Friday, September 26, 2014

foodie friday cake batter pancakes.

Birthday cake- cake batter pancakes
 one of the coolest parts about being a parent is creating new traditions. one of the traditions i have created in my home is surprise breakfasts. growing up my step dad would make smiley face breakfast every Saturday or Sunday morning, me and my siblings loved it and we still bring it up often, because i work a kind of unconventional schedule a big breakfast in my house is pretty rare but i created my own version of the memory i had as a child and made it work for me and my family. i started doing what i call a surprise breakfast. i LOVE surprise breakfasts, valentines day, first day of school, snow man breakfast, birthday breakfasts any excuse to decorate when people in my household are asleep and to make a big breakfast for them to wake up to is something i find so fun! i set a fancy themed table and hang decorations up and make the full deal, bacon, pancakes or french toast, fresh fruit, eggs and some kind of breakfast potato.
i am very open about the fact that to me coffee is breakfast. i am well aware that i have killed my metabolism and its the most important meal of the day...blah blah blah. that being said ...i will repeat myself, coffee to me is breakfast. i do however make my son breakfast which on a normal day consists of oatmeal, a banana, sometimes toast with peanut butter, you get the idea.  i have been told i make terrible eggs (although my two year old never complains) however on  special occasions i have been know to make amazing french toast and some pretty darn good pancakes with a variety of different flavors and so i started this tradition years ago with different family members and for the last two years i have kept it going with my sons birthday. i derived this recipe off of pintrest and tweaked it a little to my taste and instead of syrup i use a simple glaze and color it with the favorite color of the birthday person or holiday were celebrating ( pink for valentines) for a extra personal touch. 
warning these are very sweet, so if that is not your thing you will not like these. for me personally, if i wasn't concerned about health at all i could eat like buddy the elf in the will Ferrel Christmas movie( if you have not seen it stop reading this and watch it now and 100 more times after that!) his diet consists of syrup on top of spaghetti with candy on top with sugar on top of that and a liter of regular coke to wash it down...so ya i like sugar. any how........hope you enjoy these! 

you will need:


  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 2/3 cup yellow cake mix ( you can also use funfetti ) but i use yellow
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 cups milk
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • assorted sprinkles
  • large bowl
  • whisk
  • measuring cups and spoons
  • Pam or vegetable oil
  • skillet or griddle 
  • spatula for flipping
glaze recipe:

  • powdered sugar
  • milk
  • vanilla
  • food coloring (optional)
whisk milk and vanilla add powered sugar until glaze consistency is slightly runny

what to do:


  • combine flour,cake mix, baking powder, sugar and salt and mix well with a whisk 
  • add one cup milk and half cup Greek yogurt
  • add egg and vanilla and almond extract
  • stir until smooth
  • add in sprinkles
  • add more milk if needed should be medium consistency not to thick not to thin
  • heat skillet over burner and add Pam or small amount of vegetable oil 
  • scoop pancakes on to warm greased pan ( i use a ice cream scooper so all my pancakes are around the same size.
  • once it starts to bubble flip it. do not flip sooner or it will fall apart. ( it took me years to learn that)
HAPPY EATING!



WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE FAMILY TRADITIONS?
XOXO,
just janelle

Thursday, September 25, 2014

too faced melted lipstick review: love it or dump it!

too faced melted liquid lipsticks

              its been a while since i have done a product review, firstly because i am on a budget, secondly when i do purchase something i like to use it for a while before i feel like i can accurately review it and give my opinion. first let me say i generally LOVE this brand! among my favorites too faced cosmetics makes my ALL TIME favorite bronzer called chocolate Sollie which actually has cocoa powder in it and smells like chocolate (ummm yummy) anyways...i digress. they also have cream lipsticks which have an amazing moisturizing formula and i love their nude lip liner  the "melted" products are no exception! upon first look these are love at first sight for me, but like everyone one else i have been duped by cute packaging ( and they really are so darn cute ) and "new" ideas, im often let down when what is on the inside isnt actually so amazing and it gets tossed in the junk drawer ( wahhh!).  the idea is quite unique, it is a liquid lipstick but in a squeeze tube making for the easiest application ever!  
so heres the real deal on these. 
PRO: it is long lasting but loses it initial vibrancy so i do reapply it a few times through the day. the colors are so pigmented and beautiful and the formula goes on very creamy.pictured below are the three newest shades but the have 10 all together ranging from nude to brights shades to deep darker shades. the formula does mattify but  not super stiff, i would however recommend moisturizing lips before applying this product. 

