DIY recipe edition: Lemon Blueberry pancakes

I love short work weeks. If only the long weekends would last longer :-).

I often purchase our staple fruits during grocery shopping. J likes bananas so we get those, I like oranges or green apples or pears and I get those. JOE used to LOVE grapes but she is going through her phase. So we decided to let her try different fruits. I purchased a box blueberries for her thinking "she has to love them since they are small, and burst with yummy goodness in your mouth"! Well, not so fast, she HATED them.

So, what to do? I already had my fruits for the week and honestly, I prefer blueberries baked into something. Blueberry pie? YES PLEASE!!! Fresh blueberries? No, thank you!
But I don't like food going bad and hate waste so I decided to make pancakes for breakfast on Saturday. A deviation from our Saturday morning Nutella banana crepes.  People often say variety is the spice of life right? :-D.

I went to my trusted site (Pinterest) and found this recipe. I love when I have all the necessary ingredients at home so I don't have to go out to get something.
Note: I used lemon juice from a bottle instead of the freshly squeezed one and skipped  the lemon zest. Just not a fan of it.

Topped with reduced sugar maple syrup. YUM!!!

I would love to say JOE hungrily ate every single bite. But that would be a lie. She took a bit of it with blueberries and out it came. 

So I proceeded to give her the parts that didn't have blueberries and she loved it!

JOE enjoyed her milk after a few bites of the non-blueberry filled areas of the pancakes.

What better way to relax than with the iPAD and Doc McStuffins?

Later that evening...my loves together cheesing it up for the camera :-).

This was definitely an easy recipe to follow and I would recommend it to anyone looking for creative ways to add fruits to your breakfast menu. I plan on eventually trying it with strawberries to see if that'll appeal more to JOE. 

Have an awesome week!

Giveaway: Where in the world are the 3-Jay? The reveal....

So, we are finally back from vacation. We had a nice time away. JOE was in rare form but such is the life of a soon to be 2-year old. We still had an awesome time as a family nonetheless.

We got to do a lot of swimming (2-hours in the pool each day) and with me going natural with my hair, I wasn't afraid to get my hair wet cause I could wash it everyday :-).

BUT, I am sure you don't really care much about all those details right now so I'll get to the reason you clicked on this post and will blog about our trip next week...hopefully...

JOE, J and I went to Cancun, Mexico! I am not entirely a "beach person" because I don't get the lounging out in the sun and walking on sand (I know I have issues!). However, this vacation location was chosen by J and I was very pleasantly surprised. So much so that we have decided to try to go somewhere with a beach every other year for our family vacation.

Anyways, without further ado, CONGRATULATIONS to the following winners. You guessed right!

First Prize Winner ($20 Starbucks gift card) - The Mrs./The Mom
Second Prize Winner ($15 Starbucks gift card) - Annalene*
Third Prize Winner ($10 Starbucks gift card) - Hatroops
* - Pegster was actually the second to guess right but I know her in real life and consider her a friend :-). Sorry Peg. I still think you're awesome!

Please claim your prize by sending me an email (wheatney28@gmail.com) no later than 7/27/2014 with your address so I can send you your gift card. 

A teaser from our trip. More to come later.

Thank you all for participating! I'll likely do another giveaway in the Fall. Hope you're having an awesome summer so far!

Giveaway: Where in the world are the 3-Jay? - Week 3 of 3

LAST DAY TO GUESS!!!

This is my first giveaway so bare with me. I figured this'll be a fun thing to do. So here are the rules to win.

Rules:
1. I will only be posting one picture each week.
2. I must not know you IRL (in real life)...family/friends, take note :-)!
3. You can only make one guess (via the comment section) per week. NOTE: I'll need to be able to reach you so make sure your blog name is tied to an email address or web page. :-).
4. You must guess both the city AND country. HINT: It is outside the US.
5. You must be 18 or older to enter.
6. You must live in one of the 50-United States.
7. Only one prize per winner.
8. Winner must claim prize (respond to my email) within 10-days of selection or forgo their winning.
9. Selection will be made via email. See #3 above. I'll need your mailing address to send the gift card. No pay pal transfers please :-).
10. By entering, you are forgoing any rights to sue me. Yes, I have to have this disclaimer. :-)
11. Disclaimer (just for fun). You know how companies always have tiny "small" prints? Well, here's mine. I am in no way affiliated with Starbucks or any of its companies.

