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RECIPE | Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie

Wednesday, November 30

Good Morning everyone!!
Today marks "Day 2" of the "Five Days of Pie" I've promised you.

If you are just joining us, my daughters and I baked five different pies on Thanksgiving for our family and I've decided you need the recipes. *wink*

No, but seriously...you really are going to want these recipes because they are just that good.
So good in fact, I'm even taking the time to create super cute printable recipe cards for each pie - just in case you're like me and prefer to use old-school recipe cards rather than setting up the iPad or iPhone in my kitchen while I bake.

Today's pie? Chocolate Chip Pecan


This pie is ridiculously good, as it takes the old-fashioned, tried-and-true pecan pie we've all come to know and love, to an entirely new level. And who am I kidding? Anytime I can add some chocolate to a non-chocolate dessert...well...I'm just not going to say no to that.

It's easy to make, easy to bake and a simple bowl and whisk is the only equipment it will take.

One for you and one for a friend...all on the same sheet for printing!



So yeah...I hope you'll PIN THIS to try the next time you need to make a fantastic dessert.
And if you missed pinning yesterday's pie...oh boy! You're going to want THAT ONE too!

I hope you guys are loving the "Five Days of Pies"...
and those cute printable recipe cards to go with them!!!

Have a sweet day my friends!!

xoxo,
Jessica

KEEPiNG iT REAL
You would never know this unless I told you...
Go back to the first photo and look at the whipped topping at the center top of the pie.
Do you see a small inconspicuous area of one of the whipped topping dollops missing?
And a couple of tiny drops of whipped topping on the crust just above it?

Well...while I was getting ready to photograph this pie, I walked away to grab something, and mind you the pie is sitting on the ground in my studio. Thankfully something in me immediately asked, "Wait! Where's Hamilton?" (our dog)  So I run back in and he'd already licked off some whipped topping and was getting ready for who knows what! Grrrrr!! Thank the Lord something told me to turn right back around. *coveringface*

RECIPE | The Best Pumpkin Pie Recipe EVER!

Tuesday, November 29


This is the BEST Pumpkin Pie you'll ever make...hands-down...not even kidding.
It's the one from my-favorite-bakery-in-the-world-that-I've-never-visited-but-will-one-day...
the Butter Bakery in Vancouver British Columbia.

As promised, this is the first of five pie recipes I'm sharing with you this week;
from the five pies my daughter's and I all baked together for Thanksgiving.

This recipe is easy as pie and truly makes the best tasting pumpkin pie on the entire pumpkin pie planet.

It comes from The Butter Bakery's "Butter Baked Goods" cookbook I bought a couple of years ago. (remember this post). And although I'm sharing the recipe today...you should totally just buy the cookbook because it's filled with so many wonderful recipes and photos AND IT'S SO PRETTY.

Now...you can keep the crust "easy as pie" by not getting all fancy like I did with hand-cut fall leaves and the wonky looking acorns I tried to make. Ha!

TIP:  I baked the center pie crust decorations separately and then added them to the pie after it had baked and cooled.

You can totally just do a normal crust because it's not going to make a difference on the way the pie tastes. OR...if you want to get a little fancy but not too fancy, you can use mini fall leaf cookie cutters like these or this 2 inch Leaf Cutter Set to make the process super fast.

My daughter, Ema, made this pie...I just added the fancy crust decorations before we popped it in the oven. *wink*

It's easy...AS PIE...to make and I know you're going to love it!
Now go download the recipe card and print it off to add to your cute recipe box if you have one. (I don't have one but I'm eyeing this one from Rifle Paper Company).

One for you and one for a friend...all on the same sheet for printing!


I hope your day is as sweet as PUMPKIN pie!
Stay tuned for the other four pie recipes coming this week!!

xoxo,
Jess


KEEPiNG iT REAL
I totally would've used my mini fall leaf cookie cutters instead of having to hand cut all of the leaves but while I was in the middle of making the pie I searched all over my pantry looking for them and then remembered my mom borrowed them last year and hasn't returned them yet. Don't you hate when that happens?

