jessica*bree

General Check-in

What I am making: lots of cards and maybe a mini about all the places I have visited

What I am worried about: my health/Crohn's & sinus issues :(

What I have planned: I am going to a crop in July and Jojo is coming to visit us for Memorial Day Weekend!

What I am watching: The Killing (so good!), The Good Wife (finally took Lucinda's advice and started watching this), The Wire (on HBO GO)

What I am into: Obsessed with Taco Casa, my recent discovery!  So so yummy for fast food.

What I am thinking about: Still learning about Texas, both good and bad.  There are a lot of things I really like about Texas (the people, the open land, the cost of living) but I struggle with some things (the highly conservative politics, the pro-life stance and what seems to be less acceptance of gays).

Sharing some cards

I have really been into card making in the last few months and realized it might be nice to share some on my blog.  One thing I recently did was to create a few of my own printables to use on my cards.  I made a 4x6 sheet of hearts that I then created in various color combos I had pinned.  I printed them onto everyday photo paper and then cut circles and clouds out of the paper.  The reason for using photo paper is because the colors are so rich and vibrant.  

By making my own printables, I was able to pull together colors that I didn't have in any one paper line.  I used the color combos of the hearts to then gather papers from various lines for my cards.  It was a great way to use up left over papers :)

I have also been into layering, as you can tell from these cards!

The two cards above were both inspired by this color combo I pinned:

The one above is MY FAV colors lately, but I also played with some other combos...

 

I will share more cards soon!  Thanks for looking :)

 

Weekly Update

Okay trying to get back into updating my blog...

 

First an annoucement that I am now officially part of Scrapfreak as a DT member.  Come check it out!

www.scrapfreak.com

Now for my weekly update:

What I have been doing: Work took over my life for a while there.  Just so much travel and so much going on.  But this last week was my vacation and we just stayed at home.  I have LOVED every minute of it.  See scrappy page (bad blurry photos) about it at the bottom of this post.

 

What I have been thinking about: About getting balance back in my life.

 

What I have created: I worked a lot on my on-going smashbooks, creating several pages and doing some challenges for the crop over at scrapfreak.  I also knitted a bit.  I am almost done with my shawl I am making.  

 

What I have planned: NOTHING... its kind of nice.  But I am thinking about trying to do some of the knitting meet ups around here that I never made it to in the fall.

 

What I have been into: watching Felicity re-runs, eating too much cake from Nothing Bundt Cake, smashbooks, and buying new tops for work.

 

What I want to do: I want to be happy... to stress less.  This seems to be a theme lately :)

Fall TV

Today I was reminded of my duty when it comes to Fall TV recommendations.  I watch so much TV that many of my friends now depend on me to filter thru it all and recommend what is worth watching.  I wil admit that moving to Texas and adjusting to all the changes at work has gotten a bit in the way of my TV viewing, but I made some adjustments and got back on it!  I mean how can I let my friends down?  So here goes my current views on the new TV.

 

New Stuff I Like So Far...

1. New Girl - one girl, three guys, random singing, funny lines... this show walks a fine line between quirky hilarity and trying too hard.  So far, I am liking it, but need to see a couple more episodes to know.  My lead fav new comedy so far.
2. Up All Night - another quirky show that shows potential about a couple that has a baby and is still trying to figure it out.  I loved how they went out all night partying and realized they can't do that anymore with a baby.  It's a bit crass and over the top but worth checking out.
3. 2 Broke Girls - This new show is like the odd couple for modern times... a street savvy girl meets spoiled but smart rich girl who is suddenly broke.  Not great but better than a lot of the tv out there.
4. The Secret Circle - teen paranormal show about a circle of witches.  If you like reading young adult urban fantasy stuff (vampires, witches, etc.) then this show is worth checking out.  I am looking forward to seeing more!

 

No sold yet...

