New Beginnings

A lot has changed for me in the past few months, which has lead me on a journey to ground myself again. I crave and need creativity to keep me grounded and sane. After over a year off from blogging, I cannot express how grateful I am to be able to look back at my life a year ago, and remember why I love writing so much. I have always claimed that I am not a great writer, I just truly enjoy the art of expression. However, when I read back on posts, I realize, that practice makes perfect. I'm not so bad after all, but boy am I rusty now!

In the past 3 months, Adam and I have moved in together, we are now happily engaged, my father passed away, and I am starting a new job at work. How is that for adaptability!? Big life events, create time for reflection. It's time to focus on ME again, and my new life with Adam, who is arguably the most fantastic, loving, amazing man on this earth. Words cannot express how grateful I am to have him in my life. How did I get so lucky?

To start, I want to share with you my new page Life List. I have been walking around with my iPhone Bucket List checking things off as I go, but time moves so fast, we can lose sight of all that we want to accomplish. I want to bring my Life List back into focus!

What is on your Bucket List/ Life List? What do you want to accomplish before life passes by?

DIY: Spoon - Fork - Knife

Inspiration

Household Words on Etsy

Irell on Etsy

My Interpretation

How to:

As a kid, whenever we went to the hardware store, I would get lost in the paint section plucking up as many paint swatches as my little hands could hold. I used to cut them up, draw pictures and stare at the rainbow of colors for hours. And when we went to the fabric store, I would get my grubby mitts on the quilting squares. They are usually only 2 dollars a square and they are organized in the store by color, so I have always been drawn to them. Well, some things never change, and I had 3 brightly colored quilting squares that I had no clue what to do with. I also conveniently had 3 small canvas that I also had no clue what to do with.

I have been inspired by prints lately, and decided to make my own humorous, spin on cute Spoon - Fork - Knife paintings for the kitchen :)

Supplies and sketches

I think a staple gun would have made more sense but I didn't have one and I am too impatient to wait so I used a glue gun. It gets the job done!

Make sure to glue opposite ends of the canvas to make sure the fabric is tight, before moving on to the  next side.

The final result!

What do you think?!

If you have more questions for me about how to make your own Spoon - Fork - Knife paintings, or if you would rather me make them for you, email me at Jbarmstrong87@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you!

Angel Update

Angel finally got her surgery this past Friday! I didn't want to write a post until we knew the true status, but I am happy to report that she is doing well! For all of you that know Angel, you know that she can be a little... handicap, socially awkward, spacey... and she was digging at her stitches, so now she has to wear this lovely gem for two weeks. HA&^%#@ cracks me up.

I think it suits her quite well :)

The day before her surgery, we prepared the house by laying scrap carpet pieces and rugs over the hardwood floors so she won't slip around and re-injure herself during recovery. Angel is not a big fan of hardwood floors anyways so she was so happy to lay her belly on some cozy carpet.

Poor thing had no idea what was coming the next day :(

The surgery was "routine" for the vet, but the recovery is long and she will need a lot of attention and TLC for the next 8 weeks. Hopefully, in three months or so, Angel will be able to climb the stairs to my apartment (she already hates stairs as it is) and hang out with her big sis.

My family and I want to thank all of you for generosity and help in this time of need. And Angel sure does appreciate it too :) I would also like to thank the Gauders (recently married! Congrats!) for helping make the helpforangel.org donation website and paving the road for Angel's surgery. They were also kind enough to donate the money that their dog won in a contest (for being adorable) to our Angel in need. They "gave Angel her wings" and we could not be more grateful. 

You are all the best!

See, she's posing for you.

For the back story of angel's surgery, visit helpforangel.org and my last Angel blog post. 

The District Sleeps Alone Tonight

While you read this post about my departure from DC and all the things I will miss, please listen to this somberly/awesome song (yes, somberly is a word. I Googled it to make sure). It helps set the mood.. and I promise that I am listening to it right now on repeat as I write this, so it's only fair... Plus! I haven't made my July playlist yet. Oops. Do you guys even listen to those things anyways?!

