Banana-Oatmeal Pancakes

I'm sharing the tastiest 'healthy' pancakes I've ever had. Even my super-duper picky-eater eats these. I always freeze 'em too.


Banana-Oatmeal Pancakes

1 c. flour
1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/3 c. wheat germ
1/3 c. quick cooking oats
1 T baking powder
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
2 eggs
1&1/2 c. milk
1 ripe banana mashed
3 T honey
1 T canola oil

1- In a large bowl, stir flour, wheat germ, oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.

2- In another bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Add milk, mashed banana, honey, and oil.

3- Pour milk mixture into flour mixture and stir until combined.

4- Cook on nonstick skillet over med heat. About 2 minutes per side.

Don't just take my word for it. Try them. These babies are delicious!

Happy Sunday!

Toltec Wisdom

Toltec: Fact or Fiction?

Either way, I think that the belief you should live a life of awareness and understanding how we create our own perception to the world, is pretty powerful.

I've recently stumbled across this and thought I'd share. =)

Four Toltec principles...
{A.k.a. The Four Agreements.}

1. Be Impeccable with your Word: Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the Word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your Word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don’t Take Anything Personally:
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don’t Make Assumptions:
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best:
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.

I really need to practice the second principle. I'm always taking things personally. Always.

Why?

Not sure.

But I can tell you, my life would be much easier if I could let people's words and actions, just roll off my back, so to speak.

Oh, and I won't even get into the fourth practice of self-judgment. {chuckle}

What do you think? Do you take things personally, too?

Happy Friday & have a great weekend!

WFMW

Grilled Banana Boats!


Yummy summertime dessert!

Our power was out for the most of the day into the evening yesterday, so we put this on the grill and enjoyed it al fresco. Works for me! =)

What you need:
Bananas
chocolate chips
marshmallows
chopped nuts {optional}
aluminum foil
grill

How to put them together:
Slice bananas down the center and leave the peel on. Place marshmallows and chocolate chips down in the center of the banana. Wrap in aluminum foil and place in warm grill for 10 minutes or so. {The banana peel will turn black- this is okay, it's supposed to.} Eat and Enjoy!

If I would have remembered, crushed pecans {my favorite!} would have been put on top of them.






Visit We are that family for more Works-for-me Wednesday ideas, tips and inspiration.

Happy Wednesday!
-Jen

Aloha Friday!

Yay- It's Aloha Friday! My Aloha Friday question is:

What's something you've been wanting to do but haven't done yet?

Me?

Lose these extra 15lbs I've been carrying around for 3 years! Ahhhhhhhhh! Want to know why I'm not losing it?

Because we all eat ice cream cones every night!! Yep.

Every.night.

Hmmm, now I wonder why it is that I can't lose the weight?!

The kids burn it off in like 3 seconds, hubby works out everyday so he burns it off, but me? No burning.

I'm going to try {very hard} to stay away from the ice cream and such.

Wish me luck. =)

What haven't you done that you've been wanting to? Care to share?

Head on over to An Island Life for more Aloha Friday questions and to play.

Have a fabulous weekend!
-Jen

Hi all! Happy Wednesday!

I'm in the midst of laundry and packing. My kiddos are heading up north with their grandparents for a few days so I'm scrambling to get Nick all packed and Haley with clean clothes so she can pack her bag. We'll be kid free for a few days, wonder what that feels like??! :P

Oh, guess what I woke to this morning?

A very chirpy robin fledgling!

He/she spent the night in my kitchen in a bird carrier that I had still from my sweet little budgie, Clara.

See, yesterday hubby & I rescued this baby twice, not once- twice right out of the mouth of one of out new neighbors cats. Nice eh? I won't go into how I went berserk-o yelling about how they let their cats roam 24/7. Honestly, I don't care if you never let your cats in your house but when they are in my backyard killing baby birds. Me=not happy.

'Tis a happy ending though, my friends.

