introducing........

.........My new blog!

To view my very first post, click here.

To read about why I started the blog and what to expect of the blog, click here and here.

I am seriously super upset that Chits and Chats and Chocolate did not run for very long. I put so much work into it, and my readers were so faithful and AWESOME. I cannot say the same about my camera. 

So thank you all, I hope to see you all soon at Styelleish!

Danielle (AKA Elle)

Exciting News!!!

Hey everyone!


Yep I still exist!


Sorry it's been awhile, but I have some exciting (well, I hope it's exciting) news.
But first, bad news. Since you all have probably heard me moan and complain about my crappy camera, I am sure that deep down in your secretest of hearts, you will be elevated to hear it broke. I have zip, nada, no camera.

So I have two options: buy a new camera, or stop taking pictures. Seems like an obvious choice, doesn't it? Of course I should buy a new camera! Who can have a blog without a camera?

Me, that's who! You see, I am in no position to be investing in a high quality camera with high quality lenses. Sorry. At this point, I am still blogging for fun and not getting paid, so I am not too eager to shell of that much money.

And I definitely don't want to go around in circles chasing my tail by buying a new low quality camera!

So I am transitioning my blog. I don't know if it is even possible to have a food blog without pictures. So maybe a book blog?
No, I don't read enough.

A gardening blog?
Too dull.

A health blog?
Nah.

A fashion blog?
Oooh, now there's an idea.

My blog is officially restarting in 2015, and it's going to be devoted to fashions and styles and patterns and all things amazing.

So let me ask you now. YES, YOU.
Should I make this fashion blog a completely new blog with a new title and everything, or should I make it a continuation of this blog?
Comment below any thoughts or opinions.
See you next year! <3 Danielle

12/26/14 edit: to visit my new blog, Styelleish, click here to preview. It will officially launch next week!

Oatmeal Rice Pudding (Dairy free, Healthy)

For most people, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years are defined by pumpkin pie, candy canes, gingerbread, sugar cookies, egg nog, and so on. At least this is true for foodies.

For me, its always has been rice pudding. See, being Scandinavian, my grandma and aunts always make huge pots of rice pudding for gatherings. They even follow the tradition of slipping an almond into the dessert, and whoever gets the serving with the almond gets a prize. As if the pudding itself isn't a prize in itself!

Delicious as it is, there's no denying how unhealthy the treat is-- sweetened condensed milk, sugar, and white rice aren't quite health food. So, I took on the challenge with my trusty friend, Oatmeal.

Now you can enjoy this fluffy, elegant pudding without a trace of guilt! This makes a large single serving, just so you all know.


"Rice" Pudding Oatmeal
1/2 cup oatmeal
1 cup water, or almond milk for an extra creamy result
1 tsp. almond extract
1/2 cup almond milk
Sweetener of choice, to taste
2 large egg whites
cinnamon or nutmeg, optional

1. Cook the oatmeal in the cup of liquid (water or milk, 1 cup) on stove over medium heat, stirring frequently
2. After all liquid is absorbed, stir in sweetener, milk, and extract and cook until the milk has thickened slightly
3. Meanwhile, beat egg whites until they form stiff peaks.
4. Fold eggwhites into oatmeal gently, over low heat until egg whites are cooked. 
5. Serve immediately. Top with cinnamon or nutmeg, if desires.

Enjoy It! 

It's healthy enough to eat for breakfast--I mean really, it's oatmeal and eggs!

Danielle


P.S. By clicking on the black icon above and to the right, you can hop on over to Blogaholic Designs and enter into a giveaway for a free blogger template!

Christmas Wish List

Hello everyone!
Wow, it's sure getting cold out, and I must confess,  I have already started listening to my Pandora Christmas stations I can't wait till Christmas!
I remember when I was a kid, I couldn't wait until Christmas morning to rip open my Christmas presents and eat German pancakes for breakfast, subsequent to several handfuls of chocolate I found in my stocking, of course.
But now that I am older, it's the Christmas spirit that get me excited, as cliche as it may sound. You know, the lights on every roof and in every town square, Christmas carols blasting in department stores and on the radio, nativity scenes displayed in front of churches and homes, Christmas cards and packages arriving on my doorstep, snowflakes decorating the sky like glitter from heaven. I love it ALL.
But still, there's a part of me that also loves to receive gifts. Even though 99% of the time, I'm the one who buys them for myself. Throughout the year. Like that wristwatch I bought myself on Sunday. And the eight books I bought last week.
Anyway whether it's a shopping list or suggestions for the generous souls in my life or recommendations for you guys's lists, here are some things I want:

$19.99, Kohls

$19.99, Kohls

$9.99, From comejew on Etsy

$49.99, From ModCloth

$32.99, From Modcloth

$35.99, ABADAY

$34.92, Amazon

So that's it! What are you wishing for this year? To visit any of the items on their respective sites, click their image.

