3 years is a long time.
This blog is my longest commitment. Kidding… sort of.
In 3 years, I have learned a LOT! I didn’t have a clear vision outside of “food” when I began. I was playing roller derby, drinking a lot of beer with the occasional side of Waffle House, and trying to be a runner. 3 years later, I no longer play derby, I don’t run half as much as I did, and I’ve competed in 2 figure competitions (with 2 more just a month away – eep!). I also drink less beer, and am about 15 pounds lighter. Waffle House still happens after every figure competition though. 😉
#strangebutgood #yolkporn
In the beginning, no one read my blog except my mom. Now more people read and my mom doesn’t. I remember my first comment from a stranger. It was from Tina – I was so excited!!! 3 years late, I’m honored today to call her a friend. I’m honored to call a LOT of my favorite bloggers friends. This is an inspiring, motivated community full of diversity, humor, and FUN.
End mush. Begin giveaway.
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On the last day of my Blogiversay Favorite Things week of giveaways, I wanted to share ALL the things! Rather than giving you a #strangebutgood recipe, I’m giving you things to make your own strangeness!
I am sooooo excited about this. Trying new things is a sport to me, so hopefully I’ll be able to share something new with one of you!
Some things aren’t so much strange as they are staples, or representative of things I love. Other items are in the pile because people are always asking where I get ingredients (I’ll be your dealer!).
- House of Payne tank top – This is from my gym! The shirt is this style (it’s a small, but I can check if you need M or L). I love Steve Payne and his crew. Check them out here.
- Peanut Flour – You all know I am having an intense love affair with this stuff. I like it better than PB2 (and others) because it’s less processed. The only ingredient is peanuts (no preservatives, sodium, sugar, etc). If you don’t win it, you can order your own from iHerb. Use discount code USO924 for $5-10 off your order!
- Flavors – There are SO many ways you can flavor your food without salt, sugar, and other unhealthy things! These are a few of my favorites:
- Olive oil from local farmers Sweetwater Growers. They have a variety of flavors, but rosemary gets me every time.
- Butter extract – I find it at Whole Foods, but I know several of you haven’t been able to locate it. I’ve used it in Cookie Dough Oatmeal, Cauliflower Protein Pancakes, Oatmeal Cookie Protein Shakes, a healthy Everything Schmer for your bagel… it’s also awesome with the peanut flour.
- Asian Seasoning – I’m not really sure what it is, but it’s good and it involves chili pepper. It’s one of the many random things I’ve located at Atlanta’s giant farmer’s markets.
- Treats – These aren’t exactly the picture of healthy, but when I’m feeling snacky they sure hit the spot! And they aren’t the worst things in the world. Everyone knows and loves Quest bars. The Brownie is my favorite (cut in squares and baked for 10 min on 350). Vega’s Savi Seeds are a crunchy-salty satisfier. Justin’s dark chocolate peanut butter cup… I don’t think I need to explain this deliciousness. Lastly, my favorite gum. I cannot workout without it! Extra seems to be the longest lasting.
- Burdock Root Crisps – I have no idea what this is. I got them to represent my love of the international farmer’s market and trying new things. Let me know how they are! 😉
- Cherry-Flavored Dried Cranberries – I cannot stand dried fruit. Except for these funky-flavored things. Specifically, I love them in my…
Granola Cookies! Old picture because I haven’t made them yet… I will ship you a fresh batch. They can be made vegan and/or gluten-free upon request.
Thanks for helping me celebrate this week! Don’t forget the giveaway for my favorite protein powder, Growing Naturals, is still open through the weekend too
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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How have you enjoyed making co-workers, friends, or family stare with strange but good creations this week? The link up rules can be found here or by clicking on “Strange But Good” in the menu bar above. In short, I want to see what concoctions have earned you weird looks from co-workers, family and friends! Post your Strange But Good creations, grab the logo below for your blog, and link up here.
Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations. 🙂
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I'll take a break from giveaways and get back to recipes next week. In the mean time, check out the Strange But Good link ups!
