Girl Talk and the Countdown to ACL

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Let's talk about it: Looking calm in a bar alone (without the help of an iPhone). We've all been there.
This scenario is quoted on the back of the ultimate girly coffee table book "Girl Talk: Unsolicited Advice for Modern Ladies." I chose "Girl Talk" by Christie Young as my second book from Blogging For Books. If you missed my first post, Blogging For Books is an opportunity for bloggers to read, review and spread the word about some of the newest books out on the market. With me not being a reader, I opt for the cookbooks and coffee table books.
I got Girl Talk in the mail last week and I think all four of my roommates and I have now read through it. It's the perfect book to leave on your coffee table and let people flip though. It has tips on growing up and moving out of your hometown, how to pick a roommate, how to pick a boyfriend, how to "look calm at a bar without the help of your iPhone," and everyday tips like eating healthy, having good etiquette, going to the doctor regularly and not waiting until your sheets are visibly dirty to wash them.

The pictures are illustrated in sketches and written in easy to understand girl terms. Christie Young is on point with every topic she covers. I cracked up over the section on how to throw a house party and accidentally stealing something from the farmers market (ya like every sample given out and usually going back for seconds). She also depicts every type of friend and family member you have, even down to your pet. This book is good, and gives exactly what the title says--unsolicited advice for the modern lady.

The one section I loved that came just in time was How To: Get Out of Town-Festival Edition. Girl Talk gives the following advice when it comes to music festivals...don't "touch them" or you will get kicked out, you will look a wreck by the end of the day if it is outside, don't forget your ticket, have a plan and a have a party sack full of necessities like sunscreen a phone charger, a snack, Advil, and water.

I conveniently leave for Austin City Limits music festival tomorrow and I can NOT wait. I now know not to "touch them," that I'll look ugly by the end of the day and I have my party sack packed and ready to go. Sam Smith, I repeat Sam Smith will be there, along with Iggy, Lana, The Avett Brothers, Paolo Nutini and The Head and the Heart just to name a few. I'm not a hipster music festival junkie, but it's going to be a great weekend in Austin with a ton of my friends, good food and great music. 

From boyfriends to parents, and music festivals to grocery shopping, Girl Talk gives you the real advice we all need to hear. I urge you to grab a copy of this book and/or read more about it in my B4B review!

Annie

I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review.



Baking with Pumpkin: Like the Typical Girl That I Am

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Well it's officially fall and now officially October, so bring on the pumpkin! Pardon me while I fall into the cultural cliche of being a pumpkin, PSL, cozy sweater loving girl. I am very particular with my pumpkin recipes though. None of those pumpkin chocolate chip cookies or two ingredient pumpkin cake recipes. I'm sorry but pumpkin and chocolate do not go together for me. And that two-ingredient cake, I've tried it and it's disgusting. Let me tell you another pumpkin fail I've recently discovered. Pumpkin Spice Candy Corn. Don't even buy them to try for yourself, just pass by and get the original (if you must). Candy Corn is one of those mystery candies to me that I actually think is disgusting, but I eat it anyway at this time of year because it's like, what you're supposed to do. 

As for when I'm baking with pumpkin, I like good rustic pumpkin recipes. First up this season is none other than a granola recipe! We all know us Tucker girls love a good batch of homemade granola and this doesn't fall short! 

Pumpkin Granola adapted from Sally's Baking Addiction
yields 5 cups

Ingredients:
3 and 3/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2/3 cup unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup uncooked quinoa (I used red quinoa and loved how the color looked!)
2 tsps. cinnamon
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/8 tsp. salt
2 egg whites
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted (vegetable or olive oil would work too)
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions: 
Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

In a large bowl, toss oats, coconut, quinoa, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and salt together. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg whites for about 1 minute. Whisk in the pumpkin puree, maple syrup, melted coconut oil (I'm on a coconut oil kick!!) brown sugar, and vanilla until smooth and combined. Pour over the dry and ingredients and mix everything together until it is all moistened (ew, moist, did you all just squirm?). 

Spread onto two baking sheets and bake each batch for 40 minutes. Stir the granola every 10-15 minutes to prevent burning and to create even baking!  Allow granola to cool for 20 minutes on the baking sheets. This will help it get crunchier. I sprinkled a little more cinnamon over the top once it came out of the oven but that is optional.  Store in an airtight container or mason jars for up to 2 weeks. Granola will lose its crunch overtime because of the pumpkin. 

*This isn't a super sweet granola, but that is just how I like it. It has a really authentic and natural pumpkin taste to it!

I have been enjoying mine with plain yogurt and an extra sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice, as a snack and even as a topping for my pumpkin banana smoothies! Have you baked with pumpkin yet this season?

Annie

LC's Barbie Dream Home

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Oh LC: my icon, my girl crush, my muse. Not only did Lauren Conrad just have the most perfect wedding and marry the most handsome man, but she also recently let InStyle magazine take a peek inside her fabulous Beverly Hills penthouse. It's a far step above Barbie, but it does have that dream home feel to it. 
Lauren mentions that she styles her home like she styles her clothes. Lot's of neutrals and investment pieces. 

If only LC and I could sit at that breakfast nook together with oatmeal and coffee and gab about Laguna, Stephen, Teen Vogue and Speidi...

Her touches of mustard yellow have me swooning. I love how she gives this often dated color a sense of glamour and chicness. 

I did a little digging and found some before pictures of her penthouse. She bought the space back in the Spring of 2012, but has completely transformed it since. Proof that LC's taste is as impeccable as ever.

It's safe to say LC gave this penthouse the elegance it deserves. With a view of the 90210 like that, you have to have an interior to match! Bravo Lauren, you have impressed us once again. 

View the full story & video on InStyle or in the current October issue. You can also get her look with inspired pieces from Brit+Co's post!
How would you design your dream home? Mine would defiantly have a breakfast nook just like Lauren, a kitchen the size of Texas, a walk in closet, a bathtub and be decorated in navy, white and gold!
Annie

Get Your Own Box!

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Homemade Cheez-Its - actually so worth it and honestly don't take much effort. 

I have seen recipes for homemade Cheez-Its before, and they have always floated around on my list of things I want to make. I finally put them into action after one of my friends was talking about how they were her favorite food. Ironic that she loves them so much because she actually despises cheese, but I think we can all agree Cheez-Its are delicious and insanely addicting. These homemade Cheez-Its are just as delicious and also insanely addicting. 
Homemade Cheez-Its
yields about 70 little crackers
Ingredients: 
8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, grated
4 tbsp. unsalted butter, room temp.
1/2 cup all-purpose flour*
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour*
1 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. ice cold water
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix your grated cheese and butter in an electric mixer. Add in your flour and salt to combine. Dough will be crumbly. Add your ice cold water 1 tbsp. at a time until the dough comes together. 
Roll your dough out on a floured surface to about a 1/8 inch thickness. Using a sharp knife, cut into about 1 in. x 1 in. squares. I used a toothpick to create the signature hole in the middle of the cracker. The crackers don't really expand when they bake, so I was able to fit all of my crackers on one large baking sheet. Sprinkle with a tiny bit of salt then bake for 12 minutes.
**You can use 1 cup of all-purpose flour if you don't have whole-wheat on hand. I like the combination of both to give the crackers a more nutty and baked taste!

The end result tasted exactly like a Cheez-It, if not better. Full of real cheese flavor and that salty baked taste just like the real thing. Mine came out a little soft and puffy which I loved! 
My Cheez-It friend loved them and we snacked away Sunday night while I "studied" for a Marketing test. Like the Cheez-It slogan states, you'll want to "get your own box" of these homemade treats!

Annie