alice in wonderland nail art tutorial (a guest post by taylor of posh polish nails).

Hi everyone! It's Taylor again :) I am back to share another fun nail design with you! As I mentioned in my first post, I came up with this design thanks to Victoria's daughter Alice! Side note : Can I just say how awesome Alice is? From what I read in Victoria's tweets and posts, she is a hilarious little girl. Can a three year old be my role model? Anyways, back to the reason I am here :) Today's nails are inspired by Alice in Wonderland! I have been wanting to try this design out for a while, and I thought this was a perfect time to do it! So without further ado, here are my nails!

  Just like my previous design, I will give y'all a step by step tutorial for each nail! Let's get started!

Index finger (Alice):

Polishes used:

Sally Hansen - White on and Lemon Shark Orly - Liquid Vinyl The nude is a Bolivian polish :)

Tutorial!

Start with a base of white. Paint a small portion of the tip with a nude polish. This doesn't have to be precise, you just need to make sure you have enough nude for her forehead. It is better to overdo it than not have enough because you will be covering up the excess in the next step! Using a yellow polish, paint two strokes above the nude, one to the right and one to the left. This will be Alice's hair. The next step is to outline her hair and add a bow, I recommend using a black polish for this step. Side note: I am awful at painting faces, which is why I chose to paint the top of her head instead of her face. Would you have guessed it was Alice? I was told it looked like a duck XD

Middle finger (Eat Me Tag):

Polishes used :

Loreal - Club Prive Sally Hansen - White on and Black Nail Art Pen And the grey is Bolivian :)

Tutorial!

Start off with any color base, I chose Club Prive because I love teal/turquoise polishes. This next step is optional, so feel free to get creative on this one! I chose to add grey polka dots to the base of Club Prive. Want stripes instead? Or would you rather it be plain? Go for it! Next paint the base of the tag with a white polish. I don't know why I made mine so small, especially since it was the only thing on the nail. I recommend making it bigger to at least fill half the nail, because it makes the next step so much easier. Now it is time to add the writing, see why it would be easier to have a bigger tag? I used a nail art pen by Sally Hansen because I find it makes it so much easier to write with than a nail art brush. The final step is to outline the tag to make it stand out against the background!

Ring finger (Pocket Watch):

Polishes used:

Orly - Liquid Vinyl Sally Hansen - White on The grey and gold are Bolivian as well :)

Tutorial!

Start off with a base of a dark color. I chose to use grey, but black or any other deep color would work. The next step is to paint the base of the watch. I recommend using a metallic color, as you can see I used gold. You can either use a nail brush or the polish brush to paint the base, use what is easier for you! Then using the same metallic polish and a dotting tool, add a big dot to the top of the watch, and slightly smaller dots to form a chain. The next step is to add smaller dots over the chain dots using your base color, to finish the chain. Using a white polish, paint the base of the face of the watch. The last step is to use a black polish to add all the small details, such as the hands of the clock.

Pinky (Cheshire Cat):

Polishes used :

Loreal - Hint of Lavender and Violette

Tutorial!

This nail is the easiest of all the designs. Start with a light purple/pink base, whichever you have that is closest to the Cheshire Cat's lightest color. This next step can be done two different ways. The first is to hand paint the stripes using a nail art brush. The second way is to use nail striping tape, which is what I used. If you have the striping, I recommend using it because you will achieve much cleaner and precise stripes than simply hand painting them. But if you don't have tape, no worries! Hand painted will still look good :) I finished all of these designs by using NYC Matte Me Crazy top coat. I wanted a matte finish, but if you prefer shiny nails, you can use a regular top coat! It is all up to you! 

There you have it! What do you all think? If you recreate this mani, I would love to see! Tag me on Twitter or Instagram so I can see! I want to thank Victoria for letting me share not just one, but two design's with you all! I had a lot of fun putting these together, I hope you guys enjoyed them!

- Posh Polish

gluten free mango ginger cupcakes (guest post by stacie at housewifes whimsy)

hey everyone! stacie from Housewife’s Whimsy is back with another guest post, this time with a recipe for gluten free mango ginger cupcakes. as if a cupcake recipe wasnt awesome enough, shes here today with one thats not only gluten free, but with a totally unique flavor AND a mascarpone icing, are you excited? cause i am. lets let stacie take over so we can get to the actual recipe:

A fresh fruit base is a departure from my typical cupcake recipes. I personally love anything and everything chocolate but I really wanted to embrace the flavors of a California summer for this cupcake. So thanks to Poverty Luxe for inspiring me to bring these bright flavors to North Iowa! The mango and ginger flavor combo may not be the first thing you think of, but you will definitely fall in love once you try it.

