Protein Pancakes

Easy and filling, this is one of my favorite breakfasts.

1 scoop protein powder (I use chocolate)
3 egg whites
1/2 banana
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tbsp almond milk
1/4 c old fashioned oats

Mash banana with almond milk. Add remaining ingredients. Pour onto medium heat griddle sprayed with canola oil. When bubbles rise to top, carefully flip over. Cook all the way through. Top with leftover banana, blueberries or maple syrup.

You can also add a tbsp of chia seeds to the batter for some extra omega-3s! Enjoy!

My response to "Don't date a girl who travels"

Don't date a girl who travels because she is easy to please. All you need to have is a taste for adventure. Though she may be impressed by your fancy watch and new car, she knows that life experiences are so much more important.

You'll spend all of your hard earned money on expensive plane tickets and find yourself sipping fancy cocktails by the ocean. You'll have to get used to sleeping in strange beds and eating foreign foods. Instead of burgers and fries, you'll eat banh mi from a food stall or drink fresh juice out of a coconut from some man's street-side cart.You'll have to be ok with a high risk of food poisoning. But trust her, fresh fish can be so delicious.

You'll get "talked to" by your boss for putting in so many vacation requests but it doesn't matter because you still need a full time job to pay for all of these trips. However, if you're able to balance work and play time, the reward can be great. You can complain about your boring job but she will only remind you of the many things you have to look forward to and be thankful for. You won't need to live paycheck to paycheck because she is financially responsible or else she would not be able to lead such an adventurous life.

Don't date a girl who travels for she is independent. She has a free spirit but can appreciate a home and the value of putting down roots. But only if that's what she wants. She may not be the most creative or artistic but if she is good for her. Everyone knows you don't need to be crafty or a yoga instructor to appreciate Mother Nature and all she has to offer.

Though she may never need you to keep her happy, she is grateful for someone who may want to share these experiences with. She might forget to check in with you every day but that's only because she may have lost her wi-fi signal. She is considerate, thoughtful and loving all while still being exciting.

So never date a girl who travels unless you can keep up with her. And if you unintentionally fall in love with one, don’t you dare keep her. Let her go join her on her journey.

You can read the original post here.

Winter Storm Watch

The entire South is in a state of panic because it's cold. Schools and businesses are closed, people are sent home from work early, no one knows what to do because there is ice on the road! Normal television programming has been interrupted for the special WINTER STORM COVERAGE. It's a bit comical because we're not in a snow flurry. Just our roads are covered in a layer of ice. I'm assuming because we live in Florida that people don't know what to do with themselves when temperatures drop below 80*. Well, to keep things warm inside the house, I created the most delicious bowl of soup! It started off as the sauce to a spaghetti but I found it a little plain so the next night, I used that puree as a soup base and added some bacon. So delicious! I named it after one of my favorite breakfast places in Sacramento. Enjoy!

Bacon & Butter(nut squash) Soup
Adapted from original recipe here

4 slices of nitrate/nitrite free bacon
1 medium butternut squash, peeled and diced
3 tbs olive oil
1 cube vegetable bouillon
1 tbs olive oil
1/4 cup diced yellow onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tsp poultry seasoning
1/8 cup mozzarella cheese
Salt and ground black pepper, to taste

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt the water and add the butternut squash. Cook until soft, about 12-15 minutes.
2. While your butternut squash is cooking, place strips of bacon on a grill (I used the George Foreman). Cook until crispy and set aside to cool.
3. Using a large slotted spoon, carefully remove the squash from the water and place in a large bowl.
4. Place the cooked butternut squash in a large food processor or blender. Puree the squash until smooth. Add water and bouillon cube and puree until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. You may need a little more or a little less water depending on the size of your squash.
5. In a large deep skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté 3-5 minutes. Add pureed butternut squash. Stir in the mozzarella cheese. Season with nutmeg, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper.
6. Crumble cooled bacon over the soup mixture and serve warm. 

Let me know how it turned out!

Busy Wedding Bee.

A few things have happened since I returned to Florida after a month long vacation in California! The day after I got back home, I went on an interview and was offered the job on the spot! Best thing is the position is on a surgical floor with an emphasis on joint replacements, my specialty! Well, my main knowledge set right now. Also, the hospital is only 2.6 miles away. And I was offered a position on day shift!! I am very lucky.

I have gotten into major wedding planning mode because my days off won't last for long. As well as when I was in Sacramento, my Mother-in-Love (her idea, not mine haha) really pushed me to make some decisions and get a head start on things. That really sent my mind reeling over all the little details I had yet to decide on. So, ever since I've been back I've been working on whatever I can. The problem is, I am not a designer nor do I know how to do anything on the computer except use Word and surf the web... So designing invitations with fancy fonts and this new thing I learned called swashes and programs, SO CONFUSING! Thank goodness I started early. Also, it's annoying when you have a really good idea in your head and no idea on how to make it materialize on the computer. Maybe I need one of those adult computer classes. Nevertheless, I did bang out some pretty beautiful envelopes in my opinion! Here's a little sneak peek!

Like I said, terrible at doing a lot of things on the computer but I'm pretty proud I figured this simple thing out. Ha! Not bad for having no budget for a calligrapher! Toot toot!

Also, how cute are the stamps that I used for my postcard Save the Dates?!

These two websites were very helpful for addressing my invitations. Word to the wise: know how many invitations you are sending out, not the number of guests. I know our guest count is at 150 but really we're only sending out about 85 invitations. At the Post Office I GROSSLY overestimated how many stamps we would need and purchased 360. Doh! Well, the cost of the stamp is rising so I guess it's safe to say I'm set for life.

• Real Simple: How to Address Wedding Invitations
• Martha Stewart Weddings: Addressing & Mailing Your Invitations