookies is a great way to be greeted:)

    I hope you are enjoying your break as much as I am!

  29. Wow! What a sweetheart! Enjoy the treats! They sure looked good when she blogged about them!

    Enjoy the time being home! (And in warmer weather, perhaps?)

    Ooh, and I love rye bread! Can’t wait to see the results of the contest! Will I win…..? We shall see!

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