1. Free Agents - The show is based around 2 characters who work together and just hooked up.  One is recently divorced and still dealing with the emotional fall out while the other had her fiance die a year ago.  Somehow this is meant to be a comedy.  Maybe if they had made it darker it would work.  Instead it just felt sad to me.  I did crack up though at one of the office scenes (where they brain storm on how to help Alex get more dates/reposition himself) so perhaps it will get better.
2. The Playboy Bunny Club - I love the idea a retro show with glam, but I was surprised by the take on this show.  I was hoping/expecting a drama in line with shows like Mad Men or Swingtown.  But the show looks like it is going for a more over the top suspense angle including mobsters, affairs, hidden agendas and more.  I worry that as the show tries to keep topping itself it will just get to be too much.

Still want to check it out...

1. American Horror Story - looks really interesting and starts Oct 5th!  Check it out!
2. Pan Am - love the retro feel and hope its everything Playboy Bunny Club is not.
3. Ringer - already started and I missed it!  I need to find where I can watch it...
4. Revenge - previews looked interesting but  not sure its getting great reviews

 

Weekly Update

What I have been doing: work, work and more work. And in between I have been running over to the new house each night to take care of new house stuff! Exciting but exhausting.  How the hell can I try out 8 different shades of grey and still not be sure. For pete's sake its just paint. I need to move on.

 

What I have been thinking about: I have been living like some kind of bachelorette lately... girls clothing, make-up, curling irons where ever.  Girl food in the fridge.  Lots of shoes all around!  I am slowly cleaning up to get the place ready for Thomas and Seven.

 

What I have created: I scrapped this past weekend and love it. I didn't have any photos with me so I saved spots in my book (using a smashbook) but it was just great to document the little things while they are fresh in my mind.  I love that the more journal style format frees me up to actually focus more on journaling and less on the "pretty".  :)

 

What I have planned: I am really looking forward to one last quick trip back to Atlanta.  I will be going to see the girls at Tah Cha tea house on Friday, I have bowling for Jojo's bday on Saturday and at some point will do some errands.  Then the big drive on Monday night.  Yikes!

 

What I have been into: Storage Wars, tex-mex food, trying new places to eat, facebooking to feel like I am not out here in Texas all alone, smashbooking, crochet.

 

What I want to do: I want to be less cranky, less stressed.  I want to just do what I need to do and realize that things will get better and that I don't have to try to control or fix everything.  We'll see how I do on that one!  lol

Weekly Update

Art work in Philly airport

Smashbooking

First real traffic jam in DFW

What I've been doing: Finished my crazy travel, had dinner out with the "freaks", hung with Monica

What I've been thinking about: I have been thinking about stress and change and how to manage both. I have also been thinking about how cool it is that my job takes me to new places so I get to know new people and have friends around the world.

What I have created: spent more time on my Weekend in Stockholm afghan and did some fun entries in my smash book

What I have planned: I am picking out paint and flooring tomorrow. I am trying a new ravelry group on Tuesday hopefully.

Where I am going: I am going to house closing on Monday and fly to Atlanta on Friday/span>

What I want to do: Finish American Gods; work on my afghan; watch the BBC version of being human; plan more of my trip to Amsterdam.

Thought from the road

Random thoughts while on the road...

Does "lol" translate if you are not American? I am guessing not. But how else do you make it clear you are not being so serious? I guess a smiley face?

Why does it seem that everyone under a certain age flips their smilies? Like is (: so much cooler than :) ? Oh and I guess saying cool makes me old as well???

Can I call it going "home" when its just corporate housing and all my stuff and husband and dog are some where else?

Oh and how is it that I go home to see my parents and then go home back to my house? How many places can I call home? If your parents still live the same city as when you were kid how do you refer to it?

Are previous trips really as great as we remember them or do the photos and stories just make us remember it that way? Does it matter? Is it better if I can trick myself into thinking things went better than they did?

Boarding soon... Glad my tour of America (said with sarcasm and an eye roll) is almost over.

Weekly update

What I've been doing: Going to farewell lunches, happy hours, crops; traveling for work; adjusting to being here in DFW alone

What I've been thinking about: I have been thinking about the circles of friends in my life and how people impact each other. If find it fascinating who is in life now and who is no longer in my life. Some people I wish I had tried harder to stay in touch with but there are others I am honestly glad they are gone.

