chandelier jenny

There's so much inspiration to be found here.

Amber's tumblr is great for when you're in need of some motivation.

My new favorite Etsy shop for vintage finds: Fishbone Deco.

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Hope you're having a great week so far!

love,
jenny

music feature: great lake swimmers

2012-03-05T06:30:00.000-06:00

photo from their facebook page

The Great Lake Swimmers is a band that I've listened to for a couple of years now, and I always go back to them when I'm in need of some inspiration. Whenever I listen to them, I'm flooded by so many thoughts and ideas. Sometimes I like to just put on my headphones and get my idea journal out and jot down anything and everything that comes to mind. They're also great to listen to while working in my craft room or cleaning the house. :)

Here is a playlist. Enjoy!

Great Lake Swimmers by Jenny Taylor on Grooveshark

Do you have a go-to band/musician for inspiration?

love,
jenny

what i wore: bows

2012-03-02T06:30:00.000-06:00

My bestie, Rita, spent a month in Austin not long ago and she brought me back this super cute dress! She definitely knows my taste. :) Thanks Rita! ♥ you!

I love the all-over bow print. And the dropped-waist and pleats give it a cute flapper look.

Dress: gift/thrifted

Cardigan: Target

Locket: gift from the husband (Forever21)

Tights: Target

Shoes: Kohl's (I think?)

Have a great Friday--yay!

love,
jenny

a new project

2012-03-01T06:30:00.000-06:00

First of all, happy first day of March!

I've been thinking about doing a 365 photo-a-day challenge lately. I love the idea of challenging myself to do something creative everyday, and taking a photo doesn't have to be time-consuming. I think it will help with self-discipline and creative development. After mulling this over for a while, I read this article on Etsy (which is great, by the way). Reading that helped push me a little more and I've decided, starting today, to do my own 365 project of taking a photo a day for an entire year. (A year sounds so much longer that 365 days, right? Just me? Oh.)

I'm really excited about this new project. While I feel fairly comfortable with my camera (finally--after over a year with it), I am by no means a professional and there is still so much for me to learn about the art of photography. I will probably post periodic updates, but I plan on having each photo printed and making a tangible journal out of this experience. Art journaling is something else I'm interested in, so I thought I would combine these two and see what I can come up with! :)

Have you done or are you currently involved in a 365 project? What are your thoughts?

love,

jenny

february in review

2012-02-29T20:00:00.000-06:00

February went by so fast, I can't even remember what all happened this month. It was a great month, and now I'm just so excited to see what March brings.

February consisted of best friend dates, a day of love with my favorite person, unexpected snow, a new design, and a big hair change. Here's some photos from throughout the month.

I'm really excited about March. I'm ready for warm weather, getting our garden started, personal growth, and new things for my shop. Happy leap-day! :)

love,

jenny

wednesday words

2012-02-29T06:30:00.000-06:00

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

− Albert Einstein

Happy hump-day (and last day of February!). ;)

love,

jenny

things i love tuesday

2012-02-28T06:30:00.000-06:00

1. I'm drawn to all things nautical! This dress is really cute and would be perfect with pops of red.

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2. I love the colors and print on this pillow.

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3. These tangerine flats are perfect for spring/summer. By the way, I'm so ready for spring.

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4. I love this chevron blanket! And the link goes to a tutorial. Maybe I'll try this one day.

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5. These bow-clips are so cute!

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Happy Tuesday!

love,

jenny

what i wore: gingham

2012-02-27T09:00:00.000-06:00

I haven't done an outfit post in quite a while, so I thought it was time to change that. The weather was so gross on Saturday, we didn't want to get out. The wind was literally blowing upwards of 40 mph. So, indoor photo shoot it was!

Oh, and I chopped my hair off. I'm still getting used to it, but I don't have any regrets. ...Although I did see a cute top-knot and was a teeny bit sad, but I'm still very happy with it. Before, my hair took about an hour to fix. Now, it takes about 20 minutes. Yay!

Dress: Thrifted

Tights: Target

Shoes: Rocket Dog

Purse: Target

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I hope you have a happy Monday!

love,

jenny

Dos and Don'ts

2012-02-23T06:30:00.000-06:00

I thought it would be fun to start making little "Life Dos and Don'ts." They're nothing too serious, but good reminders for overall health and happiness.

Dos:

1. Do something creative every week.

2. Do say "I love you" whenever you get the chance.

3. Do put a record on and have dance parties more often, even if you're alone.

Don'ts:

1. Don't waste away in front of the television (unless sick--that's the only decent excuse ;).

2. Don't let your thoughts get the best of you.

3. Don't stay up too late on week-nights.

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What dos and don'ts would go on your list?

love,

jenny

wednesday words

2012-02-22T06:30:00.000-06:00

“We were together. I forget the rest.”

― Walt Whitman

I found this old photo on my phone. It's from last summer. :)

Happy Wednesday!

love,

jenny

things i love tuesday

2012-02-21T06:30:00.000-06:00

1. I love Michele Maule and have one of her prints already, but I love love this original!

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2. This sweater is so sweet.

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3. This trailer. Wow.

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4. These chevron walls are so bold and fun.

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5. This chair is amazing.

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Happy Tuesday!

love,

jenny

currently

2012-02-19T19:04:00.000-06:00

Listening to: Hospitality

image source

Hospitality by Jenny Taylor on Grooveshark

Here's a playlist for you. :) Hope you're having a happy weekend.

love,
jenny

wednesday words... and some ramblings

2012-02-15T21:19:00.002-06:00

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“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” ― Timothy Keller

I love this. And to be honest I've had it backwards until I read this.

I've been thinking about love a lot this past week, which is appropriate this time of year, right? In order to truly love people, as in the way God calls us to love, we have to have a spirit of humility. And it's something I struggle with and I'm sure everyone struggles with at one time or another. This quote has spurred me to examine my life and the things I think about, things I say, and how I treat others. There's always room for improvement and this is one area I want to improve. :)

How's your week going?

love,

jenny

Ps. I've been listening to Timothy Keller's podcasts a lot lately and he's been a huge inspiration. I highly recommend them.

things i love tuesday

2012-02-14T06:30:00.000-06:00

Happy day of looove! I hope you have an awesome day today. Even if you don't have a "valentine," I think this day is a perfect excuse for doing something nice for someone.

Here are some things I'm loving this week:

1. This print of 2 John is a good reminder. ;)

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2. This V-day card has been all over the front page of Etsy, which is understandable. Because it is awesome.

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3. Long distance friends artwork. Reminds me of a few of mine.

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4. This heart rug is so so cute.

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5. What cute little love birds. :)

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Have a lovely day. ♥

love,

jenny

Michelle from Little Blue Feather

2012-02-13T07:00:00.000-06:00

Today I have a very special guest (and bloggy friend) on the blog and I'm so excited about this feature. Michelle is super creative and sweet. You should definitely go check out her blog and Etsy shop if you haven't already. ;) ;)

Hi there! I first want to say thank you to Jenny for having me on her lovely blog today! My name is Michelle and I am a blogger and a handmade business owner and designer for Little Blue Feather. If you visit my blog you will find my favorite things, pieces of creative inspiration, handmade love, photography and what life is like behind Little Blue Feather!

How did you get started selling on Etsy?
I decided to start an Etsy shop in 2010 when I was looking for a creative outlet. At the time, I worked at a bridal store and was missing all of my design classes from college. I fell into an everyday routine and I was looking for something different. At first, my shop was something on the side, but it didn't take long for my to realize that I wanted to devote more time to my ideas, designs and shop. I am very blessed to have such an amazing husband who encouraged me to leave the bridal store and do what I love; create. 2011 was my first full year of running my Etsy shop full time and it has been great! I have learned a lot along the way, mostly through trial and error, and am so excited about 2012!

Your designs are so cute! Tell us a little bit about your creative process.
For all of my screen print designs, I use Photoshop for drawing and manipulating images. I L.O.V.E Photoshop! I have a drawing pad that hooks into my computer that allows me to draw right on my computer in combination with all of the tools Photoshop offers. My designs do not have a specific theme. Feathers, mini foxes, Africa and an adorable little boston terrier are all some of the images I have created.

For my appliqued designs, I love to go to a fabric boutique and see what colors and prints jump out at me. I love using printed fabrics and mismatching colors. Once I find a few fabric choices, I will go to my workspace, draw a design, cut it out of the fabric and start piecing together to create the image. Then it is ready to be sewn!

What is your favorite item from your shop?
My screen printed fox t-shirt is definitely one of my favorite items!

Other than run your business and your blog, what do you love to do?
I love spending time with my husband and friends. After working at home all day, I am ready to get out of the house and spend time with people! I like to visit the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, hang out at coffee houses, shop local stores, meet friends for lunch and take the pups for long walks.

As a fellow dog-person, I have to say that your boston terriers are precious (and great models)! Tell us a little about them.
Oh my, where do I begin?! I was never a dog lover until my husband and I got engaged and decided to start our family with a little brown and white boston terrier. We got Miley a week after we were engaged, and about a year later we realized she needed a friend. We then adopted another boston terrier, Stanlee. They have given me so much happiness and now I can't imagine life without pups! They are a huge part of my Etsy shop as Miley was my model/inspiration for my boston terrier screen printed shirt and Stanlee models all of my dog collar accessories. Stanlee has a very regal look to him when he models and will sit and stand tall and proud every time I photograph him in a new product. Miley on the other hand, hates being told what to do and is little miss independent sometimes! Modeling is definitely not her thing, but her good looks have made their way onto may t-shirts! It's amazing how much love I have for both of them!

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Isn't Michelle adorable?! And her pups! She is currently working on new designs and is having a sale on a lot of items currently in her shop to make room for the new! She's also generously offering a 10% discount with the code CHANDELIER, which will be good through Wednesday. Thank you so much, Michelle!

Here are some links so you can go say "Hi" or pick up

one of her cute Boston Terrier tees.

