First! A fun item!! Remember when I was traveling non-stop back in April, and I said that I was working on a couple things, and I would be able to tell you one of them soon?
Well one of those things is NOW!!

Back in the Spring, I was contacted and offered a spot to compete on Cutthroat Kitchen, a show on the Food Network. My initial thought was No Way. That looks horrifying.

Then I really thought about it, and decided that it is good to face your fears, because you feel so much better after you just jump, you know? And that lot’s of times it is not as scary as it seems it will be. I really wanted to show my daughters that I could go an d compete and that it didn’t matter how I did, because it was just important that I rose to the challenge. SO I went for it! And I can honest to God say that it was THE craziest thing I have ever done. EVER. EVER.

And it is going to air on Sunday July 27th.

I’m scared all over again. What will you think about how I did. Will I seem like a nut ball? Or Cranky? Or Moronic? I have no idea. The whole thing was such an insane blur of time and brain fuzz I can’t even tell you anything about it except that I think I got a little snappy at Alton Brown…. You will have to tune in to check it out ☺

OK, in other not very exciting news, I am up to HERE trying to get my stuff together tomorrow to leave. My children are packed and have immaculate wardrobes for this trip. I am hyper organized about everything from their rashgaurds and sunscreen to first aid kits and laminated allergy cards and medical bracelets. I am scary. But when it comes to be I have totally procrastinated. Anyone who knows me IRL will not be surprised by that. So now I am running around like a bat out of hell with a check list of 31 things (seriously- I just counted) to accomplish before tomorrow. One of them is “Pack Me”. Plus, since we have friends coming to stay at our house, I can’t leave it like a total dump! It needs to be clean and tidy and welcoming. Ahhhh….. the joy’s of this kind of stuff….

But I know that it will be worth it and I am so, so excited.

By the way- for your entertainment value- true to my word, I got some bathing suits from fed ex last night. I won’t even try them on till this morning, (because duh? That’s when I will be the least likely to scream!) Is anyone else this insane?? Or is it just me?

I also am still suffering from this chemical burn on my lower leg. It still looks horrifying, but is on the mend. I just can’t wait to show that off in conjuction with my bathing suit, SPF 700, enormous hat and head to toe rashgaurd gear. I am sure that I will fit right in on the beaches of Greece. Just kidding. I won’t- but that is what drinking white wine in the middle of the day is for.

So just an FYI on Saturday Stuff. I think I am going to keep it up the next few weeks and post pictures of the trip. But I can’t be sure. I am after all trying to take a vacation. A real one. (It has been a really, really long time since we disconnected from the world like this).

But no matter what- you still have a post from me every other day of the week!!

Ok, enough blah, blah, blah from me! Here is what I am lusting over this week:

Coconut Flank Steak with Broccoli Salad, Peanuts and Mint. Um, yes.

Chopped Thai Salad with Sesame Garlic Dressing. I would happily eat this every night.

Thank you. I knew I was missing Vegan Strawberry Rhubarb Pop Tarts in my life.

Fresh Honeydew ginger mojitos. I will take 3 of these. I am not kidding.

I want this Malai Kofta SO badly.

This Chickpea Slider with whipped Feta and Cucumber Slaw sounds incredible and I am so inspired by these beet buns they are served on I can’t even stand it.

Hot Bunny Pasta Sauce. I am making this, only with GF pasta. Gorgeous and totally unexpected.

Vegan Vanilla Bean Millet Porridge with Lavender and Strawberries is actually Stunning. I am reconsidering my stance on Millet.

Sweet Potato and Lentil Gnocchi. Hurrah!! GF Gnocci that looks so good I can’t even breathe!!