Let's just establish this right now - I have a rather enormous sweet tooth. In fact, I'm surprised there is room for any other teeth in my mouth. Nothing makes me happier than getting to eat something sweet at breakfast, except when I get to eat it and feel NO guilt : ) Bethenny Frankel, who some may find jarring but I think is hilariously fantastic, brings us this recipe for banana bread that is somehow completely wholesome, yet also flavorful, moist, and delicious. It can easily be made vegan* (an option I love having) and is full of nutritious things like bananas (of course) and oat flour, as well as vegan chocolate chips (or regular if vegan scares you.) I take a herculean size slice of this bread and pair it with a hot cup of bold, black coffee, and my mornings become markedly better as my waistline becomes markedly slimmer.
Boo Boo Banana Bread
- 1 cup raw sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter (regular or nondairy)
- 1 cup mashed over ripe bananas (2 or 3)
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
- 1 cup oat flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
- Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the bottom of a loaf pan.
- Put it in the bottom of the pan and spray it with cooking spray. (S&S note: I have never done this. I just use Baker's Joy spray)
- Pour in the batter and cover it loosely with foil.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil, then bake for another 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out almost clean (moist crumbs are fine).
- Cool completely, then slice and serve.
* For the vegans, simply use non-dairy butter and substitute 1/4 c. smooth applesauce for the egg. It works wonderfully!
If you are like me, you spend lots of time on the internet reading other blogs and browsing fashion/shopping sites. My bookmarks list is usually an unorganized, never-ending list of things I have found necessary to remember for one reason or another. Needless to say, this was not the most efficient or aesthetically-pleasing way to keep track of inspirations. Thanks to my bff, Emmy D, I have found a vastly improved way to capture and view items and ideas for my wardrobe, apartment, and recipe book - Pinterest. Pinterest allows you to make online visual boards of virtual snippets. Now I can see everything I have kept track of, instead of scrolling through hundreds of bookmarked pages or emailing links to myself. Even a technological neophyte like myself can use it! Especially with the holiday season (and gift shopping) just about to reach full-swing, I am welcoming any organizational help I can get. If you agree, go to Pinterest.com to request an invitation, and start pinning!
Who has a case of The Mondays? This girl. When a rock cracks your windshield on the highway, a stone falls out of your ring (it was a costume ring, so not as bad as it could have been) and you realize you forgot to email an important paper to yourself all BEFORE you arrive at work? Not a good start. Weirdly, the thing that cheered me up today was the manicure I splurged on Friday evening. I say splurge because I generally try to save money by doing my own nails. However,they were in seriously woeful shape so I put myself in the hands (see what I did there?) of a professional. BIG difference! I walked in with the hands of a 14-year old boy and left with a pair of hands that actually appear to belong to the grown, professional woman that I am. While this may not seem like a big deal to many, it's amazing how much higher you hold your head on days when you know you look pulled together. So, while it's important to try to stick to one's budget, a treat every now and then can be considered a necessity. You just never know when that little extra boost will come in handy (ok, I'm done, I swear) on a day where anything going right can be considered a victory : )
In light of the less-than-awesome state of our economy and the impending spending spree known as the holiday season, I decided to start a feature called "Save or Spend." While I realize this is not a revolutionary idea, I find that many of columns like this tell the reader what to save or spend on. My feeling is that the products we use and the reasons why we use them are personal - some people use expensive, scented lotion in lieu of using perfume, while others can't imagine spending more than a few bucks on a tube of mascara. Often, I find that what I buy depends on my cash situation at the time (for instance, one month I may get a bonus; another month, something heinous happens to my car.) You get the picture. So rather than anoint myself with the authority to tell you lovelies what to spend your hard earned money on, I've decided to just share my thought process for how I distribute my beauty funds, and also give options (that I have personally actually tested out) to those of you who also like to mix high and low.
Foundation
To me, foundation is worth a bit of a splurge. It essentially preps the canvas of my face for all other cosmetics, and can affect whether or not I break out/get too dry. When I am in a hurry, it also is one of the steps that I do not skip.
