Homemade Healthy Granola Bars

Maybe granola bars should have their own food group. Sure, they fit in the grains and nuts. But what if you add dried fruit. And what if you add chocolate. Yeah, I know, confusing right? And I'll be honest with you, these granola bars really on the line between healthy snack and dessert food. But not so on the line that I didn't eat one for breakfast this morning. (:

Granola bars, makes 10 (or more/less depending how you cut them)

2 cups quick cooking oats
1 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup shredded coconut (I used sweetened but unsweetened is good too)
1/4 cup pistachios
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/4 cup olive oil
4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup honey or light corn syrup (I used honey)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
7 oz. dark chocolate 

Combine the oats, almonds, coconut, pistachio , chia seeds and olive oil. Stir so that everything gets coated in the oil. Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes, just until toasty. In a pot over medium heat stir together the butter, sugar, honey and vanilla extract until the butter melts. Bring to a boil then remove from the heat. In a bowl combine the granola and butter mixture so that all the granola gets coated. Line an 8x8 square pan with parchment paper. Press the granola mix into the pan. Bake at 300°F for 25-28 minutes.Remove the granola from the pan and cut into bars. The granola bars will be soft so be careful removing them from the pan. Melt the chocolate in the microwave or on the stove top. Add a thin layer of chocolate to the tops of the bars and use your spoon to spread the mixture out over the bars. Now lay a piece of wax paper over the bars and lightly press it into the chocolate. Invert a cooling rack and place it on top, then flip the bars onto the cooling rack so that the chocolate is now on the bottom.Drizzle just a little more chocolate over the tops. Allow the chocolate to set (to speed up the process you can pop these in the refrigerator for a bit) then slice through the cuts again. Yum!Store these in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. If your house is a little on the warm side this season (like mine is) you can also store these in the refrigerator so the chocolate doesn't melt. Happy snacking!

xx, CGP

5 Natural Moisturizers for Your Body

I know that most people worry about moisturizing mostly during the dry winter months, but I find that being out in the sun and in chlorinated pools can also zap a lot of moisture out of the skin during this time of the year. That's why I try to moisturize my body all year round. Personally, I prefer more natural products because, I mean, you are applying it on your body's largest organ and whatever we put on our skin is absorbed into our bloodstream. 

Coconut Oil

I think anyone and everyone who has read my blog knows that I love coconut oil. Heck, I even made a list of the 50 ways you could use it! This oil is sooooo versatile and smells fantastic!

Avocado Oil

Avocado Oil has been one of the most nourishing oils that I've ever used. I begin to see results immediately after I use this product, and it makes my skin feel like silk. 

100% Pure Nourishing Body Cream

This body cream is so decadent and rich. I prefer the scent vanilla bean, because you can layer perfumes over it without it being too overpowering. This is definitely my favorite body cream of all time. 

Desert Essence Organics Hand and Body Lotion

I chose this body lotion because it is super similar to the 100% body cream, but for about half of the price. However, it doesn't moisturize as much as I would like, but I love the scent coconut for the summer!

Pacifica Body Butter

I received this product in multiple beauty subscription boxes a couple of months ago, and it was love at first use. It is a very rich formula but my favorite scent, Tuscan Blood Orange, makes it appropriate for the warm weather. Pacifica is sold at Target, which is extremely convenient too!

xx, CGP

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask Review

The Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask is a product that I have been dying to get my hands on ever since I first read about it on several beauty blogs. It was just a matter of time before I picked it up, and sure enough, a few weeks ago I did.

I have tried overnight masks before, with the Sisley Express Flower Gel mask coming to mind as the best, and I have always loved them. I adore the idea of going to sleep with an intensely hydrating mask on your face to moisturize and soothe it through the night, leaving you with baby soft, dewy, and plumped skin in the morning. The problem with the Sisley one was the price… it was $136 for 2.1 oz. I know that’s a lot, and because of that I found it hard to recommend it whole-heartedly (even though it’s lovely).

