summer fun {beYOUtiful Girl giveaway!!!} (closed)

August 1, 2014

summer_fun_august_2014_1Oh Summer.  How we love the backyard cookouts, road trips with the windows down and splish-splashing in an inflatable pool.  August 1st comes and we are reminded that your long lazy days are numbered – but not over.  Here’s to soaking up every last bit of summer we possibly can.  These girls look far too cute in their swim gear not to.

summer_fun_august_2014_2summer_fun_august_2014_3Little girls love all things fun and pretty.  We love keeping them safe.  beYOUtiful Girl‘s skincare line is the best of both worlds.  Two moms (from the same area of Ohio as PPJ) developed the line after wanting something for their daughter’s skin that was free of harsh chemicals yet protected, moisturized and smelled great.  beYOUtiful is not only all those things but comes in the most fabulous packaging with names like “Bre’s Blueberry Slush Crush” and “Lilly’s Lollipop Shop”.

Now for the best part.  The lovely ladies at beYOUtiful are offering a GIVEAWAY for one lucky PPJ reader!  Included is a bottle beYOUtiful’s daily facial moisturizer, body splash and 2oz body lotion.  Here’s how to enter:

summer_fun_august_2014_41. Leave a comment sharing your favorite summer activity.

2. “Like” beYOUtiful Girl on Facebook.

3. Share this giveaway on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Giveaway is open to US winners only, you have until Friday, 08/08/14 at 11:59PM EST to enter.  Winner will be contacted via email and will have 72 hours to respond or another winner will be selected.  Good luck!

Cheers to summer fun!

double_name

 

 

 

 

Posted in Giveaway, personal | Tagged | 11 Comments

penne with roasted broccoli, pine nuts and balsamic butter

July 31, 2014

balsamic_butter_penne_with_roasted_broccoli_pine_nuts_1A post past noon equals a morning that did not go as smoothly as planned.  Foolishly when I went to bed last night I felt good about the morning’s itinerary.  Feed Bingham at 6, shower, finish blog post and then off to an engagement shoot.  Enter a 3 year old with “tummy troubles” and all that goes out the window.  Thankfully Shan isn’t scared of a may or may not projectile vomit little person and our morning continued as scheduled (well, other than this post).  Funny how before kids running out of hairspray would have put the biggest kink in my day.

balsamic_butter_penne_with_roasted_broccoli_pine_nuts_2Speaking of plans my good intentions of having a week of meals scheduled is well, not happening.  And regardless of how much I ignore it, 6PM rolls around every single day and we are left wondering what on earth we are going to eat for dinner.  More often than not pasta fills these type of days with this particular dish being a frequent go-to.  With just a few pantry basics and a vegetable this meal comes together in a snap (and tastes far more complicated than it is to make).

balsamic_butter_penne_with_roasted_broccoli_pine_nuts_3This recipe is excellent with other green vegetables like asparagus or zucchini.  Broccoli is our favorite though – pairs deliciously with the pine nuts and balsamic butter.

balsamic_butter_penne_with_roasted_broccoli_pine_nuts_4 balsamic_butter_penne_with_roasted_broccoli_pine_nuts_5And here I sit again, tonight’s dinner looming over me.  I wonder if the family would notice if I made this again…

Enjoy!

brandyjsig

 

 

 

penne with roasted broccoli, pine nuts and balsamic butter
 
Print
Ingredients
  • 1 medium broccoli head cut in small spears
  • ⅓ cup pine nuts
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
  • ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1 pound penne (I prefer whole wheat)
  • ¼ pound butter, cut into pieces
  • ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
Instructions
  1. Heat the oven to 400°. Put the broccoli on a baking sheet and toss with oil and ¼ teaspoon each of the salt and pepper. Roast 8 minutes and then add pine nuts. Roast for an additional 2 to 3 minutes (until broccoli is tender and pine nuts smell extra nutty).
  2. While broccoli is roasting, put the vinegar in a small saucepan. Simmer until 3 tablespoons remain. Stir in the brown sugar and the remaining ¼ teaspoon pepper. Remove from the heat.
  3. Cook the penne in a large pot of boiling, salted water until just done, about 9 minutes for me. Reserve 1 cup of cooking liquid before draining the pasta. Toss with the butter, vinegar, broccoli, pine nuts, Parmesan, and the remaining 1¾ teaspoons salt (add a little cooking liquid if pasta seems dry). Serve with additional Parmesan.

recipe from Food & Wine

Posted in recipes, vegetarian, what's cooking | Tagged | 1 Comment

the best of summer cookies

July 30, 2014

Is it really Wednesday already?  To say that this summer is flying by would be an understatement.  It’s going to be August in 2 days, people!  August is so busy for us.  Markets, our first anniversary, Josh’s birthday, a calendar full of events.. and the ticking time bomb of this pregnancy all looming over us.  To be honest, I’m not quite ready for summer to slip from our fingers.  I feel cheated on the number of pool days we haven’t yet had, the trips to the park we haven’t taken, the zoo we haven’t visited enough.  20-year-old-me was always anxious for the next adventure, counting down the days to something.  25-year-old-me is desperately clinging to today.  It’s funny how time and life change you like that.