My pick: Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation
Thrifty option: Maybelline Fit Me Foundation (full disclosure: I haven't had the chance to test this out yet, but intend to, and I have used Maybelline foundation in the past without issue)
Concealer
I tend to think that pricier concealers are generally better than their drugstore counterparts in terms of coverage, consistency, and staying power. Remember, if a product doesn't do what it says it will to your satisfaction, it's not really a bargain. That being said, I have used one cheaper version before and it did a good job for the price - definitely helpful when your bank account is running on fumes.
My pick: Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat (it doubles as a highlighter - this saves money)
Thrifty option: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfector
Blush
Lately, I have been using a pricier blush, but honestly because it is faster (it comes out of the tube clear, adjusts to a perfect shade for you, and requires only your ring finger as a tool) and it was a deluxe free sample. Blush is one of those products that is really up to you how much to spend, as there are good products at both the high and low price point. One thing to remember about more expensive blush is that while you shell out more money in the short run, the color is usually more concentrated so it ends up lasting longer.
My pick: Smashbox O-Glow Intuitive Cheek Color
Thrifty option: CoverGirl TruBlend Minerals Blush
Eyeshadow
Confession: I am not a fan of drugstore eyeshadow. I personally find that the blendability, color payoff, and staying power are lacking. However, this does not mean you have to totally break the bank to get a good product. There are middle of the road-priced eyeshadows that work just as well as the most expensive products and don't put too big a dent in your wallet.
My pick: Sephora Collection eyeshadows - they include cream, baked, and regular versions and are very affordable for the quality and variety (they have great sets and palettes.) They really do not cost more than a few dollars above drugstore prices and it is so worth it.
Pricer pick: Chanel Illusion de Ombre Longwear Luminous Eyeshadow
Thrifty option: I don't feel comfortable endorsing anything I wouldn't use, and I just would not use drugstore eyeshadow.
Eyeliner
Again, this is where I go with the middle-priced product. I find that drugstore eyeliners either tug at the skin, or run like FloJo at the Olympics. Likewise, some more expensive versions that come with all kinds of colors and guarantees don't work as well as promised (or as they should, for how much they cost.)
My pick: Clinique Quickliner for Eyes - it comes in tons of colors, glides on easily, stays put, self-sharpens, and has a great smudging tool on the other side of the liner. At $15.00, you can't ask for much more than that.
Pricier pick: Make Up For Ever Aqua Liner. It requires a little bit of practice to get the hang of, but the colors are outstanding and it does.not.move. Seriously, you could go swimming while wearing this stuff.
Thrifty option: CoverGirl LineExact Liquid Liner. If you really can't bear the thought of parting with much more than a few bucks for eyeliner, I have used this with success.
Mascara
This is where my makeup artist friend is going to pummel me, but I am a huge sucker for pricier mascara. I have my reasons - namely that right now I am really into navy blue mascara, due to my super blonde hair and how navy walks the line between being more defining than brown, but less harsh than black. I think it also makes my blue eyes stand out more. However, I also am obsessed with making my eyelashes as long and thick as possible, and the brushes on the more expensive versions do this better, in my humble opinion. However, there are of course less expensive mascaras that work well, and some would argue equally as well, as the pricey options.
My pick: Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Singulier Exaggerated Lashes or DiorShow
Thrifty Option: Maybelline The Falsies Mascara
*Note - I have tried the much trumpeted Loreal Millionlashes mascara, and honestly I was not really that impressed. Again though, I am obsessed with having Kim Kardashian-like eyelashes.
Lipcolor
Shocker - I go middle of the road with this one. I personally find that less expensive products (especially lipstick) lack the consistency and finish I prefer, which is creamy and satiny. Also, I think that many very expensive lip products pricey nature comes from their excessive, albeit beautiful, packaging; I'd rather put my money towards the actual product.
My pick: Clinique lip products across the board, but specifically their Butter Shine lipstick, Chubby Sticks, and Super Balm.
Pricier Pick: Chanel Rouge Coco Shine
Thrifty Option: Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm - don't let the balm title fool you, these have great color payoff and are super flattering.
