TTO the Trend: Florals for Spring

We know what you're thinking...

However, we think florals are always appropriate and springy!  We've checked around and found lots of great new ways you can incorporate floral patterns into your spring looks!

Top Row (Left to Right): Pajama pants, Kimono, Top, Dress

Bottom Row (Left to Right): Dress, Earrings, Shoes, Workout Leggings, Bathing Suit

Will you be wearing florals this spring?  Let us know how you're planning to rock this trend this spring in the comments below!

Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Hey, all.  It's your resident baker, Jess.  If any of you out there have kids or nieces/nephews, you might have noticed how kids feel about granola bars.  I'm pretty sure my kid could polish off three or four of them in one sitting.  I love that they're a fast way to give her a snack, but I don't love the added sugar or processed nature.  So that's why I decided to give this recipe for Crunchy Oatmeal Peanut Butter Oats 'N Honey Bars from Half Baked Harvest (Btw, have you guys seen this blog?  Everything she cooks looks amazing and her brother is Red Gerard, recent Olympic Gold Medalist).

Anyway, to get started, I grabbed my ingredients, all of which I already had in my pantry.  I substituted canola oil (see my note at the end) for coconut oil.

You'll want to mix together the peanut butter, oil and honey and microwave it in a measuring cup for around a minute.  Baker tip--spray the inside of your measuring cup with cooking spray to keep the honey from sticking to the cup.

Once it's heated, add the brown sugar and vanilla and stir to combine.    In the meantime, mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix thoroughly.  Again, you might want to spray your spatula to prevent it from sticking.

Pour it into the pan, which we sprayed and lined with parchment paper.  Spray the back of a measuring cup and use it to press down the mixture.  You want it to pack tightly together so that it holds when you bake.  This is a great job for a kid sous chef.

The recipe says to heat the extra peanut butter in the microwave and drizzle on top.  Mine never really got thin enough to drizzle, so I just sort of spread it around.

Bake for around 20 minutes and then let it cool for 10-20 minutes before slicing (see note).  Now get ready to snack!

Notes:

• The recipe only calls for 2 tablespoons of oil, but I found that my mixture was a little on the dry side.  As a result, the bars crumbled a little as I cut and stored them.  I think if I were to make them again, I would add another tablespoon of oil and/or more peanut butter to give it a little more moisture.
• The recipe suggests you cool the bars for 10-20 minutes before slicing.  I'd say, I would cut around 10 minutes of cooling.  I waited longer and found that the bars were starting to get a little brittle.  We'll probably eat the pieces as granola, but if you want actual bars, cut sooner.

There you have it!  A great snack AND you can feel good about them because they're homemade.  Give them a try and let us know what you think in the comments below!

Friday Pick-Six: 2/23/18

Here's what we are loving and living for this week!

1.  On our President's Day off, we decided to move up our usual Taco Tuesday to Monday.  Jess made this crockpot barbacoa recipe and it was a total hit!

2.  While making an Amazon Prime order the other day, I added these beaded tassel earrings on a whim.  They're not the highest quality (hence the price point) but the color is great and they're not too heavy either. --J

3.  You know how we love a good face mask.  One of our recent favorites is this Pacifica Disobey Time Rose and Peptide Mask from Target.

4.  As much as we all love checking all our favorite blogs, I've been thinking a lot recently about trying to quit my phone habit.  I have found myself playing Monopoly with my kiddo and I mindlessly grab my phone and start to check Instagram.  Not my finest mom moment, but I think we can all relate.  Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere blogged about it this week and she also linked to this helpful article.  I'm going to give it a try this weekend and will report back! --J

5.  After seeing something similar on our favorite hostess at our favorite neighborhood restaurant, we've been on the lookout for a kimono-style jacket.  We may have to scoop up this one from Target. Throw under a black tank and some skinny jeans and you're date-ready.

6.  This Olympics, we were totally obsessed with Canadian ice dancers, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.  If you're like us and you can't get enough of them, then check out their 2014 reality show which is streaming on Amazon.  We might have to marathon this weekend!

What are you loving and living for this week? Let us know in the comments below and TGIF!

TTO the Trend: Crossbody Bags

One trend we've been seeing around a lot lately is crossbody bags.  Even Meghan Markle has been carrying one lately instead of the usual royal clutch bag.  Although for gals who carry a lot of stuff on the reg (AKA US!) they're not practical for everyday, they do have their uses.  For example, a good cross body is great for travel when you don't need much and you want your hands free.  If you're looking for a good crossbody bag, check out the following!

