Month: November 2015

Go-To Banana Bread

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Banana bread is a classic for a reason: it’s easy, it’s economical, and it’s delicious. I always have bananas on hand for my breakfast smoothie so I will regularly have surplus that get a little too ripe. I love using the over ripe bananas to make banana bread because I can throw the bread in my freezer and grab it when I need it. I’ve been using a very simple recipe and it’s always a crowd pleaser. I usually have 90% of the ingredients on hand, and I just have to remember to grab some walnuts when I’m at the store.

Banana Bread

Yields one 9 x 5 loaf or 3 mini loaves

Ingredients

  • 2 ripe bananas
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 3/4 flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 3/4 cup chopped walnuts

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 350. Coat the loaf pan(s) with non-stick spray.
  2. Combine the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a bowl and set aside.
  3. Mash the bananas in a medium/large bowl, and whisk in the “wet” ingredients: sugar, oil, eggs, vanilla.batter uo\p
  4. Add the dry to the wet slowly, and fold in the chopped walnuts.
  5. Divide the batter equally amongst the pans, and bake at 350 for 1 hour and 15 minutes for a 9 x 5 loaf or 45-55 minutes for mini loaves. Use a toothpick to test. If it comes out clean then it’s ready!

ready for the oven Banana Bread, Yum!

Work Wear Staples

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I’ve made a conscious effort this year to make smart choices when it comes to clothes shopping. I’m trying to think about cost per wear, and invest in pieces that I will wear a lot. This also means I’m being more restrained with trendy items, or looking for inexpensive options for pieces I know I’ll wear less.

Button Down Shirts

Perfect Shirt

I don’t like button down shirts. They are not a cute look for me. No matter what size I get, they gap between the buttons at the chest and look baggy everywhere else. That said, I’ve found it necessary to have a couple white button downs because it’s such a classic office look, and a good layering piece in the winter. The closest I’ve come to a good button down is Ann Taylor’s perfect shirt. I buy my usual size and it fits decently, plus the fabric is not heavy but not totally see through. The collar is a little small for me, but you can’t win ’em all.

Dress Pants

Banana Pants

Banana Republic has become my go-to for dress pants this year. I really like their lightweight wool pants which I have in navy and black in the Martin fit. They are a suiting material but they fit me well and thus are comfortable. I’ve had some rough dress pants in the past, and I’ve realized that suiting material is not always so forgiving, which means the fit is paramount. For a slimmer ankle pant look, I like also like the Sloan slim ankle-fit pants. Though I find dress pant options from The Loft less durable, it’s nice to have a couple machine washable pants in the mix as well.

Pencil Skirts

Pencil Skirt

I think the most reliable pencil skirts I’ve bought in the last couple years have been from JCrew Factory. They keep the same wool skirt in their repertoire and just offer different colors and patterns each season. I used to think washable ponte skirts from The Loft or Ann Taylor were the way to go, but those can look stretched and worn out after a few wearings. The JCrew Factory skirts have held up really well for me so far and always look professional.

Blazers

Jcrewblazer

Blazers are definitely investment piece territory. I have a love/hate relationship with blazers because they will either look great on me or really frumpy, so I try to be very careful. I do think there is a direct relationship between price and quality when it comes to blazers. I’m actually in the market to upgrade my navy and black blazers and I’ve been watching sales and planning my purchase of the Campbell blazer from Jcrew. I think JCrew’s Campbell is great for Monday through Thursday, and their Regent style is great for Fridays and weekends with a more casual bottom. These are investments at about $200, compared to a discounted $50 Loft blazer, but I think they fit better and will last much longer.

What are your go-to work pieces?

Gift Guide 2015: Part 2

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If you know me, you know that I enjoy myself some QVC. I don’t actually buy much from it (maybe 2-3 things a year), but it fascinates me. As the QVC hosts will tell you, it is a one stop shop for holiday gifts. Here are my suggestions:

Guys in your life: 

Bose Bluetood Speaker
Bose Bluetooth Speaker. The Q carries some big names from electronics and technology, and while they don’t always have the cutting edge products or every configuration, they usually have some good deals on the big brands. I’m sure a Bose bluetooth speaker has better sound quality than some of the bargain options out there. And if that’s not the ticket there are also options from Beats, Go Pro, Canon, and Apple.

Family/Friend Couples:

Hampton Popcorn

Hampton Popcorn. QVC has a lot of gift worthy snacks that would be great for quick friend couple gift. This Hampton Popcorn looks delicious, and there are also the standard fan favorite Squirrel Brand nuts. If your looking for something a little more substantial QVC also has a lot of great kitchen stuff, and a bakeware or cookware set might be the way to go.

Girls in your life:

qvc scarf

Cashmere Infinity Scarf. Tough choice because there are so many good options, but this scarf by Isaac Mizrahi always catches my eye when its on the air. It comes in a few great colors, and starts at $83 but it frequently on some type of sale. So 1. it’s fashionable, 2. it’s cozy, and 3. it’s cashmere. If I had to pick a second place suggestion, I would go with one of Mizrahi’s ceramic watches. Both are great options even if you’re not on the same style page as your recipient.

Grandparents:

duraflame

Space Heater. Frankly almost anything they sell would work because QVC has a lot of octogenarian customers. But if I had to pick one thing I would go with the Duraflame Infrared Quartz Stove Heater with Flame Effect. If your grandparents are like mine, they’re tight with their money, and their house is not very warm during the winter. This will help them save money on their utilities bill, and keep them nice and toasty, plus it’s a little more attractive than your run of the mill space heater.

Stocking Stuffers:

QVC has cornered the market on stocking stuffers. Here are just a few ideas.