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Peanut Butter Energy Bites

I have been making a version of these energy bites since before my first baby, Raleigh, was born. I made these in anticipation of needing an extra boost during labor, and then made a slightly edited version to help maintain my milk supply while breastfeeding. These are a *favorite* snack in our home – my husband requests them often! After I shared on Instagram that I had made a fresh batch, I got a lot of questions from friends asking what my recipe is. So while I don’t have photos of the process, I am happy to share my *very easy* go-to recipe with you!

 

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips (semi-sweet, milk/dark chocolate, or even white chocolate work great!)
  • Pinch of ground sea salt
  • 1/4 cup hemp hearts
  • 1/4 cup ground flax seed
  • 1 1/4 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter (substitute the nut butter of your choice, if you’d like!)
  • 2 tablespoons honey (maple syrup is also a great choice, but you truly can’t beat local honey, if you’ve got it)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

I find it easiest to mix the dry ingredients together and the wet ingredients together in separate bowls, then integrate in one large bowl. It helps to use a spatula coated in coconut oil to evenly mix the items, but feel free to get your (clean) hands in there to help fully combine. Your “dough” is ready, and you just need to roll individual balls, then place on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet to be chilled in fridge or freezer. Once they’re chilled (after just a couple hours), store them covered in the fridge.

Tip: If you’re having trouble getting your dough to stay in the ball-shape, then your nut butter may be too warm or runny. Chill your dough for a bit before trying again.

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In-Home Family Session

Last summer we had the most amazing opportunity with Danielle Riley Photography for a family in-home session and it was SO.MUCH.FUN. I seriously could not get enough of Danielle – she is hilarious, sweet, incredibly genuine, and captured our family so perfectly. Here are a few of my favorites from our day together!

_W2A3656_W2A3669_W2A3672_W2A3693_W2A3727_W2A3784_W2A3800_W2A3954_W2A3963Raleigh literally living his absolute best life with a mouthful of cinnamon roll._W2A3974_W2A3990It’s almost hard to remember Oliver so young – and with only two of the cutest little teeth!_W2A4040_W2A4055_W2A4075_W2A4112_W2A4198_W2A4256I LOVE capturing photos of our entire family, but I couldn’t wait to send the boys off to the playroom to get some one-on-one photos with Ryan. These images are so special to me. This season in life for us comes with the challenge of finding time to be just us together as a married couple, and this was a fun reminder to take advantage of opportunities and moments on a regular basis and do life together as a couple._W2A4299_W2A4305_W2A4334_W2A4335_W2A4350_W2A4360_W2A4429_W2A4476Thank you, Danielle – you are a precious friend and talented photographer, capturing memories for a lifetime.

Fall Family Session in the NC Mountains

Copy of Kearns51I am looking ahead to planning our spring 2019 family session (now as a family of 4!), and I couldn’t help but look back at these gorgeous images with our first babe, Raleigh, when he was only a little over a year old. And it’s amazing to see how much our youngest, Oliver, looks just like his older brother when he was the same age!Kearns04Kearns17Kearns21Kearns23Kearns26Kearns44Kearns48Kearns54Kearns55Kearns59Kearns64Kearns74Kearns79Kearns82Kearns85

Photography by J&A Photography

Apolis Market Bag

Living minimally and conscious of our earth + community sometimes takes a bit of dedication and research. Investing in gorgeous pieces like my Apolis Market Bag is an easy choice – they make the perfect bags for farmers market trips, grocery store runs, quick overnights, and a transitional diaper bag on-the-go for my two boys. They are perfect for holding bouquets of fresh florals and loads of snacks for the littlest ones – the waterproof lining is easy to wipe down and the materials are strong and easy to care for, making it an item you’ll carry with you for years!

Customize your very own Apolis Market Bag here or choose from their selections of pre-designed pieces! Keep in mind that your purchase helps break a poverty cycle and empowers women across the globe – the mothers who handcraft your bag receive Fair Trade wages, annual profit dividends, and a retirement fund.

