Gut health involves the balance of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microscopic living things that live in our digestive tract. Also referred to as microorganisms, or microbes, for short, they play a vital part in our overall health. Some of these microorganisms are beneficial and aid in the digestion process, while others can be harmful to our health.

It’s summer, which means blue skies, bright-colored clothing, and all the freshest fruit recipes. It also means that a good majority of the world in which we live are traveling to exciting places, and as a book lover, there are no better areas to visit than the settings of some of the most-read classics. Invaluable created a map of every travel-enthused bibliophile’s dream: the most-used global locations in literature based on title and author recognition. From the English countryside to the bustling streets of New York City, plan a trip to see some of the landmarks that inspire your favorite books and use the map as a guide and inspiration for your next travels. While I was reading through Invaluable’s The Best Literary Settings in Classic Literature article I was inspired to create another bookish inspired craft project using paper mache letters.

This broccoli pesto pasta salad is one of my favorite summer recipes. It is a great dish to serve at BBQ’s, Picnics, and pool parties. During the hot summer months, I prefer salads as a side over soup. Sometimes I get tired of green salads and like to mix things up with pasta salads. This pasta salad is a fun twist on traditional pasta salad. It’s rich, creamy, and zesty thanks to the cream cheese and lemon juice. As it cools, the pasta absorbs the flavor of the dressing so its packed full of flavor. If you’re looking for a dish to bring to your next summer party give this broccoli pesto pasta salad a try.

Just like May, June got off to a busy start. My little sister visited for a week and had a lot of fun. We went to a cat cafe and did cat yoga, went to VegFest, and saw Game Grumps Live. After she left, I was exhausted and took a break to get caught up on things and celebrated my 29th birthday.

These breakfast bars are portable baked oatmeal bars, filled with quick-cooking oats, pecans, and raisins. Sweet but not too sweet these oatmeal raisin pecan breakfast bars are perfect for a grab and go breakfast or a midday snack. They’re nice and soft and taste great with a cup of coffee or tea. Easy to make and a great snack when your feeling that afternoon slump. Make them at the beginning of the week. Then you’ll have a grab and go breakfast for those busy days or snack ready-to-go for the week. So give these breakfast bars a try and start your day off right.