Friday, October 23, 2015

A New Beginning

Hey y'all,

I know it has been a while since I wrote my ending post in May. I have missed writing as a creative outlet and have really examined my love of writing versus my comparison to other blogs. I have decided that I want to keep writing for me. Writing about things I love: reading, cooking, food, fitness, faith and other fun things so if you want to continue along and learn more about me, I will be over at Just Jess.


Saturday, May 16, 2015

An End

Hey y'all,

I have been thinking about this for a really long time but I wanted to announce that I am no longer going to be blogging.

Three years ago, I started this blog as I was transitioning into life as a postgrad and now I feel though I love this creative outlet, I have a lot of things going on: training for another half marathon, spending time with my roommate, two book clubs, teaching sunday school, etc. and the blog is always the first thing I let go which means that it is not a priority. I just completed reading The Best Yes and it really helped me focus on what I want to fill my plate with. It has been such a fun adventure sharing part of my life with y'all and I am still going to keep reading along all of your adventures, it's just time for my voice to be silent.

Thank you for coming here to read all about a bookworm from NC who loves fashion, interior design, cooking and inspiring others. 

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Summer Reading {May Selections}

Hey y'all,

With summer approaching and schools wrapping up I always feel more drawn to the library and the bookstore at this time of year. Luckily, some of my favorite authors are releasing books at this time so my to-read list is growing and my nightstand is filled. I thought I would share a few books on my list for this month and I would love for y'all to share your upcoming book reads as well!
Out today:
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Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.

But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.

Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought.

Out Next Week:
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 Born an Outcast, Talyn Batur has spent the whole of his life fighting against the prejudice of his people. An Andarion without a father is not something anyone wants to be.

But when his companion’s brother draws him into a plot against the Andarion crown, he finds himself torn between the loyalty to their planetary government that his mother has beaten into him and his own beliefs of justice and right.

Now, he must decide for himself to remain a pawn of their government or to defy everything and everyone he’s ever known to stand up to tyranny. It’s a gamble that will either save his life or end it. And when old enemies align with new ones, it’s more than just his own life at risk. And more than just his homeworld that will end should he fail.
 
Finally Reading Book #4
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By day, she is Lady Georgiana, sister to a Duke, ruined before her first season in the worst kind of scandal. But the truth is far more shocking—in London’s darkest corners, she is Chase, the mysterious, unknown founder of the city’s most legendary gaming hell. For years, her double identity has gone undiscovered . . . until now.

Brilliant, driven, handsome-as-sin Duncan West is intrigued by the beautiful, ruined woman who is somehow connected to a world of darkness and sin. He knows she is more than she seems and he vows to uncover all of Georgiana’s secrets, laying bare her past, threatening her present, and risking all she holds dear . . . including her heart.

 Currently reading:
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When the British Empire sets its sights on India in the 1850s, it expects a quick and easy conquest. After all, India is not even a country, but a collection of kingdoms on the subcontinent. But when the British arrive in the Kingdom of Jhansi, expecting its queen to forfeit her crown, they are met with a surprise. Instead of surrendering, Queen Lakshmi raises two armies—one male, one female—and rides into battle like Joan of Arc. Although her soldiers are little match against superior British weaponry and training, Lakshmi fights against an empire determined to take away the land she loves.

Told from the perspective of Sita, one of the guards in Lakshmi's all-female army and the queen’s most trusted warrior, The Last Queen of India traces the astonishing tale of a fearless ruler making her way in a world dominated by men. In the tradition of her bestselling novel Nefertiti, which Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander series, called “a heroic story with a very human heart,” Michelle Moran once again brings a time and place rarely explored in historical fiction to rich, vibrant life.

Up Next-For Book Club: 
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Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

A compulsively readable, emotionally immersive, Hitchcockian thriller that draws comparisons to Gone Girl, The Silent Wife, or Before I Go to Sleep, this is an electrifying debut embraced by readers across markets and categories.

What book is up next for you? Favorite author?
  

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Sunday Sayings {Maya Angelou}

Hey y'all,

It is a gorgeous day and I have had a great time. I woke up to babysit and then this afternoon I went to see Swan Lake, the ballet, with my roomie followed by ice cream. Now its time to prep some meals, do some cleaning and get a workout in. I found this pin earlier and love this quote. What a great saying to meditate on this week.

What are you excited for this week?

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Sunday Sayings {Be Gentle}

Hey y'all,

I think sometime we get caught up in everything and we forget to just take a breathe and do the best we can. I have been so busy with work and some personal stuff that I have let this space go to the wayside. That is okay. Right now, blogging isn't in my top five priorities and that's fine. I would rather run to the gym and get a great workout in then write a few posts (if you know me in real life that might shock you) but I know that I will keep trying to do my best in sharing content here and I hope you give me some leeway. 

