They are addictive as all get-out. That sugar-salt coating on each peanut is beyond. So you can imagine what happens when they get dipped in milk chocolate and hardened into clusters. #anarchy

To be perfectly honest, I made a batch with the full intention of sharing. Then my family fell on them like they were going out of style, so I hid a few. It might not be dignified, but it’s necessary.

We all have moments that lack dignity, and that’s just the human experience. For instance, I got into a somewhat public fight with somebody a few weeks back and it was not really resolved, so now we’re in that super-fun standoff that adults employ where they ignore one another with intention. It’s a shame, and it’s not dignified, but it’s human.

I rarely lose my temper, but when I do, it just comes out. In my opinion, it’s far better to get those feelings out and get over them than to bottle them inside. It’s not easy to offend me, but when it happens, watch out. I get very angry, and fast.

The good news is, I’m very forgiving. Really. After my initial bout of anger, I typically feel like moving on almost immediately. The problem is, the person I’m arguing with might not feel the same. So the standoff continues, and I just sort of go along with it because, really, it’s easier than dredging things up and then maybe having another fight.

I’m only talking about this because these moments occur so rarely in my life that when they do, I find it traumatic. And what better way to get over trauma than to blog about it? I don’t typically go around fighting with people. I’m pretty even-keeled. So when it happens, I have a really hard time coping with the aftermath.

If I have to, I’ll cope with honey roasted peanut clusters. They’re easy. Take a look!

I also like these as a snack option because they have that protein from the nuts, so they’re not a total nutritional loss. And, I mean, chocolate. Mood-booster! Especially on those hard days.

We can’t be perfect all the time, and I think it’s probably best we forgive ourselves for our lapses in being the best version of ourselves. It’s yet another hard part of living in this world with a sense of responsibility and dignity. Hey, at least there’s chocolate.

Last year, I tried to make loaded caramel apples. I de-waxed the apples, coated them in caramel, and covered the caramel in honey roasted peanuts and mini M & Ms. And they looked great.

But an hour later, the weight of the toppings and pulled the caramel right off the apple. So I got really angry and gave up. Until now. Because if you don’t like the rules, then change them. If a caramel apple loaded with toppings is delicious, then just do the same thing, but deconstruct it. Easy peasy! No more #caramelapplefail in your life.

Sometimes, working a problem just means thinking of new ways to get around it. Too often, we force ourselves to do things that we think we should (and “should” is a dangerous word, my friends) instead of finding another path.

For years, I told myself that a life that included dessert every day was wrong, and that I should just eat healthy foods and live in a state of constant deprivation. If you read any women’s magazines, they’ll tell you that an “occasional indulgence” (boy, do I hate that phrase) is acceptable, but nothing beyond. And for years, I was stupid enough to believe them.

But that system didn’t work. I wound up thinking about dessert all the time. So one day, I got fed up and changed the rules and began eating indulgent desserts every day. Every. Day. Unless I got struck down by the flu or something.

And guess what? Nothing happened. I balanced those desserts with fruit and veggies, and figured that if twenty to thirty percent of my daily diet had no redeeming features, the rest would be healthy. It’s called balance, and so many women’s magazines just don’t get it.

When things don’t feel right, trust your instincts. Make a system that works for you. Listening to other people tell you how to live your life is completely illogical.

And dipping apples into caramel is also illogical if you just want the flavor without the hard work. Solution? Easy. So easy that my kids did it with me.

Cut up an apple. Drizzle a high-quality caramel sauce over the apples. Cover with your desired toppings (I am a HUGE fan of honey roasted peanuts and chocolate chips). Eat. And just think: this snack is even a bit healthy, thanks to the lovely apple.

Don’t waste your time playing by someone else’s rules. Make up your own!

You see, out here, people spend weeks or even the entire summer at the beach with family and friends. I first did that ten years ago and it was a banner time. My friend told me to consider dating the man who is now my husband. And the rest is really and truly my history!

Beach towns are incredible. And not just because of all that sand. The food! The food is amazing. Popcorn. Fudge. Fries. Ice cream. Sometimes all together!

So my first love song to the beach this week is this bark. It brings together so many of the flavors of beachy treats without any hassle or fuss. Seriously. It’s so easy, and when you’re done, I swear seagulls will be swooping down into your kitchen to steal some.

I used white chocolate, buttery popcorn, chocolate chips, Oreos, peanut butter chips, and honey roasted peanuts. And then I had no more space to sprinkle anything else.

I briefly considered throwing some salt water taffy on there, but it didn’t feel right. Go with your gut, I always say!

This is 5 minutes in the making, but you have to let the chocolate harden overnight. If you use the refrigerator, the popcorn will get stale. In other words, more time for you to spend with your feet in the sand. No problem there!

Ingredients:

• 1 bag white chocolate chips
• 1 cup buttered popcorn
• 1/2 cup peanut butter chips
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 4-5 Oreos, broken into pieces
• 1/2 cup honey roasted peanuts

Instructions:

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the white chocolate chips for 1 minute and 30 seconds. Remove the bowl from the microwave and stir the white chocolate until it is smooth.

Spread the white chocolate evenly over a silicone baking mat or a large rectangular piece of parchment paper. Sprinkle on the remaining ingredients quickly, pressing them firmly into the white chocolate.

Let the bark harden overnight. Using your hands, break it into uneven pieces. Store in an airtight container.