Top Row (Left to Right): Rebecca Minkoff Aime bag, Strathberry East/West (the actual bag Meghan is carrying!), Kate Spade Watson Lane, A New Day Zip-Top Crossbody (GREAT PRICE)

Bottom Row: Quilted Crossbody, BP Foldover Crossbody, Nylon Messenger Bag, Rounded Saddle Crossbody

Do you have a favorite crossbody bag?  Will you be following this trend?  Let us know in the comments below!

TTO the Trend: Bright Lipstick

One beauty trend we've been noticing lately is bright lip color.  We tend to stick to more neutral lip color but we love the idea of taking a little beauty risk on color choice.  In fact, one of Jess's friends always rocks her brightest lip color on her most stressed out days, and she swears that it turns her day around.  If you're feeling bold and want to give this trend a try, check out some of these picks!

Top Row (Left to Right): Julep It's Whipped, ELF Velvet Matte Lipstick, Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lip Color, Clinique Chubby Stick

Bottom Row: L'Oreal Pro Matte Gloss, L'Oreal Colour Rich Lipstick, Julep It's Balm

Do you rock bright lips?  If so, what's your favorite shade?  Let us know in the comments below!

Friday Pick-Six: 2/16/18

Here's what we're loving and living for this week!

1.  Isn't this zodiac sign bracelet cute?  It would be fun to wear your own sign, or to wear your sweetie or kid's signs.

2.  Are you guys watching the Olympics?  We had always been big Olympics fans, so we've been watching all week!  What are your favorite events?  We love figure skating!

3.  We found out this week that NARS is releasing a lip gloss version of Ry's favorite blush (Nars Orgasm).  Popsugar has swatches and they're goooooood!

4.  We've loved John and Sherry at Young House Love and their great DIY blog for years.  Jess also enjoys listening to their weekly podcast.  This week, they had a great post about the 10 items in their home that they've had for 10 years.  Lots of good investment pieces.

5.  We've been dreaming of a beach vacation, but sadly have nothing in the works.  If you're luckier than us, check out this adorable swimsuit at Target!  Great price, too!

6.  Have you ever had a favorite beauty product that you've used for a long time, but wondered about its shelf life?  This article tells you exactly how long you should keep each makeup product and why. Pretty sure this means it's time to buy a new mascara.

What are you loving and living for this week?  Anything fun planned for President's Day Weekend?  We both have short breaks from work, so we're looking forward to a little relaxation!  Enjoy it and catch you guys next week!

TTO the Trend: Matte Black for the Home

We are always trying to track the latest trends for fashion, beauty and home.  Lately, a lot of places have been talking about the trend of incorporating home items in matte black.  It was even named a trend of the year on Popsugar.

If you're looking to incorporate matte black around your house, try some of these products!

Top Row (Left to Right): Guthrie Coffee Table,  Monte Carlo Vase,  Stoneware Serving Dish,  Table Clock

Bottom Row (Left to Right): Kitchen Aid Mixer, Toaster,  Suitcase, Coffee Mug

Do you plan to incorporate matte black into your home decor?  If so, let us know how in the comments below!

New Target Beauty Finds

As you know, one of our favorite places in the world is our local Target!  On a recent trip, we were super impressed with all the new products in the beauty department!  How about this stuff?!

Top Row (Left to Right): 3-way mask, body wash, sleeping mask, resurfacing mask, body spray

Bottom Row (Left to Right): Cleanse oil, Coconut scrub, eau du perfume, red wine mask

Have you tried any of these new products?  Anything else great you've spotted out at Target lately?  Let us know in the comments below!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies

Hey all, it's Jess.  What is it about baking and snowy weather?  I always feel like I need to bake cookies when I see a snow storm coming on and last week was no exception.  I decided to make a family favorite, chocolate peanut butter chip cookies.  If you like a Reese's peanut butter cup, then these are the cookies for you!

You just need a few ingredients:

Most of these things are ingredients we always have on hand.  The only real specialty ones you'll need are the peanut butter chips and the unsweetened cocoa.  We actually always keep the latter around.  You need it for No-Bakes and it also makes the best homemade hot chocolate!

As with most cookies, you'll mix your dry ingredients and cream the butter and sugar together.

Add the eggs and vanilla and beat the butter mixture.  I always crack my eggs into a separate bowl and and whisk them first before adding them to the butter.  Once your mixture is smooth, SLOWLY add your dry ingredients.  I say SLOWLY because even on my mixture's lowest setting, I had cocoa powder all over myself and my kitchen!  Try pulsing the mixture a bit at a time and then add speed as it gets mixed in.  Finally, add in your peanut butter chips!  You'll want a whole bag here, well, if you're like me the amount is a bag of peanut butter chips minus several preschooler-sized handfuls.