So imagine my happiness when I tried this one and realized it worked just as well! And it’s only $24! And for more product - that's the price for the bigger size, 3.4 oz. I’m sure the Sisley one has ingredients that are lovely for your skin, and trust me, I’m going to use it up completely and enjoy every drop, but this one is a much more budget-friendly option that does the job just as beautifully.

It smells of fruit and the scent doesn’t linger too long after application. I like to apply this quite thick, after my serums, in place of my moisturizer, and let it “sink in” for about 10 minutes. By that point my dry skin has "drunk it all up" (Get it? Cause it's called "Drink Up"?), so I apply a bit more on top and go to sleep. It goes on clear, but is a tad bit sticky so I always rinse my hands after and let it sink in for a bit before snuggling into my pillow. In the morning my skin appears more healthy and plump, and just better looking overall. I swear guys, this stuff is what dreams are made of.

This mask has avocado and apricot kernel oil to deeply and instantly hydrate your skin, and Japanese seaweed to repair your skin's barrier and prevent future dehydration and signs of premature aging. It also has my favorite ingredient ever, hyaluronic acid. If you look at the ingredient list it contains a ton of different flower waters and extracts, which the Sisley mask also has, and are meant to be lovely for your skin.

I highly recommend this… it’s for all skin types, but especially for you normal to dry skinned girls – try this! Your skin will thank you! This is honestly one of my all time favorite skincare products - you need this. 

xx, CGP

50 Ways to Use Coconut Oil

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you would know that I'm completely in love with coconut oil. I have compiled a list of the many different ways you could also use coconut oil. 

• Apply as a deep conditioner for your hair. Just leave it on for 5-10 minutes, and your hair will be shiny and hydrated.  Just be sure to rinse thoroughly!

• Use in place of perfume during the summer for a light tropical scent.

• Use in place of serum to eliminate frizzy hair.

• Rub into the skin to soften rough and dry patches.

• Add about a teaspoon to your hot chocolate for a subtle flavor and some healthy benefits.

• Use as a total body moisturizer.

• Use to polish stainless steel appliances by applying with a cloth in soft circular motions.

• Use as a makeup remover.  It’s particularly great for taking off eye makeup.

• Add some to your morning coffee.

• Add some to your smoothies.

• Use in place of olive oil when roasting vegetables.

• Treat psoriasis and eczema with it.

• Aid digestion and eliminate heartburn by consuming one tablespoon.

• Drizzle on a baked sweet potato in place of butter.  This is delicious!

• Melt over popcorn with some sea salt for a great snack.

• Use it to soften cuticles.

• Give yourself an at-home pedicure, and apply coconut oil as a foot cream.

• Take internally to boost your metabolism and support weight loss.

• Use as massage oil.

• Apply topically to your earlobes to soothe any irritation caused by wearing earrings.

• Exfoliate your lips by mixing some coconut oil with brown or regular sugar.  Scrub gently for smooth soft lips.

• Who needs makeup?  Take the oil internally to get naturally healthy vibrant skin.

• Apply a tiny bit to your fingers and run through your hair to tame fly-aways.

• Use it to heal cracked heels and elbows.

• Spread it on toast in place of butter.  It tastes even better with a little raw honey.

• Use it to heal severely chapped lips.

• Apply it to alleviate razor burn.

• Use as a natural non-toxic alternative to sunscreen.

• Ditch shine sprays and use coconut oil to make your hair shinier.

• Use it to soothe your skin after waxing or plucking.

• Use it to heal cuts and scratches.

• Use it in place of shaving cream.

• Drizzle it on ice cream, cakes, and other desserts.

• Make kale chips or sweet potato chips with it.

• Apply it to your face to get rid of acne.

• Use it as a nighttime facial moisturizer.  If you have oily skin, it might be too heavy to use during the day.  If your skin is dry, give it a go!

• Use it in place of store-bought hand lotions.

