Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Chip Pancakes; healthy snack or breakfast
These Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Chip Pancakes are the perfect healthy snack or breakfast! Created by simply grinding up your own oatflour, adding a few simple ingredients, topped with the calming powers of dark chocolate will surely make you feel good inside and comfort you! All while being good for you too! For me, they are perfect when craving a sweet! There's just something about the combination of gooey dark chocolate chips mixed with warm pancakes drizzled with honey!PS: I adore my Bamboo Cutting Board! Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Chip Pancakes These Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Chip Pancakes are the perfect healthy snack or breakfast! Created by simply grinding up your own oat flour, adding a few simple ingredients, topped with the calming powers of dark chocolate will surely make you feel good inside and comfort you! All while being good for you too! For me, they are perfect when craving a sweet! 1 cup Oats Ground to a Flour in Food Processor2 tbsp granulated brown sugar1/4 tsp baking powder3/4 cup milk of your choice1 tsp olive oil2 tbsp dark chocolate chips1 drizzle hony1 sprinkle granulated brown sugar1 splash vanilla (optional for flavor) Create Oat Flour in a Food Processor by GrindingCombine All Dry & Mix in Food ProcessorAdd Wet Ingredients, Mix in Food ProcessorPour Pancakes on GriddleDrop in Chocolate ChipsFlip PancakesServe Drizzled with Honey, Sprinkled with Brown Sugar & Topped with More Chips! Breakfast, Snackcalming recipe, chocolate chip pancakes, dark chocolate, easy recipe, healthy breakfast, healthy snack, oat flour, oatmeal, oats, pancakes
SMILES; why we smile to share happiness
Have you ever wonder why we smile? Smiles represent Happiness, sharing a smile is the simplest form of sharing kindness, spreading love & happy gestures. we smile to share happiness photography by: Erin S. PS: THAT CUTE LIL' SMILE PIN WAS SUCH FUN PURCHASE! MAKES ME SMILE EVERYTIME I WEAR IT ON MY JEAN JACKET! Smile, your grandma probably always told you to smile!I know mine did! Why is this? Why does society want more smiles?It's quite simple, a smile is truly the most simple form to share happy gestures.....after all isn't that what we are all trying to be, is simply happy? In Photos Smiles are meant to represent or to remember the "happy" moment taking place within that photo, that memory. The thing is, as a professional photographer I've come to realize one can smile, yet deep down not be happy. A true happy smile must be non-forced, start within one's heart, shine throughout the eyes, and thereafter will journey to one's mouth creating a smile or may even not produce a full happy-go-lucky smile, it may be a simple smirk, or may even be a gaze of happiness. In Daily Life Smiles are shared as a way of saying thank you, a way of spreading that happy feeling from one person to another, and even a way of saying, it's ok I forgive you. Smiles are shared from person to person and even from person to pet. It's astonishing how pets even know when a person is smiling or frowning at them! Inspired Smiles are just as they sound; inspired by something or someone.For instance Pilea Plants are a sure fire way to Bring About Smiles to "my soul"Puppies and furry friends also bring a super duper smile to my face.Going outside also inspires my smile, theirs just something about that fresh air!Pretty Florals make me smile, a Text from my best-friend, or a Hug from my hubby.This book will even make you smile or smile with laughter of a Pooping Unicorn! What brings about a smile to you? ...Why do you smile? Thanks for taking the time to read my blog, I hope you'll subscribe to my newsletter to be notified of future posts & join my journey. Feel free to leave a comment below, I'd Love to Hear from Ya!PEACE, LOVE & SMILES,Erin S. IF INTERESTED, HERE ARE THE PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THE BLOG
PILEA Peperomioides; the happy houseplant
