TASTE: Coconut Mango Baked Oatmeal

Happy Monday, friends! It's about time for a new recipe. This one came to me, sort of in a dream, and the dream spectacularly came to life. Mad props to my Dream Project partner-in-crime Carrie, who first introduced me to the notion of baked oatmeal. It's a great go-to recipe I often make when guests come to town or for a weekend brunch with friends. It's also great to make on a Sunday night to have throughout the week for a nutritious snack. P.S. I get a little carried away with the toppings (but you can, too!)

Ingredients:
- 3 cups Rolled Oats
- 2 Eggs
- 1/4 cup Agave
- 1/2 cup shredded Coconut
- 1/4 cup Butter, melted
- 1 Mango, pitted and chopped*
- 1 cup Almond Milk
- 1 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. Salt

Method:
1) Pit and chop an entire mango. Combine in a bowl with the coconut. Set aside.

2) In a large bowl, combine the oats, salt and cinnamon. In another bowl, whisk the eggs and combine with the almond milk, agave and melted butter. Stir into oat mixture until blended.

3) Spoon into a greased 9-in. square baking pan. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until set. Yields 9 servings.

Note * You can add (almost) any kind of fruit into this baked oatmeal treat. Apples and blueberries are lovely for a fall-theme main dish. Strawberries and oranges are a summery way to celebrate the oatmeal indulgence. Most recently, I added a mix of chopped mango and papaya (with a smattering of nutmeg) and I think it was the most delicious ever. So get creative! Fruit are your friends.

Brunch it up! And maybe add a mimosa.

Sunday Gratitude

Well hello friends. I hope your weekend has been swell. And sunny. There are a lot of reasons I have to be thankful on this fine Sunday.

Brunch // I had a spectacular brunch today with the crew from Progressive Palate. While we didn't progress in the traditional sense of the word (we remained in one steady location this time), we certainly forged ahead in plans for the future. Our combined travel itineraries for the summer span across the globe and I had a ridiculous amount of fun learning kitchen secrets from the in-house Roman-trained chef. Needless to say, the frittata was to die for. Be on the lookout this week for my recipe for Mango Coconut Baked Oatmeal. It was a real crowd pleaser.

Plans // Stevie and I have been developing our Euro trip plan, and it's really starting to take shape. More to come on the planning progress later in the week, but I am very pleased (let's be honest, I am over the moon enthusiastic) about this month-long adventure we are about to embark upon!

Weather // This is the biggie. I've whined A LOT about the cold dark Cambridge winter we've had (evidence here, here and here, most notably) but I am happy to announce that spring has really and truly sprung. Everything is in peak bloom right now and the streets of Cambridge look all gussied up and ready for a wedding. The trees have stretched their bare arms into the sky and have pulled the sunshine down into their roots. Suddenly tiny, wondrous buds have blossomed and I can't believe it was ever as icy as my pictures indicate. I am happy to share some photographic treats of this beauty. You deserve it, since you endured my bad weather attitude.

Oh the Glory.
I have so much to be thankful for today. So many wonderfully pregnant friends and family. Exotic travels in the near future. An anticipated move to a new city at summer's hazy end. And these beautiful flowers blooming all around, reminding me of life's sweetest, most progressive season.

Enjoy a moment for gratitude today.

Acting Website Launch: www.KristenNicoleHale.com

Breaking That Leg
I've totally teased you. But I'm happy to announce that my acting website is up and running and I wanted to share it with my Oy!-letts first. This site houses all the film projects and media that I've worked on thus far. It's a great tool to send casting directors and agents when they want to see my work (and are considering actors for auditions.) It's totally scary to be vulnerable and put yourself out there, but I'm (slowly) learning to showcase what I love to do without apologizing for it. Part of this industry is connecting with as many people as possible, so I wanted to share this site with YOU as part of my way of making those connections.

 I'd love for you to take a peek and let me know what you think!

Beware: Shameless Plug Forthcoming
I am moving to NYC at the beginning of August and I am going to hit it hard auditioning. If you know anyone that I should talk to there and you are feeling generous to make the connection, please let me know! I might just send you a box of cookies. And they might even be Girl Scout cookies.

Thanks again for your love and support!

I Really Tried To Meet Taylor Swift.

Taylor Came to Town.
I was honestly starstruck for like, the first two songs. She is remarkably tall and really really pretty. She played Phillips Arena last Thursday and Friday nights in Atlanta. I was over the moon to have the opportunity to see her, especially with the best friends a gal could ask for. I'd hop on a plane any day for these gems. Taylor included, obviously. I hightailed it down South just in time to munch on brunch with my parents and remember what sweltering humidity is.

