nice to beet you!

There's a secret I've been meaning to share with you all for some time now. For the past 8 months, I have been dreading and also counting down the days until I could check out the 10 day forecast for the day of my wedding. The verdict is in:

84 degrees, sunny, 0% chance of precipitation, 61% humidity

I must tell you right now, I am not ashamed of the happy dance I did this morning!!!!! Now, I know this is subject to change over the course of the next ten days. Everyone start praying it doesn't change! I AM SO HAPPY!!!!

I ended last night by reading a little bit of this...

I got this book from the library on Monday, and I will finish it tonight. It is so good. I'm not sure what drew me into it, and what is keeping me entertained, but it is so well written. It is a story about 2 awkward teenagers that don't fit in and the in's and out's of their friendship/relationship. The main character (Alice) has anorexia and that is the cause of much turmoil in her life.

I told you this morning I would eat something different for breakfast. Blueberry Oatmeal Flax Pancakes, anyone?

The last time I ate these, I was sad to inform you they defeated me - meaning, I couldn't eat them all.

Today however, the hunger beast kicked in and I was able to finish these babies off.

you are so beautiful.

After I piddled around for a while (aka: danced like a crazy fool when I found out the weather and called everyone and anyone who would actually care about it) I decided to go out for my 35 minute tempo run. This "tempo run" turned into a "run until your lungs can't make it anymore then walk until you can breathe" kind of a run. Whatever, all in all, it was ridiculously hot outside, and I just can't take this humidity!!

When I got home, I ate another one of these.

individually wrapped and ready for snackage!

i see you specks of zucchini - you can't hide behind the chocolate. i know you're there!

For lunch, I stumbled upon some beets which needed to be used ASAP! I really like pickled beets, so why wouldn't I enjoy the fresh ones? I had these atop a ginormous salad.

no seriously - it's huge... romaine, tomato, cucumber, onion, chickpeas, avocado, beets

Conversation with my niece about my salad...

Me: Look, isn't my salad beautiful?

Niece: It is beautiful Auntie Chelsey! You should take a picture of it!

Me: Oh, don't you worry... I already did.

Niece: You're not weird, you're just... different.

Thi was followed up by an unpictured amount of cashews, almonds, and a fig (I originally was going to use the picture from yesterday, but then got lazy and forgot).

We had some fun in the sun today (which is probably why my eyes keep trying to close) - including sprinkler time and some play time over at the neighbor's inflatable water slide.

I had to dash to my house today to meet the Comcast Cable guy (who was an hour early - when has the cable guy EVER been early?), and was frustrated immediately upon arrival because our paint was not touched up yet. Now, I understand it will not be the end of the world if my house is not finished by the time the wedding arrives. It's liveable, and that's fine. However, I REEEEAAALLLLY just want to come home from our honeymoon to an unpacked, clean, stress free zone. Come on, just tell me it will happen - humor me, will you?

On the way over, I ate an apple - and forgot to take a picture until I was done eating.

it was a gala - and yes, that cup has been in my car for a few days. don't judge me.

When it's all said and done, at least I have cable and internet. I also got a beautiful present from my nephew - BIL and kids came over to see the current progress.

a rose, pour moi? merci monsieur!

Yes, the rose is set upon my new kitchen table - which is AWESOME and you will not see for a couple of days :)

I wanted a FEAST when I got home, so I called in the sweet potato and tofu troops. It was more than delicious - it was DEEELLLIIIICCCIOOOUUUSSS!! The cauliflower was also amazing. Mad props to mommasita for chopping it up for me! :)

Sometimes I wish my house wasn't already 90 degrees so I could withstand the heat of the oven every night.

i know you feel nice in my belly.

Emily sure knows how to make a mean slab of tofu

i'm sorry you couldn't be the star of the show today, cauliflower. there's always next time...

I'm off to go do some wedding escort cards, eat a snack (btw, i only have one blueberry muffin left!!! ::gasp:: what's a girl to do when they're gone?) , read and rest my eyes. I'm mucho sleepy today.

Question: How do you handle stress? Do you tend to freak out, stay cool, or melt under pressure? For me, I think I handle it well until I cry at the drop of a hat about silly things...

can i have some more sir?

First things first: you need to read my title with a british accent as if you are Oliver Twist. Thanks.

I woke up with one thing on my mind this morning: pancakes.

I am usually not one to make pancakes - I love my oatmeal. However, yesterday Angela had what looked like the best idea in the entire world, so I was inspired.

I took her spelt pancakes recipe and totally changed it up (sorry Angela - just remember, you were my inspiration!!!) . Actually, it's not even the same recipe anymore! These bad boys are vegan and gluten-free!

Blueberry Oatmeal Flax Pancakes:

• 1/4 cup gluten free flour
• 1/4 cup gluten free oatmeal
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/3 tsp. baking soda (you can use 1 tsp. baking powder - I can't due to a corn intolerance)
• 1/4 cup almond milk (or milk of choice)
• ungodly amounts of blueberries

1. Mix the dry ingredients together and mix the milk in - it should be semi-runny.
2. Spray a skillet or griddle with nonstick spray (I use olive oil in a spray bottle) and heat to medium to medium high heat.
3. Drop three equal sized portions of the mixture onto your skillet. Wait until the pancakes start to bubble and flip with a spatula. Heat on the other side as well.

see? UNGODLY amounts of blueberries

flipped and ready for me to eat!

I topped these with melted banana and peanut butter sauce (also inspired by Angela - thanks girl!). All I did was smash up 1/2 a naner, add 1 tbsp peanut butter, and nuke it in the microwave for 45 seconds. I mixed it all up and spooned it over my breakfast!

and more blueberries and cinnamon for good measure :)

Part of me felt like a failure when I couldn't finish these, but part of me felt like a champion for making the best pancakes I have ever eaten in my entire life.

until next time mr. pancake...

Jenny and I had the same thinking this morning with the pancakes - she had raspberry. She asked the same question I am going to ask...

What is your favorite kind of pancake? What do you like to top your pancakes with?