If you’ve ever made gluten free cupcake recipes before you know that they can tend to be on the dry crumbly side. I’ve been able to change and refine this recipe over time so it is now perfect! I have a fabulous chocolate version on my blog to complement this vanilla based version.  The texture of the cake is just as good as any “regular” cupcake you might eat. It is light and fluffy without any hint of dryness. By using both xanthan gum and cream of tartar you get the best cupcake texture possible.

This recipe uses fresh fruit throughout the entire recipe. It also has the added benefit of no refined sugars in either the cake or icing. Because of this, the cupcake is not overly sweet. It has a hint of sweetness due to the honey, but mostly it relies on the mango and ginger flavors to shine through. The mascarpone provides the perfect vehicle for the bright summery California flavor combination. The hint of lemon added to the ginger syrup really creates a complex flavor blend throughout the entire cupcake.

I typically use piping bags and tips when I ice my cupcakes. This gives them the professional look and feel that really impresses those eating your cakes. If you’re not familiar with how to do this, I have a short tutorial over on my blog that walks you through how to get that bakery look. If you’re short on time though you can ice these cupcakes with a spatula or offset knife. I chose not to garnish these since I felt they were far too pretty with the clean lines, but you could feel free to finish the tops with a chunk of mango or candied ginger if you wish.

Gluten Free Mango-Ginger Cupcakes

For the Cakes:

1 Cup Gluten Free Flour

½ Cup Raw Honey

¼ Cup Salted Butter

¼ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

4 Eggs

½ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1 Teaspoon Xanthan Gum

1 Teaspoon Cream of Tarter

½ Cup Mango Puree

½ Teaspoon Ground Ginger

¼ Cup Milk

For the Icing:

½ Cup Mango Puree

¼ Cup Chopped Fresh Ginger Root

½ Cup Water

1 Tablespoon Raw Honey

Splash of Fresh Lemon

16oz Mascarpone

2 Tablespoons Arrowroot Starch/Corn Starch

To make the cakes:

Preheat the oven to 350 and grease a twelve cup muffin tin or line it with paper liners.

In the bowl of a stand mixer combine the honey, butter, olive oil and eggs on high until well mixed and free of lumps.

Add the mango puree, vanilla extract and ground ginger. Stir until mixed.

Once the mixture is well combined stir in the xanthan gum, cream of tartar and gluten free flour. Beat on high until slightly elastic and the xanthan gum has been activated.

Add the milk and slowly mix until incorporated.

Using a ¼ cup measuring cup spoon the prepared batter into the lined muffin tin.

Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcakes comes out clean. Let cool completely before icing the cupcakes.

To make the icing:

Place the fresh ginger, water, honey and spritz of fresh lemon in a small saucepan over medium heat. Let boil until reduced by half. Strain and let cool before moving on.

In a small bowl place the mascarpone, mango puree, ginger syrup and arrowroot starch. Use a spatula to stir until all the ingredients are well combined, adding additional arrowroot starch if the mixture is too runny.

Spoon the finished icing into a piping bag fitted with an icing tip if using. Pipe the icing onto the cooled cupcakes and enjoy!

Stacie LaMoore has been blogging at Housewife’s Whimsy since November 2014. Her blog contains a variety of topics including Gluten Free recipes, natural body and home ideas, and most importantly, cupcakes. She lives in northern Iowa with her husband, dog and cat where there isn’t much to do other than bake and watch the corn grow. She loves reading, kayaking and everything related to baking.  She’s very excited to have this chance to share a little of her life with you!

adventure time nail art tutorial (a guest post by taylor of posh polish nails).

Hi everyone! My name is Taylor, and I am so excited to be guest posting for Poverty Luxe! Victoria has kindly given me the opportunity to write not just one, but two posts to share with you all! Before I begin, here is a little bit about me :) I am a nail blogger, I run a blog entitled Posh Polish Nails! I am currently living in Bolivia, and I love using inspiration from the world around me for my nail art! I will be sharing two different nail designs with you guys, one today and another on the 28th, and each will have a brief tutorial so that you can recreate it! Today's design is inspired by one of my favorite shows, Adventure Time! I recently discovered that Victoria and her family are also fans of the show, so I thought this would be the perfect design for this post! Here is what I came up with :)

 

For those of you who haven't heard of or watch Adventure Time, it is an animated show on Cartoon Network, and it is not just for kids! I chose to paint the two main characters (Index and Ring fingers) and two of my favorite reoccurring characters (Middle and Pinky). I will list the products used by finger, along with the tutorial! Let's get started!  