The thing about time is that you can’t do a thing to slow it down, “tomorrows” roll in like waves, some crashing harder than others.  For a few days I thought that I was nesting, but the mess that my house is today rules that one out.  Instead, I think that I am just trying to squeeze everything I can out of each day, and some days that involves doing my dishes, and some days it does not.  I’m slowing down and occasionally buying cupcakes intstead of making them, if it means I will have more time around the table to enjoy them and not be rushing around, always late.  I’m not trying to be everywhere at once, but instead really be where I am.  I’m writing more and baking things I love, when I want to, not just when I “have to”.  August in our home will be filled with the word “yes”.  It will be filled with things that make us happy and people that we love.

This week has been busy with celebration and lots of sweets- just the way a birthday should be spent.  (Adelynn and I shamelessly had mini cupcakes for breakfast yesterday.)  For once, I wasn’t the one baking the sweets, I was just enjoying them.  Today I am sharing with you some yummy summer cookie recipes that I am hoping to work my way through in the next few weeks.  Zesty, fruit filled, or ice cream inspired- all wrapped up in the lovely texture of a cookie.. my favorite of all sweet treats.

summer_cookies_july_2014

1. Meyer Lemon Olive Oil Sugar Cookies 2. Smore Chocolate Crinkle Cookies 3. Rocky Road Cookies 4. White Chocolate Orange Cookies 5. Raspberry Cookies with Cream 6. Zucchini Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies 7. Blueberry Oatmeal Cookies with Lemon Glaze  8. Lime Meltaways  9. Strawberry Cream Cookies

Cheers to a happy, cookie-filled August.

XO,

shansig

Posted in cookies | Tagged | 2 Comments

sephora fun finds

July 29, 2014

Yesterday was my 25th birthday, and I had as much fun as a pregnant girl can have on her birthday.  Blueberry pancakes for breakfast (served by my husband), Fort Wayne for lunch, a trip to Sephora to be spoiled, dinner with family and a movie and a milkshake to top off the night.  (Yes, it was a hot fudge milkshake, and yes it was incredible.)

It has truly been forever since I have gone into Sephora to shamelessly spend a bit on myself, and gosh it felt good.  I could get lost in there for hours, just ooing and awing over shadow palettes and lipgloss.  Yesterday I was on a mission to replace my blush and bronzer, and found a million other dreamy things along the way.  I scored The Naked Basics palette and their new bronzer/highlight/blush trio and wearing them today I couldn’t be happier with my purchases!  Here are some other fun things I stumbled upon that caught my eye:

makeup_wishlist_july_2014

1. Urban Decay Smoked Palette – I was two inches from buying this palette.  The colors are perfectly pigmented and gorgeous!  2. Naked Flushed (Bronzer/Highlight/Blush combo) – This is the combo I went with for bronzer and blush- I was surprised at how much I liked using the highlight powder as well.  A great trio!!  3. Josie Maran Argan Black Oil Mascara – This mascara has great reviews, a bottle that will catch your eye, and it is made without parabens, sulfates and phthalates- and boasts that it lasts 24 hours! Score!  4.Too Faced Melted Lipgloss – The pigment of your favorite lipstick, in gloss form!   5. Benefit Boiing Concealer – I sampled this concealer years ago and truly had forgotten about it until recently.  I love all things Benefit, but this is a great concealer!  6. Julep Plie Wand – Okay, how cool is this?  Designed to make polishing your nails easy with both hands, this wand makes at home mani’s and pedi’s a snap.

XO,

shansig

 

P.S. Thank you all so so much for the birthday love yesterday!

Posted in beauty, makeup | Tagged | 1 Comment

her birthday style | shan

July 28, 2014

“Shan has a good heart, she always has.” Angie (Shan’s mom)

When a person first meets Shan they cannot deny her beauty.  She is striking, undoubtedly.  But what Shan has in looks pales in comparison to the warmth that comes from her heart.  It takes very little time to know this is true about her.  Angie could not be more right about her sweet little girl.

shan_birthdy_maternity_fashion_1 shan_birthdy_maternity_fashion_2This stylish girl likes to “claim” she has no style, obviously this could not be further from the truth.  She may also try to credit me for any fashion sense she has acquired over the years which again, is not true.  I may have encouraged a few foundation pieces to find their way into her closet but she is the one that has figured out how to mix her playfulness with sophistication.  (And yes, she is ridiculously gorgeous with that baby bump!)

shan_birthdy_maternity_fashion_3One of my favorite “Shan traits” is her genuine excitement for others’ life events.  Whether it’s a birthday, engagement, baby or you simply feel like celebrating she will be there, with giddiness in her eyes, making you feel like someone else truly gets why you are so happy.  There is never jealousy, bitterness or empty joy.  She feels happiness because someone she loves is happy.  I find that absolutely intoxicating about her.

shan_birthdy_maternity_fashion_4And then there is her ability to share her feelings in such a vulnerable and beautiful way.  Her words so eloquently woven into the story her heart is telling.  Writing is undoubtedly a precious gift she possesses.  But her bravery to let her guard down and put it all out there is what I admire most.  What a blessing she is to this blog and all those who her words have touched.

shan_birthdy_maternity_fashion_5Shan, thank you for loving and accepting me.  Thank you for giving my daughter another set of arms to fall into.  And thank you for sharing your family with ours.  I could not have asked for a better friend to share all the highs and lows of life with.  Thank you for simply being you.

Happy Birthday Beautiful!

xo,

brandyjsig

 

 

 

Posted in bump style, outfits, style, the maxeys | Tagged | 4 Comments