Morning to all! Here’s the low down of what you may have missed this weekend:

• Keeping It Cool – some of my favorite eats (including green smoothie combos)
• Electrolyte Superpowers – a 6 miler I didn’t expect, features, NEW recipe page!
• Self-Love Reflection: More Than Numbers    

But, let’s get another week started shall we? I know I have already gotten the ball rolling over here. I was up bright and early to hit up a spin class before Peter had to head into work and before the busyness of the kids’ morning routines started. It always feels so great to start the week off moving and grooving.

Per the usual, my workout left me feeling hungry and ready for a solid breakfast. Yet, unusually, I didn’t hanker for my bowl of oats. I had images of a diner style meal instead. Eggs, toast, and a side. I whipped up my own, less greasy, version -

An omelet with one egg and one egg white, filled with green onion, mushrooms, and laughing cow swiss cheese. Plus a whole wheat english muffin spread with peanut butter and a cup of grapes. And without a doubt, some iced coffee!

In other words, perfection. A happy tummy = a happy Tina. Although…a happy tummy + catching up with good friends = a very, very, very happy Tina. And that’s just what happened this past weekend.

On Friday night we went over to hang out with our friends Ben & Danielle and to let our little girls have a ball together. It had been awhile since the four of us all got together, due to vacations and busy schedules, so we all looked forward to the night. I think I had started going through withdrawals. I hardcore miss my friends when I don’t see them for more than a couple of weeks.

For our dinner date, we prepared a basic pasta meal together, while also watching the children play and catching up on life. I made a pasta combination of whole wheat pasta with sauce, extra diced tomatoes, squash, diced onion, and 8 oz lean ground beef.

She put together a salad consisting of spring mix, onion, carrots, banana peppers, hardboiled egg whites, and a balsamic vinaigrette.

I also enjoyed a glass of cabernet. Wine. Mmmmm….

An understated meal that takes on a 5-star quality because the people around the table. It had been too long. Thankfully, I can rest easy knowing we will get time with many of our crew this upcoming weekend too. I can’t wait!

• What was the best part of your weekend?
• How long does it take you to miss your friends?

As many of you know, yesterday marked the celebration of Father’s Day here in the US. And even though a certain someone forgot Mother’s Day last month, I still made sure to put in the effort for him on his day. After all, marriage means having to “forgive and forget” as the sage man from Taiwan told Ashley & Constantine on The Bachelor last week. Did anyone else find that conversation totally random and uncomfortable? Ah, the pleasures of trash television.

So I figured I should practice what The Bachelor preaches (where’s that sarcasm font again?) and devote some time and attention to Peter. He works hard to support our family, love and play with our children, believe in me, and put up with watching shows like The Bachelor. I guess he deserves a little special treatment. I happily obliged.

I started the traditional way by preparing a special breakfast for him. The man loves peanut butter. The man loves pancakes for breakfast. Peanut Butter Pancakes naturally made a perfect breakfast selection. And as luck would have it, we could easily adjust our standard pancake recipe to make a hearty peanut butter version.

Peanut Butter Pancakes

• 1 1/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 80 grams (about 1/3 cup) natural peanut butter <—I do grams so I can just measure the pb directly into my mixing bowl. It’s easier than trying to scoop it into a measuring cup and then get it all out of the measuring cup.

Mix the dry ingredients together (flour through salt). Whisk milk and peanut butter together. Add the wet to dry and stir until combined. The batter should be thicker than traditional pancake batter because of the peanut butter. Prepare pancakes as normal by dolloping even spoonfuls onto a hot griddle or pan. Cook for around 2 minutes per side. Makes 10-12 medium sized pancakes.

The pancakes came out perfectly. I prefer a hearty, dense pancake that will fill me up and these did just that. I topped the pancakes with maple syrup and served them alongside a simple fruit mix of bananas and strawberries. The flavors went so well together and the peanut butter flavor didn’t get lost in the pancakes. I loved taking a bite of pancake with a piece of the fruit, especially banana. Mmmmm!

Besides a special prepared breakfast, I also picked up a few items for Peter that I knew he would never buy himself even though he wanted/needed them – a new wallet and a new pair of jeans.

Originally, I had tried looking for tools and other man items that I have no clue what to look for in quality or price. I scratched that idea when he mentioned something a few weeks ago about needing new jeans. And then last week griped about his old wallet. Wallets and jeans I can figure out. Wood routers (????) not so much. I hate shopping for men, so I’m so thankful he gave me ideas I could handle. I’m also thankful for ideas that don’t mean the start of a new house project. 😉

Father’s Day celebrations continued with some stops to visit both of our parents. We only had time for a quick stop over to see Peter’s parents because we planned to spend as much time as we could with my family before my brother left to return to Arizona.

My brother planned a special meal for my dad – large and in charge burgers on the grill.

Typically, I’m not a huge burger person, but sometimes they sound so good. Yesterday was one of those times. I loaded up my burger with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, pepperjack cheese, ketchup, and mustard. Of course, a burger is nothing without chips or fries so I had to grab a nice sized handful of the barbecue kettle chips.

I think you could safely say that I ate well yesterday. Very well indeed. We can’t forget how the night finished now.

I secretly picked up a 2 slice pack of Edwards Key Lime Pie for Peter and I for dessert last night. For some reason, this standard, frozen, grocery-store pie delights Peter so much. Who am I to deny him his favorite dessert on Father’s Day? I only wish I had captured the surprised and overjoyed look on his face when I brought it out to him after dinner. We both get way too excited about dessert. A Happy Father’s Day indeed. I know I didn’t mind celebrating!

• Did you do anything special for Father’s Day?
• Do you find it hard to shop for guys? Any good man gift ideas you have come up with before?