Blog • Shop • Facebook • Twitter

currently: my view

2012-02-12T16:53:00.000-06:00

When we left for church this morning, I saw one little snowflake fall. When we got out of church an hour later, it was coming down like crazy. They were the big, heavy snowflakes. So pretty!

I didn't even know it was supposed to snow (shows you how much I keep up with the weather).

Here is the view out of my craft-room window. :)

I also witnessed a tragic accident today. There were car accidents everywhere, but I actually saw this one happen. A semi-truck hit the trailer of another semi-truck, and the cab of the truck that hit completely compacted. It was so intense, I about cried. I'm saying lots of prayers for everyone who was involved.

I hope you're all having a nice Sunday and staying warm.

love,

jenny

things i love tuesday

2012-02-07T21:30:00.003-06:00

I've got hearts on the brain! :)

1. This print is perfect. Books and ♥.

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2. These stud earrings are so fun.

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3. These tights are lovely.

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4. This is probably the sweetest mobile I've ever seen.

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5. This vintage sweater is just awesome.

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Don't hearts make everything better? ;)

love,

jenny

a shop update!

2012-02-06T06:30:00.000-06:00

I have some new items in the shop! Here are some of my favorites.

I think this one is my #1 favorite. And it's perfect for Valentine's day, which is right around the corner. ;)

How was your weekend? I hope you have a happy Monday.

love,

jenny

just dropping in.

2012-02-05T21:28:00.001-06:00

I hope you're all having a great weekend. Did you watch the Super Bowl? I spent my evening taking photos and listing new items in my shop.

I just want to thank everyone who left such kind comments on my last post. You all made me feel so much better and you're awesome. :D My weekend has consisted of being thankful and enjoying the simple things. Life is good.

love,

jenny

wednesday words - contentment

2012-02-01T22:28:00.000-06:00

print found here

"Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you."

- Lao Tzu

This past week has been kind of rough. I must be having a quarter-life crisis. After seeing photos of people I once knew and friends my own age going on epic adventures or starting families or upgrading everything they own, I let my thoughts get the best of me. It can be hard not to sit there flipping through photos and compare myself to others (thanks, Facebook, for helping me reconnect, but no thanks!). Daydreaming about home-remodels or a new home altogether, then having to snap back into reality because it will be another year before we can do these things. Ughh!

My husband and I are in a financially-tight moment of our lives; we want to be debt-free and that means nothing to spare until we are. Life is on hold for now. But that doesn't mean I have an excuse to be ungrateful. I have everything I need and I get plenty of stuff I want. I have more than enough.

(What's really bad is when I know that I'm being a baby--and my husband even reminds me of what I have to be thankful for--yet I continue to pout about it. It's embarrassing to admit, but it's true. Please tell me I'm not alone!)

I think I've snapped out of my funk, though. And it helps to read some encouraging articles (like this one). We only have a year before our sparing lifestyle will pay off. A year. It's really not that big of a deal. So, I'm going to take a deep breath and remind myself to be content with what I have and the season that I'm in.

Do you ever forget about what you have when you're too busy thinking about what you want?
How do you combat comparison?

I hope you're having a great week.
love,
jenny

things i love tuesday

2012-01-31T06:30:00.000-06:00

1. A ceramic ice cream cone! Amazing.

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2. How cute are these owl socks?

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3. This craft room is a dream. Pretty vintage fabrics, white walls, and plenty of light.

source and see her blog here

4. This print is gorgeous--very inspiring.

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5. I love this kidney bean coffee table. (And it's only $175, which I don't think is too bad considering it's handmade.)

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Hope you have a lovely Tuesday! Six years ago today, Tyson and I officially started dating. It's going to be a special day. :)

love,

jenny

food for thought

2012-01-30T06:30:00.000-06:00

Earlier this month my husband and I watched a food documentary, Forks Over Knives, and it opened our eyes to a lot--mostly things we were suspicious about anyway, but it was just the wake-up call we needed. I highly recommend this documentary (it's streaming on Netflix). We've started shopping and eating differently. I've never been a big meat-eater, but we have started to avoid meat as much as possible. I've stopped drinking regular milk, too, which is especially good because I think I'm becoming lactose intolerant.

Cookbook found on Etsy

We also listened to a podcast about GMOs. It really is amazing the things that go into our food. So, we have started to buy more organic food, as well. Not completely, but more than we did before. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

We aren't trying to be activists or make a big statement, although for those who do, that's cool. We are simply doing it to live healthier lives. I mean, my husband will be happy to tell you how he feels about hippies and hipsters, but I probably shouldn't get into that. We aren't claiming an identity by what we eat, we just want eat smarter.

Our diet is still far from perfect, and I still indulge in unhealthy foods occasionally. Overall, though, we are making better choices. And every little bit helps, right?

For those who are interested, this is an awesome website that lists tons of non-GMO foods: Non-GMO Shopping Guide. There is even an iPhone app.

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Have you seen Forks Over Knives, or another food documentary? What do you think about it? And do you have any good cookbook recommendations? ;)

love,

jenny

my weekend: get organized!

2012-01-28T17:43:00.001-06:00

This photo sums up what I will be doing this weekend: organizing my computer. I just got a new external hard drive, which is something that I've been needing for quite some time. When it comes to photos on my computer, there really is no method to my madness. I'm hoping to fix that this weekend.

I've also taken steps toward improving our bedroom. I bought new sheets and I'm currently in the process of dyeing our white quilt. I feel like I've wasted so much water. eek. More on that later. :)

How's your weekend going?

love,

jenny

bad habits

2012-01-26T06:30:00.000-06:00

I'm all about self-improvement. I also think that there's always room for improvement. One thing that I need to work on, and I even consider a horrible habit, is being too attached to my phone. Specifically at night when I'm trying to unwind.

My phone is the last thing I see at night and the first thing I see in the morning. I use it as my alarm clock and will sometimes check my twitter after hitting the snooze. I'm sure I look absolutely ridiculous, too; I can barely see because of the brightness and I lay there squinting with one eye barely open scrolling my phone.

I definitely think it affects my sleep pattern, which is something I've been wanting to improve. I stay up too late as it is, and will turn to my phone if I'm having trouble going to sleep. That leads to waking up late the next morning or feeling tired throughout the day. A better alternative would be to read before bed anyway, right? Then I remember the wise words of ol' Ben...

“Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy wealthy and wise."
- Benjamin Franklin

This is one bad habit that I think will be easy to fix and I'm excited about doing something better for myself. I'm moving my phone charger to another room and I'm going back to a traditional alarm clock. I don't think I'll go through any withdrawals, but it will take some adjusting going back to an actual clock. It'll be good though. :)

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Do you have any bad habits?

What kind of self-improvements have you been working on?

love,

jenny

wednesday words

2012-01-25T06:30:00.000-06:00

image source

"We are always getting ready to live but never living."
- RW Emerson

Something I need to always remind myself of: live, don't merely exist.
What have you done lately that makes you excited about life?

love,
jenny

things i love tuesday

2012-01-24T21:28:00.000-06:00

I love this geometrical brooch. There are a bunch of other cute brooches in this shop, too.

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This vintage polka-dot mug is adorable. Any takers? I'm not allowed to bring any more mugs into my house, unless I get rid of one. ;)

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These rocket dog shoes look comfy and perfect for spring.

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How cute is this house? I love everything about this photo!

source via pinterest

This is a vintage daisy locket brooch! How fun is that? :) I've never seen a locket brooch before. Can you tell I love brooches?

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Are you having a good week? :) I hope so!

love,

jenny

banjo and wellington: just a few photos

2012-01-21T15:50:00.000-06:00

The past few days it has been near the 70s; it doesn't even feel like January! We've been hanging out outside more with our pups. Here are a few photos I got of those crazy pooches.

*Excuse our dirt patch of a backyard. Most of our grass died last summer, due to the drought. :(*

Banjo

Wellington

Wellington is very attached to his ball.

Aren't they so pretty? :) Have a great weekend!

love,

jenny

Dreaming of Bedrooms

2012-01-19T06:00:00.000-06:00

About a year ago, Tyson and I redid our bedroom, except we didn't completely follow through. We textured and painted the walls (two shades of grey) and put in a simple, modern chandelier. That's where the remodel stopped. I'm really wanting to pick up where we left off because it now has some potential.

(Oh, and let me just tell you that before we painted, the room was navy blue with "clouds" on the ceiling that looked more like white water damage spots.)

Our bedding is very mismatched... and not in an attractive way. It's really hideous. The wallhangings were hung to get them off the ground, but they don't match anything either. The dresser is merely a place to put the clean laundry waiting to be put away. In short, it needs some sprucing and I'm determined to tackle that room soon.

Here's some of my inspiration:

This wall color is similar to what we have. I love the grey/yellow color scheme. I actually bought a white quilt for our bed, but that was a horrible idea. We have 2 dogs and a cat. I mean, come on, what was I thinking?

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I absolutely love the bright colors in this room! Since I can't do white bedding, I'd love to do something bright and cheery.

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I am in love with canopy beds. We actually want to downsize our bed, from a king to a queen, simply because our room is small and the extra square footage is worth it to us. Especially since we are more or less fixing up our house to sell it. I don't think getting a canopy bed would make our room look any bigger, so that dream is being stocked away for our next house. ;)

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I hope to have some progress updates for you within the next few months. Maybe I'll post some before and afters. ...Or maybe just the afters.

love,

jenny

wednesday words

2012-01-18T20:32:00.001-06:00

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“Ah! There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort.”

― Jane Austen

Here lately, this describes my sentiments exactly. Hot tea, a good book, what else do I need? :)

Last night I spent a couple of hours making two new silk screens. I'm excited to try them out this weekend. I'm starting to get more and more comfortable with the whole process, which is gratifying, because it can be tricky (at least I think so). I already have more design ideas brewing. Yayyy!

