And This Is Not What I Wanted To Have Happen

So, absences. Indeed, Internets, this past week has been a not very fun one.
It's been full of work and work stresses. House stresses - more about that in a bit. Headaches on the regular. Strange week-long cases of the munchies for no apparent reason. And no, we are not pregnant in the DAMnation household, thank you very much.

There has been no creativity, sadly, no happy moments (except for today, which we will also get to later), and nothing exciting really.
I've scoured Pinterest a few times,and kept up on the blogs, just to be trying to find something. But, not much has come up really. Lots of things that are lovely, to be sure, but nothing that has set fire to my little creative bits.

It's rather depressing, yes, I know, and I don't mean to be a downer, just the brain has been on other subjects, and I'm not rather fond of it.

We've had house stresses. With tax returns coming back, and the hope of saving more money, we get to the ideas that it's going to be house-buying in the near future. Not very near, but near enough we finally need to get down to what we need to do.
We're not sure, at this point, which is correct. To get a loan first. Or to find a house to buy first. But at this point, we can do neither, so we are going to be calling upon family with houses for advice.

And today's excitement was that of D buying computer parts to build (another) computer. He has a laptop and a desktop (and a non-working server-ish thing), and now has the parts to build another. Since his old desktop is going to be a server. No clue what to be done with the non-working one, but that's his story not mine. But it's rather exciting, for sure.
This is something I would like to do, also (build a computer, that is), but it's not in the financial cards right now. So, it won't happen yet. I will be content with my old laptops, and wish for a money tree.

There are such things as money trees, right?!

xoxo, Jess (who really just needs to start something, and see where she gets with it, failure or not)

Well That Did Not Go As Planned

Ohhhh goodness, Internets, today has been a day. Let's not get into the details, because I want this to be a happy place, but let's just settle with the fact that today has grueling. And move on.

There is a lovely blog I follow, A Thrifty Mrs, that is having a nice series on Organisation. Today, *day 5* was about the bathroom. And how to think about where you put things, instead of just putting them where they fit.
Our bathroom is, well, D's bathroom, that I have some space in. It really is. That's how it goes moving into someone else's house, so I've been told. There are things in there that I don't know how they belong (belonged) to, and I'm fairly certain I don't want to know. Nor do I really want to know how long they've been in there!
So, I decided to tell D that the Internets (yes, you dear) were telling me to take everything out of the bathroom. Because that's what Thrifty Mrs said to do. Take it all out and decide if it's something you actually need to do. For some reason, that was silly to D. So, needless to say, everything did not come out of the bathroom as planned.
I did however make do with what I figured was acceptable for the time being.

We started out with this.

No clue why there is a screwdriver there. Nor why it's on my side of the sink.

...yes that is a wire coathanger. No I do not know why it was in the cupboard under the sink.

D's side off the sink. Screwdriverless.

This is all I really worked with. There are also two drawers and two more cupboards. One drawer is D's, with random shaver bits in it. The drawer on my side had...things that belong to people no longer here. Which I chucked. As with the things in my side of the cupboard that weren't mine (goodbye old and random almost empty bottle of shampoo!).

So, with an empty drawer, all my hair stuff is inside.

With the label from my hair dye inside as well - so I can't forget when it comes time to re-do the colour!

That left the counter nice and almost empty. Moved the medicines from both sides of the counter to their respective cupboards. And proceeded to rearrange my side based on what was used most frequently.

The pink-ish flowery cup holds hair-ties and bobbypins - for easy use and removal. And it's pretty, and why not have pretty things in use? I don't remember which vintage store I got it at, but it claims to be hand-painted from Japan. It is very iridescent in the inside, and the flowers do look hand-painted, but all I care about is it's pretty and serves a good purpose.
My makeup bag (top shelf in the cupboard) is far too large, I really need to downsize, but like the stripes on this one too much!

And I'll share D's side of the counter, so he doesn't feel left out.

Much better.

I have a feeling, if I tried the coffee-table-under-parts I'd get the same reaction.

I do, however, suggest (if you're not already!) tuning into Thrifty Mrs' series if you have the chance. Like I said, she's only on day 5, and she's very good at what she does. It's called "15 Days to an Organised New You" and I think you will like it (she's also on Pinterest!)!

xoxo, Jess (who really doesn't want to know what is in the bathroom cupboards anyway, she supposes)

Some Dear Words - Of Which Are Not Mine.