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What's on your plate this week?

Thanks y'all!

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

What I Wore Wednesday {PBX Formal}

With KR
Hey y'all,

A few Saturdays ago I attended PBX's Spring Formal. It was a great night of dinner but being the faculty advisor, I didn't stay for the dancing after the various awards. I can't believe it was my very last formal but it was a wonderful event at the Hope Valley Country Club in Durham.

With MP (aka former Prez)
Dress: Express (old, I wore it back in 2013 here)
Shoes: Target (old, similar)
Bangles: Kate Spade-bridesmaid & this is the year(old)
Clutch (not pictured): Kate Spade

With the Current Fam! Me, Great-Grandlittle CF, GG-Grandlittle GB & the most recent addition EP my GGG-Grandlittle
Where do you find cocktail attire?

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Four

Hey y'all,

Yet again, Mondays got to me. I had such a busy weekend helping out at church for Holy Week that I didn't get around to writing a post and yesterday was jam packed with catching up after a holiday weekend and a couple meetings. Anyway, I'm continuing the theme of getting to know me with a quick post revolving the number four. While four actually isn't my favorite number I saw this post on MCW's blog and I thought it was a great idea.

Four Nicknames
Jess
J.Dris
Messy Jessie
JD

Four Jobs I've Had
Babysitter
Crew Member at Wendy's
Sales Floor Team Member at Target
Office Assistant

Four Movies I've Watched More Than Once
Sweet Home Alabama
Pride and Prejudice
What a Girl Wants
Two Weeks Notice

Four Things in my Purse
Kate Spade Agenda
EOS Lip Balm in Vanilla Mint
Socks-I walk at lunch time and leave my sneakers at my desk
Claritin-I always forget to take it otherwise

Four Books I'd Recommend
Persuasion by Austen
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern

Four Cars I've Driven
Pontiac Grand Am-the car I learned to drive on
Toyota Corolla-My current car
BMW  5 series-My Mom's old car
Toyota 4Runner-My Dad's car

Four Places I've Visited
Paris, France
London, England
Barcelona, Spain
Venice, Italy
 
Four Places on my Bucketlist
Rome, Italy
Scotland
Greece
Portugal
 
Four of my Favorite Foods
Beef Stroganoff
Chocolate Froyo
Pineapple
Cheddar Cheese 

Four TV Shows I Watch
The Blacklist
Scandal
Reign
The Originals 

Four Things I'm Looking Forward to in 2015
Trip to Atlanta in July
Bridesmaid Fun for lSc's wedding in 2016
Fleet Feet 4 Miler in less than 2 weeks
Visiting my Parents in June

What are 4 things you are looking forward to this spring/summer?

Thursday, April 2, 2015

The Love List & Part-Time Princess {Thursday Night Writes}

Hey y'all,

It's Thursday, and my last day of work for the week, so before I go and spend the evening reading since I really don't have a bedtime I thought I would share some of my recent reads. I also went to the library yesterday so I'm fully stocked for the long weekend.
 
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Description:
Falling in love is just not on Nora King’s To Do List…
Neither is accidentally super-gluing her shoe to her hand right before the biggest presentation of her life!
With all the hard work she’d put into securing the family business after her father’s death, Nora has no choice but to accept help from a knight in shining armor.
Disaster relief worker Ethan Love is still haunted by his last deployment, and desperate for distraction. He’s in town to ask Nora for a major favor, and swooping in to save her presentation is a sure way to get her on side.
As Ethan sticks around and helps Nora through her grief, her barriers tumble down…but will she dare to swap her To Do lists for a How to Fall in Love list?

Opinion:
 A cute short read, this book was a bit predictable but essentially, Nora is attempting to salvage her family's company after the loss of her father but she is so stressed she accidentally super glues her shoe right before the big presentation. Well, in walks her ex-brother-in-law to save the day. It was a good fun read but not one of my favorites or something I would recall when recommending books to a friend.
 
