... and all was right with the world

I heart office supplies more than most things. Except coffee, family, and friends. Yes, that sounds about right. Office supplies is #4 on the list of things I love. I think they are so great that I am even a fan of post-its on Facebook. If you're not a fan, I encourage you to be. Post-its are great. The sizes, the shapes, the colors - endless possibilities. And they are not just for writing notes; you can have fun with them. Check out this cool stop motion video someone made with them (not me, but I wish). 1:25 of pure gold.

Anyway, the point is that office supplies make me happy (and my birthday is in October, if you're looking to plan ahead.) I'm a nerd and I embrace it. This morning I got to work and went into my 9 a.m. meeting, notebook in hand, and realized I only had a few blank pages left. *insert mini heart attack and gasp here* Tonight, I was off to get a new one - and you can't get a new notebook and not get new pens. It's like eating peanut butter without jelly... just silly.

Tomorrow, I can go back to work with my new notebook and pens. And all will be right with the world, at least for a few moments. I can't ask for more than that.

invasion!

This is primarily for Julie & Steele, but feel free to take a look.  We had a great time on the lake yesterday and this is Steele's video memior.  Enjoy!

breakfast w/ berries

I asked around a bit about what you can do with strawberries besides eat over shortcake and ice cream, or make jam (which I'm not brave enough to try, yet).  Someone had mentioned strawberries on pancakes... brilliant!  I know they do that at some restaurants, but never considered doing it myself.  Sometimes 2+2=5, right?  Anyway, that's what I did this morning, because we had everything here, including the strawberries already cut and ready. 

Pancakes
1 1/2 c. flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 egg
3 Tbsp. butter (melted)
1 1/4 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract

In a medium or large bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and sugar.  In another bowl, mix milk, melted butter, vanilla, and egg until blended.  Create a silo in the flour mixture, then pour in the milk mixture and stir until mixed well.  Fry in large frying pan at the pancake sizes you want, using canola oil. 

The original recipe I looked at also had 1 tsp of salt in it, but I forgot.  It didn't seem to make a difference though.  I've always wondered why recipes have only 1 tsp or less of salt, like it matters.  And it may.  I have no idea, so would love to hear from you if you know why salt is in recipes for things you wouldn't expect - what's the purpose?

Vanilla extract was an add-on because I wanted to see how it would taste.  The pancakes were yummy, so it obviously didn't hurt, although I didn't really taste it that much, so I'm not sure it made it better either. :) 

We served strawberries over the top, which was great... because I love strawberries!  It also adds a little bit of freshness to the heavy texture of the pancakes.  Eggs were added as a side as well because I'm a spaz about that ever since a friend of mine told me that when you eat things that are heavy for breakfast like pancakes, french toast, waffles, etc... you should eat an egg to get the protein and it helps with digestion etc... and makes you a better person.  It may be a myth, but I'm not taking my chances.  And eggs are good.

After breakfast, my friend Kim was nice enough to let me come and pick raspberries with her (thanks, Kim!!!).  As I write, I'm eating those over ice cream.  Fun fact:  raspberries taste good on butter pecan ice cream.

Enjoy the remainder of your weekend!