THINGS I WILL MISS ABOUT WASHINGTON DC! 

*In no particular order* 

but I guess it's only natural to think of your most favorite things first

1. Meridian Hill Park

Meridian was one of the most beautiful parks I have ever seen and I stumbled across it one day while exploring the city. The best part was that it was only one block from our apartment. It went a few weeks unnoticed because of the high walls surrounding it, but just beyond lurks amazing landscape surrounding this enchanting fountain:

I wish I took this photo

Meridian is comprised of a labyrinth of staircases that create a Secret Garden atmosphere and also served as my fitness center because I refused to pay $125 a month for a gym membership. At the top of the fountain, overlooking the ledge, you can see the Capital Building, the Washington Monument, the Air Force Memorial, and the skyscrapers of Arlington, VA. Not to mention the amazing drum circles that would gather every Sunday afternoon.

2. The People

I will miss my roommates Mo, Justin, Mugsly and Bowser. My DC relationship with Mo and Justin began way back when with this blog post. I would have been lost in DC without them. I love you guys.

Mugsly

Bowser

I also met a surprisingly large amount of OU alumni. And I will never forget my old roommates, and my many  kickball buds.

3. Diversity

DC is full of culture and I enjoyed being surrounded by so much culture. It was a great learning experience.

Click here to see DC up close and see how your city matches up: 2010 Census

4. The Food

-Ethiopian
-Lebanese
-Indian
-Southern Soul
-Thai
-you name it, DC has it

My favorite DC meals are...

Eatonville - Mac & Cheeese

located at 14th & V (NW)

Tacklebox - Fish Tacos

located on M Street in Georgetown

*unfortunately Tacklebox suffered some damage in a kitchen fire so they are closed indefinitely

Sticky Rice - Sticky Balls

located on H Street NE

5. Sculpture Garden

I will miss dipping my toes in the water at the Sculpture Garden. 

6. Public Transportation

Of course it would have been nice to have a car for those days when you want to go on a big grocery run, or when you want to "accidentally" spend too much at Target, or even for those lonely days when I just wanted to hop in my car and drive back to Ohio to see my boyfriend, friends, and family. Don't get me wrong, a car would have been nice, but I'm proud to say that I haven't had a car in 5 years now. I walked/bused/metro/biked every where and I loved it.

I am car shopping this week though so call me a hypocrite. Hey, it was fun while it lasted.

7. The View

I'm just going to let these aerial pictures speak for me (even though I have yet to see a single picture that does it any justice):

I will end this post with a simple love letter:

Dear DC,

You rock.

Xoxox, Jes

Right Where We Left Off

My childhood best friend and I hadn't seen each other in going on four years!! Marg and I met when I moved to Michigan in the 2nd grade and by the time I left at the end of my 5th grade year, we were just too close to say "goodbye." Our college years made it tough to meet up, but when Marg called me back in December about the New Kids On The Block Backstreet Boys Concert #NKOTBSB in Washington DC, how could I say no!?

I was a grossly huge Backstreet Boys fan back in the day. Don't even get my sister started on the red and black BSB bucket hat I insisted on wearing around town.. my AIM screen name was even jba4ngc (JesBA4NicholasGeneCarter).. only because BSBgirl was taken. My top bunk bed became a shrine with posters lining the walls and ceiling.

My older sister was a huge New Kids fan so I also grew up listening to them, and playing with the Donnie and Joey Barbie Dolls. She even owned the NKOTB bed sheet set (I'm sure you did too).

So, the concert was ridiculous (as to be expected) and the classiest scariest most interesting crowd of women gathered outside of the Verizon Center to cheer on their main men. The concert was full of pelvis thrusting, surprisingly still ripped bods, screaming/panting women, love ballads, and cheesy dance moves (oh and Kevin the boring one didn't show up.. even better!). It was a night to remember.

"Backstreets Back ALRIGHT!"

"Please don't go girllllllllllll"

"We would like to thank Kevin for not being a part of this reunion tour.. because he is weird and boring."

Here's to promising not to wait four more years!

