Peanut Butter Banana Bread

With all the overripe bananas occupying space in the kitchen, my family began hinting at the October issue of Cooking Light on the counter. It has a decadent picture of peanut butter banana bread with a peanut butter drizzle. Though the recipe called for a few things we didn't have, like fat free yogurt and dry roasted peanuts, I was making this on a whim and made some simple substitutions. Follow along if you wish to recreate this at home!

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine 3 bananas, 1 stick butter, 1/3 cup peanut butter, and 2 eggs in a large bowl; beat until blended. Then add 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 packed brown sugar.
3. In another bowl, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 cup whole wheat flour, 3/4 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp. allspice. Add flour mixture to banana mixture and stir until blended.
4. Pour batter into greased loaf pan. Chop candied pecans and sprinkle on top. Bake for about 1 hour at 350 degrees.
5. For the glaze, combine 1/3 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon milk, and 1 tablespoon peanut butter in a small bowl. Stir with a whisk. Drizzle the glaze over top of the bread once it has cooled.

Here's how mine turned out! Let me know if you come up with any other variations.

Enjoy!

Thank You Notes

I just read this article on the value of hand-written notes, and I think it's certainly a great time to discuss thank you's! After all your holiday gifts, will you be writing thank you notes to everybody? I think this is a must. E-mails are acceptable, but a well thought-out and handwritten note is the best way to show your thanks. It doesn't even have to be long; just be sure be specific. If you received a gift card, be sure to mention how you plan to spend the money.

On the same note, take this time to start an address book. There's nothing more frustrating than having to track down everybody's address when you need to send a timely letter. I personally keep my addresses updated in my phone, but backing this up with a paper copy is your best bet.

Have you written your thank you's yet?

New Year's Resolutions: Do or Don't?

After the wrapping paper is thrown away, the guests leave, and the food comas subside, the first thought that enters my mind is always about a New Year's Resolution. I feel drowned in the guilt of too many cookies and shopping sprees. But this is what the holidays are for, right? Indulge in everything imaginable, then clean up your act for the new year! Sounds about right to me.

So all this considered, do you make a New Year's Resolution to get you on track after the holidays? Thinking back, I don't think I've ever sat down to make a list, but I sure have a few things in the back of my mind for this year. For starters, I need to start getting reacquainted with my gym. My new iPod should give me some extra motivation! Also, more fruits and veggies, less chips and dip. (But I just can't live without my yummy chipotle hummus! I'll have to switch to raw peppers instead of tortilla chips...)

After the health goals are reached, I definitely need to work on my living habits. Cleaning every weekend is a must- not just an afterthought!

So if you're dealing with some post-indulgent guilt like me, are you planning to make a New Year's Resolution too? I'd love to hear what changes you will be making!

Travel Tips

Will you be traveling this holiday season? Afraid of long lines and flight delays? Whether you're flying or driving, you can certainly benefit from a few of these tips I've learned from my many travel experiences.

1. Be prepared. Do you need passports, ID, or travel visas? Have them handy while crossing the border or going through customs. This will minimize your time in line, not to mention your stress level once you reach the front of the line.
2. Organize your luggage. Make sure you sort out what items you will need for in-flight and what you can stow in baggage. The last thing you want is to finally get settled on the plane and realize you left your ipod in your checked luggage.
3. Plan for delays. One mantra I always stick with while traveling is to be sure to have with you an extra day's supply of clothes, toiletries, and batteries. Put these in your carry-on, because if you get stuck after you check in, you will not have access to you luggage. The last thing you want is to be camping out at your gate overnight and not have your phone charger and toothbrush.
4. Pack food and water. This is so important! I always bring some granola bars with me on long flights, especially since you don't always get food services anymore. Driving? Pack snacks like trail mix or dried fruit. Not only will this help you avoid greasy fast food restaurants, but I always find that snacking helps me stay alert while on the road.
5. Be patient! Sometimes, now matter how well you prepare or how early you arrive to check in, there are things outside your control that will delay your travel plans. Just roll with the punches and have faith that you will finally get to where you are going! The best thing you can do is have a positive attitude, because getting angry at airline reps won't get you anywhere.

I hope some of these tips help ease your travel pains!

Holiday Cookies

Since I'm already getting into the holiday spirit of baking cookies faster than they can be eaten, I thought I would share some of my favorites with you!

These no-bake peanut butter oatmeal fudge cookies will certainly win you some compliments whether you whip them up for family or as a gift. The best part is that they are super simple and take much less time than regular cookies that require baking. Here is what you will need:

Add the sugar, cocoa, butter, milk, and salt to a large pot. Bring to a boil and boil for about 1 minute. Remove from heat and add 1/2 cup peanut butter. Once the peanut butter is mixed in, add the 3 cups of oats and let cool.

Once the mixture has cooled for about 5 minutes (enough so that they will retain some shape), spoon onto wax paper and let set!

Enjoy!

Fashion Preview: Copyright Protection?

