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Traversing in and around Traverse City in my Taylors…
Brought home a jar of Naturally Nutty Cinnamon Vanilla Almond Butter.
Pumpkin oat bran in my new favorite bowl. 
{ 83 comments… read them below or add one }
Heather, you look so relaxed–I can’t tell if it’s Michigan or the Chucks! Either way, I’m so glad you’re enjoying your stay.
Lisa,
I think it was the almond butter.
mmmm nut butter heaven!
Adorable pic of you!
I am so happy that you’re enjoying Michigan. And NN! And your new Chucks!
I tagged you in a post of mine today. No worries if you don’t have the time or inclination to participate, but I was thinking of you
A,
Will definitely be following up with a post of my own soon. Be on the lookout and thanks for thinking of me. Been thinking about you, and I hope you’re enjoying your new home. Sorry I haven’t been able to read…have not even opened Google Reader, and I miss keeping up with everyone! 
Read your post – I love the idea of linking to some of my favorite posts…but maybe not all the controversial ones. Hehe.
I am so jealous of that! Pumpkin and cinnamon almond butter…YUM!
Traverse City is one of my all-time favorite places in the US and thankfully my husband has family there so we can visit! I highly recommend Empire beach and the beach in Frankfort if you are out and about. And I’ve wanted to try that cinnamon vanilla almond butter for ages! I might need to beg hubby’s family to send me some
. Enjoy your time away!
(ps…my Chucks are red)
Jen,
We were just in Empire on Sunday. Love Empire! We went a couple of times last year, and I think it was my favorite beach. We hiked Sleeping Bear Dunes on Sunday and hit up Moomers on the way back to Fife Lake. It was pretty much a perfect day.
And yes, have the inlaws send you some cinnamon vanilla NN. I think it’s my favorite NN flavor.
Glorious, glorious photo, Heather! That look on your face is precisely why I desperately need to run away for a quick break. This full-time work thing is exhausting!
That nut butter sounds amazing. You look so relaxed and happy!
You have the BEST smile!
…and I just found my own brown Chucks for years ago – years – in my (mess of a) closest last night! Woot – best $10 I ever spent on sale
Love your chucks! & I just finished eating some chocolate almond butter.
But cinnamon vanilla sounds yummy too!!
Looks like you’re having a fun vacation
You seem to be thoroughly enjoying your stay-cation, good for you! I’ve only had their vanilla cinnamon sunflower seed butter, but I used to eat it like it was a container of yogurt. SO good.
That almond butter also has flax, chia, and hemp in it? Impressive. And it’s Cinnamon Vanilla? Why haven’t I seen it around here? I practically know every isle of Whole Foods and my local Co-op. Maybe they don’t carry it in LA. It sounds reeeaaally good…and now I want pumpkin oat bran. With that on top.
Jen,
The NN is hard to find and not sold in very many places. You can order it directly from their website, and many Great Harvest Bakeries carry it as well. I can’t find it in Nashville, and always stock up when I’m here in Michigan, where its made. Honestly, I don’t know how they get it tastes this good with all those seeds. Don’t get me wrong – love my seeds, but often times, they give recipes that “seedy” taste, you know? Not the Naturally Nutty though – it’s nothing but sweet cinnamony almondy goodness!
Next purchase should be the double-tongued Chucks
I am DYING to try Naturally Nutty but I can’t find it here in the city and I am just soooo unwilling to click the Submit Order button on their website (as evident by my “Should I… or shouldn’t I… SHOULD I?!” … any chance you can buy a jar for me?
Kidding, kidding.. kinda. =) Have a wonderful day, Heather!<3
Sylvia,
If I get back to Oryana before we leave here, I totally will. May not happen since we’re leaving Fife Lake at the end of the week, but I promise to get you a jar if we do!
I have to have that cinnamon vanilla almond butter!
Aine,
Yes, yes you do!
You’re so cute, Heather.
You look very happy in this picture1
O my! Yum!!!
I have been meaning to ask, how is the little one doing?
Katherine,
Summer is so good, thanks for asking. Almost 9 months – can you believe it?!? She started crawling forward yesterday, and I have a feeling she’ll be pulling herself up on the furniture pretty soon. She’s such a good baby and gets more of a personality everyday. We find her very entertaining.
9 months!?!? Seriously? Time flies. I am glad all is going good with her though!
I’ve been on the hunt for some naturally nutty lately, but it eludes me (even on amazon). Have a great one!
Rebecca,
Yeah, I think you can only order from the NN site directly. However, if you have a Great Harvest Bakery in your area, they might carry it.
I made banana bread last night-wish we could magically meet each other now to combine the cinn vanilla almond butter + the bread b/c I think they would be amazing together! Also, you need to be some sort of Chuck Taylor ad-those shoes are totally *you*! I sort of want some now-can you believe I’ve never even tried on a pair before?
Jill,
I hadn’t either until I bought mine at DSW a couple of months ago, and oh my gosh, they are soooo comfy!!! Just got a 2nd pair today. I think I have a new addiction…although I’ll always be a member of Banana Bread Anonymous.
