In A NutShell

To My Eight Loyal Followers (And Anyone Else Who Happens Upon My Blog),

I feel I owe an explanation to my recent failure to blog. But that would be super boring and I don't want to start there. I would much rather like to say..."Opps, My Bad." (But do people still really say "my bad" anymore though? Well I just did. How'd you like that? Boo-Ya! Ha!)

Anyways a break was taken and now I'm back! Guess Who's Back, Back Again! I know your hearing that Eminem Song...I sure am. Oh I'm the only one. Well at least I'm jamming alone! Smile*

I do feel the need to do a quick "Jenn in a Nut Shell" recap of the past....oh geez...has it really been a month. Once again. My Bad. I won't fail you this big again...Scouts Honor. Or Something like that I guess. 

So Here it is...

In A Nutshell:

• I've done some DIY Projects - Including Inspirational Ideas (Some examples to come...)

• Road Trip Weekend to Austin (Oh man am I in Love! Video to come...)

• Saw the Cirque Du Soleil Show OVO. (Incredible) 

• Harry Potter Book 7 Complete! (I'm so happy! I know everything now! I can't wait for the movie! It's   

  going to be epic! I know, I know...say it...I do...NERD!)

• Work Trip to STL (More fun at the City Museum. Had an amazing photo shoot for Dr Pepper!)

• I went to my very first Hockey Game Ever! (And I'm going to my second tomorrow night...with a boy! 

  I'm sure I'll have plenty to post on that soon enough...)

• I'm starting to sew again (I've got a skirt in mind that I have been dying make...I'll definitely post about 

  that one...for sure...that will be quite the little experience I'm sure of it....ha!)

• New Music I've Fallen For: The Civil Wars, Adele 21 and Mindy Glenhill. All I can say is: LOVE.

So that's some of the big stuff that's been making me too busy to blog (LAME)...but really no excuses here...I've got so much to tell you guys! I just can't wait!

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Oh Happy Day!

Happy Singles Awareness Day Everyone! With no one to send gifts to or receive them from this year...this topic has been fresh on my mind today. Each one of the married or dating girls in my office received their outpouring of gifts. Flowers filled the room with their sweet perfume. Cards sweetly opened on their desks with xoxoxo written on them. Chocolates in heart shaped boxes that made you want to dive right in...and...I couldn't help...I mean it was really hard not too...but...I gave in and...I let it consume me...it started as just a twinge of jealously...it crept up on me, but as the day went on...it was a monster that grew stronger and stronger.

I know...I know....I shouldn't be jealous. I should be happy for these girls. Today they received proof that someone was thinking about them. They waited their whole lives for this kind of man. The man that likes to show the world how much he cares for her...Just like I currently am...

I'm waiting...sitting around...twiddling my thumbs...hurry up please! (I'm just super impatient) I keep thinking, "Really? What's the hold up? I want flowers too! I want that visible proof someone loves me!"

My thoughts and emotions kept feeding the monster...but it was struck down. 

He did not show his face today. Nor do I know if he will any time soon. So I will have to make due with those around me who do love me. 

I have come to realize that singleness, for me at least, is just going to be a season in my life. I know that God has created me to be a wife and mother...someday that is. I'm not in any hurry...it's just that days like today...remind me of the love I long to have here on earth. But days like today...they also bring me right back into the arms of my creator. He blessed me with the ultimate gift so many years ago. He died so that I might live. He rose again. And He is coming back someday. 

So I will choose not to be swallowed by loneliness that singleness sometimes carries with it...but I will choose to be Happy and Full-Filled in Christ. And I am Happy. 

Plus...what is that I see on the counter? A card!?!?!!! FOR ME!!!!

OH HAPPY DAY! 

Thanks Mom and Dad for reminding me of your love.
P.S. My roommate brought some flowers home...so that was just icing on the cake! 

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DIY Slumber Party!

For most the snowpocalypse last week seemed to dampen the spirits here in DFW. The Superbowl was days away and we were crippled by the lack of snowplows and salt trucks. But here in F-Town (Frisco, that is) we found a way to make life a little more interesting...You know. Mix it up a bit. Being trapped indoors for so long we had to do something. So we decided to "live" in the living room. It's a simple concept really once you think about it. And it was there we set up camp. Pulling my mattress out of my quaint but messy room, we transformed our living room into the perfect DIY Slumber Party.

It really makes the room way more interesting...don't you think?

Amira Likes It.

It wouldn't be complete without a fire.

Figuring we shouldn't just stop there...we went one step further. With creativity alive with in us...(to most we just moved a mattress...but we turned a dreary day into an enjoyable one)...we couldn't contain it any longer. So our DIY slumber party became just that. We started making things. Betsy: started the final touches on a cross stitch she swears she started as a kid...& I: made a necklace out of an old t-shirt (like the one I saw on the blog A Pretty Penny).

