5-Minute Vegan Pancakes

via

the other night, i got this craving for pancakes for dinner.  breakfast is probably my favorite meal of the day and i particularly love having breakfast for dinner!  since my parents adopted a vegan, sugar-free diet about a year ago, our pantry typically no longer includes things like instant pancake mix.  (it did, to my luck, still contain syrup though!)

because pancakes are clearly a lazy-girl's dinner, there was no way that i was going to get in the car and go buy pancake mix.  so, i went on the hunt for a recipe for pancakes that i could concoct with the ingredients we had in our cabinets!  i was excited to find a 5-minute vegan pancake recipe, and adapted it a little to suit my needs and tastes.  though not quite as fluffy and pretty as traditional pancakes, these were just as, if not even more, yummy!  we liked them so much that we actually made them for breakfast the next morning as well!

here's what you'll need:
1 c flour (i used oat, but you can use any kind you prefer)
2 tbsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup almond milk (or soy)
2 tbsp oil (i used avocado oil, but you can use vegetable or grapeseed, or even a light olive oil, though olive oil does have a stronger flavor)
dash of cinnamon (i always put cinnamon in my pancakes!)
*the original recipe calls for 1 tbsp sugar, but because my parents don't consume added sugar, i put in a tiny drizzle of organic agave syrup.  i think you could cut out a sweetener all together and not miss it.

here's what you need to do:
1. combine your dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, sugar if you're using it) and mix together

2. add the milk and oil to your mixture (note that this batter may seem thinner than normal pancake batter)

3.  grease a frying pan and begin heating over medium on the stovetop (don't forget to spray your pan!  this recipe will need a well-sprayed pan)

4.  pour desired amount of pancake batter into pan.  cook on medium until the center of the pancake bubbles

5.  carefully flip your pancake when the center bubbles and edges have stiffened

6.  repeat until all batter is gone…enjoy!

here's why i'm not a food blogger:

(a real food blogger would have had the foresight to say "hey, i'm gonna blog this recipe and so i will take awesome step-by-step photos" instead of making dumb faces and showing you pancake failures.  but please let me stress that they were still delicious and that i'm just bad at pancakes.  my dad had much better success the next morning.)

Discover Etsy // Andi of AP Loves Design

i'm so excited to announce a new feature on htb:  discover etsy!  i've been a fan of etsy since college.  i love handmade goods and love that etsy provides a space for creatives to share their talents and even make a little money off of them!  i know that for me, things like booking a photoshoot or selling a custom invitation design means a little extra cash in my pocket that i can put into supporting other creatives or take a class or even pamper myself a little.

these posts will introduce you to some etsy shop owners.  they might be a product review, an interview, or even a giveaway, so don't miss 'em!

today, i'm excited to introduce you to andi of ap loves design!

andi designs super cute notecards and prints…i'm in love with her stuff!  i got a chance to interview andi about her creative process, how she got started, and what inspires her…check out her answers!

when did you start making cards?  has it always been a hobby? // I started making cards about a year ago. Being creative in some fashion has always been a hobby for me. But I didn't entertain the idea of making cards until last summer. 

when did you first open your etsy shop & what made you decide to open one? // I open my Etsy shop during the holiday season in 2012. I opened the shop with the intention of doing something creative on the side and hopefully making a little change along the way. I was working full time in education even though my degree is in advertising design. After three years in education I wasn't feeling fulfilled. It was time for a change, and I ventured out on my own - ap loves design was born! 

what inspires you? // When brainstorming card ideas, or simply the wording that'll go on the card, I like to reference conversations with friends and family. It helps a ton! But simple things like going to nurseries and looking at different plants, and going for walks in our neighborhood provide a lot of inspiration. 

are there holidays/occasions that you particularly enjoy designing for? // This year was my first Valentine's Day experience. I was sketching ideas for Valentine's Day in December, and I'm so happy I did. It helped prepare me for the craziness. I can't wait until next year!

what is your creative process like? // I always start my designs with sketches. Once I'm set on an idea, I scan the image(s) into my design programs. There I add color, and make sure letter are the same height, etc. I print, score, cut, and package all of my cards and posters from home. Things can get pretty busy and overwhelming at time because I do it all from home, but I feel so blessed to be able to do what I love! 