the only CON if you could even call it that is the price they retail for $21 which is a little steep for a lip product but to me they are well worth it. so cheers too faced! it is a quality product with great color pay off, great formula and great variety of colors for every skin tone and bonus the packaging just like all of the too faced products is adorable! my personal favorite shade in this collection is melted marshmallow which is a light bright pink but i can not wait to wear fig and berry with fall here and winter approaching!
verdict: LOVE IT!
wearing melted fig
melted marshmallow
melted fig
melted berry


melted marshmallow ( my favorite )
melted fig ( pictured above )
melted berry ( darker in person then in the swatch)


HAPPY SHOPPING EVERYONE!
XOXO,
just janelle

Friday, September 12, 2014

foodie friday. back to school baking!

does anyone remember those old black and white episodes of leave it to beaver, i used to watch them on nick at night when i couldn't sleep. the kids rush in from school with their back packs and lunch boxes and the mom ( June cleaver) is there waiting with fresh baked cookies and milk waiting for her boys, they share what happened at school "the beav" always got into some kind of pickle that day. They enjoy their snack with their mother who has just cleaned the house while wearing pearls and heels her hair perfectly in place. these cookies remind me of that kind of moment. they are over the top comforting and so at my best effort i made these for my son on his first day of school. he however fell asleep in the car and i looked no where near June cleaver status in yoga pants, a tank top and flip flops but hey i tried! and when his cranky little butt woke up and after his twenty minute meltdown we enjoy cookies together, he with his milk and me with my diet coke!
i have heard to these referred to as monster cookies, or cowboy cookies but i simply call them everything cookies cause they have everything in them...duh!

pre-heat oven to 350. degrees
take out a stick of butter while getting other things so it softens. always let butter soften at room temperature when baking do not microwave to melt it unless recipe specifies!

ingredients:
1 stick butter ( softened)
1/2  cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cups creamy peanut butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup quick oats
3/4 cups m&ms 
1/4 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
1/4 cup butterscotch chips.

you could also add: nuts, peanut butter chips or coconut

combine white and brown sugars with butter with a mixer, add the peanut butter and keep mixing. add egg and vanilla and keep mixing on slow speed. add baking soda and flour and stir until combined.
hand mix in oats, m&ms, chocolate, dark chocolate and butterscotch chips.

on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper ( always line with parchment paper when making cookies) scoop med to large cookies, i use a ice cream scooper so they are all around the same size. push them down slightly with your fingers because these cookies do not spread on their own. these cookies are extremely dense yet fluffy at the same time!
cook 9-10 minutes but NO longer you want them to stay soft and you don't want the oats to over cook and make the cookies dry. 

happy baking!

xoxo,
just janelle

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

August Favorites

besides the weather ( too dang hot)  August has been pretty great, especially cause its my birthday month! here are my favorites for the month! what i've been, wearing, eating, doing and obsessing over for the month of august!!

wearing in august: i could not get enough of this kelly green cotton sundress from www.oldnavy.com
light material cinched at the waist and adorable sailboat print.