• Soothe a sore throat by adding it to some hot tea.

• Use it to alleviate painful sunburn.

• Soften calluses with it before exfoliating your feet.

• Conceal split ends by adding just a tiny bit to the ends of your hair.

• Add it to the bath for ultra moisturized skin.

• Add it to your own homemade granola, or try my Cinnamon Spiced Granola.  It’s addictive!

• Make your own tinted lip balm by mixing it with some of your favorite blush or lipstick.

• Use it as a natural toothpaste when mixed with baking soda.

• Use it as a highlighter for your face by applying over your makeup for that Victoria’s Secret model glow.

Pretty impressive, right?

Like Windex, you can basically use coconut oil for anything.

If you’ve never used coconut oil before, I hope that you’ll give it a try.  You can find coconut oil online, in health food stores, and even in most regular grocery stores these days.  There’s practically no excuse not to try it!

xx, CGP

The Ultimate Fall Nail Polish Chart

Fall is just around the corner, and I could not be more excited. Tory Burch riding boots, Burberry scarves, and J. Crew vests are calling my name. Since I'm in such a fall mood (currently burning a Bath and Body Works Leaves Candle), I decided to share my favorite fall nail colors that pair perfectly with the aforementioned fall pieces. Scroll through to find some old favorites and trendy fall colors!

xx, CGP

Hit or Miss: Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado

You know how everyone (especially girls) seems to have at least one spot on their body that they consider their “problem area”? Hello, my name is Joanna and my under-eyes are my problem area. Blame it on genetics; blame it on lack of sleep… whatever the excuse, I have them, and they are bad. They age me, they make me self-conscious, and they make me look constantly “worn out”. Because of this, it probably comes as no surprise that I am always on the hunt for a good eye cream. I have tried tons of them, but one that was continually on my “to-try” list was the Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. The reason it took me so long to try this was because it doesn’t have any anti-aging or de-puffing qualities to it; it’s just for hydration. Because my under-eyes are so bad, I always go for the eye creams that promise all sorts of magic, which is probably why I always ended up passing this by.

I finally decided to try it on the back of my hand at the store, and I fell in love. It’s super creamy, and quite thick, but it blends out to an almost watery consistency, that somehow seems to both de-puff and brighten my under-eye area. Now, I’m not promising that it’s not just placebo effect, especially because this eye cream isn’t necessarily supposed to do those things, but it’s definitely something that has kept me grabbing for this eye cream over all of my others for the last month.

I apply this morning and night, after my cleanser and toner and before my face moisturizer, and it has gotten to the point where I feel odd without it. Its thick, creamy, green goodness has become part of my cleansing ritual, and I miss it on the nights where I try other eye creams instead. If you are young and looking for something that’s purely hydrating without all the other mumbo-jumbo, this eye cream is definitely for you. If you are into the mumbo-jumbo (hi, self) then this eye cream is still probably for you. I love it.

This will be known hence-forth as my “favorite eye cream to use when I just want something that works, or else can’t be bothered to select a specialized eye cream for the night”. I highly recommend this product and deem it a hit!

P.S. Kiehl's is currently doing a free shipping deal with promo "AUGSHIP" plus you get 3 samples with purchase. And if you order through Ebates you get 4% cash back! Those pennies add up! Click here - Link! 

xx, CGP

Decor: Gold and Ivory Lounge

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In case you haven't known, decor is one of my absolute favorite activities. That being said, it's obvious that I was over the moon when my aunt asked me to help with the lounge in her new apartment. She wanted something neutral, but not so plain that it looked like someone spilled eggshell and ivory colored paint all over. I immediately went on Pinterest (cough, guilty pleasure) and found a couple of adorable gold and ivory lounges. 