I hope you've had a good week!

love,

jenny

literary crush

2012-01-14T15:16:00.001-06:00

Yes, I'm one of those. I get literary crushes often, and they're constantly being swapped out when I start a new book. Currently? Peeta Mellark, of course. Yes, I have completely geeked out on Peeta and the Hunger Games series. It's become an obsession.

❤

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And Peeta being played by Josh Hutcherson in the upcoming movie is perfect. I couldn't be happier.

Peeta > Gale > Edward > Jacob

duh.

And that's all. Happy weekend!

love,

jenny

things i love tuesday

2012-01-10T18:41:00.000-06:00

1. This dress is super cute! I'm ready for warm weather already!

2. I love how Kris did these marker boards!

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3. If I can't have a full-size camper right now, this little block wall-hanging will do.

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4. I can picture this rug in my craft room. ;) It's so cheery.

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5. Just look at this beauty! Wow!

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I hope you're having a great week. I feel like my week has been way too long. I mean, shouldn't it be Thursday already?

love,

jenny

my weekend in photos

2012-01-09T20:52:00.000-06:00

I had probably one of the best weekends I've had in a while. It was carefree and very relaxing. Reading, french press coffee, and taking my dogs on a walk in uncharacteristically beautiful weather. Doesn't get much better. How was your weekend?

love,

jenny

wednesday words

2012-01-04T22:29:00.000-06:00

image source

What an affirmation. This is such a great reminder going into the new year. Now is right on time.

I've been having trouble sleeping lately. Not because I'm suffering from insomnia, but I am just so excited about life right now; I can't seem to make myself calm down enough to go to sleep at a decent hour. It's going to be a great year!

I hope you're having a great week. :)

love,

jenny

weekly finds

2012-01-03T18:59:00.002-06:00

1. CB's sweater is amazing. I really love her shoes, too.

2. I've been wanting to buy a lot of vintage enamel brooches, like this one, for a while. 2012, you're the year. ;)

3. Brilliant! I'll take 5.

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4. I love these matryoshka doll tattoos! Aaaand I just really want a new tattoo--stat!

5. I love everything in this shop. My husband actually says things like this.

Happy Tuesday!

love,

jenny

New Year = New Goals

2012-01-02T20:29:00.001-06:00

click image for source

First of all, how amazing is this clip board? Yep, pretty darn amazing. Secondly, I feel like I'm already running late as far as welcoming in the new year and preparing for new goals. I started getting a migraine New Year's Eve and it just barely subsided today. To be honest, I was extremely disappointed. The first day of the new year and I'm sick? Boo. I'm feeling better now, though, and I'm really excited about 2012. :)

A few of my goals for this year:

- Eat better, which means less dairy and sugar, more fruits and veggies.

- Get out of debt. Tyson and I made leaps and bounds in 2011 and I really think we can finish in 2012. :) Even though that means no vacation, but that's okay.

- Enforce the rule of "one in, one out," as far as buying new clothing, shoes, mugs, etc. We have worked really hard to de-clutter our house and I want it to stay that way.

- Work on my time-management. Do the things that I really want to do, which sometimes means turn off the TV (!!!).

- Read. I'm going to shoot kind of low with this goal, simply because I tend to be too ambitious and it's one that I don't often accomplish. 25 books for 2012.

What are some of your goals? I hope you have a great 2012!

love,

jenny

Truly, the best part of the holidays...

2011-12-30T16:15:00.000-06:00

...is spending time with the family. :) And eating.

Tyson and I with our niece, Madilyn.

Reading to Madilyn.

My sweet almost-84-year old grandmother.

We had several Christmases, which meant we were really busy (and I was a tad stressed), but it was so fun hanging out with family and eating good food. And Tyson surprised me with a new lens! This one.

I've been having lots of fun with the new lens! The depth of field is wow. Love it!

How was your Christmas?! What was your favorite part?

love,

jenny

christmas throwback

2011-12-26T14:08:00.000-06:00

circa '94

I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas!

love,

jenny

things i love tuesday

2011-12-20T22:14:00.001-06:00

It snowed here in Texas yesterday! Originally we were expected to get 10-12", but we only ended up getting maybe 2". I was kind of hoping for more (snow day anyone?). Oh well. ;) Here are some pretty things, inspired by the flurries.

01 knitted cowl, Etsy

02 only gold for me, Sephora by OPI

03 sleigh ride dress, ModCloth

04 heart owls, Etsy

05 knitted heart slippers, F21

06 snow cake pops, Etsy

I hope you've had a great Tuesday.

love,

jenny

I'm back.

2011-12-18T22:00:00.001-06:00

ohh, hi.

Life has been in full-speed here lately, which is why I've been absent the past couple of weeks. Here's a little update on what I have been up to.

I paid off my car (early). It was the next bill in our debt snowball, and we were able to pay 3x my normal car payment to knock it completely out. It felt amazing to walk out of the bank with the car title in my hand. I've never owned a car without a car payment dragging behind it. I know I can't quit my job in order to pursue my dream 100% until we are out of debt, and now we're a little bit closer.

I've been sewing. A lot. This is the first holiday season for my little biz and I was pleasantly surprised (more like thrilled!) with the amount of orders I received. It has kept me really busy and I love it.

I've been brainstorming and sketching new ideas. I closed my shop on Friday in order to work on some new stuff and replenish my inventory. I'm re-opening in January and I'm so excited about a new year and new designs. :) And maybe a new blog design (I hope!).

I went to the Nutcracker with my mom-in-law. I hadn't been since high school. It was beautiful! I took ballet classes for 7 years and have always had a great appreciation for it. I'm so glad my MIL invited me to join her. It was a special night. ...And it only made me more excited about Christmas.

I have stayed warm at all costs. I try to spend as much time as possible in my PJs and curled up under a blanket. The cold weather has been my biggest de-motivator. And we're about to get snow, possibly 11 inches!! >_<

What have you been up to lately? :)

love,

jenny

wednesday words

2011-12-07T17:48:00.001-06:00

find this pretty print here

“I like it when somebody gets excited about something. It's nice.”

J.D. Salinger

just because.

love,

jenny

10 Things / Staying warm & Scallops

2011-12-06T06:30:00.000-06:00

1. Grilled cheese & tomato soup when it's 20℉ outside.

2. Also, my new electric throw blanket for the same reason.

3. These gloves look so cozy. I really like the eggplant color, too.

4. This bed is so pretty. We are thinking about buying a new (smaller) bed soon. We're downsizing from a king to a queen, which means we will just have to buy new bedding. ;)

5. I love vintage mugs. Especially these ones.

6. How amazing is this pink typewriter? Whoa.

7. This dress is actually something I typically wouldn't wear, but I just love it. And if I had it, I absolutely would wear it.

8. These scalloped shelves in Stephanie & Erin's (from Oh So Lovely) new shop are amazing. I may end up copying these for my house. Actually, every bit of their shop looks amazing!

9. Kaelah (from Little Chief Honeybee) has one of the best suitcase doggy bed DIYs ever. I may not scratch this off the list anytime soon, but someday I will do this. Who knows, maybe I'll surprise myself and tackle it next weekend.

10. This. Need I say more? I actually would be happy with anything from this shop. *wink wink, Tyson*

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

It snowed all day yesterday and I stayed snuggled up under my heated blanket. I ventured out once to drop off a couple of orders, but the roads were so bad I went straight back home. I hope you're staying warm, wherever you are!

love,

jenny

Merry Mushrooms!

2011-12-05T06:30:00.000-06:00

I can hardly believe that I am now the owner of these amazing canisters. I've been wanting a set for so long! I was just perusing Craigslist and saw them. I immediately texted Tyson the link and suggested that they be a Christmas gift. I couldn't wait, though, so they're already being displayed. ;)

And compared to others online, I got a great deal. They are in perfect condition. The man I bought them from said they've just been in his storage room. Yay!

What is your favorite vintage item that you own or wish that you did?

Have a lovely Monday. :)

love,

jenny

Attack of the Sheltie

2011-12-03T15:43:00.001-06:00

...or, a glimpse into an ordinary Saturday in the Taylor household.

Banjo only looks sweet and innocent, but when it comes to food (or in this case, a sucker), he will do just about anything. ;) Also, I kind of love making GIFs.

Poor pup actually has an ear infection right now, which is why his ear looks kind of greasy (from the medicine). He gets them periodically and we're starting to think it's an allergy. We went to the vet yesterday for the second time in 4 weeks. Hopefully a switch in food and another round of ear drops will help. While we were there, the vet pulled out his chart and he's had upwards of 10 ear infections in his short 3½ years. :( Poor thing.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I apologize for my absence lately. Cyber Monday was actually really good to me and I've been fulfilling lots of orders this week. In between that and my day job, I've been pretty worn out. But this weekend is off to a good start. I hope you're having a great weekend!

love,

jenny

Ps. I realized yesterday that I have 200 blog followers! Yay! This calls for a little celebration... keep a look out for something special very soon. ;) And thank you. You all make my little blog so special.

wednesday words

2011-11-30T18:02:00.001-06:00

image source

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” ― Anaïs Nin

(How I feel at the moment.)

love,

jenny

weekend recap

2011-11-28T19:28:00.001-06:00

Sorry for the unexpected hiatus. I decided to take a much needed long weekend. It was so nice. We got our Christmas tree, decorated it and our house, spent lots of time with family, and slept! Well, I slept. Poor Tyson worked a lot, but the project he's currently working on is wrapping up, which means no more weekends and late nights. Yay!

(Something you may not know about me: If there were a contest for sleeping in, I would win.)

Here are some photos from our weekend.

Holiday tea from Harney & Sons--so good!