drinking: mini fraps! perfect way to get your sweet tooth handled without a bazillion calories and everything is cute mini! my mini man drinking a mini frap!
 going: august was our first trip to legoland. for parents with toddlers this place is amazing! however unlike Disneyland or magic mountain there isn't much to do to entertain pre-teen - adults. my little man is two and he had a ball!  i was lucky enough to score free tickets but its $85 a ticket for adults and $75 for children 3-12



celebrating, and eating: this year i had my birthday dinner at Busalacchis A Modo Mio. let me tell you the food here is amazing! it keeps me coming back again and again, the pesto crepes and imbottiti dish are to die for! if i had to choose my last meal this might be it! for those of you who dont know imbottiti is a sliced eggplant rolled with three cheeses, pesto inside with  buccantini and pomodoro sauce. oh and if its your birthday they have a lovely man named Mario serenade you with happy birthday in Italian! just writing this im thinking of when i can go back! no lie it is one of the best places i've ever been for Italian food! ambiance is great and they have out door and indoor seating and are located on 5th ave. www.busalacchis.com/menus.html
favorite summer trend: floral headbands! these are a perfect summer trend especially in california. they are so whimsical and carefree whether you buy them or make them! i found the first three at the closet on Rosecrans and the big daisy one I'm wearing below i made with just lace fabric and glued gunned on fake flowers i purchased and Michael's craft store.



 what im loving: personaized gifts! these are just a few but this personalized stationary i got was awesome!

I'm slightly obsessed with my hot pink monogrammed over sized clutch! www.giginewyork.com

how I'm helping: like allot of you out there me and my son participated in the ALS ice bucket challenge , at the time we had done it they had already raised $41 million I'm sure by now they have raised double. if you would like to donate to this amazing cause go to www.alsa.org




what end of summer favorites would be complete without toes in the sand! i personally dont like the beach but my son does and watching him in enjoy it makes it one of my favorites for the month!


swimming lessons!! had to make the favorites list cause it so darn cute!

all and all it was a amazing month! But this girl is ready for fall! what were your august favorites?

xoxo,
just janelle

Friday, August 29, 2014

foodie friday. Bean and corn salsa

Foodie Friday.
Yummy and easy. No cooking required.
Lately I want something, cheap, easy, healthy and versatile. This had been my go-to. it is extremely flavor full and fresh, perfect for the end of summer.
I'm sure you have seen many variations of this  but this is how I roll with it.

Bean and corn salsa

You will need:
1 bag frozen corn
1 can canelli beans
1 can black beans
Small jar of your favorite salsa
2 diced tomatoes
1 diced onion
Minced garlic
Cilantro
Salt, pepper
1 lemon
Small can diced green chillies

large bowl
strainer
large spoon
cutting board
chopping knife

Remove corn from bag and put in microwave safe bowl and cover with water microwave for 6 minutes then strain.
Strain both cans of beans and rinse as well
Add all three: corn and both types beans to a large bowl.
Chop up tomatoes, onion and cilantro add to bowl.
Add minced garlic and diced green chillies and mix
Add 1 tablespoon jar salsa.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Cut lemon in half and use juice all over mixture. Viola!

The beauty of this recipe is it is very inexpensive, pantry items and frozen veggies last a long time so you may have the beans and corn on hand. And the recipe is extremely versatile! I have eaten this with chips, over brown rice. In a wheat tortilla or topped chicken tacos with it! The best part is if you are someone like me who lacks protein in their diet this is a great source of protein!  

did you know?
black beans health the digestive track specifically the colon. they also help you feel full faster keeping your calories low.
Canelli beans are rich in folic acid which helps your body produce new healthy cells
Cilantro is high in antioxidants
Tomatoes are known to help lower cholesterol
Lemon are high in anti-bacterial and immune boosting powers and are a digestive aid which is helpful in weight loss.

enjoy!
xoxo just janelle

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Amrezy shadow palette : love it or dump it!