This morning as I raced to get baby birdie outside so the momma could hear him chirping and come back to him, there she was right outside my back door on the fence. I was almost in disbelief that she was in the yard. Did she stay all night for him, I wonder. I'm so glad that I didn't have to take him to a bird rehabilitator.

And, being the complete sap I am, my heart smiled a thousand times over as I watched her swoop down and feed him/her in the soft rain.

I've said it before.

The smallest things can make this girl happy. =)



--I want to thank everyone for all the prayers for my Dad. We don't know too much at this point- just that they are 90% sure it's cancer. The Dr.'s aren't saying too much until we get the results back (tomorrow). {Why don't they ever rush those tests back, btw?!} So until then I'm just praying.

Big cyber hugs to all my blog friends for their kind words of support and prayers!

Heading up north tomorrow. Just found out my Dad is in the hospital. He was having a hard time swallowing, and it was getting worse. They found a tumor in his throat. Doctors think it's cancer. :(

I'd be so thankful for any prayers you could send his way.

Wordless Wednesday!

My sweetie- 8th grade farewell dance last night.


Me & my girl.

If you participate in WW, don't forget to add your blog @ 5 Minutes for Mom!

Happy WW!
-Jen

Woo-hoo: My daughter has her first formal dance tonight!! Very exciting.

Whimsical: quote jars

Wisdom: Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still. -Chinese proverb

Weakness:


Worry: I'm stuck in a hairstyle rut and won't ever find a cute 'do. :(

Wistful: about very early mornings spent in my grandparents ceramics shop painting pots.

Web: Like Merchant Ships. If you haven't visited her blog yet, go check her out. She inspires me to create small, everyday happiness.

Wish: I had a warm bear claw to go along with my coffee right now.

Wacky: Most conversations with my teen nowadays. They seem to all start with, "can I...?" and end with a "whatever." :D

Have a wonderful week blog friends!
-Jen

The most awesomeness...

... store has come to my area, folks.

I was in a state of pure exhilaration walking through the aisles of...

HOBBY LOBBY!!!!

I've heard this store mentioned before.
I never knew.

Never knew the awesomeness until now.

I'm in love.


My new little 3" monogram for $4 bucks. So cute, huh?

Hope you're enjoying your weekend.
-Jen

WFMW

Homemade Fudge Pops!

Perfect treat for the kids on those hot summer days!!



3/4 c. sugar
3 T. all-purpose flour
3 T. baking cocoa
4 c. milk

1- In a saucepan, combine the sugar, flour and cocoa. Gradually stir in the milk until smooth.

2-Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 min. or until thickened. Cool slightly.

3-Pour 1/4 c. into a popsicle mold or 3 oz. plastic cup; top w/holders or insert popsicle sticks if using cups.

4-Freeze until set.

Makes 10 servings.

Mmmmm. {Hubby especially loved these.}

Works for us. =)


Visit We are that family for more Works-for-me Wednesday ideas, tips and inspiration.

Happy Wednesday!
-Jen

Woo-hoo: We're making progress here in the K house with potty training our little guy. Woo-hoo! Slowly but surely. =)

Whimsical: Hello Summer 3 by Cathy Nichols. How fun are her paintings? Love 'em!

Wisdom: The man who claims to be the boss in his own home will lie about other things as well. -Amish proverb

Weakness:


Worry: I worry about all the families here in Michigan whose livelihood depends on GM. Also, my thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the missing passengers of flight 447 Air France. :(

Wistful: about days gone by...

Anyone know the song by Rascal Flatts called Mayberry ? Yeah, I miss Mayberry.

Web: Homemade beauty recipes using honey at the National Honey Board. I'm trying the hair shine tonight!

Wish: My mom & I were closer.

Wacky: I was sitting at the drive-up ATM the other day just staring blankly at the screen because I could not for the life of me, remember my pin. My mind was completely {{ blank }}. Just as I was resigning to the fact that I'd have to leave without any money it came to me. But wow, how wacky, huh? Tell me I'm not the only one who has done that.

Have a fabulous week blog friends!
-Jen