Our tree! Getting our first Christmas tree, as a couple, has been really special. Tyson and I dropped the ball the past 2 years of being married, but we finally got one. There is something so romantic about this time of year and creating traditions together. Am I getting too sappy here? :)

Our house kind of looks like a present. I love it. :)

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It was nice having a break, but I'm ready to get back into the swing of things. I'm good at wasting days away if I let myself, so it's good to be back to work and back to my shop and blog. :)

love,

jenny

Ps. I'm having a sale in my shop today. 20% Off with the coupon code BLACKFRIDAY.

wednesday words / give thanks

2011-11-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Wednesday! Thanksgiving is almost here and I'm very excited. I'm in charge of bringing the green bean casserole to lunch tomorrow and, in case you were wondering, I can totally handle that. ;)

So, without further ado, here are some things that I am so very thankful for:

Living in place where the sunsets are magnificent and can be seen for miles and miles.
My hands and my ability to use them.
Books and words and thoughts.
My in-laws and the rest of my married family. God met my deepest need when he gave me Tyson and his family. :)
Life and its seasons. I'm still working on not wanting to always rush into the next season. I have plenty to live for now.

I want to have an attitude of gratitude every day. I don't always, but I try. It really should be a lifestyle.

What are your holiday plans? What are you most thankful for?

love,

jenny

10 things / Christmas Decor

2011-11-22T06:30:00.000-06:00

Some people may argue that it's too early to be thinking about Christmas. And they're probably right, we haven't even celebrated Thanksgiving. However, this year Tyson and I are getting our first Christmas tree. The past two years we've had a little one that sits on the table, but I don't think it counts. ;) I mean, we couldn't even hang anything on it. So, I am beyond excited. I already have ideas for handmade ornaments.

Here are some pretty Christmasy things I'm currently in love with.

Don't judge! ;)

1. This gorgeous tree skirt.

2. These fun babushka ornaments.

3. I love this little owl!

4. This pretty dress would be perfect for a holiday party.

5. Fun tape for gift-wrapping.

6. These stockings are simple and classy.

7. You can never go wrong with twinkle lights! This photo is so pretty! (Skunkboy Creatures)

8. This wreath is so cute.

9. This website has some great gift-wrapping ideas.

10. I think this garland would be so fun on a tree.

Have you started decorating for Christmas yet? What are some of your favorites?

love,

jenny

the taylors

2011-11-21T17:54:00.001-06:00

Tyson and I shot some photos this weekend for Christmas cards. :)

This weekend was so much fun. Tyson did some deejaying for some extra cash and used some of it to buy me a new pair of mustard tights (my previous pair was snagged from my little pup jumping on me). Aaaand he took me out on a date. What a sweetie.

I love sangrias.

I also did some sewing and watched way too much Felicity. Oh, yeah. I'm hooked on Felicity right now. Yes, it's streaming on Netflix. I was in middle school when it originally aired and I remember begging my mom for a perm, which she never let me get. In retrospect, I am so glad! Anyway, it's been fun watching it again. When I was younger, I thought the characters looked so mature. Now, I feel like they're little kids. Gahh.

How was your weekend?!

love,

jenny

a Shop update...

2011-11-20T21:58:00.001-06:00

If you follow me on Twitter, you may already know this, but I have officially changed my Etsy shop name, complete with a new banner. I wanted my shop and my blog to be more cohesive and so I changed it to match. I feel like it just makes more sense--across the board, ya know? You should go check it out! :) Also, I listed a couple of new items today:

Click on images to see them in my shop.

I'm in love with these prints! The polka dot bags are extremely limited, only 3 available.

I hope you all have had a great weekend!

love,

jenny

November Music Feature

2011-11-17T06:30:00.000-06:00

Lately, I've been listening to

Efterklang

I love the animation in this music video!

November / Efterklang by Jenny Taylor on Grooveshark

Who have you been listening to lately?

love,

jenny

wednesday words / being thankful

2011-11-16T06:30:00.000-06:00

I'm continuing the "Give Thanks" series this week. Sometimes I can get caught up in thinking about the things that I want and forget to be grateful for the things I already have. This is especially true when it come to clothes. :P

Some things I am thankful for:

I’m thankful that I actually have an abundance of choices when it comes to my wardrobe. That is a luxury.
I'm thankful for a roof over my head, even though I often dream about a bigger one. It's all I need during this season of life.
I'm thankful for my circus family (i.e., my two dogs and my cat). They keep our lives interesting!

And if you want to join along, you leave a comment with a link to your post. :)

I hope you have a great Wednesday!
love,
jenny

ten things / gift edition

2011-11-15T07:00:00.000-06:00

I'm already thinking about Christmas gifts and most of my free time lately has been spent on Etsy (that's really not new, though). I really want to try to buy all hand-made this year and/or make gifts myself.

Here are some etsy finds that I know some of my friends/family would love!
1. This necklace

2. This nerd pillow

3. This gorgeous bracelet

4. This cute little tee

5. The little fawn is the cutest ever.

6. This men's shirt

7. These lip balms would make great stocking stuffers.

8. This spools-of-thread print ...Okay, this one might be for myself.

9. This mug

10. These cards are so beautiful!

I hope you're having a great day!

love,

jenny

The pups, post bath.

2011-11-14T07:05:00.000-06:00

After they've had their baths, they will run around the house full-speed and rub against every piece of furniture possible trying to get the wet off. It can be pretty chaotic. And then they give us those awful looks like "How could you do this to me?" I'm not sure there's anything more pathetic and cute at the same time.

Banjo

Wellington

I hope you had a great weekend! Is it seriously Monday already?

love,

jenny

five facts

2011-11-12T10:04:00.001-06:00

This photo of my cat really has nothing to do with this post. I just thought it was cute and it's been a while since Dr. Venkman has been on the blog. :) Moving on...

My first "five facts" is here.

If you'd like to join in, leave a comment with five random facts about you -or- leave a link to your post if you do one on your blog. :)

I'm a fabric hoarder. I have so much fabric, more than I have projects to use it all.

I worked at Barnes and Noble for five years. From the summer I graduated high school until a year after graduating college.

I love black olives. My husband haaaates them. However, he loves mushrooms and I definitely do not. Ordering pizza can get interesting.

I am kind of messy. I complain that my house doesn't have sufficient storage (we only have 2 small closets), but an easy solution would be to just let go of some things. Why is that so hard, though?

I often think about how short life is (for some it is cut way too short) and whether or not I'm living it to the fullest. I try to evaluate the things I do or say and decide if, in the grand scheme of things, they're worth it. I never want to forget how blessed I am.

I hope you're having a great weekend.

love,

jenny

wednesday words / be happy!

2011-11-09T12:33:00.002-06:00

print found here

I think this one is pretty self-explanatory. Sometimes it's easier said than done (like when someone cuts me off in traffic), but it's so true. And isn't this print gorgeous?

I hope you're having a lovely Wednesday. I am crazy busy with work this week, but for some reason my mind keeps wandering to all the plans I have for my blog/shop. Lots of changes soon! Good ones. :)

love,

jenny

Financial Peace

2011-11-07T06:30:00.000-06:00

I've been wanting to post about this for a while, but it's kind of a weird topic to bring up and discuss. And it's not exactly the type of content you would normally find here, but I am going to try my best because it has become a big part of our lives. My husband and I are currently trying to learn a new way of understanding money. We are attending Financial Peace University, a class by Dave Ramsey. And this is our honest story. Yikes. :)

Preface: This class and Dave's books are taught from a Christian stand-point, which is great for us because we are Christians. However, the principles are universal and even non-Christians have benefited. It really is just common sense. I also know that these principles aren't for everyone and I'm not preaching, I'm just sharing my story because it's been a struggle for us and I hope that someone finds inspiration in it, or at least a tip or two. ;)

Let me start by telling you a little history. Neither Tyson nor I have a good history when it comes to money, but if you had asked me a couple of years ago, I would have told you that I was perfect when it came to this issue. I now have a new perspective, though.

When I graduated from high school, I received a lot of money from college scholarships. I was living with my grandmother and didn't have to pay much in rent. I was working full-time (and at one point I had 2 jobs). My parents didn't help me out at all, but I had the scholarship money and was doing pretty well, despite burning the candle at both ends between working and going to school, but that's beside the point. I got department store credit cards to build my credit score and had a car loan. I kept my credit cards paid off and always paid my bills on time. At some point after transferring to a university, which had a higher tuition, my funds didn't stretch as far and I got to where I always had a credit card balance. One semester my scholarship check didn't come in on time and I faced having my entire schedule cancelled the day classes were supposed to start, so I applied for a loan (because, you know, I didn't ever save my extra money when I had it). When my check came in, I didn't use it to pay off the loan. :P You can start to see a pattern of stupid decisions. I had no money saved, a car loan, and credit cards, but I paid everything on time, was never "hurting," and even had started contributing to my 401k at work, so I thought I was dandy.

My husband's story is slightly different. His parents paid for everything while in college. He worked, but would burn through his paychecks and his parents would just float him more money. It was quite a nice set-up for him, but when we got married we both still had our bad habits but knew we couldn't expect his parent's to give us money anymore.

We were married for 6 months before we combined our money. And let me tell you, for us, combining our checking/savings accounts was one of the best decisions we made. That was a step toward the right direction. We were still using credit cards, though, and had no money saved. :P

Some friends of ours told us about Financial Peace University. I knew who Dave Ramsey was and had seen his books while working at Barnes and Noble. But, hearing it from out friends, who were college students and had no debt, and how they were able to travel to Russia and all over the States and go on a cruise (you get the point), I was intrigued to say the least. So, typical me, I became obsessed and read all of Dave's books and started listening to his radio show. I was sold. My husband, not so much. And with Tyson not exactly on board, it didn't work. Our ship did not sail. In fact, during that time we managed to get a new vehicle (financed) and a new TV (credit card). One of the first principles of financial peace is no credit cards. Oops.

Finally, though, we are here. A few months ago we agreed to not go any further into debt. We started living on a budget. And our church started a Financial Peace University class, which we've been going to on Monday nights. Here's where the real honesty comes in: when we started, we had a total of just under $25,000 in debt (not including our mortgage). Wow. When we totaled up everything, car loans and credit cards, it was sickening.