Have you ever had a houseplant that makes you happy? Pilea Peperomioides truly bring smiles to my soul & happiness to my day! Otherwise known as the Chinese Money Plant & Friendship Plant will make YOU Happy too! photography by: Erin S. Pilea Peperomioides Super Cute Happy Houseplant! Oh Pilea, You Indeed bring such Happiness to my Heart!Why does this cute little houseplant bring happiness to my heart & smiles to my face? Lilly Pad & Pancake Shaped Leaves who wouldn't love these almost perfectly round floating pads? Sporadic Stems who wouldn't love these free flowing pops of fun? Unique Growth who wouldn't love the no two are alike growth? Babies who wouldn't love baby Pileas, how could you ever resist? Easy Care who wouldn't love a houseplant that's so easy to care for? Grace who wouldn't love the forgiving graceful ways of the Pilea? Crayon Colored Green who wouldn't love the color almost as if colored with crayons? Waking Up to a Smile who wouldn't love waking up to this houseplant smiling back at you? Friendship who wouldn't want to share a Pilea pup with a friend? (ok I admit, I've kept all my babies for myself, I can't part with them) Lots of Pilea Blogs on my Other Home & Garden Website:You May Enjoy My Pilea Blogs More "In-Depth Care of the Pilea" Featuring my FAVE Fungas Gnat Free Soil, I ONLY USE this Soil for my Beloved Pileas and other Houseplants! It's the BEST Soil EVER! I also NEVER go without these Fungus Gnat Traps. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog, I hope you'll subscribe to my newsletter to be notified of future posts & join my journey. Feel free to leave a comment below, I'd Love to Hear from Ya!PEACE, LOVE & SMILES,Erin S. IF INTERESTED, HERE ARE THE PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THE BLOG
define LIFE; a blog about life
define LIFE; a blog about life. It's really that simple. This is me, writing about Life as I see it. What is this thing we call Life all about?...to Love Life, is to Love One's Self. photography & illustration by: Erin S. I sit here with my mac upon my lap, a blank screen looking back just waiting to have it's white space filled. I think to myself what is Life? Should life be defined as a one line statement? I think not. Let me bore you for a brief moment....(Life defined within the Cambridge Dictionary) LIFE |noun:-the period between birth and death-a particular type or part of someone's experience-the period during which a machine or object that produces power works-energy or enthusiasm Even within the dictionaries we are taught to rely on for the pure definitions of the words we use, "life" has many meanings. Therefore as I write this Blog titled as the most simplest of words "LIFE," it is full of the most in-depth of thoughts. Grab yourself a cup of coffee...I may be a while. What is Life to me at this very moment?Life according to E (E that would be me, the E within the E+C, aka Erin S.)I'm gonna be real. I mean after all that's what this blog is all about The Snapps in front of the lens being real. That being said, to be perfectly honest with you, LIFE at the moment is me with my feet propped up, in a big comfy chair, laptop upon my lap typing about LIFE while every so often glancing across the room looking at my Cute C (he would be the C within the E+C, aka Corey S.) He's over there reading about our next cameras.It's cold as heck outside because we are currently having some sort of winter half-jacked burst of 30 degrees or below here in North Carolina. .....so what do we do when it's cold on the coast? We stay indoors; write blogs about LIFE & read about cameras....and there you have it, that is my life at this moment. Boring, right?If you are still here reading along then I'll let you in a lil' deeper of this crazy mind of Erin Snapp. Let's get a little less boring, let's go deep.LIFE.......... (those dots? they would be the silence of my brain, pausing) My life could seem simple, or completely complicated.My life could seem barebones boring, or perfectly paced.My life could seem a delightful dream, or a nasty nightmare. In my eyes my life is Love, Blessings, Stillness & Workloads. In my eyes my life is my Art & Photography defined through creations. In my eyes my life is full of silly worries & sometimes big worries, and those worries = Anxiety....yes lots of Anxiety. That's indeed a blog within it's self! Suppose you could compose the Dictionary Definition of LIFE, what would your life's definition description be? Erin's Life as a Dictionary Definition | noun: -the period between birth and deathErin
my DRAWING inspiration
