Peanut Butter & Banana Pancakes Recipe

After testing out several different clean eating, protein, oatmeal pancake recipe variations, I finally came up with one myself! I made these twice this weekend and my husband said, and I quote, 'these are the best pancakes you have ever made!' And I agree! Here's the recipe:

Ingredients
2/3 cup of dry oatmeal
7 egg whites
1 medium sized ripe banana
2 tbsp of all natural peanut butter
1 tbsp of Raw Cacao Nibs (optional)
1 tbsp Coconut oil for pan
Blueberries to top (optional)

1. Combine the oatmeal and egg whites in a mixing bowl and stir
2. Add in banana and mash/mix it in to the bowl
3. Add peanut butter and optional cacao nibs
4. Pour batter into blender and blend until smooth
5. Heat nonstick pan over medium heat and put a small portion of coconut oil to grease pan
6. Add a portion of the batter (depending on how big you like your pancakes) to pan for approximately 3-5 minutes, then flip to cook other side (this will vary based on how hot your pan is and size of pancake

My husband and I topped these with sugar free syrup (for him) and low-sugar syrup (for me). I added blueberries to the top of mine for some extra sweetness.

This recipe should make approximately 4-6 ‘silver dollar size’ pancakes. These are pretty dense – 2 pancakes filled me up!

What's in my Beach Bag? Alterna Bamboo Beach Collection

It's always a bummer coming out of the lake or pool with tangled, ratty hair. I always try to keep a large comb and hair products in my bag in case I don't have time to shower and blow dry my hair after swimming. Most recently, I've been keeping Alterna's Beach Bamboo collection in my beach bag to help tame my hair after a day on the lake.

After I'm done swimming, I'll spray my hair with Alterna Bamboo Beach Sun Recovery spray and comb through with a large tooth comb. Once my tangles are out I'll spray on Alterna Bamboo Beach Summer Ocean Waves spray and scrunch my hair with my hands. Voila, beachy waves!

Both products smell amazing. Light scent of coconut and a little fruitiness. The Summer Ocean Waves spray is really light and doesn't make your waves super 'crunchy' like some curl enhancers do. Both products are free of parabens, sulfates, and synthetic colors.

You can find Alterna's Bamboo Beach line on their site, Amazon.com & Drugstore.com.

Have you rocked the 'beachy waves' look this yet this summer? What was in your beach bag this past weekend?

Beauty Blogger Coalition Weekly Roundup

Mama Fashionista: Find out why Quinn says it's a Lavanila Summer!

TheFabZilla: Hello Gorgeous! TheFabZilla reviews Alima Pure makeups- for the naturally gorgeous you.

Beauty Professor: The Beauty Professor interviewed Australian beauty line creator Napoleon Perdis...read all about it here!

BeautyTidbits: Harshleen reviews one of the new arrivals from Midnight Velvet's Fall collection and is also giving away a $50 gift certificate to Midnight Velvet!

Painted Ladies: Sheila has found a blush by Physicians Formula that gives good glow without breaking the bank.

Fabulous Awesomeness: Hey gorgeous, hold on to that old toothbrush! Mina Slater shares 7 ways to use a toothbrush for beauty!

My Highest Self: Enter to win a Vitabath Prize Pack (Body Wash, Lotion, and Fragrance Mist of your choice)!

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: Ever on the quest for the best anti-aging powerbroker? If so, then meet The Organic Pharmacy Collagen Boost Mask! It's remarkable!

D.G.S.Beauty: Looking for a new pair of false eyelashes? Eylure has some awesome falsies perfect for anyone.

Beauty by Krystal: Summer isn't over yet, check out this glamorous teal and gold nail art how-to

My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog: Laura from My Newest Addiction Beauty Blog shows us the IT Cosmetics Limited Edition 6 Piece Vanity Brush Collection.

Nuts 4 Stuff: If you're looking for a delicate scent to embrace seduction, Mary B. of Nuts 4 Stuff shares L'Occitane's fourth La Grasse fragrance review with Vanille & Narisse Eau de Toilette!

Beauty by Miss L: This week Miss L showed this very simple Fall manicure.

Pammy Blogs Beauty : Pammy Blogs Beauty has stumbled upon her new favorite skincare device!!! Another sonic/spinning brush? Not this time! Introducing the totally unique FOREO LUNA cleansing device!