Woohoo! Looks like you (and your Chucks!) have been hitting up all the good places in Michigan. Glad you are having a great time!
You look so cute in your chucks!
I love Converse. But, I HAVE to get me some Toms!!! AND Vibrams. 
I am SO jealous of your Naturally Nutty!!!!
My chucks and I just mowed the lawn- I think yours had more fun, Ha!
I hope you are enjoying your vacation. If you are in the market for some reading material, you should check out Sally Fallon’s Nourishing Traditions. It is really fascinating and falls in line with some of your diet philosophy.
Love!
Heather,
I’ve read Nourishing Traditions. Good stuff! You know me well.
it’s so funny to see you enjoying michigan so much, considering i was just there over the fourth of july weekend visiting my boyfriend’s family. i didn’t get to traverse city (would have LOVED that nut butter selection!), but we did spend a day in ludington and manistee.
i’ll always prefer the atlantic ocean, but lake michigan definitely had it’s own certain charm!
you are so cute! jealous of you sitting outside in a long sleeve shirt! we are baking here in nashville…missing you & summer! how is she taking to her pea pod? xo
Molly,
I know – I talked to my mom today, and she said she was roasting in Nashville.
We miss you guys too and think about you often. Truth be told, I’m kind of devastated you won’t be in Nashville when we get back. Can’t think about it.
Summer sleeps really well in the PeaPod. So glad we bought it!
Love it! I really wish I could find a place that sells naturally nutty where I live…
Rachel,
I know – Nashville is definitely lacking in the NN dept as well. If you have a Great Harvest Bakery in your area, they might sell it. Many of them do, and you can always put in a request with your local health food stores to carry it.
fun! i feel like chuck taylors make everything slightly more hip.
it must be nice to be in the land of naturally nutty!
OOOH…nut butter heaven! Fun!! Love the photo of you Heather! Have a great day!
Ohhhhhhh woah. That nut butter just blew my mind! YUMMMM
Looks like you are having a very relaxing time! Enjoy!
I’m jealous of your Naturally Nutty! And your chucks, mine are soo old
Gotta tell ya, Heather. I’m just crazy about your Chuck Taylor Tuesdays! Great new tradition… One I think you should definitely keep on the books!
Oh, and you’ll be proud to know that I just recently tried oat bran. My only question is this: WHAT TOOK ME SO LONG!? I’m hooked!
Riss,
About time!!! It’s addicting stuff, but no one ever believes me until they try it. Better late than never.
Yum! I want some of that nut butter! I have those same Chucks. Did you know that? I really do.
Looks like your vacation is fun and relaxing!
Emily,
No, I don’t think I knew that. Bring them down to Nashville and I’ll have the Naturally Nutty stocked!
I look forward to Chuck Taylor Tuesdays every week! (And oats in a jar, but thats a whole different story…
)
I love that you staged the almond butter with the Chucks. Adorable. And pumpkin oatbran!! That just might be dessert tonight… I definitely have one can of pumpkin I forgot all about.
So Lulu just got a purple pair of Chucks and Gigi got a pink pair. I knew you’d be proud. Represent!!!
Mama Pea,
Oh my gosh, I can just picture it. All our girls in Chucks and tutus. We will make it happen someday.
make your way to LA already!
Eden,
Hopefully someday soon!
Haha.. I love that you took off your chucks in the store so they could be in the Naturally nutty spotlight! (Oh, the life of a blogger!)
I am so jealous of all the naturally nutty flavours there begging me to try! I have yet to find them in Canada… shipping from their site to me is crazy! it would be $30+ for a sampler pack!
Describe the deliciousness to us, or better yet invent a recipe like it and share it with us! 
Picky Nicky,
I know – I love Naturally Nutty but can never bring myself to order it online. I have yet to figure out how to recreate the company’s magical recipe. If I do, you’ll be the first to know.
Okay, I just love your Chuck Taylor Tuesdays. It makes me smile every week. And adorable picture. And… I need to get a cool bowl just like yours!
Thanks Kristin, I look forward to Tuesdays as well. My Chucks make me smile.
Oooo… how i wish i could try that nutty butter!
too bad they do not sell it here. I seriously think your chucks are totally awesome!!!! 
mine’s all scruffy, guess i do not take good care of them, but they are really comfy when you break into them!!!
Lena,
If you live near a Great Harvest Bread Co, they might sell Naturally Nutty and if not, you can always order from the companies website directly: http://www.naturallynutty.com.
Oh cool! I JUST tried making my own cinnamon almond butter tonight and it came out pretty good! That kind looks awesome
Liz,
I love making my own almond butter but it NEVER tastes as good as Naturally Nutty’s. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to crack their secret recipe, try as I might!
