8 Step Guide To Combat Office Stress This Christmas

During the festive period, workplaces can see workloads increase and a rise in demanding deadlines. This often means employees are more likely to feel under more pressure than usual. During a season when you are expected to spend more, socialize more, and still somehow work more, it is no wonder that Christmas anxiety affects workers. 

However, there are many ways you could make a change this Christmas, in order to alleviate your own stress and the stress of others. 

1. Plan Ahead To Help Manage Your Workload Better 

Planning ahead is one of the most effective ways to manage Christmas stress, both in the office, and at home. Make lists that you can work through systematically, and don’t fall into the trap of being overly ambitious! You don’t want to be stressed about present buying during work hours, so plan to start early this year! If you schedule in an out-of-office hour each weekend from the start of November, you will have all your shopping done well ahead of time. This way, the task won’t conflict with your busy workdays. 

If you get ahead of the game with presents, wrapping paper, and gift tags (you could even consider bespoke gift tag printing online) you will avoid the dreaded Christmas Eve last-minute rush. In addition, you have planned ahead for work tasks as well as present buying, you won’t be as short of time and you will be able to enjoy the final few festive days of work stress-free! 

2. Make Use Of Flexible Working Hours 

If your workplace offers flexible working hours or the ability to work from home, then now is the time to utilize these schemes! If this isn’t offered, you should consider raising it as an idea with your manager. Flexible working hours are particularly beneficial for anyone suffering with SAD. The ability to manage your working hours yourself, on days when it is getting difficult to make it into the office, is vital. 

3. Buy Gifts Online And Avoid The Shops 

Online shopping can be a lifesaver if you are short of time and beginning to stress. Whether it is gifts for the family, or a last-minute workplace secret Santa present, it is always easier to jump online on your lunch break than make time for a stressful shopping trip. This way, you could get presents delivered to your workplace rather than your home address and no prying eyes will see them! What’s more, you won’t have to worry about missing your delivery at home, as there will likely be someone at work to take your precious parcel. 

4. Understand Your Rights To Sick Leave 

Workplaces are under legal requirements to allow sick leave when needed, whether it be physical or mental illness you are struggling with. Current generations work longer hours than ever, giving a lot to their employers — it is in the best interests of your employer to make sure you stay healthy and happy. You are entitled to up to seven days sick leave after self-certifying your illness. After this, you will need a note from your doctor to confirm the reason you are not fit for work. 

5. Switch To Decaf Tea And Coffee 

For many, a warm cup of coffee or tea is essential for getting through a grueling workday. Especially over the winter months, it is hard to consider getting through the day without these warming vices. However, caffeine can intensely heighten your anxiety levels. If you are feeling stressed and anxious in the workplace, make the switch to decaf — at least over the hectic Christmas season. 

6. Make Time For Exercise In Your Routine 

With a grueling work schedule and a hectic home life, it can be more difficult than ever to make time for exercise over the Christmas period. Dark evenings and mornings, paired with frosty weather, add to this off-putting environment. Despite all this, you should try and make some time to take care of your mind and body through exercise. If your schedule is tight, why not ask your manager about the possibility of arranging a pre-work yoga class? Or, if finances are your main concern, find out if your workplace could get a corporate gym membership — lowering prices for you, and increasing health and productivity for them. It could be the perfect Christmas present for a workplace to gift its employees. 

7. Enjoy Some Downtime With Work Friends To Help Unwind 

Work Christmas parties are a great way to alleviate that Christmas stress. It isn’t often that colleagues all find the time to celebrate together, but this makes the yearly work Christmas party so much more special. It is a great chance to let your hair down and get to know your colleagues out of the ‘deadline stress’ context. Of course, not everyone looks forward to the office party. 

A recent study from perk box, found that over one in four employees don’t enjoy their work’s Christmas party due to various reason. With this in mind, think of other activities you could organize in the workplace that could alleviate stress without conjuring social anxiety. A mince pies and mulled wine evening after work is a great, more low-key and relaxing, alternative to an all-out Christmas party. 

