Nick the Steam Engine!

What you’ll need:

1 ripe banana

2 tablespoons peanut butter

1/2 cup Greek yogurt (for protein + creaminess)

1/2 cup milk (dairy or almond/oat—your call)

1/4 cup rolled oats (this is what makes it lunch-worthy)

1 teaspoon honey (optional, depending on sweetness)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

A handful of ice

How to make it:

Toss everything into a blender.

Blend until smooth and thick.

Give it a quick taste—add more honey or cinnamon if you want.

Why this works:

The peanut butter + yogurt give you protein

Oats add fiber so you stay full

Banana brings natural sweetness and energy

If you want to switch it up:

Add cocoa powder for a chocolate version

Toss in spinach (you won’t really taste it, promise)

1 cup frozen mixed berries and spinach (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries)

​1/2 cup rolled oats

​1 frozen banana

​1 cup unsweetened almond milk (or your preferred milk)

​1 tbsp peanut butter

Here’s a solid combo:

Milk or oat milk

1 apple (sliced)

1 banana

1–2 tbsp peanut butter

½ tsp cinnamon

A handful of oats

Yogurt (optional, for extra creaminess)

Ice or frozen banana (optional)

My Sega Dreamcast pillow has officially become my favorite little slice of comfort chaos. It’s soft in that “I’ve been loved for years” way, shaped like a console that tried to sprint into the future before the world was ready, and every time I look at it, I hear faint VMU beeps in the distance.

It’s funny—some people have decorative throw pillows. I have a tiny Dreamcast that guards my sleep like a loyal, slightly outdated guardian spirit. If you’ve ever wanted to nap on a console that once hosted Crazy Taxi, Jet Set Radio, and Sonic Adventure, I highly recommend it.

There’s just something about retro gaming merch that hits a different part of the heart. It’s comfort, it’s memory, it’s a little bit absurd—and that’s exactly why I love it.

There’s something about a weekend that practically begs for baking, and this time the universe whispered “peach pie.” So I listened.

I spent the afternoon coaxing sunshine out of a bowl of sliced peaches — a little sugar, a little cinnamon, a little “please behave in the oven.” The whole kitchen smelled like summer had snuck in early. By the time the crust turned golden, the pie was bubbling like it had important gossip to spill.

And honestly? That first slice tasted like a small victory. Warm, soft, sweet, and just messy enough to feel homemade in the best way. The kind of dessert that makes you pause mid‑bite and think, “Yeah… this was worth every dish in the sink.”

Two model trains at the Blackhawk Museum completely stole the show for me today. There’s something magical about seeing these miniature engines frozen in time — every rivet, every panel, every tiny detail crafted with so much care.

One sits proudly like it’s ready to haul a century of stories across the country. The other feels more modern, sleek, almost humming with imagined motion. Standing there, you can’t help but picture the worlds they belong to — the tracks they’d follow, the passengers they’d carry, the landscapes they’d cross.