Checking in + Daydreamin'

I have been so absent from writing here for the past couple of weeks for a few reasons...

1. Tomorrow is my last day of normal high school and the next month will be devoted to my senior project. Each week I will be clocking in 36 hours, working for Red Queen Tarts (a cute little one-women-run business that makes delicious handmade toaster pastries filled with local organic fruits). My high school years are coming to an end oh so quickly and it is becoming bittersweet. So because of all this I have been trying to soak up my last days at school, while keeping my GPA up so I qualify for a scholarship next fall!

2. I have been reading a lot of blog posts about "being an authentic" blogger, which has caused me to question why I even have a blog. The whole idea is kind of funny. Why does my life interest anyone? Who cares what I bake in my kitchen late at night? How many people even read this? I don't really know any of these answers. I do know that I want my posts to have more depth to them. I want to teach y'all something, or challenge you to think about something, or inspire you even. More purpose in my words, gives you more of a purpose to read them.

3. Lacrosse has been pretty exhausting the past couple of weeks. We had 4 games last week and two games this week. I come home late and tired, and the last thing one my list is writing a post.

With all that being said I hope to write more this next month, but who knows how this senior project is going to mix up my schedule.

Now onto the daydreamin' that I've been doing in the midst of all this stuff going on. It has been a little escape for me, a chance to remind myself of the things that make me feel happy, excited and blessed. We were all told in elementary school to "focus, pay attention, and get out of la-la land!" but I am here to say that daydreamin' keeps me more sane than a lot of other things. Breathing is sometimes easier in la-la land. We all need breaks, and my mind is a good place to take one once in while.

I have been daydreaming about going back to Charleston and living there, about doing the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk this fall, about climbing the magnificent Mount Kilimanjaro this summer, about moving to a whole different place in a few months, about walking across the stage at graduation, and about waking up at the crack of dawn to bake pastries so very soon!

Charleston dreamin'...

Happy dreaming

Springtime + Popsicles

Went on a marine biology trip for the end of last week down to Skidaway Island, just to come back here and find that it was the same temperature! 80 degrees and super sunny! It is making me nervous about how hot summer is going to be, but other than that I am totally embracing it.

Took a nice walk today after I finished my LAST PAPER for high school ever... can't believe that is true. Soaked up the sun, and stared in awe of the beauty that spring brings. Day dreamed about how delicious a popsicle would taste and figured out what kind I would make once I got home. Quickly put together pineapple, coconut, and date popsicles so they will be ready to enjoy tonight.

Pineapple, Coconut, and Date Popsicles
Inspired by Whole Living's Date Shake Popsicles
1 can half-fat coconut milk
2-3 cups pineapple
5-10 pitted dates (depending on how much you want and how big they are)
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. You can chop some of the dates to stir in at the end for some nice chunks in the pops. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze till ready to eat.

Cheers to flowers blooming, pollen falling, and popsicles for lickin'

new favorite place in the world.

So I fell in love with Charleston. Everything about it... the food, the coast, the houses, the streets, the people, the southern charm. It was all beautiful. I am already trying to figure out when I can go back. Until that happens, I will look at these picture a lot, day dream about sitting on Folly beach, and remember how much fun I had with my mom this spring break.

these pictures...
1 & 2. Taco Boy twas delicious
3. little hidden path to a very old cemetery
4. Husk Restaurant- my favorite of the trip I think.
5. the water
6. Folly beach

I have more to share :)
Happy Tuesday!

Pancake Mix.

Spring break is finally here! I just got home from an hour long walk since we didn't have practice today, it was a lovely change of pace.

I have been researching and perusing restaurant's menus for a good bit of time this morning... can not wait to eat in Charleston.

This pancake mix made the best pancakes I have ever had. I have previously not been much of a pancake person, but i think this mix has changed my mind. I made them this past weekend, some with banana slices and some with blueberries dropped in. They will be made again tomorrow morning (since I don't have school!) to kick off all the delicious and leisurely breakfasts I'll be having on my time off.

here's the recipe
Multigrain Pancake Mix
adapted from Heidi Swanson's recipe
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup buckwheat flour
1 cup oat flour (grind up oats in a coffee grinder, you'll get flour)
2 T. baking powder
2 T. chia seeds
2 T. sucanat

Combine all that in a bowl, whisk it together, and put it in a big jar
When you are ready to eat pancakes, measure out 2/3 cup of the mix and then whisk together 2/3 cup buttermilk/milk, 2 T. melted butter or olive oil, and 1 egg add the wet to the dry and mix with spoon until JUST combined- which helps keep them light and fluffy.
Thank you Heidi Swanson.
Oh and it is 70 degrees outside today, which makes the whole spring break thing feel ever better. Happy almost friday!