jay-z presents:

outfit of the day:
he really wanted to be involved today!

jacket: forever 21
blouse: h&m
skirt: i made it
boots: vintage

paparazzi!

happy sunday, lovers! ♥

jessie homemaker?

naww...but i did make some stuff this week. in keeping with my 4 simple goals, i've been trying [read: struggling] to make meals for dinner. a couple months ago i found a recipe in real simple for this cheesy chicken concoction and i thought, "hmm...josh might actually like that!" so this week i decided to finally make it.


it looks a little weird but trust me, it was delish. i couldnt find the recipe online [they probably dont put it online because it's in the mag? idk] but if you want the recipe you can email me.

now...a few weeks ago we were watching project runway and then josh goes, "why dont you ever make me anything?" and i was like "umm....you've never asked?" and then he asked me to make him a tshirt that would fit him perfectly. i figured a t-shirt would be pretty easy, and set off to buy some knit fabric the next day. i didn't have a coupon for joann's, so the materials ended up being about $10 per shirt (i bought enough to make 3). i took one of josh's favorite shirts that fits him pretty close to perfect, and traced it (i used wrapping paper for the pattern, haha). i was really nervous about the sleeves, but they actually ended up perfect..

the HARDEST part for me was the stupid collar. i scoured the web for tips and tricks and how i should do it exactly. i redid that collar so many times i wanted to rip up the shirt. the first time i couldn't even stretch it right to line up at all. the second time it was too small and josh couldn't even get his head through. then times 3-5 it made it look like a turtleneck. that was a lot of seam-ripping. finally, the 6th time it looked semi-normal. i had him try it on and the collar was a tiny bit too big for his liking, and you could see part of his undershirt (which is one of his biggest pet peeves, and the major reason he wanted me to make him shirts). so, i improvised. i cut the collar and down into the shirt, and then sewed it off to the side. it created an obvious pucker, but i was SO sick of it by then i didn't even care. i added buttons and voila...a modern shirt? after all that work, it only turned out ok.


determined to make a better shirt, yesterday i started shirt #2. i finished it today, and the collar turned out perfect THE FIRST TIME! i ignored the instructions i found online and just winged it myself. and voila: perfection. i sewed a little pattern on the front and after it's washed it will [hopefully] fit perfect. [i guess practice really does make perfect? or somewhat close to it...]

bad picture, horrible lighting, yada yada. sorry.

also, i made another elastic waist skirt. it was just so easy, i had to do another one. i'm planning on wearing it to church tomorrow, so maybe i'll do an outfit post for it or something. i'm glad i've been sewing more, and i hope to keep getting better and better as i keep sewing and trying new and challenging projects. and if you ever see josh and he's wearing one of my shirts, please just tell him it looks good. for my sake, not his. haha ♥

thank you betty

last week i made cookies. they were delicious. oatmeal chocolate chip, a la betty crocker [oh,and a la csn]. i got a silicone baking mat from them because i was really intrigued by the one my mom had. this one was only $9, and was awesome. it was delivered within a day or two after ordering it. the cookies baked evenly and perfectly, and slipped right off the mat. when i was all done i threw it in the dishwasher, even though the only stuff that was left on it was some melted chocolate chips. it came out perfectly clean and i was so happy!

the baking mat fit right into the cookie sheet, and was awesome. i hate washing cookie sheets so it was awesome that this could be folded up and thrown into the washer. and the cookies were DELICIOUS! i swear they were all gone in a 24 hour period.


ALSO, i have been doing better at making dinner. tonight i wanted to go out to eat but instead we stayed in and i made something for the first time [by myself]: french toast. yummmmmmm! the funny thing is, it's one of my all-time favorite meals. yet i always rely on others to make it for me. so finally tonight i got it together, and me and betty put our heads together and came up with this:

yum! it was delish. while i was still cooking some on the stove josh was preparing his french toast. he was adding powdered sugar and this was the conversation that followed:

josh: mmmmm, do you understand how good powdered sugar is!? whoever invented it is genius. it's like heaven!
me: umm...i know. when i was younger i would sneak into the pantry with a big soup spoon and eat it out of the bag.
josh: well well well, jess did start young!

hahaha. it's true. happy weekend!! ♥

weekend re-cap, and an outfit post!

i cut my hair [on friday]. only like 2 inches though. so hopefully all those dratted split ends are gone, and it's a nice length. definitely not borderline gross anymore haha. and i dyed it so it's all one nice color again. farewell, roots! so...i took this haircut opportunity to turn in into an outfit post. josh was, of course, thrilled. ok, well he might have been simultaneously shooing me away while watching to catch a predator (addicting!), but he managed to snap a few pics haha.

my traditional "peace" pose of course

clearly NOT paying attention. thanks joshy. but kind of funny haha.

andddd:blurry full-length shot.
top: nordstrom (so mj, right? i am feelin it lately!)
tank: wet seal (for like $2)
heart necklace: lia sophia
jeans: truck
snakey flats: charlotte russe (i never go in there but i did on a whim. i'm glad, too, cuz these were only $10 and i wear them all the time now!)

yesterday i went with my friend to a local antique/plant/crafty shop. i don't know how to explain it, i just like it. i've gone before and scored some nice stuff, that you can see in this post. i ended up buying an old vogue pattern, a lot of vintage lace, vintage buttons, and some awesome hankerchiefs. i have some ideas for these beauties, and i will keep you posted. [they also relate to one of my goals!] unfortunately i had a ten dollar limit (hello, medical bills!) so i was unable to get some other awesome things. like these:

vintage turquoise singer. in working condition. i wanted to cry. i think it was $65? $75?

this set of awesome blue/chrome chairs. $45 each tho...what a rip off. ew...do i look creepy in this picture? oh well...

yesterday we also watched gran torino with some friends. if you haven't seen it, you need to. the end sort of makes me cry, which was embarrassing since there were people over, but oh well.

then tonight we went and had a birthday dinner at josh's parents house. josh turns the big 2-6 this month, and my little niece sunny turns 6. it was a great time. unfortunately...i didn't take out my camera. oops! it was fun though and we had some delish fish and chips! it's so nice having good seafood (i'm from maine, you know...comes with the territory). so thanks for the fun birthday bash, in-laws! we had an awesome time ♥

i hope everyone had a lovely weekend! i have to go to bed now or i will never wake up for work. boo... nighty night!

the list

4 simple goals before 2011
a blog / life movement by elsie flannigan
ps: that's me calling it a blog/life movement. not her. she isn't one to be self-important like that. it's just what i named it haha.

1. start making dinner again. incorporate more [at this point...any] veggies. lets face it, i need to eat better. i can't blame my not eating vegetables on juji's hatred of vegetables.


2. shop less, make more. this is for clothing and accessories mostly. i have a shopping problem and with all the medical bills we will be facing in the near future i need to squash it asap.


3. make more time for things. i always think or say "oh, i didn't have time to do this or do that." when really, it's i didn't make time for things. activities, friends, spending more time with juji, crafting, lets face it...showering, etc


4. stop feeling like i'm fat. stop comparing my weight to my husbands (i weigh 4 pounds less, thus the complex). work on the pooch...or accept the pooch. stop complaining about it. try to do my workout dvd at least once a week.

[all images via we heart it]

those are my goals. they are honest, i want to do them, and i think they will improve my life. lets hope i can stick with them and have some self control. are you participating in this? what are your goals?