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Description:
Lucy Trabbicio’s a down-on-her-luck, young, American, former biker-bar cocktail waitress desperate to find a job. Lady Elizabeth Billingsley hires Lucy to travel to Fredonia, the tiny jewel of a country in the Alps, for ten days ‘tops’ to impersonate her.
Say what? How the heck is that going to happen?
In the mother of all makeovers, Elizabeth’s people teach Lucy how to dress, walk, talk, eat, be coiffed and even get naked like a European Lady.
The goal?
To keep Crown Prince Cristoph Timmel interested in Elizabeth until she finishes her unexpected, pressing personal business in the States.
But fate intervenes… Lucy meets and is wildly attracted to sexy, bad-boy Nick on the oh-so-long flights to Fredonia. Unfortunately for Lucy—Nick and Elizabeth have a hot sexual history, which Nick wants to immediately resume.
Prince Cristoph proposes marriage. What's an imposter girl to do? Elizabeth insists that she’ll make it back home in time for the wedding. Lucy accepts Cristoph’s proposal and is on the fast track to becoming a Princess but continues to fall for the wrong Prince of Fredonia—Nick. When another tiny glitch arises—someone’s trying to kill her.
The only folks helping Lucy are her wild, party hard, take-no-prisoners Ladies-in-Waiting.
When the real Lady Elizabeth decides she’s not marrying Cristoph and never returning to Fredonia, Lucy’s faced with an uncomfortable decision—continue her deception, marry the prince she’s not in love with and live a dream life albeit without Nick, her dream guy? Or tell the truth and return to poverty and oblivion?

Opinion:
I thought this was such a quick read and since it is marked as the first in a series I am interested to know where the next book ventures. Essentially, Lucy due to circumstances loses her job and when looking through the paper finds a listing for a part-time assistant position. Well, it's not an assistant position as it is for Lucy to fill in for Lady Elizabeth Billingsley as she deals with family business. Lucy takes a crash course in how to be a lady and luckily has some pretty amazing ladies in waiting when she lands in the small country of Fredonia. This was a fun, quick read and I laughed on more than one occasion.

What are your currently reading?

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

What I Wore Wednesday {Late March}

Hey y'all,

It's another Wednesday so I thought I would share some more outfits with a What I Wore Wednesday posts. Here are some random outfits and occassions that have come up over the last week or so.

Kinky Boots at DPAC
Dress: Banana Republic Outlet
Cardigan: Target
Scarf: Light Years
Shoes: Sam Edleman via Nordstrom Rack
Teaching Sunday School
T-Shirt: Church Issued
Jeans: Target
Flats: Target
Bag: Longchamp via Nordstrom
Work
Scarf: Gift
Tank: Old Navy
Cardigan: Target (old)
Skirt: LOFT Outlet (old)
Casual Friday
Tank: LOFT Outlet
Jeans: Old Navy
Cardigan: Target
Bag: C.Wonder
Church and Watching Basketball
Sweatshirt: Sorority Pullover
Jeans: Target
Scarf: Peach Roots
Sorority Easter Dinner
 Dress: J.Crew (old, ebay find)
Jean Jacket: Old Navy
Bubble Necklace: Carrie Grace
Shoes: Jack Rogers

What's your favorite thing in your closet for Spring?

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Currently...

Hey y'all,

I love the get to know me Monday theme I have going so even though this is a day late since it is really late on Monday now, I thought I would share. Also, if you want to catch up on Get to Know Me Monday posts I answered questions in the One Lovely Blog post as well as the 100 random questions post part one and two.

Here are some current things:

Feeling: Blah. I just got my Easter basket in the mail and the Easter Bunny told me it was ok to open it early. I have indulged in a bit to much candy. Whoops!

Reading: Tempting Donovan Ford. I need to pick up Hyperion for my book club book and today the newest Chronicles of Nick, Instinct, comes out so I need to go to the store and grab it.


Listening to: the Kinky Boots Soundtrack constantly. Whether going for a run or doing the dishes, ever since I saw the show I have been listening to the music constantly.
 
Thankful for: my small group. Seriously, I have the best women in my small group/bible study and Monday nights refresh me for the whole week. Last night was a lot of life updating and discussion on embracing the Lord fully.
 
Thinking about:upcoming blog posts. If y'all have any requests or specific questions you want to know, like a Q&A let me know and I can make next's week post random questions.
  
Eating: Dinner was lemon garlic pork tenderloin with saffron rice and green beans followed by the aforementioned Easter candy.

Watching: The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. My roommate and I started to binge watch this show on Sunday and we are already half way through. I am glad that Netflix has already decided to create a second season.
 
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Loving: The Best Yes by Lisa Terkeurst. It is such a great devotional book. I am just starting it but it really hits on the question of focus and understanding that yes and no are powerful words. This is one of my favorite quotes so far:
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Looking forward to: my trip to Atlanta in July! I just got my vacation approved but I'm excited to get away for a long weekend and see friends. If y'all have any recommendations/places to visit let me know!

What are you up to?