lovely discoveries

My sil Katie just opened her very own etsy shop and asked me to help share the exciting news! Lovely Discoveries (her shop) is filled with clever gear created by a mom, for moms. Currently, her specialty is making some super unique nursing covers. She was so generous and made one of her awesome car organizers for us to try on our first family road trip to Wisconsin last weekend. {Just back from Jeff's sister's beautiful wedding...so much to share on that subject later!}

We learned early-on that Graham is not always a happy traveler--specifically when awake! Our game plan is to hop in the car and drive until we either a) run out of gas b) reach our destination or c) can no longer stand the incessant screaming in the back seat. So Katie's organizer was a lifesaver for the 6 looong hours over the river and through the woods. The perfect place for keeping pacifiers, snacks, toys, dipes+wipes, and even some mama entertainment within easy reach. An added bonus: I think this bright+busy fabric will be perfect for Graham's curious eyes one day when we flip his car seat to front-facing.

the reasons why::

Why I blog, that is.

Today marks the blog party celebration of Tara Frey's hip new book Blogging for Bliss, written to recognize and inspire crafty bloggers everywhere. Even though I haven't picked up my copy yet, I'm still joining in and attempting to define where I've come from, where I'm going, but mostly why I'm here. I'll attempt to prevent this from becoming too long winded--there's a whimpering, wiggly 2-foot tall man who is in need of more attention.

Blogging enriches my life. Forgive me if you've heard the story--but I began writing about 2 years ago, just days before graduating from college. You see, my sweet husband and I were planning a big adventure in the wild west, and we were hoping to keep in touch with my wonderful friends+family, and document our crazy journey. We chased a crazy dream and lived in California, just for a few years, just for fun.

But wait, there's more! This place quickly took on a life of its own; it became a stash for all things that caught my crafty eye and inspired my design-desperate (wannabe) heart. This probably sounds way too idyllic, but this place has become my little treasure chest for all things beautiful in my world. Pretty pictures, simple crafts, party+decorating inspiration, and perhaps even a recipe or two. These are the things that make me tick.

That's when I realized the biggest blogging bonus: the gift of connecting with other creative, Christ-loving, design-savvy, and/or domestic people. To meet friends in the unlikeliest places is Such a blessing. Perfect strangers have said the kindest things on more than one occasion, and completely turned my day around. They've helped me think of things in an entirely new light. Goosebumps. And on the flip side, I've found some of the most inspiring people out there through reading fabulous blogs. Seriously, it's overwhelming. I am a HUGE fan of idea sharing.

Lately, I'm blogging to archive my wonderful experience of mamahood and more importantly to forever immortalize Graham's fleeting babyhood. I've barely scrapbooked my little G, and so far his baby book leaves something to be desired. But somehow, this blog has motivated me to keep up with his month-to-month milestones. And I adore, no, more accurately am addicted to showing off his ever-chubby cheeks and sideways smiles to you. He is such a joy to us. The best thing ever.

Once in awhile, I even blog to make sense of things. I write to candidly share my heart and blurt out my every weakness (you know, the not-so-swell moments). It's odd, but sometimes feeling completely transparent and humbled in front of all eyes helps put things in the greatest perspective. Slowing down, writing it down, then pausing to reflect reminds me that I am perfected through God's grace. That alone is amazing beyond comprehension.

And well I've listed more than enough personal reasons, I must add that my ultimate hope for this little place is for it to be uplifting and refreshing for your eyes also. May you feel welcome here, find a few ideas or a little inspiration, and share in the crazy journey that is ours.

Enough blah-blah-blabbing about blogging. Now tell me. Why do you blog?
XO Jessica

P.S. One more thing: Speaking of blogging, is anyone else as excited as I am to see Julie & Julia!? Meryl Streep looks too perfect for the role, and Amy Adams, too cute!

10 things I love about you

Snapped these shots last Sunday afternoon, while the boys were chilling in their church duds...10 things I love about Mr. Graham these days {at 3.5 lovely months}:1. The beginnings of baby babble and raspberry bubble blowing
2. He is so BUSY. Seriously the busiest baby ever.
3. Getting more and more coordinated & interested in the world around every minute
4. Reaching for his toys and shoving them directly in his mouth
5. The other day he figured out how to pull out his own pacifier...Too bad he hasn't figured out how to plug it back in!
6. On the verge of rolling, even if it's just side to back to side...
7. He's even giggled and squealed with delight once in awhile when we munch on his cheeks just the right way.
8. Stretching out his feeds to about ever 3 hours, instead of every 2
9. Finally getting over his dirty ear infection...1 month and 3 miserable rounds of antibiotics later. Very exciting!
10. The way he perches in the crook of Jeff's arm and looks like such a Mini-Me. He's seriously the spitting image. And I love that. xo

zucchini bread

Ahh summer. The time for more garden fresh veggies than you know what to do with. Last weekend a garden fresh zucchini larger than my arm fell into my hands. Too huge to handle! Perplexed, I began digging through old cookbooks and recipe boxes. That's when I was reminded of this tasty, moist recipe for Pineapple Zucchini Bread from my mom's friend Anne. The thing I love most about recipes, or at least good home cooking recipes, is that they never go out of style. They usually taste even more delicious than the first time around and evoke more and more memories of warm summer days and freshly baked zucchini bread. It's been way too long since I've shared a recipe around here...So enjoy!
First, grate that gourd into 4 cups of shredded green.
Mix together all ingredients in your trusty Kitchen Aid.Bake, savor aroma, cool, slice, butter, enjoy!

