a little love for Lisa.

My lovely friend Lisa has been going through a rough time lately. She needed to runaway for a little bit. Her little room needed a little makeover for her to come home to and that is just the kind of thing I can definitely take care of.

I saw it in my head immediately and prepped all of the pieces before I went over. I showed up one morning with my market bags full of pretty things and my ipod to keep me going. Her sweet roommate Marisa also gave me somethings to feel free to add to her new space.

I was very happy to have the chance to bring a smile to her face.

Love you, Lisa.

xo j

new recipe: week nine.

So I know I haven't posted one of these in awhile, just know I am cooking new things every week, my ambition to post them just seems to be lacking. If you like them let me know though, maybe your push would make me more motivated to take pictures of what I've been cooking up:)

But today inspired by berry season I decided to keep it simple and sweet...

This Week: Vanilla Cupcakes//Blackberry Icing

Soooo yummy looking right? I was super proud. I kept wishing my friend Lindsey was here to try them! Everyone else in the house was more than happy to taste test though. I am really excited for more berry baking, and even more excited because next week me and B are going to can! I have lots ready for this weekend, cannot wait to share!

sweet sleeps! xo,

j

Strawberry Summer cake

As promised heres a peek as the absolutely divine summer cake my friend Lindsey made while she was in town.

I love the way Lindsey bakes, very simplistic and fresh. She loves to make things that anyone could make simply but what they probably have in their home. No fancy ingredients, no fancy tools. I love that about her baking. My friends all adore anytime she mails me baked goods so they were beyond thrilled to have something right out of the oven.

I cannot wait to help this girl open her bakery someday.

It will be the most lovely, um ever.

Feel free to stop by her blog, it is sure to leave you cravingggg.

xoxo jess

work or play?

So starts summer. And I am a BUSY girl. I can hardly enjoy what I am currently doing because I can't stop thinking of what I have coming next. My planner is about permanently attached to my hand, I am traveling every two weeks for a wedding, and trying to work in between all the chaos.

I started another nanny job for another one of my old students, his name is Xavier.

We have been having a really wonderful time on our adventures and just thought I would share a little peak.

On our nature walk I had Xav collect lots of different kinds of leaves.

I wanted him to really notice their differences more than just the obvious shape. So I thought he should draw them to really grasp it.

Then (of course) I had to stretch him a little and make him use his imagination. I think it is crucial that kids hold it as long as possible. So I glued his leaves to a paper and asked him to turn them into animals. At first he looked at me funny and said "Miss Jessie they're leaves" but I told him to reallllly look. This is what he came up with:

I was super smitten. I love that you can secretly make kids learn on summer vacation:)

Greg was also with me last week so I made him do one too!

Love that my boy still has his imagination, thats one of the many reasons we fit.

more to come. xo. j

button visits bird.

Last weekend I had the great joy of having some visitors from my other home make the trip up here. Not only was I elated to see them but they (of course) brought along my love who I have not seen in over a month. My heart was basically bursting.

I honestly wish I had more pictures to share with you but it was one of the times that you are so in the moment that you forget to capture it. (which I secretly kind of love) I was beyond excited and had just SO much to show them, I think we covered a lot of ground. But of course saturday night we did what we love to do most, cook together and hang out with loved ones. That is just what we did!

My new york and new jersey boo's finally meeting. heart melt.

oooh hawt boyfriend :)

Greg and I can barely handle how seamlessly our friends seem to fit together. We are really blessed to have so many wonderfuls in our lives.

It has honestly been sad without them around and I cannnnot waitttt until they come visit again, love you guys!

ps. you might recognize Lindsey as my friend with the yummy food blog. Of course she baked us something delicious while she was here, but it was so good it really needed its own post:)

xo jess