This review is for the Amrezy palette by Anastasia Beverly Hills.
 Most of you may have probably  heard of Anastasia Beverly Hills products, even if you aren't a make-up junkie like myself. This line is most well known for its brow products which best sellers include brow wiz, tinted brow gels and dip brow pomade. I have used all the following and like them i hadn't however broken down to purchase any of her shadow pallets. Until now.... Last week I stumbled upon this at work, so of coarse I immediately went on line for reviews which were all pretty darn good. When I got home I looked up some tutorials on YouTube and basically started to obsess.
. It has been a while since I got that tingly feeling for a eyeshadow palette, the country and rock and roll two faced pallets ....pass. The naked 3, beautiful but ....pass. The urban decay electric pallet and pulp fiction pallet....pass ( you get the point) while all these new shadows maybe amazing I just couldn't pull the trigger, my budget is limited and I wanted something that really made my heart pitter patter, and then I found her ...Amrezy! To my surprise no one in my store was really buzzing about this new little treasure! The palette is a great size, not bulky and not to small and a even better price at $28 .Amrezy palate named after Instagram famous make-up artist (look her up if you are a make-up junkie) it has 10 shadows including a deep emerald shade and bright-ish purple shade. 
 I have literally used it everyday since I bought her. The shadows are creamy, and blend beautifully. For me the stars of the show here are the very warm shades morocco and Carmel and deep plum!  Glisten is allot like a pressed form of Mac tan pigment which is one of my makeup favorite of life! This palette also comes with a good size mirror and brush, truthfully I haven't used the brush yet. For me this pallets is perfect, it has beautiful shimmer shades that aren't glittery, a new take on basics with rich warm browns and a cream shade as well as a basic matte black. It also has a beautiful bright purple shade and emerald green for those of you who are more daring with your makeup, still if I never used those two shades I feel I detention got my money's worth with this pallet. It is the perfect color selection for fall with the deep tones and is extremely versatile. Verdict: Love it! I'm quite smitten with the little beauty!
what products are you loving?

www.ulta.com
xoxo juat janelle

Thursday, August 14, 2014

15 amazing things about being in your 30's






in light of my 32nd birthday i thought i would share a few things I've learned. who ever said thirties is the new 20's is mistaken and i am soooo glad! don't get me wrong i had a OK time in my twenties but i still had no idea what i wanted out of my life or how to get it. i had no concept of self motivation and pride in a job well done. so here are a few things Ive learned and a few things I'm quite enjoying about being in my 30's.

1. have a go to look. a look you know looks good on you, fits you well and makes you feel confident and sexy. could be jeans could be a dress either way strut your stuff

2. eat chocolate everyday! (yes everyday) i literally eat some sort of chocolate everyday. usually a small piece of a dark chocolate bar i keep in my freezer.  i enjoy my little piece and i don't feel guilty about it!

3. go to the doctor. period. stop avoiding it.

4. when you know what you like, like it and own it and don't care what others think. be you. example: i love some really crappy pop music. i also love giving people thumbs up and i don't care if its cheesy :)
example: i prefer a captain Morgan's and diet coke to a glass or wine ( classy i know) but i like what i like.

5. keep dreaming. you don't have to figure it all out by 30! stop pressuring yourself. take it one day at a time.

6.  SPEAK UP! ask questions when you are unsure about something. this goes for work, this goes for your love life , this goes for parenting. ask your friends what they meant, how the did or where they got whatever information it is you need. open your pretty little lipglossed mouth and ask and don't feel dumb for it, cause guess what your probably gonna get the answer....and now my friend your smarter than you were before you asked that (dumb) question, cause you know the answer (duh!)

7. don't take yourself so serious. when you care less what people think your life is allot more fun.  i dressed like a hot dog for Halloween a few years ago so i think its safe to say i don't take my self to seriously.

8. try new things. although its important to know what you like, trying new things is vital to growth. if you don't know about something stop saying " i don't know " and start saying " let me find out" if you find out you don't like it don't do it again. i tried sushi for the first time about 6 months ago...not a fan, but at least i tried.

9. feel confident leaving the house without makeup. this one may be a no brainer for some but for others terrifying. although i love a full face a fresh face can feel amazing!

10. create healthy habits. eat better. stretch. try and sleep. take care of your skin and breath.

11.  a few real friends are better than a ton of fake friends.