Prizes:

•  The first person to guess the location will receive a $20 Starbucks gift card. NOTE: This will be determined in the order of comments received. I will judge based on the date stamp of your commented post.
• The second person to guess the location will receive a $15 Starbucks gift card. NOTE: This will be determined in the order of comments received. I will judge based on the date stamp of your commented post.
• The third person will receive a $10 Starbucks gift card. NOTE: This will be determined in the order of comments received. I will judge based on the date stamp of your commented post.

Good-luck!

Photo Dump Wednesday: Hair Update Edition...My mini-chop at 34 weeks post

Things had been going so well with my hair journey. I don't like spending a lot of time doing my hair so it feels like going natural has actually been a true blessing because I don't have to do a lot with my hair. Which is not to say I did much with it prior. Its just that I do A LOT less now :-).

Then fast forward to last week, I  saw this video and thought I could be brave and do the same.
Incase you can't view the link or YouTube video, it is essentially a lady who went on Dr. Oz and had made the decision to go natural. They cut her hair on live TV.

Style Your Natural Hair, Pt 1 - The Dr Oz Show -…: 

For some reason known only to God, I got home that evening (I saw the video on the train on my way home from work), and decided that I would do something similar!
Thankfully, I chickened out a bit before doing too much damage! It ended up being a mini-chop. 

Not all the hair I cut...most of it was on the ground.

The results of watching a YouTube video. SMH!

The back is completely natural. I got scissor-happy a few months ago. Needless to say, that part never fits into a bun so I am forced to use gel. Clearly, I didn't think that one through.

Washed my hair on Saturday and this was the result of shrinkage. I did'n't mind too much cause I wore it as a "fro-hawk". A new term I learnt on Instagram!

Natural hair length check. I have about 4-inches all around.

Hair when conditioned and stretched.

I guess in hind sight, I should have thought this through. However, at this point, I figured I am fully committed to this journey. I still don't know if I am loving it BUT J appears to really like it so I'll stick with it.

Since my sister is getting married in August, I won't be getting scissor happy again until October. That way, I'll be able to do more styles with my hair AND October marks my 1-year anniversary so I'll be doing another mini-chop then. 

I still plan on waiting until next February at 17-months post to do my final chop which will likely be another mini-chop. I don't think I'll have a lot left at that point. 

Enjoy the rest of your week!

He said...

Yesterday, I was featured on an awesome relationship website. Today, J is featured. Here's John's version of our story. By the way, I STRONGLY believe points should be awarded for being in the general vicinity of the correct answer! Go read the feature to know what I'm talking about :-).

Oh and here are a couple of pictures of J & JOE from last weekend :-).

Enjoy!

All smiles after a satisfactory bottle of almond milk. Yum!

And now, spending time with "dada"

She said...he said...

I hope you and the dads in your life all had a nice weekend. We had a terrific time relaxing as a family. J certainly had an awesome Father's day.

I know its DIY Monday and I do have a couple of DIY items from Father's day but I wanted to first share this since its our first feature.

We've been featured on WedLockGist. 

I often blog about my family and I have blogged about how it all began. If you want to know more about our life as a married couple, feel free to head over there and check out our story. 

Its a 2-part post so stay tuned for J's version tomorrow. 

Of course I won't leave you without a picture from our weekend. Here's one of J and JOE cheesing it for the camera yesterday during Father's day lunch. 

Have a fabulously blessed week!

Photo Dump Wednesday (on Friday): Anniversary picture teaser

2 months ago, hubby and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary. Per Wikipedia, the traditional gift is leather. I went on Google and even on my trusted site (Pinterest) to get ideas for our photo session but couldn't find much.

So I came up with the bright idea to wear something leather. Hubby told me last Fall that he needed a new leather jacket. For our anniversary, I gave him a gift certificate to a store where he could get a leather jacket.

