Wheeewwww!!! It has been a busy past few days as I’m sure it’s been the same for you. I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!
I’ve been running around like a crazy person since this past Wednesday trying to get shopping done, presents wrapped, and helping my husband put together a very large wooden swing set with literally over a thousand parts including screws, nuts & bolts, and wood for my nephew over at my sister’s house.
Speaking of my sister–she was super excited about giving me my Christmas gift this year. She had it custom made and ordered it online through a website she found through some navigating the world wide web. To my surprise, she had a nutrition bar customized for The Healthified Haven in me and based the ingredients off of my three-times-attempted failure of a cookie recipe.
Do you see the name of those nutrition bars? That is the very first box of Healthified Haven Bars.
The real test was in the taste. Well, the truth is they taste much like my cookies. 
Slightly chocolaty, crumbly, dry—wait, much like a protein bar. However, I’m not sure they could go for a “protein bar” since they only contain 7 protein grams. Though the stats would suffice in my book for a snack bar with 198 calories, 20 grams of carbs. (4 of which are fiber), and 11 fat grams (from the cashew butter); I am not sure I will be lapping them down any time soon nor trying to make a profit.
On the other hand I do love the concept of having my own personalized bar and think it is hilariously awesome that my sister was so thoughtful in her gift giving. She also gave me some mismatch bowls and placemats which will soon be making an appearance on The Healthified Haven. Thank you sis! Truthfully, I loved all of the gifts. 
On a cold, rainy morning–
Christmas Day, Chris and I made three different family visits. The first stop was at my sister-in-law’s house to exchange gifts with hub’s family and also have lunch.
Twin Nieces posing for the camera.
Nephew opening gifts.
Chris’s grandmother opening her pelican (LA state bird) pendant.
The husband and his uncle—not quite sure what was happening there.
Just a tasting plate of all the food because we still had two more stops.
Cornbread casserole, sweet potato casserole, smothered green beans, and ham.
On to the next place—we went to my paternal grandparent’s house. I chose to skip the meal which included mac-n-cheese, turkey, salad, casseroles of all kinds and lots of desserts. I did enjoy some of my pawpaw’s fruit salad.
My grandpa has made this as long as I can remember. I think it is a mix of fresh fruit with Hawaiian Punch poured on top. It is so tasty and refreshing with the mix of apples, oranges, grapes, cherries, peaches, and maybe some other fruits.
I only took a couple of pictures of my niece, but their were a ton of people jammed packed in the grandparent’s small house including aunts, uncles, cousins, and second cousins—about fifty people. Here is one of the pictures of my niece because it is too cute not to share.
She did have a pretty Christmas dress on to match her bow, but she had a little accident all over herself and one of my aunts. So she got to don her warm and cozy Christmas PJs.
The last stop was to see my mom along with my sister and her family. Mom made chicken and sausage file’ gumbo, potato salad, and baked ham. I had some of each.
I’ve recently been informed that some people in this area actually mix their potato salad with the gumbo. So I gave it a try; not really my thing, but it was worth a try.
Baked ham on a pistolette with mustard on a new placemat from sis. I did also eat some more potato salad. And for dessert—an Italian crème cake.
We also opened presents.
My nephew listening to his Frosty the Snowman song book.
Mom playing Santa Mom to me and Chris, my brother-in-law, and sister!
Nephew so excited to try out his truck potty he just sat right on the box.
Me getting some final smooches from my niece just as we all said good night!
It was a wonderful day spent with the ones I love! And I’m grateful for all of the presents I received—perfumes, scarf and glove set, gift cards, boots, bowls, and of course The Healthified Haven Bars.
What gift were you most excited to give or receive this Christmas?
Filed under: Daily Eats, Dinner, Family, Holiday, Lunch Tagged: Christmas 2010, Family, gumbo, potato salad, The Healthified Haven Bar, youbar
