jettie’s preschool style

August 24, 2015

preschool lookToday was a day I couldn’t even of fathomed a few years ago. I vividly remember staring at my little baby and thinking “This one won’t grow too fast.” “She’ll be itty bitty forever.”

Then I blinked and we are purchasing an 8 pack of markers and a box of tissues for her and her classmates to share. We have a 4 going on 24 year old…how did this happen?

Luckily, she is softening the blow for us by bursting at the seams with joy. Yesterday she had a perma-grin that would have made you think she was about to visit Disney World. We kept looking at each other with those “oh my gosh this parenting thing is awesome” smiles. When your kid is happy, you are happy. No, you are more than just happy – you are a kind of elated that fills you up from your toes to the top of your head. Best. Feeling. Ever.

preschool look

The posing…what can I say other than I taught her everything she knows.

preschool lookThat smile. Gah! She made it almost impossible for me to be sad…of course my heart nearly imploded from all the happiness so I guess that is sort of the same thing.

preschool look||WEARING||Old Navy shirt/shorts similar (but not really, I cannot find kitty cat shorts at the moment)/Gap slip on shoes

Before we were done taking pictures Jettie said “But what about one with Bingham and the whole family?” This girl and her heart – we must be doing something right.

preschool lookBefore we know it college will be next…ugh, I think my stomach just jumped up my throat.

Happy school year to all the kids and parents!

xo,

brandyjsig

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these five

August 21, 2015

These Five1There may have been a fight conversation or two in the past about the fact that I retain desires/wants of my spousal unit more than my spousal unit retains similar information in regards to me. That french rolling pin proves me oh so wrong. It feels good to know he was thinking about me on his work trip yesterday – and every time I use it I will remember that he did. (See yesterday’s wish list.)/2A long read but one well worth it when you have the time, especially if you are in a rut. Should is easy, must is hard. Hard almost always trumps easy./3Pink Me Up is Jettie’s current favorite read. It’s about a dad who gladly wears pink from head to toe for his daughter’s special outing. A fun read, especially for daddy’s girls./4Last year around this time I made a tomato galette that needs to be revisited before tomato season is gone./5One of my favorite quotes I have ever seen on Pinterest. I know it’s a little brash but come on, how true is this one? In life, relationships, work…it doesn’t matter what, if you put a half effort in, you will get a half effort result. I’m learning where it is worth putting my full ass and where it is not. I think that’s half the battle when it comes to who and what gets my entire booty.

Give this weekend a whole big butt!

xo,

brandyjsig

 

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kitchen wish list

August 20, 2015

For whatever reason when it comes to what I would like in my kitchen I very rarely purchase myself. This could be because I like to save those items for my Christmas list (you know, to go along with the boots). This may seem slightly 7 year old of me, but I like to keep a running list throughout the year. This way I don’t have to scrounge up one when someone asks me or my husband what I would love to see under the tree.

Most of these items are small purchases making them great to add with a cookbook, pretty tea towels or serving dish. All except #5…I think I would need to be extra good and ask Santa for that one.

Kitchen Wish List1Martha Stewart french rolling pin/2OXO fish spatula/3Crate & Barrel pastry cutter/4Wilton white ceramic pie dish/5Vitamix blender

What would be on your wish list?

xo,

brandyjsig

 

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dark chocolate zucchini scones

August 19, 2015

Dark Chocolate Zucchini SconesDon’t you hate when you have a specific craving for something that is not in your home? You rifle through the cupboards, eating everything in site only to be left with an empty unsatisfied feeling. That is me every single time I want dark chocolate. I ate one Tootsie Pop, a handful of butterscotch chips and 4 jumbo marshmallows before finally SOS-ing Sticky. “Please, please, please bring home dark chocolate before I search the couch for hidden M&Ms.”

(I wouldn’t really do such a thing. Maybe.)

Luckily my husband is more than happy to save me from myself (and my cravings). For those times when he is unavailable though, I could always whip up these oh so chocolatey scones. They are a cinch to make and a sure fire way to curb a cocoa craving.

Dark Chocolate Zucchini SconesI like to make my scones in a food processor – not everyone’s favorite but I find it’s far easier to control the texture than it is with a pastry cutter by hand. This is totally a preference – by all means if you are a pastry cutting master have at it!

