i went to my friend's lake house this weekend and had a ball--loved getting to do "water sports" and being active, and also being really, really inactive. their house, though, is spectacular. it's been in their family for generations, and although rustic, it is beautiful and quirky in it's own special way, the perfect little place i envision for a nice get away from the bustling furnace of New York City. 

I was a little nervous going to a friend's house becuase I didn't want to be a pain regarding food-- this did not happen on this trip, because my friend and her mom are totally up for paleo cooking!! time to spread my love for cooking and paleo and nutrition and everything! at one point i felt a little weird because i didn't want to overstep my boundaries in the kitchen, but all in all, i think it was okay. my contributions to the meals were sweet potato fries baked in coconut oil rather than normal, the whole batch was consumed, maybe just by me? does that still count as being appreciated?? 

then i taught Mack that whipped coconut cream is divine and heavenly and glorious and thrilling. pairing that with roasted peaches is even more godly, something that surely would bring Hercules back to Mount Olympus. 

the whipped cream melted when the peaches were plopped in the bowl. i didn't mind one bit. 

to top the trip off, as everyone was packing up, Mack and I made a yummy frittata for breakfast. freshly steamed broccoli, red bell peppers, tomatoes and sausage all covered in eggs and baked in the oven. YUM. we had this as our lunch on the car ride as well-- travels so easily-- yay!!

i know that the whipped coconut cream doesn't sound very whole 30, but I'm not a sweets addict, so i figure that won't knock me off of the great track i'm on. i'm not dependent on sweets, that little portion of coconut cream and peaches hasn't sent me into a rage to rip apart every fridge and cupboard in sight. 

after listening to Steve Kamb, on Abel James' podcast, i have decided to make a big goal and reward for this up coming semester/school year. from what i understand, Steve gives himself goals, and when he reaches them, and "levels up," he rewards himself by allowing himself to do something fun and enriching that will better his life from a nutritional/physical standpoint.

well, i really want to do another NOLS course, National Outdoor Leadership School, that is. I went to the Yukon for thirty days after my junior year in high school, swan dived into the wilderness, never coming up for a breath of air, never looking back to see how big of a splash i made. it didn't matter to me that i couldn't check my phone for thirty days, couldn't have contact with anyone but the seventeen other people, strangers, that joined me on this trek. it didn't even matter than i didn't have a mirror or a hairbrush or a shower for those thirty days. it was one of the best experiences of my life, and i am itching to get back into the back country, out of cities, out of civilization, and into the wild. 

me, the Yukon, Canada. shorts and snow, good combo

although i could easily sign up and be on my way right now, i want to earn it and push myself and use this experience i long for as a reward. in order for me to be able to go on my backpacking trip,  i have to make the dean's award at Colgate for the fall semester. as you can see if you click that link, i'm not on the list. it literally makes me sick looking at that list and knowing so many of my friends are on it just because they stayed in the library an extra few hours when i decided to go nap, eat, etc..... i could be on that list, but last year i decided school was not a priority. i didn't do terribly, but i want better. if i get above a 3.3 GPA fall semester, i can apply to go on another NOLS trip. if not, i get to work all summer :) the choice is mine, really, i just have to do what i know i can. thanks to Steve Kamb, i realized that i have to reach the next level in order to really be happy with myself as a student and a motivated person in general. 

check out my sister's blog. she's doing a whole 30:vegan style!!