trench - asos, dress - anthro, tights - j.crew, shoes - hasbeens, cup - kate spade, glasses - warby parker

One of the few times (other than dates nights) that I actually wear something other than yoga pants these days is church. I know everyone's thing this day is "come as you are" but for my own sake I pretend that Jesus really would be offended if I came in wearing the same striped shirt and black pants I wear every day. At least that's what I tell myself as I re-acquaint myself with areas of my closet that most of the time I don't even know exist anymore. 

So while a tiny voice in my head told me that perhaps a vegan leather dress is a bit overkill for church I decided "why not" and zipped myself up! Because truthfully if I don't wear it this week then it will be too hot by next weekend and then an entire year would have gone by without me wearing it and I mean would you look at that gorgeous color??? That would just be a SIN. And just to make sure that no one would think it looked like "that" kind of leather dress I paired it with some "granny tights" (my secret favorite) and my trusty Hasbeens and ta-da!! News anchor look - done!

...

Oh and inside the cup? Lots and lots and lots of coffee or mama-juice as some may call it. 

I've been cooking/baking on my own now for close to ten years. Sheesh that makes me feel old. Sometimes papa bear and I reminisce and laugh about my kitchen catastrophes when we first got married. After our honeymoon I held closely to one cooking rule - chicken or bust. I was terrified of cooking anything else. My attempts at baking were also pretty hit or miss. But I had a pretty robust interest in all things culinary so I continued to dust myself off and try again. And again. 

If you told me ten years ago that I would actually attempt to come up with a recipe on my own, for a dessert no less, I would have probably just started laughing. And yet after ten years of baking muffins I decided last week that it was time to try and make one that would have everything I love all in one tiny bite-sized package. I knew I wanted oatmeal and nuts and peanut butter and bananas (of course) and so after studying many a recipe and experiementing quite a bit I was able to come up with something that was right out of my dreams!! Nutty, meaty and with a hint of banana and peanut butter. And the best part is they are just so easy! And I bet you have everything you need sitting in your pantry or fridge right now!

3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed

1/3 cup canola oil

1/4 cup peanut butter

1 cup sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

1/2 cup of oatmeal

1/3 cup of chopped nuts (I used walnuts)

Preheat the oven to 350°F 

Oil or line a mini muffin pan.

Mix oil into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl until well combined. Mix in the peanut butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour and mix well. Using a wooden spoon mix in the oatmeal and nuts. Pour mixture into oiled muffin pan. Bake muffins for 18-20 minutes. Cool on a rack.

That's it! We snacked on them with a cold glass of almond milk and they were just dreamy!!

birdie: by the end of this week we got into such a good groove with this girl and we all couldn't be happier about it!!

teddy: outgrowing all his clothes and I can barely keep up with this green giant of mine!