Dear Lovely Internets. I promised you good things for today, did I not? I remember doing so. Therefore, I feel it fair to bring forth good things.
However, today has been a crappy day, and I don't want this place to be depressing, so let's not discuss. Let's just say it was a crappy day and there is no happy rainbow sunshiney things I could post that are of my own creation for the day.

I do, though, have a board on Pinterest that makes me happy in times like these.
It's my "Stop Tempting Me!!" board. Quotes and such that are intended to push one in a proper and happy direction. Some of them are fabulous, and some of them are, well, just a little kick in the pants!
It is one that makes me happy, one I need to read more often, to help get through the crappy days (however long they last, hopefully not long), and to just soak in for a while. Maybe you do too, Internets. So, we're going to share with you.

The whole board can be found here; and Internets, if I have not found your pinterests yet, please point me in your directions!

And my favourite things, are as follows.

Which I do believe I've already shared! But it still gives me a tickle in the heart.

It doesn't have to be red, per-say, I honestly prefer a more berryish colour, but the idea is still there!

Correct you are, little poster!

I don't imagine anything very fancy, but it is far from what is reality, let's just say that.

I also just realized that these are almost all green so far. Well, aqua. And no that is not on purpose, entirely by accident, but it is a most lovely colour, for sure. 

Yes!

This last one pulls my heart strings every time I read it.  Because it is fact. Life isn't really very long, when you think about it. It may seem long, there are a few hours that seem like they take days, but overall...it's rather fast. I'm constantly realizing things aren't as recent as I seem to think they are.
Whatever it is you do, you are exchanging your time, your life, your breath and energy for it.
So it better be worth it.
And, heart strings pulled. Every time I think of this. 

Again, I would like to iterate, that these pictures are collected on a Pinterest board, and the links to the images are therein. 

xoxo, Jess (who is wishing)

How This Goes Down

Internets, this is my workstation.

Yes, it is very glamorous. A 4 year old laptop (with an outdated Ubuntu release), on the floor in the living room, between the couch and the television. Very very glamorous indeed, don't you think?

Not much happens here, other than my tappity-tapping to you, dear Internets. I do other computer-things, sure, but this is where the blogging happens. Living room floor. Yup.
I'm a classy gal, what can I say.

I mention this, and I have my reasons, let me explain. I'm not just trying to tell you I'm weird or something - though some of us already knew this.
It's about this, the tappity-tapping.

I like the tappity-taps, the blogging. I really do. Most people I know in real life could care less about my crochet things and my old Pyrex things and stuff of that sort that I put on here. And there's only so much explaining to one's self that one can do about how a bowl is delightful. For me, typing it out helps complete the thought. Doesn't come up as often, once it's written out - be it on paper, on the computer, or even on my phone. There's something about actually writing that helps me make complete thoughts and feelings and it's very relaxing, I guess you could say.
I'm not really sure where I want this whole thing to go. I would like to keep up with it on the regular, and for right now, that means trying to post every day. So far so good, really. It also means, however, that I'm going to have to improve my picture-taking skills, because most of my pictures have been taken using my phone, which is very limited. I posses a real camera, I promise! I just need to break it out more often, which is another thing I need to work on.

Internets, what I'm trying to say, is that I enjoy doing this, and I enjoy getting to find other bloggers who love what they do as well, and feel the desire to share with others. I may not have the best ideas, the best projects, or the best Pyrex, but I'm proud of mine as well.

Tomorrow, I promise to have more exciting things to share than my laptop and my silly ideas on the tappings of such. Promise.

xoxo, Jess (who did not like having to go back to work today, by the way)

What We Did In The Frigid-Aire

Ohhhh Internets. How very exciting! We went and shot D's new gun! Yay! We went up to his parents' house that is out in the middle of nowhere in Washington, and we were able to literally shoot off the back of the porch.
I kid you not.
I would post pictures of D, since I have a lot of those, and most of them turned out, but I'm holding out that he will get off his butt and start his own Internets-tapping. So, instead, I'll use the pictures he took of me. That's how this works, right? He can use mine, I can use his, fair trade.

The first two pictures are of shooting the Beretta, and the fourth is shooting one of D's step-dad's guns, a .22 something or other.  Little pistol-type thing that takes a .22 bullet, which I always thought was for shotgun type things. But that shows what I know about all of this!

It was fun. And it was cold. And I'm a terrible shot. I promise.
But that about sums it up. Lots of big bangs
The dog was very very scared, and he hid in the house the whole time. When we would come back in, he would curl up with me on  the couch all shakin' and scared like. I tried to take pictures of that, too, but the little bugger wouldn't let me take my hands off him without wiggling!

xoxo, Jess (who happened to be colour coordinated - red hair, red jacket, red ear-protection...Yes, that was entirely planned, we'll pretend that's the case!)