Merry Christmas!
Danielle

Pumpkin Meringue Pie Baked Oatmeal

Pumpkin pumpkin everywhere. Some hate it. Some love it. I am lucky enough to be in the latter category. I mean really, though, what's not to love? Pumpkin desserts are basically a hug from fall. I may not be in love with fall, but I am not opposed to hugs. Or pumpkin.

And what better way is there than to start off your day than with a dessert-like hug from fall? (The answer is no way, to those of you who were wondering)

Now, to be perfectly honest, I'm already listening to Christmas carols. Yep.

*ooh, I can feel you judging me*

But that doesn't mean that I am not also embracing the beauty of fall at the same time...
...and now you can, too!

Pumpkin Meringue Pie Baked Oatmeal
Serves one

1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1.5 cups pumpkin puree
1.5 tsp. Pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp almond milk
Sweetener of choice, to taste
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
__________________________________________
For the meringue: (optional)
1 large egg white
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 tsp sugar, optional
1/8 tsp. Cream of tartar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and grease a single-serve ramkin
2. In a small bowl, combine together oats, spice, and baking powder.
3. Softly stir in pumpkin, milk, sweetener, and vanilla.
4. Put in ramkin and bake for 15 minutes if using meringue, or thirty minutes if not using the meringue.
5. If making meringue: while oatmeal is in the oven, beat egg white until it forms stiff peaks. Continue to beat in vanilla, cream of tartar, and sugar, if using.
6. After the oatmeal has been in the oven for fifteen minutes, top with the egg white mixture, and return to oven for an additional fifteen minutes, or until the meringue has cooked through.
7. Enjoy your hug from fall.

<3 Danielle

Blogger vs. Wordpress

Hey everyone!
Would like to share with you all today a matter of which I was extremely curious about until recently. This is Blogger versus Wordpress. And just so you know, I am discussing the free stuff, you know, when your blog url is like; http://blog.blogspot.com, or http://blog.wordpress.com.  I believe that this information is important to those who want to start a blog, but don't want to throw a ton of money into it yet (like me!).
Blogger

• Not many templates for setting up the blog
• Each template, though is very customizable
• You get the whole package with the free site
• Easy to use, but glitchy at times

Wordpress

• Tons of templates for setting up the blog
• Very limited customization 
• There's a limited amount of stuff that can be done for free. It almost seems like they were trying to trick me into spending some money at some points because so many things that I tried to do while designing the webpage led to a message announcing that that particular action could only be done if I upgraded.
• Easy to use, but kind of confusing at times

Another thing I'd like to point out is that I find that Wordpress sites have that WOW factor, whereas it almost seems like if you've seen one Blogger blog, you've seen every Blogger blog.

Having said that, I have reached my conclusion:

     Blogger is for you if: you prefer to get a basic template, but then customize it to fit your needs, and especially if you don't have plans to upgrade.

     Wordpress is for you if: you prefer to not mess around with customizing your site, and just want to get a pre-set-up design, and also if you have plans to upgrade (and start spending money in the near future.

I hope this helps!

Danielle

How to Make Your Shower Like New Again

You know when you spend the night at someones house and wake up the next morning to shower, but find the state of the shower revolting? And then you decide to just not shower that day?

                             Just me? 

Okay. 

Well after going through this several times, one day I stepped into my shower and was completely shocked to see that my shower was in even worse of a state than any of the other showers I had been in!

The filth just kind of snuck up on me, I guess. And it's totally out of my comfort zone to show you the dirty shower, but I do know from experience that I am not alone in the struggle of cleanliness, so brace yourself:

Crazy, huh? And here's how I did it:

The main product I used was Norwex Descaler. This stuff is a miracle worker. 

It works like a dream-- just spray it on the surface of the area you need to clean (you may want to test a small area first to make sure that the product works with that type of surface) and wait 5- 10 minutes before scrubbing away. Anything that does not come off with the descaled can probably be sprayed  and scrubbed again with your all-purpose bathroom cleaner,  or whatever you usually clean your tub with.

Now, I'm not going to lie, this job took a good deal of elbow grease and determination, but the end product was soooooooo worth it!

<3 Danielle

Disclaimer: This post was NOT sponsored by Norwex, I just wanted to share with you all a great product with awesome results! Be sure to read the instructions on the Norwex descaler and any other cleaning product that you use containers before using the products. Using the products wrong can cause damage to your property or body. I am not responsible for any of these damages.