I hope this helps a bit when making beauty product choices, especially when many of us have to make trade-offs with our dough : )
As November is here and the holidays are around the corner, so is colder weather.* While we all work to find the perfect coats and boots to make us look as chic as possible while bundled up, it is also important to focus on what is underneath all those layers - our skin. Due to biting wind and cold, heat being cranked indoors, and the temptation to turn the shower to searingly hot when waking up or coming in from the snow, our skin takes a serious beating in the winter months. This isn't just unattractive - it can be itchy and downright painful when it gets out of hand.
Fear not, however, because there are ways to combat this. The BEST way is preventing your skin from getting dry and chapped in the first place. One of my favorite ways to do this comes from my sister-in-law. Two Christmases ago she gave me a homemade body scrub that is inexpensive and the most effective exfoliating/moisturizing scrub I have ever used.** Better than the fancy ones from Sephora, better than the best drugstore finds, and made from things already in your kitchen. This scrub is also devoid of weird chemicals and is eco-friendly (unlike some of those scrubs containing non-dissolving beads.) To some it may seem TOO humble, but 1.snobbery is not cute, and 2. that attitude prevents one from saving money for the important things like shoes and purses.
Try out this recipe, and I guarantee your skin will be softer and more hydrated than ever.
Combine these ingredients in a cute container that you will be able to deal with keeping in your shower:
2 c. sugar (I use granulated, but if all you have on hand is brown I don't see why it wouldn't work)1/2 c. olive oil1/4 c. honeyA few drops of flavorings (like vanilla, almond, or coconut extract) or essential oils (like lavender) if you wish*For lucky girls in warm climates, this is still your friend. Using this pre-self tanning gives perfectly even results**I have never used this on my face, and would not recommend it. While some people use oil-based cleansers and moisturizers, I can't imagine rubbing olive oil and sugar on one's face would bring anything good. I just wash my hands well with body wash in the shower before I touch my face again.
Now that fall has officially arrived and the temperatures are reflecting it, I have started getting back into drinking red wine. While I usually prefer a crisp, fruity white wine over anything else, there's nothing quite like curling up on a chilly weekend evening with a homemade meal and a nice glass of spicy, berry-full (yes I just made up that word) red wine. My particular favorite red is zinfandel.*
Luckily for me, the phenomenal, online discount wine club Lot 18 recently offered two bottles of 2006 Russian River Valley zinfandel for a whopping total of $17.00 (full disclosure, I had accrued a small credit on the site from getting some other people to sign up, but STILL). I opened it up last night after a long week of confusing international airports and catching up at work. Perfection.
Zinfandel is one of the boldest red wines, but it is amazing with cheese and crackers and a perfect friend to a plate of serious pasta with a heavy sauce. If you like cabernet or pinot noir but have yet to try out zin, you won't be sorry!
* This is full-fledged red zinfandel, but will just be labeled "zinfandel". By NO MEANS am I encouraging anyone to drink (gasp! horrors!) white zinfandel. It even hurt just to type it.
The start of a new month always makes me feel like new opportunities are available, but recently I've had another reason to look forward to the 1st: JewelMint, StyleMint, and the days-old BeautyMint. Jewel Mint, a collaboration between actress Kate Bosworth and stylist Cher Coulter offers creative, statement jewelry pieces; StyleMint is the place to get fashion-foward t-shirts designed by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olson (think great pieces to layer under jackets or tuck into skirts, not concert memorabilia); and BeautyMint is the newest launch with Jessica Simpson that is currently offering skincare.
While I've not had the opportunity to try BeautyMint (and given to my ravenous Sephora habit, I'm not sure that I will) I can attest to the greatness of JewelMint. I have a few of the pieces and they are distinctive, have great presence, and are well made. They're my go-to when I'm wearing a basic outfit and want to jazz it up without effort. I hesitated a bit to join StyleMint, (1) because the Olsen twins themselves generally look like shrunken homeless women, (2) because many of their items appear to lack a defined shape, which is murder to a 6'0'' woman. However, I came across one of their November pieces that at least looks to be a winner, so I'll let you know how that goes.
