Pretty Priorities

I'd like to share a few of my favorite beauty products with you. I will be posting a couple tutorials in the future and a list of favorite personal products and tips. If you have any questions about the following products, please comment and ask!

Retro Sweetness

Elvis Bars, my dears. The ultimate combination of chocolate, peanut butter and banana held together by oats. So, technically, this delight is gluten free. It's very easy to make, and will help you get rid of those over-ripened bananas. (As if you needed that excuse to try them...)


Elvis Bars (from food.com)

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) softened butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 mashed bananas

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup smooth peanut butter

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 1/2 cups rolled oats

2/3 cups chocolate chips

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease or spray an 8 x 8 inch baking pan and set aside. In a large mixing bowl combine the first 4 ingredients and cream together well. Add in the vanilla, stir, then add in the peanut butter. Stirring carefully so you don’t spill, work in all of the peanut butter until in is completely incorporated.

Sprinkle the baking soda over the entire mixture, add in the oatmeal and chocolate chips and blend until well combined. Pour into the 8 x 8 baking pan and bake for 30-32 minutes. Top should be nice and brown and center will still be slightly wiggly/moist. Allow to cool completely before cutting into them.

Happy Monday!

What I’m thinking: How much I love Mondays! No, you didn’t read that wrong. I just love the opportunity to start another fresh week, with no mistakes. Yet.  

What I’m reading: I'm reading "Origin of Species" by Darwin. I will find this read particulary helpful and interesting, even if I don't agree. I will also be analyzing the "Romans 13" veiw of government for my Great Books class.

What I’m listening to: Handel’s Messiah. I love that piece of music; my heart just soars when I hear the sopranos. *sigh*

What I’m  learning: To ask for forgiveness, even when I don’t see how I’m wrong. I know, in time, I will.

What I’m watching: We watched “Shop Around the Corner” last night. That film is well-crafted, and has consequently become a Christmas tradition. On Rotten Tomatoes, it is rated 100% by critics, and 89% by audience.

What’s cooking: I’m thinking about baking up a batch of Banana Berry muffins. We have a lot of very ripe bananas, at the moment. (I will post that recipe in the next weeks!)

What I’m thankful for: Cozy socks. They are blessings on cold mornings, when you don’t want to get out of bed.

What I’m creating: I am organizing underneath my bathroom sink this week. It needs a winter cleaning. Badly.

What I’m praying: That the Lord would give my friends and I wisdom for the future. Growing up can be wonderful, yet scary and confusing, and right now I’m feelin’ the latter.

What I’m planning: Well, I am looking forward to this week. We are attending the Messiah, plus celebrating Christmas as a family this Saturday. Family time is always appreciated.

What I did this last weekend: Had a very productive Saturday (housecleaning, running, a long phonecall), plus a slow and relaxing Saturday.

What I’m looking forward to: Christmas break.

A picture to share: Found this series of photos formulated with food, with each picture representing a recipe. (I believe these were originally used in relation to IKEA, but can’t be sure.)

Happy Monday!

What I’m thinking: The goodness of God…he has granted me one more day to glorify him.  

What I’m reading:  The Communist Manifesto! I’m really excited to read such an influential piece of literature.

What I’m listening to: “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri.

What I’m  learning: I am definitely “learning” to be strong in my physical and emotional weakness. Sometimes, it is hard to put one foot in front of the other.

What I’m watching: My sisters and I watched “Beauty and the Beast” this last week, for the umpteenth time. I can finally sing the songs and recite just about all the lines.

What’s cooking: I am planning on making lemon chicken, quinoa, with roasted vegetables.

What I’m thankful for: My health. It is something I take for granted, but don’t deserve.  

What I’m creating: An outline for my thesis paper on Personal Political Philosophy.

What I’m praying: That I would know what to say, how to say it, when to say it, and when to stop.

What I’m planning: To begin preparing for the SAT; it’s looking like I will be taking it at the end of January.

What I did this last weekend: Housecleaned, attended Youth Study (what a great time of growing in God’s word!), helped run a Women’s Tea for our church, and had a hectic Sunday (I had nursery duty, Sunday school duty, plus impromptu fellowship meal duty). I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve the body of Christ!

What I’m looking forward to: A nap. I hope. Soon.

A picture to share: I love this picture of my sisters and I, even though it’s an oldie from ’08.

Easy Spinach Soufflé

This recipe is one of my favorites, and that's saying something. It has a wonderful texture, flavor, and, as a bonus, is very healthy! It's super easy, especially since a blender is involved...and the leftovers ain't bad. Ok, I'm going to stop my encomiums, and let you try it.

Easy Spinach Soufflé

4 eggs

2 cups milk

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 cup shredded mozzerella

20 oz. package of frozen spinach

1 tsp. dried minced onion

1/2 tsp. salt

+ additional cheese of your choice

Preheat oven to 350 F. Throw all ingredients (except for additional cheese) in blender, or, if they don't fit, blend in two batches. Pour into an 8x8 (2 quart) pan. Sprinkle with addition cheese; bake for 45-50 minutes.

P.S. I will be making a cookie video tutorial in the near future. Comment and let me know which cookie you would like to see featured!