Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Just a little Christmas...

Right now I'm in the last three weeks of my first year of nursing school. I have papers and finals to complete and then a little break. I'm trying to get into the Christmas spirit but school is taking up all my time. So I wanted to leave you with a little bit of Christmas....




Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Busy day with my books

Artist: Sean, age 5. (He's now almost 11 now but this is my favorite decoration).

Just want to take the time out of my busy schedule of studying, test taking and more studying to thank you all who left me sweet comments or emailed me about my bedroom makeover. Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to check it out.

I have a big exam today. I'm studying my butt off. Can't wait to graduate next year. 14 months left. Thank you  Jesus!

Have a wonderful week.

Jessica

Friday, October 21, 2011

Bedroom Re-do!

So I had 2 weeks off this summer. Odd. I took advantage of the time and decided it was time to re-do my bedroom.  I spend a massive amount of time in here.  I sleep, study, workout and craft in here. It was time to make my space a place that makes me happy. I totally love the transformation.  I have to thank my husband and my mother for all their help.  So here we go.

First off, I won 2 black and white Chevron pillow cases this summer from The Mathew Family Happenings.  I love them. When I got them in the mail, it totally inspired me to re-do my room. So thanks Mary Kathryn. I heart them.

I went to my parents house for my first week off. They live down the Jersey Shore. My mother is a home decor nut.  We talked all about what I should do and we went to thrift stores in the area. A set of 3 crystal candle holders caught my eye in a house in Tuckerton, NJ. A woman has a house full of antiques and crystal. My mother hates fake crystal so when I said that I liked the candle holders she went over and looked at them.  They were real crystal but they were a little pricey. My mother, one never to pay full price for anything, started her haggling and bam they were now mine! Thanks to my mama! Love her. I love shiny, glittering, fancy, classy Yup,that is me. These now set off my wanting of crystals to be part of my room re-do.


So when I got home from Jersey. I went over to Lowe's and got the paint. Love Valspar High Def paint. I got myself 2 cans of Violet tinted painted. I'm not being paid by Lowe's to endorse Valspar but I truly think their paint is great. It covers so great. I got it in eggshell so that it would be easier to wipe down.  I love this color. Compared to the yellow that the walls were, I feel like I'm in a different room.









Thursday, October 20, 2011

Help the Hungry with 50 Cent One Like=One Meal

Ok, you may or may not know 50 Cent, he's a world famous hip hop artist. "Hey Shortie, it's your birthday.. we gonna party like it's your birthday.." Ok, I'm a suburban white woman, I'll stop. lol. Either way, love Fiddy, as I like to call him. Even my mother likes him.
So anyway, why am I telling  you about Fiddy (50 cent)? Well the man is putting his money where his mouth is. What? For every One Like on Street King on Facebook, he will donate One Meal to the hungry. He's not asking you to donate your money, just Like Street King on Facebook. That's it folks. Please help him reach 100,000,000. Likes. Help him feed 1 million people. Please spread the word by posting it on your Facebook page, on your blog and telling your friends and family.  So just click this hyperlink: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=700201358712

Thanks so much.

Jessica

Visit Jessabells on Facebook too!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Halloween is not even here yet..

Here I am already thinking about Christmas. While Christmas is not my favorite holiday, as a matter of fact it is my least favorite I need to plan early. I know you're thinking what is wrong with this woman? The truth is Christmas is becoming so commercialized and stressful every year.
Last year my children literally picked out the majority of their gifts online and watched me hit the make payment button.  It killed me. Gone were the days when my children would be surprised and excited to open their gifts.  No need to rush down the stairs early in the morning to open the gifts.  It made me so sad last year. My kids get gifts all year long and at this point expect to get whatever they want when they want it. It is my husband and I who did this to my kids.  That is going to change though this year.
This year there will be no Christmas lists. Nope, not one! I don't care what they want. I want Christmas back.  I want my children to put Jesus in the forefront of their thoughts this year.  I want my kids to receive gifts that they didn't pick out but were purchased by my husband and I that were given thought. They will be sadly disappointed to see that their gifts will not cost hundreds either.
I will not be a prisoner to Apple, Xbox, Playstation, Sephora, and all the other brands my kids are heavily influenced by.  I'm looking to Etsy this year to purchase some of my gifts, so if you have an Etsy shop, just leave me a comment below. I will definitely check it out.

