I slept like a rock and woke up to a peaceful heavy rain outside. I think I could have slept all day!
Angela made us some tea and then we went over breakfast options. It’s fun being at a friend’s house that eats all the same things you do and has all of the same ingredients to play with 
PLUS a few new ones!
LOVE.love.love. this tea cup!
Angela ever-so-kindly asked if I would make a big batch of hot oats for breakfast. Of course! Luckily, she had my newest favorite mix-in!
Blueberry Stuffed Oats for TWO
- 1c rolled oats
- 1.5c almond milk
- 1 banana
- 1c water
- 1t vanilla
- 1c blueberries
- pinch of sea salt
- 1-2T chia seeds
- 1tsp [heaping] cinnamon
- Add oats, milk + water to a pot set over medium heat.
- Stir in a thinly sliced banana. [Kath’s lovely technique]
- Add in chia, vanilla, salt, + cinnamon and bring to a simmer until desired consistency is reached. ~5-8min [I only stir a few times during the process]
- When I take the oats off the heat, I stir in the blueberries and then pour the oats into a bowl.
I’ve never had cacao nibs on oats before and really enjoyed the flavor + crunch. Angela got me a bag of them that I can’t wait to break into!!
Topped with:
- maple cinnamon almond butter sauce
- 1T nut butter + 1T any milk –> microwave ~15sec –> stir = saucey!
- cacao nibs
- about 1/2T maple butter
I’ve never had maple butter before and just had to check it out. A lot goes a long way, as it is really sweet, but I loved it!!
I scarfed the whole bowl.
I still crave hot oats in the morning but will definitely be incorporating overnight oats more often now too!
Great crunch, great flavor + love the blueberry pOp!
Dreary day.
It was nice to sit and relax through breakfast and then hang out and help Angela get a few things done. This girl works her a$$ off people!!! I hopped in the shower and came down to Angela banging pots + pans around whipping up our lunch.
Amy’s split pea soup. I haven’t been impressed with many of Amy’s soups but this was really yummy!
Rainin’
TJ’s pita crackers are addicting. I forgot how much I missed their deliciousness. We don’t have TJ’s in Colorado!
Soup with a bunch of crunchy sides –> crackers + carrots + cucumbers
Chow time….almost 
BYE Sketchie!!
When it was time to go Angela tried to wrestle me away from the door and send me to the kitchen to make Glo Bars. [I kid!] Neither of us wanted to leave the other! Major sad face 
I wish I could have stayed to help…I miss making granola bars!
“just whistle while you work….”
After many hugs goodbye, an easy peezy border crossing, a Classic Glo Bar [YUM!], crazy insane winds, and a little rain, I was safe + sound back in Ohio about 4.5hrs later. I met my parents in downtown Willoughby for dinner.
We tried a new Italian restaurant, called Pranzo, as a pre-celebration for Chris + my 2nd year anniversary [this monday]. Chris unfortunately couldn’t be there with us, but I was definitely thinking of him in Colorado!!
BYO-W!! Dad brought this bottle from home. It was nice + light with a pretty fruity flavor.
Daddio!
Delicious, super soft + doughy bread.
I had a caprese pasta [noodles/tomatoes/basil/mozz/olive oil], with homemade noodles!
The noodles were amazing and the flavor was fabulous. I also had them add in roasted eggplant for a little more veggie volume.
Only complaints would be that it was too oily + the eggplant was pretty mushy but overall it tasted delicious and again the homemade noodles were outstanding.
Mom + me!
I’ve had such an adventurous few days and now I’m ready for bed! Already missing my long lost sister in Canada and can’t wait to be roomies with her + a few other girls at the Healthy Living Summit.
I’m in Ohio for a few more days and then back to Colorado on Monday!
beddddddddddd.
<3
Ashley
PDF 
I need Ange’s pink + orange bowl in my life. loveee.
Glad you had a great, safe, FUN trip to OSG land!
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I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, your parents are adorable!
So I think you and Angela and I should just start a commune…or business. She makes glo bars, you make nut butter, I make vegan baked goods. We’ll be rich…or at least blissfully happy!
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AngelaOSG Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 7:23 am
I suggest a business meeting in Bora Bora.
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Ashley Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 11:59 am
How about Colorado? muahaha
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Ashley Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
best.idea.everrrrrrrrr.
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So glad to hear you had a great trip! Everything looked so wonderful
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I’m glad you had a fun trip. x
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I love Angela’s bowls at breakfast, they’re so pretty!
).
What’s maple butter made out of it btw? It sounds lovely (I love maple syrup
I’m glad you had such a good time!
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Ashley Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
I’m not sure what in it! hmmmm I’ll have to check
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That pasta looks yummy! Looks like you had a great busy few days!
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Aww, you an Angela are so cute!!! I bet it was hard to leave but I’m sure it was nice to see your parents again. The pasta does look tasty, and I;m not even a big pasta fan.
Enjoy the rest of your trip Ashely!
