it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

I'm not kidding! It really is! For the first time all week, I woke up and the sun was shining in through my windows. Granted, when I woke up it was 5:30 and I wasn't very happy about the sun at the time. However, after tossing and turning in my bed for an hour, I decided it was time to get up. I hate it when I don't sleep well!

Breakfast was something I had been dreaming of for days... blueberry pancakes! I just took my usual oatmeal mix and thickened it up with some flour and plopped them into a skillet. They were delicious! I also made a blueberry topping by stewing some blueberries in a saucepan with 1 tbsp of water until the blueberries started to cook down. Add a side of PB to the mix, and you've got yourself quite the breakfast!

it's okay - you can wipe up your drool now.

loooove blueberries

After I had breakfast, I decided I really didn't want to workout this morning. Maybe I will this afternoon sometime, but I felt like just running some errands. My right hip has been bothering me lately too, so maybe a day off won't kill me. The only thing about days off is that I am always starving!!!! Does this happen to anyone else? I snacked on some almonds earlier too. This morning I ran around like acrazy woman trying to find the things I need for our centerpieces for the wedding. I'm probably going to end up buying most everything online though. Stores just don't do it for me lately!

Then I cam home and made a huge lunch. I was starving! A huge spinach salad topped with a leftover black bean burger and a piece of gluten free bread on the side.

I have never done the salsa/mustard topper before - it was delicious! That is definitely a keeper!

I'm off to go run some errands with FH. Thursdays are his "meeting days" which means he's got a little extra time on his hands! I get to get my ring cleaned today - I love it when it's nice and shiny! :)

slip 'n slide hall of fame

Brunch was to be had today at FH's aunt and uncle's house. I love going to his family parties - his family is really fun (and kind of crazy at the same time - HI future family!). I brought my Vegan Veggie Loaded Breakfast Casserole. It was a big hit - no one even knew it was tofu! When I brought the leftovers home later, my mom and BIL (brother in law) devoured it (and the vegan zucchini pancakes).

After brunch, I noticed FH's aunt had displayed in her foyer a book which was opened up to a page all about design for brunch! I love her style - this was something not many people would think to do. When I told her I loved how she did that, she replied, "it's the little things chels." When it comes to decorating, I totally agree!

design diva

After we had waited a respectable 30 minutes (haha), everyone got their suits on for some sun time! They don't have a pool, but something even better....

A POND!

I am not a "pond" girl - in fact, I was in it for a while floating in a tube and a fish came up and nipped my butt! To which everyone told me I needed to "keep moving". The pond is so much fun - they have a pier, a little row boat (which FH's cousin Bret manages to sink... a lot), and a floating dock in the middle. The floating dock isn't very stable, so it makes for a fun time throwing people off :)

All the boys (plus a few girls) - FH is second from the right (don't you love the farmer's tan?)


causing trouble....

While the boys were being boys, the girls were doing what we do best - suntanning!

my cousins to be Katie and Mandi (a great friend and soon to be mommy!) - aren't they gorgeous?





Katie and I

Once the pond fever died down a little, a new game was brought out. This game is well known, a joy for children of all ages when the summer sun gets to be too much to bear.

That's right... we brought out the:

SLIP 'N SLIDE!

However, I must warn you... this was not any ordinary slip 'n slide. This was the slip 'n slide to put all other slip 'n slides to shame. I'm talking cushioned, inflatable landing strips, extended tarps, dish soap, and multiple hoses.

Slip 'n slide

action shot of one of the little girls

Bret had a mishap after this ride.

dish soap in the eye - it's just one of the many risks you have to take when embarking on such a dangerous adventure.


Katie found, however, that while sliding down, skin creates a lot of friction on the slip 'n slide. Katie likes to travel fast and did not enjoy being weighed down by such frivolous things such as skin and bathing suits. Which is why Katie came up with an ingenious idea:

Oh yes, that would be a plastic suit - the dish soap works a lot better with this!

All in all, it was a fun time!

After we left there, I had dinner with my family. I made Emily's Vegan Bean Burgers for my mom and me. They were so delicious! I wrapped mine in lettuce leaves (gluten free sandwich!). We also had a potato bomb - does anyone know what this is? If not, I can post a recipe! - asparagus, and a salad. I ate... and ate... and ate! I was hungry after all that afternoon activity!

Now I am relaxing, very tired, and ready to sleep!

Question: What is a summer activity (like the slip 'n slide) you remember doing when you were a kid?

vegan zucchini pancakes

The Goods:

• 1 cup flour (Bob's Red Mill gluten free)
• 1.5 tsp baking soda
• 1.5 tsp agave
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 cups zucchini, grated
• 3 flax eggs (3 tbsp flax & 9 tbsp water mixed together - let sit for 2 minutes)
• garlic, salt, and pepper to taste

How it's Done:

1. Mix dry ingredients together (flour, baking soda, salt, garlic, pepper, salt)
2. Mix "wet ingredients" (zucchini, flax eggs, salt)
3. Preheat griddle to medium heat (spray with olive oil or cooking spray first)
4. Drop 1/4 cup servings onto griddle. Cook approximately 3-4 minutes before flipping (you will see browning around the edges). Cook another 2-3 minutes.
5. Voila! Enjoy with sour cream (if you're not lactose or vegan), applesauce, or ketchup!
   

They are just itching to be mixed.

flax eggs

zucchini grater - I used about 1.5 HUGE zucchinis to get 3 cups

Feeling the heat

All done and ready to be eaten!

I loved the color of this pancake! Tiny flax seed meal and zucchini can be seen. Awesome.

day o' fun

Since we last saw each other, I had the greatest day!!!!

First up, farmers market with madre -

blueberries, peppers, garlic

zucchini, carrots, asparagus, cheese (hiding behind the carrots), more garlic shot

We then went on what we thought would be a short errand trip to the flooring store to get more underlayment for the floor at my house. We ended up going to a flea market (where I saw FMIL and GF (future grandma)), then we went to the flooring store, went to Potbelly's for salads (yum!), and dropped some stuff off at my house. We then went to Starbuck's where I got an excellent iced soy coffee, which I lazily sipped laying outside in the grass reading a book.

Perfection.

Afternoon snack

I stopped by my house again later to check on FH's progress with the floors. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the entire living room was almost done! Needless to say, I was overjoyed! It's starting to look like a real house!

"Take a picture of me standing on our new floor"

jump shot 1 - epic fail.

there we go (by the way, this was like 10 shots later. FH was laughing very hard at me.)

my official "job" - stepping on the planks while he pounded them in place!

Dinner was delicious - zucchini pancakes, broccoli, and sauteed mushrooms. Recipe to follow this post!

mess.

I don't like cleaning messes. I like making them.

Off for some r&r with FH after I post that recipe! Have a great night!