I don’t know where I came up with that title. It’s just fell out of my half working brain. It works though. Cause today is FOODIE PEN PAL reveal day and I have workout that you can PIN later. See, I am quite clever. 
Let’s start with the Food, naturally.
Each month, the Lean Green fighting Machine Bean (aka Lindsay) puts on fabulous foodie pen pal exchange. You get paired up with a fellow blogger and BAM< new goodies in the mail. I love it because you get to know other food and fitness bloggers, plus you get to try new foods, duh.
Or if you are like me, you get a Trader Joe’s High. We don’t have one in Austin, can you tell I am deprived? Just kidding.
No but really, my penpal Melissa spoiled me with Trader Joe’s Gluten Free staples. She even sent me recipe to go along with the ingredients. I loved it!
Not gonna lie though, the dried fruit and peanut butter where not used for the recipe.
We broke into that stash the minute we got and then I used the peanut butter to make these bad boys. Vegan Peanut Butter Coconut Healthy Bites.
Thank you Melissa! You read my FOODIE mind!
And thank you Lindsay for hosting this fun exchange. I think everyone needs to give it a whirl. Go HERE for more info!
I’m thinking we need to host a WINO PENPAL next? Any takers?? 
Haha, and you think I am joking.
Okay okay, let’s end this Friday with a little Fitness. Pin this and then do it. It’s quick, it’s effective, it’s just plain sweaty.
Now I am really thinking about that WINO penpal. LOL! Hmmm..
Happy Friday,
Cheers!
LC
Hi, I’m Lindsay! Gluten Free Nutrition Specialist, food photographer and author of 
Sign up & get 5 FREE RECIPES from my
Heather (Where's the Beach) says
August 31, 2012 at 12:27 PMWe don’t have a TJ’s either so I feel ya. I always hit one up if I’m in a city with one. So…I’m jealous 😉 And wine pals??? Sign me up!
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 1:00 PMmaybe we need to do a meet up at TJ’s somewhere? seriously
Miriam @ Bellaspire says
August 31, 2012 at 12:30 PMWhat a nice box!! I did Foodie Penpals for a couple of months and made 2 really sweet blends! Flat-rate boxes + lots of wine = yes please!
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 1:01 PMhells ya. Wino it up!
Melissa says
August 31, 2012 at 12:33 PMYay!!! I’m glad you liked everything. I could have totally sent a local bottle of wine to. I’d be down for a wino exchange 🙂
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 1:00 PMLOL, maybe we should start the wino exchange
Tosha says
August 31, 2012 at 12:52 PMWino Exchange?? YES PLEASE!!
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 1:01 PMhaha, yes!! Love this Tosha!
Kanoelani says
August 31, 2012 at 12:54 PMWino pen pal… hmmm… I’d agree to that! And I so know you’re not joking HAHA!! Love it! And that workout… dang! I’m going to have to give it a whirl :-D. And who doesn’t love the idea of exchanging food??!! Fun stuff!
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 1:01 PMawesome! let me know how the workout goes.
Jess says
August 31, 2012 at 12:57 PMDo you even need to ask me that question?? I’d LOVE to be a WINO pen pal ha!! Love it! PS the trader joe’s peanut butter is the BEST! PPS those healthy bites you concocted using the PB look AMAZING.
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 1:03 PMp.s.
i love you.
i know, dorky.
send me an email update. How can i pray for you?
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables says
August 31, 2012 at 1:02 PMI so want to do the Foodie PenPal!! 🙂 I’m not adding anything else on my plate though right now… Question… what are ninja tucks??
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 1:06 PMno don’t. no added stress. I’ll send you goodies though! oh and here’s a ninja. you can also just do squats or squats jumps.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fug09TvDC5Y
Corrie Anne says
September 2, 2012 at 12:44 AMohmyword. those look a little tricky!! i’m going to practice. i need another ridiculous thing to practice at home at random intervals.
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama says
August 31, 2012 at 1:08 PMWino penpals? That could be really interesting! On a side note, I’m bursting with excitement that a TJ’s is opening in our area next week. No longer will have to drive an hour each way to get my favorites! Woohoo!
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 7:47 PMno way! you better get there on grande opening. Stock up lady!
Purely Twins says
August 31, 2012 at 1:12 PMwino pals – yes!!! always love a good glass of wine 🙂
Melissa says
August 31, 2012 at 1:27 PMyes! wino penpals! count me in 🙂
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 2:58 PMspeaking of wine, we need to get some together soon.
