Cold Snap

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Our first cold snap is here.  Even my lovely flowers are feelin’ it. 

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Well, when I say ‘my’ lovely flowers, I actually mean my neighbor’s.  Because, of course, I have a black thumb and have killed pretty much every flower that I’ve tried to grow. 

 

Speaking of murder…

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All this time, I thought James was responsible for the slow and painful death of Penguin, which the dogs have had for at least four years.  But oh no – it’s Maggie.  Murderess!

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I’m swinging by a shop later for extra stuffing and am going to repair him (or try to).  I’m so sentimentally attached to that stupid Penguin.

 

Anyway – the temps dropped 20 degrees overnight!  Time for some warm oats:

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Pineapple Upside-down Cake Oatmeal, in fact.  This version is a little different than how I normally make this bowl of oats. 

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Ingredients:

 

  • 1/2 cup oats
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 banana
  • 1/4 cup pineapple chunks
  • 1 tablespoon agave nectar
  • Crushed pecans

 

Directions:

 

  • Combine oats, water, milk, and banana on the stovetop.  Let cook on medium until most of the liquid has cooked off.
  • Meanwhile, in a wok, heat pineapple and agave nectar until pineapple browns.
  • Scoop oatmeal into bowl, top with pineapples and nuts, and serve.

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And last, but not least, we have the day off from the acupuncture clinic!  Wahoo. 

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No Husbands were harmed in the making of this post.  Only Penguins.  And flowers.  

{ 62 comments }

 

  • Elizabeth @ reads recipes runs September 16, 2011, 9:53 am

    That oatmeal looks amazing! I am going to have to try it out 🙂 I am so excited for the cooler weather. I even had to bust out my long sleeve running shirt this morning!

  • Caitlin @ Cake with Love September 16, 2011, 9:56 am

    The oatmeal really looks delicious, and I love canned pineapple, my mom has this recipe of pineapple rice, its amazing!

  • Kelly September 16, 2011, 10:11 am

    Ha. I actually take a needle and thread and sew up the pet toys until the can’t be sewed up anymore. I just stuff the stuffing back in and find some absurd thread color and sew ‘er up. And, sometimes, it’s not because either of us are attached (dog or me), but because I’m cheap. Those things cost some $$ and it takes nothing to sew it up and let it carry on for another few months. I hate to waste! Maggie seems so sweet, but I’m glad she had so much fun tearing the heck out of that penguin! 🙂

    • Caitlin September 17, 2011, 10:13 am

      I need to do this… Penguin continues to be unstuffed.

  • Ash @ Good Taste Healthy Me September 16, 2011, 10:11 am

    I so want to try acupuncture! Especially for my stubborn knees!

  • Christine @ BookishlyB September 16, 2011, 10:11 am

    That oatmeal looks great, and I’m not a huge oatmeal eater. I always try to repair damaged stuff animals too, but no matter what they end up destroyed once again. Ripping stuffing out is apparently a whole lot of fun.

  • Katie September 16, 2011, 10:16 am

    I’m loving this weather!

    My dogs love destroying their toys. But even after they’ve taken all the stuffing out of it, they still like playing with the scraps that are left!

  • Mia September 16, 2011, 10:17 am

    I don’t even give my dog stuffed toys anymore because she just destroys them. Rubber chew toys are the way to go. although if your dogs will only chew on soft things “tuffie” brand is the way to go (http://www.tuffietoys.com/), they sell them at PetSmart as well. It took my lab mix about 6 months to even rip a tiny hole in one of their toys.

    • Caitlin September 17, 2011, 10:13 am

      They wont chew rubber toys! So weird.

  • Sarah @ See Sarah Eat September 16, 2011, 10:19 am

    Haha, I can’t buy my dog toys with stuffing in them anymore because that is the first thing she will do, rip it apart and pull all the stuffing out! Too funny 😉

  • Holly @ The Runny Egg September 16, 2011, 10:19 am

    Poor penguin 🙁 I’ve seen my sister’s dog destroy his favorite toys too — it just means they really really love them!

  • Lizz (leadingthegoodlife) September 16, 2011, 10:24 am

    I can’t believe that penguin has lasted 4 years!! My dogs rip that sh#t up so fast. 🙂 First they go for the eyes, then they de-stuff it through the empty eye sockets. And then they hump the empty carcass. Domination issues, I think. 😉

  • Claire @ Live and Love to Eat September 16, 2011, 10:25 am

    Poor penguin 🙁 He’d meet the same fate with my Jack Russel terrorist!