We are now on a budget and have an "emergency fund." We work as much OT as possible and any extra money we get we throw at our bills. Our lives are actually a little sad right now, but it's okay because I know that once we have everything paid off, that's when we can really start living and living well. Right now, our dreams are on hold, because none of them can happen until we get out of debt. That is our main objective right now and we are on the fast-track. We hope to have it completely done within 2 years.

Here are few tips that we live by:

Before we really started paying extra on bills, we made an "emergency fund." A little money cushion. This was the hardest part for me because I get a little intense when it comes to paying off our debt and didn't want to waste any money by saving.
Have "spending money." Tyson and I get $25/week each. We learned that if you don't allow a little wiggle room then the budget will completely bust or you will become completely burned out. When we were starting out, if we messed up the budget we would just say "okay forget the whole thing!" and go on a spending spree. Not good.
We have to keep our eyes on the prize. It has not been easy. Especially when our friends are always shopping or inviting us to go out to eat. But I try keep in mind what all we will be able to do when we don't have this debt looming over us.

We don't ever want to go into more debt. We are even considering saving up enough money to pay cash for our next house, because a mortgage is after all a debt. We realize that may be a little extreme, though, but we are going to at least try to have as much cash as possible so if we do get a loan it will be a tiny one that we can pay off fast. :)

If you are like I was, clueless when it comes to money, or you just want to learn some good tips, I recommend taking a class, or reading Dave Ramsey's book the Total Money Makeover. Or at least watch this video just because I think it's so motivating!

So there's our story. It was easy spending that money, but paying it back is the hard part. We've learned a lot though and we are so excited about our future. Okay, now you know how nerdy I really am!

Have a great Monday! And feel free to ask questions or share any money tips that you live by. ;)

love,

jenny

Relaxing Sunday eve...

2011-11-06T20:03:00.000-06:00

Well, I chose hot chocolate over hot tea tonight. I've been drinking so much of it lately; it just makes me feel so cozy. And I didn't exactly finish my to-do list from this weekend, but I came close.

I didn't make the muffins, but I bought all of the ingredients. Does that count? Ha! I just barely went grocery shopping today.
I sewed quite a bit yesterday, but didn't photograph any of it. That's probably my least favorite part of running my Etsy shop. Only because I have to pull everything out and make my "set-up," which is sometimes hard in our tiny place. Lack of space is my biggest complaint in life, it seems. But maybe I just have too much stuff. I think it's both. :P
I pulled out all of my winter-wear, washed it all, and hung. My wardrobe is now fully prepared for the cold.
I did so much cleaning. I may not have finished my entire to-do list, but I am completely content because I was a cleaning machine this weekend. And my husband even helped, which was super nice of him because he worked yesterday (he worked 55 hours total last week so he definitely earned a day of being lazy).
I caught up on my blog-reading. And my reading-reading. ;) Yay!

Yes, that's Becky's blog, Love Everyday Life, in the background. ^_^ Hi Becky!

On top of my to-do list, we managed to go on a date Friday night and went out for sushi with friends Saturday night. Tyson and I maybe go out to eat once a month, including fast food, so it was such a treat for us. It's actually gotten to the point where we feel kind of awkward at a restaurant because it is so rare.

I hope you had a relaxing and/or productive weekend!

love,

jenny

Just some thoughts.

2011-11-04T21:24:00.000-05:00

I feel like this photo is incriminating for some reason.

My to-do list for this weekend is massive. Here are a few of the things I hope to accomplish:

Make pumpkin cream cheese muffins. These ones.
Sew some new things and list in the shop.
Pull my winter clothes out of the storage bins and wash.
Clean something! Anything!
Catch up on my blog reading! I miss my bloggy friends.

Some other things that have consumed my thoughts lately:

I'm thinking about changing my Etsy shop name to match my blog; make everything cohesive. Fellow etsians/bloggers, what are your thoughts on this?

I really cannot wait to move somewhere. Anywhere. ...but preferably Tennessee. I don't know why, I just think it sounds like a nice place. I'm ready to start a new adventure with Tyson. We have one more year before we can sell our house and even think about moving (first-time home buyer's tax credit :P).

I thought I was ready for winter, but now I'm not so sure. I forgot how cold our house gets. It was built in 1928 and the windows are all original. Um, yes, it is drafty. And we have wood floors throughout so that doesn't help. This kind of goes with the "I can't wait to move" point I made previously.

*************************

What are your plans for the weekend? I hope you have a great one!

love,

jenny

wednesday words / being thankful

2011-11-02T19:02:00.000-05:00

Since it is November, I thought it would be fun to center this month’s “Wednesday Words” posts on being thankful. I don’t know about you, but having a spirit of gratitude seems to directly correlate with my overall happiness.

A few things I am thankful for:

First and foremost: God’s grace. Sometimes it’s hard for me to grasp that the God who created the world and all its beauty also created and loves me, despite my many imperfections.
My husband! I feel so blessed to have such a supportive and sweet husband. Tyson always puts me and my needs before his own, which is something that I sometimes fail to return, sadly. I’m trying to improve, though, and I’m also thankful for his patience with me.
Hot coffee (and/or hot cocoa) on a cold day. I’m generally not a fan of the cold, but there’s something so cozy about a hot cup of coffee when it’s cold out.

I’m going continue this series next week and every Wednesday throughout November. If you’d like to join and blog about the things you’re most thankful for, grab a button and leave a link to your blog post in the comments—I’ll read and feature them throughout the series. :)

I hope you’re having a great day! We woke up this morning to a cold, overcast day and it made getting out of bed a little more difficult this morning, but overall it’s been a good one. ;)

love,

jenny

Happy November!

2011-11-01T20:57:00.000-05:00

Happy November! I hope you all had a great Halloween and a great month, overall. I'm excited about a new month and what all it has to bring. :) And, it's also Tuesday, which means...

With the weather getting cooler and cooler, I've been thinking about all things warm.

1. This scarf from Cardamomhandmade looks like the perfect combination of cozy and stylish.

2. I've noticed I've been googling "heart sweater" a lot lately, looking for the perfect one. This one from Oasis is pretty high on the list, except that it's a bit out of my price-range.

3. I think cable-knit throws, like this one from Pottery Barn, look so homey.

4. I've been making Mexican hot cocoa a lot lately. Although, I think I cheat. I use the packages of Swiss hot cocoa mix and just add some cinnamon... and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper! >_< This recipe, from Sunset seems easy and would make great gifts.

5. This wreath, from Mustard Buds, just screams Fall. I actually love everything in this shop! I think this would warm up my any home!

6. I love hot tea during the Fall/Winter. This tea, from Harney and Sons, is my all-time favorite tea ever.

7. Cold weather is the perfect excuse for staying inside and curling up with a good book. How cute is this reading nook? --featured on Shelterness.

8. I'm naturally cold-natured, so I have slippers on stand-by. I'm definitely going to need a new pair soon and these Forever21 slippers are cute!

9. This cabin (found on flickr via pinterest) is amazing! Can I please escape to this place?

10. And for the men in your life, flannel. :) I love flannel shirts, and lucky for me so does my husband. This vintage plaid shirt, from the Bourbon Boxcar Gent, it simple and manly. Perfect for my lumberjack.

**Click images for direct source.**

Hope you're having a nice week so far and staying warm!

love,

jenny

Spooky...

2011-10-31T07:00:00.000-05:00

Me and my Mister did a little Halloween-inspired photo shoot. Creeeeepy. Enjoy!

Our photo shoot was inspired by this song, by Eluvium. One of my favorites for this season. ♥

Happy Halloween!

love,

jenny

Banjo & Wellington

2011-10-30T17:31:00.002-05:00

I've been following my two dogs around the house with the camera. Banjo loves to be in front of the camera. Wellington, not so much. I think it actually scares him a little.

Banjo showing off. ;)

"Sorry I destroyed the kitchen floor with my muddy paws. :("

Wellington, the sweet one.

"Okay, that's enough. Go away."

I just got done making laundry soap, which I've really been wanting to do again! I've made a powdered kind before, but this time I made liquid. I'll be back soon with photos and the recipe I used.

I hope you're having a lovely Sunday.

love,

jenny

Oh fickle Texas weather.

2011-10-29T10:53:00.000-05:00

Randomness, basically.

This past week was a bit crazy; I thought I'd give you a little run-down. Mondays are always busy because right after work, we have our Financial Peace University class at our church. I plan on blogging about that more in-depth soon. It is changing our lives and we are so excited. Here's a (phone) photo I snapped of the sunset right outside our church.

Texas sunsets are the prettiest.

Wednesday we went to an early movie-screening for my work. We don't go to the movies very often, so we pretended like it was a date... even though it was a kids movie. ;) It was fun, though, and we had a good time.

Thursday morning we woke up to snow! Let me also tell you that it was in the 80s on Tuesday. It looked like Christmas and I loved it. ...until it started melting by the time I got off that evening. And with two dogs who love running around in the snow, it can be a bit chaotic. My kitchen floor is a disaster, but it's still muddy out and I'm not mopping till it dries. Yes, it's driving me crazy right now.

It was pretty while it lasted. :)

I spent last night recovering by having a Felicity marathon and vegging out on the couch. I haven't spent that much time in front of the TV in a very long time. It was good, though, and I feel very rested today.

I hope you're having a lovely weekend so far. My husband is working today and I have the house to myself, which is nice because I am feeling very motivated to clean! Yay! Happy Saturday!

love,

jenny

A day late... wednesday words

2011-10-27T20:47:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a bit crazy. Scratch that, this whole week has been a bit crazy. So, this is a day late, but I didn't want to miss out on sharing some words of encouragement this week.

image source - I love all of his work!

Maybe I'm airing out dirty laundry here, but that's okay. My husband and I recently started a "swear jar." Not for him, for me. Well, mostly me. And it was my idea. Last week, I slipped and then slipped again because of the first slip. Double-whammy. Ugh. The thing that makes me overreact the most: misplacing something and not being able to find it.