Ring finger (Finn):

Polishes used:

Sally Hansen - Brisk Blue and White Out Orly - Liquid Vinyl The nude is actually a bolivian brand, but any nude would work :)

Tutorial!

This design is probably the easiest out of the characters. Start with a base of white polish. Paint the tip blue, using either the polish brush or a nail art brush. Using either the polish brush or a dotting tool, paint a nude oval towards the base of your nail, above the blue. The last step is to use a black polish and a nail art brush to add Finn's facial features, and to clean up the line between the white and the blue. I didn't do such a good job with the last step lol

Middle finger ( Lumpy Space Princess):

Polishes used:

Formula X - Outrageous Sally Hansen- White Out and Lemon Shark Orly - Liquid Vinyl

Tutorial!

Start off with a purple base. Lumpy Space Princess has a very iconic star on her forehead, so I chose to start off with that, since I feel it is the most important part. Paint a star at the base of your nails, you can go ahead and use yellow polish but I chose to use white first to give the yellow more vibrancy. If you chose to use white first, go back over it with yellow after the first coat dries. Next use a large dotting tool and a black polish to paint her eyes. Using a nail art brush, paint her mouth and eyebrows using black as well. LSP has many facial expressions, feel free to paint her smiling, smirking, or another emotion if you'd like! It is up to you! Since I chose to give her a sad expression, I added small white dots in her eyes to convey emotion!

Ring finger (Jake):

Polishes used:

Sally Hansen - White out and Lemon Shark Orly - Liquid Vinyl

Tutorial!

Start with a yellow base. Lemon Shark isn't exactly the right yellow, but it was the closest I had to Jake's actual color. Once your base is dry, use a dotting tool and black polish to create his eyes. This next step is pretty tricky. Using a nail brush, paint Jake's nose and mouth. This is a bit difficult, even I didn't get it exactly right. The final step is to use a smaller dotting tool to add white dots to his eyes. I think Jake is the hardest design out of all of them, he definitely has distinct features.

Pinky (Marceline):

Polishes used:

Zoya - Megan and Demetria Orly - Liquid Vinyl Sally Hansen - White Out

Tutorial!

Start with a light grey base. Using a black polish and a nail art brush, paint her hair, leaving a decent space in the middle for her face. Her hair frames her face, so I chose to let the hair define her face in this design. While it might be easier in theory to paint your nail all black and then add her face, I find it easier to start with the lighter color as my base. Using a small dotting tool, paint her eyes! Adding her mouth is the next step. I chose to paint her mouth red, but you could use black, grey, or any other color you think fits! Since Marceline is a Vampire, she needs some fangs! Paint them using a small brush and a white polish! This last step is completely optional, if you don't have space don't worry about it! The red dot on her neck was not a mistake, she has two bite marks on her neck (I only had room to paint one), so if you want, go ahead and add them using a small dotting tool! There you have it! What do you all think? If you recreate this mani, I would love to see! Tag me on Twitter or Instagram so I can see! I had so much fun putting this design together for you all! As mentioned above, I will be back to share another design and tutorial with you on the 28th! It was inspired by Victoria's daughter Alice! Any guesses about the theme?

-Posh Polish

   

housewifes whimsy hand + body lotion (a guest post).

today i have another wonderful lady taking over: stacie from Housewife’s Whimsy is here with a recipe for some homemade lotion with essential oils! this recipe looks absolutely fantastic and i hope i can get the spare time to make a batch sometime soon. but this is her recipe, not mine so ill let stacie take over now:

One of my favorite things to do is make homemade lotion. I’ve been doing it for some time now and I just love the way it feels when I put a fresh batch on my hands. This lotion recipe I’ve created is super silky, soft and luxurious. You will be in heaven once you try it out!

If you’ve made homemade lotion before you know that it can tend to be on the greasy/oily side. I’ve actually fixed that problem with this recipe! By adding a little bit of Arrowroot starch (or corn starch) you can actually make the lotion less greasy when you first put it on. It will absorb quickly into your skin and keep it soft throughout the day. The lotion has a thin consistency so it is perfect for spreading all over your body.