Love you :)

Marg and I :)

Doggy Style

Friday the phones were out all day at work. Now let me just say that this was fantastic! I answer the phones and forward calls in the office so it was nice to have a little time to concentrate on my work without interruptions. Want to know what's not so fantastic?!.. yelling "DOGGY STYLE" in your office (especially when no one is on the phone so the office is quiet).

What?! Don't look at me like that. It was an accident!

So, the office phone situation was finally resolved around 5 pm.. just in time for my older sister to call me and ask for my advice on a flyer she was having trouble with for work. She wanted to fit 2 flyers on one page. So I asked her if they were doggy style. After a "psshht ummm okay... *awkward silence*" from the other line, my face became flushed with embarrassment! And stumbling over my words trying to explain what I meant:

"I mean the page... Doggy style, like hot dog/hamburger... how you fold the paper... you know like when we were kids... is it long ways or short fat ways... know what I mean?! Yes?..."

Apparently my big sis has no idea what I was talking about and thinks I'm a big creep for basically yelling "doggy style" in my office. *still blushing*

But seriously?! Does anyone remember the ol' "fold the paper hot dog style or hamburger style" speil? Or am I just the office perv...

I even drew you a pretty picture.

Call Me A Dreamer

Call me voyeuristic, call me creepy, call me curious... but I can't help but wonder how other people live their lives and what they're all about.

I'm surrounded by buildings where half the lights are out, and I wonder what are these people about. What do they do for a living? How much do they make? Is it enough? Do they have a family? What are their worries? Troubles? How do they escape from it all?

Growing up, if I couldn't subdue my mind or worries, I would go for a drive. Now, my car wasn't the most luxurious but it was my sanctuary. A little red/orange/magenta (the color is still undecided) '96 Dodge Neon Sport.. complete with my favorite accessory, the sunroof.. oh and the confetti seats were super stylish.

On a bad day, I would hop in my car, roll down the windows, and blast Such Great Heights by Postal Service. This is really where my love for music came about... lyrics and their unequivocal ability to make you feel what the songwriter was feeling at that very moment.. a peak into their lives. I would dream about driving until I couldn't drive anymore. Destination unknown. It didn't matter. I just wanted to GO, and see what else was out there. I would idle through neighborhoods and catch a glimpse of other families in their homes and wonder are they as lost as me?

My 17 year old self still had a lot to learn and now at 23, I think I have learned how to better align my expectations with reality. I still have so much left to learn... but I'm still a dreamer.. and I still wonder what your lives are all about.

Wait! Why Weren't You Holding The Bird?!

Remember my old post about staying at the Ritz in Atlanta.. well I promised ridiculous photos and here you go:

We didn't pose for this at all... wink* wink*

Well, whenever I have a bad day (such as today) I'll just look at this picture and chuckle. After this picture was taken I looked at my sister (far right. Isn't she cute..) and said "WAIT! WHY WEREN'T YOU HOLDING THE BIRD!?"(note the cute white birds on the table). The best part is, I was dead serious. I had managed to convince myself that perhaps the picture would be complete if she were only holding a bird.. or maybe it would look like we didn't pose but that that bird just belonged in her tiny hands...

I watch too much Disney.

Fascinated by the decor.. I'm easily amused.

The Land of Bricks, Honey.. and Bad Decisions

Since I graduated and moved out on June 12, I have been counting down the days til' Ohio University Homecoming. My sudden and exciting move to Washington, DC, has made the anticipation for OU Homecoming even more exciting. I cannot wait to see all my best friends. In 9 years of best-friendship, Allison and I have never gone more than a month without seeing each other. And I miss all my best friends more than you can imagine. I've always said, "Friends are the family you choose for yourself."

I cannot wait to black-out with my best friends, classmates, random townies, acquaintances, freshman biscuits, horse cops, and any other poor souls I happen to encounter this weekend. Here is my formal apology: "Sorry for partying!".. yeah, I said it.

Watch out Athens, Ohio! HERE I COME!!

