I took off my shoes and walked into the woods.

Well we're home from our adventure!

The time change is killing us but we so loved our trip and time with my family.

My brain isn't quite ready to process blogging but I have a sweet little treat for you this morning.

A friend, Mary Frances, made this super adorable video of her walking through all the places she visited in 2011. I thought is was too wonderful not to share, it automatically makes me want to jump back on a plane and keep traveling.

walk across // 2011 from Mary Frances on Vimeo.

Love it! Mary is a photographer in California and does beautifulll work. Please check out her blog, floatawaystudios, you will not be disappointed.

Today I am going to be settling back into my life and making so many lists for everything I need to get done.

xo j

Let's make believe we are wealthy for just this once.

I have spent a long time deciding what my resolutions would be this year. Things to focus on, ways to grow, things for enjoyment. This is going to be a huge year for me, and I want to appreciate it and learn from it. Yay, 2012!

1. Learn to play the guitar, for real- I say for real because I can play some chords, or little songs, but I have never taken formal lessons. Went I used to take cello lessons, I just remember it was so calming. I would have to completely turn off my brain for that hour, and really stretch myself to learn something. To be bad at something and watch myself grow. I miss that feeling.

2. Actually enjoy planning this wedding- I have had nothing but set backs since we started wedding planning, and I have wanted nothing more than to give up. So I am going into this new year with a re-opened mind and ready to try and stay positive and enjoy these coming months.

3. Teach Greg to sew- My love has been asking me to teach him to sew for over a year now. He wants to make silly things for himself but also wants to help me so we can really be a team. Before shows and batch orders he feels so helpless that he cannot do anything so we're hoping to change that, and there's really no excuse seeing I have three machines.

4. Save a little each month/Learn to budget- I have budgeted in my own way for years now and I have usually gotten by fine. But we are getting married this year, we have a lot more expenses to think about, lots more responsibilities and I want to be smart. Also, I am sure there will be the times we are scrapping but I want to commit to putting something away, even if it is only 5 dollars. This way (hopefully) all our big dreams will eventually come true.

5. Enjoy the little moments- This is for sure going to be a year of change. I want to enjoy every little piece of this year. I want to take nothing for granted, hold tight to every beautiful thing we do or see this year.

6. Blog DIY wedding edition- I really want to do this! I want to help any other DIY brides out there by sharing some of my secrets or helping make their day a little easier. I cannot wait to get this started, my journal is overflowing with ideas.

7. Etsy!- my Etsy needs to get back up and running. I have been saying this forever now, but really someone hold me accountable to it.

8. Remind people I love them often- I will be honest, I am surrounded my the most supportive, amazing group of humans. I consider myself terribly lucky, yet I feel that I do not always let them know how truly wonderful they are. I plan to do that this year.

9. Minimize stuff- I'm working on prepping to move into a new life. Which means everything I have owned or collected in the last twenty-three years needs to be sorted and ready to be combined with another persons life stuff. It should be interesting for sure!

10. Don't drive Greg crazy- You may laugh, but seriously. With wedding planning, business building, and getting ready for a future life. It is easiest to take stress, concern, panic, or any other range of emotion out on the one I love most. He is my best friend, and I want to enjoy this year together, instead of driving him nuts.

So there you have it. Please feel free to remind me of this list in mid-july if I seem to be losing sight of anything. :)

What are you working on this year? I highly suggest writing down any goals you may have, something about seeing it in print makes you feel more committed to it.

xo j

I'm going to write another traveling song.

Hi! I have missed you so!

With the holiday season over I am more than ready to get back my normal blogging routine.

We are currently in Las Vegas, visiting my Dad, Step-Mom, and Brothers. My Mom and Dad surprised us with tickets for our christmas gift and we could not be more thankful. We are loving our first adventure together and taking in every moment.