andi's prints are seriously adorable, and for a limited time, she's offering 10% off to heavens to betsy readers with the code SPRINGISHERE!  so go check out ap loves design and pick up a print to freshen up your space for spring!

you can connect with andi on the following social media sites:

blog // etsy // facebook // instagram // twitter // pinterest

Bridal Shower Games // Would They Rather?

when i was planning my best friend's bridal shower last november, i designed a few bridal shower games that we used during the time that jen was opening her gifts.  guests got something to do while she opened and jen got to take her time!  i created a 10 questions game and a mad lib, both of which were fun to fill out!

throughout the process of designing and using these games (and then customizing them for a few others), i sort of realized that it was a really fun project!  so i started designing more, and wanted to share this one with you!  i've also had a bunch of requests to have my designs customized, so i thought it would be fun to expand my arsenal!

i took the idea of the game "would you rather" and came up with a fun "would they rather?" version for a bridal shower!  guests can choose which option they think the couple would pick and then see how many they get right!

for customization options and to see more of my designs, check out my design page!

Spring Snail Mail Swap!

image via

i've said it before and i'll say it again…one of my favorite things in the world is snail mail.  it just brightens my day to find a letter in the mail, or to send one and think about someone else finding a letter in the mail!  and it only costs fifty cents.  that's a pretty cheap way to make someone happy.

back in the fall, i hosted a snail mail swap and it was a hit!  it was fun to get a letter from a stranger and then get to write back and forth for a little while.  so to welcome in spring, i thought it was time for another swap.  i hope you'll join in!

here's how to participate:
1.  fill out the form below by april 1st
2.  i'll take everyone's addresses and match them up with someone else
3.  you'll get an email with the address of your swap buddy
4.  send your buddy a letter (or little package...whatever you want!)

Book Review // God is Just Not Fair

"if every need we have is met in god's grace, why are our burdens still so heavy at times?  if god's grace is really enough, why does it sometimes feel so inadequate?"

if you've ever felt the weight of a burden…an illness, an unanswered prayer, a worry or concern…then you may have asked god "why?".  in the past year, my family has done a ton of praying over the past year since my dad's cancer diagnosis.  and i'd be lying if i told you i never asked god why this was happening and declared to him that it was all just so unfair.  

life can feel really unfair sometimes.  for jennifer rothschild, unfair was losing her sight at age fifteen.  and i think that when someone goes through something like that, when they carry a burden, they have a choice to either believe in the grace and ultimate sovereignty of god, or to abandon belief in him.  

in her new book, god is just not fair, jennifer writes about what we do when things just don't make sense; about finding hope and grace and provision in those "why?" moments.  

one chapter that particularly hit home with me is the idea that god lends two kinds of grace that jennifer has named participant grace and spectator grace.  in my life, my dad is going through this battle, and god is lending him participant grace.  i'm the spectator, praying, trusting, and believing for his healing, and god lends me spectator grace to bear the burden as the spectator.  i, for one, am so thankful that god cares for all of his children…those going through the fire and those walking alongside the fire, spectating.

god is just not fair holds the truth that every "why" might not be answered, and sometimes, things just don't seem fair.  because sometimes, life tears a big hole in your blanket of faith.  but hope can be found in christ jesus.  and if anyone knows that, it's jennifer rothschild.  

i have felt so encouraged and cared for while reading this book.  jennifer writes from her heart, sharing personal anecdotes and encouraging those carrying a burden.  no matter where you are in life, chances are you've experience a time where you can related to life not feeling fair.  and whether you're in that place now, or god is leading you out of that place, there is truth to be found in god is just not fair.  

jennifer's writing has left me wanting for more.  preferably in the form of a good, long sit-down chat over a great cup of coffee where i can just listen to her share her wisdom.  

if you're looking for hope, wondering where god is in the midst of struggle, or walking alongside someone in the fight of their life, this book is for you.

want to know more about god is just not fair?

check out why jennifer wrote the book here and if you need more convincing, here are a few more reasons to by the book!

god is just not fair is available on amazon, barnes & noble, and christian book distributors. 

disclosure // while i did receive a free advance copy of god is just not fair, the views expressed in this review are completely my own.