This recipe has been created exclusively for Poverty Luxe, but it is based on my favorite Honey and Shea Lotion. However, I have not included any coconut oil in this recipe since I know some people have allergic reactions.  This lotion is perfect for anyone with very sensitive skin. If you have trouble with fragrance or any essential oils you can simply omit this from the finished product. You will then have a wonderful unscented product to work with.  I’ve listed a few ingredients as optional, however if you omit them your finished product will not be as hydrating as this version. I also highly suggest using all organic ingredients since then you will only be putting only the very best on your body.

While I have a variety of essential oils on hand, I realize you may not. You can use any combination of EO’s you wish, you will simply need about 80 drops for this recipe. I’ve created a blend specifically for Poverty Luxe and this recipe below. It is a bright citrus based fragrance with notes of eucalyptus and clove bud.  This is one of my favorite EO blends to date, the only other one that even comes close is the blend for my Eucalyptus Citrus Body Butter. Depending on what you prefer, or any allergies you need to consider, use whatever blend works for you.

Homemade lotion will last for about three months at room temperature. If you keep it in the fridge you it will have a slightly longer shelf life, but not by much. However, this recipe makes the perfect amount of lotion, one for you and one for a friend! It is also a great way to reuse those mason jars you have laying around from other projects. Just simply make sure they have been sterilized before you use them for lotion, otherwise it will cut down on the shelf life. I personally like to glue some decorative paper to the tops of the lids to make them a little more beautiful.

Housewife’s Whimsy Hand & Body Lotion

1/3 Cup Grapeseed Oil

1/3 Cup Sunflower Oil

1/3 Cup Sweet Almond Oil

¼ Cup Beeswax

Optional:

3 Teaspoons Organic Honey with Honeycomb

4 Teaspoons Vitamin E Oil

4 Teaspoons Shea Butter

6 Tablespoons Distilled Water

4 Tablespoons Arrowroot Starch

80 Drops Essential Oil

Special Poverty Luxe EO Blend:

20 Drops Lemon EO

20 Drops Sweet Orange EO

10 Drops Tea Tree EO

10 Drops Clove Bud EO

10 Drops Eucalyptus EO

5 Drops Frankincense EO

5 Drops Myrrh EO

Combine the oils, beeswax, honey, vitamin E oil, and shea butter in a medium saucepan, set over low heat.

Gently stir until the beeswax has melted.

Remove from heat and pour into a large bowl. Pour in the distilled water and arrowroot starch.

Using a hand mixer, mix together the oil and water until it resembles lotion.

Let cool to the touch then gently stir in the essential oils.

Once the lotion has completely cooled, spoon it into clean jars. (This recipe will make approximately two 8oz containers.)

Spread liberally over your hands and body and enjoy!

Pro tip: Have a specific saucepan, mixing bowl and mixer to use for making lotion. It is incredibly difficult to get these items completely clean so having ones specified for this use will prevent cross contamination with food.

Stacie LaMoore has been blogging at Housewife’s Whimsy since November 2014. Her blog contains a variety of topics including Gluten Free recipes, natural body and home ideas, and most importantly, cupcakes. She lives in northern Iowa with her husband, dog and cat where there isn’t much to do other than bake and watch the corn grow. She loves reading, kayaking and everything related to baking.  She’s very excited to have this chance to share a little of her life with you!

twice baked potatoes. (guest post by sonya of sea salt and caramel)

today we have another great guest post, our friend sonya from sea salt & caramel is back, this time with a recipe for twice baked potatoes! 

1. Rinse, wrap in aluminum foil, and bake 4 Russet potatoes in the oven at 400F, for 40 minutes. 
2. 
   
3. Once cooked, cut the top off the potato to create a flat surface. Carve out the inside and place it in a bowl. 
4. 
   
5. Mix potatoes with 1/2 lb of grilled canadian bacon, cut into bits, a handful of chives, and 3/4 of a tablespoon of sour cream for each potato. Season and fill each potato shell. 
6. 
   