Beautiful View of Campus

Oh the memoriesssss

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

So tomorrow I leave for my first "work trip".. destination Philadelphia.

The last time and only time I've ever been to Philadelphia was for my 8th grade class trip. It was the most boring trip of my life. We listened to an Abraham Lincoln impersonator talk for 3 hours... it went like this:

in 1809 I was born

in 1810 I learned to walk

in 1819 I turned 10

in 1820 I kicked a ball, one time, in a field

...

in 1865 I was shot in the head and died.

Every 8th grader's nightmare. You know what? Any sane person's nightmare. It was quite possibly the worst 3 hours of my life. I still remember it.

And I kept trying to free myself from the "buddy system" long enough to get a cheese steak from a street vendor and my teachers kept yelling at me and pulling me away before I could get my grubby mits on one.

Part of the reason why our trip was so miserable was due to that fact that it was thrown together last minute. We had originially planned on going to DC to tour The White House and all that fun stuff, but September 11th was only a month before we left so one board meeting full of terrified parents later, led us to Philly.

I'm excited to go to Philly as an adult because I have heard great things about the city.. my favorite show originated there (it's Always Sunny In Philadelphia), I get to get myself a damn cheese steak, and I finally get to put faces to the people I have been emailing for 2 months now.

Plus, we're staying at the Four Seasons Hotel, and who doesn't love indoor pools?

I'm not sure how much email access I'll have during the week but I will try to update you all if possible. If not, I'll be back Friday! :) Any suggestions on the best place to get my cheese steak fix?

It's a great day to be a Bobcat

Ah yes.

Can you smell it? Old country brick roads... new comforters and plastic storage containers.. freshly opened Natty Light...

Freshman move in weekend.. and another excuse for upper classmen to buy a keg and post up on their porches, all for the sake of watching the freshman biscuits move in and intimidating the hell out of the parents that have no idea what they just got their kids into.

Right above our heads was a painted sheet that read "Don't worry dad, your daughters are in good hands with 24 Stewart"

I specifically remember move in day Junior year because this heavy set girl with a blue mohawk across the street was increasingly getting obnoxiously intoxicated and was taking the whole, "scare the parents thing" too far. By noon, she was wrestling in kiddie pools, by 1 pm, she was flashing cars her nipple rings, and by 2 pm she was running down the street topless with a black spray painted bikini on top (que Katy Perry music).... you should have seen the look on those parent's faces. Sheer horror.


Well, Freshman biscuits, since I'm not there to train you properly, here are a few tips:

1. Don't pet the horse cops, they're evil and reel you in with their horse-ness and before you know it,   you are looking into the face of the enemy. (Credit to my sister Brandy: I am not stealing your identity)

2. Don't answer your dorm door without a peep hole if you are drinking. You don't have to answer. In one case I did and was greeted by the SWAT team (not really but it felt like it)
3. O'Betty's is the shit
4. Junction is the only bar you will get into as a Freshman so enjoy those J-Punches! (and tell Keith I said hi)
5. Don't start riots. It's stupid.

See you at Homecoming!

I'm a Material Girl

Who ever said "I don't need material things to make me happy," was lying.

You don't realize how much you  miss your "things" until they're gone. Since I flew to Washington DC with 2 suitcases and a purse stuffed as full as I could get them without busting at the seams, I sadly left behind all the little pieces of who I am in Ohio. Okay.. possibly a little dramatic, but I really missed my things.

Growing up, I filled bins and boxes with every passed note, birthday card, ticket stub, brochure, and letter I had ever received. My mom was constantly battling with me to consolidate these boxes to a much smaller, and more practical shoe box. I would sit down on the floor and spread out my boxes meticulously going through every brochure and reading every note.. as the memories rushed back, I would carefully place the note in the "keep" pile. By the time I got to the bottom of the box, I realized, I was putting everything in the "keep" pile with the exception of a candy wrapper that must have snuck it's way into my memories box. This would not make my mom happy. Rather than sacrifice my memories to the trash, I decided that I would stand by my memories one by one and explain what each one meant to me.