// Cheers. //

// Look at all the red. You can't deny our spirit. //

// Yep, we met our girl. I wish. //

The Concert? 
Amazing. Pop at its best. It was a light show, a choreographer's dream, and a costume-y rendition of her wonderstruck fairytales gone red. Apparently dating John Mayer does give you cooties. Poor Tay Tay. Listen to your mom next time, k.

The Company? 
Spectacular, especially since our party of 8 was decked out in all our ruby glory. There were some sparkles. Some beverages. Some off-key sing-alongs with our girl.

The After Party? 
Well, all I can say is Taylor, YOU MISSED OUT.

I did my best to try to meet her. Last year's tour VIP after party, The T Party was rightfully renamed this year to Club Red, and I really thought I could summon up my past-life cheerleader powers and hysterically spirit finger my way in. For some unfortunate reason I wasn't issued the appropriate credentials to actually get me in to Club Red (I still don't understand why, I danced like a fool, LIKE A FOOL) so I turned to desperate measures. I loitered. I gathered intel. I sweet talked. And when that didn't work I ran past the security guards screaming, "TAYLOR!! I'm not a crreeeeeeeep I just want to MEET YOU AND HUG YOU!!!!"

And that's when those guards showed me the door.

It's unfortunate, really. But what's MORE unfortunate is that she didn't get to meet us, because we are a pretty sweet crew. I mean, we could have changed her life with our sisterhood-of-the-traveling-pants wholesomeness. Our after party included midnight pizza and some kind of red cocktail on the floor of Emily's apartment and it was the best. Pizza, Atlanta and the sincerest friendships since Frodo and his Fellowship; I think I am The Lucky One.

P.S. - Check out my BFF Natalie's take on our concert adventure :-) She's the best!

Sunday Reflection

// High Tea at Taj Hotel // Getting "RE(a)D"y // Chick-fil-A empathy // Serenbe serenity // Georgia hydrangeas // There she is //

What. A. Week.
I don’t even know how to put this week into words. To say that I experienced an extreme of emotions would be an understatement. It has been a whirlwind of joy, terror, comfort, anxiety and homesickness. My heart is weary from feeling.

I had the opportunity to enjoy the company of so many people that I love, many who live in entirely different worlds from each other; from Boston to Atlanta and varied pockets in between. I celebrated with the beautiful women in my bible study at a fancy affair in downtown Boston. I got the chance to visit with my soul-sister in law and her delightful children on a random whim. I got to party with my BFFs at a super-duper-anticipated pop concert. I got to run and cross-train (while having wonderfully deep conversation) with my stinkin’ amazing bro-in law. I got to have a dreamy brunch with my parents as we discussed the possibilities of the future. I spent an entire day in my pjs with my cousin (who is exactly like a sister, just a blonde one.) And I got to waltz around a chic farm haven with my sincerely sweet sister.

Unfortunately, I also got to watch in horror as my city was locked down and ravaged with fear as a manhunt for a suspected terrorist ensued. I was glued to the news for 15 hours on Friday as I anxiously prayed for the safety of my husband, who was home alone and unable to leave our apartment, per the request of Boston authorities. I was honestly so worried he wouldn’t have enough to eat. It sounds ridiculous, as people were fighting for their lives in the hospital due to the terrifying acts committed over the course of the week by this suspect. But it’s the truth.

Processing It.
Harboring anxiety is awful, but it’s honestly so difficult to overcome fear in the face of adversity. Once you give your heart over to that fear, you usually don’t get any peace back. It’s not a mutually beneficial exchange. Clearly, this is something I am still working on, not allowing my circumstances to rock my inner-peace. But being apart from my best friend and knowing he was alone to handle the scare of a terrorist on the loose in our neighborhood was a little too close for comfort. Though my heart was stirred, these are the moments when I am so thankful I know Jesus and have this precious compass of faith. While I don’t understand why terrible things happen to innocent people, I believe God is always good and He listens to the prayers of his people. I also believe he heard America’s prayers as we joined together, asking for this suspect to be located and no more innocent life to be lost. I believe His guarding angels commanded a presence just as thick as the police authorities during the hours that we, as a country, watched the news and fiercely prayed with all our hearts. This is my belief.

Gratitude?
My heart is conflicted as I meditate on gratitude. How to be grateful for peace and safety when I know others are suffering the loss of their children, husbands and loved ones? People just like you and me, who have been punctured with such an awful injustice. They are laid up in hospital beds, their bodes bruised and their hearts pulsing in anguish. Join with me today and pray that God may bless them, keep them, expand their territory and heal their bodies and spirits in a way that only He can.

