Pumpkin & Pomegranate Granola

We're about halfway through October and defintiely knee deep in fall weather!  As always, pumpkin is my flavor of choice this season.  I've been wanting to make a homemade granola...pumpkin granola to be specific!

This has a great flavor...not too sweet, but defintiely flavorful!  I had some with yogurt for breakfast and later in the day as a snack.  It did not last long...that's for sure!

Recipe adapted from Two Peas & Their Pod

• 5 cups rolled oats
  1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  1 teaspoon cinnamon
  1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  ¾ tsp. salt
  ¾ cup brown sugar
  ½ cup pumpkin puree
  ¼ cup applesauce
  ¼ cup maple syrup
  1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  3/4 cup dried pomegranate craisins
  1/2 cup pepitas

1. Preheat the oven to 325° F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine oats, spices, and salt. Mix well.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together brown sugar, pumpkin puree, applesauce, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth. Pour wet ingredients into oat mixture and stir until the oats are evenly coated. They will be moist. Evenly spread the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet.
4. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and stir. Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes or until the granola is golden and crisp. Remove from the oven and stir in dried cranberries and pepitas. Let cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

So I actually incorporated the craisins and pepitas before I started baking them.  It was a mistake, but it turned out great...added a nice crunch to the pepitas and the craisins were warm and soft.

This recipe makes a lot, so we decided to gift some to our neighbors!

 Do you ever bring your neighbors gifts?  I think it's a nice gesture, and I know we love having our neighbors stop by!  :)

Hope you enjoy the recipe!  Bon Appetit!

xo natasha

Linked to: Tasty Tuesdays

The Hutch::Newly Styled

First, I have to confess my utmost respect for anyone who knows how to properly use a camera.  I, unfortunately, am not one of them.  But I try and appreciate all of you who are so kind {and those that have given my tips...extra thanks!} about my photos skills.  I've learned a lot and hope to learn more!

With that in mind...I wanted to show your our "styled" kitchen hutch.  When you last saw it here, it was rushed and not put together.  I've finally gotten my groove on with the styling and hope I got the right light to give it justice.

I decided to stick with a black, gray/silver, and white theme.  I think it's worked out well!

The white plate we received for our wedding really pops with the gray wallpaper, don't you think?

 Here is the white cake stand I found at a local antique store...I also had fun incorporating the mercury glass.

I love my polka dot Kate Spade vase and of course my Gwyn Cookbook!

And here you can see how the hutch picks up the black and gray specks in the granite.

Just as a reminder...one more before & after.

Some of you have asked where we got the wallpaper...how we painted...what paint we used, etc.  Here are some answers for you:

Wallpaper: Allen + Roth Spanish Tile from Lowes found here.

Paint: Valspar Semi-Gloss Black {available at Lowes}

We followed Just a Girl's tutorial.  It's amazing and the best part?  NO SANDING!  That's right baby...a huge time saver!  The foam rollers are also a genius idea.

It took us about 2 weekends total.  We cleaned and primed the first weekend and the hit it with the black the second weekend.  I highly recommend light brush strokes...that may have been the only place we went wrong.  It takes time and patience.  If you do see areas that have excessive paint that has dried...simply sand it down and repaint.

Thanks again for all your support during this project!  I'm really happy with how it turned out and hope this post does it justice!  :)

xo natasha

P.S. Be sure to check out my guest post on what I'm Lovin' right now...it involves sequins and clog inspired boots!  {click below}

Friday Fancies::Burgundy & Bows

Alright people...I'm finally succumbing to the idea of non-traditional colored pants.  I just have a scarring memory of wearing bright red corduroys in junior high and totally getting called out about them being dorky!  Boo to that!  I'm older...wiser...and gosh darn it, people like me.  {Ha!  Just trying to talk myself through the trauma!}.  

In Schue Love fashion, I've decided to veer away from the brightly colored hues of summer and instead adopt this gorgeous burgundy wine color.

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I feel as though these pants can almost pass as a neutral since the color is muted and more subdued.  It's definitely the statement of this particular ensemble though.

I love this cuddly sweater...the red and grey is perfect for fall.  Not to mention the leopard belt!

I'm bananas for bows this week and none other than the fabulous Kate Spade is responsible for both.  I'm quite obsessed with both pieces.  Another great accessory is this cozy Madewell scarf.

Last, but not least, a simple bag and chic flats {also Madewell!} round out this look. 

It's very preppy chic...great for the office or a strolling the farmer's market, don't you think?

So tell me...what do you think of different hued pants?  Have you bought into the trend?!  Do tell!

 Have a great weekend lovelies.

xo natasha 




P.S. Kelly over at Jax Does Design is featuring my breakfast hutch today...be sure to check it out here!  :) 
 

Little Updates

With fall in the air and our weekends free, I've had some fun nesting and making little updates around the house. 

I added a little tower of decorative bark spheres as well as some fresh carnations.

Here's the updated mantel in full.

I also styled our new hutch...here is a sneak peak!  Found the cake stand at a local antique shop!  It's all about black, white, and silver.  Will show you more next week!

Our front door has a cheerful berry wreath!

And I love putting fresh flowers bedside...makes it feel like a B&B.

Have you made any updates around the house lately?  Is it starting to feel like fall where you live?  We've luckily had some "warmer" weather come back to Tahoe, after our early snow last week.  Trying to soak it all in!

xo natasha