Monday, September 26, 2011

A Kettle of Joy



I just like this teapot and thought I would share the happiness.
I mean, how often do you find an uncracked LAVENDER teapot. 
Not everyday ladies and gentlemen.
Not every day.



I got it at the thrift store for whatever fraction of $8.00 it works out to. 
Probably about $0.34 considering how many goodies I found.
Our thrift store is one of those divine places where you throw a pile on the table and the lady says, eh.. eight bucks. Such a happy place.

peace&love,
Jill

Saturday, September 24, 2011

BEADS.

Revel in their beauty.
Hands up if you're excited to see the Fall Collection...
Me too, friends, me too.







Beads compliments of the San Mateo Bead and Gem Show and My dressmaking Fairy Godmother aunt. 

peace&love,
Jill






They Say It's Fall


... but today ended up feeling more like summer and this outfit didn't make it through the whole day, but it was cute while it lasted. I loveLOVElove these boots and I just couldn't wait to pull them out.


The dress began its life as a floor length "teacher dress" on the sale rack at the thrift store, and after a run in with my scissors and a sewing machine it came out looking like this. The belt is vintage leather from Italy, found at a lovely little flea market.



Gotta love the boots.

peace&love,
Jill

Friday, September 23, 2011

Money Where My Mouth Is


Alright kids. There's been a lot of vamping, but here it is. I want to be a style blogger, darn it.
It's about time I blog some style. So here we go.




I feel like I got the proportions right on this one. Maxi skirts are scary when you're 5"2', but I made it work. This little number was $0.50 at the thrift store. The belt is an awesome green beaded elastic loop that unexpectedly goes with almost everything.

Also, please appreciate that EVERYTHING I'm wearing is thrifted. Outfit total cost: about $6... and that includes shoes!



PS. I have a new College Fashion blog post up! 

peace&love,
Jill


Thursday, September 22, 2011

Goodbye Summer


It was a good summer. A very good summer.
But, though school has made it seem like summer has been over for a long time, it's really, truly, officially over today.
So here's to living at home, getting engaged, the Farmer's Market, strawberries, sun dresses, Captain America, and drive-in movie theaters. I don't think I'll forget this summer for a very long time. 

peace&love,
Jill

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Breakfast in a Muffin


I swear I haven't fallen off the face of the planet. I've just been...busy. 
I went to see my fiance this last weekend and goodness knows that's a recipe for not getting much writing done. Wonderful weekend. Not much writing though.

Anyway, I've been living on these. Seriously. I have one every single morning and I have a small panic attack when I run out of them. Husband-to-be likes them a lot too, so when I visited him last weekend I took him some. They are. so. good. 

I usually make a double batch and freeze them. I find that popping them in the microwave for 20 seconds upside down (yes, it does matter) and 20 seconds right side up is about perfect to warm them up. It's nice too when I want to eat before the house is ready for the large scale kitchen noise that is me attempting to cook breakfast.

I got the recipe here on Cooking with My Kid. 
Apparently the kid is optional because I did just fine without one.

Here's a copy of the recipe. All credit to Rebecca.



Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit Muffins

Prep Time: 5 mins Cooking Time: 20 to 25 mins

Ingredients:

1 package biscuit dough (10 biscuits)
3 eggs
3 tablespoons milk
1/3 cup of shredded cheddar
4 slices bacon (we used turkey bacon and veggie bacon)
salt and pepper

Cook the bacon in a pan or in the oven until it’s almost done. Chop into small bits and set aside. (Note: if using veggie bacon do not cook it ahead – simply defrosted it and chopped it up.) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Whisk together eggs and milk, a pinch of salt and some cracked pepper to taste and set aside. Meanwhile, roll out each biscuit until it’s slightly bigger than the circumference of your muffin tin. Grease the muffin tin with cooking spray and push one biscuit into each muffin cup being sure to push it all the way down and to the sides. Leave the ridge hanging over the edge. Divide the cheese evenly in each of the biscuit cups and then pour egg in, filling each cup only 1/2 way. They will look empty but resist the urge to top them off. You must account for the biscuits puffing up – otherwise you’ll have a mess on your hands. Sprinkle bacon atop of the egg and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until biscuits are golden and eggs are set. Use a butter knife to loosen each muffin and serve warm.