How about this?... Can you throw this away? No! That's my aquarium brochure mom! We went to the aquarium for our 4th grade field trip! My kids will want to see this some day!... This conversation would go on for hours until my mom would just give up and let me neatly place everything back into my box.

I even convinced her to let me keep a piece of paper that contained a MASH game... remember those? My husband was Jonathan Taylor Thomas, my car was a shopping cart, and I lived in a shack.

I don't necessarily know where this attachment came from. As a kid my dad was always the one with the huge tourist maps and brochures no matter where we went. The man is full of useless information. We visited the Air Force Museum, Art Museum, and the Museum of Natural History at least once a month, and although I'm sure the brochure hadn't changed from the month before, he would make sure to get a new crisp copy.

My mom on the other hand, rarely has many trinkets from her childhood. When I got to the age of curiosity about my mother's childhood and what she was like as a teenager, the only thing I had to satisfy my curiosity were a couple of dusty year books.

My mug that I purchased from Dayton Visual Arts Center

 

I would guess that my obsession with keepsake items is a mixture between habit and the longing to leave behind a trail of memories for my children to sift through.

Yesterday, I rushed home because my mom had sent me 6 big boxes full of the things I left behind in Ohio. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning! My new place didn't quite feel like a home because it was lacking my personal touches; my paint brushes, my favorite coffee mug that fits my fingers just right, my grandmother's old silver necklace, my jewelry dish, my moccasins... it all just fits. Everything has its own story. It's me.

Digital Death

Twitter just released a new plan that allows family members to petition and remove Twitter accounts for their deceased loved ones.

Just a thought: Are gay couples allowed to petition their deceased partners Twitter account too or is the Bible against that as well...

Anywho, I have had a few encounters with haunting, deceased Facebook accounts. For example, one of my friends passed away last summer after a long hard fight with Leukemia at only 18 years old. Facebook sends me constant reminders like, "Reconnect with Blake." and "Wish Blake a happy 19th birthday!" Not to mention, the countless wall posts saying, "Thinking of you. Wishing you were here," on my news feed.

Of course, these reminders make me sad, but more so, they make me happy. It is nice to be able to look back on Blake's profile, and others that have passed and be able to "pay your respects" or browse through old photos to remember.In this case, Blake's family "took over" his account information to update and thank Blake's social network for support. I'm sure it is and was very difficult for his family to manage his profile account, but I would  like to think that they get some comfort from looking back and reading Blake's thoughts and postings from time to time.

In this day and age, we die two deaths, the physical and the digital. Or, we can let our social network sites live on as a sort of homage to our lives...

Forever 41: Blake <3

Sisterly Love

My sister Kelsey is addicted to salt. 

I mean to the point where my mom had to buy her own salt shaker because the one in the kitchen would show up "missing." Kelsey's favorite snack?: the pretzel salt at the bottom of the bag. She can't even wait until all the pretzels are gone! Her grubby little mits work their way down into the bottom of the bag (usually splitting the bag down the middle) to get her hands on it.

One day, about 30 minutes before mom was due home from work, Kelsey ripped the pretzel bag right down the middle causing the salt to shower all over the floor and couch cover. "DAMN IT!" In a frenzy to clean before mom came home (because she knows she'll get in trouble for eating so much salt) Kelsey gets the vacuum cleaner and goes to town on the couch cover.

All the sudden I heard a noise like the vacuum was clogged, and sure enough, the couch cover was getting sucked right into the vacuum. Understandably, Kelsey pulls the cover out of the vacuum hole and... POP! Like a little trampoline, the cover bounces and sends all the pretzel salt right into Kelsey's face (even worse, in her eyes!).

In a frantic panic, Kelsey starts running around the living room screaming and pulling her eyelids, screaming "IT BURNS!!! THE SALT!" I could literally see the salt crystals dissolving on her poor eyes.

It may seem cruel, but this was by far the funniest chain of events I had ever seen.. I still can't think about it without laughing.. and that day, like a cruel big sister, I was on the floor basically crying because I couldn't contain myself.

I will never look at salt the same.

I miss you girls :(