easy homemade granola

I don't know about you guys, but a LOT of granola gets eaten at our house. Whether sprinkled on greek yogurt with some fruit for breakfast, grabbed by the handful when the afternoon munchies hit, or served atop a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert, we like granola. We like granola a lot. But unlucky for us, most cheaper granola options at the grocery store come with way too much sugar (I'm talking 20+ grams per serving). Since unfortunately/fortunately (the jury's still out on this one) stumbling upon the Food, Inc documentary this winter on Netflix, Alex and I have tried to put the kibosh on excess sugar, so those are a no go. I have found some delicious and lower-sugar products (holy moly, Love Crunch's Apple Crumble - yum!), but I've been determined lately to start making my own. Enter this amazing recipe I found on a pair & a spare, a favorite of mine on bloglovin. 

I hope y'all enjoy it as much as I do!

{recipe} simple summer salad

I never thought I would say this, but sometimes, a girl just needs a salad. After a weekend filled with indulgences like brats from the grill, mac & cheese, jalapeno-corn muffins, pints of beer, mexican tortas, nachos, stuffed dates ... the list goes on, this past Sunday night all I wanted was something light and healthy to ease me back into my norm of healthful eating. But I didn't want something lacking in taste. If I'm learning anything about eating healthy, it's that I'll never stick to it if the food is flavorless and unenjoyable.

So A and I set out on Sunday to make a salad that would be healthy, filling, and delicious. I'd call our efforts a success!

{favorite things minneapolis} coffee shop lovin'

I. Love. Coffee.

Black coffee, to be exact. And that means it has to be good coffee because I don't turn my morning java (or afternoon pick-me-up - yeah, that, too) into a milkshake with cream and sugar. I just like it black.

{skincare 201} makeup must haves

I know I promised y'all a post on eating for healthy skin, but when I started my research I realized there is SO MUCH out there and I know so little! So hold tight, and I hope to get that post (skincare 301, of course) researched and written up sometime soon! In the meantime, I thought I'd share with you guys the make-up products I swear by and keep me feeling fresh (and pretty!) all day long. I am very much my mother's daughter in that I never leave the house without at least mascara and some tinted lip balm. She got it from her mama, and I got it from mine! It's really not high maintenance (in my opinion) to quickly brush some mascara on your lashes and swipe a tube of balm across your lips, and it's an easy way to pull yourself together - even when your hair's in a messy bun and your outfit includes leggings. I do not, however, wear makeup to the gym. I always make sure to wipe my face with a makeup remover wipe ($2.99 at CVS) before hitting the treadmill - it's a great practice to get into and can help prevent unwanted blemishes. Worth the time, trust me!

{favorite things minneapolis} the great outdoors

When I first decided to accept the job at Gen Mills and move to Minnesota, I got what seemed like the same question from everyone I told - but what do people do there?!

It turns out ... they do a whole lot more than people anywhere else I've lived. Minneapolis is a city filled with people that don't let 7+ months of winter fase them. They embrace the weather regardless of the season and find ways to stay active during months where others would prefer curling up on the sofa every night. In the winters, there's skiing at The Depot, observing or racing in the Loppett, dining at one of the many incredible restaurants  spanning the Cities, hitting one of the cities' many breweries ... the list goes on.

 I've never wanted for things to do in my time here - even when the temperature dips low into the negative realm. But let's be real. The BEST season to be a Minneapolitan is the summer.

{favorite things minneapolis} restaurant edition

Okay, friends. It's here. The (non-)critically-acclaimed favorite Minneapolitan restaurants of yours truly. I can hear your stomachs grumbling already (oh wait, no, that's mine. late lunch today!), so I won't keep you waiting.

favorite things minneapolis - restaurant edition:

{must read} Bread & Wine

Anyone who knows me know that I am a HUGE Shauna Niequist fan. Sometimes I think we're best friends despite never having met and her not knowing I exist. But it's okay, the best friendships take time, so I still have hope.

Anyway. Her first two books, Cold Tangerines and Bittersweet are both in my top 5 favorite books. She writes in a way that makes you feel like you're sitting across from her at a local coffee shop while she shares her life with you. My copies are both currently in circulation around the greater United States, making their ways into the hands of and encouraging my closest friends that I insisted read them.