Geniabeme: Do your own ombre dotted nails with my easy tutorial!

Midnight Manicures: Jeanie shares with you her swatches and review of the Zoya Cashmere Nail Polish Collection. Enter the giveaway to win a collection.

Lipgloss Break: It may take a little longer, but beauty school pedicures are relaxing! Check out my review from my latest trip to the Aveda Institute.

Icy Nails: Icy Nails shares a review of the Ageless Derma Stem Cell and Peptide Anti Wrinkle Cream.

Painted Ladies: Do you or someone you know have Celiac Disease? Sheila tells you why it's important to go gluten free with your beauty products.

The Advice Sisters Beauty/Fashion/Lifestyle: Braids were everywhere on the Fall runways at Fashion Week. The Advice Sisters offer you a how-to video fro, AVEDA, for an easy and sophisticated wrapped braid look that's appropriate for more than just schoolgirls!

In Her Makeup Bag: Stephanie shares her top four drugstore products for a totally flawless complexion!

Blushing Noir: The Fall 2013 Nail Polishes from Laura Mercier have me Bewitched!

Beauty 101: Looking for the best way to customize your Alcone at Home Palette? Casey from Beauty 101 explains the process and even shares a way to save big on products!

Beauty School Pedicures

Even though the weather is turning colder, I'm still holding on to summer clothes and colors. Here's a nice summery color for nails, Spa Ritual in Last Tango. 

I picked this polish up when my friend and I got pedicures at the Douglas J Aveda Institute in Ann Arbor. I love going to the beauty school for pedicures. The way I look at it, I'm just helping a student get their hours to graduate!

In the express pedicure, they do the normal pedicure foot soak, nail polish removal, shaping, cuticle care, buffing, exfoliation and lotion massage.When I got in the chair the student gave me a neck pillow that smelled so good I've been on the hunt for the scent ever since. After polishing the student then has to have his/her instructor come over and check out their work.

In my experience, the students are usually a little nervous, but always very friendly and careful. And I feel like they pay special attention to detail because their instructor has to look over everything. The take a little bit longer than normal pedicures (I would block off at least 1.5 hours of time), but honestly, I don't care at all. To me, it's just extra time to relax! 

At the Aveda Institute it's $32 for an express pedicure, and you get to keep your polish. They use to have OPI but have since switched to SpaRitual, which I really like. They have a strict policy against no tipping, but this may not apply to all schools, so I would highly suggest asking when you book your appointment.

Have you ever went to a beauty school for a manicure, pedicure or hair service? If so, what did you think?

Trump Hotel Chicago

Sometimes, a girl just needs to be pampered...which is why I get giddy like a school girl when I get to stay at the Trump Hotel Chicago. Half of my sales team sits in our Chicago office, so when I visit, I'm able to stay at the Trump which is walking distance from our office.

I appreciate good customer service and experience, and consistently, the Trump Chicago has exceeded my expectations. Here's what I love about this hotel...

• They get to know you...when you fill out a profile as a Trump Card Privileges member (free to join), they truly honor your special needs. Favorite magazine, snacks, etc. I specified that I eat healthy and came back to my hotel room one night with a full on exotic fruit spread. It was amazing.
• Each room has a Nespresso machine with both regular and decaf options.
• Turn down service is on point. Bottles of water are left behind for at night slippers are placed by your bed.
• They leave behind a note card each day with the weather for the next day. Super helpful.
• The gym is amazing. Amazing view, large amount of cardio and weight machines, and the locker room is like a spa. They even have takeaway mini booklets with different workout programs, depending on what your goal is.
• They have their own line of amenities that smell great. We were lucky enough to stay in a spa room one stay and got bonus bath and body products, body scrub and body butters...
• The bathroom mirror has a TV in it...enough said.
• Extremely comfortable beds

The Trump realizes that they get a lot of work travelers, so they do their best to make you feel comfortable, pampered and at home. If you're in a city where there's a Trump, I definitely encourage you to splurge. It's a celebratory type of hotel.

Wine on the house because of a reservation mix up

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  View from treadmill

  

  Nespresso machine and mini bar

Nordstrom Beauty Gift with Purchase

It's close to being the 'most wonderful time of the year'....not the holidays, but Nordstrom free gift with purchase time! Get a Nordstrom beauty spot iPhone 5 case and 15 beauty favorites in a clear cosmetics bag with your $125 beauty or fragrance purchase.

