Vanilla overnight oats with strawberry rhubarb chia jam and peanut butter quinoa granola

Contrary to what the proliferation of butter-‘n’-sugar-filled cakes and cookies on this blog may lead you to believe, I don’t spend my days feasting upon buttercream and carby carbs. Much as I would like to. In fact, I do try a little bit to eat healthily. A little. For example, as I write this I am filled with salad. What was in that salad is between me, myself, and I.

But healthy eating and using moderation is only one part of the equation. You have to exercise, too. Fucking evolution, you know?

Vegan pannukakku (Finnish baked pancakes) with blueberry chia compote

As I write this, millions of Americans are attending Memorial Day parades and visiting the gravestones of fallen soldiers and remembering in their hearts the valiant efforts of our armed forces to protect our nation. For one day, millions will put aside their differences—whether political, religious, or otherwise—and acknowledge our bravest citizens with heartwarming songs and belly-aching barbecues. Every hot dog eaten symbolizes the freedom we share and the blood put forth to preserve it. A noble tradition, it is, to have a day set aside for these patriotic exercises.

Washington dreamed of a nation where all men could freely enjoy hot dogs. source

Big blue minivan cake

Who wants to make a cake for their minivan?

Wow. Sexy. source

Okay, let me rephrase that question. Who wants to make a cake? A big one? With lots of frosting?

When cake is the question, yes is always the answer. Obviously.

But my family does indeed have an emotional connection to our minivan. The minivan is a symbol of suburban life, of gas-guzzling trips across town lines in search of groceries and movie theaters, of mothers carting their children to soccer practice and violin lessons, of the frantic, scattered lifestyles we have in this weird western world. We have traveled many miles in this van—from Cape Cod to, well, Cape Cod again (forgive our lack of creativity in family vacations).

Two hundred thousand miles, in fact.