Betsy and Her Cross Stitch from the 90s. 

What's that you say? You want to make a t-shirt necklace as well. That's not a problem. Below I've given some step by step instructions on how to make your very own, recycled t-shirt necklace.

An Old T-Shirt or Tank & A Pair of Scissors

First, Cut off the hem of the shirt and discard these pieces. You won't need them. Then take your shirt at the bottom line it up and start cutting 1/4 strips. You will cut as many of these as you want and place them off to the side.

Second, you will want to take your pieces that you have cut and stretch them out to the desired length. Take whatever left overs you have of your shirt and either save them for another project or dispose of them as you like. (tip: some might use the left overs as a cleaning rag)

Third, you will want to take your pieces and group them out until you have the desired look for your necklace. Then find the part of the necklace that you would like to tie it together. 

Fourth, using the leftover fabric, cut a small strip of any desired length and tie it around the top of your necklace, until tight. 

Fifth, Admire your handy work. You've just made a pretty good looking accessory. Well done.

Sixth, Wear it. That is all. 

VHS of My Best Friend's Wedding + Fire + Mattress on the Floor = DIY SLUMBER PARTY

And now back to my sleep over. My Best Friend's Wedding (by the fire I might add)...Here we come.

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Lessons Learned

My mindset has been slightly revamped in the past 30 days. I've set forth on a new territory and I'm charting the waters. I'm no cartographer, but I knew I needed a new course. I didn't realize quite how much. My biggest discovery of this decade (for me anyways) was realizing my addiction to clothing. They say the first step to solving the problem is admitting you have one. So there you have it world. I'm an Addict! I LOVE CLOTHES! I LOVE SHOPPING!

Buying new clothing had a way of making me feel like a million bucks (although I'm not sure how since money doesn't have feelings...anyways back to the point). After afternoons of emptying my wallet and charging my credit cards, I would go home and take everything out of the bags, rip the tags right off each piece and plan the next few days of attire. I would wear them and basically forget about them forever. Once it was worn...it was old. It lost all the luster it had suckered me into the initial purchase to begin with. And thus the cycle was unstoppable.

I took a swan dive into what was probably the best thing I could have ever done. The 30 for 30 Challenge was more than I expected it could be. I know I probably didn't do the best I could have as several days I found myself at a loss. Having to constantly look back at my blog to make sure I hadn't created that ensemble already. I admit that happened at least once. I almost had the same outfit on, but changed it before I had myself a blogging blunder. NOT that it's a mortal sin to wear the same combination, I just wanted to challenge myself to find every possible avenue for each item. 

And now. I've never desired my closet more...I couldn't wait to "shop" my closet again. I love my closet. More than ever before. I get really excited to pick out my clothes for the next day. It's no longer a chore, but now a prize. I want to make each outfit super cute and creative. I want to show off my personality. And now I'm having fun at it...So let's see....

What outfits did I have the most fun with during the past 30 days....?

I'm gonna go with Outfits....drum roll please......(badadadadadadada.....):

#5, #6, #15, #16, #17, #19, #20, #22, #29 AND #30!

Now that you know my favorites. I wanna know yours. Leave a comment below and let me know! 

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Weatherman 1, Me 0

I've come to seriously doubt the weather man when it comes to winter weather. And I love the winter weather, but you'd come to feel this way too if you lived in Texas (for those of you who do live in Texas please accept my apologies for you really do understand). It's just that it was the most lovely weekend...sunny and 70 with a nice cool breeze. So forgive me when I snickered at the thought of a ridiculous winter storm that would keep the temperatures so low it would be one of the worst we'd have seen in a long time.

But the weatherman sure did show me up this time. This one is a doozie for us here in the DFW area. We have solid ice covering the roads with little to no chance of melting till later this week. It isn't a blizzard, that's for sure, but it is one of the most crippling things that could happen to an area that has no idea what to do with snow. You want an example. I thought you'd never ask. So here it goes. I live about 5 minutes away from my office. But today it took me 45 minutes to get back to my home. Not all because of the roads, but when I finally did get to my apartment complex it was blocked. About 4+ cars were stuck on the slight incline of a hill. There was no moving them. I had to park down the street and walk. It was super unfortunate as the walk took a good ten minutes and the wind chill was 3 degrees. Lovely I tell you. Lovely. At least it was snowing. And that makes the cold worth it.

And not to forget, we have a ridiculous amount of people trying to travel to town for the SuperBowl. It's gonna get pretty crazy real quickly. I can feel it. But until then I will curl up next to the fire and drink my hot cocoa. Watch the frozen tundra that is DFW and accept my defeat to the weatherman with a smile. Ah yes...this is nice.