Regardless of what items are offered, these groups all work the same way - you sign up, fill out a short quiz that helps them program specific items to show you, and each month you get an email with your new selections. You can always see more items for sale if you aren't interested in those that fit your original profile. There's a semi-weird system involving a $29.99 monthly "membership" fee, but you have the option in the first 5 days of the month to skip the month and they don't charge you. Should you have a change of heart, you can always go back and buy a piece from the collection. Yes, as I said, it's a little weird and I think this is an area that could be improved. The good news is that promotions such as Twitter Tuesday and Facebook Friday offer frequent discounts on items.
Regardless, I definitely look forward to the beginning of each month to see what new items will be available for perusing and possibly purchase. If you are interested in signing up, simply do a web search for the Mint you are interested in, and follow the instructions.
It's rare that I agonize over getting a new beauty product. However, it's also rare that I find myself lusting over something that costs as much as a dinner at a decent restaurant. But after spending weeks running at Mach 2 with my hair on fire (5 bonus points if you can name what movie that is from) with what never seems to be enough sleep, I found myself much more willing to splurge on something that would make me look vastly less Zombie-like.
Enter Yves St Laurent Touche Eclat. I stalked this wonder on Sephora.com, read over the comments, and despite the outpouring of love in those comments I still wasn't sure I shouldn't just run to Target and grab a run-of-the-mill concealer. This confusion ended the moment I tried it out in person. In about 2.5 seconds, I went from looking tired and stressed to appearing rested and glowing. I may still be stressed and tired, but this keeps my face from immediately giving that away. And that, friends, is priceless.
After lots of studying (and a blog hiatus) to tackle a very scary exam, I'm back to talk about a show I am so happy to be finally watching: Once Upon A Time. Yes, I'm turning 28 next week...But I have a feeling that this show will have tons of fashion/hair/makeup inspiration. Also...
Let's forget that poor Ginnifer Goodwin's hair looks like the seven dwarfs were playing in it while she was asleep, and direct your attention to the right of the picture. Yes, that is a mobile of crystal unicorns; if I know anything in this life, it's that my future daughter will have one like that.
Sugar fumes, that is. I don't know why, but whenever I'm facing crunch time at school, I've always turned to candy to get me through. Last December at finals time, it was Gummi Bears. This time the urge to eat solidified sugar while torturing my brain has conveniently coincided with Halloween. Luckily for me, I managed to find the original, small Swedish fish the other day at a bulk candy store. Yes, it's terribly neurotic of me, but I just can't do the giant Swedish fish, which is all they seem to carry at drugstores now. Alas, my little red sugar gems and I have been reunited, and they are carrying me through my final push of studying for my comprehensive exam. Hopefully I'll still fit in my airplane seat in a week and a half when I leave for Germany.
Does anyone else stress eat candy? If so, what's your poison?
My coworkers will sometimes tease me for the fact that one of my desk drawers makes me look like I'm a part-time dry cleaner. However, this collection of drugstore items has come in handy on multiple occasions not just for myself, but said skeptical colleagues. Assemble these items for yourself at work and be confident that you can fix just about any jam that may arise while you're at the office (and possibly make you even more popular than you already are when you're able to help others!)
1. Static Guard - There's nothing worse than taking off your winter coat and having your jersey dress/silky blouse suctioned to your body, the unfortunate victim of static cling. Take your static guard and excuse yourself to the ladies' room, and the garment will lay perfectly instantly. Also good, in a pinch, are dryer sheets. Rub it on the inside of the garment and it has a similar effect.
2. Tide pen - this one seems obvious but you'd be amazed at how many people have had to borrow mine because they lack their own. Coffee/jelly doughnut filling/spaghetti sauce has a very interesting way of leaping onto your clothes right before a big meeting or presentation. Not only does it save embarrassment, however, it saves clothes by attacking the stain immediately. A necessity if you wear light clothing often. They even come in a teeny-tiny size to fit the smallest of purses.
3. Lint roller - I own a very furry dog and so I have lint rollers absolutely everywhere (car, purse, work, everywhere!) I also shed a lot all on my own, so this is a great way to get those stray hairs off of your back and shoulders so that you look pulled-together and professional, not like you picked your shirt up off the floor and donned it without a thought. It also helps if you wear a dark skirt or pants with a light sweater on top and lint starts to migrate.
