apple pie oatmeal

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I like try to eat healthy! Especially in the morning! The whole day goes a little smoother for me if I get in a good breakfast!

Maybe it’s my parents’ words ringing in my ears, “The most important meal of the day is breakfast!”

Apple pie oatmeal is one of my go-to’s for that “most important meal of the day”. It’s a recipe I stumbled across while reading Green Lite Bites. She (Roni) has great recipes for the whole family and such a great attitude!

Recipe

  • 1/2 cup (40g) Old Fashioned Oats
  • 6 oz water
  • 1/2 tsp granulated sugar (optional) Roni uses one Truvia Packet
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 c unsweetened apple sauce

 

Put oats, water, sugar, and cinnamon in a small pot over medium/high heat.

Cook and stir until water is absorbed. About 5 minutes.

Mix the cooked oatmeal with apple sauce, sprinkle with cinnamon, and enjoy!

Sometimes I add the oatmeal, cinnamon, and sugar into snack-size bags, making for an even easier morning routine. Throw the contents of the bag in with 6oz of water, and you’re done! Add 1/2 c applesauce once it’s done cooking and what a fantastic-fast breakfast! Oh, and for all those Weight Watcher gurus, it’s 6 Point Plus points and will totally hold you over until lunch!

washington island

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Happy Friday, Friends!

I saved the best for last! Bear with me, there are a lot of pictures in this posting, but I was in love with this whole day… So, I couldn’t stop myself!

We started out the day at my favorite breakfast spot, The Cookery. It had actually burned down in the five years since we were last there, but it was back and better than ever. More seating, outdoor patios, an endless array of menu goodness, and my favorite, their homemade jam! It was all there! Nothing says summer like strawberry rhubarb jam! Yum.

After we filled our tummies it was up the coast we went to Washington Island. You have to take a ferry across Lake Michigan to get there.

Our first stop, bike rental! I felt like a mix of The Sound of Music and Wedding Crashers! It was a beautiful day to ride, but we got a little sweaty!
We then headed to Schoolhouse Beach, a fine cove of picturesque water and a great way to cool off after a long (to us) ride. The icy water of Lake Michigan felt wonderful on a hot July day!

We were off again for lunch at an eclectic restaurant called Fiddler’s Green where Cowboy, a black lab greeted us.
We decided to share a cheese plate (we’re in Wisconsin people!) and Hummus! Here’s a couple pictures of our food and restaurant! So fun!


I actually bought a stemless wine glass and it made it all the way back to Dallas unscathed! My only regret: I should have gotten two!!

After lunch, we were all fueled up to bike back to the ferry, but first we wanted to stop at Nelsen’s Hall, a historic bar that was able to stay open during prohibition because of a clerical error! Only in Wisconsin! Ha. Nelsen’s Hall also takes part in a “bitters club”. We didn’t participate, but thinking back I wish we would have!
After our drinks, we headed back to the ferry. We got caught in a summer rain which was refreshing but a little wet for the ride home. Which be barely made. The ferry we got on, was the second-to-last! If we would have missed it, we would have been stuck on the island! Though, we did have time to skip a couple rocks!

Back in Fish Creek, we decided on a low-key dinner at Wild Tomatoes, a wood-fire pizza joint that did not disappoint! It had locally grown pizza toppings, a friendly staff, and an even better beer list! Oh… and cheese curds, get the cheese curds!!


Seeing these pictures again makes me want to go back!! Door County is a fabulous low-key destination for all ages. I picture us in a couple of years bringing our wee-ones and experiencing Door County in a whole other way!

linen closet

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Recently, I was at my good friend Andrea’s home. I was heading to the shower, and she instructed me to grab a towel from the linen closet.

I opened the door to this. I was mesmerized!
I was really excited to have some motivation to clean up my own linen closet! My linen closet wasn’t bad, by any means, but I needed the organization and better visibility of the extra products we have available. Sometimes, I go out and buy something we already have in reserve! Annoying and wasteful!
I was ready to lay out all the things we had around the house and divide them into categories. I picked: essential travel size (my go-to travel products), hotel/travel size, cold/cough medication/allergy medication, band-aids and ointment (first aid), toiletries, shoe polish, and finally contact items… and of course a trash can nearby to disposed of all expired items.
This meant I needed 8 boxes. I then headed out to get my containers! I was on the hunt for clear, simple containers, on the cheap! Home Depot had great stackable ones ranging from 10.00-1.17/ea. I decided on the 1.17 ones. Score! I bought them and headed back home.