Greg and my Dad went off hiking this morning and I stayed back to have a little me time. Yoga, tea, and finishing up my new years resolutions. I have loved reading all my resolutions from last year and seeing how many I accomplished or which ones fell to the wayside. I am excited for what this year will bring and my resolutions help keep me motivated and striving. Last year I shared them on the 5th, so I gave myself until that deadline again. (hehe)

Cannot wait to share them with you tomorrow, it's good to be back!

xoxo j

DIY: Peppermint Bark

Here's my favorite Christmas treat! Greg and I decided to make it ourselves this year and count it as our first family tradition! ♥

Before I start I have a huge disclaimer (mainly because I am letting myself down): this is the only time I will ever use instagram to do a DIY or recipe post. I do not mind using it when I am just updating on life but I think it is such a cop out. I promise this was a one time thing. forgive me.

Whew, I feel better, now we can start!

1. chocolate wafers (2lbs)

2. vanilla wafers (2lbs)

3. peppermint extract/flavor (1/2 tsp)

4. candy canes (12)

1. You can really do this which ever order you feel, we crushed our candy canes first so it was out of the way. You can use any method you like to get them ground up. I used a cutting board, rolling pin and strong man:)

2. You are going to need to double boil, You can do this with two pots or use pyrex like me.

All it means is in the bigger pot you'll have the water boiling which will melt the chocolate wafers in the smaller pot. do not rush, you will burn your chocolate.

3. when the chocolate is fully melted, pour it into either a 9 by 13 cake pan or a cookie sheet. It depends on how thick you want your peppermint bark. we did a cake pan so we could make big chunks but I've seen people use a cookie sheet then cut out cookie cutter shapes, I think that is super cute too!

After you have it spread pretty evenly, put it in the freezer.

4. It wont take long for it to harden and once it does you can start the white chocolate wafers repeating step three. Only this time once the chocolate is melted add in your peppermint extract and candy candy pieces.

5. Lay on top of the hardened chocolate spread evenly and sprinkle some larger candy cane chunks on top. Put in the freezer and wait for it all to harden.

6. Once its done it should come right out of the pan in a big brick. Its super hard to break. I'm sure there are more conventional ways to do this but we honest to goodness put it in a bag with a towel over it and took a rubber mallet to it. hahha it was so fun!

It is SO delicious. I packaged it in christmas tins and sent it out for the holidays. When you and your brother are getting married in the same calendar year, you gotta to holiday on a budget! haha! More last minute DIYs to come!

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!!!!

xo j

Hyvää Joulua!

I will never forget the first time I ever walked into Greg's dorm and the gigantic Finnish flag that took up an entire wall. I was slightly puzzled, and intrigued, because you do not have a flag that big for no good reason.

I learned all about his love and pride for his mothers homeland. So much so that he has become a dual citizen, and often talks about how if he had never met me, he would have moved there. (haha!)

If you have been reading this blog for awhile you probably know that I have since adopted such pride into my life, as if I myself am scandinavian. Which from my height alone could never be true!

I have loved talking to Greg's mom about all her adventures in Helsinki, and always love learning about traditions that we can keep alive in our family.

One of my favorite little things I've noticed that Mum does every year is put these little gnomes in all the windows. I asked her what the story is and she shared with me and and I wanted to share it with you!

Joulu tontut (this is the Finnish name of the elves!)

These elves live with Santa Claus at the North Pole. They help

him make toys for good little children during the year. They

usually wear gray outfits and red hats with jingle bells on them.

Around December 1st they leave the North Pole and start making

trips around the country. They look for children, usually from

behind the windows. They then report back to Santa what they

have seen and heard. Maybe you have seen one of them? Or did

you hear the jingle bells?

When Christmas comes, they help Santa deliver the toys and

sometimes even leave a big sack of them behind your door!

(click to enlarge)

So cute! The lovely fiance made a template to share in case you wanted to share the story of the christmas elves with your family too!

I printed them at 200% and love seeing them in the window. yay family traditions!

I am sorry for the absence, I have just had SO many christmas orders to finish up I was barely at my computer at all. And I know christmas is pretty much here but I had all these DIYs all ready so I'm going to post them all anyway:)

xo jess