Scoop them out onto a tray and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes.  They'll be little soft on top when you take them out.  Let them set up on the tray for a minute or two before cooling them on a wire rack.  You can bake them all off, or scoop and freeze some.  This time, I did about half and half, which gave me 2 dozen in the cookie jar and 2 dozen in the freezer.

And there you are!  The perfect cookies for a lazy Snow Day!

They'd be perfect as a Valentine's Day treat, too!  Give these cookies a try and let us know what you think!  Happy baking!

TTO the Brand: Shade and Shore

If you are lucky enough to be escaping the cold for someplace tropical this President's Day Weekend, you might be looking for a cute swimsuit.  Ry is our resident swimsuit expert and she is always on the lookout for a cute suit.  We've both been checking out the Shade and Shore line at Target.  So many adorable options!  Check it out!

Top Row (left to right): Tankini Top, Palm print top and bottom, halter one-piece, wrap bikini top & bottom

Bottom Row (left to right): Bikini top and hipster bottom, bikini top and bottom

Super cute, right?  Will you be sporting any Shade and Shore swim this season?  Let us know what your favorites are in the comments!  Happy shopping!

Friday Pick-Six: 2/9/18

Here's what we're loving and living for this week!

1.  How adorable is this rose gold brush set?  And a great price for all these brushes!  Ry decided to refresh her beauty routine by ordering this earlier this week and it's so great!

2.  We might need to try out these easy Chocolate Chip Meringues this weekend!  They look so easy and we already have everything in the cupboard!  They would also be impressive on Valentine's Day for your sweetie, gals or coworkers.

3.  It seems like everyone on the internet is talking about this Trader Joe's Rose Water Facial Spray.  It's only $4 and claims to hydrate and condition skin with a great smell.  We grabbed it on our last TJ's run and will let you know what we think after a trial.

4.  How cute are these tassel earrings?  And check out that price!!

5.  What do you guys think of this letter board?  I'm on the fence if it is super cute, or if I'm just jumping on the trend because I think it would make great Instagram pics.  Thoughts?  Would it work in my kitchen?  In the Kiddo's room? --J

6.  Updating your resumé is the living worst, but there are some great tips in this article.

What are you loving and living for this weekend?  Let us know in the comments and TGIF!

Healthy Smoothie Recipe Round-Up

Hey gang, it's Jess.  Although Ry and I are not big on New Year's Resolutions, one thing I'm trying to do this year is eat more breakfast.  I am notorious for getting up with JUST enough time to get myself out the door presentably.  I rarely leave myself enough time to eat breakfast and as a result, I end up with just a venti latte in my stomach all morning.  Not the healthiest of options.  I'm trying to find more healthy breakfast options that I can grab and go.

Smoothies are great for this because they pack a lot of bang for their nutritional buck.  You can stuff them full of fruits (and veggies) and start your day off right.  You can pour them and drink them as you drive to work or while you get going on work, too.  Also, for you mamas out there, they're  super kid-friendly.  I know my kiddo loves them and will happily drink them, no matter how much spinach I cram in there!

Here are a few of my favorite smoothie recipes from Pinterest.

• Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Smoothie
• Triple Berry Kiwi Smoothie
• Blueberry Muffin Smoothie
• Strawberry Lime Watermelon Smoothie

Now, here's one of my favorite homemade recipes that we've been enjoying in the mornings.  The addition of the oats seems odd, but it thickens the smoothie, gives you extra fiber and keeps you feeling fuller longer!

Fruity Oat Smoothie (Makes 2 servings)

• 1/2-3/4 cup milk (you can use regular milk, soy, almond, etc)
• 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1 1/2 cups frozen fruit (We use bananas and berries but anything you like works)
• Optional add-ins: 2 tablespoons peanut butter or almond butter, handful of spinach, scoop of vanilla protein powder 

Pour the oats into the blender and pulse until they're powdery.  Add frozen fruit, milk and blend until smooth.  Depending on the consistency of your fruit and how you like your smoothie, you may want to add more/less liquid.  

Do you like smoothies for breakfast?  What are your favorite recipes?  Let us know in the comments and give them a try!

Winter Beauty Must-Haves

Every season, we like to bring you our favorite beauty items.  Here are some of our recent faves that have helped us get through the long, cold winter!

• I struggle with dry skin in the winter and that exacerbates the natural redness that I can have.  This peel-off mask hydrates and smooths my skin while alleviating the redness. --J

• We are both obsessed with this Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair eye serum!  Literally, after just a day of use, we could notice our under-eye area was smoother and softer.  Within a few days, the lines and darkness were less pronounced than usual.  It's a little pricey, but totally worth it!