My Drawing inspiration is inspired by the most random of places, things, emotions and feelings within my heart. It's providing Self-Love to Myself. My DRAWING inspiration: ...DREAM doodle by: Erin S. When asked about my DRAWING inspiration; what inspires me to draw, to doodle, to illustrated, honestly I can't answer with a one worded answer. It all started with Crayons... For as long as I can remember I have been drawing. I even have a one of my very first drawings which I created as a little girl!It all started with Crayons, I loved them...the smell of them, the rainbow of colors throughout even the smallest of crayon boxes. I loved mixing colors, shading with them, and sharpening them to create what I thought to be the perfect outline. Next Came Colored Pencils... I remember the moment these colored pencils came into my life, a bit like crayons yet so very different. I shaded, I outlined, I erased and I fell in love. I fell in love with outlining first, then coloring in thereafter. my Doodle Journals For the Love of Sharpie.... Who doesn't love a "Sharpie"Sweet Sharpie of Mine you will continue to be my FAVE!Throughout my many years I have enjoyed Sharpies of All Shapes and Colors! I SERIOUSLY have sharpie everything from my Converse Chucks to Art Upon my Wall. To this very day I continue to enjoy using a Very Fine Tip Sharpie Pen as my choice of Journaling Art. My oh My, Digital Design... Then the magic happened! Like My oh My Drawing Digitally has changed my life.Enter the Apple iPad Pro combined with the Apple Pencil! I seriously could sit for hours creating, coloring, designing and simply watching my art come to life on this beautiful combination! In fact I love it so much that I carry it along much of where I go. I found this adorable case to make it so much easier to travel with. Not only am I able to draw, I'm also able to keep in touch with our photography clients via email with the keyboard.I feel it combines my most beloved forms of art media. my iPad "Be Magical Tee Design" by: Erin S. I still of course enjoy all of the above media minus the crayons; simply because as any artist knows putting pen/pencil to paper will never be replaced by digital. When one wants to take his or her heart back to the place where their art came to life then put the pen/pencil to paper. my DRAWING inspiration My Drawing inspiration comes from Life, Dreams, Love, and Worries. I'm inspired by anything I feel could Bring About Smiles. How does Life inspire my designs?Life comes in many forms from the Outdoors, to Cute Life and even the Life within one's Creativity. These are all forms of Life and I love just simply looking around, soaking in the Life around me. These all inspire me. I LOVE following Samantha Dion Baker's Draw your
Pilea Peperomioides Online Order Unboxing, Repotting, Propagation blog video
I simply adore my Pilea Peperomioides, I'll share my latest experience with online order unboxing, repotting, propagation blog with video included! Many of you may be wondering how a live plant can be shipped through the mail, many may be wondering will it arrive alive and will it survive! You may also be wondering the best way to care for your Pilea when it arrives. I know I wondered all of the above when I purchased my first Pilea a while back. No worries, I'm here to share it all with you! I'm SUPER EXCITED TO SHARE MY PILEA PEPEROMIOIDES ONLINE ORDERING UNBOXING AND REPOTTING & PROPAGATION BLOG VIDEO TIPS WITH YOU! photography by Erin S. of Simply Living NC Where to Purchase Your Pile Peperomioides via Online Ordering?I purchased mine through a company on Etsy called Garden Goods DirectAnytime one orders a product online it's always the "unknown" feeling of how will this item or product arrive, of course this feeling of purchasing a live plant triples!After reading many reviews of customers pleased with their Pilea Plants and communicating with the company, I decided to take the plunge and my oh my I'm so glad I did! UPON ARRIVAL: Placed my Order Was Notified of Shipping Received 2 Days Later Arrived at My Front Door The Box was clearly marked and sitting pretty when I opened my front door After carefully cutting open the box, I found the prettiest Pilea Peperomioides Pilea was wrapped in brown paper, had a warming pad, and was stapled to prevent spillage After I carefully removed her from the packaging, I inspected her for bugs with no signs Upon inspection I was happily surprised with a baby Pilea Pup sitting proudly beside her Momma! She was indeed old enough to separate! photography by Erin S. of Simply Living NC With any Pilea Purchase, I always immediately change out my soil.Please understand I am by no means saying my online order was tainted soil...it was perfectly clean with no signs of bugs, pests, or fungus. I just personally feel better replacing all soil with my FAVORITE SOIL MIX to prevent any chances of the dreaded fungus gnats. I