Grateful Monday

two weeks ago, i linked up with emily (over at ember grey) to start my week with a grateful heart.  it was such a good way to start the week that i'd like to try to do it every monday.

here's what i'm particularly grateful about today:

a week spent with aj enjoying his spring break
my mom's baked oatmeal
a few days of subbing next week (aka:  extra income)
pretty mugs
discovering a new logic puzzle app
60-degree weather this weekend (even if they're calling for snow tomorrow)
cheap flights from philly to boston
other bloggers who encourage & inspire

emily runs a little grateful heart link-up every monday…i encourage you to go check it out, read some of the other posts, and consider participating! 

what are you grateful for today?

Blogging + Photography

throughout my years of blogging, this space has changed and grown a whole lot.  i've been thinking lately about things that i've done intentionally to try to make this blog better, and focusing on putting together good posts has been instrumental.  

one thing that i think makes a post good is the photos you use.  your photos are your quick visual:  if a reader doesn't have time to read your whole post, or if they're trying to decide whether to spend the time reading it, your photos can either convey the content of your post or draw them in and convince them to give you their time.  

here's an example of a featured post image that helps draw a reader in and gives a clear expectation of what they will learn from the post:

(bonus:  if someone happens to pin this photo (original post found here), it will tell them exactly what it's going to link them back to)

I have to be completely honest here:  crafting great photography for posts takes time.  and personally, i'm not great at making that time.  I happen to own a really nice camera and a bunch of lenses that I love (check out what's in my camera bag here), and I actually run a photography business on the side, so I should have no excuse.

But if you're like me and blogging isn't your full time job, you know that oftentimes, it happens late at night or on your lunch break or even early in the morning before you've become a real person aka showered.  In a perfect world, i'd be able to take tons of awesome photos on some cute brick alleyway in a hip city with perfect magic-hour daylight and a rockstar outfit.  But that's not my life and sometimes a lot of the time, I'm crafting a post with zero daylight in my bedroom in my pjs.  

So, I've learned to take good pics with my iphone.  Turns out that thing has a pretty great camera and it can really get the job done, depending on what you're trying to do!  (check out my fave camera apps here)

here's an example of a featured image that I used my iphone to create:

I cropped and added the text in Adobe Illustrator, but that pic was taken with my phone after a run one day.  In fact, I often use my instagram photos in my blog posts.  (original post here)

That's not to say that you never want to break out your big-girl camera.  Heck, I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't really proud of myself when I can blog some good photos that make me proud to show them off.  But again, sometimes, you have to make due.  Ya know, fake it til you have the time to make it….or something like that.

Of course, your photography do's and don'ts will definitely differ depending on what you blog about:  food bloggers have different priorities than fashion bloggers who have different needs than diy bloggers.  So you need to figure out what makes your particular blog or post jump out.

For example:  you'll care more about your background and depth of field in an outfit post, like so:

And care more about really close-up details in say, a decor post, like this:

Ultimately, like with any other aspect of blogging, you need to figure out what works for you.  These are just some things that I think makes a post feel a little more polished and a little more thought-out.  

Here's a quick list of my few rules of thumb when it comes to blogging + photography:

- Use good, clear, interesting images!

- Make sure every post has at least one image.

- If you didn't take an image, then make sure you credit your source. (link with love, people!)

- Choose or create a compelling featured post image.  It should be something that catches your reader's attention and gives a snapshot idea of what the post is about

- Make all of your images in your posts the same width.  I read this advice somewhere once and started doing it immediately.  It gives your posts a more sleek and put-together feel!  (all of my images are formatted to 600px wide, with varying heights)

- Add text to some images!  I like to add text to my featured image (the first one in my post) that has the post title or a quote from the post.

- If you're on pinterest and gain exposure from that particular site, try to think about what will look good and be eye-catching in someone's feed!

- When you're short on time or just can't get great images with a "real" camera, don't underestimate your trusty smart phone!


WHAT DID I FORGET?  WHAT WOULD YOU ADD?  WHAT ARE YOUR RULES OF THUMB?  

Hey Bloggers! Ask away….

hey bloggers!

are you new at this blogging thing?  have you been doing it for a while now?  what are some questions you have about the blogging world?  what are some questions you've been asked by other bloggers?

leave your question in the comment section and then watch for the answer in the next few weeks!

