I am tethered to you.

I did mega crafting this holiday.

But my poor friends just so you all know I have gifts lined up for you at my home.. I just am a little late.

Getting my families gifts done took priority this year, so over the next few weeks I will be sharing some of the christmas crafts I made for my friends. I am excited to give everyone their little slices of love. I really thought about each friend, and each gift this year. I tried to make things they would really use, really appreciate, or would just make them really smile.

Brandi is the first person I got to give a gift to. She recently moved into her very own big girl apartment and I felt needed some big girl decorations. I made her this..

I really loved the way the colors came together.

B and I have been friends a long time, I have made her lots of crafts, but never one of my boxes. So I really thought it would be perfect for her new home.

And I mean the picture was inspiration enough, are B and her boy adorable or what?!

Two more weeks of break. Boy is back in New York and I am a happy girl.

Only two posts left!

xoxo

j

I'll just keep it to myself, in the sun.

So I've been organizing.

Cleaning, sorting, all those fun things.

I think one of the very most important things about a space that you have to spend a lot of time in is to feel inspired.

My room is absolutely soaking with things that inspire me and help to boost my creativity.

I often call my room my world because I try to make it my escape, a place that I understand and where I feel truly understood.

I have a wall dedicated to be my inspiration wall.

I add to it all year long. With beautiful things and beautiful people.

It makes me smile when I look at it. It helps me feel comfortable.

But! this is my 2010 wall, that year has now passed.

So I am in the process of taking down this wall.

Clean start. Fresh inspiration.

I am very very excited. I have some new organization things going up on my walls (hopefully tomorrow!) and my room and craft area will be the most beaaauuutiifull space ever.

I have some very new pretty ceiling hangings I have brewing in my head. I can not wait to create them once my space has been all cleaned.

Hope you are getting all organized and inspired this new year. Yippie!

xoxo jess

ps. I am SOOO excited we are 3 posts away from my 100th blog post and boy, do I have some surprises for you. ekk, get excited!

A little surprise.

It was my dear friend Lindsey's birthday yesterday!

(Happy birthday girl!)

Back in umm November, her sweet sweet husband emailed me and asked me for a favor.

He told me that Linds is near IMPOSSIBLE to surprise because she always figures everything out.

He said he has been looking for an apron she would really love but just couldn't seem to find the perfect one. (She is a baker and cake decorator for a living so stuff like this means so much!) He said she had really loved the bibs I made for their wedding (here) and wanted to know if I would be willing to take on the task of making her the perfect apron. I gladddddly accepted.

It came out really well. I found the cutest woodsy fabric and used some vintage lace I had.

She WAS surprised. *thank goodness* It was really hard to spend so much time with her over the weekend and keep zipped! I'm glad she liked it so much and I'm so glad to have a hand in the start of her "cute apron collection".

Lots to do today. My head is overfilled with so much inspiration for so many coming things. I spent a good two hours at the fabric store this morning picking out new goodies. Can't wait to share!

xoxo

miss jess

Traveling Bird.

I feel so lucky because my heart is scattered all across America. It's amazing when you realize how far love can stretch, it goes a long way.

But sometimes a lot of your heart clusters in one place and when you physically enter that place you feel a calming because you know,

you are home.

New Jersey has become another cluster, another home.

Not only is that where my boy grew into the man I love today, but I have now set down some of my own roots there. It is a really wonderful thing to feel a connection with people through distance because I think it truly makes or breaks some people.

So New Years Eve (day) I got into my car and drove five hours to see my other family.

Greg was visiting his Aunt in PA so I scooped him up and we traveled the last few hours together. Once we into Clinton we stopped at our favorite truly authentic italian pizza place and got some slices of our favorite tomato basil pizza. Then we headed to see the fweeends!

We had the most amazing new years. Friends, super low key, great food, 4am chats, snuggling, making breakfast, lounging all day, finally showering at 5pm. I say success.

The rest of the weekend was filled with so many good dates and soul sharing with some of our favorite couples and two of my closest friends.

I think I've gotten really good at condensing a weeks worth of solid hangout time into a few days.

I also got a lot of Amy time which is always such a huge treat to me. She is Greg's youth pastors wife, someone I love to soak with and seek wisdom from. Her spirit is so welcoming, I just love her to pieces.

I also got some unexpected Allie time which was also really lovely. She lives with the Dawsons and I see her each time I visit but we never really get to chat, it was really great to finally get to do that.

Before I left I had coffee at Amys house. Her, Allie, and I chatted, Amy read me a beautiful children's book, Ally gave me a great cd, and then Amy packed me up with fruits and veggies for my trip. *Thankful*

"Ah home, yes I am home, home is wherever I'm with you"

-j

And I hope they remember this bond we have together.

During the Holidays I was insanely busy bee.

This had to do greatly in part that many people that I love very much, from many corners of the country, were all in town.

And let me tell you something, I was a very happy girl.

I love that so many of the friendships I have now are so effortless. Months go by, so much happens, and still when I see these people I am immediately warmed and reminded how lucky I am.

One of my favorite little ventures this season was definetly skating at the outdoor rink downtown.

It was so fun and really beautiful, very cold of course but an afternoon filled with laughter, catching up, and good people.

Loved it. Thankful for this beautiful season in the snow!

I hope your holidays was filled with loved ones and fun adventures. I have much more posting to catch up on! ekkk!

xoxo,

j