7. Dust with grated cheese and place back into the oven. Let grill for 10-15 minutes
8. Tips:

1. You can bake the potatoes the night before to save time. 
2. If you pierce the skin of the potato while carving it, don’t worry you can wrap the potato in aluminum foil for support. 
3. You can even make the mixture before hand and save prep time.

you cant take it with you: what it means to downsize (guest post by j.h. moncrieff)

im still on my baby-break so today we have  j h moncrieff guest posting with her story about downsizing: 

photo credit

Not so long ago, I was the girl with over 170 pairs of shoes.

Yes, you read that right. Over 170 pairs of shoes.

What was I thinking? Instead of being a source of shame, this in-your-face conspicuous consumption was my trademark, even something to be proud of.

Coworkers challenged me to wear a different pair of shoes every day. I took pictures of my latest acquisitions and posted them online, to a flood of positive comments. Having the right accessory for every occasion became part of my identity.

To say this wasn't healthy is an understatement.

My giant shoe collection, as beautiful as it was, was also a symptom. A symptom of a much bigger problem. My long-term relationship--a relationship I was sure was going to end in marriage--was on the verge of collapse, and I felt very alone a lot of the time. For an extrovert, that has to be one of the worst feelings in the world--the feeling that no one else really gets you, not even your partner.

My shame of being unable to make yet another relationship work was so great that I couldn't even turn to my friends. In fact, my best friend had no idea things were as bad as they were until I asked her to go apartment-hunting.

Rather than deal with all these painful feelings and the fact that I was probably going to lose one of the most important people in my life, I turned to a welcome distraction--online shopping.

It started innocently enough, searching for just a simple pair of white sandals, and built from there. It quickly became an obsession, and soon living in my house was like celebrating Christmas every day, with new packages arriving all the time. Sometimes I didn't even bother to open them for weeks. It wasn't the shoes themselves, but the thrill of acquiring them that interested me. Somehow, having a lot of possessions made me feel safe.

But of course I wasn't safe. The inevitable happened. The relationship ended, and the little line of credit I'd been meaning to pay off just as soon as I got around to it exploded into an unmanageable mess as I struggled with being solely responsible for all of the household bills. I was in over my head.

Getting out of debt was one of the happiest moments of my life, but it required a lot of sacrifice, and online shopping was the first thing that had to go.

When I realized it was time to make my dream of moving to an island a reality, I knew I was in for some serious downsizing. Yes, you can take it all with you, but why would you want to? Why would anyone want to start a new life bogged down by so many possessions that they can barely move or breathe?

As I looked around my home, I realized I owned many things that I didn't really need or even like that much. Well meant but unneeded gifts from family and friends, letters and cards from people I hadn't spoken to in years, instruments I no longer played, and too much of pretty much everything.

A shopping addiction is hard to break, but I think I've come a long way. When I fill my virtual shopping cart with things I don't need these days, I'm a lot better at shutting down my computer and stepping away. 

I've spent the money I've saved on something I've always wanted to do more of--travel. Thanks to my shoes, I've seen Curacao, Bali, Lombok, China, and Maui. And those experiences are worth more to me than any pair of heels.

 Have you ever downsized? What was the item you had the most difficulty parting with? Have you ever used shopping as a way to avoid dealing with an issue or problem?

Thanks for reading!

J.H. writes scary stories that let her readers escape their everyday lives. She blogs about unsolved mysteries, the supernatural, haunted places, and spooky true stories—when she’s not busy being a journalist, editor, book doctor, and publicist. In her “spare” time, J.H. loves to travel to exotic locales, advocate for animal rights, and muay thai kickbox.

 J.H. Moncrieff: Website | Twitter | Facebook

The Bear Who Wouldn’t Leave: Amazon | Samhain | Kobo | B&N | Trailer

15 quick and easy lunch ideas. (guest post by sonya of sea salt and caramel)

hey folks! while i take a little bit of a break after having the baby, i have some great guest posts lined up from some wonderful blogger ladies! today i have sonya from sea salt & caramel sharing some great inspiration with 15 quick and easy lunch ideas (something we can definitely use with a new baby in the house!). now thats enough of me, ill let sonya take over from here: 

Pita :  Pitas are a great way to satisfy your carb cravings while still having a light and fluffy bread substitute. 

