Welcome to Wednesday! Yesterday I found it hard to believe it was only Tuesday. Today, I dread the fact that tomorrow is already Thursday. Why? Because we will be leaving around 10 pm to drive overnight to the Philadelphia area. If you can, go ahead and add safe travels for us to your prayers. I really don’t want M to grow up without parents. Okay, that may be a bit melodramatic, but I have to admit to freaking out. Remember one of my three fears is the gut feeling that one day I will be in some sort of terrible car-wreck? Driving overnight for 12 hours stokes the fire. I might conveniently forget about the pesky “no or limited caffeine during pregnancy” rule. Then again, maybe not. Adrenaline is more powerful than coffee.

Enough of that discussion. Today I managed to turn my day around for the better, so I can turn my fear into reason as well. When I saw today’s 30 Days of Insight topic for the blog, something powerful hit me. The topic = what is your vision of paradise? My answer = what you make of your current life. I don’t know where that answer came from. Directly from the heavens? Who knows. One thing I do know is I am not nearly that profound at 6:30 am. Wherever it came from, I’ll take it. I greatly needed that message today because the day was not starting out on the best of feet.

I awoke still feeling wrong. I don’t know if I would classify myself as sick. I don’t have a fever, stuffy nose, sore throat, or anything of that nature. My body simply aches. Something fierce at that. I do occasionally feel some stomach ache symptoms, but nothing really happens. I started getting down in the dumps, knowing I would not push attempting a workout in this state, even though I could really use one to help with traveling stress. Then, I thought about Paradise. I could take the easy route and picture paradise as lying on a tropical beach with a magical margarita (that somehow was safe for fetuses). Or I could imagine standing in line at a CVS with some pain medicine safe for pregnancy that actually works. Sorry, Tylenol. You just don’t cut it for me. However, neither of those played out in my mind. Instead, I pictured my day, my current situation, and what I wanted to make of it. I say it turned out pretty good.

I took the extra time I had from not working out to play with little M. We even cleaned up the living room and playroom. I utilized the “pick up some yellow/red/pink things” game. I’m so sneaky. Hehehe.

I scheduled in some productivity on the computer by preparing for tomorrow’s Examine article, catching up on emails, visiting bloggers to return the love and support I receive, brainstorming more on my September plan for the blog, and other random tidbits.

I conquered the laundry and dishes that battle me on a daily basis. And tossed in some toilet bowl cleaning for good measure. I ran errands to the store, bank, and library. Shockingly, I left the library empty handed. I’m finding less time to read and only want to read books I am thoroughly interested in. Other things need my focus right now.

I devoured a delicious lunch. Mushroom burger with tomato, pickles, and laughing cow on a sandwich thin, Grapes and raspberries (my current fruit obsessions) on the side. That right there is paradise.

I even managed to finish the teensy weensy invites I shared on Sunday for my friend’s lingerie shower AND pick up the wedding present for the wedding we are attending this weekend. So what if I procrastinated and had to get something off the registry?

Lastly, I remembered to share my Hawaiin Tofu recipe and Tofu Xpress review with you all. The gist of my review = If you make tofu at home, buy the Tofu Xpress NOW. It really does such a great job at pressing all the water out.

The texture of the tofu surpassed any other time I have prepared it. It was also much easier not having to press the ‘fu using bowls, paper towels, and other homemade contraptions. I’m so thankful the kind people at Tofu Xpress sent this to me for review. Please note that I am not compensated for the review and was given the press for free solely for reviewing purposes.

Now, the “recipe”. It’s not really a recipe. More a marinade. I mixed up the following to create a Hawaiin flavored marinade.

• 2T honey
• 1/4 c low sodium soy sauce
• 1/2 c pineapple juice
• 1/2 tsp minced ginger

After pressing the tofu, I sliced it into long strips about 1/2” thick. I allowed the strips to marinate in the mixture for around 30 minutes. From there, I simply seared the tofu in a medium heat pan for about 3 minutes per side. You could also bake it at 350 for around 30 minutes, turning halfway though. I honestly prefer baked tofu but was using the oven to roast up veggies – sweet potatoes and brussels sprouts.