What would you try first out of this bag of my favorite schwag? Hee hee. I rhymed.
If you were going to send a box to someone that represents you, what would you include?
Awe, such a sweet little sentiment at the beginning;) It’s really crazy how blog friends can actually become real life friends. I kind of like it though.
Me too, friend. 🙂
I was going to refrain from saying chocolate and and kabocha, but well, I can’t help what my favorites are. 😉 happy blog birthday!
Aw, so fun to see you reflect back on the changes! Even though I haven’t been following along for all that long, I can’t wait for 3 more years. Some of my favorite things … pumpkin, berries, green smoothies, my Vitamix, cinnamon, chocolate :).
Vitamix! That’s a good one. Too bad I couldn’t give one of those away!
Love peanut flour! Its so great and so much better than that PB2 stuff.
Yay happy blogiversary! xo Vega is definitely one of my favorites that you mentioned.
Best giveaway! Honestly, I’m so glad to have come across your blog- you not only make me feel less weird by my creations but spark new ideas but the best thing- the twerking connection 😉
Can;t wait to keep infiltrating this blog for many years to come!
If I were to send a box to someone, it would be a a jar of vegemite with some twerking pants thrown in.
that butter extract may be a major reason for entering the giveaway as much as possible 😉 second entry again!
PErsonal delivery here we come 😉
When I do personally deliver myself down there, I will bring you some twerking pants. And then Instagram you in the squat rack. 😉
Aww, I love that you got all mushy and shit! Mark it down on the calendars, folks! 😉
Hmm, a box of goodies to represent me? Peanut flour and/or peanut butter would be a must, coconut flavored anything, something salty and crunchy, some BBQ seasoning, and a little bit of chocolate for good measure…a little all over the place just like ME! 😉
Sush your face! 😉
I now associate you with pancakes and BBQ. Have you ever made BBQ pancakes? Maybe with some PB&J?
Actually, I HAVE! Only I cheated and used Kodiak Cake Mix and just added peanut flour to it! 😉 http://www.kissmybroccoliblog.com/2011/07/11/bueller/
I refuse to count this. You can do better. 😉
You are so sweet! When I first started blogging I thought I would survive about six months, yet two and a bit years later, here we are 😉
I love this! It had me singing these are a few of my favorite things..haha Having a blog is a lot of commitment, literally there are weeks where I just want to do other things but my love of having one and connecting with other bloggers outweighs that mush whenever it happens. I am so happy I found your blog through Allie at Forgotten Beast, sad she stopped blogging but that is how I found you and I LOVE your recipes, journey and watching your fitness life and workouts. Your blog is something I look forward to reading on a daily basis! Anyways, if I were to win I would try the cherry flavored cranberries and then the Burdock root. If I were to send a box I would send fancy teas (my addiction), healthy chocolate, baked goodies and lots of stevia extracts because as you said sugar/salt SUCK but stevia extracts ROCK! Lots of love and I hope you have a great weekend! xoC
You summed it up so well – it’s work, but oh-so-rewarding.
I look forward to reading your log too. So inspiring. I hope we can meet for “real” one day!
When I started my blog, I never even thought I’d form relationships with others through it. The power of the blog is mighty! 🙂
Some of my favorites right now: farm fresh eggs and apples. Can’t.get.enough.
I feel the same way! I had NO idea just how rewarding my “blog life” would be.
Congrats again on the 3 year anniversary! I love when bloggers do a personal giveaway like this! It’s great to see what products you use and love! I’m a big peanut flour fan too but I’ve never tried that variety to I would love to win!
Awwr gushing. Even though I haven’t been reading since the very beginning, I’m happy to have come across ya, lady 🙂 And I had to giggle that you included gum — that stuff’s my favourite too. As for what I’d try first, butter extract. I’ve never come across it before, and I’m curious…
I love your blog and look forward to getting it in my reader every morning. I would definitely try the butter extract first!
Thank you so much, Whitney!
I’ve been reading for years and I love it! My favorite (foodie) things are chocolate and nut butters.
