Wednesday's Recipe: Healthy Banana Bar Sandwiches

As an amateur baker, I think I've found my strongest calling in recipe modification; taking otherwise fatty/sugary treats and making them guilt-free in super easy ways.  I'm also a lazy chef and a rather impatient person in general. That should give you an idea of how easy my recipe mods are because I just don't love cooking enough to go over-the-top. But since I'm a human being I love delicious foods. What I don't love is looking like I love delicious foods... too much of them at least.

I've been modifying recipes for a couple of years now due to several food allergies and restrictions that I'm the victim of. Since I now have a blog that includes more than fashion I can finally share them with you all. And with the help of Pinterest I have been able to find endless recipes that can easily be made with a more healthy conscience. 

The first of many that I will share with you guys is these simple but tasty banana bars, originally posted on 320 Sycamore (<---click for original recipe)

Finished Product!

Combine:

1 ½ cups Truvia (or other natural sugar substitute)

1 cup plain Greek yogurt

½ cup light, unsweetened apple sauce 

2 eggs whites

Add & stir until well mixed:

1 ½ cups mashed very ripe bananas (abt. 2 large)

2 tsp vanilla extract

Sift together and add to above mixture:

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

Spread batter in greased and floured 9X13 pan. Bake at 375° for 20-35 minutes or until light brown.

Instead of glazing the bars with the frosting in the original recipe, I decided to make fat-free, sugar-free cream cheese frosting and make sandwiches since the bars were pretty thin. This was the best decision EVER. I applied a generous amount of the cream cheese frosting on a cooled bar and plopped another bar on top. The consistency of the frosting is thick enough to not be messy.

3 Ingredient Fat-Free, Sugar-Free Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 8oz. package of fat-free cream cheese

1/2 cup Truvia (or other natural sugar substitute)

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

I'd love to hear how yours came out and if you did anything differently to the recipe!

How to Wear All Black Without Looking Like a Magician

Brown Details (boots/shoes, purse/bag) See also: two photo's below

Feminine Lace

Mega Statement Necklace

The 5 Magical Beauty Products I Cannot Live Without

Girls. We spend hours upon hours of our lives searching for beauty products we want to marry. We scour the aisles, read beauty articles, research which products might be right for us, and then we go out and buy 'em. Before we know it our bathroom cabinets look like a CVS or Sephora, which would be really exhilarating if we actually used a third of them. In this situation the problem lies, well, in the solution. The only way to truly know which products work for you is to try them. Our skin, hair, and bodies are all individual to us no matter how much the science of beauty is able to narrow down products into "types." But each purchase costs money and with the demand for beauty products ever-so-steadily increasing, companies face price inflations to keep up with their supplies and our bank accounts just deflate in the process. Does that mean we will stop trying to look our best? Absolutely not. We are a culture of vanity and as long as it's within healthy reason, that's o.k. 

On a positive note, how great is it to find a product that actually works for you?! Once you find that product you are so fully committed to it. You are never breaking up with it. You are putting a ring on it and vowing til death do you part. And if X company EVER stops carrying your lifelong beauty partner you are SO emailing them with a piece of your mind (and maybe a slightly pathetic plea for the last of their stock). 

While my quest for all of the best beauty products is one that will go on forever I have been lucky enough to find a handful that are true miracles. Here are five beauty products that make my daily life as a woman a million times easier:

From left to right:

Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum - This is my ultimate hair miracle. My wavy hair tends to be quite unruly and I'm a victim of the Summer frizz. I have been using this product for years now, on damp hair (can be used to tame frizz on dry hair but just use a bit), and it hasn't failed me no matter how I'm styling my hair that day. It retails for around $20 in drugstores, but it will last you a long time! (Available at drugstores and at Paul Mitchell distribution stores for licensed cosmetologists)

Clean & Clear Deep Cleansing Toner for Sensitive Skin - I use this toner every morning and night after my face wash and before I moisturize. I remember the first time I ever used my mothers toner. She is also a toner addict. I used the toner, at night, after I washed my face and to my grossed-out surprise I saw discoloration on the towel. My face was STILL dirty after washing it thoroughly. Yikes! Toner gets deep down into the layers of your epidermis to wash away pore clogging dirt and oil and restores the pH balance of your skin.    (Available at drugstores)

St. Ives Skin Renewing Collagen Elastin Body Moisturizer - Oh my... this product. Mark my words: I will never use another body moisturizer EVER again. Ever. I'm going to get a little personal here. I'm 29-years-old and although I eat healthy foods and exercise daily, I know I am still quite susceptible to that evil bitch we have all grown to morbidly despise... cellulite. Cellulite likes to make our lives miserable by hanging out in places like the backs of our legs and right on our bums. LAME. Now there are expensive procedures that claim to, like, vacuum out the cellulite, but us faux rich girls can only think of that with a sigh and a "someday." I am being 100% honest with all of you, I have almost NO cellulite anywhere on my body. Now, I said ALMOST, because at 29 that is so close to an impossible feat. I sincerely attribute my fortune to using this product every day post-shower. I have been using this moisturizer all over my body besides my upper back, neck, and face, for probably a decade. Do a little research on the benefits of collagen and elastin, especially for women as we age and lose elasticity in our skin, and you will have a good understanding of the "how" behind my preposterous claim. My mother always taught me to take preventative measures at a young age and while I'm guilty of slacking in some departments, I'm thrilled that I used this product at such a young age. Now that you all hate me, I'll go onto my next miracle product... (Available at drugstores)