Now, onto the easy/fun part – assembling, labeling, and organizing everything into the boxes and on to the shelves.
It’s so nice to have everything we need at eye level, and I get such a rush having another area clean and organized!

I even went out and bought more boxes to do the same with all of our office supplies. They were in a big Rubbermaid tote which we never looked in, because it was heavy and disorganized… Now they are organized beautifully!

Happy Wednesday, Friends!

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olympics

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The Olympic games have started, and over the next couple of weeks, I will watch more TV than I will for the entire rest of the year. Every four years, I marvel over the Olympic athletes’ stories and performances; it’s amazing really. I want to share a commercial that gets me every time! Every time, I tell you! I mean tears. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

This reminds me most of my parents, with their dedication through the years to me and my sports. Before morning practices, my mother would wake me up early and send me off with something warm in my hand to eat and two water bottles, one filled with milk. They would drive me all over the state so I could play in tournaments or attend camps. I don’t know how they did it, but I hope to do half as well with my children. Thank you Mom and Dad. I’m sorry I wasn’t an Olympic athlete, but your efforts did not go unnoticed.

See. Tears. Again.

stone’s throw winery

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A little bit of Napa in the Midwest? I’ll take it!

Stone’s Throw is a fabulous winery nestled in the beautiful landscape of Door County. You can’t get better than that, especially in the summer!
They blend their homegrown grapes with California’s finest to make an outstanding blend of wines. They call it the “traditional one barrel at a time way”. My Stone’s Throw favorite is Uncle Gino’s, a great table red!

The actual tasting takes place in part of a 90-year-old barn they’ve reinvented for their winery. For a mere $5.00, you can taste five wines…AND you get to keep the glass! Score! The hard part is choosing just five!

After finishing our tasting, we went out with the bocce ball set and started a friendly competitive game of bocce ball between the couples. All while savoring a bottle of Uncle Gino’s, of course!

I would recommend this quality winery to anyone! It has so much character and such a great sophisticated feel without the pretentiousness.

Oh, and we found out a helpful tip for port wine drinkers. The husband, NOT I, loves port. Port is not like all other wine – it doesn’t go bad after a couple of days! So don’t throw it away! You can keep if for YEARS and the tastes keeps changing. Crazy. Right?

Paul and I actually first found this winery the year we got engaged, or maybe it was the year before?!? We wanted real red wine, not the “fruit stuff” (there is always a time and place for that, too) but we wanted red wine. I don’t remember who suggested Stone’s Throw, but I could hug them! Plus, it was fun to look back at the changes and growth Stone’s Throw had in the past five years! I tried to get the same spot we stood five years ago.

I hope everyone has a great Friday, maybe a happy hour filled with red wine?

Don’t mind if I do!

fish boil

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Anyone who grew up in Wisconsin has heard of the “friday night fish fry” and anyone vacationing in Door County has heard of “the fish boil”. Vacationers come back year after year comparing and contrasting the fish boil experiences they have had at different venues.
I, however, have never been to a fish boil. Now, I’ve had my fair share of friday night fish fries but never a fish boil until last week – and it never ceases to surprise my local Wisconsinites. Yes, I grew up here. No, never a fish boil.

So, we set out to do just that. Watch a man boil fish! We decided on White Gull Inn, one of the oldest fish boils in the area. Our presenter was named Nick, who I think must play Santa Claus in winter. He was great, and I got a lot of great pictures of him in action.

Once the fish was cooked, it was time to head indoors and enjoy Lake Michigan whitefish! It was a really enjoyable experience, and I would encourage everyone to participate at least once! Oh… and save room for the cherry pie (made with locally grown cherries)!

door county

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I just spent an incredibly low-key weekend with the husband and some of our great friends in Door County, WI. It was a much needed quick weekend getaway filled with beautiful weather and fabulous memories.The husband and I first went to Door County in the summer of 2006; we were just dating and I was excited to explore a wonderful new part of my state with him.