  • Taylor @ Crumbs Don't Count September 16, 2011, 10:27 am

    Bah ha ha…that penguin is to funny. My dog doesn’t JUST tear stuffing out, he also rips the actual animals apart, so now they are all rags. The joke is on him though because now those “rags” are his toys. Good thing he is low maintenance and STILL loves them!

  • Gina @ Running to the Kitchen September 16, 2011, 10:28 am

    Enjoy your day off! My dog rips the squeaker out of any toy we give her within a day. Once it’s out though, she’ll then continue to play with it like nothing happened. Very odd.

  • katie @ KatieDid September 16, 2011, 10:28 am

    hhhaha. Does the husband give himself acupuncture??

    • Caitlin September 17, 2011, 10:13 am

      Yup!

  • Kate (What Kate is Cooking) September 16, 2011, 10:30 am

    I saw the flower picture and expected some vagina talk 🙂

  • Sweet and Savvy September 16, 2011, 10:32 am

    I love how you had warm oatmeal on this cold morning… but aren’t letting go of summer so you added pineapple!:)

  • Leanne (Bride to Mrs.) September 16, 2011, 10:33 am

    He looks far too happy to have needles poking out of him! 😉

    • Berta September 16, 2011, 1:46 pm

      The crazy thing is that it doesn’t hurt, and you feel amazing after its done.

      • Caitlin September 17, 2011, 10:13 am

        Truth!

  • Khushboo September 16, 2011, 10:34 am

    Murder she wrote!

  • Julie (A Case of the Runs) September 16, 2011, 10:50 am

    Can’t wait for cooler temps!!

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) September 16, 2011, 10:56 am

    I love this weather! Pineapple is a great addition to oats. I haven’t done that in a while. Have fun today with your man!

  • Sarah @ w30 September 16, 2011, 10:57 am

    It’s cool and rainy here, too. I LOVE it! Scarves and warm oatmeal and that funny burning smell when you first turn on the heater … aaahhhhhh. I’ve been obsessed with maple and banana oats lately, but I can’t wait to try them a la pineapple upside down cake!

  • Katy (The Singing Runner) September 16, 2011, 11:01 am

    I am so jealous of your cold snap! It is still stupid hot here in Florida. 🙁

  • Emily September 16, 2011, 11:03 am

    Our dogs are TERRORS on stuffed toys (two boxer mixes, one of which is part pitbull) and we found a company based out of Savannah that makes really durable ones. As in, it’s been over a month of chewing, gnawing, tug-of-warring, and there is not a SINGLE hole or missing stitch in either one. The company is called Fluff + Tuff. Also if you order them online from TheGratefulHound.com you get 20% off your order using “Woof20” at checkout. *Bonus points: they come in cute animal shapes! Ours have an alligator and a raccoon 🙂

    • Caitlin September 17, 2011, 10:14 am

      Nice!!! Thanks for this!

  • kathleen @ the daily crumb September 16, 2011, 11:03 am

    our pups took the life out of a pair of socks this morning! it’s crazy how occupied destruction of soft things will keep them, though. if i have to lose a $1 pair of socks in the name of quiet, i’ll do it!

  • Donna @ Life of a Happy Blonde September 16, 2011, 11:09 am

    Bahahaa this post made me giggle
    I too am oddly attached to my fur babys dog toys, i name them all mr. penguin, mr. hippo, they are all male???
    Have a great day off 🙂

  • Katie @ Peace Love and Oats September 16, 2011, 11:16 am

    that poor penguin! haha. Our dogs never played with toys, but one year we came back from vacation and one had ripped apart a small Snoopy stuffed animal! We were in shock…

  • CJ @ http://healthy-happy-whole.com September 16, 2011, 11:17 am

    Pineapple upside down cake is my absolute favorite!! that breakfast sounds awesome and could be a great way to warm up on these crazy cold september mornings!!!

  • Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife September 16, 2011, 11:27 am

    I love hot oatmeal–that is a nice thing about Fall. Yours looks fantastic!

  • skinnyrunner September 16, 2011, 11:28 am

    the acupuncture picture is sorta freaky! probably because im scared of needles, but still…

  • Carolina John September 16, 2011, 11:33 am

    I know – I can’t believe how cold it got today! geez. no fall at all. straight from 90’s to 50’s.

  • Deva @ Deva by Definition September 16, 2011, 11:40 am

    That oatmeal looks amazing. I love pineapple. Poor Penguin, though! I hope you can repair him! If you have any trouble getting the stuffing all the way down from where the hole is, chopsticks help!

