Summer Oats

on August 22, 2011
in All Posts

After a whirlwind weekend of travel, fun, food, and meetin’ and greetin’ at the Healthy Living Summit…

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(Source)

…It sure feels good to be home!

 

The question on all my blog friends’ lips this weekend was, “How do you like Charlotte?”  The answer:  Charlotte is amazing.  I’ve lived in four major cities (Miami, Orlando, Pittsburgh, and now Charlotte) and the Queen City is, without a doubt, my favorite.  It’s not too big; it’s not too small.  The cost of living in (relatively) low.  It’s so green and lush.  People are so friendly. 

 

I’m glad we landed in Charlotte.  We never plan to move again!

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Time for breakfast:

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On the stovetop:

 

1/2 cup oats

1/2 cup almond milk

1/2 cup water

1 very ripe banana (added towards the end of cooking)

 

Topped with granola, pumpkin seeds, and strawberries.

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I can’t remember the last time I made oatmeal – too hot for the summertime! – but I was really craving it this morning.  Perhaps this means that cooler weather is just around the corner?

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On the agenda:  Run.  Buy puppy food.  Work.  Clean! 

{ 53 comments }

 

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat August 22, 2011, 9:39 am

    We’re definitely feeling cooler weather here in Ontario too…. but I’m so not ready for summer to be over! I can’t wait to read your HLS posts – I’ve got tons of catching up to do! Have a fabulous day Caitlin! 🙂

    • Baking N Books August 22, 2011, 11:40 am

      Ditto. It’s cool here today and everyone is looking forward to fall. But I want summer for months more!

      This is going to be a stupid question Caitlin – but what state is Charlotte in? And what part of the U.S?

      • CaitlinHTP August 22, 2011, 12:31 pm

        North Carolina… Southern but not super southern.

      • jen August 22, 2011, 1:27 pm

        wow i give u so much credit Baking N Books! i NEVER know what states cities are in but always feel so bad about myself that i don’t know… and then i nod my head like i pretend to know and feel worse… the silly things we beat ourselves up for 🙂 and you KNOW Caitlin is the perfect person to ask and not judge!!

        • CaitlinHTP August 22, 2011, 1:54 pm

          I suck at Geography so I feel your pain 🙂 You can always ask!

        • Baking N Books August 22, 2011, 2:15 pm

          I HOPE that’s not sarcastic…! 😉

  • Natalcho August 22, 2011, 9:43 am

    It sounds so amazing to be in love with the city you live in and to be sure you don’t want to move again. I am jealous! Having lived in a couple of countries over the years and getting stuck in London for the last 6 I am now very excited about my upcoming relocation to Zurich. I hope I can write a similar post about Zurich in no time and finally discover home!

  • Ashley O. @ The Vegetable Life August 22, 2011, 9:43 am

    Are those sunflower seeds in your oatmeal?! I have never thought about that addition but it looks delish!

    • CaitlinHTP August 22, 2011, 12:33 pm

      It was pumpkin seeds 🙂 Yum!

  • Lisa August 22, 2011, 9:45 am

    Oh don’t say that! I want the summer weather to last forever! 😛

  • Meaghan (My Spoonful Of Inspiration) August 22, 2011, 9:46 am

    So glad to hear that you enjoyed yourself at HLS. I loved following all of your adventures! I also love the picture of you with three cameras 🙂 a true photo blogger. The flowers and fresh oatmeal are beautiful- a perfect mix of summer and fall!

  • Amy August 22, 2011, 9:52 am

    This post made me so happy! I JUST moved to Charlotte a little over a month ago and absolutely love it so far. I’ve also lived a few different places- metro Atlanta, DC, Chapel Hill, and Winston-Salem- and Charlotte is already my fave! 🙂

  • Brittany (A Healthy Slice of Life) August 22, 2011, 9:52 am

    Love that pic of you with all the cameras- too cute!

    YAY! Talk up Charlotte! I want HLS to be here or in Asheville next year… I’d help plan! 🙂

    • Tiff @ Love, Sweat, and Beers August 22, 2011, 10:37 am

      Amen to that! I was in Atlanta and right outside of DC before Charlotte, and Queen City beats them both hands-down. (Oh, and I also love that pic with the cameras!)

      • CaitlinHTP August 22, 2011, 12:49 pm

        Ashville would be a super cool place for a blog conference.