It feels like a weight has been lifted off of my chest. It feels good to come out and say it and I appreciate that you took the time to read my thoughts.

Have a great week. Back to school for me. Lots of studying.

Jessica

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Weigh In Wednesday

Doing a quick pop in to say that today is Weigh-In Wednesday and I lost 2lbs!! I'm so happy.  I will share more tomorrow. I'm supposed to be studying right now.  I heart Weight Watchers right now!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Family time on the farm

Sometimes the hardest thing for me is not being able to spend quality family time together. Everyone is so busy all the time. It was nice to get together with my in-laws yesterday along with my husband and 2 of my 3 kids and go apple and pumpkin picking.

Here are a few pics to enjoy.
Strawberry Acres Farm in Coplay, Pa

My family getting ready to pick some apples.


These are Matsu apples. Due to all the rain in the last couple of months they are spotted. 


My daughter and husband taste testing the apples. The sign said that is was fine to sample the apples, just don't make it a meal. The apples got thumbs up from my family. I didn't taste test because my hands were full holding the box of apples and the camera. 

Here is our lot. We didn't get to many because I didn't want to over do it. I did pick up baking apples at the little store at the farm but can't for the life of me remember the name of them.

My daughter pulling my son up to the pumpkin patch.

My son finding me the perfect pumpkin. 

My son felt it was time to take a break so he sat on a pumpkin. 

Must say that the pumpkins were all so great that it was hard to pick the perfect one. We did get 2 though. I was told recently by a patient who owns a farm that pumpkins took a bad hit this year with all the rain. Most farms were bringing in pumpkins from different states because they were not able to grow enough to size without rot. 

My son and I. I just adore our time together. 

This is a view of the farm store. My son is actually jumping of a bail of hay.  










Thanks for stopping by.

Come back tomorrow for my first Weigh In Wednesday.  

Friday, October 7, 2011

Got myself a week off of school..

I have a week off of school. Very odd! I have so much to do. I'm hoping to get in a few blog posts while I'm off. I have to definitely share my bedroom makeover.

Ha! No, this is not me! 

I recently re-started Weight Watchers. I originally tried WW in Feb. but with the stress of just starting nursing school it was a hard thing to keep track of. Now that I am in nursing school and I kinda got my routine down I feel I'm ready to take control of my diet again.  Wish me luck. I will be sharing recipes! I always said I hate to cook but lately I love to cook. I'm cooking more than I'm baking. I cook often but lately I have been really stepping up my game and making different meals compared to the same old, same old.

Please come and visit when you can. Have a great weekend.

Jessica :)

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Knock, Knock, Autumn Calling..

So I am letting go of summer. Wish I could have done more than study. I'm lying. I did go down to the Jersey Shore to visit my parents and spent 5 great days there. I only spent an hour at the beach but at least I got there.
Welcome Fall...
I know it's not fall yet I know it's tomorrow, but this year I am happy to see it come for some odd reason. I think with my crazy schedule of school and studying, having the kids back to school brings me a little less guilt that I don't spend enough time with them. I'm also in a mood to clean up the entire house, bake and decorate for the holidays.

While I don't have much time to create I was able to complete a new Fall wreath for my front door. I was inspired by many blogs around the way and this is what I came up with.

I wrapped a Styrofoam wreath with olive green burlap (got it at JoAnn's).  I then attached 3 flowers (Michael's) with a glue gun. Added a ribbon to hang it and viola..I got Fall wreath. I'm not impressed with it to be honest with you.  It's boring and I have no time to think of what to do with it. I did though  take the time to find some other great wreaths out there for you to check out. Enjoy!

Here are some great Fall ideas that I have seen throughout the web and the blogger-sphere.


