Remembering our cinco de mayo fiesta!

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Jessica

I’m finally getting around to sharing some pictures of the Cinco de Mayo party we went to. Our good friends were co hosting it with another couple. The party was a little more interesting due to the fact that the power went out in the building where we were all gathering. So we had to navigate completely dark stairways to get the the apartment. Luckily it was sunny out so our party wasn’t in the dark.

After food and some trivia we headed to the courtyard outside where the pinata was destroyed and where we could enjoy the warmth. Near the end of the party a few of us played pin the tail on the donkey and had a few good laughs. I think Walker was cheating a little bit with his leg us like that. Oh well, it was a good afternoon.

May project: my blogger friend

Posted on May 5, 2013 by Jessica

It’s day 5 of the blog every day in May challenge. This is kind of crazy blogging so much but I’m having fun (so far). The prompt for today is: Publicly profess your love and devotion for one of your blogger friends.

I’m going to tell you about my blogger friend Sarah who is also my friend in real life and blogs at Sometimes I’m trendy. I met her when I moved to Seattle through Walker. She is the wife of one of his coworkers. We hit it off as she loves to thrift, throw themed parties, is incredibly sweet and giving and turns out also blogs!

Once she shared her blog with me I would check in and see what new clothes she had scored at a thrift store, what themed party she had thrown, a creative date night she had planned for her husband, or their latest adventure. I always find inspiration in her ideas and her excitement for new things and life if contagious. She’s a real sweetheart and I’m glad we are real friends as well as blogger friends.

I played croquet!

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Jessica

The other night I played croquet for the first time! I was invited to a get together at a house with a backyard. I miss having a private outdoor space so it was nice to “borrow” one for a bit. Would you believe that 3 of us chose colors matching our outfits completely by accident? It’s true so you better. It was pretty fun but man does it take a long time. We got maybe a half a game in before everyone just sort of wandered off. I’d say I was a close second. Not bad.

They also had a bonfire which was fun and there were talks of having outdoor movies in the summer. Yes please! On the way home my friends and I decided to get a little ice cream before we called it a night. {I got a coconut milk based ice cream and it was pretty good}

Last day in salt lake city

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Jessica

Sunday morning after all of the SNAP activities were over a few of us had later flights or flights the next day so we all carpooled around Salt Lake City to see some sites. We started at the capital building and then headed to Temple Square to walk around. All of the flowers were in bloom and the temple itself was quite beautiful.

Then it was time for me to head back to the airport. I was brave and chose to take the train, but this time I had it figured out. Until next time Salt Lake! I had a great time.

Favorites from snap

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Jessica

-candy bar at the pajama night
-inspiration from Lisa Leonard
-practicing my object photography skills during a session
-hello mountains!
-I didn’t make it to the tulip fields but I couldn’t let this skirt go to waste.
-I just loved meeting Meagan! I think she got my weirdness and I liked that.
-everyone decorated their doors and I was being funny in front of this one made up to be a photo booth.-All 3 ladies at our table taking pictures of the cupcakes. Oh boy!

I’ve been back from SNAP for 3 days now and I’m still processing. I’m trying not to let my overwhelm make me unproductive. I have a tendency to let that happen. I’m attempting to take action today. The sun shining bright today might derail me but I think that’s acceptable. Ha!

Anyhow I learned a lot of valuable information this weekend from a lot of talented and inspiring women. I was also brave enough to introduce myself to quite a few of them. This was a struggle at times. I worried I wouldn’t have anything to say or that I’d say the wrong thing. It helped to remind myself that the woman on the other end has the same worries.

A few of my favorite classes from the weekend included:

Basic blogging tips taught by Desiree of The 36th Avenue, Sarah of Thrifty Decor Chick, and Amy of the Idea Room.

DIY lighting and electrical tutorial taught by Brittany of Pretty Handy Girl and Sandra of Sawdust and Paperscraps.

How to effectively use affiliate links taught by Jessica of the Creative Mom.

How to plan, launch, and grow a handmade business taught by Amy Cornwell, Diana of Livy Love Designs, and Katie of Vintage Rose Wraps.

Working with virtual assistants taught by Alissa of Rags to Stitches and Skye McLain.

Object photography taught by Caroline of Armelle.

Now what to do with all this information? I guess we’ll see…

My wonderful roommates at snap

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Jessica

{-Jacky, me, Albion at the pj party.}
{-gifts from my sweet roommates. The Chicago mug and pin and purse were from Albion and the coffee cup with hand sewn sleeve, coffee, earrings, markers and lip balm were from Jacky. Thank you ladies I love it all! }

Have I mentioned what SNAP is? If not it’s a creative blogging conference that happens just south of Salt Lake City, UT. I decided to attend to meet other bloggers and handmade artists and to be inspired by them. It was a wonderful weekend away with a group of truly amazing women. A couple of those amazing women I was lucky enough to share a room with.