8. Practice The Self-Care That Works For You 

We are probably all familiar with FOMO (the fear of missing out), but have you ever heard of JOMO (the joy of missing out)? This acronym describes the pleasure of taking a break from social activity in order to enjoy personal time, and it highlights an absolute necessity. Christmas time can be stressful enough as it is, so don’t put pressure on yourself to engage with every social activity (both in and out of work) just because you feel obliged. Taking valuable time for yourself is an essential part of self-care, and this doesn’t change over the festive period! 

Have A Stress Free Holiday Season!

Different tips work for different people, but if you action even a couple of these ideas this winter, you will feel a weight lift off your shoulders! Give them a try and remember to look after yourself this Christmas and holiday season.

Christmas Gift Ideas For Men

Christmas is on the way and will be here before you know it. With less than 100 days until the big day, those who celebrate the yuletide will be eagerly awaiting this year’s festivities. And with the economy and retailers in their current condition, it's a smart idea to start shopping now to avoid low items being out of stock.

As German Christmas markets return to our streets once more, it’s time to start thinking about gifts. While many people struggle to buy gifts for men during the holidays, with our gift giving guide you won’t have to. 

Here's some holiday help for him: 

10 Top Christmas Present Ideas For Men

Drinks 

Wine lovers will enjoy a monthly win subscription and beer lovers might enjoy a pre-booked craft brewery tour and tasting. For those who love liquor, gin, whisky and vodka sets are always great stocking fillers. 

Food 

For the food loving gentleman, indulge them with gastronomic delights from independent businesses and small start ups. 

Cologne 

For the scent-obsessed fellas, a contemporary cologne makes a great gift any Christmas. Brands such as ByRedo, Frama, D.S. & Durga and Ffern all make iconic fragrances that stand out from the crowd. 

Loungewear 

We all love to get cosy around the fireplace and relax during the festive period. So why not indulge him with some luxury loungewear for chilling out with a book by the fire. 

Watches 

Whether you go down the route of a wearable tech such as the iWatch or go classic with an Omega or Tag Heure wristwatch, watches make the perfect present for him. 

Accessories 

Winter accessories such as gloves, hats and scarves are always crowd-pleasing gifts for men. A luxurious cashmere set in his favourite shade makes the ideal gift any Christmas. 

Technology 

Is your dad or brother a tech geek? Then why not indulge his passions with the latest tech releases. 

You could get smart home devices or the latest smartphone releases – the options are limitless. 

Cookware 

If the man in your life is an avid cook, spoil him with some luxurious cookware or kitchen gadgets he can enjoy all Christmas long – and probably beyond. If he makes you delicious food often with the cooking utensils, then it ends up being a gift for yourself as well!

Tools 

For the part-time mechanic and full-time DIY enthusiast a personalised toolkit makes an excellent Christmas gift for him. 

Just double check he doesn’t already have the tools you are buying before you spend on them. Although some guys do like having duplicates and backups for their trucks, trunks, garages, sheds, or second properties.

Christmas Classics 

When you’re out of ideas for Christmas gifts for men, there are always the Christmas classics to fall back on. 

Think tacky ties, themed mugs, chocolate and frosted pint glasses. A lot of men also appreciate some good drinks to pour into those new pint glasses!

Christmas Conclusion

Whatever you choose for him this Christmas, it will certainly be a good one when you celebrate together. Keep this list of classic Christmas present options in mind to give him a great gift in the new holiday season. We all need a little bit of extra Christmas cheer this year!

How Can You Make Your Virtual Thanksgiving Successful?

With COVID-19 cases rising, many people are choosing to opt for a “virtual Thanksgiving” this year instead of visiting friends and family in person. A virtual Thanksgiving can absolutely be an effective way to circumvent COVID-19 issues, but it’s fairly unprecedented, which means you might not know how to do it. Here are five ways you can make your virtual Thanksgiving celebration work more effectively. 

