The Most Delicious Granola Bar I've EVER Tasted!

Happy Thursday friends! The weekend is almost here, YAY! I have another recipe for you all today and I can't take any credit it for it. My dear fellow baker friend Lisa and I share the same passion for sweets and treats. She came across these AMAZING granola bars over at Gingerbread Bagels (If you like sweets you NEED to be reading Gingerbread Bagels, all of her blondie recipes are sooo yum!) and made a batch and so sweetly brought me some. Is that a friend or what?! So thank you Lisa!! See her slightly modified recipe below.

Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Granola Bars from Gingerbread Bagels

Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Granola Bars slightly adapted from Gingerbread Bagels

2/3 cup plus 2 Tablespoons creamy almond butter
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar (Dark brown sugar will work too, use whatever you have)
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
1/3 cup chopped unsalted almonds (I just cut them in half)
1/4 cup each semi sweet chocolate chips and dried cranberries

In a large bowl, mix the almond butter, brown sugar, honey, melted butter and vanilla extract.

Add in the oats, chopped almonds, chocolate chips and dried cranberries. Stir.

Lightly spray an 8 by 8 inch baking pan with nonstick spray. The nonstick spray will help the parchment paper stick to the pan.
Line the baking pan with parchment paper.

Spread the granola mixture into the pan. I use my hands to press it in.
Bake the granola bars at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

Now who else thought my title was clever besides me? Tehehe...I have an EASY and delicious (And healthy!) chicken recipe for you all today, I made it Monday night for dinner and we loved it. I found this Bruschetta Chicken on the time consuming but OH so addicting website, Pinterest. Time to get cooking!

Bruschetta Chicken via The Girl Who Ate Everything

Baked Bruschetta Chicken
Source: adapted from Kraft Foods and then adapted from The Girl Who Ate Everything

4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves 
1/2 cup KRAFT Sun-Dried Tomato dressing, divided
2 tomato, finely chopped
1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp. dried basil leaves


Place chicken (S+P it first) in resealable plastic bag. Add 1/4 cup dressing and seal bag. Turn bag over several times to evenly coat chicken with dressing. Refrigerate 10 minutes (I marinated it from lunch time on, feel free to do as long or as short as you have time for). Remove chicken from bag; discard bag and dressing.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and place chicken into your desired baking dish and put into the oven. Meanwhile, combine remaining 1/4 dressing, tomatoes, cheese and basil. Set your timer for 25 minutes (Timing could vary depending on how big and thick your chicken breasts are) to see chickens progress, and then in the last five minutes top the chicken breasts with tomato mixture. Bake until cheese is nicely melted and then enjoy!

If You Need Something to Ask for for Valentines...

You should ask for this...done & done! Happy Monday LOVES!

Michael Kors Gia Puhslock Clutch

Kelly Wearstler Does China...Whattttt

I've got china on the brain today and most likely because I have so many lovely friends (and my SISTER!!) that are engaged and I love seeing what brides pick as their china patterns. I was reading a post by Habitually Chic on the Kelly Wearstler store in L.A., and her china patterns were mentioned. I obviously had to look those up and they are beautiful, but they do follow Kelly's taste in the sense that they aren't traditional and are a more modern look, but still gorgeous. My favorite is the Trousdale pattern which I have pictured second to last. The Trousdale pattern was inspired by the lacquered pieces of the Art Deco movement and the minimalism of Japanese Art. I love how festive it looks and that you could easily make it work for the holidays by adding a red, green or metallic charger.

Mulholland Pattern

Hillcrest Pattern

Trousdale Pattern

Pickfair Pattern


Do any of you all have a favorite china pattern? I would love to hear it if so! My personal one is Constance by Bernardaud

Look for Less...Celine STYLE

So who hasn't lusted over the Celine Luggage Bag, I mean I know I have! (Don't worry JDB I still LOVE my Givenchy!) So I was SO excited to stumble across this new bag from none other than the fabulous JCREW...this might go on my Spring 2012 want list. I mean it's almost identical to the Celine bag and sadly the price tag on the JCREW bag isn't that bad for an everyday bag in today's world, I know my Mama is majorly shaking her head right now. I love both colors that the JCREW Tillary bag comes in, but am definitely partial to the Warm Sienna, a bag that color would be so versatile.

Celine Luggage Tote via PurseBlog

JCREW Tillary Tote

SAG Award Fashion Wrap Up...

Lovvvvving awards season, it's SO much fun! I'm going to keep this short and sweet, here are my favorites from this years SAGs and my top pick of the night is last!

Emily Blunt in Oscar de la Renta, LOVE the color...

via MTV Style

Rose Bryne in Elie Saab, she took a risk and a departure from the "norm" dressing of these events and I am loving it. I know a lot of people won't like this, but I think it's fun and hip.

via MTV Style

Julianna Margulies in Calvin Klein, love the texture and the color looks gorgeous on her skin. I do think she should of thought about a different hairstyle and doing different earrings. I also like that this dress is a slight departure for Calvin Klein, don't you all think too?

via Red Carpert Fashion Awards

Amber Heard in Zac Posen, WOW, SEXY is all I have to say and she can totally pull it off!

via Red Carpert Fashion Awards

And last, but not least we have my absolute favorite from the night, Jessica Chastain...that color on her is AH-mazing and I'm obsessed with her look from head to toe. She hit it out of the park in my book!

via Red Carpert Fashion Awards

Would love to hear your favorites too!!

The Dirty Dozen

I'm sure most of you all already know this information, but I thought I would blog about it as well in case you don't. I've seen posts about this topic on two of  my FAV blogs, The Southern Eclectic and Apples & Onions (You all should check out both blogs STAT!). Basically, the dirty dozen are the dozen fruits and veggies that you should buy organic if your budget allows. I'm not a shopper that buys everything organic because of the cost, but am happy to purchase the dirty dozen orangic since its allover better for your health and food safety.

The Dirty Dozen

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Nectarines (imported)
7. Grapes (imported)
8. Sweet bell peppers
9. Potatoes (not including sweet potatoes, which are part of The Clean Fifteen)
10. Blueberries
11. Lettuces
12. Kale and collard greens (a tie)

Dirty Dozen Cheat Sheet

Along with the Dirty Dozen they have the Clean 15, for the 15 items where you are totally ok to NOT buy organic. 

The Clean 15

1. Onions
2. Sweet Corn
3. Pineapple
4. Avocado
5. Asparagus
6. Sweet peas
7. Mango
8. Eggplant
9. Cantaloupe (domestic)
10. Kiwi
11. Cabbage
12. Watermelon
13. Sweet Potatoes
14. Grapefruit

These lists do change from time to time, the EWG's (Enviromental Working Group) website is a great resource to stay up to date on this information.