And yes...the crust is totally a bit overdone/overbrown but I think since I used my all natural stone pie plate, it was taking the pie an extra while to bake while the edges were already done. Besides that, I think it makes it look a little more like authentic Fall colors. That's what I'm going with anyway. *wink*

P.S. I'm considering ordering this Large Maple Leaf Cutter and this Oak Leaf Cutter for the center of my pumpkin pie next year. Going to have to work on those acorns though. *giggling*

It's Cyber Monday, Friends!

Monday, November 28

Good Morning everyone!!

It's Cyber Monday...which makes it the ONLY DAY OF THE YEAR when you can save on ANYTHING YOU LOVE in my shoppe!

If you've been eyeing something for some time...today would be the day to snatch it up!
You've got items to choose from like a few different Hot Chocolate Bar Collections, Popcorn Bar Collections, and other fun oversized printable chalkboard signs to make your spirits bright!!

So go be merry and have fun shopping and supporting small businesses on this Cyber Monday!!

Thank you so much for your love and support!!
Stay tuned for the pie recipes I promised you!

xoxo,
Jess

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Now...I'm off to the dentist this morning! *frown*
And how do you like the new blog header?
It was long overdue for something fresh and new!
Hey! That rhymed!! *wink*

CELEBRATE | Thanksgiving 2016

Friday, November 25

I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving with family and friends.
The only photos I took were of the pies my girls and I made together for our family dinner. Ha!!




But with that said...guess what I'll be posting all about next week?
PIES!!!

Key Lime
Blueberry
Chocolate Chip Pecan
Pumpkin
and...
Crumb-topped Apple

Yep! We had a pie fest at Thanksgiving and I'll be sharing the recipes for all 5 of these pies!!

Until then...enjoy your weekend and watch for the Cyber Monday sales announcement for anything in my shoppe...coming soon!

xoxo,
Jess

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I didn't take any photos on Thanksgiving because by the time we got to my aunt's house, Ella wasn't feeling well and I completely missed eating with my family as I sat on the bathroom floor holding Ella until she fell asleep. *tears*
She's been dealing with frequent headaches lately that make her nauseous. *frown*
So...we'll be taking her to have her eyes checked this week. *frown*

RECIPE | The Best Chocolate Cake Birthday Cake Ever

Wednesday, November 23



My Ella Pie turned eight years old on November 14th and this is what's left of the cake she requested.
And although right now we are all busy focusing on our Thanksgiving pies for tomorrow, (myself included), sharing this chocolate cake recipe with you RIGHT NOW just could not wait any longer. It's really THAT good. Besides that, I promised everyone on Facebook and Instagram that I'd post the recipe this week...so there! *wink*

If you've been following along my blog for awhile, you know it's a family tradition to allow the person celebrating a birthday to choose their birthday dinner and birthday dessert - usually homemade by mom. Clara typically chooses cheesecake, Ema has chosen a fresh fruit cake for the last five years and Ella has been known to pick ice cream cakes - not homemade.

As you can see...no one ever really chooses a traditional cake - myself included.
So I was really surprised this year when Ella said you wanted a "chocolate cake with blue frosting and a dolphin on top".


The only photo I love of the cake is the mangled cake in the first photo because it was taken 5 days post-party as I was eating the last remaining MOIST bits of it alone in the house one afternoon with gorgeous natural light pouring in from the kitchen window. All of these other cake photos were taken at night because as those of you who saw my Instagram stories know...I finished the cake just barely shy of Ella walking in the door from gymnastics at 6:30 on the night of her birthday.*phew*


Regardless of the funky lighting...I just LOVE how it turned out.
I used Sweetapolita sprinkles , (a mix of New Jersey Shore + A Cherry on Top),  for me to add some fun to the sides and top of the cake. I then used my Cricut Explore Air 2 to create the glittered dolphin and waves cake topper! (also shown on my Instastories)

I'm not a huge fan of cake...even though I love cupcakes.
I've only baked a few "cake" cakes in my life so I'm certainly no expert but I am familiar with lining the pans, greasing the pans, dusting the pans and frosting a layer cake.