New Additions!

Ohhhh, Internets, I'm so excited!!! The vintage dress I purchased on Etsy finally arrived! It took farrrr too long (I purchased on the 13th, and the listing said would only take 1 - 3 days to get out...postage was dated the 21st!) but I'm so glad it's finally here! I had to ask the seller what the sizing was, because they listed nothing of the sort in the posting and, to my luck, it was my size! Well, as close to my size as any dress can get!

 

The picture makes it a bit hard to tell, bathroom light and all (and please excuse the toothbrushes and whatnot!), but it's more orange-y than it looks. It's a lovely paisely print, and I'm in love with it. The bust is a bit loose, because I lack in that area, but from the waist down, it has a good fit. 

There is some pleats right under the waist-line, which is nice, because I have a bit of a tummy, which is why I do not wear dresses. But with the pleating, it's almost like it's not a big deal! Well, as big of a deal. There is no bulging, let's put it that way!

Oh internets, I am so very happy! I have never liked wearing dresses, but got an itching for a vintage one, so browsed Etsy (and eBay - which was terrible) and found this lovely number. D said to just get it, I wanted it, so get it. In my cart it went, and bam, now it's here!
I'm not sure what I'll wear it for, and at this point I don't even care! I love it with far too much of my soul right now!

A few weeks ago I picked up another dress at Goodwill for a few dollars, it has a nice vintage feel to it, but I'm sorry to say it is not very old at all.

It doesn't have a waist-banding-area like the orange/brown dress does, but it has a nice collar, and a button down top. The pattern is very geometric and the colours have that old vibe to them. 

Oh internets, now only to find the rest of a vintage wardrobe, and I will be higher than the moon! No really, I would be! I want all of it! I have mighty plans for these clothes, you see, I would love to be able to wear these types of things every day.
There is a lady upon you, internets, her name is Twila Jean and I love her style. I also want her bright red hair. I've actually wanted to dye mine that colour for a few years now, just haven't had the chance (it's not a natural hair colour, therefore not work-appropriate; bah humbug!).

I would like to be able to dress like that at least once in a while, for now, anyway, and work my way up!
And thank goodness internets, that you are here to help me! Lovely situation we have, isn't it! 

And yes, internets, that picture of the dress hanging on the door is on Instagram. You don't have to rub it in! I'm not a good picture take-r! Not yet, anyway. Need to fine tune a things, but until then, this will have to do. 

xoxo, Jessica (who is trying to think of a reason to wear a pretty dress)

In Which I Show You Some Space

Dear internets,
You are a lovely place, and I spend far too much time in your loveliness, which is not how this is supposed to work. I am supposed to be able to see pretty things you have to offer, and then take all that inspiration and make good things from it. That's how this out to work, right??
Well, apparently not. No, no, no, not one bit.
Internets, we have an issue.
This is what my desk looks like. For now, lets just focus on the desk. Yes, we have two (only!!) finished projects hanging out. One is that wooden tray in the middle left, it has it's bottom papered, and I love it. And the second is the picture frame on top of the stereo. It also has some decorative paper in it that I colored and made pretty-er. Thank goodness for gel pens and glue!

 

Damn you and your pesky ways. Oh, and yes, that is all dirty laundry on the floor. And clean laundry in the hamper. And yarn in bags under the desk, and some vintage finds on the left of the desk. 

I cannot believe, dear internets, that you are letting me share this ugliness on your face!! Oh heavens! Well, I suppose this is how it's going to be. 

Dear internets, excuse my hastiness. I love you so muchly. I am on your Pinterest and I love that dearly. I am oh so excited to get started on the things I have been finding!! 

However, this is the state of current affairs!! It's all over the house! I have a moose to crochet, and this is what is bugging me the most! Not that I have NO pattern for said moose, oh no, that will be fine, but the part about how I cannot, for the life of me, figure out what to do with this mess!

So, because of a few blogs (here and here) that I found while browsing your loveliness, I am going to have a clean up. 'Bout right. 'Bout time, as well. 

Dear internets, let me go for the evening, I will post this to your face, and I will turn off the lappybook and I will be done with this. For now. I need to clean and sort. I need to make fudge for Christmas, to take to my fiance's momma's house, and I need to take a shower, because I'm filthy. And then, tomorrow, I shall return to you and your Pinteresty ways. 

Oh internets, how I love you.

xoxo, Jessica