Anyway, I have always loved this quote and I've been thinking about it for a while. It's amazing how so many things start from just a thought that manifests itself through our words or actions, and eventually becomes a part of ourself that we don't necessarily care for.

The swearing is just a small part of a big problem. When I can't find something (or when something doesn't go my way, in general) I tend to overreact. ...and maybe I throw a fit sometimes. My husband is the complete opposite; he's incredibly laid-back and always remains calm. He definitely inspires me. This is something that I really want to work on, because life is too short and too wonderful to go through it being angry at myself for petty things.

I hope you're having a great week. Have a happy Friday tomorrow! :)

love,

jenny

Halloween Edition

2011-10-25T19:57:00.000-05:00

1. This photo of Lady Gagabe is amazebear. My husband and I are obsessed with the Office, as any decent person should be. But, am I the only person that actually likes Gabe? Because I do. He and his soundscapes crack me up.

image source

2. I would probably wear this necklace throughout the year because I'm kind of nerdy, but it would be especially fun to wear on Halloween.

image source

3. This nail polish sure is festive for the season. I typically don't like holiday-themed nails, but this works.

image source via pinterest

4. Self-explanatory. LOVE.

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5. I've always dreamed of making and wearing a dress like Katrina Van Tassel's in the movie Sleepy Hollow. One day... ;)

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6. These dog bow-ties make perfect halloween costumes for those pups who don't like a lot of fuss!

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7. Rachel's black owl is the perfect touch of halloween decor. Not too much. ;)

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8. How cute are these shoes? And $24? Not too bad. Plus, they are just my size. ;)

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9. These candy-corn cupcakes are just too cute. If I were having a party, I would definitely attempt these.

image source via pinterest

10. This is a really fun idea for a Halloween party.

image source via pinterest

Halloween is almost here! Are you doing anything fun this year? And do you have a costume ready?

Hope you're having a great Tuesday!

love,

jenny

Recipe: Southwestern Pasta Salad

2011-10-23T09:30:00.000-05:00

I am not really a cook. I don't know much about cooking, and I'm just not crazy about it. There are a few dishes, though, that I enjoy cooking and that turn out pretty tasty. I thought I'd show you one of my favorite things to make (and eat).

I love pasta. All kinds. And if I'm going to eat a salad, might as well be a yummy pasta salad, right? And I'm a Texas girl, so it's gotta have a little southwestern flavor. ;) Think southwestern meets italian.

This is super easy, I just threw together some of my favorite ingrediants. You can substitute or add other things to your taste.

You will need:
1 Package of Rotini Noodles
1 Can of Corn (I used the no salt added kind)
1 Can of Black Beans (same as the corn, no salt added)
1 Can of Chopped Black Olives
1 Raw Bell Pepper (we like the red kind)
1 Raw tomato
Mozzarella Cheese
Parmesan Cheese
2 Cups Italian Dressing (you can use whatever kind you like, but I recommend the balsamic vinaigrette)

*Cook the noodles. I recommend al dente since they'll be mixed with the dressing--you don't want them to end up too soggy. While the noodles are cooking, chop up the tomato and pepper then put in a big salad bowl. Drain and rinse the beans, then add them to the bowl. Drain corn and olives and add those, too.

*When your noodles are done, let them cool for a few minutes. Once cooled, add to the salad bowl. Start stirring to mix everything up evenly. Add dressing. If you're using a strong dressing, add to taste--2 cups may be too much. Add some parmesan and mozzarella cheese and mix well. Salt and pepper to taste and garnish with parmesan cheese.

*Let chill for 1 hour.

There you go. Super easy! And it is so good! :) This is great for pot-lucks or for lunches throughout the week (it keeps really well in the fridge).

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Snapshots of the expo...

2011-10-22T11:24:00.003-05:00

Last week I went to a little expo for women who own small businesses. It was a lot of fun. I ate too many cake-pops and I may have spent all of the money I made on crochet bows, but it was still so fun. :)

Here are a couple of photos of my set-up.

I love my owl and was so excited to finally use it. :)

As I mentioned before, I was working on a suitcase display, which was inspired by the ladies on this post. I was really happy with how it turned out! I used modge podge and vintage wallpaper for the inside. And my husband cut up a piece of old fence for the shelves. It was work, but I love it. :)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Oh! I'm giving away one of my e-reader cases. Head over to Love Everyday Life to enter for a chance to win. And good luck! :)

wednesday words & my love for winnie the pooh

2011-10-19T20:02:00.000-05:00

[image by me]

I love Winnie the Pooh, and I think he is such a smart bear. One of my favorite books is the Tao of Pooh, by Benjamin Hoff; I encourage everyone to read it. I think Pooh represents so much that is good: taking time to enjoy life and its blessings, being kind to others, not overcomplicating things, and finding balance in life. I actually think it's time that I re-read this book because it's good to be reminded of these things.

We all have times when it feels like non-stop going, going, going. That's how this passed week felt for me. I have a propensity to over-commit myself. Sometimes we just need to take time-outs, sleep in, enjoy "doing nothing," as Pooh would say. Life is too short. :)

I hope you're having a great week!

weekly finds - blog edition

2011-10-18T21:21:00.000-05:00

This week, I thought I'd do some of my favorite finds from some of my favorite blogs.

1. Becky over at Love Everyday Life has started a new series about great handmade gift ideas. She even included one of my e-reader cases! I'm so excited about this because everyone can use more ideas for Christmas, right? And can you believe Christmas is in December this year? Sneaks up on me every time. Ha!

Shirt found here. Go check out Becky's series for other great ideas.

2. This video that Kyla (of Kyla Roma) posted is so fun! I really love the MGM Lion. ;)

3. Elycia's chevron nail DIY... oh. my. gosh. They're so pretty! I need to find a nail pen.

4. Thursday's new blog make-over is amazing. I love all of the colors.

5. All of the pumpkin patch posts going around really make me want to go to one! Like Erika from a tiny rocket.

6. Speaking of pumpkins, Lindsay from Delighted Momma, has a recipe for a pumpkin mask! This sounds awesome! I love all of her skin-care tips.

I hope you're having a great week. :) I'm about to pull my snuggie out from the back of my closet. Today was downright cold. And we may even get our first freeze tonight.

Shop Update!

2011-10-17T12:33:00.000-05:00

I'm so happy to announce that I have a couple of new e-reader cases in my shop. I am in love with this new print! It was hand-illustrated by yours truly, so there's a lot of love in these. :)

Currently I just have the two colors, but I'm working on more. I think these colors are perfect for fall, though, don't you? And the lining is really pretty, too. :)

I'll be back later to show you photos of the expo I went to. Hope you're having a great Monday!

Family Photo Outtakes

2011-10-15T08:15:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago (September 4 to be specific), my husband and I decided to do some family portraits on our anniversary. So, we set up the tripod in our living room and tried out the remote for the first time. It was... interesting. ;) I thought it would be fun to share some of the "outtakes." We had a lot of fun and quickly got over our camera shyness.

The classic unnaturally laughing shot. Well, Banjo didn't think it was funny.

Yeah, my husband isn't really a cat-person. He was trying, though.

I don't even know.

He was intrigued with the shutter.

Wellington, the blur. It is very rare to get a non-blurry photo of that little monkey.

I hope you're having a fabulous weekend so far! :)

Deep breath and here we go!

2011-10-14T21:26:00.002-05:00

I sighed a deep breath of relief while walking out of work today. I am so glad the weekend is finally here! Can I get an "amen?"

But, it's not exactly going to be a quiet one. I have a booth at a women's small-business expo tomorrow and I have been [frantically] preparing for it. I'm actually taking a quick break from a project that involves a suitcase. I've been so inspired by the suitcase DIYs lately (like this one and this one).

And of course Katie's adorable suitcases (see the rest here).

And there's Rachel's suitcase DIY, which is just darling.

Have you tried any these suitcase projects? How was it? I really hope mine turns out half as cute as theirs, but we shall see. I'm waiting on modge podge to dry. I'll post photos soon! :) Back to sewing...

Happy Friday!

time management / wednesday words

2011-10-12T21:01:00.000-05:00

I feel like I've really been struggling with my time management lately. I think this is a beautiful reminder that we all have 24 hours in a day, but it's how we spend our time that makes the difference. I think Mr. Franklin said it best when he said, "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." Late night twitter/email updates don't exactly help. ;) So--for the sake of being productive tomorrow--I'm going to bed early tonight, folks. Goodnight!

And happy Wednesday. I really love Wednesdays.

autumn color / weekly finds

2011-10-11T21:30:00.000-05:00

This print is gorgeous. And I love the colors!

this wall color is gorgeous. they styled it perfectly.

source

I love the different shades of brown layered together.

source

Olive pyrex! ♥

source

I've been eyeing this dress from Modcloth for a while...

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This chair!! Oh my.

source

This will probably be my next nail color purchase.

source

I'm really loving these colors this season. What color combinations are you drawn to lately?

I hope you're having a great week so far. I made it to yoga class tonight and I'm already sore! I'm going to be barely moving for the next couple of days, I'm sure. >_<

my favorite vintage dress

2011-10-10T07:30:00.000-05:00

I thrifted this polyester dress a few months ago and have been waiting all summer to wear it. The weather is finally cooling off, so I was so excited to finally debut this 70s number. :)

Dress - Thrifted

Tights - Target

Shoes - Target

Purse - Thrifted

Rose stud earrings - Natasha Hanson

I was so excited to get out all of my sweaters and other fall/winter clothes. I've noticed that I put more effort into my outfits when I can layer and incorporate tights/cardigans--I just like the cool-weather style more, I think. So, I'm definitely excited about this weather.

What is your favorite season, as far as wardrobe goes?

Shout out to the boy--thanks for being my photographer. I think we're getting better at this. ;)

Fall is a great cup of coffee.