As my wheels started turning to figure out which chocolate cake recipe to go with, I remembered my friend, Allison, had recently made a chocolate cake for her daughter's birthday and raved about the recipe she used from someone at church.

I went with it and BAM! It's a winner!!
It's moist for DAYS...and it's oh so chocolatey!!
Which is why I'm sure it's original name is "Too Much Chocolate Cake".
The original recipe called for this to be a bundt cake but I turned it into a 3 layer 6" inch cake with buttercream frosting. I swapped out the regular chocolate chips for miniatures and I've renamed it "The Best Chocolate Birthday Cake EVER"!

I've even created cute recipe cards for you to download and print if you'd like because I love it that much!



Do you love it?
Ella loved it...



Told you she'd just got home from gymnastics practice!
She's still in her leotard.

Anyway...the Sweetapolita sprinkles really make it extra adorable.
AND...if you aren't a cake baker or decorator...the sprinkles let you skip all those fancy piping details. BONUS!!

This cake is SO easy...especially if you do the bundt-cake version.
You could totally make this to surprise your family at Thanksgiving.

Hope you'll try it you guys!
You will NOT be disappointed.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families!!
I am so grateful for your love and support and the stories you guys share with me.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being so genuine and real.
The world could use more YOU in it!!

xoxo,
Jess

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I should clarify that Ella loved the way her birthday cake LOOKED on the night of her birthday because she never even ate any of her birthday cake that night. *gasp* She'd had a fever for three days previously and was okay...but not 100% percent and just didn't want any cake. I was SO disappointed my little birthday girl wasn't even eating her own requested special chocolate cake with blue frosting and dolphins on top birthday cake.

P.S. I still have her American Girl Doll themed birthday party details to share with you too.
But let's kick back and enjoy the Thanksgiving holidays for right now my friends.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a little girl named Ella who's home with me today...waiting to do something fun together. *wink*

LIFE | Ella's Snowman Costume

Thursday, November 10


Halloween may be long over...but since Ella decided she wanted to be a snowman this year I feel like it's still okay to share her costume as we make our way into the holiday season! *wink*

Besides that, it came out too cute NOT to share.

When Ella first told me what she wanted to dress up as a snowman, I was like "Okay!"
Then she told me she wanted a matching costume for "Little Ella", her American Girl Doll and I was like "Oh boy!" Ha!!

I knew the doll would be more difficult to find things for so we started with her costume first and then found things for Ella.

After trying to find some ideas online, we finally decided on a super simple + sweet costume I pieced together from things I found mostly online: tulle skirts, white tights, white shoes, white leotards (with black buttons sewn on the front), matching scarves, white gloves, matching snowman hat headbands and a few snowflake embellishments.


We both love how it all came together. I've never seen Ella so excited to wear a costume.
I think it had more to do with being able to dress up her American Girl doll - which has become her newest obsession ever since her big sister Clara gave her her old doll a few months ago.

Since I don't sew, (aside from being able to re-attach buttons), when it comes to putting together Halloween costumes it either needs to be things I can just piece together or something I can do with a glue gun. Ha! I'll give you all of the specifics at the end of the post.







I think it all turned out pretty darn cute!
And who knows, maybe you'll be inspired to have your little one dress up like this next year?
Pin it so you don't forget!! *wink*


SUPPLIES NEEDED TO RECREATE 
THESE SNOWMAN COSTUMES

ELLA'S SNOWMAN COSTUME
White Leotard
Black Buttons - JoAnn
White Tulle Skirt
Rhinestone pin on skirt - found at Hobby Lobby
White Tights
Scarf - created from fabric found at JoAnn - a little got glue and then knotting the strings on the ends.
White Sparkly Shoes
Snowman Hat - came as a 2pk and fit Ella perfectly
White Fingerless Gloves - made from a 4pk of baby socks I found at Target - Ha!!
Snowflake Hair Ties - made by hot gluing snowflakes I disassembled from a Hobby Lobby ornament.
Snowflakes on skirt- found at Hobby Lobby in the Christmas crafts section - secured with hot glue