1. Understand The Differences 

Don’t try to pretend like a virtual Thanksgiving will be exactly the same as a Thanksgiving in person. It doesn’t have to be exactly the same for it to still be an enjoyable experience — you can have a different Thanksgiving experience and still get all the joy you typically would out of your Thanksgiving travels. However, if you’re able to accept that things will be different, you’re much more likely to be happy with the experience. 

2. Organize Your Virtual Greetings Beforehand 

Before you call everyone on Thanksgiving, make sure you reach out to arrange those greetings. Sure, you probably won’t annoy anyone too much by calling them in the late afternoon, but it’s always better to set things up beforehand anyway. Text, email, or message the people you’d typically spend Thanksgiving with and make sure they’ll be available when you can call. 

3. Choose Appropriately Between Phone And Video Calls 

Video calls are what most people will choose for Thanksgiving calls because it feels more like you’re really there with the people you love the most. However, video calls aren’t going to be the best option for everyone. Especially when it comes to older relatives or relatives who don’t have quite as much tech knowledge, you might want to consider plain old phone calls. 

4. Change Your Black Friday Choices As Well 

Do you often go Black Friday shopping with the friends and family members that you would typically spend Thanksgiving with? Consider changing up how you do Black Friday this year also. You might want to call one of your closest “shopping friends” on Black Friday and browse through your favorite stores’ websites together. It might feel a bit different but avoiding the Black Friday crowds may be a good idea during COVID-19. 

5. Figure Out What Worked And What Didn’t 

You might want to choose to make this a sort of a jumpstart into virtual Thanksgiving in the future. You might not decide to do virtual Thanksgiving every year, as the COVID-19 crisis will hopefully mostly die down by next Thanksgiving, but the process of traveling for Thanksgiving is expensive and complicated. A virtual Thanksgiving can give you the same family-oriented experience while also allowing you to stay at your own home during the holiday season. 

Conclusion 

Virtual Thanksgiving is a safer alternative to traditional Thanksgiving this year, and if it goes well, you might even want to consider it for other years where you just don’t want to go out for the holiday. Remember that if you want to make virtual Thanksgiving successful, you need to make sure that you’re utilizing reliable technology that will work the first time. If you’re not worrying about tech issues, you’ll be more likely to sit back and enjoy Thanksgiving just like you would if you were there in person.

8 Easy Ways To Beat Workplace Christmas Stress

For many, the festive season spells excitement and indulgence. But this isn’t the case for everyone. For lots of people, Christmas evokes stress and anxiety, both at home and in the workplace. Managing your work-life balance becomes more difficult than ever, and there never seems to be enough time in the day to get everything done. Pair this with dark gloomy weather, and those who are susceptible to seasonal affective disorder (SAD) struggle even more with the winter months. 

The workplace can be a particularly stressful place over Christmas. With many offices seeing an increase in work and demanding deadlines, employees are more likely to feel under pressure. In one study, 54 per cent of employees admitted to feeling stressed on the run up to Christmas. They gave reasons ranging from present buying, to an increased workload, to managing personal expenses. During a season when you’re expected to spend more, socialize more, and still somehow work more, it’s no wonder that Christmas anxiety affects workers. However, there are many ways you could make a change this Christmas, in order to alleviate your own stress and the stress of others. Specialist print product suppliers, Where The Trade Buys, explore further. 

1. Plan Ahead 

Planning ahead is one of the most effective ways to manage Christmas stress, both in the office, and at home. Make lists that you can work through systematically, and don’t fall into the trap of being over- ambitious! You don’t want to be stressed about present buying during work hours, so plan to start early this year! If you schedule in an out-of-office hour each weekend from the start of November, you will have all your shopping done well ahead of time. This way, the task won’t conflict with your busy workdays. If you get ahead of the game with presents, wrapping paper, and gift tags (you could even consider bespoke gift tag printing online), you’ll avoid the dreaded Christmas Eve last-minute rush. In addition, you have planned ahead for work tasks as well as present buying, you won’t be as short of time and you’ll be able to enjoy the final few festive days of work stress-free! 