I roomed with Jacky from The Sweetest Petunia and Albion Gould neither of which I had ever met in person. I’m adventurous like that and they were too. I just loved getting to know these ladies as we shared about ourselves and had some good laughs. Also it was really nice rooming with women who also like going to bed on the earlier side of things. Unlike the party room across the hall. Haha!

It was so nice bonding over our similarities and learning from our differences. I look forward to seeing them again!

Tulips: color overload

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Jessica

{taken by Walker}

{taken by Walker}

-Hilarious! All 4 of us taking a picture at the same time! {taken by Walker}

{taken by Walker}

{taken by Walker}

-I love this one too! Can you see me and my 2 friends across the field? {taken by Walker}

{taken by Walker}

Over the weekend Walker and I went to see the tulips in Skagit Valley with a couple of our friends. I heard the fields were pretty but I really didn’t realize it was going to be absolutely breathtaking. The colors and shapes were so intense. I think we all just took turns exclaiming how pretty everything was. It was quite remarkable to see so many tulips in one place. Also we got super lucky with the weather. All day rain was in the forecast but while we were in the fields the sun was shining. Perfection.

Walker hijacked my camera so of course he got the more vivid shots but I got a few alright ones with my phone. After we all took our fair share of photos (it was so hard to choose which ones to share) we drove by a few more fields before heading into town for a post tulip looking drink and some food. It was a perfectly lovely day. If you live around this area I highly recommend you visit the tulip fields. Make sure to wear your rain boots because it was muddy out there.

The process of making friends

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Jessica

This past weekend I was invited to a supper club by a girl I had met through a mutual friend when I first moved here. I was especially excited because her supper club were headed to an Indian restaurant that takes only 1 reservation and it’s for a table in the kitchen. They had planned it a few months in advance and had one seat left.

I was also pretty apprehensive because I would be meeting 4 totally new people all at once. I’m pretty good one on one but I was intimidated that I would be the odd one out and that I would feel awkward and not know what to say.

Turns out I was wrong. They were all super nice and unique and interesting in their own ways. They seemed genuinely interested to get to know more about me and made me feel welcome at their supper club. I felt completely at ease and didn’t find myself at a loss for words. I think it was a success. Unless you count the fact that I left my delicious leftovers in the back seat of car. That was a bit of a bummer.

Our easter sunday

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Jessica

Yesterday for Easter we went to church in the morning with our friends and then we were invited to a brunch afterwards. We played some corn hole or bean bag toss (whichever you call it), ate some tasty foods, and tried to be in the sun as much as possible. The weather was crazy amazing yesterday. Yeah!

After we ate we took a walk to a nearby park to see a really great view of the city. It was pretty cool. Once Walker and I got home we rested a bit (being in the sun all day is exhausting) but we headed back out to see the sun set. Clear evenings are rare around here so watching the sun set was pretty great. Plus we got a rare chance to get up on the rooftop of our building.

I hear there is going to be at least 3 more days of really great weather until rain maybe? So basically this week is going to be unproductive. Ha! Oh well it’s worth it.

-look very closely…there’s a giant mountain in this picture

-me with the city of Seattle

-our friends, aren’t they too cute!

-really excited to wear my tulip skirt for Easter

Is it summer yet?

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Jessica

Well no, not quite, but here in Seattle we’ve been having some really, really nice weather. I moved here in September so I haven’t yet experienced a summer here but I hear is really nice. These last few days have given me perhaps a sneak peek.

On one lovely day this week we headed out to the beach with a group of people Walker plays ultimate frisbee with. The plan was to have a bonfire and cookout. Our plan was almost foiled because all the fire pits were taken but we ended up borrowing one and it worked out perfectly.

We got there while the sun was still out and Walker and I joined a volleyball game. It was quite bold of me because usually I don’t like playing with people I don’t know in case I don’t play well. Yeah me! I did it and my team won. Woo! It was almost like summer except seriously I could not feel my feet after the game.

I warmed up quickly once I got by the fire. It was just so wonderful. The smell of burning wood, the sound of the waves crashing on the shore, the last sliver of sun setting behind the clouds and oh did I mention…there was a full moon that night. And since it was such a clear night we got to see it rise in all it’s glory. I howled at it as I do and smiled at how something so simple can make you so happy.

With the smell of campfire in my hair I fell asleep smiling that night.