My two favorites. You know? I’ve come to realize something. That dinner may well be the source of my “What is paradise?” enlightenment this morning. Nah. I know where my inspiration and answers come from. 😉

• Favorite marinade mix?
• Your paradise? Beach, mountains, with a certain someone, etc?
• Any love you got to give. 🙂

Can you tell me…how it is already August? Seven months have disappeared in the blink of an eye. Somehow time snuck up on me and now I must face the month that will try to kill me. We travel (by CAR!) to Philadelphia this weekend. My friend’s wedding stuff occupies my schedule all month. I will have to pick up more intensive lessons for the Sunday class I lead. Life continues on its mad course. Busy, busy, busy month ahead. Also, in August, a portion of each post is going to share something random from a list of topics being shared among bloggers. I got the idea from Lisa. Today’s topic is a guilty pleasure of mine. I would have to say my guilty pleasure is being able to stay in my pajamas or workout clothes all day if I so desired. Can you tell me why we all can’t just agree that sweats and tees are appropriate attire for everything?

Next up. Can you tell me HOW I’m supposed to fit all the shower information onto this tiny invitation?

And where this shower is even going to be? Or who to send the invites to? Since I can’t get addresses from the bride or the friend who is organizing the hotel room on the phone.

Can you tell me…why can’t we eat birthday cake every day? Yesterday we celebrated my nephew’s 3rd birthday. As usual with our family, it was a mad house of chatter and kids scrambling everywhere. All calmed for the cake. Oh, the cake!

I used to despise birthday cake. I blame Makenzie for my current infatuation with it. I never liked cake, ketchup, or candy corn until I became pregnant with her.

Can you tell me…could Makenzie BE any cuter? Well maybe without bangs in her eyes and peanut butter smeared across her face. Nah! She’s perfect.

Can you tell me…why is writing so fulfilling? I love putting my thoughts into words and onto (cyber) paper. I got a fair amount of writing done yesterday – my next fit pregnancy article (please CLICK), my Healthy Tipping Point story for Caitlin, and a lot of brainstorming for something special.

Can you tell me…why it is so hard to know God’s plan? I 100% am willing to follow Him where He leads me. And lately I have been getting these thoughts that wedge into my mind and cling onto my heart. They feel good, but there is a problem. How do I KNOW they are from God, not just something I come up with out of pride or because it seems cool? How do I know if  I should pursue them? Or is fear holding me back and am I trying to find a reason not to follow these things in my heart? For example, I have something that I would love to do on the blog and I think it could promote something amazing for every woman out there. I don’t want to just dive in without knowing it is something from God though because it is that important and dear to me. I guess all I can do is pray about it for now.

Can you tell me…how the body is so smart? Yesterday I was not that hungry. I had a light breakfast of my beloved egg/laughing cow/tomato/Morningstar sausage sandwich. Then had this lovely plate for lunch awhile later.

I ate an early dinner at the party, which was one taco of salsa, cheese, and beef plus a small slice of that cake. Then, I wasn’t hungry the rest of the day and ate nothing that night.

Today, however, I have been a bottomless pit. I devoured a quick, delicious breakfast of waffles with pb + syrup and some Morningstar Farms sausages. Then, I needed a heftier meal for lunch and convinced the hubs to hit up Atlanta Bread Company for my sandwich craving. I was STILL hungry! But, if there is one thing I know, it is to trust my body and let it do its thing. So, I’ll be munching something here shortly.

Can you tell me…if you are on my new Blogger Love page? I updated the page with the blogs that were on my previous list and all the new, fabulous people I have come across recently who requested to be included. Please check your link and let me know of any problems. If I missed you or you still want to be on the page, please let me know in a comment below. Help me spread the blogger love!

Now, can you really tell me…

• …how your weekend was?
• …your insight to any of the above?
• …you own “Can you tell me?” question?
• …did you click my link? I had to throw it in there!