Cabin Getaway

The holidays are over and life has resumed as it was. My friends are in different cities and my boyfriend and I are back to splitting our time between Dayton and Cincinnati (this is way better than Cincinnati and DC for the record. I just really miss him during the week). I know everyone had a case of the "bahumbugs" today with the first day back at work. My older sister also had to go back to work today after maternity leave and take my 9 week old niece Gwenyth to daycare for the first time. So, she had a tougher day than the rest of us. Luckily she is the strongest person I know, and I know she will be able to pick things back up at work while continuing to be the best mom in the world. She'll find her balance. She always does.

Today, I daydreamed about the perfect vacation - a cabin getaway in West Virginia. We stayed at Mill Creek Cabins and I definitely recommend them! The cabin was clean and was stocked with fire wood, a full kitchen, and plenty of towels for the hot tub outside. We didn't even have to check in. The keys were waiting on Cabin #5's table and we left them where we found them as we quietly left the next morning. The drive through WV was just as gorgeous as the cabin with plenty of lookouts and roadside waterfalls.

It was truly paradise...

As we were leaving the cabin, we encountered our little friend who was the sweetest dog in the world but happened to be covered in poo. Someone had a little too much fun in the wilderness. Well the sneaky snake kept creeping into our pictures and I love poo dog for it.

This makes me crack up every time. Poo Dog!

Thank you Adam for the perfect getaway that I will never forget.

xoxox,

Jes

Cabin Getaway: Sneak Peek

Just got home from a jam packed Holiday weekend. I have so many pictures to sort through and I cannot wait to show them to you! For now, here is a sneak peek of the road trip to West Virginia....

Our road trip soundtrack was the Allman Brothers :)

Until next time.

xoxox,

Jes

Oh Snap: 3

My life in pictures lately.

I honestly can't wait to get an iPhone because I don't think the Droid takes the best pictures or else I would post more of these! Only 8 more months until my contract is up.. no big deal ;)

Off the West Virginia tomorrow for a cabin getaway with the boyfriend! I'll post pictures soon.

Happy New Year!

xoxox,

Jes

Looking Back and Moving Forward

1. I moved back to Ohio from DC and I am finally digging in my heels and settling down. After 4 years in college and a year in DC, it dawned on me that I haven't really "been around" for my family in 5 years. I love the fact that my best friends are only 1 hour away, my boyfriend is 40 minutes away, and my family is right down the road. I can honestly say, that I am truly HAPPY right now.

2. My beautiful baby niece arrived in 2011, making it the best year ever! Baby Gwenyth is incredible. Seriously. I can't take my eyes off of her.

3. Coming to terms with the things I cannot change - friends, family, money... whatever it may be... there are just some things that are completely out of my control and I am finally learning how to be okay with that. I no longer feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders.

4. I love my new job and it challenges me in all the right ways. It forces me to be creative, analytic, decisive, and self motivated. It keeps me on my toes and I can't wait to see what's next.

5. Becoming more physically fit. In the last years of  binge drinking in college and indulging in comfort food in DC, it was easy to "lose myself." I have been frequenting the gym and I never thought I would say it, but I even look forward to the gym! It feels great to take charge and I am finally starting to see results (Holiday eating aside.)

1. Kicking all my bad habits - I bite my nails and I "pull" out my eyelashes. How disgusting! I look like a child and it's time to grow up! I will kick these habits in 2012.

2. Put a dent in school loans - I went through the angry/ pouty phase of post grad school loans. "Why me? Will I ever get out of this? I'm poor. Wah. Wah. Wah." But as I stated in #3 of 2011, I cannot focus on things that cannot change, and I was starting to annoy myself with all the whining about money. Just save your money and suck it up. In 2012, I will put a serious dent in paying off my school loans!

3.  Stay connected - I think I could do a better job of checking in with my friends and family that live farther away. I don't "like talking on the phone" but that is no excuse. In 2012, I want to stay connected with the people who matter most.

4. Cook more - baking, cooking, exotic cocktails.. I want to do it all. I would like to try a new recipe at least once a week (as long as it doesn't become too costly and interfere with #3). In 2012, I want to advance my skills in the kitchen, and I don't think my boyfriend will mind being my personal taste tester :)

5. Get 50 new blog followers - I want to become more involved with blogging and provide value to my readers. I need to attract readers and get them interested enough to come back! In 2012, I want to attract 50 new blog followers. Right now I have 26, so cheers to 76!

If you want to make your own Looking Back.. and Moving Forward list on your blog, LINK UP with Life According to Jes and submit your link below!

xoxox, 

Jes.

Merry Christmakuh

This year we have added 2 new additions to our Christmas celebration. My boyfriend Adam and my beautiful baby niece Gwenyth.