LITTLE ELLA'S SNOWMAN COSTUME (Ella's American Girl Doll)
White Leotard - this Etsy shop
Black Buttons - JoAnn
White Tulle Skirt - JoAnn - it was an toddler/infant skirt found with Halloween costumes
Rhinestone pin on skirt - found at JoAnn
White Tights
Scarf - created from fabric found at JoAnn - a little got glue and then knotting the strings on the ends.
White Sparkly Shoes
Snowman Hat - I removed the plastic headband attached and replaced with black elastic.
White Fingerless Gloves - made from a 4pk of baby socks I found at Target same ones used for Ella!
Snowflake Hair Ties - made by hot gluing snowflakes I disassembled from a Hobby Lobby ornament.
Snowflakes on skirt- found at Hobby Lobby in the Christmas crafts section - secured with hot glue

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Ella's first idea for a Halloween costume was an ice cube. (no idea where she came up with that one).
Even though I'm always up for a creative challenge, I was relieved when she decided on the snowman costume instead. Ha!! But I think it's funny both ideas were related to ice.

FOUND | Grove Collaborative

Monday, November 7


I'm popping in really quick this afternoon to share something I'm super excited about.
Have you guys heard of Grove Collaborative?

It's a monthly subscription for household beauty, health and cleaning products THAT WORK and are free of yucky things we don't need to be exposing ourselves or our families to.

I hadn't heard anything about them until Lolly Jane Blog posted about them and I couldn't sign up fast enough.

I'm sure there are plenty of mamas out there that get a little crazy like I do about all the garbage in all of the stuff we use to clean our homes and make ourselves look pretty and feel healthy. If you are one of those mamas, you should totally check out Grove Collaborative. They didn't pay me or give me products to write this post. You guys know I only share things that I really like or love and think you might want to check out. So...CHECK THEM OUT!!



So yes! These photos show the items that came in my very first Grove Collaborative box!
I LOVE Mrs. Meyers products...which is what really caught me eye in the first place in the Lolly Jane post because you could earn FREE Mrs. Meyer's products by signing up! YES! Yes please!!

The limited edition "Mum" dish soap, hand soap and multi-surface cleaner all smell SO amazing. I'm not even kidding. It's now my most favorite scent I've ever tried in the Mrs. Myer's line and I'm hoping they'll make it available year-round. It smells like a light, pretty perfume and I've found myself walking around the house with the spray bottle looking for things to clean...just to be able to use it! Ha!!

I actually signed up for the free 60 day VIP trial which gives me free shipping, FREE GIFTS, price matching (hello), exclusive sales (duh), and personal service (yes). And when I say personal service...you are assigned a "Grove Guide" that answers questions, makes recommendations and helps with order scheduling, etc. My guide's name is John! *wink*

Anyway, would you look at this adorable glass cleaner "brush sponge thingy". (pictured above)  The sponge head pops off! It's replaceable. I had no idea until it arrived. So smart. And look at that  beautiful handle.

REASONS I'M HEAD-OVER-HEELS ONLY AFTER THE FIRST DATE
1. The head office only has 16 employees (and 3 dogs apparently) and their boxes are all hand-packed by their warehouse teams. I've been SO impressed by their customer service.
2. The quality brands they use are good for you, your family + our planet.
3. They stand by their products 100%. You can return a product you don't love - no questions asked.
4. Prices are well below grocery store and big box companies.(and if you do the VIP program they
    price-match).
5. It's a B Corp - a select group of companies that support social, environmental + community
    wellbeing.
6. I love the product suggestions I receive via email which help me decide what I want in my next
    shipment.


Another thing I love is if you sign up, they have a place where you can actually share $10 with a friend or family member and then you'll receive $10 if that friend or family member signs up. I think everybody wins!!

Anywho....I'm going to stop talking and let you just GO CHECK THEM OUT!
And then come back and tell me what you think. I'd love to know your thoughts on this new-to-me company.

KEEPING IT REAL
See that walnut scubber sponge? It actually comes in a two-pack but I was too excited to use one before I took these photos so I re-packaged the un-used sponge to make it look like a one-pack. Ha!! Besides, I LOVE their logo too and wanted you to see it up close. *wink*

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