What I have created: working on a table runner for the new house made from crocheted circles in multiple colors. I promise photos soon. Also doing my first smash book

What I have planned: I am spending lots of time online to keep me connected to my friends during this transition (jessicabree on facebook and jessicabree22 on yahoo! IM). Working on my plans for a trip to Amsterdam this October. More on that later I am sure... I also have some fun plans like lunch and dinners and cropping.

Where I sm going: traveling to Baltimore, Philly, and Charleston next week

What I want to do: Read American Gods; check out more of the area; make a fantastic homemade soup (but it's too hot!); try Mi Cochina again; see a movie

My short lived boycott of all things Swedish...

So I have this project at work that I am having to take over that I do not love.  Not only is it just not something that excites me, but its also coming in crazy late.  In the world of market research, getting results late is a major sin.  And why is it so late?  Well I could go into a long winded explanation that only another market researcher would follow (and that no one really cares about) but basically it boils down to the fact that the data collection in the Nordic markets, particularly Sweden, is taking FOR-E-VER.  And I am not thrilled about this one bit.

So I began to threaten to boycott all things Swedish and Nordic.  You know, if my crazy conservative coworker could refuse to drink French wine because of the whole war thing, then surely I could give up imported salmon or whatever, right?  (I am mean I like French wine way more than smoked salmon!)  So, I began to consider what I  would have to give up...

1. Saab and Volvo - done
2. Swedish Meatballs - yeah, I can skip those.  I mean the sauce is yummy, but no problem.
3. The Swedish Chef - I find him endearing, so its a bit sad, but okay
4. Absolut - hmmm... I think I can manage 
5. ABBA - I seriously love singing along to my Mamma Mia soundtrack and I still love the movie Muriel's Wedding with its awesome ABBA soundtrack.  But this one I could maybe give up for a bit...
6. IKEA - I found a couch and some tables I love at IKEA... giving those up would be HARD.  This boycott is not looking good
7. Alexander Skarsgard - I love Eric & True Blood and sorry, this is not negotiable.

So despite all my tough talk (for all of a day there) the ban is over as of Sunday, when I go to IKEA to look at couches and then watch Eric and Sookie... heck, I might even eat some Swedish meatballs while at IKEA.  I am so weak.  

Observations from Texas...

So this last week, I was in Texas with Thomas house hunting for our relocation there in a month.  A few quick observations:

 

1. There are stars EVERY where in Texas.  I know I already mentioned this on facebook but its worth repeating.  Stars in light fixtures, stars in ads, stars in the freakin concrete over passes.  I am starting to think its a state requirement to have a star on or in your house in a place of prominence.  There is even one currently on the house we are buying (see above).
2. Traveling with someone who never flies was a ... um, unique... experience!  lol  We were at the car rental return THREE hours before our domestic flight.  I am not kidding.  
3. After the insane heat wave of Texas the 90+ degree weather in Atlanta felt fantastic!  How sad is that?
4. Once you spend days looking at "new" homes you notice all the little things that are not perfect about your own.  Seriously, why is the grass always greener on the other side?  (good thing our new house looks so fantastic!)
5. Tex-Mex food rocks.  We ate at Mi Cochina twice because we enjoyed it so much.  (but my realtor Joel was right, watch out for those margaritas!)  Thomas discovered cheese tacos (if you have never had them they are basically cheese enchiladas but with cheese sauce)
6. I have never felt "hot" wind before... in GA or FL, when there is wind in the summer, its usually a cooler front moving in.  But in Texas, apparently you can get these huge gusts of wind that feel like a blow dryer in your face.  Freaky.
7. I always feel reflective on the flights back home.  I don't know what it is, but with my iPod music playing, and looking out over the clouds, I tend to have these moments of ... I don't know what to call it, but introspection.  On this trip, I had two.  First, I am going to deeply miss my friends in Atlanta.  I have been trying to not think about it, but I feel like a huge part of life is the connections we make with the people we meet thru work, travel, our interests.  I am not sure how I am going to deal with the distance.  But I will.  Second, I realized how much I value authenticity.  In my friends, in the art I enjoy, in life.  Its hard to explain and make it sound as great as it did in my head, but there it is.  :)  

jbt