  • Jenny @ Fitness Health and Food August 22, 2011, 9:57 am

    yey for being home! 🙂

  • Donna @ Life of a Happy Blonde August 22, 2011, 9:59 am

    Those oats look fantastic and thanks to you and all the other charlotte bloggers i REALLY want to visit Charlotte some time!!!

  • Whitney August 22, 2011, 10:06 am

    Glad you love Charlotte! I’ve lived here my whole life and think it’s such a classy place with lots of good eats! 🙂

  • Khushboo August 22, 2011, 10:08 am

    Be honest- did yesterday’s oatmeal breakfast at HLS inspire today’s?? 😉

  • Kate (What Kate is Cooking) August 22, 2011, 10:09 am

    I’m glad you love Charlotte! I would love to visit. I’m still looking to move and haven’t made any final decisions yet. My aunt just moved to Chapel Hill and loves it!

  • Liz August 22, 2011, 10:16 am

    I am so jealous you have found your forever home. My husband and I live in NYC during the school year and spend our summers in DC. For the past two years I have felt like we are constantly moving! Most of our belongings are actually in a storage unit in Ohio waiting until we move to our forever home (when we first moved in together we lived in a 1,500 square foot apartment and now we live in a 500 square foot apartment). We also just found out we will be staying in NYC again next year even though my husband is graduating from law school and we were planning on moving (he got a clerkship!). And, to top it all off, he got an internship in DC next summer so we have to move there AGAIN. I HATE MOVING!!

    • CaitlinHTP August 22, 2011, 12:51 pm

      Ugh! That is a lot of moving. I hope you settle soon!

  • Mariel August 22, 2011, 10:17 am

    I find myself wanting oats again more and more lately. I’m looking forward to fall!

  • Cat @Breakfast to Bed August 22, 2011, 10:22 am

    Charlotte is INFINITELY better than the Burgh, due to lack of steelers fans. (guess who is a browns fan?)

  • jassy @ Healthy Egg August 22, 2011, 10:34 am

    I enjoyed reading your and other participants’ blog regarding the HLS. Glad you love Charlotte. is it laid back in charlotte? 🙂

    • CaitlinHTP August 22, 2011, 12:53 pm

      Yes! It’s pretty chill.

  • Morgan @ Life After Bagels August 22, 2011, 10:48 am

    I wish the cost of living in Toronto were a little lower, no wait a LOT lower … but I do LOVE living in a big city 🙂

  • Yolie @ Practising Wellness August 22, 2011, 10:58 am

    Aaah, its so nice that you and the Husband have found somehwere that you want to settle – and especially nice that his family live nearby, which is amazing, given that he and they are English! <3 So happy for you that you love where you live…that is special! And those flower pix are lovely. Green is good!
    The Kiwi and I are always thinking how sad it is that we will inevitably have to leave behind one half of our family – mine are in England, and his are in New Zealand, so depending on where we settle down eventually, one of us will be a long way away from our mum/dad/siblings etc 🙁
    Your breakfast looks absolutely deeeeelicious! Sooo pretty! We got a whole grate of costco strawberries and have finished them all aready! Yummy 🙂
    Have a beautiful, positive and productive day! <3 xyx

  • maria @ a life to Bragg about August 22, 2011, 11:16 am

    Haha that pic of you with the cameras cracks me up, so typical lol. And I live 3 hours away from Charlotte but have yet to make a trip up there. I want to visit so badly since I hear so many great things about it from you healthy living bloggers. And your oatmeal looks delish!

  • Lindsey August 22, 2011, 11:33 am

    I have been craving warm oats too! But with the weather being the hottest of the summer this past week they haven’t happened yet. Dare I say I want fall?!

  • Shaya (Eye Girl Eats) August 22, 2011, 11:42 am

    You’re making me want to visit the east coast even more than before. I’ll make sure to put Charlotte on the list of cities I plan to stop in!

    I’m not yet ready for hot oats myself, but that’s because SoCal never ever gets cold. it’s hot here all the way through December, and even then it only cools down to like the 60’s. It sucks not having seasons!

  • Ali @ Ali Runs August 22, 2011, 11:50 am

    A lot of people from my hometown have moved down to Charlotte and love it too for all of those reasons. 🙂

  • Errign August 22, 2011, 11:57 am

    I had a big bowl of oats today too 🙂 And, I thought your to-do list said “Buy puppy” and I got excited for you… 🙂

    • CaitlinHTP August 22, 2011, 12:54 pm

      omg i wish 🙂 i would love another puppy!