TRESemme Tres Two Hair Spray (3) - I hate hair spray with a fiery passion. That wet, crunchy, untouchable look is NOT my jam. I love the look of natural hair with movement and bounce. But not every day is a good hair day (not even close). And some style (updo's, etc.) require a little extra hold to stay in place. Hair spray is not only essential to maintain a complicated style, but some of us need it to keep our hair in curls or to tame fly-aways. This hair spray is light enough to not be seen, but effective enough to work. You can use a little or a lot and still be safe. It's not super sticky and won't make you look like you just got out of the shower eight hours after you actually did. Oh, and it barely has a scent. PERFECT. (Available at drugstores)

Redken Extreme Anti-Snap - If you're like me you have no idea what your natural hair color looks like anymore. Hair color is an addictive beast and like many addictions, not necessarily fantastic for you. Your hair goes through a little bit (demi/semi-permanent color) to massive (lightening/bleach/perm)amounts of trauma with every process you do to it. Once hair is damaged we face a longer, more stressful time doing our hair every day, with breakage being the numero uno enemy. Just like anything that breaks, it needs careful repair. This product by Redken is a hair life-saver. I recently had a hair-saster. I went from very dark brown to orange to blonde and back to brown again. After the blonde and before the brown I have to lop off 9 inches of hair. NOT COOL. The breakage was too intense for me to have the patience to deal with. But this product has decreased the remaining breakage in my hair by a noticeable amount already. My hair is growing at a steady pace and it no longer feels like hay. I've got a long road to a full recovery, and I've tried many products over the past few months, but this one is perfect for every day repair. (Available at drugstores or at beauty specialty stores)

How I Came to (Sort Of) Like Sequins

Sparkly things have never made much of a presence in my closet. I'm not talking about diamonds, either. In fact, come to think of it, diamonds aren't making nearly enough of a presence in my closet. Hmm... faux rich-girl problems. I'm talking about sequins, glitter, anything that can be bought in the children's crafts section of Michaels. I have a fear of tackiness and the above mentioned are parts of fashion that I have just never been able to get a grip on, styling-wise. Glitter is still a no-go for me, but I've softened up to their larger counterparts.

In the wake of the sequined mini and small additions to shirt collars, I've found that texture-combination in styling is the key to going from disco ball to party-chic. 

The key is to soften the look up with a neutral-toned top in a much more touchable fabric. Even better, your top should be in the same color family as the tone of your skirt. I actually love the looks shown above. Because of them, I'm about 2 months early on planning my holiday season outfits. I'll be sure to post photo's of my personal style takes on sequins when that time comes!

Wednesday's Fitness - All Cardio Workout - 1

60 Seconds – Jog in Place

40 – Jumping Jacks

40 – Jump Rope

10 – Burpees

30 – Butt Kickers

25 – High Knees

25 – Pivoting Upper Cuts

20 – Shuffle Punches

10 – Frog Jumps

30 – Mountain Climbers

60 – Quick Step Ups

Repeat 5 times + 20 minutes of elliptical/treadmill/spin training

Wednesday's Fitness - Abs Circuit Workout - 1

 All Abs/Obliques

30 – Jump Ropes

30 – Bicycle Crunches

30 – Jump Ropes

30 – Bicycle Crunches

30 – Jump Ropes

30 – Bicycle Crunches

Obliques

30 – Jump Ropes

25 – Russian Twists (w/ or w/out weight)

30 – Jump Ropes

25 – Russian Twists (w/ or w/out weight)

30 – Jump Ropes

25 – Russian Twists (w/ or w/out weight)

Lower Abs

30 – Jump Ropes

15 – Vertical Scissors

15 – Horizontal Scissors

30 – Jump Ropes

15 – Vertical Scissors

15 – Horizontal Scissors

30 – Jump Ropes

15 – Vertical Scissors

15 – Horizontal Scissors

All Abs

30 – Jump Ropes

25 – Yoga Ball Crunches

30 – Jump Ropes

25 – Yoga Ball Crunches

30 – Jump Ropes

25 – Yoga Ball Crunches

Lower Abs

30 – Jump Ropes

20 – Lying Toe Touches

30 – Jump Ropes

20 – Lying Toe Touches

30 – Jump Ropes

20 – Lying Toe Touches

Core

30 – Jump Ropes

Plank (hold for as long as you can)

30 – Jump Ropes

Side Plank (one side. Hold for as long as you can)

30 – Jump Ropes

Side Plank (other side. Hold for as long as you can)

Wednesday's Picks: Moto Jackets for the Not-So-Faux Rich Girl

Moto Leather Jacket - A.L.C. - $1,195 $719

Moto Leather Jacket - Balenciaga - $2,650

3.1 Philip Lim Moto - $895

Heritage International Jacket - Barbour - $380