Happy Thursday. I don’t know about you, but I am so ready for a little unstructured brain-dump time. Conveniently, this happens to be just the day for such a thing. I updated my computer to Yosemite the other day (about time, I know), and have been going crazy trying to acclimate to some of the changes to the keyboard/mousepad and photo storage. It’s funny how technology and how smoothly it’s running can influence your mood and general sense of security about the state of things. To bring myself back to earth, I thought I’d stay on the lighter side of the street this week.

First things first. Can we talk about how cute these little eggplants are? Fresh Direct has hit a lot of home runs this summer in the seasonal/local game. 

Eggplant is one of my favorite ways to make a meal more substantial without adding a lot of calories. A cup of eggplant provides 2.5 grams fiber and only 20 calories. It may not have a ton of flavor on its own, but it’s incredibly versatile. The other night, I roasted a few of these little ones whole (~15 minutes at 375 degrees F) and then cut in half and added to a warm tomato salad that also had spinach, garlic, and caramelized onion. Yum!

Spending a few days at the beach with family and my dog was awesome. I was in dire need of some TLC/puppy snuggles, and I certainly got my fix. It’s amazing how a fluffy little animal can change your whole outlook.

I feel like every day is a great day for Eli. I laugh because everything is such a wonder to him. It’s like this part of The Nightmare Before Christmas:

The beach part didn’t suck, either. 

The heatwave this week may be bad for hair, but it’s great for my tastebuds. I’ve been enjoying some awesome green smoothies this week.

I’m still loving coocnut water as the liquid base. So damn good.

Do you love or hate the heat? What’s on your mind and/or on your plate this week? 

This post has been part of another Running with Spoons Thinking Out Loud link party, where randomness is the name of the game. Thanks to Amanda for hosting.