She couldn't help but sing.

So over the summer and early fall I was creating things non stop.

Then all of a sudden I let life take me over and gave in to being stagnant.

I let my schedule own my life and found myself far too many times saying,

"I'm too busy".

Too busy? Too busy to do things I love? Too busy to do the things that bring me joy?

Now that is just silly.

I was a little angry with myself, I have big plans.

And I'll tell you one thing, I'm never going to get there from being too busy.

SO, I made a mini goal for myself.

One new thing/creation/craft a week.

And this doesn't just mean drawing up the sketches, or having the idea. It means actually creating a sample, see how it goes so I can see how to improve. These are all things I need to be keeping track of.

So heres my new friend for the week. She is just a prototype so she's a little sloppy. But I think she turned out pretty cute.

I'm hoping to just be giving some of these "samples" away so they don't stock pile in my house. So if you don't mind something being slightly imperfect, let me know. :)

Hope you are all pushing yourselves. Hope you are not forgetting what you dream about, or thinking you'll never get there. Busyness is an excuse that keeps you from your potential.

So slow down and remember we can all get where we wanna be, we just need to be confident enough to try.

I believe in you,

jess

Hocus Pocus.

So halloween weekend... was complete and utter nonsense.

I think I actually enjoyed the whole week more than the actual day. So much laughter procrastination and sillyness.

My best friend maria comes up with really ridiculous and creative costumes but can never execute them.

So usually she comes to me with an extensive speech of what she wants and always ends with, "sooo can you make it?"

I always laugh, then agree and construction begins.

This week though we just couldn't get started, she came over every single day and we didnt actually start it until Friday when boy came up and made us be productive. haha

So off to the craft store we went got materials and then ran to Starbucks to get a cup of inspiration.

I also got this cutest kitchen timer while we were out!

We worked all weekend. We would work, eat, bake, dance, movie, hot glue, paint, and all in between.

Boyfriend did the major cup construction and I did hot gluing and painting.

I made my first pumpkin pie to enjoy while working.

And boyfriend painted his bear head he had made from cardboard and duct tape.

So finally Ria came over Sunday for her "final fitting" and we sent her off..

Are you even ready for this?

Yup, she was a mocha latte.

Her cup is made completely from poster board, cardboard, hot glue and tape. Her whip cream bow is made with cardboard, polyfill, wire, extra fabric, a headband and construction paper for her "straw".

We were really proud of the results:)

It was the best costume ever. We laughed so hard every time she put it on.

That afternoon I sewed myself a quick peter pan outfit. And went to a little halloween shindig with some friends.

(wish I had a full picture.)

I just love love love home made things. I love being creative and seeing things come together. I love the challenge of translating your brian or even someone elses into an actual functional physical thing. so fun.

SO since it took me so long to update I have another post today, so check back later:)

xoxo jess

Happy songs for happy people.

It is beautiful out today!

It is one of those days I could drive around with my windows down and my music loud. I could let the cool breeze fill my car and the leaves fall in through my sunroof. It would make me very happy.

I made brief mention yesterday about a new journal I got! I am very excited about it.

A few months ago a friend of mine gave me this journal..

She told me to fill it with whatever is in my head. So I have been, so much so that its already full. I have not been wanting it to come to an end; I carry it with me everyday, everywhere. As soon as something pops in my head whether it be something I observe, a lyric I hear, a craft idea, a thought I have, I capture it and keep it here.

It has been wonderful to log my very full brain and be able to look back on those thoughts.

Unlike any other journal I have ever used, this one was filled with graph paper. I didn't know how to feel about it, but by the end I fell in love and it was essential my new journal had it too.

I found this one..

I am in love again. I am so happy I found one a little bigger so I can really use the space. I have been vigorously logging since I got it, I am beyond inspired.

Also my absolute favorite journaling utensil of choice is Sharpie pens.

When they came out with these there was only black and I would go through them so fast. Now they come in a whole assortment of colors and they just make me giddy.

Are you ready for my secret goal? I am going to learn guitar.

Or I guess relearn what I had started. I actually could somewhat play at one point. Ya know, when I lived at the Babiuk house of music genius. I practiced daily, and my Babiuk loves were always super patient with me. They also had about 30 guitars I could choose from to play.

Now I am home, guitarless and missing some music sort realease. I don't want to play for anyone else but me. Just because it calms me down, like the cello used to. I didnt care if anyone ever heard me, it just helped my soul.

Where I nanny in the morning they have a few guitars but I don't think anyone ever plays them much. But when I ran my fingers across the strings today, a miracle, it was in tune!

After the kids went to school I brought it out on the porch and played some chords and the only Shins song I could remember. Over and over again. It was a very nice time for me:)

So there you have it, a look into my secret brain.

I hope you all will challenge yourself. Make a goal, despite what anyone may think, and work for it. Being inspired is truly a gift, take advantage of it.

xo bird.

A new friend.

HAPPY 75th Post!

oh my word!

I am back with a quick before bed post when I noticed this will be my 75th post! That's a pretty good blogging milestone:)

I promise for my 100th post I'll be more prepared, we'll have a blogging party.

ANYWHO, I haven't sewn anything in almost a month so I was determined to make a little something tonight. I kept putting it off until about an hour ago and then I made this new little friend.

Pretty cute right? I know he is a little lop-sided but I drew up his pattern in a whole five minutes so bare with me.

I'll try to perfect him more in the next couple days. But for now I can go to sleep feeling accomplished:)

Goodnight lovely blog readers.

Ps. Anyone have a good name for him?

xo jess

I would have stayed with you.

Oh a lovely weekend indeed!

This weekend was boyfriends birthday and because he is far from home we wanted to be sure it was a good one:)

We are pretty tight knit with the family I nanny for. We go over there at least once a month for family dinner, and always love it. We just really love those kids and their parents are amazing. We gain just good life things from them.

Anyway, on Friday it was Derek's birthday (dad), and the family invited us out to eat so we could celebrate both birthdays together.

Of course we would never pass it up, we had a really lovely time. And all my kids hand made Greg birthday cards. It was so cute!

I snuck out Saturday morning to have some Bethany Joy time. She made me a super yummy breakfast and showed me her SUPER cute new apartment. I was pretty jealous;)

Here's one of her adorable decorating ideas from the living room,

SO inspiring.

Also saturday we Greg and I had a super simple "us" day. We had a bunch of random errands to run. My boy HATES to shop, especially for clothes. But, with winter coming and his only two pairs of pants both filled with holes, I decided to make him.

That night we had birthday dinner with Greg's meal of choice. We just hung out with the family, opened gifts, and both sketched in our notebooks. (did I mention I got a new craft journal!?) We watched movies and and had cupcakes. It was very cozy.

On sunday, we got invited to Greg's ceramic professors house to help press cider. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL! The house itself was definetly Greg's dream house. Log Cabin style. The inside was to die for. And being a ceramics genius he had made everything. All the dishes, all the tiling on the floor and countertop, and even the bathroom sink.

I could barely take it all in.

The whole afternoon was filled with veggie chili, apple crisp, wonderful conversation, kids, the outdoors, and the most amazing freshly pressed cider, ever.

I wish I could spend more of my days there. It was definitely rest for the soul.

I hope you all had a peaceful weekend as well.

I have things stirring in my head and will hopefully share some of these things soon.

xoxo jbird