I’m green with envy at your nut butter selection in the States! My girlfriend is visiting next week from Maryland…..What is this store called where you purchase this? Maybe if I’m really nice, she’ll get me some
Michelle,
Well, Naturally Nutty is made in Michigan, and so it’s available all over the state. I purchased mine at Oryana Health Coop in Traverse City. In other states, it’s often sold at Great Harvest Bread Companies. So, have your friend check there if she is near one. If not, she could always order you a jar directly from Naturally Nutty’s website.
Great! Thanks so much for the info
I need to get some Chucks myself! Maybe they’ll walk me all the way back to NYC where I belong.
Ameena,
Yes! Chucks are so NYC and so NOT LA!
My ALL time favorite shoes are my Chucks!!! As you know, I teach 7th grade and I wear nothing but my black Chucks to teach in. Also, I swap out between those and my Toms! My students LOVE the fact that I wear “cool” shoes!
Stephanie,
I think you would have been my favorite teacher.
My Toms are my favorite shoes. They’re comfy, and I feel good wearing them because Toms donates a pair of shoes for ever pair bought. Gotta love that! Also, ever since I saw you using jars as bowls, I can’t help doing it myself. Naturally Nutty’s jars always seem to be my favorite!
Mandiee,
I think it’s the wide-mouth that make NN jars the best bowls!
So cool about Toms – didn’t know they donated a pair of shoes for every pair bought. I hope to get some soon as everyone tells me they are so comfy.
Hi Heather,
We are from the Chicago area. I have been wanting to try the N.N.!! If I would have know I would have had my sis pick me up some!!
Glad you are enjoying MI. My husband and I rented a cottage near Traverse City in Glen Arbor right on Lake Michigan a few year ago. It was an awesome vacation. In fact my sister and her family are renting the same cottage right now!
Colleen,
We love Glen Arbor too. Went there last summer and this past Sunday we were close-by (hiked Sleeping Bear Dunes). You might be able to find NN in Chicago. Not sure, but I would check out your local Great Harvest Bakeries as many of them sell it. If not, you can always order from NN online.
Glen Arbor.. now that’s a town I rarely see in the blog world! haha my mom’s entire family lives in glen arbor and makes up a good 50% of the town! have either of you been to The Cherry Republic?
Sarah.
Ah so cool that you have family living in Glen Arbor. What a wonderful little town to visit. We did stop by The Cherry Republic. So fun – I love all things cherry.
That’s our family’s store! My Uncle Bobby (Bob Sutherland) founded it. I always get excited when I hear of people who’ve visited. There’s also one in Traverse City!
I’m dying to get my hands on some naturally nutty!
You know, I read your post yesterday and didn’t notice anything unusual … and when I came back today I realized “wait, HEAB took off her shoe in the grocery store for that first picture!”
Hahaha! Too funny.
I love Chucks! I have a bright blue pair right now, but my favorite color is the navy. I’m waiting until this pair falls apart to upgrade, so I guess I’ll have to start wearing them more often
Jennie,
Haha – I love that you read the post yesterday and then came back to comment. Yes, totally took off my shoe in the store but waited until no one else was in the aisle. Thought about placing my shoe atop the jars for the photo but then figured that would probably go against health codes or something.
Hope you’re able to upgrade soon. Got my 2nd pair of Chucks yesterday in Charcoal, and I’m now I’m thinking I need a navy pair as well. This could get out of control…
I love reading your MI posts! We’re going up to Traverse City the second week of Aug. I can’t wait to get to the beach and the woods!! This year we’re going to bring our bikes and bike the TART/LART trails!
I was really sad to hear that the city is planning on dismantling the Brown Bridge Dam and draining the pond to turn it back into a river. That really bums me out! I want to go canoeing on the pond before it’s gone.
I don’t know much about the Presque Isle area, but Hartwick Pines State Park might be a neat place to visit on the way over. It’s north of Grayling and is the only old growth pine forest left in the whole state (the loggers went a little nuts in the 1800′s and cut down all the pine forests
http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/publications/pdfs/wildlife/viewingguide/nlp/59Hartwick/index.htm!)
Erin,
Ignore my Facebook comment asking you if you’re coming to MI this summer. Hadn’t read this comment yet.
Really, I should email you before we come up here as you are such a good resource for all things Michigan! Thanks for the link to Hartwick Pines State Park. I was just in Grayling yesterday as I drove to an exit off I-75 to visit a friend who lives in Ann Arbor, and I got on the Interstate in Grayling. Cute little town. So many cute little towns here. I could explore all summer!
Ann Arbor is so fun! Last summer, while visiting my dad in the Detroit area, we took a trip over to AA and went to Zingerman’s (food HEAVEN!) and stocked up on cheese, chocolate, tea, fancy Italian salami and duck paté. I wish Nashville had a store like that!
How long are you guys up there?
Erin,
Me too! Nashville is great in so many ways, but lacks a few of the essentials.
We’re headed up to Presque Isle tomorrow and will be there through Labor Day. I’m excited to see another part of MI, but I’m going to miss this area!
Ugh, I’m soooo jealous! You know how much I pine for all the Naturally Nutty flavors!
And that pic with the Chucks is awesome! Haha!