Sweet Sixteen

My niece will be turning 16 next Spring. 16...crazy!
Last night, she was telling me how much she would *love* to have a sweet sixteen party. 
So, I think this might be my mission! I was thinking of either two options. A girls only day. Do facials, mani and pedis, makeup and then a photo shoot.  Or, a big party. DJ, dancing, boys...all of that jazz.
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Rainy days + Mondays

I hate the combo of rain and Monday! It makes the beginning of the week a little extra "blah". Definitely crossing my fingers for some sunshine! This weekend I: Knocked out 3 pillows for our living room I am OBSESSED! I am making 2 more today. We have a sectional, so I like to fill it with pillows. I am also going to be refinishing a rocking chair from my Mom and I think I might make a pillow to place on that. It is all wood, and I think the little cushion would be nice. Hit the mother load on fabric!  I picked up a few of these before on sale, this time they were final markdown so I was geeking out!

I skipped down to Jo-Ann's after I left Hobby Lobby, and I found these upholstery fabric samples 50%, so $1 each! They are great for the makeup bags I do, the fabric is perfect for it.

The next thing I did, might cause you to question my sanity. I started planning Thanksgiving dinner. Nuts, I know! I started browsing for invites to order and nothing has really jumped out at me yet.
Then I went to Cardstore to see what they had to offer and found some SUPER cute options! (and I may have gotten Thanksgiving sidetracked and spent 30 minutes looking at baby shower invite options for my sister!)
I've also just discovered the Cardstore blog, Cardstyle! They have just placed a guide to the perfect "Christmas In July" party--you must check it out! 
Source--check it out!
They have some amazing tips--and I may just have to make that mulled ice wine ASAP!
Have a GREAT week!!!

Weekly Obsessions

This has been a pretty chill week. I had a few job interviews, my niece stayed over, and I watched an insane amount of tv.
A few things I am loving: Wen Hair Care This summer my hair has been a bitch. I have tried everything. Conditioning masks, leave in treatments, oils, EVERYTHING.  I have been hearing good things about this lately and when Meg (one of my favorite bloggers, check her out!) said she has been loving it, I decided to try. I got pretty lucky, my Mom bought some on QVC (she is retired now, I guess that is how she is passing the time.) She told me she loved it, but her hair is so short, she thought I'd get better use out of it. So sweet. She had the Spring Gardenia and I love it. I have used it just twice now and I cannot believe the difference in my hair.

Hobby Lobby...no shocker there!  I typically only shop HL for craft supplies, or if there is a sale. In the last month, I have gotten KILLER deals on home decor. I found 4 MUST have items for under $5 each. 90% aisle treated me well. In addition to that, I was like an addict needing a fix in the fabric aisle. I came home with over 6 yards of beautiful fabric for less than $17.

I am OBSESSED with the town Farmer's Market! It is no doubt the highlight of my week lately and I am so beyond stoked to go tonight.
Annnnnnnnnnnd my other obsession? My killer boudoir photograher. I keep creeping on pictures of myself. Vain? Nah.

Check that off the list

About a month ago, I posted about being nervous about doing a boudoir photo shoot. Last week, I had my shoot.  It wasn't ANYTHING like I thought it would be. And truthfully, I pretty much forgot I was walking around in my undies.  Yesterday, I was able to meet with the photographer and see the pictures. They are AMAZING!! She picked a few that she will be using in her look books and ads. eeeeep! She asked if it was ok to post online, and I surprised myself and said YES! I truthfully do not care WHO sees them. They are very tasteful. And honestly, I wish I had seen some better plus size shots when I was looking at pictures for inspiration.  Since I was modeling for her, I have a photo credit (I want to buy them all!) and was given a digital image of my choice. I went with this one:

You can check out the AMAZING photographer's beautiful work here!

Living Room Decor

Our living room is getting closer and closer to finished!  We decided to say F painting for the moment. I hate painting! Our walls are a taupe color right now, and I can live with that. I do eventually want to paint, but I feel like our entire house is in various stages of completed. It makes not sense to tape off another room. A few weeks ago we picked up these curtains

I am obsessed with them! The great thing? They are ombre. We hung them upside down so the go from Orange (Target calls them coral...I disagree) to White. They can be hung either way!

We have a sofa table (I think that is what they are called?) that we put along the wall because the layout of our room doesn't allow it behind the sofa. 

It is full of wedding pictures and is a great focal point.

In this photo, the table isn't centered. It is now, I promise!!

And excuse my mass amounts of cat toys. Our cats are like toddlers and have toy piles everywhere.

The gold "G" was formerly in our dining room but it no longer works.

The green little statue things on the table are from Hobby Lobby--MAJOR sale! The were originally $30 each and I got them for $4.70!

I made all of the canvas and wood blocks myself. 

The only close up I have of the big canvas is before the final paint color. Originally, it was teal. But I decided it was too much blue. So it was switched to gold, but this gives a great close up of the bird design.

I am OBSESSED! The bird was cut out of shelf liner from Dollar Tree! Isn't that so thrifty fun!?

The blocks are just left over wood blocks from a custom order I had. I cut different orange fleur de lis designs. I thought the silhouette was just fun. I wanted the wall to be a hodge podge of different things. The other canvas (not pictured) says, "So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you" It is a quote from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It is one of our favorites and we used it in our wedding programs.

On the wall where the tv sits, we hung these:

I've only had them for THREE years sitting in a closet. They were purchased at Lowe's for $20 each.

 My Mom called me a few weeks ago and told me a great story. Back in 1985, she wanted this rocking chair so badly. Looked at it constantly. When she found out she was pregnant she went to buy it, and it had been sold.