Fast forward a few weeks later and we took the day off to relax before the Memorial day weekend. We used the opportunity to go to the mall to get our leather jackets.
I picked up a cream colored jacket and skirt and couldn't decide on how to dress it up. Here were my choices. My sisters voted for the second outfit because they felt the lighter color would look better in pictures.

Option 1

Option 2

However, when I went to put on my jacket, I noticed several stains on it. So I put it away for a return back to the store. I didn't want to wear it and end up with a stained jacket that couldn't be returned. I had no time to waste since out photo session was just a couple of hours away. So I put on a red leather jacket my sister got me a few years ago 1 and swapped out the shoes. 

Before we left, we decided to take a couple of pictures at home.

Me

My dashing husband in his new leather jacket. Isn't he a hottie???  :-)

Here is a small peak of our photo session. 

And since we are playing dress up, we got JOE her first pair of sandals the same weekend. Here is a picture of my little princess in her first pair of sandals. I love those pudgy feet! I know its summer...we'll see if J is OK with her wearing nail polish :-). She already tries to file her nails since she sees me doing it.

Have a safe, happy and healthy weekend! And remember to be kind to strangers!!! 

Giveaway: Where in the world are the 3-Jay? - Week 2 of 3

This is my first giveaway so bare with me. I figured this'll be a fun thing to do. So here are the rules to win.

Rules:
1. I will only be posting one picture each week.
2. I must not know you IRL (in real life)...family/friends, take note :-)!
3. You can only make one guess (via the comment section) per week. NOTE: I'll need to be able to reach you so make sure your blog name is tied to an email address or web page. :-).
4. You must guess both the city AND country. HINT: It is outside the US.
5. You must be 18 or older to enter.
6. You must live in one of the 50-United States.
7. Only one prize per winner.
8. Winner must claim prize (respond to my email) within 10-days of selection or forgo their winning.
9. Selection will be made via email. See #3 above. I'll need your mailing address to send the gift card. No pay pal transfers please :-).
10. By entering, you are forgoing any rights to sue me. Yes, I have to have this disclaimer. :-)
11. Disclaimer (just for fun). You know how companies always have tiny "small" prints? Well, here's mine. I am in no way affiliated with Starbucks or any of its companies.

Prizes:

•  The first person to guess the location will receive a $20 Starbucks gift card. NOTE: This will be determined in the order of comments received. I will judge based on the date stamp of your commented post.
• The second person to guess the location will receive a $15 Starbucks gift card. NOTE: This will be determined in the order of comments received. I will judge based on the date stamp of your commented post.
• The third person will receive a $10 Starbucks gift card. NOTE: This will be determined in the order of comments received. I will judge based on the date stamp of your commented post.

Good-luck!

DIY Monday: The best laid plans.

We had a pretty busy weekend. Our original plan was to relax, watch a movie and not do much since last week was an especially busy week for us. But you know what they say about the best laid plans?...

On Saturday morning, I got up and made us our usual nutella banana crepes. You know its a family favorite when my daughter knows whats on the pan even before I am done making it :-). She's a smart one. 

Anyways after breakfast, we were cleaning up the dishes and were about to go out for our family walk and the following conversation occurred:

J: So, it should be a pretty easy day today. We can go grocery shopping and come home to relax. 

Me: OK. But I want to make a few stops and get some stuff for the front of the house. 

J: (rolling his eyes) what now?

Me: Well, remember you agree to let me add more to the front of the house? Well, I want to do that today. 

J: OK. I don't like this stuff (meaning DIY stuff) but I know it'll look nice and it makes you happy so let's do it! 

Hubby scored points. He clearly knows the saying "happy wife, happy life" :-).

Anyways, 2-hours later, we had our rose bed. Excuse the picture quality. It was sunny and I failed to realize that there was a smudge (thanks JOE) on my camera lens.

When I read up on this, it seemed like a quick 30-minute task. Ummm...this took TWO HOURS!!!

Granted, we had to take turns going back in the house since we didn't want JOE out in the sun too long. 

Up close and personal. I think I'll add brighter colors to the bed. The purple came out too dark. Will give it a week and then decide.

Finished product.

The purple is starting to grow on me but still undecided. We planted red and pink roses.