Ann from On Sutton Place shared her beautiful front porch. She is truly inspiring. I love the look of the big yellow sunflowers against the navy blue door. Beautiful!!


Beth from Home Stories from A to Z created this beautiful Fall wreath from yarn and felt flowers. She  even has a great video tutorial on how to make felt flowers. 

So this is the wreath that inspired mine. I did use burlap but I didn't make the flowers. Time constants my friends.
make a fall wreath tutorial
I adore this wreath. Linda has been in the Fall mood too I think because she has put up several Fall blog posts. Get over there and check her out!

Tell me this is not a cool looking wreath. It is made out of, get this gold thumb tacks!! Love it. Go check it out. She also made pumpkins covered in gold thumb tacks.


A beautiful corn husk wreath, handmade by Angela of The Nest Home. I adore it and I adore that is was only about $15. to make.

 Weekend Bloggy Reading

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

What I should be doing..

is studying but instead I'm reading blogs.  I'm never going to get A's at this point. Lol. Be back soon with some cool projects and a reveal of my new and improved bedroom makeover!

Have a great day!

Jessica

Sunday, July 31, 2011

So there was a girl and she turned Sweet 16

So the party was over a month ago and with my life being as it is I'm just sharing it with you now. Enjoy!
 The cake and the candles. My husband constructed the candle holder. My daughter cut out letter from foam board, spray painted them black and added silver glitter. I picked up some feather boas at the dollar store and put them behind the letters. We bought tall candles at Micheals. I think this project cost us less them $30. The biggest expense was the candles.  
This would be called the "nightmare cake". Seriously.  The cake was supposed to be 3 tiers but the bottom tier was crushed by the weight of the top two tiers. I did put dowels in the bottom and middle section of the cake but it didn't work out. The bottom of the cake became a trifle instead. Problem solved, nope. The zebra stripes were first made out of fondant, it fell of the cake, we then proceeded to paint the stripes, again another problem averted. And the last problem, the cake was crooked. The top of the cake was iced not once but twice since because I tried to make the cake less crooked. Will say though, the cake was all gone by the end of the night. Gotta love teenagers! 

 The candy table. Instead of favors we decided to do a candy table. Everyone, even the adults loved the candy table. I must thank my mother for this whole set up. She really did most of the work and decorating for the party.
 This is the birthday girl, Samantha, my beautiful daughter. We set up an area for photos. Beaded necklaces, feather boas and Popsicle sticks with mustaches and big red lips for fun photo opportunities. Hardly anyone stood in front of it. I think it was in the wrong spot. 
 The grandmothers! My mother's the blonde in the zebra stripes and my mother in law is in purple. Big thank you to my mother in law for all the cooking she did. Some of my friends finally got to try a rice ball and some really great baked ziti. 
 The candle ceremony was great. For those who do not know what a candle ceremony is, my daughter dedicated her candles to those that mean a lot to her. She  gave a small speech about each person. The person came up and lit the candle with her. My husband and I were her first candle. We love her so much and we were so happy to be able to do this party for her. 
After what seemed like the longest candle ceremony ever, my daughter finally blew out her candles. A great time was had by all and I was exhausted by the end of the night. 

Next party..my daughter and I will be having a big graduation party. We graduate at the same time in a couple of years, she's in high school, I'm in college. 

Thanks for stopping by! 
Jessica

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Friday, July 22, 2011

What do you do during a heatwave? I bake..

Banana Bread that is! 
When you have yourself some really ripe bananas...

you smash em all up..

add some sugar, beaten egg, vanilla, baking soda,...

and a cup and a half of flour..

mix it all up...


take a sip of sangria..

spoon mix into a buttered loaf pan, 
place in hot oven....
(on an extremely hot day)

take it out of the oven an hour later you got yourself a 
very delightful loaf of banana bread! 

That's it! Easy right! 
Yum! 


Banana Bread Recipe
(I found the recipe here.)
Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour
INGREDIENTS
3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar (can easily reduce to 3/4 cup)
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
METHOD
No need for a mixer for this recipe. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour last, mix. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.
Yield: Makes one loaf.




Weekend Bloggy Reading