In the summer of 2007 we went back, but this time, my husband had something up his sleeve, a great surprise: We got engaged on the rocks on Cana Island overlooking Lake Michigan.
It’s hard to believe it has been five years since we had been back. We’ve been through many changes since then, but not much has changed in Door County. With all the changes that have happened in the last five years, it was only fitting to bring some change ourselves to this place that always seems to remain unchanged, which is exactly why we invited our fun friends to go with us!
This week will be filled with Door County goodness! If you haven’t been, please go! You won’t be disappointed!

city craft

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I have been really excited for a month now about my beginners sewing class! I signed up and have had it on the calendar for weeks now and was so excited to head out after work for the class!

City Crafts is a fabulous sewing and fabric boutique in downtown Dallas! They have an abundance of modern fabrics and such a friendly staff.

City Crafts offers sewing classes for all ages, too. They have classes where you make an oil cloth tote and zipper, a throw pillow with invisible zipper, one on modern patchwork quilts, and even summer camps for kids! Fun stuff is happening on Lovers Lane in Dallas!

In tonight’s class, we attempted to make a messenger bag!
We had the most adorable instructor, Kaitlan, that instructed and encouraged us through the whole process! It was so fun to walk away with a finished product!!
It was such a fun class, and I’m so excited to sign up for more and do a couple projects on my own! I encourage all to try or get your kids involved with sewing. Happy Weekend everyone!

i got mail

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I get REAL excited about the mail and deliveries. Yes, the mail. I love coming home, the anticipation, sorting it,  and organizing it. I love getting the mail opener out and opening all the goodness. Yes, I should be 80+ years old, but I just love paper! And deliveries!

This past week I ordered a piece for our entryway and have been oh so excited to display it. I tracked it all the way to our door.

Here is the package!

And here’s the big surprise!! It’s a ginormous “S”! I’ve been wanting it for months and  got the idea from a blog post on Restored Style. I knew I had to have my own! I finally pulled the trigger last weekend and have been eagerly anticipating it’s arrival ever since. It’s an Anthropologie oversized zinc letter!

I even had it on my 614 project list! Cross that off – it’s done! I love how the mahogany and metal work together! Here’s to a happy entryway and an even happier homeowner.

*the Labrador model gets paid in treats! He he.

staining 101

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A couple of months ago already, the husband and I bought a new patio door. We got a remarkable deal on an Atrium door from a Seconds and Surplus; it’s white on the exterior and wood on the interior. The wood came unfinished, so that was added to our project list this weekend, after I talked to my dad (who talked me out of hiring a professional… I thank him for the advice and thinking his daughter can do it). I started the staining process actually last week because of the time between stain and the polyurethane. The professional claimed to have done everything in a day for $150.00. I don’t know if he would of done as good of job but I wish I would’ve paid the professional. It wasn’t hard, just time consuming work.

We first set out to Sherwin Williams (I know, scarreligious for a Benjamin Moore queen) but it was close and they had a great selection of stain. We opted for a “fruitwood” color. Basically, we loved the grain and look of the door already, just wanted it a tint darker.

(picture of cans)

I started by:

  1. Block sanding with 400 grit sand paper. Always sanding with the grain of the wood. Making sure to sand evenly as the stain will pick up on any of your imperfections.
  2. Make sure to remove any excess caulking agent around the edges of the exposed glass area.
  3. Clean Surface with clean rag. And you’re ready to begin!
  4. Test a non-conspicuous area for compatibility with the finish. (I didn’t do this)
  5. I started with a primer “wood conditioner” to prep the wood for the stain. This helps to evenly set the stain on the surface. I applied two coats with a white rag to the surface of the door.
  6. Within 4 hours of primer application, you need to add your stain. I applied one coat of fruitwood stain, and let sit overnight (the can says at least 6 hours), then applied another coat. Both were applied with a rag. I would advise wearing gloves! Or else your hands will look like a bad spray tan! **I used vegetable oil to remove it and it worked great. Followed by Dawn soap.
  7. After the second coat of stain has set for 8 hours or more apply the polyurethane. I applied three coats of polyurethane to the door with a sponge brush. Sanding between each coat with 220 grit sand paper, allowed ample drying time (at least 2 hours) between each application.
That’s it! It wasn’t actually too bad, its always more painful during the process than after. Ha. The waiting in between and opening the door to get the edged in the Texas summer heat, that was the hard part, so I guess I’m glad I saved us $150.00! Hence, the splurge on the Anthropologie “S”. That’s my gorilla math, as the husband calls it.