seriously swear by this soil! I've had so much luck with this soil, that all of my Pileas are happily growing within this soil, producing pups, and have no signs of fungus gnats. As a precaution I always have my Favorite Sticky Gnat Traps on Hand and the first sign I see they are caught instantly, the soil I use stays so dry there is hardly any chance of egg laying.Now onto my typical repotting and propagation process of all of my Pileas.... REPOTTING AND PROPAGATION PROCESS: Using my FAVE SOIL MIX, I fill a terra cotta pot with the soil. (any terra cotta pot will work nicely, I always use terra cotta because it breathes and keeps my pileas healthier. I have my eye on this cutie of a hanging terra cotta pot, maybe next
Vegetable Garden Planning Made Easy in a Small Space with Bonus Garden Pest Spray
Vegetable Garden Planning doesn't have to be difficult, nor does it have to be large!I'm here to help inspire you with Vegetable Garden Planning Made Easy in a Small Space. I don't know about you, but there's just something inspiring and soul fulfilling growing your own food. That being said I personally live in a small coastal town on a town lot with very little land. ....I thought to myself, I can't ever grow a garden with enough food to enjoy, oh boy was I wrong! It all started with the foundation which of course is the structure of the garden. My hubby and I wanted to make certain everything was recycled as much as possible. We were able to create a Rustic Garden which You can Read More on My Blog Rustic Garden...our Pocket Garden. Next would be the planning, which I like to make so simple it's actually drawn out within my journal. Of course since I love to draw, this is another fun part of the Garden process.Here you can see my thought on what our garden layout may look like.Starting with "Late Winter / Early Spring" planting, moving to "Summer Transition" and ending with a bit of "Summer Update Planting" Late Winter / Early Spring Planting Summer Harvest Transition Plan Summer Update Planting Plan Well, as you can see we planned, we planted, we made some changes along the way and the most important thing is....we are growing! Our Favorite Garden Pest Recipe of these Products:THIS Bug Killer is such an Awesome ProductCombined with a couple of drops of This Natural SoapMix the Two in a Sprayer, such as this one and apply with a fine mist. A few changes we made:-Added a Lettuce Patch-Decided Not to Grow Collards (they took up too much space)-Added a Top Trellis Branch for our Cucumbers to Grow on-Made a Switch-aRoo of spots for our melons and cucumbers Our Pocket Garden / Small Space Rustic Gardening New Lettuce Patch, Deer, Bird, and Rabbit Resistant Lettuce Growing Nicely! Tomatoes Growing! Sugar Peas contacted Aphids, however gone overnight with our Garden Spray! Link Above Carrots, So Fun! Broccoli will be Ready to Harvest Soon! Every morning we enjoy our walk to the garden and every morning each crop has grown a bit more.We can't wait for the day of harvest! Continue to check back on our progress of our Sweet Pocket Garden, we love it so very much. We hope our Pocket Garden in Small Space has helped to inspire you to grow your own food. It's such an amazing feeling!Don't forget to Mix Up our FAVE Garden Spray Listed Above to Help Prevent those Nasty Bugs. IF INTERESTED, HERE ARE THE PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THE BLOG
Camellias; the Southern Shade Loving Evergreen
Oh the beautiful, graceful Southern Belle of the South...the Evergreen Shade Loving Camellia.She sure does make my Heart Shine! I don't know about you, but my heart just tends to get full of happiness when I gaze at these beauties! Thankfully I'm surrounded by Camellias not only here at the Pocket Cottage, but also throughout our Sweet Southern Coastal Town of Southport, NC! https://youtu.be/G3Cl26axaaE I Simply Adore Camellias; the Southern Shade Loving Evergreen! photography by: Erin S. of Simply Living NC A Little Bit About Camellias: Camellias are indeed known as one of the South's beloved plants! Also known as the Camellia Japonica or Sasanqua Camellia An Evergreen Shrub, which can also be shaped or formed into a Tree Camellias produce gorgeous flowers ranging in colors of pink, reds, & whites Some produce single bloom flowers, others produce double bloom like a carnation or peony Flower when other's in the garden are not producing, Sept, Oct, Winter Months until Spring. Most are Deer Resistant Hardy in zones 7-10 Can grow quite large from 6-10 feet tall and wide