2. Take Advantage Of Flexible Working Hours 

If your workplace offers flexible working hours or the ability to work from home, then now is the time to utilize these schemes! If this isn’t offered, you should consider raising it as an idea with your manager. Flexible working hours are particularly beneficial for anyone suffering with SAD. The ability to manage your working hours yourself, on days when it is getting difficult to make it into the office, is vital. 

3. Shop Online 

Online shopping can be a lifesaver if you’re short of time and beginning to stress. Whether it’s gifts for the family, or a last-minute workplace secret Santa present, it’s always easier to jump online on your lunch break than make time for a stressful shopping trip. This way, you could get presents delivered to your workplace rather than your home address and no prying eyes will see them! What’s more, you won’t have to worry about missing your delivery at home, as there will likely be someone at work to take your precious parcel. 

4. Know Your Rights To Sick Leave 

Workplaces are under legal requirements to allow sick leave when needed, whether it be physical or mental illness you are struggling with. Current generations work longer hours than ever, giving a lot to their employers — it is in the best interests of your employer to make sure you stay healthy and happy. You are entitled to up to seven days sick leave after self-certifying your illness. After this, you will need a note from your doctor to confirm the reason you’re not fit for work. 

5. Switch To Decaf 

For many, tea and coffee are essential for getting through a gruelling workday. Especially over the winter months, it’s hard to consider getting through the day without these warming vices. However, caffeine can intensely heighten your anxiety levels. If you are feeling stressed and anxious in the workplace, make the switch to decaf — at least over the hectic Christmas season. 

6. Make Time For Exercise 

With a grueling work schedule and a hectic home life, it can be more difficult than ever to make time for exercise over the Christmas period. Dark evenings and mornings, paired with frosty weather, add to this off-putting environment. Despite all this, you should try and make some time to take care of your mind and body through exercise. If your schedule is tight, why not ask your manager about the possibility of arranging a pre-work yoga class? Or, if finances are your main concern, find out if your workplace could get a corporate gym membership — lowering prices for you, and increasing health and productivity for them. It could be the perfect Christmas present for a workplace to gift its employees. 

7. Socialize With Work Friends 

Work Christmas parties are a great way to alleviate that Christmas stress. It isn’t often that colleagues all find the time to celebrate together, but this makes the yearly work Christmas party so much more special. It’s a great chance to let your hair down and get to know your colleagues out of the ‘deadline stress’ context. Of course, not everyone looks forward to the office party. A recent study from Perkbox, found that over one in four employees don’t enjoy their work’s Christmas party due to various reason. With this in mind, think of other activities you could organize in the workplace that could alleviate stress without conjuring social anxiety. A mince pies and mulled wine evening after work is a great, more low-key and relaxing, alternative to an all-out Christmas party. 

8. Or, Don’t 

We’re probably all familiar with FOMO (the fear of missing out), but have you ever heard of JOMO (the joy of missing out)? This acronym describes the pleasure of taking a break from social activity in order to enjoy personal time, and it highlights an absolute necessity. Christmas time can be stressful enough as it is, so don’t put pressure on yourself to engage with every social activity (both in and out of work) just because you feel obliged. Taking valuable time for yourself is an essential part of self-care, and this doesn’t change over the festive holiday period! 

Christmas Stress Coping Conclusion

Different tips work for different people, but if you action even a couple of these ideas this holiday season, you will feel a weight lift off of your shoulders! Give them a try and remember to look after yourself this Christmas.

