these things

July 11, 2014

chip_and_joanna_gainesChip and Joanna Gaines from HGTV’s Fixer Upper

I had no idea this wonderful show existed until a few weeks ago.  Chip and Joanna help families find and then renovate the home of their dreams in and around the Waco, TX area.  While they do fantastic work and have impeccable taste it’s the couple themselves that really sell this show.  Chip is young at heart with the sweetest disposition and always the jokster.  Joanna is an incredibly visionary who remains the true professional yet with a kind, calm spirit.  Together they are magic – it’s impossible not to fall in love with this show.

blankets_july_2014Coccoli Blankets sold on Amazon

Bingham has two of these t-shirt like blankets and we absolutely love them.  Super soft material and the perfect weight for all year use.  Plus the designs and colors are so fun!

scones_july_2014PPJ Scone Board

Ever since Shan knocked her cinnamon scones out of the park I have been obsessed with this biscuit meets muffin treat.  I am thinking a raspberry variety is in my future.  Do you have a favorite scone flavor and/or recipe?  Please share!

humansofnyhumansofny on instagram

If you are not following @humansofny do so immediately.  It’ll make you smile, cry, laugh and most importantly think.  This simple yet extraordinary concept gives us a peek into the lives of New Yorkers.  Everyone has a story, something to say – this is a reminder that we are all human just trying to live life as best we can.  I enjoy checking in on this feed every single day.  You will too.

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

brandyjsig

Posted in web love | Tagged | 1 Comment

chewy granola bars

July 10, 2014

chewy_granola_bars_1Adjusting to the rhythm of two kids has left me hungry more than anything else.  The last few days I have had to remind myself to eat – not something I normally have an issue with.  We keep plenty of fruit on hand for healthy grab and go snacks but a girl needs more variety than the fruit bowl.  These bars fit the bill perfectly.  They leave me satisfied without feeling heavy in my stomach.  The oatmeal is filling (and great for nursing mommies and their milk supply) and the texture is fantastic.

chewy_granola_bars_2Another reason to love these bars – they are incredibly quick and easy to whip together as well as very adaptable in taste.  For this go around I used dried cherries, almonds and coconut (absolutely delicious combo).  Next time I think I will leave out the peanut butter and try dried apricots and walnuts.

chewy_granola_bars_3 chewy_granola_bars_4 chewy_granola_bars_5Of course there are plenty of yummy, prepackaged granola bars out there.  Unfortunately you have no control over the sugar content nor may be familiar with every ingredient in them.  I promise these take no time to make and you have control over sweetness and ingredients.  If you appreciate a chewy texture and love granola bars you need to give these a try!

Enjoy!

 

brandyjsig

 

 

 

chewy granola bars
 
Print
Ingredients
  • 1⅔ cups rolled oats
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar (more if you like sweeter bars)
  • ⅓ cup oat flour (or ⅓ cup oats, processed till finely ground in a food processor or blender)
  • 2 tablespoons ground flax seed
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 to 3 cups dried fruits and nuts (any variety - be creative!)
  • ⅓ cup peanut butter or another nut butter (optional - I used peanut better)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 6 tablespoons melted butter
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8″ x 8″ x 2″ pan in one direction with parchment paper, letting some hang over the sides. Lightly grease with butter the parchment paper and the exposed pan.
  2. Stir together all the dry ingredients, including the fruit and nuts. In a separate bowl, whisk together the all the wet ingredients, including peanut butter if using. Toss the wet ingredients with the dry until the mixture is evenly crumbly. Spread in the prepared pan, pressing firmly to ensure they are molded to the shape of the pan. (Use a piece of plastic wrap if mixture is too sticky to press firmly.)
  3. Bake the bars for 30 to 40 minutes, until they’re brown around the edges and slightly on top. They’ll still seem soft when pulled out of oven but will harden when cooled.
  4. Cool the bars in their pan completely on a cooling rack.
  5. Once cool, use a serrated knife to cut the bars into squares. If bars seem crumbly, chill the pan of them further in the fridge for 30 minutes which will fully set the “glue”, then cut them cold. To store, wrap the bars individually in plastic or stack them in an airtight container. In humid weather, it’s best to store bars in the refrigerator. They also freeze well.

recipe from the incredible smitten kitchen

Posted in breakfast, recipes, vegetarian | Tagged | 3 Comments

nutella stuffed french toast

July 9, 2014

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French toast just got a little sweeter. Thick slices of crusty french bread, stuffed from the center with creamy nutella, and topped with maple and strawberries- are you drooling yet?
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It’s no secret that we love breakfast in our house, and french toast is at the top of that list. A childhood favorite of mine, and a new favorite of Josh and Adelynn’s. Yesterday we woke up to thunderstorms, and it was one of those days that you want to stay in bed all day and listen to the thunder. I pulled myself to the kitchen (eventually) and made banana pancakes. Jack Johnson was playing in my head, flooding out my to-do list. This is why I love breakfast. Its the quiet cozy before the day starts, the coffee-mug-in-hand, blanket-on-the-couch time. Add thunder and life is complete.
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nutella stuffed french toast
 
Print
Ingredients
  • 1 loaf of french bread
  • 1 cup milk
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 5 large eggs
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 1½ tbsp granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • ¼ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon
  • 1 cup Nutella
  • Butter, for griddle
  • strawberries, chopped
  • syrup
Instructions
  1. Preheat a griddle to 350F. Using a serrated knife slice bread into 1¼ inch slices. Cut into each slice keeping the end attached, and fill with a heap of Nutella, then set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl whisk together milk, cream, eggs, vanilla, sugar, flour, baking powder and cinnamon, and then pour into a shallow dish.
  3. Butter the griddle, and dip each side of the toast into the egg mixture, squeezing it a bit to really soak it in.
  4. Cook french toast until golden on each side, and then serve immediately topped with sliced strawberries and maple syrup.