This product post is in partnership with Apolis. All opinions and reviews are my own.

GIVEAWAY WITH JORD WATCHES

Life is busy, and we always seem to be on the move. Thankfully, updating your accessory collection and finding the perfect Father’s Day gift is only a few clicks away with JORD! It’s easy to see why both my husband and I love our JORD watches, and I am so excited that JORD has offered to give my sweet friends (that’s you!) a chance to win a $100 shop credit! Select a watch for the special father in your life or even yourself! Even though there will only be one lucky winner of the $100 credit, ALL who enter will receive a 10% off code once the giveaway is closed, hooray (see below for the details + giveaway entry link)!

Processed with VSCO with a6 presetProcessed with VSCO with a6 presetI am wearing the Sier Arcadia in Rose Gold and Marble, and it is even more gorgeous and luxe in person!

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

The giveaway is open through 11:59 PM on Sunday, May 12, 2019. The $100 shop credit winner will be automatically selected and notified by JORD.Processed with VSCO with a6 presetThank you so much to our partner JORD Wood Watches for sponsoring this post! All words and opinions are my own.

Featured On: West Elm’s Blog Front + Main

Well, friends! One of the most exciting things ever happened – seriously! Our sweet little brick cottage (in-progress) was featured on West Elm’s blog Front + Main! When Lindsey with WE reached out, I tried not to get *too* excited right away, but I just couldn’t help it. West Elm has been a favorite of mine for so long – affordable and on-trend pieces that fit perfectly into our design aesthetic and lifestyle. I worked with Amanda Sutton to capture our spaces for the article, and here are a few of my favorite images (scroll to the bottom for the link to the full feature!)>>

I would love for you to check out the full feature here!

Family Photo Session in Film

An early day in June, my three boys and I got dressed up and played around in the sunshine for an amazing evening with Lauren Jolly Photography! The proof that Lauren is a fantastic photographer and creative is in these gorgeous film images of our family – forever memorializing these summer days with our two babes!

And, of course, everyone’s favorite willow tree at WinMock provided the perfect backdrop to so many of these heartfelt smiles and snuggles.

Lauren has been a sweet friend of mine for several years now – I got to know her first through the wedding + creative industry, but our friendship has evolved into so much more. She is an incredible mama to two boys and, with similar philosophies on parenting and lifestyle, I love that I can chat with her about anything and everything – pregnancy, labor + delivery, toddler tantrums, breastfeeding, babywearing, and everything in-between! She is an incredibly talented photographer, documenting the sweetest of life’s moments, and I was in literal tears when she sent me these gorgeous film images from our session. She easily captured my blonde boys’ sweet natures, and I will forever treasure these precious images of our family of four!

Elizabeth Hales Design

When Elizabeth Hales Design first contacted me for a collaboration, I was instantly on-board. I could easily envision these gorgeous deco bags in use all over my home. And once they arrived, they were even.better. in person!
The neutral, yet saturated, colors and simplistic + functional style fit perfectly in every single room, and I had so much fun using them in different ways – to store blankets + toys and hold a jar of fresh greenery! And you can see the large brown bag styled as a fiddle leaf fig tree base here and here!
Thank you to Elizabeth Hales Design for partnering with us and providing these amazing pieces for our home!

Oliver’s Newborn Family Photo Session

Before Oliver arrived, we decided to do his newborn photo shoot a bit different than Raleigh’s. We wanted a laidback, relaxed feel that involved all four of us. Being at home, the boys were most comfortable, and even though there were some newborn tears, a couple diaper blowouts, and a few nursing breaks – I am amazed at all of the incredibly special moments that Joey was able to capture. I am absolutely in love with these photos and will treasure this short time in our lives forever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I am over the moon to share that this session is featured on Inspired by This, one of our favorite go-to blogs for all things inspiring + creative!