  • Kath August 22, 2011, 11:58 am

    Nice post 😉

  • Paige @ Running Around Normal August 22, 2011, 12:00 pm

    Charlotte was representing at HLS this weekend!! So good to see you again, Caitlin:)

  • Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife August 22, 2011, 12:03 pm

    WOW, that does sound like a great place to live! I love the West though….

  • Ali August 22, 2011, 12:17 pm

    Caitlin, I’m flying into Charlotte in two weeks and have some time to explore and stop at Trader Joe’s. I live in Miami, and no matter how many times I email TJ’s customer service asking them to build a store, they still haven’t.

    Could you share a few of your favorite vegetarian restaurants, healthy shops and fashion boutiques? If there’s a previous post on Charlotte’s best, will you point me in the direction? Thanks, and I’m so excited to visit your city!

    • CaitlinHTP August 22, 2011, 12:55 pm

      Hi! 🙂 Welcome to Charlotte.

      You need to check out Trader Joe’s, Earth Fare, and Berrybrook Farm (for juice!).

      Good restaurants: Luna’s Living Kitchen is stand-out. Also Cowfish, but you need a reservation.

      Fashion boutiques – does TJ Maxx count???

      • Ali August 22, 2011, 12:59 pm

        Awesome! I’ll definitely check some of those places out!

  • chelsey @ clean eating chelsey August 22, 2011, 1:05 pm

    I have been eating cold oats all summer, but I feel like I’m finally ready to start eating hot oats again!

  • Aja August 22, 2011, 1:08 pm

    I can’t wait for fall. It’s my favorite season.
    I love the photo of you at the top with all the cameras around your neck.

  • Amber K August 22, 2011, 1:22 pm

    I have been having overnight oatmeal all summer! Love it!

    Although it is just now starting to get hot in Oregon. We had been in the low-mid 70’s all summer and now we’ve had some 90+ days. Gotta say, I’m wishing it were still in the 70’s!

  • Ash @ Good Taste Healthy Me August 22, 2011, 1:23 pm

    I can’t wait for Fall and the cool mornings. Apples!!!!!!

  • Ellie@fitforthesoul August 22, 2011, 1:32 pm

    ahhhh I love how everyone here is talking about the fall b/c i’ve been waiting for it and talking my fiance’s ear off about it since–last fall!! 😀 Good thing it’s his fave season as well haha. Charlotte does seem like a beautiful place to live in~I would love to someday visit your are and all of the east coast too! Like Philly

  • Cait @ Beyond Bananas August 22, 2011, 2:10 pm

    The best part about my summer oats is poppin them in the fridge overnight or in the freezer to chill them if I make them in the morning. The chill is just SO satisfying!!

  • Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga August 22, 2011, 2:19 pm

    I adore that pic of you with all those cameras around your neck…that is awesome 🙂

  • Kelly @foodiefresh August 22, 2011, 3:13 pm

    Yay Charlotte! 🙂

  • Katie @ Peace Love and Oats August 22, 2011, 3:29 pm

    haha I hope those aren’t all your cameras! Lots of luggage! And pumpkin seeds? I’d never thought of putting those on my oats!

  • Eileen August 22, 2011, 4:03 pm

    I grew up in Pittsburgh and liked it at the time, but I’m not sure if I could go back now. I’ve since lived in Cleveland, Chicago, and finally just moved to Charlottesville. Not to be confused with Charlotte! (I am super paranoid when I check bags to tell the flight attendants, “CharlottesVILLE! not Charlotte!”)

    I do like Charlotte though! Before we were married, for ~ 1.5 years my husband lived in the middle of South Carolina. There was nothing around and the airport was tiny, so I usually flew into Charlotte and we would hang out there, to be around civilization! Now that I’ve moved from the midwest to the south, I am absolutely loving the warm weather. I hated midwest winters and am happy to have a more hospitable climate. Though I will say that the extreme heat in July got a bit old, so I am looking forward to fall more than I usually do. I just made hot oatmeal for the first time in months last week, too!

  • The Delicate Place August 22, 2011, 6:30 pm

    HLS was a blast! thanks for all your girls did to make it happen! didn’t know you lived in pittsburgh? i’m in the east end and LOVE it so much! affordable, quirky & tons of homes with character!

  • Moni'sMeals August 22, 2011, 7:02 pm

    I have always been intrigued by Charlotte. I hope to visit soon and have only heard amazing things. I also want to check out Myrtle Beach at the same time…:)

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin August 22, 2011, 8:56 pm

    I’ve been eating hot oatmeal all summer. 😛 But the colder mornings we’ve been getting lately are making me crave it even more!

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