Hi there! I hope everyone had a great weekend 
Yesterday we were blessed with absolutely gorgeous weather, and took full advantage.
First, I headed out on a 5 miler (which is long for me anymore.) It was my first time using my MotoActv GPS and mp3 player, which the company sent me. 
I really like this new toy. But more on it in a different post when I can give it a full review.
I knew I should have something in my stomach before my run (this says so!) so I nibbled on some dried mango pre-run. Then post-run, I cooked up some breakfast for Shane and me:
Eggs, cheese, and broccoli with a side of buttered Ezekiel cinnamon raisin toast. With a cocktail of vitamins. Standard.
After about an hour of digesting, we headed back outside to some nearby trails for some hiking.
(doesn’t Niko look SO happy in that picture? lol, silly pup)
We’ve only got 2 weeks until we leave for the Rocky Mountains, so we figured some hiking might help up prepare.
Too bad hiking in Illinois = walking on grass/rocks. No mountains or hills to climb up here! I think hiking in Colorado will offer a slightly different experience 
Regardless, we still had a lot of fun and enjoyed the weather. I can’t believe we’ve lived near these hiking trails for years and this was our first time trying them out! I see a lot more hiking in our future
During the hike, we talked nonstop about how excited we are for Colorado – from different adventures to food.
When we got back, I was still in the hiking frame of mind, and also in the baking frame of mind. Thus, trail mix cookies were born:
I almost just put together a trail mix batch, until I realized the only thing better than actual trail mix is a trail mix cookie!
Healthy Trail Mix Cookies
Total time: 15 minutes
Makes about 15 small cookies
1 c. old fashioned oats
3/4 c. almond meal
1/2 tbsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking powder
dash of sea salt
2 tbsp. shredded, unsweetened coconut
1/3 c. dried, unsweetened cherries
1/4 c. chocolate chips
2 tbsp. coconut oil
1/2 c. honey
1/4 c. almond butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix the first eight (dry) ingredients together. Stir in the rest of the ingredients. Spoon out the batter onto a parchment-lined baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Bake for 11-12 minutes.
Of course, in addition to eating batter along the way, I sampled one fresh from the oven:
And promptly burnt the roof of my mouth. Worth it 
It’s always worth it. Come on.
Today
Today I’ve got some exciting plans to go shopping all day in Chicago with a friend. It’s always an all day affair when we go on our biannual Chicago shopping trips, so it’s going to be a long (fun!) one.
And since I don’t like to cancel on clients, I woke up extra early this morning, to train three clients before we take off. I have a feeling I’m going to need a nice bath tonight
Breakfast
Since it’s going to be go-go-go today, I packed a smoothie to sip on in between clients.
I made the watermelon-basil protein smoothie but this time I added spinach and about a tbsp. of amino acids my doctor gave to me.
Have a good Monday, everyone, ok? I’m off to train some clients!
Do you have any nearby trails?
What’s your favorite cookie to bake?
Those cookies look amazing! I can only imagine how nice and chewy they must have been!
I am always in search for new cookies recipe, I still have to find the perfect standard choc chip cookie recipe that pleases me fully, but my fave cookies to make are M&Ms cookies, I don’t know what it is, I think it’s the dough itself that tastes amazing with chocolate candy, don’t think it would work as a stand alone choc chip but that’s my fave to make.
Making those cookie for sure. Lots of yummy ingredients!
Love the creative idea for the cookies – looks delicious!
Those look DELICIOUS! I think I may have to give them a try!
Oooo, I really enjoy hiking. Of course, I really enjoy cookies too…
We have a awesome trail system in our city, just sometimes takes a bit to get there from residential, but for us its about 2.5km so not bad at all.
I am a sucker for a good old chewy chocolate chip cookie. Those trail mix ones look awesome, I will have to make them soon!
I’m so excited FOR you to go to colorado! After the blend retreat last week, it’s my goal to get back there and explore much more of the hiking. The scenery is literally breathtaking.
those cookies look SO good!! i’m always a fan of traditional chocolate chip cookies, but i enjoy most any kind as long as it’s chewy and delicious.
I would love to try those cookies, they look delicious. I’m going to pin them
Colorado?!… Thats so exciting, I’ve heard its beautiful.
I hope you have a GREAT day in Chicago. Are you going to be downtown or are you going to one of the malls? I am currently in a Chicago hospital … and you get some free time, you should stop by and say hello and bring some yummy peanut butter!
Making those cookie for sure. Lots of yummy ingredients!
Unbelievably unfair!!! How dcileious is this. I recently convinced myself not to give in and then this post came along. Oh well, there is always tomorrow In the microwave you say!?! Will give it a try Ms. Have a great weekend!!!
Fabulous weather is right! I ran outside, window shopped outside, and walked to do all my errands outside. Sooooo pretty!
Those look awesome. I’m a sucker for oatmeal in cookies because I like the texture it gives…
Hahaha when you said you were hiking my first thought was, WHERE?!? Have fun in Chicago today!
LOL! I know…pretty pathetic. But fun, nonetheless
yum! these cookies look great!!
We love to hike the trails around the lake by our house. Nothing fancy but my hiking partners are 4 and almost 3. They tend to tire out faster than I do. We love to bake almost anything but tend toward muffins more than cookies. This recipe might change that! I like the lack of egg so I can encourage them to test as we bake to make sure it is yummy!
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It looks like theres chia seeds in there. . if so how much did you use?