Let it Snow! Happy Holidays!

Kurt has to do this for me often during the winter months...love it! :)

Christmas lights make me so happy, can't wait to drive around and see them tomorrow.

First of all, couldn't you see yourself sitting out there all cozied up with a cup of hot chocolate and marshmallows? And then second of all, that post is make of a tree trunk-what a great idea!

I'm so very grateful that Kurt and I are going to have two whole days off together, which happen to be Christmas Eve and Christmas!!! So grateful. Today, I woke up without any desire for caffeine simply because I'm super excited about our weekend (Holiday) plans! :) Tomorrow, we intend to do all things fun and relaxing...this usually includes, good food, chocolate, Cabela's, movies, and snuggling. We are also going to a midnight mass with his family (which I have never done before and am very excited to get all gussied up and go to)! Christmas day will start with singing in the choir that my mom directs at my family's church and then splitting the day between both sides of our families. 

Christmas with my dad is very enjoyable because he still acts so much like a kid that it's hard not to get all excited yourself! :) Love you dad! I'm still holding out for our weather to turn cold and snowy, but the forecast doesn't say anything about being below 40 degrees the whole weekend so I don't think that's going to happen. One can only hope it does though...

Happy Holidays to you all! Hope it is one of peace, joy, laughter, friendship, and love.

Swiss Miss

I love hot chocolate but I'm really talking about Switzerland, where there is fresh foods, fresh air, and fresh design elements EVERYWHERE to be found! I'm liking the darker, clean lines of some of these pics that are Swi-nspirational! :) Enjoy...

Weekend Exploring!

We are going to a midnight mass on Christmas Eve with Kurt's family, pretty excited!

Perfection!

Reminds me of my own wedding!

This weekend we are WORKING. But, knowing us, we will make the best of it and do some cooking and baking and Christmas shopping! What about you?

So This is Life...

Yeah, we've got baby on the mind, hehe!

I'm jumping right back where I left off...

Today is Thursday. It has been a long time since I've blogged for various reasons, however, I'm back and ready to bring you some fabulous posts.

First off is the new blog I found myself... : Lyla & Blu, an amazing picture/inspiration vintage femi/wood-chopper type blog by Lyla and Blu. Love.

Also, some things I've NOT taken for grated lately...

First and foremost-L.O.V.E

Love- In public :)

Peonies-my favorite!

No explanation needed...

Metal and Lace

Oh the secret whispers!

The desire to have a wood burner is beYYOnd!

What are some things that you have not taken for grated lately? Holiday plans? 

P.S. It's soooo good to be back! :)

Post Friday Post

Sorry bloggers for my lack of postage this week! Many changes on this side of the computer screen. All good ones though! :) To be short and sweet, I love my life, I am in love with a gorgeous and talented man who sings and dancing with me (hehe) and I am always in awe of the beauty surrounding me! Nature and food and fashion and design. Here's to seeing the holidays just around the corner and enjoying all that life has to offer! :)

Thanks to Cup of Jo for providing me with some serious eye candy of Gene Kelly. I love him.
I want to be here with my husband

How Jessica (that's me) Got Her Groove Back!

My heart beats, again. 

I wake up with excitement, again.

The journey is feeling better, again.

My destination is not the focus, again.

I've gotten my groove thang back, again!

Yippee!

Job changes, as monumental or as small as they can be, make it or break it-in my world! I went from a "looks good on paper, semi-stable, respectable, variably rewarding" job, to something that some might see as an "in-between" job. The difference for me is- the first job mentioned made me depressed, less focused on the present and worried too much about the future. My current job makes me excited to do my hair and makeup in the morning, clean our apartment, and be lovey to my husband! Which sounds better to you?

I have heard many a story about how this 'triple doctorate professor from blah-de-blah ivy league school quite her job to be a barista because it made her happier', even with such a drastic pay cut. These stories sounded corrupt to me! How on earth, can someone making hundreds of thousands of dollars not be as happy or feel as complete as someone who makes barista wages? They could probably just pay someone to make them happy, right?  ...I get it now. Though, I've never made hundreds of thousands of dollars (sounds pretty cool, still) I do know happy from unhappy. I've been *unhappy long enough in my short 24 years of life, to know that I should change things so that I can be happy again.

NOT WORTH IT! It's not worth living from day to day, stressing, begging, and being unhappy. It's not for me! Not now, at least. Right now, I'm just a few years recovered from my eating disorder, a few years married to my Prince Charming, and a few years happy. I can't quit happy yet. Not now! Actually, not ever! Dollar signs and resume references aren't my goal, because they can't be in order for me to be happy! I enjoy doing the simple things in life.

The simple things in life create the most joy for me! Though a self proclaimed feminist, I derive a serious amount of pleasure from cooking, cleaning, decorating, the idea of having babies with the love of my life, and fashion! :) Without being able to do those things, I loose my sense of self. I loose what most matters to me. Those things make me.

I'm sure I can't be the only one who has made sacrifices either for or against a job in relation to happiness! What's your story? I'd love to feature someone's story and maybe collaborate! Tell me, have you lost your grove? Did you get it back? What did you do?


*Please note, dear family and friends, my childhood was filled with magical, loving, and wonderful times that I hold very near and dear to my heart. I had a joyful childhood. It's just those gosh darned hormone raging teenage years combined with my semi-neuroticness and self inflicted perfectionism that caused (my dear horrified parents to spend thousands of dollars on) therapy sessions. :) All is well in my world now! :)

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

I certainly enjoy all holidays, especially when they involve twinkle lights and food! Can I get an amen? So, in honor of all that is delicious and sparkly I will devote the rest of the week to decorating and primping for the upcoming holiday! :) What are you doing to get ready for Thanksgiving? What are you doing that day? 

P.S. I love the New York Christmas Tree Lighting every year and the Victoria Secret Fashion Show- they both remind me of the holidays! hehe!