4. Band-Aids - for the obvious paper cuts, but also to save yourself from those new, fierce shoes that look so great with your pencil skirt. Shoes, like most guys, have to be broken-in, and similarly the process can be quite painful. There are many qualities that make women a great asset at the office - hobbling in new shoes is not one of them. Soothe those blisters with band-aids - just be sure to go for flesh colored ones. I'm all for a fun neon or Hello Kitty band-aid for one's personal life, but a neon bandage peeking out of a Tory Burch power shoe kind of ruins the grown-up effect, no?
5. Clear nail polish - Not only does this help prevent a broken nail from getting any worse (or more painful!) it is also a Godsend when you discover the beginnings of a run in your pantyhose. Before you mock me for the hose, those of us who work in the North East are not going to walk to the bus/metro in 10 degree weather in bare legs. That's just stupidity, and we like to project intelligence at the office. Digression aside, putting some clear nail polish on a run glues the rest of the fibers in place and prevents the tear from going any further until you can get home and tear the torturous nylon off of your body.
Hope this helps! Do any of you have workday stand-bys like these?
With all of the stress surrounding me right now, it's more important than ever to keep doing the little things that make me happy. One of these things is wine, usually paired with some sort of awesome cheese. Tonight, I am having a dinner comprised of water crackers and brie, with sauvignon blanc. Specifically, Brancott Estate sauvignon blanc from New Zealand. This is a great, inexpensive white wine that has a citrus-like acidity that balances so well with creamy brie. Raise a glass, even if you only get a minute to enjoy it!
One of my favorite makeup trends this fall has been the resurgence of red lips. It's one of the fastest ways to take a neutral, borderline-boring outfit and make it pop. It's also great for mornings where you pressed the snooze button one too many times and don't have time to put on a lot of accessories or eye makeup. A quick swipe of neutral eyeshadow, some mascara, and red lipstick and you're good to go!If you're scared to go right for full-on red lipstick, take baby steps. Start with a tinted balm, like Burt's Bees Tinted Balm in Rose. Next, try a stain; Clinique's Chubby Stick in Chunky Cherry has impact but is still more sheer. When you're ready for the real deal, one of my favorites is Chanel's Excessive. When graduating to lipstick, make sure to get the right red for your skin. Those with porcelain skin should go for a cherry red, while those with olive or more yellow-toned skin will look great in a tomato red.
I am approximately two months away from graduating with my Masters from Georgetown University - the last two months in what has been a two and a half year odyssey filled with learning, friends, revelations, pain, fun, and stress. I also work a full-time, legit, grown-up job. Suffice it to say, my life is CRAY-ZAY right now!
So tonight, while desperately trying to come up with a fast dinner that didn't arrive at my plate via an automobile with a pizza company sign attached to the roof (ah em, Papa John's, you have my heart) I took comfort in an old friend. An old friend of the frozen-potato-pasta variety. The humble yet also magnificent pierogi. While some may scoff at their simplicity* these Polish pockets of carbohydrates are an unsung hero of the freezer, in my opinion. They keep forever, are ready in the time it takes to boil water (ok maybe 5 minutes more) and can be made into completely different meals. The traditionalist in me will always like them best with butter, sour cream, and onions; however, of late I have been pairing them with chopped fresh dill, and tonight I went with Herbs de Provence. A hot, inexpensive dinner in a few minutes with virtually no work involved that didn't involve an envelope of frightening orange powder**? A salve for my stress-tortured soul.
*None of these people are Polish or from my hometown of Pittsburgh. These people have experienced homemade pierogies, which are vastly superior to the frozen variety but completely undo the whole "fast, easy" concept I was seeking.
** I absolutely refuse to refer to this substance as cheese
This is the start of Simmer and Shine, a blog I intend to devote to two things I spend a lot of time (some would say entirely too much time!) thinking about - style and food. Much more to come after I finally - hopefully! - graduate with my Masters...
