9.29.2009

Thank you Martha Stewart!!



I made the most delicious cookies last night from Martha Stewart Cookies Cookbook – a perfect combonation of the classic flavors of banana bread and oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

Usually i'll try to modify recipes to make them more waist-line friendly, but here I played by the rules. It was oh-so-worth it.

Banana-Walnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies


Makes about 3 dozen
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup mashed ripe banana (about 1 large)
• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped into 1/4-inch chunks
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (about 2 ounces), toasted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk together flours, salt, and baking soda in a small bowl; set aside. Put butter and sugars into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Reduce speed to low. Add egg and vanilla; mix until combined. Mix in banana. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Stir in oats, chocolate chunks, and walnuts.

2. Using a 1 1/2-inch ice cream scoop, drop dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing about 2 inches apart. Bake cookies until golden brown and just set, 12 to 13 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks; let cool completely. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers up to 2 days.

9.24.2009

Radiant Skin is a Click Away!

I’m not one to toot my own horn, however when it comes to skin care, I think I’ve nailed it. I have tried countless skin care lines and finally, about 8 years ago, stumbled upon gold.
The Dermalogica skin care line is designed to accommodate a variety of skin types. My favorite part about this skin care line is none of their products contain artificial fragrances or colors. I happen to be dry/combination and have been an avid follower of these products:

  • Special Cleansing Gel- it smells like lavender and has a unique soap-free formula. I’ve found this cleanser to work wonders on my skin. I use it twice a day and am always left feeling fresh and clean – no unwanted dryness or film left behind. Not surprisingly, I’m not the only one who loves this cleanser. Good Housekeeping Magazine said Special Cleansing Gel is the “secret for getting gorgeous skin.”
  • Skin Smoothing Cream- this moisturizer is GENIUS! It’s a medium-weight cream that smoothes out my skin and leaves it feeling softer than a babies behind. It contains antioxidants, vitamins and soothing botanicals and I swear it makes my skin feel firmer. Kate Bosworth is also a fan! 
  • Multivitamin Power Firm- kick your under eye bags to the curb! Not that I’m condoning a late night of drinking and barely any sleep BUT if you do find yourself in such a predicament, this is the product for you. It doesn’t have the caffeine that some products on the market have, however this eye cream does contain silicones and seaweed extract that firm up your entire eye area and totally helps with dark circles and/or puffiness. I use it twice a day and am completely addicted.


Dry, acne-prone, oily and combination skin unite! I promise this complete line of natural and delicious skin and body care will not disappoint. Check it out now at: http://dermalogica.com/us/index.html#/home




9.22.2009

Where the Magic Happens


I recently decided my bedroom linens from college needed to go. As the demands of work and home life continue, a bedroom "sanctuary" is what I needed. I looked online, agonized over how expensive these freakin duvet covers were and ultimately did what any rational woman would do. I waited until my mom came to visit to take me shopping.



After much debate, I decided on this set from Restoration Hardware. Although it is stunning as pictured, I opted for a chocolate brown quilt under the duvet cover instead of the pictured baby blue... Overall the bed is amazing. The sheets feel like butter (tip ladies- I waited until Macy's had a sale and bought some solid sheet sets for a quarter of what Restoration Hardware sold them for). Although I fondly remember the nights propped up in bed watching TV with a glass of Pinot Noir, I gladly trade under eye bags and dehydration for a blissful nights' sleep.

Much Anticipated First Post!

Hello World.



You might be thinking, "What's the point of this blog?"



The truth is, I'm not entirely sure.



My online habits include reading other blogs, keeping up with current events, looking for new recipes, researching the ideal girls vacation destination, ideas for a romantic night with my husband, and how to effectively juggle all the balls I have in the air as a young, professional, quasi-domestic wife. I've found that existing websites target working women, stay at home wives (or moms), cooks.... but nothing encompasses everything I am.



So I have now set out on a mission. A mission to unite the women of the world that feel as I do. Do I love a good martini out with friends? You bet your sweet tush I do! Do I love spending a Friday night on the couch with my husband? Hell yeah! This blog is going to touch on all aspects of what all of us young women go through. I’ll share my tips of the trade and hopefully you’ll all be sitting back, relating and enjoying. And hey, if that happens to be with a nice dirty martini, so be it!