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An Unforeseen Friendship

Heels and I are becoming friends these days. I wasn't always a big fan, as I am ridiculously tall already and don't need any encouragement. But with all the cute new boots out there...I've decided to give heels a chance. And you know what? They are not all bad. I like how pretty looking my feet are while wearing them. I just wanna look at them. And I'm getting much better at walking in them. I'm no longer tripping as much. (Ha. I used to trip a ton in heels. I wasn't quite sure how to carry myself in them...some days I still don't). 

Well, I'm not saying that all heels are saints or anything. But some heels don't deserve the bad rap that they get. Others that I have tried have been outright awful to my feet should maintain their awful reputation. But today's choice of heel. A slate modern ankle boot = Heaven. These shoes were made for me. I say that but they do feel a bit big, but all in all I'd like to give my grandma credit for picking these up for me. Good Job Gran!

Necklace: Thrifted

Blazer: H&M

Dress: Target

Belt: H&M

Tights: Avenue

Boots: Avon

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30 of 30! Mission Accomplished!

A celebration is in order! I made it! 30 out of 30! Who knew? I mean I seriously doubted myself. I probably shouldn't of...but I just didn't know if I could do it. I've come across enough bloggers who tried and didn't finish, which increased my doubt...and I've had a nasty habit, as of late, with not finishing the things I start. But I did it. I finished! And I'm sooo proud. Super proud, in fact. I feel like I've learned a lot about what I can do. Both with general tasks that I put my mind too and the remixing my closet. 

I suddenly feel way more confident on my abilities to make super cute outfits that are unique...without (and here's the shocker)...spending money. It's like a new super power that I've acquired and learning to use. Just like peter parker was bit by the spider and had to learn to use his super cool webs to get places and save people, I've learned to use my new "super powers" to save my bank account and closet. I know. I might actually save up some monies now. Shocker. Now that I'm not just spending all my time trying to shop for a new look. I now hold the knowledge on how to piece together a creation that will put me in all kinds of fashion magazines as a style guru (yeah, I wish). At least now I feel like I can feel more creative in the way I display my personality to the public eye. And that's really what matters. I have a new appreciation for the stuff I already have. So I'm just gonna pat myself on my back now and bust the lock off my closet door and say hello! It's time for a reunion. 

So Goodbye 30 for 30 and...Hello Closet! Did you miss me?!?!? Cuz I certainly missed you....Oh. This is gonna take a while. Oh...till tomorrow then.

Hat: Forever 21

Blouse: LOFT

Necklace: Thrifted

Belt: Forever 21

Skirt: Target

Leggings: Target

Flats: Target

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No Shame in a Free Weekend

Free Weekend. Free. Oh Boy, Free. The ability to do whatever I want. No plans. No requirements. Nothing. Just straight up Freedom. And I don't know if I can really fully explain the need for this. But after two weekends of travel it's been really nice to stay at home. Not a lot was accomplished. But I'm pretty sure that's the point. I mean really. What's a free weekend...if you fill it up. Technically, I guess you could say that I filled it up...with relaxing. Ah Yes. Sweet Relaxation. That is nothing to be ashamed of. At least not right now...Sigh* What a great weekend.

Hat: Thrifted

Earrings: Target

Jacket: J. Crew Outlet

Blouse: LOFT

Trousers: LOFT

Heels: Target

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Snuffles and His 15 Minutes of Fame

I'm learning to be very aware of my surroundings. I've learned I might regret it otherwise...yikes. Anyways, yesterday I went out with tripod and camera in hand and took these photos at about 5:30 pm. It didn't take very long and soon after my roommate came outside to joke with me...it was all good fun. But, this morning while walking my dog, my neighbor asked me if I saw the bobcat yesterday. I mean I have seen some around in the area in previous years, but never in the front lawn of my apartment before. He then informed me that the cat was seen 5 pm the same day...

So if you consider the timeline, there was a bob cat looming around the of our apartment complex that I was taking photos...practically around the same time I was alone with my tripod and camera. So I promptly picked up two sticks and started banging them together...(get the parent trap reference there...no...oh...oh well...smile*) Anyways...I bet if we looks super close into the background of the photo we should see a Bobcat by the name of Snuffles (I just made that up) peering in for his chance to be famous on the internet. Go ahead Snuffles and Smile Big for the Camera. Ha. Anyways...next time I think I'll double check my surroundings before just prancing outside into the brush to take some photos. Just a little bit...yeah....

Scarf: Target

Cardigan: Nordstrom Rack

Blouse: Target

Necklace: Avon

Jeans: Thrifted Levi's

Flats: Target

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