Dark Chocolate Zucchini Scones Dark Chocolate Zucchini SconesThese scones are far sweeter than any other scone I’ve made, but they are still in true scone form by not being overly loaded with sugar. The texture is also different with a much softer, sort of cake like bite in the center. It’s your favorite, fluffy chocolate cake wrapped in a scone shell. It’s scake! (Yeah, I don’t think that word sounds so pretty either.)

Dark Chocolate Zucchini Scones Dark Chocolate Zucchini SconesDid I happen to mention these have zucchini in them? Yep, a vegetable to start your day. Between that and the chocolate I’m not sure things can get better – especially if you are enjoying one with a cup of hot coffee.

Dark Chocolate Zucchini Scones Dark Chocolate Zucchini SconesThe next time you find yourself scavenging for chocolate give this recipe a try! Your belly and soul will be very happy you did.

Enjoy!

brandyjsig

 

 

 

dark chocolate zucchini scones
 
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Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Serves: 8
Ingredients
  • 2cups all purpose flour
  • ½cup sugar
  • ¼cup dark unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1tsp baking powder
  • ½tsp baking soda
  • ½tsp kosher salt
  • 1½tsp cinnamon
  • ½tsp ground ginger
  • ¼tsp nutmeg
  • 8tbsp cold butter, cut into small cubes
  • ½cup shredded zucchini
  • 5tbsp milk
  • 1egg
  • ½cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1tbsp half&half
  • 1tbsp sugar
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven 400degreesF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Place flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg in a food processor. Pulse a couple of times and add butter. Pulse until a small pea size texture forms.
  3. In a small bowl whisk egg and 5tbsp of milk together. Pour into food processor with zucchini and pulse until a dough just forms.
  4. Dump dough out onto a well floured surface. Gently fold in chips with your hands. Form dough into a 1" thick disk. Cut into 8 wedges and place at least 2" apart on baking sheet.
  5. Brush half&half on each scone and sprinkle sugar on top. Bake in preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes. Allow to set on baking sheet 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

“http://prettyplainjanes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/dark_chocolate_zucchini_scones_pin.jpg”>Dark Chocolate Zucchini Scones
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surprising update

August 18, 2015

Diastasis Recti(There wasn’t much for imagery that I could think of for this post…so I meme-d my kid. Totally love it.)

Last week I talked about diastasis recti and it being a possible cause to the considerable amount of back pain as well as other unpleasant things I have been experiencing the last few months. With only one week in of 86-ing the crunches, oblique twists and other exercises (that can cause havoc to this condition) I am already noticing a difference in the amount of pain I’m experiencing in my lower back. Coincidence, maybe…but I don’t think so.

I must confess that swapping my running routine and cross-training videos for lower impact cardio and strength training had me slightly nervous. (Okay a lot nervous.) The breaking muscle workouts are fantastic though and thanks to the internet I can check myself to ensure I’m doing the exercises correctly. And let me tell you….a yoga squat may look simple, but it burns like hell when you are correctly positioned.

As far as cardio goes, walking is about as good as it gets now. I am doing more than the workouts suggest but I feel that with the amount of running I was doing it is more than okay to extend the walking. While the fresh air and calorie burn is great, I’m enjoying the company of my favorite peeps during these treks more than anything.

At the end of week 1 two things surprise me: 1.the exercises and walking are leaving me feeling just as strong as my previous workouts and 2.my lower back is no longer a constant force of pain. Does it still hurt? Yes. But the pain has at least subsided by half, especially when bending over and laying down. Something I was doing before was obviously irritating my back pain – I need to get that wall of muscles in my stomach strengthened before I can ever go back to those ab exercises.

Obviously I have 11 weeks to go…a lot can change in that time. I like where things are heading though. Hopefully at the end of the 12th week I will be back pain free and have a much smaller gap in my tummy.

Until next time!

brandyjsig

 

 

 

*As always, I am not medically trained in anyway. Seek medical advice from a doctor before beginning any exercise routine. Also talk to your doctor about diastasis recti if you think you may have or are concerned about it.

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