Make these. You will be happy.


peace&love,


Jill




Tuesday, September 20, 2011

The Wedding Files #4: Chalk It Up


I am trying to get the jump on all this wedding planning stuff, and so I've started the fun (if time-consuming) process of making all the fun additions I am planning on handcrafting for our wedding and reception. My first task to tackle was the vintage frame chalkboards we are going to use to label the foods and the tables at the reception. 

Here's a quick and dirty tutorial.



And you're done!


peace&love,
Jill

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

The Wedding Files #3: California Fitting Getaway


In case you are unfamiliar with it, this is a picture of me standing in front of the Golden Gate Bridge, looking like an idiot. I think I was about to fix my hair or something. 
Oh well. Look at the bridge, not me. Or my cropped trench... that's cute, right?

I was in California this last weekend to get measured, pick out fabric, and talk about design with my enormously talented aunt, who so very graciously offered to MAKE my wedding dress for me.

I will never complain of having bad luck again. At least not for a very long time.

We (meaning she) are working from a picture I took in Scotland of a GORGEOUS wedding dress. Let's just say that I love it. So very very much. 
I think I might just wear it around the house after the wedding. 

And that's all the info you get. You'll have to be patient. Just like me. 


Here is the obligatory shot of the Pacific. It was cold. It was big. If you are surprised, you've clearly never been there in September... or probably any time. Be warned if you're planning a vacation.

I spent a whirlwind day in and around San Francisco, shopping for fabric, visiting my aunt's studio, going to a bead show (!) and seeing the sights. It was wonderful. My aunt and uncle are excellent company and we had a great time.


This was the sky flying over Southern California. And it was infinitely more amazing in person. I kind of hate flying because I have terrible pain in my ears when I fly, but it was worth it for this. 

Next time... the beads from the Bead and Gem Show in San Mateo!

peace&love,
Jill

Monday, September 12, 2011

The Good Things About Morning


Since hubby-to-be gets up obscenely early to go to work, he calls me on his commute to wake me up. Which is super sweet. He is way better than an alarm clock.

I've never been a morning person, but since I don't have class until 10am or so most of the week I can't stomach wasting all the ripe morning hours. It's amazing how much I can get done before 10, which is a very good thing, especially after a quick weekend trip to California.

That's right. This time yesterday I was in Oakland, CA. I write that sentence and feel like it's not true, but it is. I was out on the West Coast to go fabric shopping with my aunt/wedding dress designer. All I can say is your mind will be blown when you see this dress... in about 9 months.

The weekend travels have caused me to get a little bit behind in my responsibilities (gasp. I know.) I am so glad I've had this morning to get back on track and ready for the week.

Off to read Coleridge. Pray for my sanity.

peace&love,
Jill

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Gang Aft Agley


Before I get all caught up in talking about unrelated things, I have a new post up on College Fashion:

How to Remake a Thrift Store Dress: Part One


Makes you excited for Part Two, doesn't it?  All in good time.
(And more is coming about the dress pictured above... 
I just finished the revamp and I think you're going to like it.)

And now, my life.

Ahh what a week/end, a half-word, half-not-word that I just made up to encompass Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Feel free to spread it around.

It was all about the dramatic contrast, which I normally appreciate, but a girl has limits.
My computer hard drive failed, my car died, my credit card bill tried to pay itself out of a closed bank account, and my legs exploded with a million bug bites.
But I also got to spend three days with my fiance, looking at wedding rings, walking around the town where we fell in love, eating at the Cheesecake Factory, watching the sun set and playing Zelda. 
Makes it hard to be mad about the first part, right?

It all brings to mind the poem by Robert Burns called "To A Mouse," especially these few lines:

But Mouse, you are not alone,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft agley
 

(Gang aft agley here meaning "often go awry." Appropriate, right?)

Burns is really not a favorite poet of mine, but we've been studying him in British Literature. 
And I've been to his museum. In Scotland.
Just saying.
Got that incredible and frustrating thing going on all over the place, haven't we?

peace&love,
Jill

Friday, September 2, 2011

I Made It: Stamp Cameos


I have been making a selling these little beauties for the last three months and I love them. They've been going like crazy and it's high time I share some of them with all of you. Several have already sold, but if you see something you like leave a comment and we'll see if we can get it to you. Enjoy!


peace&love,
Jill

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