pumpkin cranberry oatmeal

It's Thanksgiving week! 

Which means I have random seasonal stuff in the kitchen like pumpkin and cranberries. It's also getting colder out, which means I'm back on an oatmeal kick for breakfast. I love adding lots of spice and mix-ins to my oats to make them extra delicious!

This oatmeal combination has been my go-to recently. It's festive but also extremely healthy with fiber, vitamins, and protein, and does a pretty good job of keeping me full for the morning--an impossible feat since I need to eat like every 3 hours no matter how big my breakfast is. Oatmeal tends to have this boring and yucky stereotype that will be smashed to bits with this jam-packed bowl! Did I mention it's also a great way to sneak veggies (pumpkin) into a sweet breakfast? 

*if you have leftover fresh cranberries try making sparkly cranberry muffins!

Pumpkin Cranberry Oatmeal

Serves 1

Ingredients

-1/2 cup dry old fashioned oats (not quick-cook)

-cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice (or pumpkin pie spice)

-1/4 cup fresh or dried cranberries

-1/4 cup canned pumpkin

-walnuts

-maple syrup and milk to top

Bring 1 cup of water and the cranberries to boil on the stove. I used fresh cranberries here but dried (Craisins) would be good too, and not as tart. Add the oats and a generous amount of spices (they will get absorbed by the oats and pumpkin, so don't be afraid of going overboard), turn the heat down to low, and stir. Let the oats cook about 4 minutes, or until almost all the water is absorbed. Add the pumpkin, stir until the oats are done and all liquid is absorbed. Spoon into a bowl, top with crushed walnuts, maple syrup, and milk, and try to finish it all on your own!

where the wild things are

Ben and I stopped in Michigan on our Thanksgiving travels and went for a hike in the woods bordering the lake.

The atmosphere of a cloudy November day combined with forest giving way to seaside (freshwater seaside, anyways) reminded me of the set from Where the Wild Things Are . We didn't see any wild things though, just orange-coated hunters on the prowl for them.

It was nice to see some "big" trees, since the forests in PA are very young due to the logging a century ago.

Since our hike, I have made it back home to Illinois again and am very excited to be on fall break, even though it is already flying by.  

wouldn't you think i'm the girl

Happy November!

and Election Day--did you vote?? 

Fall is officially dying. The trees are pretty much bare and there is frost on the ground in the morning.

I feel almost desperately sad, like I didn't spend enough time outside while the trees were in full blast and the weather was gorgeous, and now it's too late. 

But I am also super excited for the holidays, and going home for vacation! Thanksgiving! Christmas! New Years! My favorites!

At the same time, I'm kind of freaking out because since when is it time for the holidays??!! Gah!

 Maybe all these conflicting emotions are the reason why I have been struggling to get out of bed in the mornings this week...

Or maybe it is post-festivity letdown from a great Halloween weekend. 

Some years I am all gung-ho for Halloween, and some years I let it slip by.

This year might have been low key, but when I decided to be "Ariel with legs" (washed up on the beach version--yes I always work the red hair thing), Ben decided to be "Ariel without legs."  And I couldn't let the opportunity pass:

All I can say is that there is a true Disney Princess inside every little girl AND boy.

(And with long hair, my boyfriend may be prettier than me.)

seasons

 My favorite parts of the forest are the stands of glowy yellow trees

 Least fave part: the hills of loose rock. Unavoidable on PA trails.

 [campus...can you tell where I go?]

The trees are definitely peaking here. Last Sunday I was going to go to the gym, but then came to my senses and went for a hike/trail jog in the gorgeous weather instead. 

I don't know if fall or spring is my favorite season, honestly. I guess my favorite is the one that I am currently in (unless it is winter or summer). 

Are the trees changing where you live?

I used to hate cold weather, but I love it more and more every year. I don't know if I could ever be happy living in a place that doesn't have all four seasons, at least for a short time.

Also, just downloaded the new Arcade Fire, and part of Far East Movement. 

Completely honest, I just couldn't live another moment without being able to hear Like a G6 on demand.

Autumn

[picture via weheartit]

I am so happy that the seasons are shifting into fall. For some reason I am loving the cooler weather extra-much this year. Even though it has been dreary and rainy lately...

These things have been making me excited about life:

• Chai tea
• New rainboots
• Snuggle weather
• Honeycrisp apples from the farmers market
• Scarves and jackets
• Homemade soup in Panera breadbowls
• Oatmeal with allll the toppings
• Ordering new cookbooks online
• Seeing Ben everyday (it never gets old!)

I have yet to find the elusive canned pumpkin in the grocery store, but I also can't wait for pumpkin cornbread and scones.

 

[sierra wyethia aka mule's ear]

Woah, hello blog. I'm sorry I have been neglecting you as I try to keep my head up in the craziness of the Fall semester. 

Real life has been a lot more appealing to me than blog life.

I always feel like the real beginning of the new year comes in late August/September, not January.

Maybe it's because this is my 21st (I think?) straight year of school...

This "new year" has brought a lot of changes so far

-Year 2 of grad school (no classes yay!)

-TA-ing 60 undergrads

-living indefinitely with Ben in my tiny cave apartment

-starting thesis work

-thinking about big girl jobs

Plus I have been dealing with a dental saga

I had a really bad cavity. Yeah...I'll spare you the gory details.

I've met a nice dentist, endodontist, and periodontist here.

Learned that root canals aren't that bad. But crown extension surgery is a little more nasty.

Lesson: don't put off your x-rays. floss. get some ACT.

The weather is finally cooling off now and it feels like September should feel. I am so ready for scarf, jacket, boots, and pumpkin season. 

Well, I'm off to lunch and hopefully a fun hike in the mountains!

Happy Labor Day weekend :)