Everyone tries to get all healthy in the new year, but they don’t see Valentine’s Day coming. No siree, not by a mile. So imagine how health plans do when faced by giant heart-shaped boxes of candy!

This recipe lets you have your romantic dessert and still exercise portion control. These little cheesecakes are full of cookies and cream goodness, but they won’t do horrible things to your healthy resolves. Winning!

So I’m just wondering here: any of you really big into staying busy? Like, always? Like, you do it to yourselves and deep down you’re not really sorry about it?

People always ask me if I have any spare time, and they do it in this totally pitying way. And while I get what they’re saying on one level, I’m secretly wondering what I would do if I had spare time. Watch lots of Netflix? Absolutely. Nap? You bet! Catch up on my reading? Maybe.

As tempting as all of that sounds, it’s so much better to have free time in scarcity. That way you appreciate it so much more. Besides, what would you rather do in the long term: Netflix binge or learn to play the guitar?

A couple of years ago, I took up guitar. It’s been really fun, even if I’m not that great and I suspect my teacher would dump me in a heartbeat if I wasn’t a good paying customer. Many nights, I practice when I’d rather be watching TV. But hey, now I have a new skill!

Same with blogging. It started as a little hobby, and it’s growing slowly into a part-time job. And yeah, I’d have a ton more time and probably less overall cussing in the kitchen if I didn’t do this, but I’m learning how to take pictures and make videos and work with sponsors. It’s a  real gift, one that taking naps wouldn’t compare to.

There’s more, too. I like to take on challenges at work and do classes on the side, and spend time with friends, and (of course) raise my children. When all’s said and done, spare time is just an occasional treat. But if we had treats all the time, they wouldn’t be any fun.

Well, maybe these skinny mini cookies and cream cheesecakes would always be welcome. I’ve been eating one a day all week and they haven’t stopped being wonderful.

These are very easy to whip up, and they employ the lower-fat version of typical cheesecake ingredients. My favorite part is getting to that reduced-fat Oreo at the bottom. Heaven!

Being busy isn’t good all the time, but it’s better than the alternative, which is boredom and pointlessness. So if someone accuses you of having too much going on, be proud! Own your industry. It’s part of the American Dream, after all!