Before and after shots. The top picture is from when we first planted the other stuff a few weeks ago. The after picture shows it all blooming. I love it!

And since no post will be complete without my pretty little princess, here she is hanging on me. The child is practically GLUED to be! I love my mini-me :-).

Oh and 2 new statements she surprised us with this weekend?

"Give me that!" and "Hold this". She is constantly amazing me with her words!

Told her to smile and this is what I got. Gotta love her sense of humor.

Well, its a new week and we are that much closer to our vacation. YAY!!!

Hope you had a fantastic weekend!

Giveaway: Where in the world are the 3-Jay? - Week 1 of 3

This is my first giveaway so bare with me. I figured this'll be a fun thing to do. So here are the rules to win.

Rules:
1. I will only be posting one picture each week.
2. I must not know you IRL (in real life)...family/friends, take note :-)!
3. You can only make one guess (via the comment section) per week. NOTE: I'll need to be able to reach you so make sure your blog name is tied to an email address or web page. :-).
4. You must guess both the city AND country. HINT: It is outside the US.
5. You must be 18 or older to enter.
6. You must live in one of the 50-United States.
7. Only one prize per winner.
8. Winner must claim prize (respond to my email) within 10-days of selection or forgo their winning.
9. Selection will be made via email. See #3 above. I'll need your mailing address to send the gift card. No pay pal transfers please :-).
10. By entering, you are forgoing any rights to sue me. Yes, I have to have this disclaimer. :-)
11. Disclaimer (just for fun). You know how companies always have tiny "small" prints? Well, here's mine. I am in no way affiliated with Starbucks or any of its companies.

Prizes:

•  The first person to guess the location will receive a $20 Starbucks gift card. NOTE: This will be determined in the order of comments received. I will judge based on the date stamp of your commented post.
• The second person to guess the location will receive a $15 Starbucks gift card. NOTE: This will be determined in the order of comments received. I will judge based on the date stamp of your commented post.
• The third person will receive a $10 Starbucks gift card. NOTE: This will be determined in the order of comments received. I will judge based on the date stamp of your commented post.

Good-luck!

Photo Dump Wednesday: JOE's world

Whew! Its been a crazy few weeks and it hasn't really slowed down as much as I thought it would. Coupled with that, I recently switched jobs to one with more responsibilities. I also changed my work hours due to the new job so that's kept things rather busy in our neck of the woods. Hopefully, things'll settle down after our vacation this year. 3-more weeks!!!

I'll be giving clues each week to our next vacation destination. More details to come in my next posting. Kinda like a "Where in the World are the 3-Jays?" series :-).

In any case, it is PDW! I missed last week due to our busy schedule (see above ^). This week's posting is all about JOE! My little girl is growing up so much! She talks A LOT! And I don't mean she just says a word here or there. She puts 3 or 4 words together and says quite a bit! Examples of some of the words she uses on a regular basis are: 

"where did you go?"

"where are you?"

"daddy (or mommy), I'm coming!"

"I miss you!"

"See you soon!" 

"How are you?"

In case you were wondering, her dad is in Public Relations so it should come as  no surprise that she takes after him as far as talking. And let me just say that she is very clear so even if you didn't know her and heard her for the first time, you'd know exactly what she was saying to you. :-)

Here are some pictures taken in the last few weeks that I haven't been able to post. 

JOE's bathtime. She arranges ALL her bath toys and wants them just so. She wanted her dadda to see this so I took a picture and sent it to him. 

JOE "let us" do her hair a few weeks ago. By "let us", I mean, J has to hold her and I do it. Its such a chore!!!

She clearly didn't care but I thought it turned out rather cute :-).

Her precious! If you've seen the Lord of The Rings trilogy, you know what I mean :-).

Happy JOE

Serious JOE

Playful JOE

Smiling JOE

Flirty JOE

JOE's board arrived! And she got dressed up for mother's day. 

She loves playing with this board. I am glad since it was "free"

The board arrived with this damage. I took pictures and sent it to the seller via Amazon.

Here's what it looked like after it was set up. Unfortunately, J didn't notice it before he put it together.

We called Amazon and they said to just keep it and they would refund us the cost. SCORE! Free board.

Hope you're having an awesome week so far!