dr. seuss

inspiring literacy on a tuesday morning.

born again thrifter

True confession: I've never been much of a garage sale queen. In the past, the mere thought of a second-hand shopping spree would leave me cowering with the urge to scrub my hands and sanitize my clothes. Not that I've never visited my local thrift stores or scoured over Craigslist. It's just that consignment stores and clearance racks were not my forte. I found the chaos of unwanted, surplus, and used items to be completely overwhelming to say the least.

But that was then, and this is now. I am officially coming out of the closet and proclaiming myself to be a born again thrifter. Second-hand, reused, re-purposed, rediscovered, vintage, antique, you name it, I appreciate it. The past year has really changed my perspective on the value of stuff.

Exhibit A: Martha Stewart Crafts glitter + cards kit, clearance aisle

Some of this stems from Graham's entrance in the world. Kids gear is soo spendy! Once I found his nursery furniture on Craigslist, I was on fire. Yesterday I visited my first kiddy-consignment shop and left with a grin. I'm officially hooked. I found the most darling down jacket and snowpants that will fit him perfectly this winter! Bring on the Minnesota snowstorms, we will be set.

But the thrifting bug bit epecially hard when our budget shrank like my pre-Graham jeans. Leaving cosmopolitan San Francisco, its outrageously-inflated standard of living, and our dual full-time incomes and moving to rural Minnesota jobless has been a dramatic lifestyle change, to say the least. (Not jobless for long--more details soon!) Not to mention, we're house shopping, and all of our loose change is being stashed in the down payment fund. :)

Exhibit B: Antique immigrants' trunk spied at an estate sale $40

Plus, thrifting has become just plain chic. In a culture where it's hip to go green, in an economy where it's wise to pinch pennies, and a society where things sold at Wal-Mart and Ikea are designed to last maybe 5 years, it's a smart choice to reevaluate what is truly needful and make an effort to live a bit more simply. Packing up and moving sooo many boxes made me feel completely disgusting and materialistic. Pretty sure we could live without 80% of that stuff.

Exhibit C: Giant shoebox of rick rack, every size, every color. Thanks to this find at a g-sale, I'll never have to run to the craft store or pay full price ever again.:)

To me, it's exciting to live for less, not to mention addictive. Finding a bargain gives me such a rush. You just never know what treasures are in store. In the right circles, thrifting stories can be like fishing stories. Soon everyone will be getting together to score bragging rights about who found the biggest deal for the smallest price. So go forth, get your thrift on. There are deals to be scored and cash to be saved!

summer treats

First of all, thank you so so much for saying such sweet things about my hair yesterday. I was not expecting that sort of reaction--I am blushing! Then again, I am blessed to have the sweetest people in the world reading this. Yes, I mean you. So anyway, just wanted to share these enormous blooms I snatched from my grandparents' farm last weekend. Hydrangeas are my absolute favorite summer flower--and these look like a giant puffs of cotton candy. Delish.

in short.

call it fresh
call it exciting
call it just in time for the end of summer.
call it Camilla Belle,
call it my inevitable mom chop.
But it's official. My first short hairstyle since freshman year of college. Not sure yet how I feel about it or how I'll style on my own tomorrow morning...

p.s. this tee is on sale here!

kimberly's shower

This weekend, we threw a basket-themed bridal shower for my soon-to-be sil Kimberly. Our friend Kathy's gorgeous house was the perfect setting for such a girly event. Everything came together so nicely and we had a great turn out! In the invitations, we asked each guest to bring a basket filled with goodies for Kimberly & Ben's new home...Everyone chose their own gift basket theme! The posibilities were limitless--picnic baskets, laundry baskets, kitchen baskets, home organizing baskets, gardening baskets, and well, you gather the idea. My mom and I put together a bedroom basket. We found a large rectangular basket with a lid and filled it with a mattress pad, sheets, candles, champagne, and of course a pretty nightie. So fun!
The invites read: "A tisket, A tasket...Let's shower her with baskets!" I crafted the die-cut heart by weaving two patterned purple papers together and sewing around the edges. Hard to tell in the picture, but the little diamond gem sticker in the center helped snazz them up and finish them off.
To carry on the basket theme, we served fruit pies with lattice crusts a la mode...and one key lime pie for some tasty, summer variety.These flowers came fresh from my mom's garden!
I made up little 4x6 cards for each guest to write a piece of advice for the bride. It could be anything from wedding, to happy marriage, to stain-fighting tips. Some were funny, some were profound, and all were highly entertaining. Am planning to tuck them into a mini photo album with snapshots of the shower and mail it off to Kimberly this week. What a fun day to remember!

chair revival

So exciting+inspiring to see my friend Becca featured on Apartment Therapy for showing how she brought this chair and a few other vintage finds back to life. It's amazing what a can of spray paint and funky fabric can do, when combined with a great imagination and a little elbow grease. I heart this chair!