Thank you, Rachel! xo
Food, food, aaaaaand food. Almond butter!
this is the best giveaway! i love all your treats and food finds. they are my favorite, so i deserve to win. just sayin
p.s. corny cotter like sappy sprint2thetable
Mwah!!! I need to just BRING you a box.
you always seem to find the most interesting products! And thanks again for those adorable plates, all my coworkers will be very jealous when I whip those out
You’re welcome! I was excited to see you name – can’t WAIT to see them in action. 🙂
favorite things: any type of nut / seed butters
Happy Blog-a-versary!!!!!
That is awesome of you to include a fantastic giveaway! I would definitely say in that box that the peanut flour sings to my soul! That stuff is the sh** and should not be legal!
Right now my favorite things are Kombucha in Citrus flavor, California Suncakes, sweating out my frustration in a long run, and doing everything in my power not to study (we have a really clean house at the moment because of my procrastination)!
Have a wonderful day
xoxo
Thank you! I love your way with words. 🙂
I’ve seen so many of your yummy posts that used peanut flour and been dying to try some! That would be the first thing I would try!!!
Happy blog birthday! 3 years is quite a feat! Bet its feels pretty great to look back and see how far you’ve come. I remember your blog was one of the first I started reading regularly-your combo of comedy and interesting recipes had me at Hello World! (Heh…) and your workouts became a great go-to. Am I reminiscing?! Ok swag: I’m really intrigued by those burdock root chips-I know burdock is good stuff but I’ve only seen it in pill form! And quest bars. I’ve never had one but my god do I want to bulk order from the US… Oh and thanks again for the sbg link up!
Thank you! And thank you sticking around so long… I’m flattered. I look forward to you link up every #strangebutgood day. 🙂
That peanut flour needs to be in my pantry! I’m so excited for you! 3 years is such a milestone 🙂
That box is full of lots of fun things! Some of my favorite things are nut butters and spices!
I would try the budrock things because I have no idea what they are! And I’m totally guilty of buying PB2 because they sell it at Kroger.
And also, your trainer should buy his t-shirts from my company! Sorry, had to throw that in there.
LOL! I’ll let him know. 😉
I’d try the peanut flour first – I’ve only ever had PB2 before, but I’d want to try the regular stuff. And I had no idea you did roller derby!! Lady, you just got even more badass. :-p
Yes ma’am. Til the whole jaw thing. It was a blast!!! Actually, I could see you doing it…
Some of my favorite things? I love Justin’s nut butter on a sweet potato, not really strange, but good!
I’m so glad to have virtually met you through your blog! I hope one day to finally meet you!
I’m coming up on 3 years in January! Holy moly!
Must try to peanut flour. Been meaning to search for it!
I hope to meet you one day too! You need to come to Blend next year!!! I’ll bribe you with peanut flour. 😉
my favorite things in no particular order:
1. my vinyl collection
2. my dog
3. mark (he should be number one, but i wouldn’t be able to put him in a box to ship.)
4. yogi muscle recovery green tea
5. renew life probiotics
6. Plentils lentil chips + indian spice bean dip (trying to hack this recipe from my local co-op)
7. avocados
8. GOOD FISH (we have none around here)
9. handful sports bras
10. jay mccarroll fabric
That is a super random list of things. 🙂 happy blog birthday!
This list is one of the many reasons I love you. Also, I don’t think you could really put your dog in a box to ship either. Poor Mark. 😉
Come down to GA and I’ll buy you some good fish.
Do you know we bought burdock root at whole foods this week? No idea what it tastes like yet, but we’ll probably try it this weekend 😉
We are scarily in sync lately. Competition ESP?
Happy 3 years!! I also LOVE quest bars (too much maybe) and peanut flour! Although I’ve only had PB2… I would love to try regular/plain peanut flour!
