Just go ahead and turn on the music!!! It’s blasting here! I just LOVE patriotic music. We were blasting it in the bakery yesterday! It especially reminds me of my grandfather, who loved to blast it too.
Especially because my mom wrote a picture book about America The Beautiful, so the song has a special meaning for our family. For years whenever the song was played at a big event we’d all get excited and poke, text, call my mom! Go look for her book at your library in honor of the holiday!
Mom is now looking out for me and sent me this flag-inspired backdrop for blogging this weekend : )
My bowl was filled with plain yogurt, banana, ‘loupe, bluebs, raw oats, granola and SUNFLOWER BUTTER! (Thanks Lauren!)
Served with a beautiful glass of iced coffee.
I’ll tell you something. Iced coffee sure is easy to over drink!! I sure hope I’m not downing the caffeine of 2-3 mugs with these. Hopefully the ice helps to fill the volume, but it wouldn’t surprise me.
Matt and I slept for many, many hours. Except for a 5AM thunderstorm that had lightening cracking outside of our window and made me jump up in bed every time. We’re departing on picnic #1 of 2 for the weekend at noon, so I think my window for running has closed. I will have to be active other ways, like doing laundry!!
Lauri (Redheadrecipes.com) says
Your oats are so festive 🙂
Hope you have FUN on your picnic! We are headed to lowe’s to look for a new washer and dryer and then moving a load into our new house. FUN!
Aine @ Something to Chew Over says
Happy Independence Day my American friends! Hope you enjoy it 🙂
Your breakfast bowl looks so tasty this morning – I’m glad you’ve got sunflower butter back in your life!
Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] says
I can drink a lot of iced coffee, too, which is why I go with decaf a lot of the time. Enjoy your picnic 🙂
staceyhealthylife says
Have a great day and enjoy your two days off. Enjoy some delicious food!!!! 🙂
Lauren says
I knew you would put that sunflower butter to good use 😉 Glad you are loving it!! I love that flag background, it is really cute and a nice touch for this weekend! Your mom’s book looks great, I bet there are lots of happy kids reading it this weekend!
Holly @ The Runny Egg says
I love the patriotic backdrop! Red/white/blue and stars/stripes are so adorable to me — I’d love to have a country style house with those types of decorations all year long. It just makes me think of home!
Deva (Voracious Vorilee) says
That backdrop is amazing- love it :-).
Our weekend is jam-packed as well, I am pretty sure I am getting my activity through things like walking, laundry, and cleaning house!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
Love the patriotic back drop!
I’m making myself run the the race expo – not sure if that’s brilliant or ridiculous. 🙂
Cait's Plate says
Doing laundry TOTALLY counts as exercise! So exciting you have picnics to go to – I keep telling my boyfriend we need to do one in Central Park 🙂 Enjoy your time off!
Lauren @ What Lauren Likes says
Laundry is a legit workout! especially mountains of towels…ugh! We had bad thunderstorms around my area to! although it was around 8pm last night! It was scary!
Jennifer says
Cool about your mom’s book. Talent runs in the family. 🙂
Cait @ Beyond Bananas says
Have an awesome day!
The cover to your mother’s book is beautiful!
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) says
That’s so cool that your mom wrote a book! I will definitely look for it in my library 🙂
Mom says
Let me know if you find it!
Khushboo says
Housework defo counts as being active! A few hours can sure poop me out!
Ma Fea says
I purchased your mom’s book last year to use with my music students (you might remember, Mom!). Now’s a good time to remind me to say thanks again—the kids love the story, it enhances our learning, and I love the illustrations. Thanks, Mom!
Mom says
Thanks to you and everyone for such kind words about my book!
Barbara
Jennifer says
I just read through your mom’s website and didn’t know she was a children’s librarian. That’s great!! I am almost finished with my MLS and want to work as a librarian in an elementary school. 🙂
Mom says
When you get settled, we can do a Skype school library visit. That is, if my blogging daughter will help me learn how to Skype….