Heidi @BananaBuzzbomb says
August 31, 2012 at 1:31 PMWAIT A MINUTE. Vegan peanut butter coconut?! Seriously.
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 2:58 PMthey are seriously calling your name!
Kierston says
August 31, 2012 at 1:35 PMOh I would love to have me a taste of those PB Healthy Bites one day!
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 7:46 PMi just shipped to canada for a trial run so it might just work!!
Kierston says
September 4, 2012 at 7:28 AMYes let me know! I will definitely want to order some post-competition! 🙂
kim k says
August 31, 2012 at 1:53 PMLittle lady, i loved the new flavors of healthy bites this go around!
Wine penpals? Yes! Great idea i love it!
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 2:57 PMyou did?! YEA!! Let me know how they are with training!
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf says
August 31, 2012 at 1:57 PMSign me up for wino penpals please!
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 7:48 PMi knew you’d be in for that!
Missy says
August 31, 2012 at 2:33 PMYes. You tell me how to ship wine and I’m on it.
I think a mandatory VLOG whilst sipping should be part of this. During which one is sipping the wine of course. And just blabbering unscripted for a minute or so– as one would if we were having wine together.
Why do I love Vlogs so much except when I have to do one? LOL. I love to hear the blogger though.
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 7:48 PMoh i love your vlogs. well the ones of you singing. tee hee. I love the VLOG WINO chat. let’s do it!
Lisa says
August 31, 2012 at 2:42 PMOh boy would I ever love a wine-o pen pal! We should all just have a skype wine night together ha ha. That would be fun times. Ha ha, I’ve never even stepped foot in a Trader Joe’s, how sad is my life?;)
The closest one to me is an 8-9 hour drive, so that’s not happening anytime soon.
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 7:49 PMoh that’s brilliant Skypo wino date!
jennifer says
August 31, 2012 at 2:50 PMSo I’d be 100% on board with the whole wino pen pal thing.. but do you know you can’t legally ship wine?!?! I tried this month with my penpal and post office yelled at me 🙁
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 7:50 PMnooooooooo… why? this makes me sad.
Jennifer says
September 2, 2012 at 6:26 PMI don’t know 🙁
Nothing more than 0.5% alcohol!
Jolynn says
August 31, 2012 at 3:06 PMI think the WINO exchange got plenty of votes! Start it up, Lindsay!! 😉
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 7:52 PMfor real, how fun would that be!?!
Lou says
August 31, 2012 at 3:14 PMYou KNOW I’m in for a wino (or two)!
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 7:52 PMi miss my wino.
jobo says
August 31, 2012 at 3:33 PMum, TOTALLY in for a wino pen pal! I love your goods from this month’s pen pal! smart chica! I LOVE Trader Joe’s and don’t get there often enough!! Have a fabulous weekend beautiful!
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 7:53 PMi hope you and M get some time together. Lots of Wine too. teehee
Stacie @ Snaps and Bits says
August 31, 2012 at 3:50 PMWino pen pal? Did you write that just for me?!!
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 7:54 PMi did, and me. We need to be wino penpals.
Tess @ Cross Country Cajun says
August 31, 2012 at 3:58 PMWino Pen Pal – game on! That’s a brilliant idea.
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 7:55 PMlet’s do it!
danielle @ Clean food creative fitness says
August 31, 2012 at 4:14 PMWhat a cute idea to send a recipe along with the ingredients! I’m going to have to remember that for next time!
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 7:56 PMi know, so clever. Like a christmas gift idea. Love it!
kalli says
August 31, 2012 at 4:38 PMcount me in on the wino penpal! please!
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 7:53 PMyou know it!
Jan says
August 31, 2012 at 5:50 PMI can’t believe a town the size of Austin doesn’t have a TJ’s! We are deprived here too. Ours is almost 2 hours away. BLAH.
LCCotter says
August 31, 2012 at 7:57 PMi know, we are deprived. Boycott? JK
Amanda @ Diary of a Semi-Health Nut says
August 31, 2012 at 8:33 PMMy loot was from Trader Joe’s too! We have one but I still haven’t visited it because I feel like I will buy EVERYTHING. Same reason I don’t go to whole foods. Yet. Not while I’m a poor college foodie…but one day!! 🙂
LCCotter says
September 1, 2012 at 7:13 AMsame here, maybe its good we don’t have one then. LOL
Jess says
August 31, 2012 at 9:43 PMWhere do I sign up for the wino pen pal? 🙂 I’m going to do that workout and then drink some wine tonight! That looks like a hard core workout!