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Ashley Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
I don’t eat much pasta either but yes, this was amazing!
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I agree with Mama Pea! Start a commune
I’d come and can clean up all the supplies you used to do all the wonderful baking/cooking. And I can be the recipe taste tester!
Glad you had a fabulous visit!
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Ashley Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
LOL. You can be our official taste tester!
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I just bought chia seeds and I was wondering if you keep yours in the refrigerator ?
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I’m going to go ahead and second Mama Pea’s thoughts about a commune up there. And I want to be your first customer (can commune’s try to turn a profit?).
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I just need to say that I love you!
Angela was (and still is) my first Blogger crush and you ar my newest!!
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Ashley Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Thank YOU so much!!
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You two are so fun together!
And I grew up in Eastlake – right next to downtown Willoughby!
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Ashley Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Awesome! I lived in Cleveland for most of my life…about 20min from Willoughby
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I’ve never tried split pea soup, I guess I always thought it sounded scary..but your pretty pictures make me want to try it.
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Ashley Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
It does sound kind of scary!
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Looks like a fun end of the trip- dreary or not!
UMM can you please come back and make ME oats? I’m only 40 minutes away from Ange
xo
Kris
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Ashley Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 11:59 am
hahaha I’ll mail you some
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That tea cup is SO cute! I can’t imagine how hard she must work with all the Glo Bars she pumps out. I’m glad your return border crossing was easier. haha!
Homemade pasta is the BEST.
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Ashley Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 11:59 am
Now WE need to meet!
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Aww you guys are too cute
Happy anniversary by the way!!
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I adore Smoking Loon. Your pictures are so gorgeous. Glad you had such a fantastic time. Good food updates as well, holy cow y’all cooked up some fantastic recipes!
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That’s too bad you won’t be with Chris on your anniversary.
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Happpy Anniversary!!! So nice you got to celebrate with your family, if not Chris. It was such a blast having you over…I was so bummed yesterday afternoon! I’m glad to hear that the border crossing went smoothly…haha…I need to get working on my name change STAT!
[Reply]
Ashley Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 11:59 am
I’m still bummed!!!!!
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Sounds like you guys have been having a great time while I’ve been gone. I’m really glad that you got to visit each other, I’d love to visit some of the bloggers I read one day.
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Love the pictures and hearing about your visit. That picture of Angela pulling you from the door is too cute! I was just getting used to oatmeal and then we skipped spring and went right to summer(I’m in Florida). Overnight oats will be my back-up plan for the hot summer.
Oh..and..I can’t wait to meet you at the HLS!!
[Reply]
Ashley Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 11:58 am
Yupp, I’m really digging the OO’s lately mmmm
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I’m so glad you posted a picture of Willoughby! I used to live there and almost forgot just how cute that town is. And I’ve been so inspired by all of your yummy nut butters I can’t wait to start making my own
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Ashley Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 11:58 am
It is a really cute town!
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Sounds like a great trip to Canada! I love the pictures of Willoughby! I’m in Columbus and my parents are in the Cleveland area. I’ll have to try that restaurant sometime
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Ashley Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 11:57 am
Awesome…I lived in Columbus for 5 years
Go Bucks!
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You two look like you were having so much fun and eating some delicious eats! Of course the time with your parents sounds great too! Happy anniversary lady! I can’t wait to meet you at the HLS!
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Ashley Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 11:57 am
I’m so looking forward to HLS!
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Gorgeous oats!
Plus, that bread looks to die for!
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i made almost an IDENTICAL bowl of oats this morning!! i make it the same exact way on teh stove top with cinnamon, chia, almond milk and add the bananas in towards the end, add the bloobs then takeit off and top with desired toppings!!
you two look like you had an aamzing time!!! caprese pasta is such a fabulous idea!!!
[Reply]
Ashley Reply:
June 17th, 2010 at 11:57 am
SO delicious
I am a cinnamon freak!
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Glad you had a nice time with Angela!!! Her blog makes my world go ’round
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Oh my gosh, you look so much like your dad! I love seeing family resemblances between parents and their kids. It’s so cute.
Also, I picked up some maple syrup at the store yesterday because I’m finally going to make your maple cinnamon almond butter! I can’t wait to have some for my own. I’m pumped!
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Ahh! I loved seeing all of your latest pictures! I especially liked your time in Canada!
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Would I have tp use the chia seeds for this to come out? I only ask because I know that the chia seeds usually act as a binder and I woulnd’t know if using 1 1/2cups of almond milk + 1 cup of water would be too much liquid…THANKS!
[Reply]
Ashley Reply:
March 27th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
The chia seeds in this weren’t really for binding, but protein/fat/volume. They make oats fluffy but also can make them a little gummy. They absorb a lot of liquid, but actually I cook 1/2c oats with 1 – 1/4c liquid, so using 1.5c liquid for a double batch [1c oats] would work fine. I started using more liquid recently and like the results.
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Those blueberry oats look wonderful! I am always looking for easy recipes for fresh blueberries in the summer!
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