I don’t think you can love Quest bars too much. 😉
Love seeing your favorite things. Happy 3 year anniversary. My 4 year is coming up and I still remember the first 2 commenters – one has become a dear friend. Love it! I really want to try that butter extract. I had never heard of it until your blog. My favorite things include PB2, nunaturals stevia, and this fantastic new gap tshirt that I found when shopping with Lindsay Cotter. Seriously the best freaking shirt ever.
Time flies, doesn’t it??? I am so glad we started this crazy habit. 🙂
Love it! I definitely always keep a quest bar in my purse for if I get in a pinch. Not as great at planning ahead like you! 🙂
I should totally win because I gave you a special blogday yolk porn photo on my blog today…and I totally made a modified Sprint 3 The Table graphic.
Just saying.
Oh, favorite things? Delicata squash, nut butter, ice cream, watermelon….
You SHOULD have won. Settle for an Indian date?
I really like oat fiber (very low carb) but adds nice bulk to muffins in a mug and coconut oil. Good stuff.
My favourite things are wine, chocolate and running!
Best. Ever.
A few of my favorite things are running, sunshine, and making people laugh!
Making people laugh is such a good one! Me too!
Favorite things: Greek yogurt, hummus, peanut butter
I wonder if that would taste good all together…
I love peanut flour, greek yogurt, cottage cheese, wine, chocolate, good food, strange combinations… ice cream! mmm.. now I’m hungry!
I want all of those things together! 🙂
Let’s see if I could send you something to represent me it would include: nut butters, Sriracha sauce, and FlapJacked Protein Pancakes. All amazing stuff that I eat weekly and sometimes a lot during the week, it just depends on the mood. LOL! Happy Friday!
Our kitchens should hang out. 🙂
OMG! I just clicked through to Justin’s peanut butter cups and saw they were vegan! I’ve never tried them, but they are now my favorite thing!
I actually didn’t know they were vegan! Even better. 🙂
Everything looks awesome! I need this basket in my life 🙂
And now you shall have it. 🙂
I love quest bars, pancakes, mug cakes, apples, bananas, and almond butter!!
I am super fascinated by the peanut flour!
Favorite things: popcorn, dark chocolate, salsa, and broccoli!
Broccoli?! I love it. 🙂
I would like to send you a box filled with spaghetti squash, nori sheets, grass-fed beef jerky, salmon skin (yep, raw…..) anddddddddddddddd tomato paste! BAH HA HA HA HA HA! – That sums me up quite nicely. I would send UNAGI your way too except, I HOARD THAT SHIT so nope, you ain’t getting NONE! LMFAO. Now if you come visit LA, then MAYBE, just MAYBE would I be willing to share!
I go to SF a lot… you should just boogie on up north for a Napa weekend!
I’d like to try the butter extract.
I’d include Quest Bars, Cookie Butter, Trader Joe’s Greek Yogurt Guac, Edamame Hummus, Joseph’s Flax pitas, my Polar HR monitor, a pair of my favorite F21 gym shorts, and a misto. 🙂
Hold up. TJs has greek yogurt guac?! What????
hmm…i think that popcorn tops my list of favorite things at the moment(:
Me too – I’m eating it almost every night!
I’m absolutely loving peanut flour right now. I need to think of more things to make with it!
Just search my recipage… I put it in EVERYTHING. 😉
Oh my golly happy 3 years!! Blogging seriously teaches you so much about yourself!!
Confession: I have a hard time linking to the strange but good foods because I forget what foods are strange to “normal” people. Green smoothies are strange, right?
That whole smoothie thing cracked me up. I’ve been drinking them for years so I didn’t think twice. Today I brought one to work and was reminded how weird I am to “normal” people though. 😉
I love cupcakes, quest bars, nut butters, fruit, bananas, and watermelon!
I love lots of things, especially food related things. A few random things include cinnamon (on everything), Quest Bars and popcorn. All are seriously addicting. Happy anniversary!
my faves include: peanut flour, vanilla crème sweet drops, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, anything by Vega, quest bars, and health warrior chia bars!!
I LOVE those chia bars!!
My favorite thing right now is easily Justin’s maple almond butter…I cannot get enough!!
That stuff is crack!
