Whole food granola

We've all been to the point where we no longer want to "diet" and we just want to eat and live a healthy lifestyle. With that being said I am really trying to just stick to whole foods. Remember the saying "if it doesn't come from the ground or hav a mom you shouldn't eat it?" Well that's going to be my life motto again. Maybe this will spark son additional muscle gain and fat loss.

Anyway, apparently I am on fire in the kitchen lately because everything I try is turning out great! 

Here is a super easy granola recipe that can be tweaked to your liking! I made it this morning for the kids for breakfast. So easy and fast! 

For nuts I used: walnuts, pecans, and cashews

Seeds: pumpkin and sunflower 

Fruit: golden raisins, regular raisins, and unsweetened dried cranberries 

It is even kid approved!! 

I ate mine with unsweetened almond milk when it was fresh from the oven. Lucy and Isaac ate theirs with Greek yogurt. 

You could also bump up the nut content and make it a super healthy trail mix. 

Hope you like it! 

C

Banana ice cream

Tonight I tried a new treat and it was yummy, so I knew I had to share! 

Toss 2 frozen (peeled) bananas

2T pb2 (normal pb or Nutella would be awesome too) 

Splash of unsweetened almond milk

Blend in a food processor until smooth! 

It is so easy and delicious I still can't believe it. 

Has anyone tried it with other fruit? 

I'd love to hear! 

C 

Nashville...will I ever come home?

I may never return to Minnesota and that's the truth. I'm loving the trip so far in Nashville! 

Trace Atkins at the Grand Ole Opry

Sitting at Elvis' favorite piano at RCA Studio B

We've been crazy busy with tours and touristy things, but last night we got to spend time with a songwriter and his wife at their home. We went and had a real southern fish fry complete with hush puppies, coleslaw from the garden, Cajun catfish, watermelon, and chocolate cake. What more could you ask for? 

Here are some pictures from a gig we got to see Buddy (songwriter) and Jenae (fiddle player for Blake Shelton) play on Wednesday night at the Station Inn 

Maybe the gold and platinum albums that were hanging on the wall. To me it was life changing, but to them it was no big deal. It's just the "normal".  They have people like Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert's  cell phone numbers in their phone and they have the chance to hear there songs and ideas played to hundreds of thousands of people. Buddy wrote Blake's song Red River Blue and Just Gettin Started (he co-wrote with Jenae). And these people are the most down to earth and lovely people I've ever met. It has been such a cool experience to hear their stories and get to spend time with them! 

During my two short days actually in Nashville it has been amazing to hear about the birthplace of country music. And getting to see the amazing up and coming talent that is present in every honkey tonk bar and street corner isn't difficult either. 

Even though this trip isn't playing out to be exactly what I imagined it just goes to show you that you have to look for the upsides to things. Not everything is how you play it out to be in your head, but you never know who you're going to meet or where you'll end up.

Stay tuned for more details, 

C 

Adjusting to the nanny life

This summer is absolutely flying by.  I have this immense fear that I am going to wake up and it'll be August 25th and it'll be time to say goodbye to these amazing kiddos.  For the summer I am working with two kids, full time, as both their nanny and their tutor and it is a perfect fit. I get paid to do tons of fun activities and we spend about an hour a day on educational stuff; the perfect balance. 

I have fallen in love with a new cross fit gym called the Stillwater Workhouse.  The people are amazing and the workouts are kick ass.  

This beauty is the result of a failed box jump...now the question is how to disguise it in cute clothes for Nashville tomorrow?

Oh, and I signed up for my first cross fit competition!


With crossfit comes half training.  It has been trixie to fit into my schedule lately, but last weekend I ran 9 miles and it was absolutely pouring rain.  It was horrible and completely invigorating at the same time.


Have you guys tried this?  It's amazing.  Obviously liking the texture of pudding is a requirement, but it is delicious and good for you, so WIN WIN!!



A necessary Croix pic because look at him, he's adorable.




This summer has been a bit of a struggle in finding myself and people/things that I have in my life to make me happy.  Let me tell you that without these two I would be struggling.  Riley is always ready for a run, bike ride, or an ice cream date.  And let's be real, Mom is just always there.

I can't even begin to explain how grateful I am to have them both in my life.



Here's to a long weekend in Nashville with Uncle Mark, Kim, and Jaimie!  There will most definitely be a recap post next week :)

Much love,

C

7 miles (twice) and a new do!

It was all about big changes here at the Brine house this week. As my mouth and stitches continue to heal after surgery (I'm a whopping 10 days post op!) I amped up my workouts this week.  Two 7 mile runs, one solo and one with Bailey and a whole lot of cross fit! The first one went swell and the second was a hot mess, literally.  It was hot, humid, and incredibly sweaty.  Enough said. 

Second of all, I chopped all of my hair off.  Legitimately. 

Here it is! 

Much love. 

C