Don't need any beauty items for yourself? Well then think of others! Early holiday shopping, someone's birthday coming up? Two perfumes or colognes could get you this fun gift to keep for you!

Beauty Blogger Coalition Weekly Roundup

Fun Fierce Fabulous Beauty Over 50!: Find out why Sephora's $16 Black Magic Palette is getting rave reviews!

Mama Fashionista: Quinn shares her latest and greatest favorites from Smashbox Cosmetics!

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: The Organic Pharmacy Rose Plus Marine Collagen Complex is a potent and highly effective anti-aging product that REALLY beats the competition!

BeautyTidbits: A super-hydrating lip gloss and an anti-aging lip serum all in one? Say hello to the new Vitality Lip Flush Butter Glosses from It Cosmetics!

Painted Ladies: Find out how Summer's Eve makes it easy to be fabulously fresh and enter to win a $100 Spa Finder gift card.

Peppermint Lips Beauty Blog: MAC Impassioned Lipstick Review, Dupe & Swatches!

TheFabZilla: TheFabZilla officially ends her summer posts as she looks forward to fall. Check out what made it to her top 10 most loved products this summer!

Luminous Lacquer: Borrow and wear Designer Jewelry? Very awesome! Check out her review of RocksBox!

Midnight Manicures: Do you subscribe to monthly beauty boxes? Jeanie shows you her favorite, Wantable.com, and why she ended up with 2 boxes this month.

Beauty by Miss L: This week Miss L did a purple & golden manicure.

Geniabeme: The ladies of Makeup Wars are having a Color War! See what products I picked for the color purple!

D.G.S.Beauty: D.G.S.Beauty shares her customized wristbands. Learn where you could a wristband of your own.

Advice Sisters Beauty?Fashion/Lifestyle Website: Alison of the Advice Sisters explores a bunch of beauty tools to DRY For!

The Stepford Witch: Looking for a radiant setting powder that doesn't break the bank? Check out this week's review of Mary Kay's Translucent Loose Powder.

Beauty 101: Looking for the best products to create the perfect nude lip? Casey from Beauty 101 has you covered!

And the Winners Are....

We have our winners - thank you so much to everyone who entered! 

Joico Hair Products giveaway - nicolegriesmer, lynntrish30, jill190
L'Occitane hair care mask - mihaeladay, sabryant, wallindeb

Two more giveaways are still going. Enter to win a $50 Limited gift card and a full size L'Occitane Verbena EDT. Happy Sunday!

Kate Upton Elle cover

I'm currently obsessing over Kate's Elle cover. Not only is Kate a fresh faced beauty, but her jewels are to die for. Looking forward to getting this copy in the mail.

 

Giveaway Break - L'Occitane Verbena Eau De Toilette

I've been doing a lot of reviews of L'Occitane lately. I've really been impressed with all of their new products I've been trying, including their hair mask and colognes. They have definitely done a great job at going beyond their lotions and creams they are known for. Their website has even received a fresh new design. 

LOccitane.com now has a responsive design, which means it seamlessly adapts to all screen sizes, including tablet and mobile. Some of their other updates include:
 - Skincare Diagnosis and fragrance finder
 - Rich video content
 - Simplified checkout process
 - Glossary featuring over 200 Mediterranean ingredients
 - VIP sign-up to receive special offers and invitations from L'Occitane

L'Occitane is way ahead in this space, and I give them props  for adapting their web experience to help us consumers have a great expeirence! To help celebrate the launch of their new site, L'Occitane is sponsoring a giveaway on Lipgloss Break!

***Giveaway***

Enter to win a L'Occitane Verbena EDT! 

Fill out the form below to win! There are also several different ways you can get extra entries: sign up for my mailing list, post a link to this giveaway on your blog, follow my blog, follow me & retweet on Twitter , follow me on Pinterest, follow me on Instagram or become a fan on Facebook; just make sure to list the number of extra entries in the form below. Enter up to once a day!

This giveaway is open to US residents only. The contest will end on Tuesday, September 10th. I will randomly select one winner and announce them on Lipgloss Break, so keep checking to see if you're a winner - Good Luck!