RECIPE
Homemade Perfect Bars
Ingredients:
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
1 1/4 cup oat flour or almond flour
1/4 cup vanilla or peanut butter protein powder
1/3 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
Instructions:
In a large bowl, mix together flour, protein powder, and salt
Add peanut butter, honey, and vanilla extract. Mix with hands until it reaches a play-doh consistency. Add 1 tbsp melted coconut oil if it’s too dry
Mix in chocolate chips
Press into a loaf pan (8x4) lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate for 2 hours before cutting. Store in the fridge and enjoy!
RECEIPTS + RECS
Comfy Dress: A great option for Tennessee during this season when it’s still hot but we’re ready for fall colors.
Bandana: These are made by a very special nonprofit called The Sunday Seed. The women at this organization are incredible - I love supporting a great cause while getting fun, giftable items! The bandanas are so cute in your hair, as a neck scarf, or on a bag. My favorite candle from this shop is The Fancy Fella.
Acrylic Markers: These are so fun for kids - they draw on paper, rocks, or wood and are very pigmented.
Brick: This has been a game changer for managing the time I spend on my phone; specifically social media. Decreased screen time by 51% the first week using it.
Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies: This Trader Joe’s mix is elite. I bought it on a whim and everyone who has tried these raves about them! Such an easy thing to keep in your pantry for the fall season.
REFLECTIONS
Last week, a sweet boy at the clinic was having a very hard day when he came in for his speech appointment. His mom mentioned he had not slept well the night before, and he was kicking, crying, and very dysregulated. Most of us have been in a similar situation as parents, and it can be so hard, especially in public. This mom’s reaction is something I’ll never forget.
She looked at him and in the most gentle voice said “Do you need to borrow some of my calm?”. I was in awe of her. The patience and steadiness she exuded, when on the inside she may have felt overwhelmed, embarrassed, or upset, was truly inspiring. And after a few minutes of being in his mom’s calm, this boy started to calm down too.
I think a big misconception about motherhood is that some people are just born patient. In reality, patience is a choice. Sometimes it’s an incredibly difficult choice, but it’s always an option. I am so grateful to be surrounded by seasoned mothers at the clinic who model patience and grace during moments that feel impossible. To all of you parents who are choosing patience as much as you can, I see you. None of us will get this perfectly, but witnessing this moment between a mother and her son really encouraged me to try to bolster this quality too.