The new IDPPPA, or Innovative Design Protection and Piracy Prevention Act, that just recently passed through the Senate is designed to protect both big fashion houses and smaller independent designers. Sponsored by Senator Charles Schumer, the bill creates a short 3 year term of protection for any and every new design that boasts both originality and novelty. Creations preceding this bill, however, will not qualify. One hurdle that has been removed from previous versions of the bill eliminates the need to register for copyright protection. Once the design is put into action, it can be protected.

Once caveat I can't quite wrap my head around is the defense of "independent creation." Basically, there is room for "artistic coincidences." This seems like a big loophole to me. It's easy to prove something happened, but how does one designer defend his or herself by proving they did NOT copy another creation?

Avoiding Holiday Weight Gain

Every year I try to convince myself that calories don't count during the holidays. Unfortunately, this wishful thinking never works and I am faced with added lbs come New Year's Eve. How is a girl supposed to worry about calories during all the festivities? It's nearly impossible if you ask me. Already all I can think about is baking cookies, making dinner and sipping some nice wine. None of these is going to keep my waistline in check.

If you're anything like me and scrambling for some tips, check out this article from the New York Times about some new studies in exercise. The results prove that working out before breakfast can help fight the effects of a high fat diet. Compared to the group of men who ate a large and carb-heavy breakfast before their workout, the group who ate the same meal after exercising gained less weight.

So will you be trying to work out before breakfast this holiday season? I think I might give this a try, considering all the food I plan on consuming. I'll let you know how it goes!

Party Accessories

Need a last-minute gift idea or a final touch for your holiday outfit? I just found this amazing site with the most beautiful hair accessories! Ban.do has so many adorable headbands and clips to choose from- I suggest you check it out before finishing your shopping list. Here are a few of my favorites. Let me know what you think!

Post-Grads Paving their Own Paths

As a recent grad who had to claw my way through the job market this summer, I found this New York Times article on young entrepreneurs truly inspiring. Take a minute to skim through! The article profiles several different recent grads who took a more bold and daring step post graduation. I thought moving away from home was a big step; I can't imagine starting my own business right after college!

Scott Gerber, after graduating from NYU and jump-starting a company called Sizzle It, now runs the Young Entrepreneur Council. This nonprofit, which consists of over 80 young business owners, mentors other young businesspeople trying to make the leap from the "real world jobs" to starting their own companies.

So now I'm wondering, would you ever drop your 9-5 to start your own company? I'm not so sure I can handle the risk involved, but I can certainly admire their determination!

Save this Holiday: Update Your Old LBD

Attempting to maintain a budget during the holidays is not an easy task. Gifts, parties, and dining out can certainly add up. If you're looking for ways to save, follow along for one idea that I've come to rely on.

Instead of purchasing a new holiday dress each winter, why not try accessorizing your favorite LBD? Adding a sequin clutch or statement-making cocktail ring can instantly revitalize a seasoned dress. Here are a few of my favorite accessories this season:

(Rings from Nordstrom)

(Necklaces from Forever21)

(Purse from Urban Outiftters)

Hey, it's OK!

My absolute favorite part of reading Glamour magazine is their "Hey, it's OK!" article every month. Each and every confession strikes a cord with me and makes me feel like maybe I'm not the only girl who rationalizes expensive clothing and generic no-name cereal all in one day.

I decided to start my own "Hey, it's OK!" list of confessions. Please feel free to comment and add some of your own! (P.S. tweet #heyitsok if you want to start a twitter trend!)

Hey, it's OK...

...to eat most of the chocolate chip cookie dough before the oven is preheated.

...to sing Bruno Mars "Just the Way You Are" at the top of your lungs and pretend it was written about you.

...to shop for yourself when you should be getting your Secret Santa gift.

...to try on five different outfits before leaving the house to run errands.

Festive Flats

What better way to embrace the holidays than with accessories that shimmer and sparkle? I'm currently yearning for an embellished pair of flats to dress up my outfits this winter. Thanks to Nordstrom, who tweeted an entire selection of festive flats, I have so many to choose from that I can't even decide! Here are a few options all under $100. Let me know what you think! (I left out the amazing Vera Wang option for you, since it broke my heart after reading the price tag).

Kelsi Dagger ($88.95)

Report ($69.95)

Steve Madden ($59.95)

Feel-Good Confessions

Every day, I sit down and make a list of the things I need to do. Usually this list is work-related with all the tasks and projects on my plate. Sometimes I even toss in some errands or shopping lists. I've found that this helps me stay on track, not to mention remember everything I must do!

So every once in a while, usually on a rough day, I start my list with something simple like "check my mail." It seems like quite a ridiculous task to add to a to-do list, right? But that's the point! Adding something simple like this makes me feel accomplished on my slowest of days. Just crossing off that checklist, however meaningless the task, is probably my favorite shameless feel-good tip. There's something very reassuring about a to-do list that's completely crossed off by the end of the day. Who cares if all you did was "get out of bed" and "check your mail?"

Do you have any feel-good tricks for lousy days? I'd love to hear about them!