I don't know why I was so late to the party on this one, but I tried overnight oats for the first time the other day and YUM!! Not only are they easy to put together, but they are also a huge time saver because I can prepare breakfast the night before and it's ready to go in the morning. There are so many different delicious recipes you can try too...no matter what you are in the mood for - and so many of them are healthy!
I recently decided to transition to a more vegetarian diet / lifestyle (just cutting out meat...still eating fish, eggs, dairy)...so I've been really looking for new recipes and ways to incorporate protein into my daily diet. These overnight oats are great because I can use plain Greek yogurt, chia seeds, flax seeds, peanut butter, and even protein powder with them!
For today's Friday favorites, I'd like to share the three overnight oats recipes that I've made so far, and two that I will be trying next! For all these recipes I've used Quaker Old Fashioned Oats and Ball 16 oz canning jars. The jars are shorter than a typical mason jar and can be found in a 4-pack at Target.
// Blueberry Banana
1/2 cup oats
1/2 cup organic low fat milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup of banana, sliced
1-2 tbsp organic honey
Add the oats to your jar of choice and pour in the milk. Add a layer of blueberries and then a layer of banana slices. Top with honey. Place in fridge and enjoy in the morning, or a few hours later!
// Lemon Thyme and Honey
I found this on the blog, The Breakfast Drama Queen, and it sounded delicious!
For a direct link to her site - click on "Lemon Thyme and Honey"
1/2 cup oats
1/2 a lemon, squeeze the juice into jar onto of oats
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup milk
2-3 sprigs of fresh thyme (I didn't have this so I left it out)
1 tbsp honey
Extra honey, to serve (added in the morning)
In your mason jar, mix together the oats, lemon juice, vanilla, yogurt, and milk. Remove the thyme leaves from the stems and mix them into the oatmeal along with the honey. Cover the jar and leave in the fridge overnight. In the morning, drizzle some extra honey over your oats (if desired) and enjoy!
// Bananas Foster
This is another great recipe I found online, courtesy of the lovely blogger, Laura Fuentes.
1 tsp coconut oil
1 banana, sliced
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 cup oats
1 cup organic low fat milk
In a small saucepan, heat up coconut oil over medium heat. Add bananas, vanilla, and cinnamon to the heated pan and begin to saute until they begin to break down and juice out natural sugars (takes about 2-3 mins). Add maple syrup, stir to combine and cook for another minute - then remove from heat.
Place the oats and milk inside your jar, then pour the banana mixture evenly over the top. Stir to combine and refrigerate overnight.
// Carrot Cake
This is the next overnight oats recipe I would like to try! It's chocked full of protien (23g!) and is under 300 calories. The recipe can be found on the blog, Dashing Dish.
// Ginger Snap
What a cute idea! This one will be great to make during the holiday season.
The recipe can be found on the lovely Jen's blog, Driftwood Gardens.
Friday, November 13, 2015
friday favorites - overnight oats
Labels:
breakfast,
Five on Friday,
Friday,
health,
oh hey friday,
overnight oats,
recipes,
vegetarian
Sunday, November 8, 2015
petit vour october - cruelty free beauty box
I was so excited when my 2nd Petit Vour beauty box showed up the other week! I was so happy with the items from the first box, I couldn't wait to see what October's had in store.
The theme for this box was "All treat + tricks (and no scary ingredients)".
Habit Nail Polish // Deep Sea - Full Size, worth $18
The first item I pulled out was a full size Habit nail polish in the color Deep Sea.
I love the packaging, and how exciting to get a full sized product! This nail polish alone is worth more than I paid for the box. The formula is great... I just wish the color was a bit more navy and less royal blue, but that's just a personal preference ;)
Hana Organic Skincare Eye Oil // 5 ml, worth $18 (Full size $40)
This is the item I am most excited about from the October box. It is a great amount of product, definitely enough to last a couple weeks - so I'll really get to try it out! Love it so far...
Ursa Major of VT Fantastic Face Wash // 10 oz, worth $6 (Full size $28)
Another great item - very gentle and feels great after taking off my makeup. I love the smell to, it has very mild spearmint-y aroma to it. Only wish I had a bit more to use, since it's already almost gone after using a handful of times!
Essence of Vali Sleep - A Bedtime Ritual // .02 fl, worth $1 (Full size $18)
I am all about using essential oils and pillow sprays at bedtime in order to relax and decompress. I have never had one that you put on yourself before, so this was definitely fun to try! You apply it to your wrists and temples, or can even rub onto your palms and then cup your hands over your nose to breath it in. I honestly think it helps! I've used it one night so far and I remember putting it on, laying down and getting snuggled in bed - then that's it! I was out ;) My only critique would be that I wish it had a bit stronger tones of lavender...but that's just because it is one of my favorite scents of all time!