Jennifer says
That would be great!! I’ve never used Skype myself so it would be a learning process for both of us. 🙂
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
Chores definitely count as exercise, at least that’s what I’m telling myself as I go on day 3 of no formal workout 🙂
lynn @ the actor's diet says
i love patriotic music too. i went to music camp (not BAND camp, MUSIC camp) and the orchestra always played all the marches for 4th of july
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
How cute that your mom sent you the table mat! Love how you’ve themed it for the special weekend!
The Teenage Taste says
That is SO cool that your Mom wrote a book about America! I might be crazy but I’m pretty sure I saw that book on display at my library yesterday! SO COOL! 😀
Felicia (Natural + Balanced) says
ate my oats out of the same bowl this morning 🙂 have a great weekend kath!!
Lee says
When I was in 2nd grade, we always had Patriotic Day on Fridays and the teacher would teach us patriotic songs. I still remember all of them!
katie @KatieDid says
I had fireworks going off around 3 am making me jump every. single. time also, and then a thunderstorm at 5am as well! But tis the season I guess. Enjoy your days off!!
Sarah says
I love iced coffee in the summer time. I think I’m going to make some today. Hopefully the weather clears up for your picnics this weekend!
Julie H. says
I love thinking of my grandpas, who are veterans, on the 4th. They gave up soooooooo much!
Molly @ RDexposed says
We should start a movement to change the slogan from “American as apple pie” to “American as oats.” I mean, we are living during the obesity epidemic….
Jenny @ Fitness Health and Food says
yey for a day off you two deserve it! 🙂
That drippy sunflower seed butter looks wonderful! 🙂
Krystina (Organically Me) says
Happy holiday weekend, Kath!
kyla says
I had no idea that your mother wrote that book! I’ve looked at it before and thought it was beautiful.
Mom says
Fun! Did you see it in a library? (It’s out of print so not in too many bookstores nowdays.)
Hillary says
I love the Fourth of July—even sat down to have a patriotic breakfast of cottage cheese, blubes, and strawberries this morning! A day early, I know, but still got me in the mood ; )
Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn says
I love the placemat! So patriotic 🙂 I lahhhhhve the 4th of Joooooly
kaila @ healthy helper! says
Love the oats! I’m craving some ‘lope now that its the season!
Namaste Gurl says
Happy 4th– love the patriotic backdrop and oats 🙂
Have a good day:)
rumfunandsun says
Oh I have seen that book! I didn’t realize your mom wrote that! Tell her my kids like it too!
Mom says
Oh neat! How old are your kids?
rumfunandsun says
5 and 12! I am pretty sure we got it at the library but it may have been through the school library also.
I could be wrong but I think they often sell it in the Scholastic flyers that come home from school to buy books as well!
Mom says
Gosh I wonder if it’s still in the Scholastic flyer. Let me know if you see it next year. Thanks!
rumfunandsun says
Will do!
char @ char on a mission says
I LOVE the backdrop. I swear I should be an American because I absolutely love stars so much, so the flag pretty much sums up my love for them lol. I could drink a lot of iced coffee too, which is why I try to put tons of ice in the cup so it looks like I’m drinking a lot! Trick the brain!
Katherina @ Zephyr Runs says
I just ordered some sunflower butter and can’t WAIT to get it!!! And yeah, iced coffee (especially with milk) is easy to over indulge in… I keep myself away from caffeine for that reason!
HILARY says
HAPPY EARLY 4TH KATH!!! YOU ARE INSPIRING 🙂
Natalia - a side of simple says
Sunflower butter = my latest addiction. All thanks to you, I might add. You’re an enabler 😉
[email protected] says
I LOVE iced coffee – but you are right – it goes down really easy! Have a great 4th!
lea @ healthy coconut says
Just had my 1st iced coffee this morning and thought the same too, can drink 3 glasses at one time. Its so delicious with almond milk.
