life according to three j. sisters - weddings, parties, lifestyle.
Can you unscramble the words in the title to this post?
The correct answer is: thank you.
We owed some very special people a thank you, so the kids and I got creative with our words. With delicious, homemade shortbread, and Ghiradelli chocolate as our base, and just a hint {in this case the hint word was, gratitude}, we created a cookie scramble ‘thank you’.
{images via j. sorelle}
My dad has been known to eat cookies, pasta, pizza and even hamburgers for breakfast. Some of his genes were passed down to me {lucky lady} and I, too, like cold pizza and cookies for breakfast. Nowadays, I try to ‘healthify’ my eating habits {most of the time} and make healthy versions of the refined sugary foods I love for my family and me. Don’t get me wrong, I still can’t say no to a chocolate donut when presented with the opportunity to devour. These Breakfast Cookies are delicious and I don’t need to feel guilty having one or two, or four of these babies for breakfast.
Breakfast Cookie
recipe adapted from Sally’s Baking Addiction
makes 15-20 cookies
Ingredients
2 cups gf quick cooking oats
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup almond butter
1 large banana, mashed
1/2 raw and shelled pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips or raisins {I made with the chocolate}
Bake it, girl
Combine all ingredients except chocolate chips or raisins in a medium bowl and use a mixer to blend well.
Add the chips or raisins and stir.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Grab a very large tablespoon size dough and place on cookie sheet. The cookies will not spread, so shape dough like an already cooked cookie.
Bake at 325 degrees for 16 minutes or until the bottom is golden brown.
These are healthy and nutritious, and these moms {us} are giving you and your kids permission to indulge in cookies for breakfast!
{images via j. sorelle}
This weekend, we challenge you to Search for Your Awesome, like The Alison Show and Bing inspired us to do in Salt Lake City. I sat in the throne of awesome {such a genius idea, Alison} in UT, and I am considering having a chair like that in my home – it can be my ‘break’ from the chaos of the day where I can just ‘be’, or it can be the place where all my creativity happens…or it can be my chair when I’m having ‘one of those bad days where nothing is going right and everyone is doing everything better than me’ where I can sit remind myself that ‘I’m AWESOME just the way I am!’
If you need a little help searching for your awesome, or want to know how to start, check out Alison’s series here.
Watch the awesome party Bing and The Alison Show threw below – I even made the video – look for me at 0:55 adding volume to my head, then watch the rest of the video. Great party styling, fashion and overall awesomeness that will inspire you.
So, tell us – where and how are you going to celebrate your awesome this weekend. E-mail us, comment or find us on instagram @jsorelle3.
Photo: via The Alison Show and photographer of the event, Jessica Peterson Photo. See all of Alison’s recap here.
Video: videographer Modern Atelier, @modern_atelier
I plan to make the first day of the school year special with lots of photos, love, hugs, kisses..and donuts. Who doesn’t have a good day that starts off with a donut and love? And, we have a free printable for you too from Fleur de Lis! You can find it here. And, not just for the first day of school – for anyone you love, on any day of the week. Yay! Donuts for everyone.
I hope the rare goodness of chocolate and sprinkles before 8 am brings a smile to my kids faces’ and eases my kindergartener’s ‘first day of school’ anxiety. Heck, I think I need 10 donuts to ease my anxiety for the first day. Bring on the chocolate glazed donut for mama!
You can either print the printable directly on a white bag from Target like I did. Or, print and cut, then attach to a bag with a clothes pin.
{images via j. sorelle…as you can see, we couldn’t even keep a donut untouched for the photos – chocolate fingers snatched some bites}
One of my best friends just welcomed her first child into the world. As I held her, I was reminded about how tiny, miraculous and fragile they are. I was just there two years ago with my own son, and yet, it felt like forever ago. When my children were babies, I was obsessed with their fingers and toes. I still think about the way my babies’ tiny hands wrapped around my finger tightly in the hospital room post birth, and the way they still reach for my hand as they cross the street. I think about the sound of pitter-patter steps across the floor a hundred miles an hour everyday, all day, and it makes my heart smile. The joy, laughter and love those tiny hands and feet, hearts and souls have brought into my life is priceless.
I pray those once tiny feet continue to grow and lead as they walk along the path of life. I pray they always take the time to feel the sand in between their toes, step forward with bravery and courage to lead others and always stand up for what is right. Sometimes our kids have big shoes to fill, but with guidance and love, I believe they can do it.
I also know those tiny feet are too cute and precious not to ‘dress up’ with well-made, and beautiful shoes.
Enter: Freshly Picked.
Let me just preface this story with the fact that we are big fans of Shark Tank at our house, so the name and product that is Freshly Picked, was not new to us {Susan scored a deal with Daymond of Shark Tank – see it here, 32:30}. So when the beautifully made, and adorable to boot, camo moccasins arrived at my house, it was exciting…and also a full circle moment for me. You see, Susan, the owner of Freshly Picked, has been an inspiration to me. Being a mama to her two kids, she was frustrated with the lack of well-made kids shoes. So with a little leather, determination, hard work and $200 behind her, she set out to make gorgeous, comfortable shoes. Well, she made it…and she’s a major success!
I’m a stay-at-home mom, and my love for all things pretty, detailed, party-related and yummy was my reason for inspiring my sisters to start a blog with me. With zero experience, money and time against us…and teamwork, hard work and passion on our side, we have taken this little ‘passion project’ to places we never thought. And, part of me still feels like it’s just the beginning of great things to come for the j. sisters. For us, if Susan can do it, she gives us hope that we can do it too.
Who knew little moccasins would spark such a reaction, huh? Maybe they will spark a reaction in you too…and you will have a chance to see what your reaction will be with a chance to win a FREE pair – giveaway is below.
My children recently had the opportunity of a lifetime to ‘play’ and discover real helicopters. What better place to debut our new pair of Camo Freshly Picked moccasins than among the professionals who wear camo on a daily basis? True story – the awesome military men noticed the shoes, commented on them…and loved them!
And, at the end of our amazing day…I think he thought he could really fly {while wearing really comfortable shoes}. And, no one told him otherwise. 🙂
We’re big fans of Freshly Picked moccasins…and we know you will be too. You have the opportunity to win a pair of $60 Freshly Picked Moccasins too. Enter below.
{images via j. sorelle}