south bend specs//

Obviously, its been much too long.
Let me just say.  I don't think I ever anticiapted how much time flies when most of it is spent working and the rest is trying to savor just a few sweet summer memories.
...
Full time livin' is tough, folks. Real tough.

I get quite sad when I think about this lonely little blog space getting all dusty and cobweby, waiting patiently for its guru to return, and spark up some creative juices.

But have no fear, because I am back baby!!

...

Until I'm swamped with work again.

But here is a little peek on some of my summer adventures not spent in the office thus far.
 I call it...

South Bend Speculation.

Catchy, right?

Over the Fourth, the famjam and I packed up the camper, loaded up the car, and headed east towards South Bend, Indiana for a family friends' wedding.
...
Let's be honest....I had never even heard of South Bend before this trip.
Sure, its holds the well known Notre Dame and is the home state of my favorite fictional book series (nerdy eeeek!).
...Indiana just hadn't been on the top of my list as the Seven Wonders of the World.

But a road trip is a road trip and sometimes you just need a change of pace every once in a while, even if its in Amish country (for real though....it was).

The trip mostly consisted of breakfast by bonfire, coffee on a percolator, books upon books upon books, and just total relaxation. It. Was. Heaven.
One night, however, we decided to venture out into downtown South Bend and see what the city life had to offer.
...
Out with the Amish thoughts. And in with the cutest little town you have ever seen.
Just...look.

Now, do you believe me?!

Again...CA-UTEEEE!

We walked along the streets for hours and taking picture after picture.

Eventually our tummies started rumbling so we started focusing our attention more on trying to decide which cute little cafe we should eat at (yet another hour passes...)

The debate was over as soon as this sign appeared. You had me at chocolate.

Mhmm yep, decision made.

We walked inside to see chocolate fountains, chocolate delights, and chocolate candies surrounding us.

 //

There was also a chocolate coffee bar. Whaaa......

The cafe wasn't all fun and sweets though. We browsed through their dinner menu and found ourselves going back and forth on so many delicious-sounding entrees.

My choice? The cherry pecan chicken salad with rasberry vingerrette.

And a dark mocha to add to the yumminess.

Came with a chocolate covered stirring spoon and a cherry on top.

//Holy chocolate heaven//

 

After dinner, we continued on our downtown exploring.

Came across this cute little park so obvi....

Decided to do a little thrifty outfit shoot.

(To be continued...)

Andddd almost became road kill while trying to get a pic of the string street lights.

Worth it.

Of course....Cue fireworks.

South Bend, Indiana.

You have stolen my <3

granola bars/cookies/poopies

**This recipe calls for an aquired set of taste buds.
To me, these scrumptious granola bars tasted like a healthier version of a chocolate chip, coconut, vanilla, banana cookie.
...
To the rest of my family...

How rude.

First, gather up all the ingredients.

This recipe is inspired by Undressed Skeleton again, however, I tweaked the ingredients to work with what I already had lying around in the kitchen.

//

Let's be honest. Too poor to be affordin' all the organic stuff.

Aldi's girl. All the way.

-1 cup coconut flakes

-1 large banana

-1 cup oats

-1 tablespoon pure vanilla

-1/2 cup chia seeds

-1/4 cup almond milk

-chocolate chips. I am not one to judge on your desired chocolate fix. 

Don't forget to preheat over to 350!

Put all ingredients (besides almond milk) in mixing bowl.

Stir on medium for a few minutes. Mix it. Mix it real good.

Then, slowly add in the almond milk to moisten it all together

Mhmmmmm moisttttt granola....

...trust me, it smells better than it looks.... 

Take mixture out of bowl and spread into square on baking sheet with a spatula.

//

Or, just toss that useless spatula aside and get your hands a little dirty. Works much faster.

perfect.

 Then, sprinkle and gently press some chocolate chips to the top of the granola until satisfied.

//

Proceed to add a couple more.

Then, bake in oven for 11-13 minutes or until the sides begin to look a little crispy.

Cut bars into even squares, rectangles, circles, stars, or even hearts if your artistic abilities are up to par.

 Let cool.

ENJOY.

(or take my sister's side and poo poo on the poopies. Your choice.)

thrifty//megan

Meet Megan.
She's pretty cool.
She learning how to long board.
And makes yummy coffee drinks as a barista.

She's an awesome singer.
Likes soy milk.
Part Asian.

Been besties since the 9th grade.
Lovingly refer to each other as "Wombies".
And has a heart of gold for letting me use her as my muse for the lastest thrifty styles.

Also...boys? Back off.
Or you shall undergo a very lengthy and unpleasant interview with moi.

shirt//forever 21

necklace//forever 21

shorts//DIY from goodwill. "orginally little ugly farmer pants"

shoes//heartbreaker

oh hey! It's me!

...

On the cover of the newest Little House on the Prairie novel...

skirt//wet seal

shirt//thrifted. goodwill

belt//thrifted. goodwill

A tick was then spotted crawling up the hem of my skirt.

Thus promptly ending the photo shoot.

//weekend adventure//

Saturday was a wonderful and much needed break from the working life.
We packed up Tom's trailer, stopped for a yummy bagel & hazelnut coffee, and hitched on a ride down to meet our friends Becka and Dillon so we could all officially move into our houses.
 //
Suddenly, grown-up world is pretty darn awesome.

on the open road.

hello creepy eyes. oh hi tom.

just buggin the driver.

country living <3

After many yawns and country songs, we arrived in time to pay the rent (not so awesome) and check out the future living spaces.

my roooooom!!

the Pinterest ideas are endless.

girls' kitchen. crockpot of course for those yummy fall recipes!

these stairs <3

despite their sunkenness and awkward slant, i still love them.

the boys' house! didn't get many pics...but hey they got a fireplace!

can school just start NOW?!

(yes, i really mean it.)

p.s. we basically have the best boyfriends ever.

the end.

//the best part of mornings//

Breakfast.

...

Well coffee.
And breakfast.

I am probably one of the select few who goes against the laws of nature and actually enjoy mornings. we ARE the 1%.

Mhmm like seeing the summer sun peek through my windows, stretching those well rested muscles, spittin' out that metal-mouthed retainer, wrapping myself up in a warm cozy robe (immagrandma), and walking downstairs to rustle up some good eats.

And this is where the fun begins.

I never stoop myself to the level of a ho-hem on-the-go granola bar.

Oh no no no, breakfast must be an extravagant affair; making my taste buds sing a sweet new song every morn. And pretty enough to grace the covers of any food magazine.

So, if you're ready to join the yummy melody, keep on scrolling for a new personal favorite of mine.

I call it...

the name < its taste.

//inspired from Undressed Skeleton here//

//ingredients//

-1/2 cup oatmeal

-1 cup water

-sliced strawberries

-handful of semi-sweet chocolate chips

-coconut chips (restrain oneself from eating the whole bag beforehand)
-almond milk

 add oatmeal and water into bowl. microwave for 1-2 minutes.

1.5 minutes for this gal.

 add strawberries, coconut, and chocolate chips.

clean drool off chin.

add matching coffee mug for extra happiness.

instagram away.

 add a dash of almond milk and stir all together.

 lose photogenic appeal.

You hear that?

It's your taste buds having a breakfast celebration in your mouth.

Consider yourself Pinned, mr.oatmeal.