Love Shade, Dappled Sun/Shade and Some will Sunburn with too much Sun Camellias Don't Like Wet Feet, do not plant in Soggy Soil and Plant a little Higher than soil Camellias enjoy organic matter mixed within their soil when planting They Prefer to be fertilized after their Flowers have Dropped and again in Summer if needed Prune as needed AFTER blooming Camellias are Slow Growing Camellia Pests and Problems: Leaf Scorch or Leaf Sunburn, look for yellow or scorched leaves, provide shade Tea Scale, look for tiny white or brown specs under the leaves, treat with a horticultural oil Petal Blite, look for blooms rapidly browning & dropping, treat by picking up dropped ones Bud Drop, look for buds dropping before opening, caused by freezing, drought or overwatering Root Rot, make sure to plant base of plant a little higher than the soil to prevent soggy feet photography by: Erin S. of Simply Living NC photography by: Erin S. of Simply Living NC Why do I Simply Adore Camellias? Well now, I simply say...who wouldn't love this graceful flower filled beauty?I'll never forget the first moment I laid eyes on a Camellia, strolling through our local park. I say local, because this park is indeed local to me now. However when we first moved to North Carolina I had never even seen a Camellia in person. A simple stroll through our park and my heart was filled with what I thought were some form of rose or peony trees, little did I know they were Camellias!Years later, my own yard is graced with their beauty and I still walk daily through our local park to enjoy the original Southern ladies who filled my heart. Here at the Pocket Cottage we have Several Varieties and are always adding, in fact we just planted a new addition to the garden and can't wait to see her strut her stuff next September! photography by: Erin
How To Build a Rustic Deer Resistant Small Vegetable Garden
Is your desire to build a Small Rustic Vegetable Garden that blends within the surroundings, flows with the style of a cottage garden, all while being deer resistant? We had the exact desires! We wanted to find a way to blend a vegetable garden into our existing cottage garden beds. We felt it was best to create a very natural garden with a little pop of whimsy! Damage from deer A national survey by USDA’s in 1992 identified deer damage as the most widespread form of wildlife damage. Forty percent of the farmers reported having deer damage. There are many ways to combat deer damage such as repellents, deer resistant plantings and as fencing. We have found fencing to be the most effective for us to prevent having to spray pesticides and chemicals near our crops. Deer have the ability to jump as high as eight feet so a fence should be close to that height. Our garden is so small we felt for us closer to six feet was tall enough. Starting with a plan and dead standing Oak trees We started this project like most, knowing what natural resources were available to us. We knew we had nice dead standing Oak logs in our back woods that were solid and free of rot that would work great for post. You could also use something like a Steel Stake which would work just as good. We also had some leftover bricks for the raised beds within the garden. With that and a plan it was time to get started. photography by: Simply Living NC The full plan We stared with tilling the area where the garden was going with a small tiller like this one. At this time we also added some soil amendments of compost. Next was digging for the post holes to set our six Oak posts with a post hole digger. We then wrapped the entire enclosure with Poultry Netting with staples as well as wire to hold to the posts. We also dug a small trench and folded the wire fencing into the ground to stop any animals from digging under the fence. Next was to lay the brick border and mound the dirt up we kept this very simple just standing bricks on there edge with a hardwood mulched path down the middle. Lastly was to make a gate that would keep all the little critters out. For this we went back to our natural store of the wood and found cedar branches and grape vines to make the one of kind whimsical gate. Once the frame was made we once again used the Poultry Netting attached to the gate. photography by: Simply Living NC photography by: Simply Living NC The end result What we ended up with is what we think is the perfect rustic garden that takes up minimal room and flows with our surrounding. We now have a 6' x 12' garden with 16" raised beds on three sides and