Girl Talk // Kneel & Let Go

there have been times in my life where God has taken the thing i have my fingers grasped tightly to and whispered..."let go".  he never forces, it's a quiet and gentle command.  and it always takes me by surprise.  in my relatively short twenty-four years, i've boldly declared, time and again, what i thought i wanted, only to watch god change the course of that plan.

i've been reading a few books lately, one of which is ann voskamp's One Thousand Gifts.  this book led me to her blog, and somewhere along the way, i found this quote:

"god's not asking me to climb ladders - he's asking me to kneel and let go." -ann voskamp

i wrote it down immediately, thinking about how profound the concept is.  kneel and let go.  if only it were as easy as it sounds!

i've written before about my struggle to figure out what exactly i wanted to do with my life in college, and how those future plans again hit a speed bump this summer.  and more than anything else, more than any relationship or other desire, the greatest struggle for me has been to kneel and let go of what i want my future to hold, or what i think my five-year plan should be, or what i think my life should look like.  

and over the past ten months, i've been learning this lesson in a new way as well.  last may, my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer.  (fortunately, he's doing really well, but prayers are appreciated!)  but over the past ten months, my family has been learning what it means to kneel and let go when you're in the most dire and desperate of times.  we've been blessed by an awesome medical team at one of the country's best hospitals who have been taking great care of my dad, but ultimately, we know that all of his progress, and the journey that got us there, can be attributed to jesus.  

i think in both of these situations, with my future and with my dad's diagnosis, learning to kneel and let go has been instrumental to finding the peace that passes all understanding that the bible talks about.  and ann says it so well:  "god's not asking me to climb ladders…"  it's true!  he's asking you to take it one step at a time.  

he understands that this lesson is not an easy one to learn, that this control is not easy to give up.  just think…it must have been excruciatingly difficult to watch his own son die the most horrible death knowing that he could end it with a blink, but he let go, so that we could ultimately benefit.  he knows first-hand what letting go means.  that's one of my favorite things about god.  he's big and mighty and more glorious than we can even imagine, but he knows and has felt our deepest pain.  that's just mind-blowing to me.  

so the take-away….just four little words, (write 'em down!), kneel and let go.  kneel and let go.  kneel and let go.  when you're at your worst, when you're more desperate than you've ever been, get on your knees, hand it over to god, and let go.  try it, trust me.

what is god trying to tell you to kneel and let go of?  when have you see god's faithfulness through answered prayer?

I Think I'm the Girl Who Uses Too Many Smiley Faces

i was texting someone the other night, and when i looked back at our conversation, i realized that i ended over half of my texts with a smiley face.

what. on. earth.

as someone with a degree in education, i pride myself in having good text etiquette…i never use terms like "lol" and i always spell out "you", "for", "are", etc.  even when someone broke into my house with my mom and i at home and i was hiding in my room texting anyone i knew for help (which, yes, was as terrifying as it sounds…i really should tell that story on here sometime), i typed in complete sentences, used proper punctuation, and spelled out each word.

but it seems, despite my quest for good texting grammar, i think i have become the girl who uses too many smiley faces.

maybe it's no big deal.  or maybe it's like that person on your facebook feed who ends every sentence with 16 exclamation points.

i could jesus juke this post with some deep thought about how using too many smiley faces eventually makes them worthless or that i hide my real emotions behind them or some contrived thing like that, but let's be real, it's just smiley faces, so i'm going to leave it as what it is.

i'm the girl who uses smiley faces.  a lot.  and if you send me a text, you'll probably get one back, complete with a smiley face.  please be a friend and tell me i'm not alone in this.

Grateful.

this week, i'm taking a page from emily's book (over at ember grey) and starting my week with a grateful heart.

here's what i'm particularly grateful about this morning:

that spring is in the air

an extra hour of sunlight

warm coffee during long morning meetings

running (yes, folks, you read that correctly!)

that aj comes home this week

a hot stone massage scheduled for thursday

a good report from dad's appointment today

fresh mango-pineapple-kale juice for an afternoon pick-me-up

emily runs a little grateful heart link-up every monday…i encourage you to go check it out and consider participating!  i know just writing this post changed my perspective on my day a little bit.

what are you grateful for today?