Gwenyth is 2 months old now and she is starting to coo and smile. I can't wait to see her little personality evolve over the next couple of months :)

Adam is Jewish, so he brought a new touch to our Christmas this year and we were so glad to have him. It's always fun to bring new people to the circle. I think my brother-in-law appreciated having another man around to hang with since there is a shortage of men in my family.

Truly thankful for everything this year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

xoxox,

Jes

American Horror Story Drinking Game

Who are you kidding? The office is quiet.. your mind is on vacation.. and you are only going to do minimal work tomorrow. And tonight is the FINALE of American Horror Story! So grab a bottle of wine and get a little tipsy :)

2 weeks ago, my friends and I made the American Horror Story Drinking Game.

Here are the rules (I adjusted some of rules because some things have changed since the last time we played).

1. If someone has sex - drink 2

2. If you see the young maid - drink1

3. If you see the old maid - drink 2

4. If you see the man in the black rubber suit - drink 2

5. If someone says the name Violet - drink 3

6. If some references being crazy - drink 2

7. If there is a fresh death (someone new dies) - drink 4

8. If there is a flashback - drink 1

9. If you see the red ball roll across the floor - drink 5

10. If you see the new "devil" baby - drink 4

11. If Ben Harmon finally realizes what is going on in the house - drink 5

Hey Ben Harmon

ENJOY!

xoxox, Jes

Something Salty and Something Sweet

I know this isn't the first time you have seen these but... I love these little treats because the combination of salty pretzels and chocolate make my taste buds go crazy. And, because all you need are 2 ingredients, and 2 minutes in the oven.

*I found this on Pinterest! (addicting)



Ingredients:
1 bag of Hershey kisses (I used Hugs)
1 bag of Snyder Pretzel Snaps

How to:
Preheat oven to 350
Unwrap Hershey kisses
Line a cookie sheet with one layer of Snaps
Apply one kiss on each Snap
Put in oven for 2 minutes! (no longer than that because they will melt through the pretzel)
Squish another Snaps pretzel on top to make a yummy sandwich!
Enjoy!!.. I dare you to eat just one ;)

Also try: Rolos, Candy Cane Hershey kisses, and Reese Cups.

Happy Holidays!

xoxox, Jes

You know what's funny? Honesty.

Last night, as I was leaving a Thai restaurant, a homeless woman asked me for money because she was hungry. I looked down at my neatly wrapped fried rice and I couldn't stomach walking away. So I handed them over. The woman didn't even smile, she looked at the carry out box like it had cooties and said, "I was really hoping you would give me money so I could go to the bar."

I got so mad and yelled, "You should be glad you got my DINNER!" 

Now, I know that my Thai leftovers may not be ideal (and I like it spicy).. but the restaurant messed up my order so it was a new batch of fried rice that I had barely touched..and it was still pipping hot and delicious.

Then it occurred to me... if she would have just said she wanted to go to the bar in the first place, I wouldn't feel so offended by her dis-honesty. I wanted to snatch that carry out box right back! But before I knew it she was stuffing it into her bag. It was at the point of no return... a black hole of lord knows what.

This past weekend, in Cleveland, this homeless man was standing outside of the Browns stadium with a sign that said, "Not gonna lie, need beer." People were practically swarming him with money. He was honest, and made people laugh... why do you think people love comedy so much?

Everyone loves an honest homeless man.

Everyone loves a knowledgeable homeless man.

Everyone loves a witty homeless man.

So the point of my story is... BE HONEST PEOPLE. In everything that you do. Be honest with others, and most importantly, be honest with yourself. And to the homeless people...

Make yourself look like an alcoholic and you'll make millions.

Music According to Jes: November

Do you have a long week of travel ahead for the holidays? Do you have along break from school and finally have a chance to update your iPod? Bored at work and need some tunes to pass the day? Check out some of my new favorite songs!

Right now I am ADDICTED to M83 - Midnight City. Something about it just keeps me clicking repeat. You may recognize it from the new Victoria's Secret commercial... but I promise I found it first ;) I've noticed my taste in music evolving a little bit.. you should notice a little bit more bob your head beats. Enjoy!

Safe travels and Happy Thanksgiving!

DIY: Newspaper Nails

My friend Devan came over the other night, (okay, I made this post a few weeks ago and forgot to publish it! I've been busy with work and my beautiful baby niece) and I fell in love with her nails!

Awesome, huh.

She painted her nails a pastel blue, dipped them in vodka and then layered on the newspaper. I had to know the details, so I searched Pinterest to find the step by step instructions:

Check out the Newspaper how to, HERE! I'm going to give it a try this weekend! Guess I better get to the liquor store ;)

xoxox, Jes