• Tomato & Feta Filling: Use 10-15 cherry tomatoes to add a sweetened zest to the dish. Mix an even amount of diced tomatoes and feta. Feel free to swap out the feta for any cheese you prefer, or mix a few together. Buy feta which is either pre-crumbled or which is relatively hard so you can cut it into pieces without getting the pita soggy. 
• Hummus & Peppers: You will need half a pepper to fill up the whole pita up. You can either cut the pepper in strips or small chunks, whichever you prefer. Lather 2 tbs of hummus onto the warm pita and then fill it with the peppers slices.
• Chickpeas: There are a myriad of ways to prepare chickpeas, you can toss them with some olive oil, lemon, and seasoning, cook them, or bake them and make chickpea “chips”. You can even add some hummus or cream cheese if you want a creamy filling. Or perhaps use feta for some added flavor. 
• Tuna & Hummus: I love tuna and mayo sandwiches, but sadly, it’s not the healthiest thing around. A great alternative to mayo is hummus, it gives you the creamy touch with the nice flavor to boot. You can even season the tuna with some light olive oil or lemon juice. 
• Eggs: Cook a hard boiled egg (should take roughly 10 minutes in boiling water), after removing the shell, cut it into small pieces, you can even use a fork to smash it. Toss with a sauce, such as a vinaigrette, and fill the pita with the mixture. 

Toast: Slices of toast lathered with butter, jam and savory toppings are an age old favorite.

• Avocado & Tomatoes: Use half of a ripe avocado, the smoother the better, and lather onto the toast. For this recipe you can either use cherry tomatoes, for added sweetness, or any you have on hand. Place the sliced tomatoes above the avocado. Drizzle a small amount of olive oil above and then season with salt and pepper and some lemon zest. 
• Salmon & Cream Cheese: On warm bread, spread some whipped cream cheese (I love the one from Trader Joe’s), and place smoked salmon above. Add a touch of lemon juice and some ground pepper to season. 
• Cucumber & Cream Cheese: If you want to try the veggie version, you can use thinly sliced cucumbers instead of salmon. Place them above a layer of cream cheese. You can toss the cucumber slices in a sauce of your choice, a lemon vinaigrette, for example. 
• Cheddar &  Peppers: This one is for the grilled cheese aficionados. Heat a skillet on high and allow a small amount of butter to melt. Place your sandwich, filled with cheddar and pepper slices, into the skillet. Cover and put on low heat. Once the cheese has fully melted, remove from heat and add some chilli flakes if you want a spicy grilled cheese. 
• Bananas & Strawberries: If you love “brinner” (breakfast for dinner), and you have an insatiable sweet tooth then this is the combo for you. In terms of spreads you can choose whatever suits your fancy, some butter, nutella, peanut butter, or almond butter. On the side you can cut your banana up and your strawberries into slices. After choosing your spread you can place your fruit pieces above. Sprinkle with some cinnamon. 

Salads: Salads don’t need to only be green, and boring. With the right mix of ingredients they can be both healthy and delicious. 

• Pasta Salad: This is the perfect way to use your evening leftovers. If you cooked a batch of pasta the night before, either reserve some unseasoned or just use whatever you have left. You can add salad leaves, olives, tomatoes, cheese and a protein to make it a hearty lunch. 
• Prosciutto & Mozzarella: Use 2-4 slices of prosciutto and cut into thirds. Slice the mozzarella into medium-to-small pieces. Toss both ingredients with some salad leave and add your prefered sauce. I think a lemon-oil sauce works best. 
• Chicken Salad: Use leftover grilled or baked chicken, or cook some in the morning. If you have the chance, let it marinate in a flavorful sauce: barbeque, sweet & spicy, or lime & cilantro.
• Veggie Only: If you have tomatoes, olives, peppers, and cheese leftover from other lunches use them for the salad. I like to call this the anything-you’ve-got-on-hand-salad. Add in some cucumbers, a hard boiled egg as a source of protein and some salad leaves to freshen the mix. I recommend using 2-3 eggs to make it a hearty meal, if you choose to forgo the salad leaves. 
• Sweet & Savory: Use a handful of cranberries, and sliced grapefruit to add some sweet flavors to your mixture. Add chicken, tuna, prosciutto or steak for some added protein. On a bed of cabbage, arugula, and spinach this is a great way to mix up the traditional salad. 

I hope you’ve been inspired by my list of 15 quick & easy lunches. All of these different recipes can be combined to make even more delicious meals. I would love to see what you come up with, share your creations with me via twitter or instagram!

gluten free chocolate chip banana bread recipe. (guest post by jessica of jess loves this life).

(hello again! its still school week, and i dont have a new post for you, however my dear friend jessica is here to show you how to make some gluten free banana bread!)