Get Fit. Stay Motivated.

confession time:  i have been so lazy this winter when it came to working out.  and i really have no excuse.

last summer and fall, i finally hit a breakthrough in my love/hate relationship with running.  i started kicking up my mileage and really pushing myself and actually ran a 10k…my longest distance ever!  and then it got cold.  and snowy.  and it stayed cold and snowy and i decided to stay inside in sweaters, wrapped up in blankets.  even though i have a gym membership that isn't cheap.

what sort of perpetuated this is that i (fortunately) really didn't gain any weight, so there wasn't this feeling of "oh my gosh i need to go to the gym."

but this weekend, something really clicked.  i had been hitting the gym to bike about once a week, but for the first time in my life, i missed running!  as someone who was a three-sport athlete all through high school and who was forced to run a lot (and as someone who was definitely not a very quick runner), i grew to hate it.  so this newfound emotion…this missing running…it was just weird.  but i kinda loved it.

so anyway, i went to the gym on monday and ran 3.25 miles with this treadmill interval workout, which was awesome and really encouraging.  and so on tuesday, i went back and ran another two.  and then i went to a pilates class that afternoon.  and then on thursday, i decided to go again and bike for 30min and work on my arms.

just to round everything out and feel like i'm seeing day-to-day results, i picked out two challenges and am on day four of both of them.  I've also added a push-up challenge to these schedules as well.

and friends, let me tell you.  i'm sore.  walking like a 90-year-old woman sore.  and it feels so good!

i'm determined to stay motivated and hit some goals…and here are some ways i'm doing it:

5 ways to stay motivated (from someone who's definitely not an expert):

1.  write down some inspirational quotes and place them in places you'll see them regularly!  (you can find a ton on pinterest.  one of my current faves?  "it hurts now, but one day…it will be your warm up.")

2.  join a community!  it's awesome if you can find some workout buddies in your area for accountability, but if not, look for a virtual one!  have you heard of tone it up?  the online community is free to join, kat & karena are super encouraging and you can follow them on instagram and twitter for motivation, encouragement, and workout tips!

3.  set clear goals.  for me, it's working out 3x a week, finishing my 30-day challenges, and sticking with a plan for at least the next month, because it takes that long to create a habit!

4.  designate rewards for hitting those goals.  (it's even better if these rewards are fitness-related!)  have your eye on a new pair of sneaks or like me, a sports bra from victoria's secret?  maybe you've been wanting to treat yourself to a facial or massage.  these types of things make great rewards for reaching a goal like sticking to your plan for a set amount of time or dropping a certain amount of weight.  note:  don't make your reward something like eating a huge bowl of ice cream.  i have no problem with indulging once in a while, but rewarding yourself with food that isn't helping you reach your goals is counter-productive! 

5.  drink lots of water.  this might seem like a weird one to help you stay motivated, but when i'm well-hydrated, my entire system just feels cleaner and makes me want to treat my body better!  yesterday, i drank a crazy ton of water, and yes, i was in the bathroom a million times, but overall, i felt so so so much better and it was motivating!     

do you like to work out?  what do you do to stay fit?  any tips on staying motivated?

Life Lately // According to Instagram

last month was kind of one of those whirlwind ones.  you know, the kind that goes by super fast and it's here and gone before you know it?  i organized a huge event that took place at our church and aj came home for a long weekend to help/celebrate valentines day/celebrate our two year anniversary and then i went to boston for a week.  so here are some instagram photos from the past few weeks!

styling touches of gold for a coast to coast challenge // philadelphia

snapshots of aj & i

post-nap hair // ollie

snapshots from my desk // playing rummy

my bro's bday gift // animal prints

mark turned 21 this week // snow piles in our driveway

my boyfriend makes me breakfast // a night out with covenant friends

quotes in the office // snow piles in aj's neighborhood

the anthro displays on newbury // the rocketboys

more snapshots of aj & me

one republic // snowy, icy scenes from our lane

Utilizing Social Media to Grow Your Blog

we all know that social media is a hugely important tool for use in the blog world.  it's the main way to get your content (and name) out there and keep your followers up-to-date with what you're posting.  when i first started blogging, i wasn't the most confident.  i was ok if people stumbled upon my blog, but i definitely wasn't looking to advertise the fact that i had one.  to be honest, i still feel a little awkward sometimes when someone i know talks to me about my blog, but as it's grown, i have definitely become a more confident writer and i've found that social media plays a huge role in growing my blog.