We decided on beige as the base color, and gold as the accent to bring the room together. I was so inspired by a gold and ivory chevron tray (#3) that I picked out accent pieces that would coordinate with it. The entire lounge will be finished in a couple of weeks, so I will be sure to share pictures and more ideas! 

xx, CGP

Dior Mystic Metallics Bonne Etoile Eyeshadow: Review + Swatches

Cute packaging is my Achilles Heel of makeup hoarding collecting, so when I saw the new Dior eyeshadow palettes for Fall, I knew my willpower was in over its head.  I had to get Bonne Etoile, a five color palette featuring earthy brown, green, and blue shades imprinted with stars in the powder.  Stars?!  Shut up and take my money!

All of the colors in this palette have some shimmer/frost to them.  There is a dark olive with golden shimmer, silvery taupe, golden bronze, peacock blue, and light minty teal.

I am extremely impressed with the formulation of these eyeshadows.  Each one has great pigmentation and is very smooth.  The light silvery taupe shade is AMAZING on the eyes... when I have this all over the lid I can't help but stop and look each time I pass a mirror.  These photos do no justice.

The palette is quite compact, small enough to fit in the palm of my hand.  It features a mirror under the lid.

This product was quite the splurge, but I am so happy with it.  Going into fall, I know this is going to get a lot of use.  And c'mon, it has STARS! ;)

Bonne Etoile palette retails for $61 (6g/.21 oz) and was originally released exclusively with Nordstrom for its anniversary sale, but will soon be available everywhere.  The only place I have found it online is the Nordstrom website! 

xx, CGP

Bite On This: The Healthy Nail Diet

Forget huge diamonds that cost as much as a modest size Malibu mansion, or classic Louboutins with oh-so-perfect heels. (OK, maybe I'd still hold onto the latter.) This season's hottest red carpet accessory isn't a bag or earrings, but nails. Sure, you're only one YouTube tutorial away from bringing Despicable Me 2 to the tips of your fingers, but here's how to be mani-cam ready with a healthy diet for healthy nails.

	Get Your Protein On Nails are made up of keratin, which is a protein, and a lack of protein in your diet could lead to soft and brittle nails. Incorporate a minimum of 60g of protein into your diet every day. The best sources of protein are lean meats, seafood, eggs, dairy, legumes, tofu, and nuts.
	Take Your Vitamins According to registered dietitian, nutritionist, and health coach Sarah Mirkin, "Vitamin C helps with iron absorption and works with vitamin E to boost and strengthen nails by promoting healthy blood circulation to deliver oxygen to the nail beds." Great sources of vitamin C include strawberries, oranges, kiwis, cantaloupe, yams, tomatoes, and peppers. For vitamin E, eat nuts, eggs, avocado, asparagus, and sweet potatoes.
	Don’t Forget Biotin According to Skinny Chicks Eat Real Food author and celebrity nutritionist/chef Christine Avanti, a study found that 2.5mg of biotin per day was enough to significantly increase the firmness and hardness of nails. So make sure you include enough biotin in your daily eats with foods such as milk, salmon, and whole grains.
	Iron It Out An iron deficiency in your diet can also lead to weak nails. Sarah said great sources of iron include oysters, salmon, turkey, beef, tuna, and chicken. xx,  CGP

The Lazy Girl's Best Friend

What's a girl got to do with her makeup when she gets back from a party at 3am? Or finishes studying for finals *sigh* past midnight? 

Cleansing Wipes.

Out of all the makeup wipes I've tried (and trust me, that's a whole lot), I found only a couple that met some of my requirements. They must cleanse, remove stubborn waterproof makeup, not have a alcohol-y smell, and not burn the skin around my eyes (more than half of the wipes on the market do). As I was close to not using makeup wipes anymore because I couldn't the absolute perfect ones, I discovered these at the checkout aisle at Target, and have not used any other wipe since. 

These wipes have little to no smell, and do not bother my sensitive skin at all. They can remove all the makeup on my face in one wipe, and as if that wasn't impressive enough, they also contain good-for-you vitamins. These are the best makeup wipes compared to other high-end and drugstore products. I use these wipes before I start my nighttime skincare regimen to remove my makeup, so that I can effectively cleanse afterwards. 

