Hello, friends! How’s it going? We’re gearing up for our road trip to Kansas City tomorrow morning. Both tots got haircuts this week, but my tresses are in bad, bad shape…
So bad, in fact, that I haven’t been able to wear my hair down for a few days now- I look like some kind of dreadlocked Brillo pad . I put on a smile and pretend that everything is ok…
But deep down, I know it’s awful.
Fortunately, I have a haircut scheduled for this afternoon. I don’t want to meet B’s extended family for the first time with that mess on my head. I am the WORST about getting haircuts- it’s really very ungirly of me. I’m fanatical about everything else, like having my toes nicely painted at all times (chipped nail polish reminds me of Britney Spears walking barefoot into a gas station bathroom- remember those pics? I know that sounds horrible, but it’s true), shaving my legs daily and staying moisturized, but I always manage to go about 18 years between haircuts.
Ah well. Maybe someday I’ll learn. 
***
Last night I had dinner with M, and it was crazy-fun, as usual. 
We made Oh She Glows 15-Minute Creamy Avocado Pasta, sautéed some Market Street-made lemon pepper shrimp, and served it all with a green side salad topped with crispy onions and a Tuscan Italian vinaigrette.
The shrimp…
The pasta…
My plate…
I’ve made that pasta probably 5 times now, and it never disappoints. The shrimp was really good, too. Market Street’s prepared seafood and meat dishes have always been really tasty, in my experience!
For dessert, M made Mini Banoffee Pies…
They were so good I wanted to cry, but instead I ate 15 5.
It’s like having eaten a regular-sized slice of pie, right?
(RIGHT.) 
We sipped Cabernet Sauvignon all night, listened to music, and just caught up on life. A lifelong best friend + wine + mini pies = a very happy me.
When I got home I prepped a bowl of Carob Banana Chia Vegan Overnight Oats! I purchased the ingredients that I didn’t already have on hand yesterday afternoon (carob powder, chia seeds and almond milk), and luckily Market Street had everything! I hate when I have to go to 15 different stores for grocery items, and so far Market Street has always had everything I’ve ever needed. I followed the overnight oats recipe exactly, only I left out the walnuts and drizzled the mixture with agave nectar instead of maple syrup just before eating.
The concoction came together in about three minutes and smelled really good when I put it in the fridge before bed. It just looked like a chocolate-y soup with banana chunks.
This is my first time cooking with chia seeds, and I’m betting that the majority of you don’t have any in your pantry. Read up on the benefits of this wonder food here, here, and here! I’m excited to be incorporating ch-ch-ch-CHIA seeds into my life.
This morning I pulled the bowl from the fridge with slight nervousness, but when I pulled back the plastic wrap I was greeted with a thick, creamy bowl of chocolate-banana oatmeal goodness.
The chia seeds turn gelatinous when mixed with liquid, so they gave the oats an almost pudding-like consistency. The ripe banana added a nice textural component and slight sweetness, and a drizzle of agave nectar on top was the perfect touch. Next time I might add some walnuts for a little crunch, but otherwise I wouldn’t change a thing! I will definitely add Vegan Overnight Oats to my regular breakfast rotation. I also have stuff to make Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Vegan Overnight Oats, so stay tuned for that!
I’m becoming more and more interested in working superfoods into my diet. Now that I’ve added chia seeds, I want to learn more about goji berries and cacao nibs. B and I have also been talking about making vegan cheese sauce and experimenting with things like nutritional yeast in our cooking adventures. We’re definitely going to hit up the Spiral Diner again before the summer is over! Remember that “Meat”ball Sub that B had the last time we went?
Mmm, cheesy…
***
Can you believe it’s already June? June is…
June 1-7 is National Headache Awareness Month
Yesterday was Stand for Children Day
June 4 is National Trails Day
June 5 is World Environment Day and National Cancer Survivors Day
June 12 is National Children’s Day
June 13-19 is National Men’s Health Week
June 14 is World Blood Donor Day
and June 27 is National HIV Testing Day
Am I forgetting anything?
I’m off to pump some iron, do some more packing, and get that mop on my head snipped into shape. I’m betting that I won’t have access to a computer until Sunday night, but I’ll be back then with a wedding and road trip recap. Tonight we’re making Rachael Ray’s Spanakopita Burgers, and I’m very excited. If I have time later I will post up the pics, along with some shots of the leftover mini chocolate-cappuccino cheesecake my sister made that I plan on devouring.
Also?
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Mavericks!
(Really. Come on, guys!)
Have a good Thursday!
xo,
Sara
I clicked through to that Avocado Pasta recipe the other day from… you I think. It looks *so* good. Looking forward to giving it a try sometime.
Also- “deadlocked Brillo pad” – LOL!
You could always do what I do – buy your own clippers and just give yourself a number 1 setting shave all over your head. SUPER low maintenance, but women never seem too keen on this suggestion :/ Wonder why?!
Bwahaha. The worst part is that one of my sisters is a professional stylist, yet I STILL manage to go months and months without a cut. Ah well. I’m all trimmed up and purty now!
You MUST try that avocado pasta. I’ve made it for my mom, B, my aunt and uncle, and my best friend M, all with RAVE reviews… it is so damn tasty, easy, and actually really good for you! Let me know if you try it and whacha think!
PS- damn! That was supposed to say “DREADlocked”. You’d never know it, but I proof my posts about 158 times. Huh. Deadlocked is a word, but I’m not sure it applies to my hair. *scratches head*
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I ended up at Sprouts shortly after reading this and decided to try some chia seeds. So far I’ve added them to oatmeal and yogurt – the oatmeal was a little more gelatinous than usual (probably would have been moreso had it not been instant), but the seeds were otherwise undetectable, and in Greek yogurt (along with sliced almonds) I thought they added extra crunch and nuttiness, which was actually really good. Thanks for the tip!
Ah, I’m glad you like ‘em! They’re LOADED with fiber and healthy fats, and I’m sad that I waited so long to incorporate them into my diet. Next on the list: cacao nibs and goji berries.