memorial day 2015

Memorial Day 2015Thank you to all who serve, all who love them and all who have given the greatest sacrifice so that we can live free. You will never be forgotten and always be appreciated. This country is an amazing place to live because of you!

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Jettie and I’s weekend style. You will find me in denim and a floppy hat from here until the end of summer. Sorry to be so boring but I love it (and it hides my ongoing postpartum hair regrowth).

Memorial Day 2015

||WEARING||jettie shirt similar/shorts similar/Old Navy sandals/headband similar brandy j shirt similar/white jeans similar/hat similar/wedges similar

I’m proud to say we have servicemen in our family, with one of them being my step-grandfather Wally. Shortly after he passed away we found out we were pregnant with Jettie. Wally had a dry sense of humor, one I very much appreciated. There was an unspoken sort of connection between us because of that humor. Even though I miss seeing him sitting at my Granny’s dining room table, there is something so special about knowing he is looking down on these kids of mine with the best smirk he can muster.

Wally served our country and my family in the best way he knew how. So grateful for him and all the brave men and women who make weekends like this possible. You make us all so proud.

Memorial Day 2015

xo,

brandyjsig

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these six

these six

 

1While it takes a lot of searching to find one that is just right, rompers are my warm weather 2015 favorite. Per usual, Forever has the best selection with the least amount of monetary commitment./2Where there’s a holiday weekend there will be sales. Lots of them. Go getcha something pretty!/3A good friend of mine posted this spot on insight into the life of mothering a “difficult” child. I often go on the defense over Jettie’s strong-willed, passionate, defiant behavior and the reactions or comments of others. If you never parented a kid who threw fits than good for you. My kid does and it’s not because we promote or give into them. She just does. She also doesn’t listen and will argue whether or not the sky is blue. This is Jettie – and it’s only a small part of who she is. Because at the end of the day my little girl is flipping awesome, definitely not an a-hole and someone who I couldn’t be more proud of. I for one can’t wait to see what all her fired up passion leads to./4Seems like everyone is going a little shorter these days. I have been on the shorter side – sported a chin length bob shortly after Sticky and I got married. It was okay, I needed the change, but longer hair suits me. And a according to this guide, long hair is my thang./5Last year I made this raspberry beer cocktail while 8 months pregos with Binger boy. It was torture to watch others partake in every refreshing sip. Not this year…not this year./6There are certain songs that push me to run a little harder, and a little longer. When I hear “Yo, I’ll tell you what I want, what I really really want…” it’s on! I want this song played at my memorial. Spice Girls forever!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend Everyone!

brandyjsig

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jettie’s “a day in paris” birthday celebration

On Sunday we celebrated our girl Parisian style and I am still riding the high of how amazing everything turned out. When you dream up a party it’s always hard to know if your vision will become reality. Between my kick butt family, and their patience for my insane ideas, this party was everything I had hoped for and even more. Hopefully Miss Jettie Jean loved it as much as I did putting it together for her.

Paris Theme Birthday Party(Invitation can be found at www.ppjshop.com!)

While I have never been to Paris I can only assume that it would include flowers, art, delicious food and of course, the Eiffel Tower. Lucky for me, my mom was gifted a sparkly Eiffel Tower for Christmas last year. (And yes, the party lightbulb went off in my head as soon as I laid eyes on it.) From that point on I was thinking Paris. I didn’t want to go “Oh, la, la” black and pink – instead I focused on the colors of French flag, stripes, polka dots and a little girl in a red beret.

Paris Theme Birthday Party Paris Theme Birthday Party My aunt Colette happened to have a red bicycle with fenders. It’s like the party gods were looking out for me.

Paris Theme Birthday PartyI follow three rules when it comes to party food. Some you buy, some you simply chop and then assemble and some you make from scratch. Cream puffs were bought, fruit was chopped and madeleines were made by my mom. The cake…the fabulous cake…once again from our friend Stacia (with an assist from her twin sis Trista) from CakeCrazy.

I adore the way this cake table turned out. Definitely one of my faves.

Paris Theme Birthday Party Paris Theme Birthday Party Paris Theme Birthday Party Paris Theme Birthday Party Paris Theme Birthday PartyAs soon as our guests arrived we painted! Everyone received their own canvas as well as a beret just because we wanted to be as French as possible. We had girls of different ages so painting was an ideal activity to keep everyone happy.