Cold Weather Autumn Tips For Frugal Fall Fitness

Just because your bikini and shorts have been retired to the back of the closet, not to see the light of day until next spring, doesn’t mean that you can afford to take your foot off the gas when it comes to staying on top of your fitness goals. After all, great summer bodies are made in the winter. As the cold weather sets in and the mornings and evenings are at best murky gray and at worst pitch black, finding the motivation to keep pushing for perfection can be tricky. 

Not only can the dank and miserable weather rob the well intentioned of their motivation, the cold can increase your risk of injury (especially when working out outdoors) that can seriously derail your fitness goals. 

Thus, we’ve compiled this handy guide to the caveats of staying active in the cold fall weather and how to leap effortlessly over the inherent hurdles of the season with the inevitable festive indulgence of Thanksgiving and Christmas upon us. Heed this advice and you’ll stay on track and motivated while, of course, keeping your activities frugal and avoiding excessive spending…

Cold Weather & Injury Risk

Think of your muscles as lumps of clay. When warm they’re flexible and pliant but when cold they become more rigid and brittle. Try to treat cold clay as you would warm clay and what happens? Inevitably, it breaks. While of course your muscles are unlikely to snap, the cold tightens the muscles (particularly in the extremities like our arms, legs, hands and feet) and seriously increases your risk of straining and tearing muscles which could lead to a potentially debilitating injury. Warming up and cooling down with light reps and stretching is just good practice in any exercise regimen but its importance is amplified in the cold weather. 

Dress To Progress 

While nobody wants to spend a fortune on new equipment, it’s important to dress appropriately for your exercise in the cold weather to keep your muscles warm and pliant. It’s important to use layers to your advantage, layering light garments on top of one another to insulate your muscles from the cold without overdressing in heavy outer garments which will make you sweat excessively. 

Speaking of sweat, make sure you dress in clothes that will keep sweat away from your skin (as this will make you feel colder). Get yourself to BestSweatBands.com to get some headbands that will absorb sweat without restricting your activities and a build on a polypropylene base layer while avoiding cottons which will keep sweat glued to your body. 

Hibernation Instinct, And Why You Need To Fight It 

Cold and dark mornings can awaken a dormant human instinct to hibernate. It can be extremely testing to haul yourself out of bed and hit the gym when your every instinct is screaming at you to load up on calories and bury yourself under the covers. Many a well laid plan has been derailed by this common but insidious instinct. The good news is that once the difficult first steps have been taken, fighting this instinct becomes much easier, and the endorphin hit that comes with regular exercise will help to keep the winter blues at bay. Start the day with a run, some high intensity interval training or a trip to the gym followed by a nutrient rich smoothie and you’ll start the day off on the best possible note without spending a fortune.

Making good food choices 

‘Tis the season for culinary excess and while it’s oh-so-tempting to write the rest of the year off there’s no need to derail your progress with poor food choices. The internet, including Frugal Fitness is rich with delicious yet nutritious recipes for Christmas and Thanksgiving and if you’re willing to put a little time and effort into your culinary creations you can dine like royalty on healthy comfort food without compromising your fitness or breaking the bank. While there are a whole lot of seasonal temptations on offer, a little effort and discipline will help you avoid temptation while still enjoying the season. 

Stay Motivated By Thinking Of The Benefits 

Keeping your eye on the prize is more important in the colder months but if it helps, just think of the benefits of staying active in the cold months while others retreat to the couch! Not only will exercise increase your immunity to cold and flu viruses, you’ll stay lean and trim while your peers are lamenting their expanding winter waistlines. 

Fall Into Frugal Fitness

The cold weather can seriously derail your progress in the realm of fitness but by sticking to the above caveats you can stay on track while still enjoying the season. Fall into Frugal Fitness with the right autumn health and wellness strategies.

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Frugal Recipe: Christmas Sugar Cookies

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays To All Of You From Frugal Fitness!! 

OK so Christmas cookies aren't exactly healthy, but at least the ingredients are simple and affordable! 

We all need a treat or a "cheat food" now and then after all! 