My favorite thing right now are chia seeds. I keep throwing them in everything!
I always forget to add them! Must move them to the front my my pantry.
I love this! 🙂 My favorite thing right now is anything PUMPKIN!
Let the season of orange glow begin. 🙂
Some of my favorite things are: kimchi, pink lady apples and creamy peanut butter
Some of my favorite things? does travelling count? cookies, the chunkier the better. kale. salmon, fresh alaskan preferably. Red wine.
Traveling is at the top of my list too!
My favs
Pb extract (Watkins)
Quest bars baked
Bakers unsweetened chocolate
Egg white zuchini pancakes
Choc protein frosting
I had no idea there was PB extract! I’m google-ing that right now… thanks!
Hugs. Peanut butter. Coffee. Chestnut desserts. Laughter. You.
You. <3
Laura you are huge inspiration for me! I’m planningon competing on bikini next May and watching your Transformation helped me make that decision. I love your blog, I love the recipes, and I love your style! Keep it up, hon.
Cherie… thank you so, so much! That is a big compliment. I hope you’ll keep me posted as May gets closer!!!
KOMBUCHA!!
Coffee! I probably drink too much of it, but it’s perfection in a cup.
Good call – I’m obsessed with fancy coffee beans.
Some of my favorite things are PB (should go w/out saying), dried fruit, trail mix, pancakes, & Nu Naturals Stevia.
Your cookies…I’m sure those would be my fave!
Ice cream and peanut butter 🙂
Ohhhh… peanut butter ice cream is the BEST.
girl you know i have so many strange but good favorites. some not so strange to us foodies is making parsnip chips, adding protein powder to.. EVERYTHING and i love random extracts too. i haven’t tried butter yet, but i heard its great making stuff taste “cakey” would love to try it. and the root crisps!!
some of my favorite food things: potatoes, coconut, kabocha squash, ice cream
Favorite things: You! (So excited to meet you IRL when you come out next month!) and farmers markets, and Tink : ) Even if I don’t win I am going to have to try butter extract, seriously what IS it!? Super excited!
xx Kait
Awwww… I can’t wait to meet you either!!!
thanks for the giveaway!
some of my current favorite things are pumpkin muffins, coffee, squash and apples
thanks for hosting all the giveaways:)
Iwould love to try that peanut flour
I love the white chocolate raspberry quest bars, chocolate peppermint stick Luna bars, Fage plain Greek yogurt with chocolate protein powder, all things pumpkin 🙂 and trader joes gingerbread coffee! Just a few of them
Those Quest bars rock! I can’t believe it took me so long to try the raspberry.
I love Quest bars, Kashi pumpkin spice granola bars, quinoa, and pineapple!
Laura – it will not let me enter under the pin a link one – I tried everything to get it to take my link & it just keeps asking me to Pin – PLS HELP! I want to win! 🙂
AS for things I love – cookies, weight lifting & winning the lotto – Oh damn, have not done that yet! 😉
some of my favorite things are avocados, almonds, and pumpkin 🙂
some of my essentials are….stevia, PB, almond flour, coconut flour, protein….hmm I think I have a lot more too!
You are just so darn cute. Three years is a LONG time. Look at how much you’ve accomplished. hope you celebrate ALL WEEKEND long!!!! 🙂 My essentials- NuttZo, coconut oil, kabocha (obviously), egg whites, almond milk, ………… HUGS!
Our essentials are twins. Hopefully they won’t try to pee in public places. 😉
xoxo
Quest bars make my list of favorite things, too! Lol. I also love coconut butter, almond milk, and chocolate stevia!
I love peanut flour too!! so versatalie for so many things..some of my favorite things are flavored extracts..there’s so many fun flavors to play with and mix it up with snack or foods.
Totally agree! Extracts are my favorite kitchen weapon. Next to protein powder. 😉
mmmm peanut flour:) my favorite thing as of late is my p28 bread I just got in the mail, that with some scrambly eggs is heaven:) also ketchup.