I'm very pleased with all the beauty items this month and it was definitely worth my $15...at a total value of around $43! As always, all the items are from companies that are 100% cruelty free and the products are all vegan. If you are interested in signing up, check them out over at Petit Vour's website!
Friday, November 6, 2015
friday favorites
Happy Friday ladies!
I'm just popping in to share a few of my favorite things from the past week or so. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!
// sweater weather
I'm just popping in to share a few of my favorite things from the past week or so. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!
// sweater weather
It's chilly here, and I am not complaining! There's nothing I love more than curling up on the couch in a comfy sweater with a big blanket and hot apple cider...and snuggles from a certain blue doberman :)
// halloween
We had a great Halloween this year! We spent one night carving pumpkins - Aubrey did a classic Jack-o-Lantern, Aaron did a take on one of his favorite craft beer labels (haha) and I did Jack Skellington from A Nightmare Before Christmas - one of my all-time favorite movies. Trick-or-treat was fun this year too because it wasn't too cold and we found a great couple of streets to hit (hello full sized candy bars!)
// throwbacks
Aaron went through an old phone of his this week and found a million old pictures and videos of our dogs when they were just puppies. It was SO much fun looking through all of them - I can't believe how tiny they used to be! It feels like it only lasted a minute, and then they were huge!
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| Dexter at just a couple months old in his favorite jammies - that don't fit anymore! |
// fall fashion
Hands down one of my favorite seasons as far as clothes go.
Maybe I'm just biased because the colors match my hair haha ;)
Floppy hat / Old Navy - sold out (similar)
White tee / Express
Maxi Cardigan / Target
// holiday decorating
Don't hate me...BUT I just can't wait to get my Christmas decorations up! :)
Especially after discovering Target's new line of holiday home decor and purchasing quite a few things in the store and online! I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but I feel like I work so hard decorating, I don't just want them up for a couple of weeks. This photo that Liz Marie posted earlier this week has me itching to get started this weekend!
Link up with you Friday favorites with any of the lovely ladies below!
Thursday, November 5, 2015
PSA: Target Holiday Decor
I
don't know if many of you have been to your local Target stores lately,
but if you haven't...make it a priority! Their new holiday home decor
line is out - and it is amazing. As if there wasn't enough to spend my
money on in this store already, they went and stepped up their game
AGAIN!
I
went in the other night to scan the Christmas decor that is
typically in the back corner of the store (you know, in the Seasonal
area?). Well, there wasn't much there that I was interested in, and it bummed
me out, so I made my way back to the front of the store to check out.
Then BAM! As I walked through the home section... low and behold the most
aesthetically pleasing display you ever did see...
I was overwhelmed, but I managed to compose myself and pick out a few items...and kept it to $100 even though I wanted to spend like a thousand ;)
I picked out the mirror tray and large basket.
{although the basket is too big and I'm going to have to return it for the smaller size}
There were so many other items that caught my eye, and Target online is running a promotion right now...Buy 2 save 10%, Buy 3 save 15% on Holiday Items, and free shipping...so I'll be ordering a few more things today!
Table Runner / Garland / Banner / Place Mats / Wreath
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
a night at the castle
One of my closest group of girlfriends and I love doing spooky things together around Halloween each year. Andrea, Alissa, Abby and I have spent numerous nights at haunted houses, penitentiaries, and hotels... and we are always looking for new places to explore! We've always loved anything creepy, haunted, or bizarre, so October is our favorite month to get together - and Halloween just happens to fall right around Alissa's birthday. This year, Abby discovered an amazing place online called Landoll's Mohican Castle. It's an amazing estate, fashioned like an 1800's castle, in the middle of the forests of central Ohio.
We had such an awesome time - it was quiet and spooky, but luxurious and unique too. We started with a great dinner at the castle's restaurant and I had my first ever Moscow Mule. It was delicious! I think I have found my new favorite drink :)
| The birthday girl! |
Then, we went back to our cabin for a bit. We had originally wanted to stay in the actual main castle, but it was totally booked (probably because it was the night before Halloween)...so we got a great little private cabin, right across from the main castle, which ended up being perfect.
Once it was dark, we hiked up to explore the 19th century German / English graveyard at the top of the property. Most of the gravestones dated back to the early 1800s!
Finally, we ended the night with some time around the outdoor fire, then some birthday cake and treats in celebration of Alissa's birthday back at our cabin. Such a perfect girls night!!




