2011-10-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

I worked in a coffee shop all through college, and, let's just say, coffee and I developed quite the love affair. When I first started working there, I couldn't tell you what a latte was or even what espresso was. However, I quickly learned the art of it all. And every year one of our busiest days was the first cold day of the fall season--we would get slammed. And I loved it. I loved interacting with the regular patrons and the unfamiliar faces. I loved making someone their tried and true mocha or even whipping up something sweet for that person who had no idea what to get. And even though I no longer get to spend the fall season working in a coffee shop, I still love being able to drink a hot latte on a chilly day.

Not to mention coffee makes for great art. Here are some pretty coffee photos I love... and they're really making me want to go grab a cup right now!

source - I can definitely see this in my kitchen.

source - Adorable mug. I'm a sucker for mugs.

source - This looks savory.

Tonight I'm actually having a coffee/crochet date with one my besties. I can't wait. To me, that is what fall is all about. :)

Steve Job / Wednesday Words

2011-10-05T19:55:00.001-05:00

For this week's words of inspiration, I thought it only appropriate to share this amazing speech given by Steve Jobs. You've probably already listened to it, as have I several times. However, every time I listen to it inspires me all over again. His words have left an impression on my heart. He is proof that you and I can do whatever we set our minds to. And he will continue to inspire for generations to come. RIP, Steve.

>>>>>>>>>> <<<<<<<<<<

Also, have you seen the feature of my shop on Love Everyday Life? You should go check out Becky's gorgeous blog. :)

weekly finds

2011-10-04T19:50:00.000-05:00

Lately I have been so inspired by scallops. I think they're so pretty and they can add a feminine detail to just about everything. Here are some scalloped finds for this week.

via etsy

via ASOS

via F21

via eShakti

Marc Jacobs via Zappos Couture

via pinterest

For some reason I've always wanted a pink kitchen with retro details like scalloped trim. I think this kitchen is perfect! I also love scalloped shingles on a house. You just can't go wrong with scallops! In fact, I'm currently working on some new bags that feature scallops. They're turning out so cute, but to be honest, they were a bit tricky at first. I definitely had to try a few different methods, but I've gotten the hang of it.

I hope you're having a great week so far. :)

Review: Everyday Minerals

2011-10-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I ordered the free sample kit from Everyday Minerals. Regularly $5, you're allowed your first one for free (just have to pay the shipping, which was about $2). It arrived quickly and I was so excited to try it. I love mineral make-up and have used Bare Minerals for a long time. The last time I ran out of my make-up, I simply didn't feel like chucking $30 and decided to try Maybelline's mineral foundation. It was okay, but definitely not as good as Bare Minerals. I heard about Everyday Minerals from Katie (I Go By Katie) and thought for just a couple of bucks it was worth a try.

When I opened the package, I found 7 of the cutest mini jars ever. They're so tiny and cute. I mean, they're samples, so of course they're going to be small. And they're all different shades, so you can determine your perfect color, or even mix them.

I wanted to wait until I was done with one full jar before doing my review. It says on the website that they're good for about 5-7 applications, but mine lasted nearly 3 weeks.

The coverage is right in between Maybelline's and Bare Minerals (Bare Minerals offering the best for full-coverage). I prefer a lighter make-up, though, so I think it's perfect. I also love that Everyday Minerals, as a company and through their products, is organic and eco-friendly. My favorite thing about this product is the price! For $12 you can buy a full jar of this--that's not much more than what I spent on Maybelline's make-up at the drugstore. And judging from just their samples, I think it would last quite a while.

After I go through my samples, I'm definitely going to be buying a full jar. I love this make-up. What kind of foundation do you use?

Happy October

2011-10-02T17:19:00.001-05:00

source via pinterest

I don't know about you, but September flew by for me. It was a great month, but I'm excited about October. Some of my goals for this month are:

*Introduce a new e-reader case (with a new screen-print design)
*Prioritize my time better (I have no excuse with my new Erin Condren planner =P)
*Go to yoga at least once a week
*List a few new bags I've been working on in the shop--they're super cute and I'm excited to show you.

What are some of your plans for this month? Have you started thinking about Halloween?

New hair!

2011-10-01T14:09:00.001-05:00

I went red! I think this is the perfect shade for me, too--my hairdresser is so good. She also gave me heavy bangs and lots of layers, which I am loving. I hadn't had a haircut in.... maybe 8+ months, so I am feeling so much better. No more crinkly split ends.

Whenever my husband takes photos of me, most of them turn out like this. Crazy eye.

Hope you're having a great Saturday!

september playlist

2011-09-30T20:09:00.001-05:00

source

Here's a very eclectic playlist for September... oh, and so long September! I'm so happy it's the weekend. Sewing, cleaning, dog baths...that sums up my weekend right there. :) I hope you have a great one! I'll be back tomorrow to reveal photos of my new hair. Ahhh. New hair is so nice.

wednesday words

2011-09-28T21:42:00.000-05:00

I've been running behind all week--it has definitely been a busy one. And I feel like it should be Friday already, but oh well. :) So, I apologize for my late-night posts, but whatev... this is for all you night-owls.

pinned

I love this quote and I think it's dead-on. When I think about all of the people in my life whom I have admired and thought were beautiful, they are always the kind-hearted ones. The ones who radiate goodness and truth from the inside.

I also heard once (I can't remember from where) and I say it to myself all the time, "Be the person you wish to seem." I want to say it was said by someone important... Emerson? Jefferson, maybe? Oh, well, I'm sleepy. Anyway, I think about how I want to be viewed by other people: sweet, loving, and kind. So, that's what I aspire to be. I'm not perfect and I sometimes say/do things that aren't necessarily kind, but I always regret it later and work toward keeping negative thoughts to myself.
I think the best place to start when working on one's attitude is the people who are closest; sometimes we can be brutally honest with family and close friends.

I feel like my thoughts are slowly turning to mush, which means I should probably go to bed. I hope you all are having a great week.

Question: How do you wish to be viewed by others?

weekly finds: the hair edition

2011-09-27T22:47:00.003-05:00

I'm getting my hair done this Thursday--as in cut and color!! I haven't had my hair professionally colored since my wedding....... two years ago. I've done it a couple of times myself with box color (or should I not admit that?) and it turned out fine. I haven't had a hair disaster since college, which ended up with my husband having to make an emergency trip to Walmart while I barricaded myself in the bathroom, all the while on the phone with him directing him to the right color.

Here are some of my previous hair colors--notice the cut hasn't changed much (sadly).

Blonde and [almost] black

(natural)

Currently reddish brownish...with horrible roots showing.

Over the past few years my hair has been a wide variety of colors. Blonde, red, brown, darrrrrk brown. This time, though, I have no idea what I'm going to do. I will probably wait until I'm sitting in the chair to decide. I've been growing my hair out and am going to continue--so the cut won't be drastic, but I am definitely wanting a color change!

Here are some hairstyles that I've been drooling over on Pinterest.

pinned

pinned - I love this color.

pinned - Not crazy about Lindsay per se, but she's got great hair.

pinned - I just love Katie's hair. Always.

pinned - I'm really loving the ombre trends.

I'm definitely drawn to reds right now, but I love Blake Lively's golden tresses, too. Decisions decisions! I guess we will just have to wait until after my appointment to find out.

What are some of your favorite hair trends right now?

[unplugged] weekend review

2011-09-26T12:44:00.001-05:00

I have to say, unplugging is underrated. I had a great weekend and no thanks to my computer or phone. Although I did miss catching up on my twitter feed and finally broke down and got on instagram late last night.

I spent some quality time with my husband and sewing machine. I slept in both Saturday and Sunday (I definitely can't complain about being tired today). It was fabulous. And I made it to the gym even.

My husband cooked for me all weekend, which isn't too surprising because he loves to cook. And he's so good at it. :) Friday night he made his famous Mexican Corn Chowder. We even had left overs last night and it was still so good. Saturday morning I woke up to breakfast casserole and fresh pot of coffee. Yes, I am spoiled. And last night he made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. He's so domestic. :D

It has roasted green chilies. nom nom.

I have to admit that I did get on my computer Saturday. I'm working on a new screen-print design for e-reader cases; I had to briefly use my computer to print the transparency. >_< But it turned out so cute and I am so so excited about this new design. I'm hoping by the end of this week to have some ready and in the shop. !!! I also worked on some new pouches, which were a bit tricky but turned out to be perfect. Again, I hope to have some ready by this next weekend.

How was your weekend? Have you seen my guest post over on Of All the Nonsense? There are some photos from our fair experience. And have a peek around Allie's blog--it's so darling. :)

Unplugging this weekend!

2011-09-23T20:04:00.000-05:00

I'm unplugging this weekend! (Everything but my sewing machine.)

(Unplug Notecard)

I've kind of been in a funk lately from what I think is a combination of things. I've been on the edge of getting sick, and work has been...well, work. Also I've been watching the news more than usual and that always bums me out. Sometimes I let myself dwell on all of the negativity in the world and I'm trying to snap out of it and focus more on my many blessings.

One of my goals this year is to unplug and take a weekend off from the virtual world. I thought about doing it this weekend and after today I decided on it. So, I'm unplugging my computer and staying off my phone this weekend.

I think this is going to be a great opportunity to not only rejuvenate, but to work on some new designs I have brewing in my head; get the creative juices flowing, if you will.

I hope you all have a great weekend. And I will be back Monday! :)

♥ jenny

Question: Have you "unplugged" recently? How did you spend your free time?

wednesday words / getting things done

2011-09-21T13:34:00.001-05:00

Lately I've been telling myself...

(print from etsy)

Albus Dumbledore was such a smart wizard. :)

I love this quote (out of context) because it reminds me that having a dream is one thing, but it will never come to fruition without working toward it. And if you want to succeed at something, you have to put in effort toward your goal every day, or as often as possible. I’m always trying to remind myself of this because sometimes I think up some great ideas, but I don't work at them and make them happen...probably because I'm afraid of failing. But I should also keep in mind that mistakes are merely lessons to learn by. :)

What is one of your dreams or aspirations? And how are you working toward making it a reality?

weekly finds

2011-09-20T07:14:00.002-05:00

One of my favorite pieces to wear through all seasons is my mustard cardigan. It's my go-to cardigan that goes with just about everything. I love the pop it brings to any outfit. Well, I've had it for about 2 years now and it was starting to show it's age... until I found this.

