Author Archives: koyotekate1

Pumpkin Protein Pancakes

This recipe has been over a year in the making. Originally it came from my best friend (Thanks Jenn!). My boys had spent the weekend with her and she made them pancakes. They asked for them repeatedly when they got home. I got the recipe from her, made them, and yes, I can see why they requested them. Yum! The only problem was the 3/4 c. of brown sugar in them. Yikes!

I started first by eliminating the sugar, adding protein powder and then experimenting with different mixes until I came to the following. My boys LOVE them and I love the added protein!

1/2 c. vanilla protein powder (I used 4 scoops of Shakeology which added 72 grams of protein)
1/2 c. Heart Smart Biquick Mix
1 c. Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Mix
1 c. applesauce
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 c. almond milk
1 tsp. cinnamon

Mix all ingredients together with a hand mixer until smooth and runny. Carefully flip once bubbles start. This makes about 12 pancakes (enough for 4). I like to make 2 batches and put the leftovers in the frig to heat up quickly during the week. We do NOT use syrup with theses since they are so good on their own. XOxo

Happiness is Expensive

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Sweatshirt: Chrldr c/o Meka; tank: forever21; jeans: Paige Denim “Jimmy Jimmy” at Nordstrom; boots: Frye “Veronica” at Nordstrom (currently on sale!!); beanie: Nordstrom; Lip: Make up for ever Aqua rouge in #8;

Small Business Saturday

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sweater: Kerisma c/o Meka; leggings: American Apparel c/o Meka; sunglasses: ray ban; tank: forever21; boots: forever21 bag: Louis Vuitton “Palermo”

I wanted to highlight my favorite Small Business since it’s Small Business Saturday. Actually, this is kind of one of my biggest secrets. A majority of my favorite clothes come from Meka Boutique! Meg, the owner, is so stylish, fun, and sweet. I love stopping by and seeing her and she ALWAYS picks me out GREAT clothes!! Please tell her hi for me when you drop in and make sure you share with me your fabulous finds. XOxo

Zumba Christmas Ornaments

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To show appreciation to my students I made them Zumba ornaments this year. Even if the zumba guy doesn’t appeal to you, maybe it can inspire another idea.

I started out using a sharpie paint pen and free handed the zumba guy. Next I used a glue pen and traced just on the inside of the black. I sprinkled with glitter and then wrapped up for giving.

I made almost 100 of them.

Hope you are having a happy holiday season. XOxo

Dogs Need Love Too

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My family loves dogs!! This holiday season I didn’t want to leave them out so I’m adding little doggie goodies to the gifts I’m giving. First up was the cut out cookies. Recipe can be found here. I divided the dough in half. With half the dough, I added red food coloring and cut out little doggie bones. The second half I used green food coloring and made green gingerbread men.

The last recipe is for doggie peanut butter cups! Because dogs are allergic to chocolate I used carob chips instead of the traditional chocolate chips. I started out with a bottom layer of melted carob chips. Then added a middle layer of melted peanut butter chips. And finally, I topped it all off with a carob chip puppy paw print.

I had my little girl Vegas test them out before I wrapped them up. She gave 2 paws up!! They were gone in a flash and then the paper wrapper got licked for about 3 minutes straight.

To wrap them up I made these cute little containers that were bought from Michael’s craft store.

I added a clear bag, some shreds, and then tied with a bow. I included half a dozen in each.

They’ll make great centerpieces for the larger gift baskets I’ll be giving. Shhhhh!!!

Make Up For Ever Holiday lip Set = LOVE!!!

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Here’s my must have beauty item for the holidays…Make Up For Ever Ultimate Long Lasting Lip Set. I wore #10 last night to Justin Timberlake’s 20/20 concert (side note: that show was A.MAZ.ING!!) and even after I washed my face it was still on my lips when I woke this morning. Now, that is staying power. These lipsticks are highly pigmented and not drying. The set is kind of pricey up front at $140 but you are getting 6 pencils and 6 lipsticks. In my opinion, totally worth it!

Here’s a link to my favorite blogger Pink Pistachio and how she applies the lipstick: http://vimeo.com/72716351. I prefer it with the liner though as I feel the look is cleaner. This is a limited edition set so get it while you can. XO

The Happiness Project: Children Memory Boxes

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I’m starting a new series…. The Happiness Project. When we moved into our house I was 9 months pregnant. The biggest worry I had at the time was getting my 2 year old’s room and the nursery ready before having the baby. Everything else got shoved into a little corner here or there to be sorted through when I had more time. And now, 5 years later all that junk is still there. It pains me (even if it’s just a little) when I see those little unorganized, how do I even start spaces. Sound Familiar?

I’ve started several new little projects that make up my whole Happiness Project and this is the first one I completed…Memory Boxes for my boys. It’s pretty laughable how many papers and items of theirs I had spread around the house for me to attend to ~~never~~ someday . Well, that someday was today and when I really got down to it it didn’t take very long. I purchased file boxes and hanging folders at Office Depot and labeled each folder: baby info. preschool, primary, 1st grade, etc. I also used a sharpie and stencils to label the boxes with each of the boys’ names. (I think vinyl letters would be way cool too!) I’m storing them in my office for right now to easily access them when I get new papers to add. Not sure if they’ll stay there but believe me I’m already feeling happier knowing that I got all my boys’ papers together and hopefully one day they will enjoy going through them with me.

Tuna and Broccoli Salad

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Being that I grew up not eating red meat, school lunches were quite difficult for my mother. I ate a lot of tuna salad sandwiches while everyone else was having their deli meat sandwiches. I still really enjoy Tuna salad sandwiches but not the calories that come along with them. This recipe is a lighter version which includes broccoli and gives it a nice crunch. It makes for a quick easy delicious lunch!

Ingredients:

1 can light tuna in water
3 stalks of chopped celery
head of broccoli
1/2 chopped red onion
2 tbsp light mayonnaise
2 tbsp mustard
2 tbsp pickle relish
fresh pepper

I mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl and then separate into 2 separate bowls – one for lunch and another for the next day (or I guess you could share). Notice how little mayo is used but it really adds a ton of flavor.

Enjoy!!

Low calorie, plus protein Pumpkin Spice Latte PSL

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This drink was inspired by Michelle Money’s (Bachelor, Bachelor Pad) youtube channel MMandLshow. Check out her and Laura’s videos. They are awesome!! After they suck you in for a few hours you may come back and thank me.

Here’s their recipe copied exactly from their site:
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/2 cup plain pumpkin purée
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
3 Truvia Packets
1.5 tsp pumpkin pie spice
10oz brewed coffee

Blend all ingredients and serve over ice or heat up in microwave for 45 seconds.

I tried it their way and then changed 1 thing and it was SO MUCH BETTER!! I used Shaklee’s cafe latte shake mix instead of the vanilla protein mix. Delish!! No, I don’t sell Shaklee. No, I don’t get any cashola from saying that the cafe latte mix was better. Frankly, I just prefered it. I think you would too.

Make this delicious low calorie PSL, sit back and enjoy!!

Halloween decorations inspired by Pottery Barn

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I LOVE holidays, especially Halloween. I try to decorate a little different every year. And this year, I was inspired by Pottery Barn’s spooky theme (lots of skulls, body parts, and snakes).

I was able to find silver glitter spray, small and medium size skulls at Walmart. Target also had the medium size skulls. I simply took them to my backyard and spray painted them a fun sparkly silver.

I added a few bought items (towels used as cloth napkins from Target and tombstone vase filler from Oriental Trading Company) to ones I already had and created a feastive table setting.