Enjoy these simple and delicious treats for Christmas or holiday celebrations! 

Maybe do an extra Frugal Workout afterwards as well :)

Christmas Sugar Cookies 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/4 tsp kosher salt

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled, plus more for the work surface

Instructions:

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and granulated sugar on medium-high until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the egg, then the vanilla and salt. Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add the flour, mixing until just combined (do not overmix). Shape into a 1-inch-thick disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 3 days. Heat oven to 350° F. On a floured surface, roll the dough ¼ inch thick. Using lightly floured 2- to 3-inch cookie cutters, cut the dough into shapes, flouring the cutters and rerolling the scraps as necessary. Place 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake, rotating the baking sheets halfway through, until the edges just begin to brown, 12 to 15 minutes. (Mine took less, keep an eye on them.) Let cool slightly on the baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Royal Icing

Ingredients:

4 cups powdered sugar (1 [1-pound] box)

2 egg whites, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, plus more as needed

Instructions:

Combine ingredients in the bowl of a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Whisk on medium speed, stopping to scrape down the bowl, until glossy and stiff, about 5 minutes. Add additional lemon juice until the frosting is the desired consistency. Fill a piping bag or a resealable plastic bag with one corner snipped off and use to decorate cookies. (If not using immediately, place a piece of waxed paper or plastic wrap on the surface, cover in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to use. Stir before using.)

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- 10 Reasons Why You Aren't Seeing Muscle Gains

- Just How Natural Is Natural Bodybuilding?

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Frugal Healthy Holiday Weight Loss Tips

The holidays have arrived and maintaining or losing weight can be a a difficult proposition. On average, many adults in the US and Europe gain 3-10 lbs between Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day.  If you tend to struggle during this time of year, or want to make a change for the better, here are some simple yet effective tips for staying healthy.

The journey towards reaching your weight loss goals can seem like a constant battle. It is hard to keep your eyes on the prize when temptation, in the form of great tasting desserts, is everywhere. Make use of low-calorie versions of the foods you love to assist you in losing weight. There’s nothing like runaway cravings to cause a dieter to fall off the wagon. If you eat reduced-calorie versions of your favorite foods, you can still enjoy those tasty treats, lose weight and not feel as if you are being deprived.

Turn your phone time into workout time. Do not sit down when you are having a phone conversation; walk around when doing it. You don’t have to run in place. Just get your body moving, and you’d be surprised at how much those calories will add up. When losing weight, get exercise into your routine. Join a gym, which can give you the proper devices to reach your goals. Tai Chi, Pilates, walking or jogging are other alternatives for you to consider. Talk to your doctor before you begin any exercise or weight loss program. Try to incorporate exercise into as many parts of your day to day life as possible.

Before leaving for work, allow time for a morning breakfast. When rushed, you may be easily tempted to grab a prepackaged pastry as you head to work. Unfortunately, these common breakfast items are high in calories and low in nutrition. If you sit down and have fresh fruit and oatmeal before leaving your house, you won’t need to eat a breakfast pastry that is high in calories. To lose weight, you can eat lean meat, and prepare it in a healthy manner. Replace cream-based sauces with ones that focus on vegetables, like chutneys and salsas. Seasoning lean meat is an easy way to give it more flavor without adding calories. 

It’s much easier to lose weight if you stay active. Move around throughout the day and avoid sitting for too long. This helps keep your metabolic level up so that you are constantly burning calories and losing weight. Track your steps with a pedometer when losing weight. Typically, you will want to aim for 10,000 steps for the full day. For people who already know the number of steps they take daily, they should challenge themselves to do more. Every step you take helps you to lose weight.

Try out some angel food cake if you get the hankering for a dessert. Some cravings will get the better of you, but you still should try to control portions. Angel food cake is mostly air. It’s important to only take a small piece of cake when you do let yourself indulge. It’s also beneficial to eat fresh fruit with your cake to increase the nutritional value of your treat.