Tour of New England (Part 3): The Crane Castle

Chapter 3.
The third and final installment on the Tour de New England is a real crowd-pleaser. I wanted to share this with you before the weekend hits because, honestly, who doesn't want to see a pretty castle on a happy Friday? Where there are castles, my heart is usually not far behind. And this castle is located in Ipswitch, Massachusetts. Massachusetts! You heard me right! Who says Europe wins the award for romantic castle beauty? K maybe they do. But still. Check this out.

They Exist.
Well, I don't know how many castles are nestled into the foothills of greater Massachusetts, but this fine establishment is tucked far away in a funny-named town called Ipswitch. The Crane Castle (known fondly by the family as Castle Hill) is located atop a hill on The Crane Estate. Can you imagine calling your parents' house Castle Hill? Haaa that's really something.

This land was first  purchased by John Winthrop Jr. (yeah, the son of the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony), and remained farmland for more than two centuries. In 1910 Richard Crane purchased the land and transformed it into an estate, developing the land and gardens and building an enormous Italian Renaissance villa for his lovely wife, in the vein of the Newport mansions. She didn't like it. He tore it down and replaced it with a (more modest) 59-room mansion, overlooking the ocean and expansive grounds on all four sides. It's a hard life, but someone's gotta do it. I'm glad his wife had all those rooms. You know, to put her trinkets and jewels and puppies in.

Today the mansion is open for tours. People who love castles (like me) frolic around the grounds and chase deer whilst imagining growing up on such a mass of land. Our fearsome foursome had a wondrous time.

Fun Fact // Richard Crane is the great-great grandfather of beloved actor Chevy Chase.

// Deer photos courtesy of Steven Hale. He has such a soothing presence that he didn't spook them in the least. Also in his spare time he is a dog whisperer. //

// I mean, whose back yard doesn't open up into a mile-long processional into the Atlantic? //

// Boys throw snowballs. Because why not. //

// Geez, I wonder if it ever gets old being so darn cute. //

// Found one home error: I could see straight through the keyhole! Bad for insulation, Richard. //

Okay, so it's seriously beautiful right? New England is chock-full of grand surprises and this was the perfect way to end a day of lighthouses and seaside bliss. So in love.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend of sunshine and flower picking. Spring is officially springing up here and I am amped to enjoy it. Also, come Monday I may or may not have some photos to share from my jaunt down to Atlanta to see Taylor Swift in concert. I'm feelin' RED!

Reflections: The 2012 vs. 2013 Boston Marathon

Today the city is sunny, sullen and tinged with an eerie quiet. The community of Cambridge wants to wrap our big brother Boston in a bear hug and not let go.

Yesterday morning I woke up with a head cold and grumpily turned on the televised race footage. We were eager to go downtown to celebrate this day with our friends, but I was physically feeling puny and we reluctantly decided to stay home. Stevie worked on papers and I watched the race for hours from the comfort of my couch. This cold was perhaps a blessing in disguise. I won't re-hash the details of the horrific bombings that have been covered in excess by the news. After several panicked phone calls to friends we knew were downtown at the Finish Line, Stevie and I began to pray for safety for the victims and for all plans of evil in our city to be thwarted. Thankfully, our friends who were running the marathon and watching from downtown were all safe, though many of them were in the vicinity of the blasts and watched the horror unfold.

Patriots' Day
For many of you who don't live in Boston, you might not understand the importance of Patriots' Day in this city. Before I moved to Boston I didn't understand why people got the day off of work and school. Patriots' Day is a civic holiday celebrated in Massachusetts (and Maine) to commemorate the Battles of Lexington and Concord. These battles mark the beginning of the American Revolutionary War, and therefore, celebrate freedom and independence.

In my extremely limited experience, it is a day that I can only compare to a robust 4th of July on steroids. Bostonians are fiercely proud of their heritage, and on this day, that pride is honored throughout the city with jubilation. It is an infectious tradition that makes you wish you were a permanent cog in this community. As a native Atlantan, I've never experienced a city-wide event so richly steeped in heritage and celebrated so widely. Everyone celebrates the marathon by showing up in droves to watch the runners. Strangers cheer for the athletes, high-five each other, children wave American flags. There is no distinction between race or creed, gender or age, even hometown heritage. On this day, no matter where you're from, you are a cheering Bostonian and you are happy.

We were amongst those who watched the race from Commonwealth Avenue last year, at the 2012 Marathon. I want to share a few photos and a video for you to understand the intended joy of this day, which was captured a year ago when we attended this event:

Boston Marathon 2012 from Kristen Hale on Vimeo.

Reflect
I share this with you so that you may have a deeply sensitive appreciation for what the community of Boston is enduring. It's okay to be angry, it's okay to be sad, but in times like these I hope the processing of these emotions will lead to greater compassion and empathy for others.