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XO,
shansig

Posted in breakfast, brunch, recipes, something sweet | Tagged | Leave a comment

postpartum simple treats

July 8, 2014

With Sticky back to work I have been entrusted with a newborn and toddler.  Yikes.  So far I have unloaded half a dishwasher before realizing it was never ran, found Jettie with “pen” whiskers on her face and varicose veins on her legs, forgot to feed the dog (twice – please don’t call the humane society) and yelled at my stove for not boiling water fast enough. But hey, both kids are alive and as far as I can tell healthy so clearly I am winning.

Postpartum is by far the trickiest part of pregnancy for me.  On one hand I look at Bingham and think “wow, that amazing little being grew inside of me.  And now he is here.  My body rules.”  On the other the thought of leaving the home, (or even worse, trying to find something to wear) spawns instant self loathing and inevitable tears.  It’s a hormonal roller coaster of extreme highs and the lowest of lows.  I love it and hate all in the same moment.

Thankfully I learned something from the first go around – stop being so damn hard on yourself.  Admittedly, it’s not easy.  But between reminding myself of this simple rule and a few treats just for me it has been easier to find my center in this postpartum haze.

Of course these products are great gifts for mommy to be’s or postpartums.  They would also make nice surprises for women who are under the weather, post surgery or just having a bit of a blue time in their life.  Simple pick me ups to brighten someone’s day:

postpartum_treats_20141Soap & Glory The Daily Smooth Body Butter every girl loves to have silky skin. 2Forever 21 Seaside Tie-front Head Wrap give the ponytail a break and keep those tresses pulled back with this pretty head wrap. 3Rosebud Perfume Co Strawberry Lip Balm Shan gave me one of these as a gift last year.  I love how pretty it looks in my purse but most of all it keeps my lips super soft. 4Kiehl’s Eye Alert for those times when sleep was not a priority. 5Dreft Liquid Laundry Detergent the smell, the glorious baby smell!  I love to wash my bras and tops in this as well – keeps everyone smelling like baby. 6LARABAR, Cherry Pie you will find these floating in all my purses/diaper bag.  The perfect grab and go snack with no guilt (cherry is my fave, but I love almost all the flavors) 7essie Collection Summer 2014 a girl may not have time for an official pedicure but it’s not too difficult to throw some fun color on the piggies.  Essie makes the most desirable shades and these are no exception.

xo,

 

brandyjsig

 

 

 

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{28 weeks} A Letter to Locke…

July 8, 2014

My sweet Locke,

We’ve made it to 28 weeks.  It’s been 10 weeks since your diagnosis, 10 weeks of grieving, healing and learning to walk this path.  10 weeks of loving you, learning about you, feeling you grow.  You have certainly developed a personality, and we figure you out a little more every day.  You are strong, you like to keep your little feet nestled snuggly in my ribs (only on the right side).  You enjoy peanut butter and when your sister sings you her loudest rendition of “rock-a-bye baby”.  You kick your buddy Bingham when I hold him, and get really shy when Nanny wants to feel you.  Some days everything seems so normal, your kicks convince me you are healthy.. that everything will be fine.  But then some small moment creates a crack in my fairytale, and reality walks back in.  I protectively wrap my arms around my stomach, as if there is something I can sheild you from.. but I can’t.

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I look at your ultrasound pictures several times every day, wondering what you have planned for us.  These 10 weeks somehow feel like a lifetime, you and I– we have grown by leaps and bounds.  You have taught me how to dance the thin line of grief and joy, and about how precious the gift of time is in this delicate life.  All of the excess has been gracefully washed away.. for 10 weeks we have stared blatantly into our own hearts, searching for grace and peace.  And grace and peace we have found, thanks to you, my little boy.

Your sister has many ideas of what kind of brother she is getting.  “A tiny one”, she says.  When I tell her that you are sick, and may not get to stay, her only concern is if God has diapers for you in Heaven, and that she can feed you before you go.  Oh, my heart.  She loves to read you stories, and tickle you in hopes that you will get the hiccups.  I can feel her love for you, a special bond you two will always share.  Her baby brother. 

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I don’t know how long I get to carry you, or how long you will stay with us once you are here- but I do know that my heart will carry you indefinately.  You will never leave my mind, your tiny fingerprints will be stamped on every part of our life.  My son, my unflickering light in a world of darkness.  You will always be mine. 

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All my love,

Mommy

 

 

Posted in Baby Maxey Updates | Tagged | 6 Comments