That night my Dad came home with the rocking chair.

She told me that she wanted me to have it, and I am so excited to add it to our living room! She and I are going to strip it and stain it ebony to match the room.

I am SO happy to have this room nearly finished! Once the chair is here,  I only need to make throw pillows and finish one wall.

wooohoo!!

A New Obsession

A few weeks ago I was contacted by a rep from Cardstore.com to see if I would like to try their products. I hadn't heard of the website before, so I jumped at the chance. 

Cardstore offers greeting cards for every occasion you can think of, as well as invitations, stationary, thank you cards---EVERYTHING! I had so much fun browsing through all of the different categories and seeing what they had to offer.

When it came time to decide which card to order, I wasn't sure, there were so many options! I was looking at anniversary cards for my Aunt and Uncle (25 years!! Crazy!), baby congrats card for my pregnant friend, and birthday cards for a few girlfriends. 

Ultimately, I decided it had to be a card for Justin. There were just TOO many wonderful cards to pick from!

I selected a card from their photo card section. It is so cool! You can upload pictures to add, and on the inside you can pick the formatting.

Cutest little packaging! I was also REALLY impressed with the speed of delivery. It only took a few days from ordering to have it in my hands.

The front of the card I chose! It is so cute! It says:

"Years from now, I picture us still holding hands, still laughing and still completely in love"

And the inside; "Just like we are now."

SO cute! And I love the customization options. Not only can you add pictures, but you can add your own message inside. One feature of Cardstore.com that I think is fabulous is the signature! You can download their signature app to your Ipad or Iphone and sign your name, then you upload it! How cool is that!?

The feature is especially useful if you have them mail it. 

Did I mention that? You can add postage to your order and have Cardstore send your little envelop of happiness out. 

I will definitely be using this company again. Do you know how much time I waste standing in card aisles trying to find the perfect card? Too much! And I always end up settling for something.

The prices at Cardstore are the same prices you would pay in store for many cards, but with so many more options.

I am definitely a new fan, and so is my handsome husband!

Current Obsessions

Lately, my mornings have all began with this: Buy Here!

I do the Vanilla Chai and it is so yummy I can hardly handle it! I have a MASSIVE sweet tooth, so sometimes at night when I am craving something loaded with sugar, I have one of these instead. At 90 calories, it is definitely a better choice for me!
Sinful Colors in Timbleberry
I've had this bottle for like two years and just rediscovered it. It is definitely going to be my go to summer color!
This Bathing Suit

It must be mine! I have been looking all weekend for a suit I love. I found this one online and I need it! But, I think the smart choice would be to buy in store. I need to get on that!
My Nephew and Sister! NINE days and then I am Colorado bound!!  I will be bringing that little cutie back with me! I cannot wait for a summer full of Scotty time.

Thankful Thursday

I used to link up with one of my favorite bloggers to do a Thankful Thursday post.  Unfort, she hasn't posted lately, so I am just going to do a post of my own.
This week I am thankful for:
*My husband--as usual!
Yesterday was my birthday. He woke me with cupcakes in bed and singing Happy Birthday! I'm going to get real with you for a minute, I truly didn't think this much happiness was ever possible. HOW was this guy made?? He is perfection. He is really the greatest part of my life.
*Also thankful for my hilarious friends! I got this little gem in the mail: I kind of love Michael Bolton.
*Instagram linked with Facebook.  I *hated* instagram until yesterday. I used it here and there for the past year or so, but never loved it. Then I realized I never linked it with my facebook (which is probably why when I tried to share my instagram photos they were always private). Then yesterday, I linked and well hellllllllllllllo. Picture mecca. 
*New Fabric!!!! Hello new makeup bags for .West 19th.!! I am in love with them.
It has been a FULL week for me! I am ready for the weekend for sure! I also have a minor sprain in my wrist. It has been like 2 weeks and it gets better, then worse. My crafty side has been taking a hiatus with hopes it heals. Mornings SUCK. I cannot open or close my hand at all--maybe I should get this checked out? Perhaps.

Etsy shop!!

This weekend, I officially opened my Etsy shop!  I only have two products listed right now. I was editing pictures to list, I decided to wait until next Sunday (4/14) to list everything else. I have a craft show on Saturday and I want to have plenty of inventory to take with me. Next Sunday, you will see: Picture frames!  Shadow Boxes! Make Up Bags! Tote Bags! Infinity Scarves! Water bottles/cups personalized! Baby items!

Check it out HERE!

Happy Husband=Happy Jessi

There are times when I think, "Dang, you really have this wife thing down, Jess!" Today, is one of those days.
13 days from now, my husband and I will be seeing these lovely ladies in concert: He is so excited, he cannot handle it! I wasn't familiar with Celtic Woman before I met Justin, but I REALLY love them now. He is borderline obsessed. And apparently, it is a good thing I slightly resemble Chloe, or he may have never ever agreed to go out with me ;) I see a similarity, and I think she is beautiful, so I'll take it as a compliment!

Chloe Agnew

Moi
I hope you all have a LOVELY weekend!!!!

Craft Madness

Next weekend, April 13th, I have a craft fair. I've only been prepping for THREE months. I shouldn't be this far behind.
However, in Jess world "prepping": Order sweet fabric Picking out new business cards Ordering a cool square reader (ok that one actually helped a lot---I LOVE it!!) Planning my day of outfit
Not taking inventory. Not making sure I have enough of everything.
Thankfully, I have been a busy bee this week, and will probably finish up next Wednesday. That gives me two days to pack up and get organized. 
Nothing like last minute ;)
Monday I will post pics and links!