12. you cant do everything so chill the F out! ( i struggle with this one)

13. own your shit! in your 30's I've really started to own my shit. I'm messy, I'm passive aggressive, i stay up too late and think way too much. oh and I'm a control freak who has a hard time letting people do nice things for me (I'm working on this in therapy currently)

14. your at your sexual peak! whoot! if you thought you were a horny little minx before, look out! it is a scientific proven fact that the 30's is a woman's sexual peek!

the final one is perhaps the most life changing one for me personally! 

15. mom stuff. i had no clue how amazing, and life altering it would be to be a mom. it is by far my greatest accomplishment in my 32 years. it also gave me a new appreciation and respect for my mom. it has taught me more patience, more pride,more happiness, more confidence and more love than anything else.


CHEERS TO TURNING 32! 
XOXO 
just janelle

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Wish list wednesday!

If you are anything like me you love shopping. I could find joy shopping anywhere from cvs to Nordstrom to the grocery store. i also enjoy the simplicity of  online shopping , being in my cozy bed clicking away, added coveted items to my cart. Of coarse I can not afford to buy all these items, but this doesn't prevent me from picturing where I would wear them or what I currently own that I could pair them with. For all of you out there saying "that's not fun, I want to actually own the items" in response to that I say .....ever heard if Pinterest? I have a feeling you have, I have a feeling you probably love it too. Pinterest is a virtual pin board. Ideas, projects, fashion. I know I pin things all the time that I could never do or never get to doing like a DYI project resurfacing my coffee table (never got around to that one) The "pin" is really just a idea of what you like or want, It's like faux shopping and it's actually pretty darn fun. with my birthday right around the corner these are some of the things I'm currently coveting.
This is what's on my wish list Wednesday? whats on yours?
I'm loving dainty gold jewelry lately. 
www.etsy.com

how cute are these kate spade candles?


 www.katespade.com
i die for this pink monogrammed over sized clutch! its is perfection! www.giginewyork.com
how cute are these Fuji film cameras?! they come in allot of different colors and produce instant (Polaroid) photos. you can get these at radio shack, Michael's crafts, urban outfitters and best buy. they run around $99.

these are just a few of my current favorites. happy wish list wednesday!

xoxo
just janelle

Thursday, July 31, 2014

july favorites

its the last day in July so i thought i would share a list of my personal favorites for the month. the things i simply couldn't get enough of . what I've been wearing, eating and doing! enjoy! here we come august!

what I'm wearing:
 straw like fedoras. both of these i found at target  www.target.com

cobalt blue! everything! nail color is sally Hansen's in the color #420 pacific blue
 hot pink shirt target purchase last summer and leopard print silk shorts www.amazon.com
round hippie inspired glasses in tortoise shell. (target)

draw string silk pants for casual days running errands is a great alternative to sweats, they are light and if your like me and rarely like to wear shorts or work out pants out this is a great option. i got these at h&m a few years ago but they have similar styles still.

blue nails. this month i couldn't get enough of blue nails of every shade. my top are sally Hansen's shown above. essie: bikini so teeny (pale lavender blue) where's my chauffeur ( the teal pictured above) and borrowed and blue ( pale blue color also pictured above)

what im eating: even though its a million degrees i cant get enough of pho restrains. specifically " the pho shop" on sports arena. this place is fast, clean and open late. i have tried a variety of items here and the pho portion is huge! plus if you check in on yelp you get 10% off your meal. i have been here many times and never disappointed!

what I'm doing:
some of my favorite activities in summer are picnics, whether indoor breakfast picnics or outdoors at the park there is just something about sitting on a blanket and eating fresh fruit or sandwiches is just kinda fun!


what I'm doing: sparklers and fireworks! even when its not forth of July, watching the sea world fireworks from my house has definitely been one of my July favorites! it is a relaxing fun  family summer activity! (oh and free)
i hope everyone had a awesome month of July....look out August!

xoxo
just janelle