Happy Tuesday! I hope you all had a great long weekend--we got home from an amazing vacation with friends in Litchfield Beach, South Carolina yesterday afternoon and spent most of our Monday cooking, napping, and cuddling our super sleepy puppy (Ender went to the kennel and was wiped out from playing all weekend).

I posted the majority of these shots on Instagram over the weekend, but I can't get over how blue the sky and water was, so here I am grouping them all together again. This is what life in my world has looked like over the past few days:

1. Day one on the beach. We drank wine and soaked up the sun and I actually got in the ocean for the first time since I can remember. 
2. I took a solo, barefoot walk on the beach Sunday morning and it was exactly what I needed. For so long, I've always said that I'm not much of a beach person, but I'm starting to realize that that's not true at all. (I just like my sunscreen.)
3. Gorgeous trees in the neighborhood. South Carolina is pretty dreamy.
4. Seriously such a perfect view for a few relaxing days.

What has life in your world looked like lately? 

Life Lately According to Instagram is a once(ish)-monthly feature in which I showcase my favorite Instagram shots. You can follow along with me in real time if you'd like--I'm @mflynnpete.

The other night, Rob and I were taking a drive and listening, once again, to Cecilia and the Sattelite.

"I think this is one of my favorite songs right now," I said.

"Really? Like, is it in your top five favorite songs?" Rob asked.

It was just a little question, but the truth is that your Top Five Favorite Songs is kind of a serious thing. So we spent a few minutes in the car after we got back home, trying to come up with five of our most favorite songs. Most of mine remind me of college or a specific memory, which I think is kind of fun. Here's what I came up with (and why):

• Marching Bands of Manhattan, Death Cab for Cutie
  • The first DCFC song I ever heard. It mesmerized me--made me stop what I was doing and just close my eyes to listen.
• How or Ne Me Quitte Pas, Regina Spektor
  • Arguably two of the saddest and happiest-sounding songs of Regina's, respectively. I love them both.
• Holiday from Real, Jack's Mannequin or Hurricane, Something Corporate
  • Holiday from Real brings back college memories and Hurricane does the same with summer college memories.
• Breathe Me, Sia
  • This song is used in the series finale of Six Feet Under, a show I've never even seen, but a favorite professor used the clip in a lesson that I'll never forget. Then I played this song on repeat whenever I was nervous or upset or running. It calms me down, makes me think, brings me joy--all the things you could ever want out of a song.
• Wake Up, Arcade Fire
  • I first heard this in the Where The Wild Things Are movie trailer and I knew I was going to love it (the song and the film). Also the perfect song for a run with hills in it.

What are five (or seven) of your favorite songs?

Rob and I are pretty bad about throwing away perfectly good leftovers and spending even more money on junk, so we're trying this thing called Eat Everything In The Fridge Before Going Out For Food, and let's face it, it's kind of the worst sometimes. But, to keep at it, I've been focusing on really simple recipes using stuff I already  have in my kitchen. Some of these things are often hot sauce, mayo, butter, and cauliflower.

Now I'm not someone who makes meatless dishes and says "It's just as good as the real thing!" (mostly because I'm a carnivore), but yeah--roasted cauliflower does have a really nice, meaty texture that could easily pass as a decent chicken wing substitute, especially when paired with some homemade Buffalo sauce. But chances are you'll find me eating these as a snack while our dinner is cooking on the grill. Either way, I hope you enjoy this simple, healthy, cheap, and delicious dish.

Ingredients:

For the Buffalo Cauliflower

• 3 tablespoons grass-fed butter
• 1/3 cup Frank's hot sauce
• 1 head of cauliflower
• A couple tablespoons of olive oil
• salt and pepper, to taste

For the Paleo Ranch

• 3 tablespoons mayo
• 1 tablespoon coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon each:
  • dill
  • celery seed
  • onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic
• pinch of salt
• fresh ground black pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
2. Cut and wash the head of cauliflower. Season lightly with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
3. Place the cauliflower on a baking sheet and bake at 400 for 30-40 minutes, depending on how crispy you like it.
4. While the cauliflower bakes, melt the butter in a large bowl and stir in the hot sauce.
5. Once the cauliflower is done, transfer it to the bowl with the sauce and toss well to cover every piece.
6. Serve with Paleo Ranch dressing:
   1. Mix the mayo and coconut milk together in a bowl.
   2. Add dill, celery seed, onion powder, garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir well and taste. 
   3. Add more herbs or salt/pepper as needed.