so, as i'm sure you're aware, there are a number of different social media venues out there.  here are some of my faves:

twitter // twitter is probably my most-used social media site in terms of promoting my blog.  it's easy to post to and people typically don't mind you self-promoting on it (as long as that's not all you do).  you can utilize it to share posts, engage with readers and other bloggers, and even promote things like sales on advertising packages.  find some other bloggers to follow and help promote them by retweeting their posts.  if you use passionfruit to run your ad shop, be sure to follow @passionfruitads and @passionfruitluv on twitter to get tips, updates, and sales on blogs you might be interested in sponsoring.  

facebook // you can post links to your blog on your personal facebook, but i've found that it's more effective to create a page for your blog.  while it may take some time to gain a following on this page, it's worth it.  invite facebook friends who might enjoy your content or want to support you to like the page, and then be sure to post regularly.  facebook is one of the most personal social media sites, so this is a great venue to really engage with your readers.

instagram // for whatever reason, instagram really feels personal to me.  it's like giving people little snapshots of your day, and i use it to promote those posts that i really like.  instagram is also not the easiest for driving content to your blog.  there's no way to create a link right in the caption of your photo, so you're asking your followers to take extra steps (going to your profile) to get to your site.  on the other hand, instagram does offer a snapshot of your post, so if your content/photos are good, this can really drive followers to your blog.

pinterest // it's amazing to me what takes off on pinterest.  some of my most popular posts are popular because of pinterest (like the games i created for jen's bridal shower).  it's important to keep pinterest in mind when creating content.  make sure you include photos in your posts that will be attractive to users and that people will want to pin.  make pinning easy by including a "pin it" button that appears on your photos.

bloglovin // bloglovin is basically a content feed for blogs.  you create an account, link up your blog, and follow other bloggers.  they have a great app for your smartphone or tablet that allows you to see new content from all of the blogs you follow in one feed.  while i don't feel like i get a ton of traffic to my site from bloglovin, i do think this is a great tool that a lot of bloggers use and so it's worthwhile to invest the time into setting it up.

things you definitely should do:

1.  use social media to promote your blog…and other blogs you like!  bloggers appreciate when their content is shared by others, and the gesture may just be returned!
2.  make it easy for your followers to find you.  (all of my social media accounts can be found under @betsygettis, except for my facebook page, which is titled "heavens to betsy)
3.  include links to your social media accounts on your blog (in an obvious spot like at the top of your page or right under your profile section of your sidebar)
4.  generate followers through giveaways…allow extra entires into giveaways for following you on different social media sites.
5.  this one seems obvious, but if another blogger offers you the opportunity to get your social media sites out there, take it!

things you definitely should not do:

1.  don't spam your followers!  no one likes to see the same thing over and over again, fifty times a day in their feed.
2.  don't be fake…followers are more likely to engage with someone who really feels genuine and engages back!

what tips or tricks for utilizing social media would you add?  what are your favorite ways to promote your blog?

What's in my Makeup Bag: Mary Kay CC Cream Review

a few weeks ago, my friend mattie asked if i'd like to partner with her and review mary kay's new cc cream.  after falling in love with bb cream last summer (check out my review of that here), i was super excited to check out this product!

side note:  i really don't know the difference between bb and cc cream…i read somewhere that bb creams are a stepping stone between foundation and a tinted moisturizer, while cc creams (which i believe stands for "color correcting") are meant to address things like redness and sallowness.  i'm gonna be real with you…i think they both addressed the same issues.

my normal makeup routine, while pretty natural, takes about 5-7 minutes in the morning.  not a ton of time, i know, but it's nice to have an option that is even faster, and cc cream offers just that!

i really like the mk cc cream…it's light and doesn't leave my oil-prone skin feeling wet or dewey. it dries really fast, goes on smoothly, and blends really nicely.  i like to finish it off with a dusting of bare minerals mineral veil, but i think you could easily wear it on it's own.  it really does a nice job of smoothing out my complexion and reducing any redness or unevenness.

i posted a (way too long) video below, if you want to hear me talk more about this product.

if you don't already have a mary kay consultant, i highly recommend mattie.  you can find her here.