LCCotter says
September 1, 2012 at 7:13 AMmaybe some shiraz from down under? hehe
Raina @ Small Town Runner says
September 1, 2012 at 12:22 AMToo bad I can’t send glass jars! I have a bunch of pickles in crocks right now 🙂 Probably 60 lbs of assorted veggies.
This is such a fun idea!
Hope you have a great weekend Cotters. 🙂
LCCotter says
September 1, 2012 at 7:13 AMoh my, send them our way! LOL
Nicole says
September 1, 2012 at 11:32 AMWhat a fun, fun idea!! I’m so glad you got some awesome Trader Joe’s treats! I love that place. Their peanut butter is the best and they have been out of their organic line of it here in SD for way too long!! Those Healthy Bites were the perfect thing to make with it because it is sweeter than any other plain peanut butter I’ve had, yum! See what you started…
Nicole
LCCotter says
September 1, 2012 at 12:36 PMi know, i started an addiction. Uh oh. Miss you!
Meg says
September 1, 2012 at 6:36 PMYou really are clever, love 😉 Great workout! I want to start implementing rows in some workouts! Thanks!
LCCotter says
September 1, 2012 at 9:31 PMthe rowing machine has made my upper body so much stronger. and its low impact. LOVE!!
Penny says
September 1, 2012 at 9:23 PMLindsay, we’re getting a Trader Joes next year! Yay!!!
http://www.statesman.com/business/trader-joes-coming-to-downtown-austin-next-year-2311879.html
LCCotter says
September 1, 2012 at 9:35 PMNO Way!!!! oh happy day!
Klh says
September 1, 2012 at 11:14 PMWe just got a TJs a couple months ago. Another reason to visit 😉
I bet those healthy bites are awesome! And what is a ninja tuck!?
Hugs <3
LCCotter says
September 2, 2012 at 6:35 AMi know i know, i must!
LCCotter says
September 2, 2012 at 6:36 AMoh and look at the link i posted in the comment above. it has the ninja tuck!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
September 2, 2012 at 11:30 AMOMG – if there was a wine penpal program I’d join up so fast your head would spin.
That’s a good pinot – one of my “go tos” and it’s usually on sale at Kroger. 🙂
LCCotter says
September 2, 2012 at 12:34 PMyou know, i am seriously thinking about it. LOL, no joke!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
September 2, 2012 at 1:37 PMSay the word and I’m happy to help in any way!
LCCotter says
September 2, 2012 at 4:55 PMthink we could pull it off. DEAD serious! and then people could do a vlog tasting! HEHE!
Identity Undecided says
September 2, 2012 at 1:07 PMI really need to get on this foodie pen pal band wagon…oh, wait…there! Done! Thanks for the final push to it! LOVE following you!
LCCotter says
September 2, 2012 at 4:56 PMoh yea! you signed up! maybe we can get each other next. How fun would that be?
Identity Undecided says
September 2, 2012 at 5:56 PMThat would be amazing! At least we both know the gluten free ropes well!
teabagginit says
September 2, 2012 at 11:38 PMwhat great loot! I love me some Trader Joe’s (plus, J works part time there) 🙂 Vegan PB bites look delish!
LCCotter says
September 3, 2012 at 6:56 AMoh lucky you. He’e such a keeper!
Sara @ Nourish and Flourish says
September 3, 2012 at 1:32 AMI am so so SO on board with wino pen pals! Please start it! If you need any help, let me know, k? I’m excited!!!
Your new TJ’s stash is such a treat! I’ve never tried the unsalted peanut butter, but I do enjoy mixing things up with the Valencia peanut butter with flax. It’s super “nutty,” but super satisfying.
Hope you’ve had a wonderful weekend! <3
LCCotter says
September 3, 2012 at 6:55 AMi just found out we can”t ship wine. Boo, maybe we can pick wine for each of us to try and do a vlog tasting. LOL, seriously!
Heather @ For the Love of Kale says
September 3, 2012 at 8:17 AMWINO Penpal?! SIGN ME UP. 😉
P.S. – Those vegan peanut butter coconut Healthy Bites look phenomenal!
LCCotter says
September 3, 2012 at 12:10 PMyea, wino’s unite! LOL. happy labor day love.
Christa @ Edible Balance says
September 4, 2012 at 11:56 AMFoodie pen pal?? SO fun!! I’ll have to see if it’s available for us lovely Canadians 🙂 I’d have to be paired with someone who has a Trader joe’s for sure… I have HUGE withdrawal!
And heck to the yes I’d sign up for a Wino pen pal!! Only if I could be paired with someone in California 😉
boy am I ever picky! LOL