Hey there! I'm Jess and I blog over at Jess Loves This Life. I'm so excited to be back here on Poverty Luxe again to share some yummy eats with you all! In case you missed my first guest post, you can check it out here! Today I'll be sharing the tastiest gluten free banana bread ever!

I'm going to be honest, I had never made this bread before this post and I was a little nervous it might be a flop. I also had never A) made any type of gluten free bread before, just cakes and cookies and such and B) was way too impatient to follow a lengthy bread recipe step by step so I kind of winged it a little. I tend to do this quite a bit with many recipes. Usually it works out, but there are times where my stuff ends up being fed to my pup...there are also times where even he doesn't want my reject foods. We've all been there I'm sure. Anyway, this little bread making adventure was definitely a success, and I'm sure you'll love it once you try it for yourself! I decided I'd make this bread with whatever I already had on hand instead of buying anything I might only use for this one recipe (which also happens all too often), and I'm really glad I did that because truly, this bread is awesome and can quickly be whipped up at any moment!

Here's what you'll need:
-3 ripe bananas
-1 egg
-1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
-3 tbsp grape seed oil (or melted coconut oil)
-1/4 cup cane sugar
-1/4 cup brown sugar
-3 tsp baking powder
-1/2 tsp cinnamon
-a pinch of sea salt
-3/4 cup pf milk
-1 1/4 cup of gluten free flour (I personally do not recommend using rice flour for this, it'll throw the flavor off as rice flour is usually a bit overpowering in baked goods)
-1 1/4 cup of gluten free oats
...I also snuck in a small handful of dark chocolate chips! SO good! 

Here's what to do:
1. Preheat your oven to 350 & line a loaf pan with parchment paper
2. Mash up your bananas in a large bowl and slowly add the rest of the ingredients, stirring your mixture between each ingredient. I added them in the order they're listed in, but any way works. Add your mixture into your lined loaf pan
3. Bake for 1 hour
4. Let cool completely before you cut it, other wise your bread will crumble.
5. Enjoy with a large cup of coffee!!

You can store your leftovers in a sealed container for a few days...if it makes it that long without it getting eaten that is!

Thanks so much Victoria, for having me on here again! Don't forget to come say hello all around the internet!

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spaghetti squash and creamy pesto recipe. a guest post by jessica of jess loves this life.

i have a special treat for you guys today! my friend jessica (who i met through the AWESOME bloggers giving back group) is here to show you how to make an AMAZING looking spaghetti squash and pesto! take it away jessica:

Hey there! I'm Jess, and I blog over at Jess Loves This Life-a blog about my every day life, my love for Disneyland, my pup, crafts, and food! Today I'm sharing one of my favorite meals with you: spaghetti squash with creamy pesto sauce & roasted tomatoes. Yummmm! I won't bore you with a long intro, because really, you need to get to making this asap!

For the squash...

1. Preheat your oven to 375 F.
2. Pierce the squash a few times with a sharp knife (confession: this part freaked me out, I thought I was going to chop my hand off at any moment, so I had my fiancé help me!)
3. Sit your squash directly on the oven rack for an hour
4. When done, cut open the squash, remove the seeds and pulp, and separate strands with a fork. The squash will be REALLY hot, so make sure you use an oven mitt to hold it down while you do this!

For the pesto... 

You'll need:
-2 cups of fresh basil leaves
-1/2 cup of paremsan cheese
-1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
-1/3 cup of walnuts (or pine nuts, though I had a hard time finding those)
-3 garlic cloves, minced
-heavy cream

1. Combine the basil and the walnuts together, and blend. Ideally you should do this in a food processor to make everything easier, but I don't have one. My blender worked just fine, it just left my pesto the slightest bit chunky, which I think made it really tast!
2. Add the garlic and cheese to the blender, and slowly add in the olive oil.
3. In a small pan over medium heat, slowly mix the pesto with a few splashes of heavy cream. This will make everything smoother and taste even better!

While the squash is cooking, lightly coat 4 to 5 mini heirloom tomatoes, cut in half, with olive oil and bake for 10-15 minutes. Top your squash with the pesto and tomatoes. Enjoy!

This is one of my favorite meals because not only is it simple to make, it's hearty and savory too! The possibilities with spaghetti squash are endless! What's your favorite way to have it??

Thanks so much to Victoria for letting me hang out here today! Don't forget to come say hello all around the internet!

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