I’m reading and walking at the same time, reminded me of you
Green Groats says
I agree, Ice coffee is easy to gulp down! I feel like I’ve been doing the same lately.
kristi (sweet cheeks) says
‘loupe is SO GOOD right now! I think I’ve been averaging about a melon per day. It’s safe to say we’ve been spending a lot of money on fruit lately,LOL.
Holley @ Lunges and Lashes says
that breakfast is divine! i can imagine every bite was superb! have a great 4th! i will be pumping up the music over here too!
Miranda @ Working Mom Works Out says
I felt bad for not running this morning, but then I chased 3 kids around at the beach for several hours. I’d say that works. Enjoy your picnic!
Stephanie @ Love Life Project says
Sunflower butter is my favourite nut(ish) butter. It’s so delicious…and it’s perfect for places with lots of kids, since there might be some kids with nut allergies.
Sandy says
Just put a reserve on your mom’s book from our library. I love children’s literature and should have majored in it. Found that out a bit late but I got to be a mom three times over so had the chance to read lots of it. Looking forward to the next season of reading to grandchildren. Yay!
Mom says
Let me know what you think! I lot of the story is based on Katherine Bates’ journal, which you can see on the cover.
Kristina @ Love and Zest says
yum! it’s the perfect weather for iced coffee!
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says
oh pretty placement!! Happy 4th Weekend 🙂
J3nn(Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
Yay for patriotic music!! Love the patriotic place setting, too.
The Healthy Engineer says
Those songs remind me of elementry school since we had to sing them everyday during assembly 😀
I think I still remember them?
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
Your oats look GOOOOD!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
Hope that you’re off having fun at the picnic! Running can wait when there’s fun picnics to attend (or laundry to do…haha!)
Love the patriotic linen under your food this morning!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
Lately iced coffee is all I can drink in the mornings – hot coffee makes me feel sick!
Have fun at the picnic today!
Hilary says
Looks perfectly patriotic…enjoy your picnic(s) and time off!!!
Foodie says
Loving your holiday oats! 🙂
Megan says
Love Love Love your mom’s book….who knew?! Will have to check that out!
Stephanie @ StephSnacks says
Happy fourth of july! Loving the oats.. and I couldn’t agree more, iced coffee is so easy to over-drink.
Christine (The Raw Project) says
Love the backdrop, so fun! Breakfast looks wonderful and the iced coffee sounds perfect in our heat today!
Kelly @ Foodie Fiasco says
I love how you’ve really taken advantage of all the wonderful produce this time of year with your lovely bowl of yogurt. That’s so nice to know that your mom wrote a book about America the Beautiful. It’s one of my favorite songs! What’s your favorite patriotic song, Kath?
KathEats says
You know it’s A the B!
Mom says
A the B was the nickname Katherine Lee Bates’ family called the song. They had fun teasing her about it after she became famous.
Laura @ Backstage Pass says
I am going to have to order the book right away, And a copy for my sister who lives in Colorado Springs! This has special meaning for us… Last fall, I joined her for a charity event that included a hike to the summit of Pikes Peak. It’s an absolutely breathtaking mountain, and I kept thinking of ‘A the B’ for the duration of the hike.
Barbara, did you take a trip to Pikes Peak as part of your process for writing this book?
Mom says
So glad you got to go to the top. I didn’t go when I was researching the book-kids were small and money was tight. I did go to the archives at Wellesley College though, which was an amazing experience–going through all of Katherine Lee Bates’ papers. Her journal (which I used extensively) is on the cover of the book. Cliff and I went to Pikes Peak a few years after the book came out and standing on the top was one of the most exciting moments of my life. KLB only got to stand there a few minutes before they hurried everyone back into the wagons. Several in their party were fainting due to the thin air. And that’s what’s so cool–such a lovely poem came from what she called just a “moment’s glimpse.”
Lisa (bakebikeblog) says
What a colourful breakfast! And very patriotic!
Hannah says
Look at that drizzly sunflower seed butter! Just perfect 🙂
Liz says
I miss tusker. Have a happy July 4th!
Angel7 says
Very festive backdrop 🙂
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Margo @ peanut butter trees says
Such a great background!