April Foodie Pen Pal Reveal Day

If ever a girl was tested for patience, it was me during the wait for my Foodie Pen Pal package. I probably drove my roommate crazy day in and day out, wondering aloud and via phone and text when my package was going to come. I was so excited! And finally, the day came. I tried to keep my cool while waiting for the leasing manager to bring my package from the storeroom. It was all I could do to stop myself from ripping apart the box right then and there. I had to share it with the roomie, of course! Since this was my first time doing the Foodie Penpals program (via Lindsay at The Lean Green Bean), my roomie videotaped everything. Honestly, this felt like a milestone. :-)

How the Foodie Penpals program works: You sign up with Lindsay at www.theleangreenbean.com/foodie-penpals/. Lindsay will confirm that you are singed up to receive a pen pal. The 5th of the month you receive an email with your pen pal's name, email address, and blog (if he/she has one) and detailed instructions on how to communicate and get your box together to send to your pen pal. The foodie pen pal boxes are shipped by the 15th of the month, and then everyone who has a blog "reveals" the boxes and what they received on the same designated day. This was my first time doing this, but already I can see that it's a great opportunity to connect with other foodies around the country! 

My penpal was Heather from www.divasrunforbling.com. She has an awesome blog chronicling her running marathons, and sprinkled into that you'll find helpful blog posts on caring for your health and some yummy recipes! 


Here's my box from Heather. -----------------> :-)

Inside was an awesome letter about the things she chose for me. I was so touched by the thoughtfulness of the items! Included was a jar of organic coconut oil, a container of mixed, roasted, salted nuts, a pack of Atkins Endulge peanut butter cups, and a jar of Italian seasoning from a local store in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Wheeeee! I was so thrilled. Today is reveal day and already, the nuts are gone, the peanut butter cups are gone, and I've used the Alchemy Spice twice! I used the nuts and pb cups as snacks, then used the nuts again in a nut-crusted asparagus dish. The spice jar I used to season the tilapia that accompanied the asparagus, and to season ground beef burgers during last Sunday's food prep. I absolutely love it! Thank you Heather!!! :-)

Nut-Crusted Asparagus and Balsamic-Italian Seasoned Tilapia

Italian-Seasoned Burgers!!!