happy new year!

just popping in to wish you a very happy new year!  welcome 2013!!!

how did you ring in the new year?

it was pretty quiet here.
dinner and ice cream with some friends.
then home with the parents.

pretty excited for 2013.

i promise i'll be on here lots more in 2013 than i was in 2012 :-)

- jess

a day of thanksgiving

happy thanksgiving!

i love that in this hectic world we live in we still take time to set apart one day to be thankful.  as this world gets older we as humans seem to get busier and busier...caught up in everything and yet nothing.  as a child of God i try to keep a grateful heart every.single.day.  but i realize that i can do more to be thankful every day and i want to try to embrace that thankfulness more.

i recently came across this pic and it truly spoke to me in that moment and every moment since.  too many days i feel like i'm a little zoned out...doing the daily routines and never taking the time to enjoy each moment of time.

when one is in pain each second seems to ring out loud and clear...and yet when one is in a joyous state it seems time flies oh too swift.  i'd like to take the time to live in each moment of my life.  the hard times make me stronger.  the good times keep my spirits lifted high.

so here's wishing a happy and blessed day to you and your family not only today but each and every day...take the time to look for the things to be thankful for.

~ jess

naps are my favorite

it's no surprise to my friends that naps are one of my favorite things.  i'm very much a night owl but my job requires me to be up by 6am at the latest.  so every day i feel like i need a nap...ha!

this layout was created using the studio calico field guide kit.

~ jess

daily pics and updates

goodmorning.  i thought i was getting better at this blogging thing but apparently not...lol.

first up, i've updated my 30 before 30 list as well as my fall bucket list.  it felt really good to get a few things marked off.  i'm thinking i need to print these lists out to help motivate me on...  next, i finally opened up my etsy shop!  right now i have a few mixed media canvas pieces on there but i'm hoping to get some more things listed soon.

and finally...i meant to post these pics last week.

1. waiting in line at starbucks
2. trying on a blouse at target...didn't buy it
3. getting in some bible reading...i try to read every day but that doesn't always happen
4. this passage of scripture just really spoke to me
5. it's that time of year...eating some soup for lunch
6. what would life be w/o a little froyo ;-)
7. cinnamon raisin biscuits from hardee's...oh sooooo yummy
8. the crazy weather we've been having here

9. it was finally cool enough to wear a sweater
10. adele and james bond...two of my favs
11. maroon 5 always comes out w/ songs i keep on repeat
12. first time to wear shatter polish...kept it on my nails a full week
13. trying on a jacket at tjmaxx...verdict - winner!
14. first caramel apple of the season
15. church outfit
16. grocery shopping goodness

17. first scarf wearing of the season
18. homemade pumpkin waffles
19. my etsy shop
20. deer in our back yard

that's all i've got for you guys today!

~ jess

review - forever21 mint & urban outfitters chilly

when i was on vacation in florida i happened to pick up quite a few nail polishes, including these two from forever21 and urban outfitters.  i don't have either store close to me, so i was pretty happy to get to get to shop at both stores.

first i started out applying the forever21 mint polish.  what attracted me to this polish, besides the fast it's only $2.80 is that it's a mint base w/ a lovely blue shimmer.  the shimmer is faint, but you can still see it even after the polish has dried on the nails.  this was the first time i'd used a forever21 polish and i'm not overly crazy w/ the brush, it's just a bit too thin for my liking.  the formula for this color was also a little thin and it took 3 coats to get it completely opaque.  it does wear really well as i had it on my nails for 4 days w/ minimal wear on the tips only.  i picked up 3 more polishes from forever21 and i'm excited to see if they wear just as phenomenal since they are such a great price point.

the urban outfitters i went to didn't have very many polish colors to choose from and i only saw one that caught my eye.  this polish retailed for $5.  chilly is a beautiful glitter polish.  it's a mix of blue micro glitter, small pink glitter and holographic glitter in a clear base.  this glitter polish is stunning.  i did apply 3 coats of it to my ring fingers.

both of these polishes are beautiful and i would definitely recommend you check them out next time you are in forever21 and urban outfitters.

~ jess