No Words Needed

 

You Are the Captain of Your Own Ship

Sometimes I have to remind myself that I am the boss of me.  

I can choose to be happy. I can choose to be creative. I can choose to exercise and eat healthy foods and get enough sleep.  I don't have to be around people who bring me down...or waste my time with things I don't enjoy. 

It's all up to me. 
I am the captain of my own ship.
I did this little doodle in one of my sketchbooks so I won't forget.

Hello Monday

I'm linking up with Lisa Leonard today for the first time. 
She has a lovely blog and beautiful jewelry. 

Hello newly hatched Monarch

Hello sunflower

Hello apples from our tree

Hello Oriole nest

Hello new puppy, I hope you sleep better tonight!

Hello warm days for sprinkler play

Hello wet dog smell...

Kauai Sunset and the big day is here!

Have you ever wondered what keeps clouds suspended in the sky? 

 

I thought this worked nicely for Illustration Friday - Suspend

It's funny and very telling that one of my favorite journal pieces is this watercolor sunset I painted from our lanai looking north over the bluffs of Princeville.  It only took me 15 minutes...which is maybe why it looks so good to me.  I didn't have time to over think and mess it up!

In other big news...we have a new puppy...AND...a new kitty!  The new kitty actually came 10 days ago.  We decided it would be fun to have a kitten and a puppy grow up together.

Meet Io the kitty and Oberon the pup.

Io wasted no time taking charge.  Here she is stalking Obi.

All the excitement wore Obi out.

Io likes to help me work.

Healthy Banana Blueberry Pancakes (GF & Dairy Free)

I have not posted a recipe in a long time so I'm excited to finally share this one which I made for a 4th of July holiday breakfast today.  I've made variations of this several times but usually for dinner.  We are big fans of BFD (Breakfast For Dinner.)  The first time I made these pancakes I wasn't sure how my kids would react because these are not your usual pancake but they loved them!  Now it's the only pancake recipe I make.  I love the wholesome ingredients and the fact that no sugar is added.  My family just loves the way they taste!

Ingredients

1 cup gluten free flour of choice, I used Arrowhead Mills.  If you are not GF, use whole wheat flour.

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup almond meal (sometimes called almond flour)

2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 medium bananas

1 cup milk of choice, I used unsweetened rice milk

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup applesauce

1 Tablespoon ground flax seed (optional*)

1 Tablespoon chia seeds (optional*)

1 cup frozen or fresh blueberries or mixed berries (I used blueberries today but have also used raspberries  or a mixture of the two.)

* Both the ground flax seed and chia seeds can be omitted or you can double one up and omit the other - i.e. 2 Tablespoons flax, no chia.

 Combine first 5 dry ingredients in a bowl and mix well.  In another bowl, mash the bananas and then mix in milk, egg, vanilla extract, applesauce, flax & chia seeds.  Pour liquid ingredients into dry ingredients and mix until smooth.  Gently fold in berries.  Warm skillet or griddle and coat liberally with cooking spray or butter, as these pancakes are a bit sticky.  Measure out 1/4 - 1/3 cup of batter and pour onto skillet.  The pancakes will not be round as the batter is rather thick.  You can shape them into nicer rounder shapes with a spoon if you like.  Cook until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side. 

Keep in mind that because of the banana and berries the pancakes will be slightly mushy in the middle.  If you like, put them on a baking sheet in the oven on medium heat for a few minutes to help dry them out.  I usually put the first batch in the oven while I cook the second batch.  This makes about 12 pancakes for me.

Some variations I have tried:

- Use only 1/4 cup almond meal and add 1/4 cup slivered almonds.  Makes them crunchier.

- Mash only one of the bananas.  Slice the second banana and add it when you add the berries.  Can make them mushier.

To makes these vegan, subsititue the egg with 3 additional Tablespoons of ground flaxseeds mixed with a little water.

 

Adapted from a recipe I found in the January 2012 issue of Self Magazine.  If you try my recipe I would love feedback.  Enjoy!!

I am linking up to Market Yourself Monday on Sumo's Sweet Stuff

Flowers of Hawaii

Flowers! 

Page from my journal

Random floral beauty from Kauai:

 

  

 

 

 

Refresh

I love a good Mai Tai.  Unfortunately the one & only Mai Tai I ordered in Kauai wasn't so good, but maybe that was a good thing...because I didn't order another and another...and it was one of my goals...to go easy on the Mai Tai's!



Acrylic on canvas pad.

 This is for Illustration Friday - Refresh. 
I had a tough time with the reflection of the glass on the table, which is supposed to be granite, by the way, but I think it turned out nicely.