• Even your hair can get a little dry in the winter, especially if you blow-dry or curl it like we do. This mask rehydrates dry hair and leaves it feeling smoother.

• We've already talked about how much we love this Julep Boost Your Radiance Rosehip Oil.  Adding a couple of drops to your usual moisturizer can add a little glow to your dull winter skin.

• Exfoliating is one of the keys to having great skin in the winter.  You need to get rid of the dead skin cells to make room for the softer new ones.  We both use some version of this exfoliating brush with an exfoliating cleanser.  Just make sure you finish up with a great moisturizer and serum.

• We both love darker nail polishes for winter.  These are two of our recent favorites from Essie and CND shellac.  

• We've put these eye gels into Friday Pick-Six but we had to mention them again here.  Honestly, you can notice the effects right away after use.  They're great to use right before you're going out or in the morning if you didn't get enough sleep.

• This lip balm was a stocking stuffer from our mom and we like how soft it makes our lips feel.

What beauty products are you liking this winer?  Let us know what we should check out in the comments below!

TTO the Brand: Universal Denim at Target

Have you guys seen Universal Denim, the new line at Target that dropped last week?  We love the casual look and easy vibe of this new, affordable line.  We definitely plan on stocking up on these once spring weather finally arrives.  (Any idea when that's going to be, by the way?  We're over this snow!)  Check this stuff out!!

Top Row (Left to Right): Block heel, slide sandal, chambray dress, tie tank, wide-leg jeans
Bottom Row (Left to Right): Shirtdress, tie shorts, wrap and skinny jeans

Are you going to grab anything from this new line?  Let us know in the comments below and happy shopping!

TTO the Wardrobe: What to Wear for Valentine's Day

We aren't huge Valentine's Day people, but we do like incorporating a little red and pink into our wardrobe this time of year.  If you're looking for something cute to wear for Valentine's Day, we put together a few outfits that will work for a variety of Valentine's Day outings.

Fancy Date Night: 

Dress, tights, earrings, nail polish, heels

If you're going out on a date, bring the drama!  We love using red as your main color, but you can always go classic with a little black dress and go for a daring red lipstick.    Here are a few other ideas!

Try this jumpsuit with a red heel!

Nothing says Valentine's like a red dress!

Love a little sparkle.

Girls Night Out:

Top, Velvet leggings, nail polish, earrings, lip crayon, over-the-knee boots

For a night on the town with your gals, you want to look cute but stylish.  We love adding an extra fashion-y touch that your friends will appreciate like this eyelet detail or an over-the-knee boot.  Here are a couple of other ways to rock this look.

This bodysuit plus jeans!  Yes!

This dress would be pretty with some booties.

Wear it to Work:

Dress, nail polish, earrings, shoes, lip stain

You can also incorporate some Valentine's Day flair into your outfit even if you're in a more conservative work environment.  Look for some neutral touches and different shades of red to mute this look a little at work.  Here's a few more ways you can incorporate this vibe into your work look!

Jess might be wearing this dress for her class Valentine's Party!

This sweater looks cozy and festive.

Red tweed?  Yes, please!

So, do you know what you'll be wearing this Valentine's Day?  Let us know in the comments below!

Friday Pick-Six: 2/2/18

Here's what we're loving and living for this week!

1.  You guys know how much we love crockpots, so we love this round-up of Favorite Crock Pot recipes on Cup of Jo this week.

2.  If you're looking for some cute DIY Valentine's Day manicures, check out this slide show with so many ideas!

3.  If you are looking for the coziest lounge hoodie, try this cozy pullover from Gillian O'Malley at Target.  Seriously, Ry had it on and I immediately bought it on our Target trip a couple of weeks ago. It's so comfy and (full disclosure), I wear it around as atheleisure-wear, not just for PJs.

4.  We're not big on New Year's Resolutions (most people have probably given up on them already!) but we're always looking for ways to be a little healthier.  This recipe for Green Fish would be super tasty and healthy!

5.  If you are looking for a killer workout, try this Popsguar kickboxing workout with the creator of The Cut, Christa DiPaolo.  It claims to burn 500 calories and we believe it!

6.  What are you making for the Super Bowl this weekend?  We haven't decided yet on our main course, but we're betting we have a batch of Ryan's Chex Mix to snack on!  If you haven't tried it yet, do yourself a favor and do it!

What are you loving and living for this week?  Let us know in the comments below and have a good weekend!