You can improve your weight-loss results by pairing up meals with healthy physical activities. Why not have a picnic? Enjoy your lunch at a nearby park, and make it a point to walk instead of driving.  If it's snowing out, try some winter activities such as skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, ice-skating, sledding, and of course snow shoveling!  Pairing up fun, active pursuits with your meals can burn off the calories you eat and help you lose weight faster.

Maintaining the weight you have lost can be very difficult at times, even after the holidays are behind us. Temptation can creep up on you in every circumstance of life. Hopefully this advice can help you to stick to your plan when the going gets tough and you are tempted to give up.

  

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- Just How Natural Is Natural Bodybuilding?

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Frugal Recipe: Dark Chocolate Turtle Graham Cracker Bars!

Contributed By Courtney Horan, Author of Sweet Tooth Sweet Life

This recipe is INCREDIBLY DECADENT and outrageously delicious. 

Yesterday afternoon, I came across an email from the 12 Days of Cookies that had me totally intrigued. After reading the ingredient list + preparations, I decided it was easy enough, yet worth any effort to attempt to make, so I put together my ingredients and got to work.

Yes, that’s two sticks of butter…Hey, I warned you. We’re not counting calories here today folks. 

Start off by lining a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper (or a silicone mat, if you have one…I don’t). Arrange the graham crackers in a single layer on the baking sheet. Luckily, my 15×10 jelly roll pan fit ‘em all perfectly!

Next, combine your butter, brown sugar, chopped pecans, and a pinch of salt in a medium sauce pan.

Bring the mixture to a boil…

And continue to boil for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly. You’ll notice the mixture will start to thicken up and bubble nicely.

Pour the butter mixture evenly over the graham crackers…

But be prepared to start unconsciously licking your lips. It will happen. 

Bake for 15 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

While the graham cracker + butter mixture is cooking, start to prepare your chocolate.

Melt the chocolate in a glass bowl placed over a simmering pot of water (if you’re smart, you’ll simply rinse out the same pot you used for your butter mixture and just fill it with a little water…less dishes to wash!) 

At this point, it is absolutely, positively acceptable to snag a couple chips. Hey, you’ve been working hard. 

Now it’s time to be patient. Give ‘em a few good stirs, and go ahead and “accidentally” let your finger slip and hit the chocolate coated rim of the bowl.

It will take a good 10-12 minutes for the chips to start melting, but I promise…eventually you’ll end up with a smooth, creamy chocolate.

By now, it’ll probably be about time to take your graham cracker + butter mixture out of the oven.

It’s ok to stare in amazement, then continue on.

Pour your melted chocolate over the toffee-covered graham crackers and spread evenly.

I also sprinkled my dark chocolate layer with a little sea salt. If you have some on hand, go for it. 

Chill completely in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. Cut into bars (they won’t break perfectly) snag one (or three) for yourself, then immediately put the rest in the freezer.

Or share them with friends.

Otherwise, you’ll be making a new batch quicker than you can say “flippin’ fantabulous!” 

Dark Chocolate Turtle Graham Bars

(recipe from Food Network’s Day 6 of “12 Days of Cookies”)

Ingredients:

• Approximately 12-14 graham crackers (if each graham cracker is 5″ x 2.5″)
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• Kosher salt, to taste
• 12 oz. bag dark chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Line a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone mat. Arrange the graham crackers in a single layer on the lined baking sheet.

Put the butter, brown sugar, pecans, and a pinch of salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour the butter mixture evenly over the graham crackers and bake for 15 minutes. Remove and set aside.

Meanwhile, melt the chocolate in a glass bowl placed over simmering water. Pour the chocolate over the toffee-covered graham crackers and spread evenly. Chill completely in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. Cut into bars.

ENJOY!  

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- 10 Reasons Why You Aren't Seeing Muscle Gains

- Just How Natural Is Natural Bodybuilding?

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