Isn’t it awesome?! Check out the recipe I posted Monday…. it features P28!
I would try the butter extract and root chips first.
I MUST have some sort of nut butter, preferable several jars at once because I eat like 6 servings a day. I also like either having oats or some grain I turn into a warm cereal. And baking supplies, gf flours, stevia, baking powder, almond milk.
Oh and happy bloggiversary! I am just catching up on my bloglovin so sadly missed your first few giveaways but happy to enter these!
ps. I may message you sometime in the future about competition prep, I”m super interesting in trying!
Please do! I have written a bunch of posts too – check out the Fitness tab. 🙂
Some of my favourite things are almond butter, oat flour, and Quest bars!
Congrats again on 3 years- so glad you have gotten to know you! I’m most excited about the peanut flour!
So glad to have gotten to know you too! Hope to see you again soon. 🙂
I’m loving sugar snap peas, designer whey (Thanks for the suggestion) protein bowls, lavender rice pillows, yoga, msm and magnesium for recovery and total body happiness.
Right now my favorite thing is Emergen-C because I feel like I am coming down with something! 🙁
Congrats on the 3 years! Keep up the great work! I’m loving proteinnnn
Do you aim for 1g protein/lb of body weight?
1.5g… but that’s too much for a “normal” person. 🙂
Wooo happy birthday Sprint 2 the Table! I love summer, quest bars, dogs, family, peanut butter, and oatmeal!
I love peanut flour, dried unsweetened coconut, cacao nibs, and Loranne oils!
I just bought Irish Cream Loranne. And cheesecake (again). Love them all!
What a great giveaway. Probably my favorite this week because it’s you in a box. I want the cookies and that olive oil. Not at the same time though because that’d be weird.
Step 1, cut a hole in the box… 😉
Olive oil cookies are good. I did it as shortbread. 😉
I try to be strange but good but I seem boring to most! 😉
sugar free syrups and pb2!
One of my favorite things? Your blog! It’s so refreshing because you’re different than other bloggers (in the best way possible) because you always keep things fun, fresh, and exciting. I don’t know if I’ve followed your blog all three years, but I have for a while, and I love it. Keep up the good work!! 🙂
Thank you so much! That’s the biggest compliment I can get. I love your blog because you’re so “real.” And I want to eat everything you make. 🙂
I’ve been seriously enjoying these Go Raw pizza flax snacks lately! They seriously taste exactly like the pizza flavored combos…minus the 130 ingredients! 🙂 Happy 3 year Blog Anniversary! I would love to have the motivation to keep a blog that long. Mine usually lasts about a week 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway!
Ohhhh… I need to try those!!
I love cauliflower 🙂 ROASTED not raw 🙁
I love quest bars, Nuttzo and raspberries just to name a few of my favorite things.
I LOVE WEIGHTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My favorite things…. Kabocha! And Nutbutter. Heavy weights. Bootcamps. Sunshine and Beach….and Swiss Chocolate 🙂
But I definitely would love to try the peanut flour, never had it before.
Ps. It sounds like I want to win bonus points when I say this, but I really really love your blog – your attitude, your humour and all the inspiration I get from you!!!
Thank you again… you had me smiling all day with that compliment. 🙂
Personally I think you just give all this awesome shiz to me b/c I’m comment 101 and that just makes me cool. Right??!
But really, happy bloggy bday! Your giveaways have been really fun. I’d love to win some Laura cookies!
My favorite things are peanut flour too, chia seeds (gotta have those suckers), annnd candy corn at the moment 😉
101 is special!!! I want to just start randomly mailing people cookies. Like the Cookie Fairy!
Happy blog anniversary to one of my all-time faves <3
My favorite things are hands down nutritional yeast and chia seeds – used in everything and anything!!! And all fresh produce 🙂
Kayla, thank you!!! <3
I keep nutritional yeast in my desk drawer. 🙂
My favorite things are peanut butter and bananas!
Favorite things – Holiday grapes, piles and piles of spaghetti squash, changing leaves, boots, snuggly sweaters, and hugs galore!