Keep in mind all the goodness shown by people in these moments of terror. Marathon runners tearing off their clothes in order to stop the bleeding of victims, marathon volunteers carrying victims into ambulances, emergency-response authorities cooperating with complete strangers in order to minimize the volume of panic and pain. Even more amazingly, a googledoc was passed around by Boston residents who opened their home up for strangers to stay. Many visitors to Boston (for this particular event) had been displaced by the hotels in the area that were shut down due to the blocked-off crime scene.

These acts of kindness should be at the forefront of our appreciation to God's goodness in people. Feel free to post your comments, thoughts and prayers.

Tour of New England (Part 2): York, Maine

York by the Sea.
Maine is a really special place. Nestled into weathered crags by the sea, The Nubble Lighthouse shines from Maine's Cape Neddick into the wide expanse of the Atlantic. The Lighthouse sits atop a small island that hails from the quaint community of York, also known for being a summery seaside haven. You've probably seen photographs of this Lighthouse before; it's a famous landmark often found on the front of postcards showcasing the salty purity of ocean-side America. Stevie and I dragged our friends John and Tricia up to the lighthouse on our Tour de New England. Although the wind almost blew us off the cliff, it was a worthy sight to see. This blustery day was chiseled with nautical romance as we wandered around and imagined that ships were passing by in search of treasure (as I'm sure many have before.) The rocky shoreline, the icy water, the soaring winds; they were all there to greet us. Oy.

// Fun Fact // When NASA sent the Voyager II into space to photograph the outer solar system, it also sent a bevy of artifacts and photographs to share just in case the astronauts encountered extraterrestrials. One of those photographs was of The Nubble Lighthouse. I find this bit of information particularly humorous. Those guys at NASA must have been Boy Scouts; I admire their efforts to "always be prepared."

// "The Way Life Should Be: Open For Business" Mmm so deep, Maine. //

A Maine Must.
If you ever get the chance to visit this part of the country, don't forgo the opportunity to pay homage to this lighthouse. The wind-whipped beacon is steeped in history, urban legend and a coastal charm that only Maine can boast.

Tour of New England (Part 1): Portsmouth, NH

We had the loveliest treat. Our dear friends John and Trish Spicknall came to visit, and boy, were we glad. The winter blues had set in nicely and we needed a little piece of home. The Spicknalls are just that: they are warm, they are deep, they are silly. All things we love and value in these dear friends. Since they had previously visited and had done a lot of the "Boston-ish" stuff, we decided to take a day trip out into the lands of New England and explore a bit. This was a long day filled with wondrous adventures, so many adventures, in fact, that I have to break up this post into three parts! The photos are delicious. Please enjoy my recommendations for New England fun.

First we jumped into the (rented) car and visited visited Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Three things to do while in Portsmouth:

1. Get brunch at the Friendly Toast.
The Friendly Toast is a breakfast/lunch spot located in Downtown Portsmouth. It's quirky, shticky and seriously delicious. Introduced to us by The Sorrow Family years ago, we have been itching to return and enjoy the tasty brunch once again. The highlights? French toast made with cornmeal-molasses Anadama bread, house-made homefries, and the Greek Scamble top our list (and they have amazing fruit salad, too!) If you're driving through the area, it's a must. Plus, after brunch you might get the chance to chat with a police officer (with a wicked accent) right before they write you a parking ticket, and that rush of adrenaline can really put you in an expeditious mood.

2. See the view across the Piscataqua River.
The Piscataqua inlet is so lovely and worth taking a stroll to see. It's a quintessential New England harbor view of Maine. And if you time it just right, you can catch the sunset on the river while sipping a cold Harpoon from one of the many bars along Bow Street. Worth it.

3. Visit the New Castle Lighthouse.
My goal is to see them all (lighthouses, that is), and this one is a beauty. Situated on New Castle Island about 2 miles from downtown Portsmouth, the New Castle Lighthouse was erected in 1771 and has visibility for 12 nautical miles. This  monument is officially older than our country! Staring at this breathtaking beacon stirred within me such a gratitude to be living in New England. These are the moments that really connect me to the roots of this country. I'm proud to be an American, yes I am.

// The Friendly Toast // Downtown Portsmouth //

// A peak at the Piscataqua River // Bow Street //

// Piscataqua River //

// Oh, the dearest of friends. What would I do without her? //

// The New Castle Lighthouse //

// The New Castle Lighthouse // Piscataqua Bay //

// I hope I glow this gleefully when I'm with child! These two are the cutest, at The New Castle Lighthouse. //

Portsmouth is a lovely little place. But our day forged onward into Maine... More to come on this day's picturesque adventures :-)