IT'S NATIONAL CHOCOLATE DAY!

It's basically the greatest day of the year. National Chocolate Day calls for some serious decadence! So after slaving away tirelessly and having no fun at all, I've put together a round-up of some pretty fine looking chocolate recipes for your viewing and eating pleasure. Enjoy!

ABOVE: Chocolate Buttermilk Frosted Brownies via Food52

Gjelina's Chocolate Tart with Pine Nut Crust via InStyle Magazine

Not Messing Around Chocolate Cake via Whisk and Whittle

Triple Chocolate Bakes Donuts via The Little Epicurean 

Chocolate Caramel Tart via Saveur

Chocolate Pots de Creme via Martha Stewart

Grain-free and Refined Sugar-free Chocolate Chip Cookies via Sweet Laurel Bakery

Salted Peanut Caramel Ice Cream Bars via Not Without Salt

Chocolate Bourbon Caramel Macaron Cake via Half Baked Harvest

Perfect Hot Chocolate via Food52

10 AWESOME HALLOWEEN DIY'S TO DO THIS WEEKEND

We've got one more official week before Halloween! Though we can't take credit for any of these radical Halloween DIY's, I've put together a round-up of some of the very best Halloween projects to get you in a spooktaclular spirit this weekend! Get your friends or the kids together for these awesome crafts and recipes. 

ABOVE: Yarn Spider Webs via 100 Layer Cakelet

Ghost Emoji Balloons via Aww Sam

Homemade Tootsie Rolls & Salted Caramels via Little Peanut Magazine

Matte Black Pumpkin via Sweet Paul Magazine

Oragami Vampire Lips via Pink Stripey Socks

Bats Taking Flight via Country Living

Ghosts on a Stick via Oh Happy Day

Haunted Dolls House via Mr. Imprintables

Pineapple Jack-O-Lantern via Style Files

Blood Spatter Cookies via Annie’s Eats

Hope your weekend is fun and spooky!! xx

IT'S ICE CREAM SEASON: THE EASIEST RAW VEGAN ICE CREAM

National Ice Cream Day is this Sunday and if you want to celebrate the greatest holiday ever, without a sugar hangover, we've got the perfect (and simplest) recipe for you! I make this healthy dessert for my family a lot and it's always a surefire hit. 

Ingredients (per serving):

1 Large FROZEN Banana (I freeze several ripe bananas ahead of time so I have them ready. They must be frozen, minimally, overnight to work)

8-10 Frozen Strawberries 

2 Soft Dates

Approx. 1/8 Cup of Water

You will need either a VitaMix or blender. 

Put all of the fruit and 1/2 of the water in a VitaMix. Turn on low and use the tamper to push the ingredients down and blend. If it is very dry, slowly add more water. Be careful not to add too much water, or your ice cream will become a smoothie. A blender will work too but will take more effort. The tamper in the VitaMix makes this extremely easy. If you use a regular blender, you will have to start and stop and use a rubber spatula with the blender turned off to mix it. I have done it, but it takes more time!

Scoop out and serve immediately. You can top with fresh fruit, nuts or coconut shreds if you like a little added texture! Happy (and Healthy) National Ice Cream Day! xx