Sunbeam Lint Shaver - Found at Walmart for $8

My sweater is like new again. And because I'm a girl on a budget, I'm so glad that I don't have to worry about replacing my cardigan just yet. In fact, I plan on using this on all of my sweaters.

Here are some fall looks inspired by the mustard cardigan that I am loving.

Pinterest via flickr

Pinterest via Polyvore

Pinterest via ? (I don't know the original source.)

What is one of your favorite wardrobe pieces that you find yourself wearing with everything?

Sew September Update

2011-09-19T17:50:00.002-05:00

I'm participating in the "Sew September Challenge" this month and here's a mini update. I will be honest, I haven't sewn every single day so far. I have been able to most days, though. Aside from fulfilling some shop orders, here are two things I've made.

I made this bunting for my nephew Logan's first birthday. It's made with map fabric because his room is travel-themed! How cute is that? And his amazing momma, my sis-in-law, loves the color green.

(If you're reading this, Elizabeth, I'm shipping it tomorrow!)

I also made this camera mat. It looks like a pot-holder, and it is essentially a pot-holder... for my camera. You could say I'm overprotective, but I sometimes worry that one day I'll set my camera down too hard and break something. Maybe I'm just OCD, but I made this quilted mat for it to rest on while I transfer photos to my computer.

Oh, and here's my baby (Canon EOS Rebel T2i) sitting on her new pot-holder. ;)

What I wore... first cool day.

2011-09-17T11:50:00.000-05:00

[First of all, you may or may not have noticed my misspelling of NyQuil on my previous post. Being sick is a good excuse right? ;) Besides, how often do I type NyQuil anyway. Thanks to a very informative twitter follower for pointing it out (coughmarkbentoncough).]

Anyway. The other day I was super excited for be wearing what felt like my first fall ensemble. After a scorching hot summer, it was so much fun wearing leggings and a cardigan again. And of course a *new* dress that I got over the weekend while in Lubbock. :)

I'm still not good at using the remote in an inconspicuous fashion.

[ Messy hair. ]

Dress: Forever21

Cardigan: Target (Sale rack--$10!)

Leggings: Express

Olive Green Flats: Zappos.com
I have these shoes in another color and when I saw them in this green I was thrilled! They're so comfy. And cute.

Oh, these photos were taking on Sunday... the day of the Redskins game. Can you tell my husband is a fan? :) He's cute.

Happy weekend!

I need soup. And Niquil.

2011-09-15T21:03:00.000-05:00

I was going to do a real post. In fact, I have lots planned to share over the rest of this month. BUT, I feel like poo! :( I even noticed on my twitter feed that a lot of people are getting/have been sick lately. Well, I think I caught something that's going around. It's the itchy throat/congestion/leaky face (as in nose, eyes, etc.) and my head feels like a balloon. Sooo, I will -hopefully- be back this weekend with something more exciting. Until then, I leave you with this amazingness... because I'm thinking about soup right now.

Images found here (via pinterest) - you should go see the other photos in this series. They're super fun.

I hope you have a great Friday and that you are feeling much MUCH better than I! ;)

wednesday words

2011-09-14T12:59:00.000-05:00

I am so in love with this quote and the idea that we are in control of our lives and our own happiness. It's not always easy, though, to navigate our lives in the direction we want it to go. We are still subjected to circumstance, but it's not impossible to get to where you want to be. It sometimes takes more time than we would like, and it always takes effort.

I was talking to Tyson the other day and I told him that the only things that I truly want out of this life is to have a family with him and to live in a house we can grow into and in a town that feels like home. I also want to be able to create and to give, whether it be financially or through adoption/fostering. And even though we don't have kids, he is my family and I am already so happy. Our current house is a bit cramped, but it's still ours. He makes me so excited about our future.

Anything that is worth waiting for and worth working for is possible. I need reminders often, though, and this quote is great one.

Happy Wednesday! Aren't you glad? :)

weekly finds

2011-09-13T12:45:00.000-05:00

1. The cutest video I ever did see, from the rockstar diaries blog.

Postcards From Italy from andrew+carissa.

2. I'm diggin' this iPhone case. I really need a new case, and, although I'm really not into glitter in great amounts, I think this would be the perfect touch of sparkle.

3. This staircase is gorgeous! I'm not sure that I would be ballsy enough to put it in my house, though. Ha! Plus, I don't even have a staircase so no need to worry about it, I suppose.

4. Truth.

5. This tattoo is gorgeous. I love black/grey tattoos.

6. For all you fellow sewing enthusiasts, how perfect is this bracelet? I think it'd make a cute ring, too.

image/video sources:

one / two / three / four / five / six

weekend review instagram style

2011-09-12T13:28:00.002-05:00

My weekend get-away to Lubbock was so much fun. It was so good to spend time with Rita! Here's a glimpse at some of what we did.

Friday night we tried on shoes at DSW, then spent nearly 2 hours in Target trying on hats and drooling over the housewares. We left Target with some new nail colors and went back to Rita's adorable apartment to do our nails and mask our faces while watching Mad Men.

[Side note: I don't know how I feel about Mad Men. I realize that it's setting-appropriate, but some of the stuff they say about women! And of course the frequent infidelity. I think I sat through the whole first 2 episodes with my mouth open. What do you think about it? Does it get any better throughout the series?]

--I still can't believe I'm posting that bottom-left photo--scary, but oh well. :P--

The next morning we went to a bagel place where we had bagels and lattes. It was delicious, even though they didn't toast mine..haha :P We then shopped. Till we dropped. That 4th photo is a cute dress that I sadly had to put back because I'm a girl on a budget and couldn't afford it along with everything else I picked out, but I still ended up getting some cute things. :)

I got these adorable old-school barrettes from Target.

I picked up some of Wet 'N Wild's cream eyeliner. I heard about it from Ashley's August Favorite's video. I'm now a firm believer in cream eyeliner. :)

West Texas sky on my way home from Lubbock.

I returned Saturday night--it was a quick trip, but I was missing my husband. ♥ We snuggled and watched some more of the Office Season 7. Ohh my gosh it's good so far. I just love the Office.

Sunday morning my husband surprised me with breakfast and a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks. What a freakin' sweetie. He definitely spoils me.

How was your weekend? Are you enjoying some fall weather yet? We definitely are and it's wonderful.

Sending my love... postcard style.

2011-09-10T11:00:00.000-05:00

I've had this box of love postcards (from Barnes and Noble) for a while now. I thought since I'm currently out of town and Tyson is no doubt missing me terribly, I would send him a little note. ;) Oh, and I actually sent it yesterday so that he would get it today, while I'm away.

This is the one I picked, it reads "I love... Missing you."

One of my "24 Goals" is to write him a love letter and mail it, but I've decided that I want to do it fairly regularly, so I'm considering this my first one. :)

weekend getaway

2011-09-09T15:00:00.000-05:00

My cat as a penchant for suitcases.

I'm going to visit my bestie, Rita, this weekend! She lives in Lubbock (2 hours away) for school and I don't get to see her much these days, so I am beyond thrilled. We have a lot planned--mostly shopping. Lubbock has a Forever21...Amarillo does not, so you can guess where I'll be. We both are very much in love with Target (who isn't?!) so we'll also spend plenty of time there, I'm sure. Other than that it will be your generic sleepover activities, such as painting our nails and maybe watching Mad Men. Oh, 24 isn't too old for that, right? :D

(The drive from Amarillo to Lubbock is incredibly boring.)

What are your weekend plans?

just a thank you

2011-09-07T20:12:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to say "thank you" to all of you who congratulated Tyson and I on our 2 year anniversary. Your comments were the cherries on the cake of our special day.

Oh, and here's what Tyson surprised me with...

Um. Have I mentioned that I love that man?

wednesday words / welcome autumn

2011-09-07T12:03:00.000-05:00

We woke up on Sunday morning to an entirely different climate—almost as if we weren’t even in Amarillo anymore. It was cool and fresh from the rain we got that early morning…and Tyson even went out and got me a pumpkin spice latte, that sweetie. Since Sunday the highs have been hovering in the 80s. After the excruciating summer we had here in Texas, it’s been a bit bizarre to me; I’m not quite used to it yet. The leaves on our trees starting falling off a couple of months ago due to the heat and lack of rain. So, the cooler temperatures are more than welcome to come early. As of right now it's 71°!

I’ve always loved summer, but this year I couldn’t wait for it to be over. Something about being a grown-up and having to pay my own electricity bill just makes summer seem not as fun. Oh, and I have to admit that not being in school anymore makes me anticipate fall even more. :P (Although, I wouldn’t mind going back at some point.)

What is your favorite season and why? Are you started to feel autumn approaching, too?

weekly finds / is it fall yet?

2011-09-06T21:46:00.000-05:00

I had my first pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks this year and it was amazing, but I want to try this recipe for a homemade latte!

1. Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe

2. Pumpkin Creme Cookies

3. Pumpkin Pie Cowl

4. Recipe for Pumpkin Cream Cheese Truffles--whoa.

5. Autumn Girl. This print is so sweet!

5. Yarn Hearts DIY - How cute would this be in fall colors? I'm thinking olive greens and mustard yellows.

6. Kyla's amazing GIF. Love her! I actually didn't find this this past week, but I just wanted to share because it's amazing. And see the pretty fall colors she's working with? ;)

Links

1. I love everything on her tumblr.

2. This amazing treasury. I love all of the pumpkin spice latte themed treasuries on Etsy right now. :)

3. I like the idea of grey as a fall color. This dress would be perfect with boots and a bright belt.

The mister and I are TWO episodes away from being done with Lost, which is kind of great timing because the Office season 7 comes out today. And after Lost, we could use some light comedy. I hope you're having a great week!