a nutshell

Summer is coming to a close (or has already), and I am welcoming fall to Cleveland with open arms. My favorite season --- jeans, scarves and booties!

Running wears them out!

First, I have to tell you. I'm training for my very first 10K! It's coming up on October 3rd in Columbus, and while I'm a little behind in my training schedule, I'm really looking forward to it.

My favorite part of the past several weeks of training has been our "family runs".  Every other night, right after we finish dinner, Blake and I "suit up", we put the kids in the strollers and run together as a family. Granted, Blake and I usually have headphones in listening to our own things. Coralynn is ALWAYS singing and waving to those we pass on the sidewalk, and Liam just quietly observes as the world passes him by. And, every so often, I hear her yell, "Good job, Mommy! You can DO IT!!!!" She's a great, personal cheerleader, and I'm glad to have her on my team.

I've been occupying my spare time (HA!) with several great books. Possibly more on that later. I ran out of podcasts from The Happy Hour by Jamie Ivey, to which I was binge-listening and was so disappointed to be done and have to wait for the newest episodes to be released each week. AHHHHH!!!! But, on many recommendations from friends and guests who Jamie had on The Happy Hour, I started Serial a week or so ago and am down to one last episode.  THAT is how addicting and intriguing it is. 

For those of you who haven't heard about Serial, it is a podcast that began in October 2014 and aired each Thursday through December based on a true story.  It's hosted by (and produced by) Sarah Koenig, who acts as an investigative journalist for a 15-year-old murder case that took place in Baltimore, MD. The show unfolds the story over the course of the season, right along with Sarah as she discovers and unearths surprising twists and turns. It's so interesting and maddening. The story draws you in and keeps you guessing and wavering and believing. I've been saving the last episode because it's so good I don't want it to end. There is a follow-up podcast, Undisclosed: The State Vs. Adnan Syed, that uncovers more evidence and information in the wake of Serial. And you better believe, it's next on my list. (Full Disclosure: There is some language and violent content.) You can go to serialpodcast.org to listen or use the Podcasts app on your phone.  

I cannot get enough of this granola. I've tried so many different granola recipes, and I think this is the one. It seems like each recipe I find, I end up having to double or triple the recipe to make enough to last us more than a day or two. This recipe is from the Cornerstone Inn Bed & Breakfast in downtown Nashville, Indiana.

It's perfectly crunchy, nutty and sweet. I love everything about it.

Combine in large bowl:

6 c. old-fashioned oats

2 c. coconut

1 c. pecans

1 c. sliced almonds

1 c. chopped walnuts

1 T. cinnamon

Blend in separate bowl:

1/4 c. brown sugar

1/4 c. honey

1 c. oil (I used olive oil)

1 T. vanilla

pinch of salt

Pour the liquid over the cereal and mix. Line a large cookie sheet with foil and grease with cooking spray. 

The recipe says to bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, or until the coconut is lightly toasted. I baked my granola for 24 minutes, stirring every 8 minutes, and it was PERFECT.  Make sure you keep a close eye on how your oven does the job!  The other ingredients may not look done.  Cool and store in an airtight container. I think it's best served over yogurt with some fruit! YUM!

There you have it. My last few weeks in a nutshell.

Where are you spending your time?

my FAVORITE things.

When I love something, I want to SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS!!!!!!! There is no end to my excitement and passion.  So, I bring you, my most recent favorite things in all of the land [that I would tell you all about several times exhaustively if we had coffee together so it's better that I write about them]...

JethroAndHenrietta - "hand-crafted stationary" designed by sister duo Jen & Danielle.  They make simple, typewritten postcards on recycled material that makes the best snail mail for the lost art of letter writing.  I have a handful of these in my Etsy cart right now, and I'm so excited to order them and mail them to my people.  I mailed my sister a postcard from JethroAndHenrietta and she thought that I made it (tricky, tricky) and she just LOVED it!

Art & Manufacture - Listen, Edith makes the most beautiful ceramic pieces all made in her signature bright cobalt blue.  I LOVE this mug for coffee in the morning and am going to buy it right away!  It's not your normal coffee mug with a handle, and I think that's what makes it wonderful!!!!

The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey - People!  This is my most favorite thing.  Podcasts aren't a new thing, I know...but they are to me!!!  I don't even remember how I stumbled upon The Happy Hour podcast, but I am SO GLAD I did.  I have binge-listened to EVERY episode whenever I can - on walks, while working out, before bed, while I'm cooking...you get the picture.  The Happy Hour is like listening in on the most inspiring, funny, thought-provoking, life-giving conversation between girlfriends.  Jamie hosts authors, podcasters, bloggers, entrepreneurs, her neighbors, even her husband in one episode!  Get on your iPhone right now and download an episode!  GO!  (Click on your Podcasts button and search "Jamie Ivey" and it'll pop right up.  Click "Subscribe" to get the most recent episodes downloaded automatically when they're added.)

Savor by Shauna Niequist - This is Shauna's (first name basis, people!) most recent book, a 365-day devotional.  I pre-ordered this before Liam was born and had forgotten about it, so when it arrived, I was so surprised.  It has the most beautiful cover and includes short devotionals for every day and recipes.  If you've read her previous book, Bread and Wine, you already know how wonderful the recipes are!  Shauna writes in a way that makes you feel like you're drinking coffee with a friend and talking about life.  Check out her other books, too - Cold Tangerines and Bittersweet.  You really won't regret it.

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes - For all you moms of toddlers, nannies, teachers, childcare workers out there...we have been reading this OVER and OVER and OVER again.  Coralynn LOVES Pete the Cat and all the books in this "series".  Here are the books and BONUS, there are links for free downloads of several books and their songs that will make your book-reading life SO easy!

What are some of your favorite things???