Almond Joy Oatmeal

Happy Friday!

Even though we're in the middle of summer, we've been blessed with a few days of relatively cool, low-humidity weather and I was inspired to whip up some hot oatmeal for breakfast yesterday morning! I woke up to some exciting news, and also wanted to reward myself for getting out the door for a run at 5:30am, so I decided to make fancy oats inspired by Almond Joy bars. Sweet, salty, creamy, chocolatey, this bowl of yum turned out just as delicious as it looks and sounds.

Almond Joy Oatmeal 
Serves 1

Ingredients:
-1/2 cup old fashioned oats
-dash salt
-dash cinnamon
-dash vanilla extract
-dash coconut extract

Toppings:
-1 T unsweetened shredded coconut
-1/2 banana, sliced
-1 tsp almond butter
-1 tsp chocolate chips

Bring 1 cup water and a dash of salt to a boil. Add oats and cinnamon, stir and cook on low for 5 minutes. Add extracts. Serve with toppings and enjoy!

(I prefer my oats unsweetened, but you can add a drizzle of maple syrup if you want!)

life in June

If May was the month of relaxation and spontaneous fun, June was pretty much the complete opposite!
It was here and gone in a blink.

June was full of froyo runs, healthy dinners, weekend trips, crazy days at the zoo, late nights and early mornings working on wedding projects and fitness challenge groups, bridal showers and family visits, apartment redecorating, and lots and lots of painful and agonizing personal growth as I figure out what direction my life is heading.

It was a very messy month, but I accomplished a LOT and came out the other side feeling calm, confident, organized, and extremely excited to take on July.

Big news is coming soon :)

watermelon lemonade

Happy Saturday! Can you believe we're already a week into June? I made sure to thoroughly enjoy the month of May, but now summer is arriving and the time is flying by, eek! We're finally getting some consistently warm and gorgeous weather here in Chicago, and it is definitely "drinks on the patio" season (aka my FAVORITE!) One thing that our current apartment lacks is a nice outdoor space, but the good thing about living in a city is that there are lots of options within walking distance for us to grab dinner or margaritas on a patio or sidewalk. It might not be as good for the budget...but we have to live it up before it's winter again, right??

To celebrate the season, I thought I'd share this delicious concoction I blended up over Memorial Day weekend, when Ben and I spent two days straight sitting outside in my parents' backyard. I love pureeing juicy, ripe watermelon in the blender, it makes a frothy, sugary juice that tastes like cotton candy but is still ridiculously healthy and hydrating! I added a splash of fresh lemon juice and a shot of vodka because it was a holiday. Blending in some frozen strawberries or lime juice would also be delicious!

Watermelon Lemonade
serves 4

Ingredients

-one small watermelon, or half a large watermelon, seeded and diced
-juice of two lemons
-a handful of ice cubes
-4 shots of vodka (optional)
-drizzle of simple syrup (optional for sweetness)

Directions

Add all ingredients to a high speed blender and blitz until the ice is well blended! Serve immediately.

To make simple syrup: combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water in a pan. Heat over low until sugar is fully dissolved. Cool and store in the fridge for up to a week.