The other day I was at our local grocery store browsing the cereal isle and longing for some good granola. There’s something about autumn that makes me crave granola. Maybe it’s the crunchy leaves or the warm sweaters and blankets that get brought out, but granola and oatmeal are two of my favorite cold weather breakfasts.
But when you’re gluten free, getting granola can be a challenge. Over the years, I’ve tried a few that nearly knocked my teeth out and a few that were permanently stale, but I had not found one that was truly a good granola. The clusters were always so hard and bland. The filling tended to be grainy or gritty. Just not enjoyable.
What gives? Why is it so hard to make gluten free granola?
Well, apparently, this lady named Elizabeth was also wondering that when she set out to make granola that didn’t suck.
When I found this at the store, it wasn’t shelved along with the other bags of granola it was mixed right in with the other boxes of cereal. After reading the ingredients, I was pretty excited to try it out and tossed it in the cart. Despite my negative experiences in the past, I’m always open to trying new products and was happy to see something I didn’t recognize.
The company has been around for about six years now, and while I am just now seeing their product at my local store, they have a widely established distribution across the US.
So I might be a little bit behind on the Purely Elizabeth bandwagon, but this is a good thing! It means it is fairly easy to find around the country at grocers and online at a few different sites.
The packaging is unique for granola - they vacuum seal it in a pouch.
You know what my favorite part about granola is?
The clusters.
Look at this! It’s cluster heaven!
And with delicious pecans, this cereal is after this Texas girl’s heart!
The millet puffs are a little odd to me, but I enjoy the nutty, roasty flavor they impart. They are very similar to corn pops, if you’re familiar with those.
I finished this box in four sittings and enjoyed it immensely. I will be getting these again and I can’t wait to pick up another flavor to try.
If you’ve tried this granola or one of her other products, let me know in the comments below what you thought!
- Patricia
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For most of us mortals, how a morning unfolds can make or break the tone for the rest of the day. Now this isn’t always the case, but most of the time if you have a shitty morning you’re likely to have a shitty day.
Ain't nobody got time for that.
While there isn’t a chance in the world you will have spectacular, energy filled mornings every day, there are a few ways you can help increase your chances of this happening.
1. Do less in the morning.
As my stepfather would always tell me, “Proper prior planning prevents piss poor performance.”
The real secret to good mornings is starting the night before.
Choose the next day’s clothes, or at least think about what you want to wear, prep lunch, check the weather, and put the coffee pot together.
Having less to do in the morning will make you feel less rushed and the bit of extra effort the night before to organize your day will let you feel more put together.
2. Be predictable.
Develop a routine will help the mornings go off without a hitch. There are a few basic tasks I do every morning without fail including brushing my teeth, doing my hair, drinking coffee, getting dressed, and getting my bags ready to leave. Each morning I do them in more or less the same order.
This routine allows me to have something to fall back on. I know that no matter how hectic the morning becomes, these few essential tasks are second nature and will always get done. They fit my routine and my routine fits them.
3. Stay flexible.
Wake up with a yawn, a stretch, and the mindset that anything could happen. The deep breath will help give your blood a good boost of oxygen after a night’s rest, and some quick stretches will give your body a kick of energy for the day.
Staying flexible in your morning routine will also help keep you ready to tackle the unexpected without too much added stress.
4. Look your best.
Take just a moment to do that extra thing that makes you feel good about you. This may be wearing gorgeous lipstick, pants that hug you in all the right places, or rocking some awesome shoes you love. It doesn’t have to be much, but whatever it is be sure to make time for it in your daily routine.
Allowing time for yourself is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. Even if the time is short, making a dedicated effort each day to recognize and do something that makes you feel good about you will drastically improve your outlook on the day ahead.
- Patricia
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