Five Simple Things (May 19)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This pie.

These pies are made here locally and are some of the best ones we have ever tasted. They are available through our local food co-op and I grab one once a month and surprise everyone with it. This one was marionberry and it was incredible!

2. This surfing.

We randomly took off this week for a surfing day and it was much needed. The stress of the week seems to fade away once we are in the water and we are so grateful to live this close to the coast to be able to take off whenever we want or need and spend the day on the waves.

3. This box.

Kinder Beauty introduced some new brands and products in this month's box. My favorite product in this shipment is the Lavido Thera Intensive Body Cream. It has a nice lavender and tea tree scent, but also works well for really dry areas, like feet. 

4. This game.

This game is also featured in my Shop page, but this week we played it and it's a lot of fun. These little games are available through Lowe's and offer kids the ability to learn how to build something, give them confidence in seeing what they can do, and also create something that they can actually use. These little DIY construction kits help keep kids and adults off their phones for a short time and create a family time that can create memories that last a lifetime.

5. These items.

A few more items headed to be donated. Hopefully, these items will become someone else's treasures through the humane society here.

One last thing:

This week we went to eat at Café Yum on the Oregon State University campus. While we were eating there was a race car parked across the street. We waited to see the driver, but he never showed up. We enjoyed making up stories while we ate. Skylar made up that he was the driver of the car and was driving across the country to leave his city job for the green pastures of New Hampshire. Ha!

Positive affirmations this week:

I've been using the guided meditation through Op e  n for about three months now and the takeaway has been so rewarding. Meditation is a great way to help with mental health issues, especially anxiety. I have PTSD induced anxiety, and at times it brings about panic attacks so bad that I feel like I am going to die. Meditation has helped a great deal with panic issues from anxiety attacks and also helped me relax my brain at night when I can't seem to slow down from a day of anxiety issues. There's a lot that Op e  n offers and below is a diagram that can get you started. Even if you don't use Op e  n, I highly recommend starting a mediation practice of your own.

You can do this! 🌈

Have a nice weekend.

Nuts and Seeds Banana Bread

• 1/2 cup melted salted butter
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon, or more to taste
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. ground or grated nutmeg
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract (not imitation)
• 4 very ripe bananas, mashed (about 2 cups)
• 1/2 cup, or more of seeds and nuts (peanuts, pumpkin, flax, sunflower, almond, cashew, chia)

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), and butter a loaf pan.

In a mixing bowl, mix together the ripe bananas and melted butter. Mix in the baking soda and salt. Then add in sugars, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix in the flour last.

Pour the batter into greased loaf pan and sprinkle 1/2 of the nuts on top. Halfway through baking, sprinkle the remaining nuts on top and finish baking.

Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely before slicing.

This recipe is customizable in so many ways. Instead of bananas, try canned pumpkin, zucchini, even watermelon. Instead of nuts, add raisins, cranberries, currants, blueberries, or even strawberries. The possibilities are endless. We have tried all different ways to incorporate foods into this recipe. It should be called, "Everything in the Cabinet Bread."☺ I hope you enjoy it, because it's a huge favorite in our house! If you give it a try, let me know by tagging me on social media. I would love to know what you think of it, or if you added something fun.