Recipe: The Best Pancakes in the Whole World!! (And they're made withOatmeal!!!)

Now that's a strong statement, "The Best Pancakes I'm the Whole World!!" But it's the truth! I'm not one for homemade pancakes! They tend to be thick and too dry for me.  I envision myself looking like a dog trying to get peanut butter off the roof of my mouth when I eat them! So I've been sticking to a boxed mix, preferring Krusteaz. But last weekend, while camping with the fam, Aunt Sharon broke out with THE BEST PANCAKES EVER!!!! Homemade, from scratch, the moistest (is that a word?) pancakes! So here I introduce you to ....homemade Oatmeal Pancakes!!!

Ingredients for about 12 pancakes:

2 cups of oatmeal

2 cups of buttermilk

3 eggs

2 Tbs sugar

4 Tbs oil

1/2 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

Step 1: Soak oatmeal in buttermilk over night!

Step 2: Mix dry ingredients!

Step 3: Add in wet ingredients including oatmeal mixture!

Step 4: Cook

Step 5: Eat and Enjoy! And please let me know what you thought of this recipe!!

Inspiration in Soap Packaging!

I'll be honest... I was nervous about the idea of taking a vacation for so long.  As I teacher, I look forward to my summer break (any break actually!) This time though, I was nervous about being away from my soap!!! (A little wierd huh?)  On any other vacay, I would take my craft with me: knifty knitters, art supplies etc. But soap making supplies aren't that easy to transport. So I went through withdrawals... Salivating on other soap makers projects I found on Facebook or Pinterest.  But by day three, envy turned into inspiration.  I got out a pen and paper and started planning what I would make when I got home, creating a calendar of what would be made and when, and getting to things I never could find time for because I'd rather be making soap.  I redesigned labels/ packaging, blogged, and rewrote product descriptions! I started to exercise!!!!! (I just walked 4 miles and am participating in a squat challenge!).   I'm actually finding out that time away from my passion is exactly what I needed! I needed space to think and plan so that when I come home to my oils, I'm off and running! Here are some great packaging tutorials that I found. This one is from: http://ohhappyday.com/2012/08/print-on-brown-paper-bags/

And this one is from: http://www.diywedding.org/diy-wedding-ideas/free-downloads/diy-wedding-favor-bags-with-a-twist

Craft Beer: Savor Growl

First day in Ohio and where did we have to stop? Of course, a craft beer store! Thanks to today's wonderful advancements in smart phone technology, we quickly discovered Savor Growl in Clintonville, OH!  We were quickly greeted by friendly knowledgable staff that gave detailed answers to all of our questions.  Their selection of beer and wine was impressive. They even had a bar to fill your own growler with a minimum of 35 beers on tab!

So if you're in the Columbus area, check out this great craft beer store and don't forget your growler! It's exciting to see such a cool craft beer store use innovative ways to get great beer to people! I hope this becomes the norm. I haven't seen it in California (correct me if I'm wrong!) This girl was impressed!!!