New Year's Resolutions

My favorite part of the New Year is resolutions.  I had a really great 2011.  Here are some of the highlights:

1. I went back to school to finish undergrad.  That meant transferring jobs and moving back to Athens, which was a little stressful, but well worth it.

2. Terry and I vacationed in Naples, Florida!

3. I ran the Warrior Dash with Keats

4. I made a few new friends that have quickly become very important people in my life.

5. My relationship with my parents has never been better :)

6. Dudefriend took me to Asheville for my 23rd birthday.

7. My Grandma turned 70!

I'm really proud of the year I've had, and I'm in such a good place for 2012.  This year, I made 24 resolutions, since my 24th birthday is in November.  

1. Run a 10k.

2. Take a daily multivitamin.

3. Call my Grandparents every week.

4. Read 15 books for pleasure. (I'm one in already!)

5. Make all A's in my classes.

6. Go turkey hunting.

7. Take a trip to the west coast.

8. Go kayaking.

9. Take Dudefriend to Pigeon Mountain to show him the caves.

10. Visit Washington D.C.

11. Buy less coffee out, drink more at home.

12. Wear sunscreen!  I'm so bad about this.

13. Vid-chat with my lil bro.

14. Make time for my friends, old and new.  

15. Build more furniture with Dudefriend!

16. Learn how to clean a fish.

17. Keep my herbs from dying.

18. Take advantage of all the free parks and exhibits in Athens.

19. Take more photos.

20. Go to a winery with Terry.

21. Talk to my professors during their office hours.

22. Craft crafts I love to craft.

23. Write more, here and personally.

24. EAT. DELICIOUS. FOOD.

I couldn't be more excited.  Good luck on your resolutions!

BOOK REVIEW

(When I told my mom I wanted this book for Christmas, her response was "Why? The Office isn't even funny."  Moms.)

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? And Other Concerns

by Mindy Kaling

I usually don't read books in one sitting, but much like Tina Fey's book, I devoured this in a couple of hours.  Mindy has the best voice (I guess that's to be expected, she's a writer and comedian) and her chapters read like your best friend is telling you the funniest story.  

What really impressed me is that while the entire thing is hilarious, it's also so very relate-able.  Reading about her struggles to accept critique and work in a writing group - learning to play well with others - is a lesson anyone (me me me) can definitely pocket.  Her honesty is admirable.  Every time I've hears someone mention this book, their response is always how much Mindy is like them.  I think this is just because everything she writes is so honest, how could it NOT reflect your life too?  Real-world observations and experiences.

I definitely recommend.

Excerpt on Amazon.

Painting under the influence

A few years ago, Terry and I used to have Craft and Beer Fridays, where we would get together and craft under the influence*.  Well, tonight Dudefriend and I got the opportunity to imbibe while taking a painting lesson!  We checked out Pints and Paints (due to a sweet sweet Dealmob we received as a gift) and had a blast.

The picture was called "Iron Horse."  I think I won.  I mean, whoops.  It's not a competition. It's not a competition. It's not a competition.

*Crafting under the influence, unlike painting under the influence, is not an activity for novice crafters.  Please note that I do not endorse amateur drunk crafting.  It takes years of glue gun burns and needle-wielding to be able to hold your own on the craft frontier.  It's a dangerous world.  If you don't believe me, pick up a copy of  Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People at your local bookstore.**

**(guys, that's actually a really funny video, you should watch it)

Happy New Year

xoxo, Jess and Moof

Gift Wrappin'

Have you guys noticed how expensive wrapping paper is? This Christmas, I'm a little low on funds (going back to school has this way of sucking you dry) and so I wanted a way to wrap presents and make them look cute, but on the cheap.

Solution: paper bags. I asked the cashier at Kroger for some extras, and they gave me a whole stack!

First, I cut down the middle of one side and then cut the bottom out to make one long peice, like this. I saved the bottoms to make gift tags.

Wrap up your box, and you'll discover that it's a great blank canvas!

I took pastels and drew designs. You could also decoupage, use stickers or stamps, or even leave it blank!

I had leftover tissue paper from last year and yarn from my Charlie Kelly Halloween costume, so I used those to dress up the package.

This post by one of my favorite bloggers, Delightfully Tacky, reminded me of the pompoms I used to make as a kid. Her method is a little different than mine: I just wrap yarn around my fingers a bunch of times, and then carefully slide it off.

Tie your yarn ball carefully (and VERY tightly) to the top of the package. You want it tight, or else it will fall apart.

Clip the loops and fluff out the yarn so it's a pompom!

I used scrapbook paper and the bag bottoms to make gift tags. I had that little clay stocking left over from a few years ago too, so I used it to tie the yellow tissue paper in to the rest of the package.

Voila! There are a bunch of variations, but it's fun and cute, and super cheap!

Jess Gets Competitive

A couple of nights ago, dudefriend and I competed in (and won!) a Gingerbread House competition!

Our theme was "Gingerbird House"

We made the sidewalk out of Big Red chewing gum, and the bushes out of broccoli.

I curled up pieces of chewing gum to add texture to the roof. Dudefriend carefully cut a hole in the front of the house for the bird to get in and out, and then an even smaller hole for the candy cane perch.

There's even a little pretzel privacy fence, engineered by dudefriend, to keep out the "Peep-ing Toms"!

The back of the house has another hole - a window, complete with pretzel windowpanes and a flower box filled with Nerds.

The piece de resistance: Peeps!

Tree Trimmed

A few days ago, dudefriend and I bought a little 4ft tree from Lowes to decorate. I think it's so adorable!

This little poinsettia deer at Cracker Barrel, of all places. They always have neat folky ornaments. I may switch the gold cord he's hanging on for a red ribbon.

We picked that little robin ornament up in downtown Asheville, he looks so nice nestled in the branches.

My mom gave us this glittery snowman, and a matching reindeer.

I made two strands of bunting in lieu of garland. I just used scrapbook paper and yarn, and a hole punch. 2 sheets of 12x12 paper yielded 2 4ft strands, with leftover paper for gift tags!

Moof and I donned our Christmas clothes. He *loves being a rein-cat!

*hates