  • Verna September 16, 2011, 11:50 am

    Did he put that in himself, or have you do it? ; )

    • Caitlin September 17, 2011, 10:14 am

      He does it himself! I can’t do that. I would freak out.

  • Stephanie September 16, 2011, 11:52 am

    I didn’t plant any flowers this year. At first I was sad. Then I realized…hey! No weeding! And then I was happy.

  • Sonia (the Mexigarian) September 16, 2011, 12:07 pm

    Hubby stopped buying Lando stuffed toys since the darn pup tries to eat all the stuffing. :\ not good for him. I try to sew up whatever I can but the pup has a destructive nature with his toys (and my socks/bra/panties ugh) Though the kong ball I picked up when he was just 8 weeks is still going strong.

  • Kris | iheartwellness.com September 16, 2011, 12:11 pm

    What a yum-ful breakfast my friend!! I think I can get used to happy breakfasts like this everyday!!

    xxoo

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin September 16, 2011, 12:11 pm

    Your brekkie looks good! I think pineapple must be one of the only fruits I haven’t tried in oatmeal yet!

  • Ari @ Ari's Menu September 16, 2011, 12:14 pm

    It never occurred to me to actually fix up the dog toys after they are destroyed…I always just buy new ones, but this sounds like a much more budget friendly way of handling it! 🙂

  • Amber K September 16, 2011, 12:53 pm

    Aw poor penguin, hope you can easily fix it! Silly murderous doggies 🙂

  • Yolie @ Practising Wellness September 16, 2011, 12:55 pm

    😀 Maggie the murderess! I love that action shot of her attacking the poor penguin, lol! 😛 So cute! Have a wonderful day off from the clinic! <3 xyx

  • Moni'sMeals September 16, 2011, 1:25 pm

    Oh Maggie, you lil rascal!

    This breakfast sounds great, nice way too switch things up!

  • Berta September 16, 2011, 1:54 pm

    I wish we could get some cold weather down here in Hawaii, since I’m originally from Utah I miss the four seasons…but hey I’m not really going to complain, we can swim at the beach year round here…I guess you give up one thing for another. BTW I love accupuncture! You both are awesome!

    • Caitlin September 17, 2011, 10:14 am

      Thank you sweetie!

  • Lisa September 16, 2011, 2:09 pm

    Our Lab had a bright orange lobster that we named Louie. You could ask her where Louie was and she would run and find him. She pulled all the stuffing out of the body. My daughter put back in and sewed him shut several times. Finally we gave up and just let Louie go unstuffed. I hope your stuffing is more successful.

  • Jenn's Adventures September 16, 2011, 2:17 pm

    Hey girlie!! I know you’re on the Pumpkin Spice Latte kick like me — and everyone else! I’m doing a giveaway (http://tinyurl.com/638j7sk) if you’re interested in potentially winning a $10 Hawai’i Starbucks Card:)

    PS: I can’t believe how drastic the temps have dropped for you guys! Hello Fall!!

  • Mary @ Bites and Bliss September 16, 2011, 2:25 pm

    It was chilly here this morning! I LOVED it!

  • Shaya (Eye Girl Eats) September 16, 2011, 2:57 pm

    ‘Cold Snap’ is an excellent nickname for a person with a black thumb 😉

    I’m TOTALLY going to use the pineapple oatmeal recipe. And even if it’s not in oatmeal, I am still planning on preparing my last fresh pineapple purchase of the year by caramelizing it in a skillet for dessert, even just by itself 🙂 yum!

  • Kath September 16, 2011, 4:00 pm

    Man I wish I could have K do some acupuncture on me right now!

  • Tanya @ Vegan Faith September 16, 2011, 4:06 pm

    That’s awesome because I was totally thinking about putting pineapple in my oats this morning but chickened out. I’m definitely doing it tomorrow.

  • Christina September 16, 2011, 5:58 pm

    Does oatmeal count as gluten-free for you? I keep seeing opposing views on this…

    • Caitlin September 17, 2011, 10:15 am

      It does to me but yes, there are opposing views!

  • Carrie September 16, 2011, 7:54 pm

    Hello! I just wanted to let you know I love your blog. Thanks !

    • Caitlin September 17, 2011, 10:15 am

      thank you so much carrie!

  • Kim September 16, 2011, 11:08 pm

    I have heard that agave syrup is bad for you. Have you researched it? What are your thoughts about it?

    • Caitlin September 17, 2011, 10:15 am

      I’ve heard its basically the same as sugar.

  • Sophie @ threetimesf September 17, 2011, 2:46 am

    Poor Penguin!
    Have a great weekend, Caitlin!

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