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

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

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

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