Paris Theme Birthday Party Paris Theme Birthday Party Paris Theme Birthday PartyAfter painting we got a little silly in a homemade photo booth. As someone who has seen my fair share of photo booths I have to admit I was apprehensive at the thought of having one for any of my gatherings. Thank goodness I changed my mind. The props were fun to make and the girls loved them! (Plus I am obsessed with the images!)

Paris Theme Birthday Party Paris Theme Birthday PartyThe highlight of almost any party – singing Happy Birthday and blowing out those candles! (Notice the back of the cake. I mean, it’s perfect!)

Paris Theme Birthday Party Paris Theme Birthday Party Paris Theme Birthday PartyBefore the girls left they visited a little flower stand and chose a dozen roses to bring home with them. Complete with a personalized tote (made by my fab mom again).

Paris Theme Birthday Party Paris Theme Birthday PartyTypically I am a little sad after Jettie’s parties – I hate all the fun being over. Lucky for us (or just me if you ask my family) we have a ONE year old to celebrate in June! We are sticking with the city theme and traveling to the Big Apple this time around. Let the craziness begin!

Paris Theme Birthday Party

 

See you in NYC!

brandyjsig

 

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raspberry gratin

Raspberry GratinMy good friend Vicki said the word “raspberries” yesterday and that was it for me. I needed raspberries and I needed them now.

There is nothing better than a fresh berry, and raspberries in particular are tasty enough to eat completely naked. (As in nothing added to the berry…although I’m sure eating them in the nude would be fun if that’s your sort of thing.)  This morning though I wanted to spruce up my berries a bit. Enter this gratin and the easiest dessert ever posted on PPJ.

Raspberry GratinGrab some ramekins and turn on your broiler. Fill each ram with berries. Top with a couple of tablespoons of yogurt, sour cream or crème fraîche. Sprinkle a tablespoon of brown sugar on each and toast them under the broiler until bubbly and browned. One bite and you will be happy this gratin entered your life as well.

Raspberry Gratin Raspberry GratinFrench food has a reputation for being complicated. Yet there are many recipes out there that are indeed French and insanely simple. This gratin would be one of them. It’s all about starting with a star ingredient, like raspberries, and making it sing. There is a chorus going on in this little ramekin. And it’s beautiful music to my tastebuds.

Raspberry GratinThank you to Vicki for planting the raspberry seed (and for the fabulous new tea towel that I just so happened to use for this shoot). If a person who loves food is your kind of person than you need to follow Vicki on IG. Her feed is loaded with lovely food pics as well as her beautiful heart.

Enjoy the gratin!

brandyjsig

 

 

 

raspberry gratin
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 2 pints fresh raspberries
  • 8tbsp yogurt, sour cream or crème fraîche
  • 4tbsp brown sugar
Instructions
  1. Turn on oven broiler.
  2. Fill 4 ramekins with raspberries. Top each with 2tbsp of yogurt, sour cream or crème fraîche. Sprinkle 1tbsp of brown sugar on each.
  3. Place ramekins under broiler and keep an eye on them until they are bubbly and browned. Watch closely because sugar can burn fast.
  4. Remove from oven and enjoy!

 

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summer 2015 hair color

Once again I feel like it’s been a lifetime since I visited the hair salon. My locks are in desperate need of attention, especially the color. I’m in one of those “yuck ruts” about the way I look right now – new “do” is just the pick me up I need. While I am not sure which direction I want to go, I did find some fun trends that may inspire you (just in case you’re in a rut too):

Summer 2015 Hair Color1Bronde – not blonde, not brown…so let’s call it bronde. SJP has rocked this for years and I for one love it./2Rose Gold – I have zero business going down this road but I know a lot of gorgeous girls out there who could. Love the softness of it yet it’s very edgy at the same time./3Balayage – (or tortoiseshell hair) kind of a buzz hair color for the last few months, this “painting” effect seems to have replaced the ever popular ombrè. It’s a more natural, soft highlight yet remains low maintenance. A beautiful technique for any shade of hair./Silver Fox – is this for everyone? Absolutely not. But just look how hot that chick in the image looks rocking it. (I know…she’d look good with a clown wig on.) If you’ve got the cojones I say go for it!/Washed-Out Pastel – perfect for blondes out there who want to shake things up without committing to an overall shade or pink, blue or violet.

What color are you wanting to try?

xo,

brandyjsig

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