Not only can I say that these are the perfect cleansing wipes that meet all my requirements, but they're also affordable and easy to access. Simple's Cleansing Wipes can be purchased at drugstores and retail for around 5-7 dollars. 

xx, CGP

Glam Tip: How to Properly Store Your Sweaters

As temperatures continue to climb, that cozy sweater in the back of your closet is probably the last thing on your mind. (I'm sweating just thinking about it!) But if you want your winter wardrobe to survive the summer then there are a few steps to take before leaving your sweaters to their hibernation. Just like doing your laundry, there is a proper protocol for storing cold weather pieces. Properly stowing away your cashmere, wool, and other delicate knitwear will keep your clothing smelling fresh, feeling soft, and looking like new over time.

So without further ado, here are a few important tips for storing your knits… You’ll thank me in the fall!

Start fresh

Before relegating your cold weather items to the back of your closet, be sure to take one final trip to the cleaners. This will prevent any stains from setting and eliminate the icky bacteria and food particles that insects love. Plus, no one wants to pull out stale-smelling clothes come fall. As an alternative to dry-cleaning, Who What Wear recommends hand washing your knits in a specially formulated cleanser like Soak Wash, The Laundress Wool & Cashmere Shampoo, or even a gentle baby shampoo.

Save space

Stowing your sweaters away in sealable bags or boxes will keep them fresh and save space in your closet (especially if said bags can be placed under the bed). But keep in mind that while vacuum-seal bags are the most compact, you have to be extra careful not to seal in moisture too. Real Simple recommends using garment boxes made of breathable materials such as cotton muslin.

Keep bugs at bay

Skip mothballs unless you have an active infestation, since these are actually pesticides (Woman’s Day). Instead, opt for natural moth repellents like cedar blocks and lavender. Not only will cedar and lavender preserve the quality of your knits, they’ll keep your clothes smelling yummy too (Who What Wear). If you still start to see holes, Vogue recommends placing your sweaters in a plastic bag in the freezer for 48 hours, pulling them out for a day, and then freezing them again for another 48 hours to kill off bugs.

xx, CGP

Hit or Miss: Tree Hut Shea Sugar Body Scrub

There are many body scrubs that have found a home in my bathroom, and I tend to keep 2 or 3 in my shower at any given time to swap out, depending on my mood. My skin is dry, and nothing makes my skin softer than giving it a nice scrub with an exfoliator and my Clarisonic and then slathering it with a body butter (hello, Laura Mercier Soufflé Body Creme!). Most of the time I pick a body scrub based on it’s scent – but today I want to review one that’s the whole package.

My bathroom is spa-themed, with blue and green being the key colors. I like it to be soothing and therapeutic, as it’s one of my favorite rooms to relax in (bubble baths are my thing). So, whilst checking out at Ulta awhile back, this little baby caught my eye, and all it took was one quick sniff for it to go into my basket. The packaging matches my bathroom, which I adore, but it’s the scent that makes this stuff irresistible – it’s divine! The Tree Hut Shea Sugar Coconut Lime Body Scrub smells like an island paradise, and the product itself looks like the sand at the bottom of crystal blue ocean water. The scrub itself is non-abrasive, but gets the job done, and washes away cleanly. It’s moisturizing as well, containing certified organic shea butter along with its natural coconut and lime extracts.

It’s inexpensive as well, at $4.99 for a 5.5 oz (my size) and $7.49 for a 18 oz. Plus, it comes in a body butter version that corresponds with the scrub.  If I didn’t already have 500 body butters (and an ongoing love affair with the Laura Mercier one I previously reviewed) I would have picked up the body butter as well – it smells just as good.

This brand also makes a few more scents, all of which I have sniffed, and all of which are delicious. These products are definitely worth checking out the next time you are in Ulta or another store that carries them! This will definitely be repurchased - I enjoy using it so much. I recommend and deem this product as a hit!

xx, CGP