Hiatus for the next few days...

Hi Everyone!

I am having a rough week.  I'm not feeling that well and I have been going to bed really early.

Currently I am on the recliner where I have been sleeping, watching Pretty Little Liars, and my eyes are slowly closing.

I was trying to come up with a new post for today but my brain is mush and I can't think.

Hopefully I'll feel better in a few days and be able to be more of a person, or at least more of myself.

Be back soon!

Lots of Love,

Jess

Sebastien Millon

Weight Loss Monday

Hi Everyone!

I have thought a lot about this and I have decided to add a new series to the blog.

If you have been reading for awhile you might have seen some sentences that hint at not only chronic conditions that I have but also my weight.

For some background, a little less than a year ago I was running three miles everyday and I was on my way, training for a half marathon.

Suddenly I had pain shooting down my arm, then shooting down my leg, then numbness that followed the worst pain I have ever experienced.  I had ruptured a disk in my neck and surgery was the only option.

In November 2011 I had a spinal fusion on my C5 and C6 and my recovery is still taking place.  I cannot run but I have been hopeful.

However, my body has not been done with me.  Low iron counts, rashes of unknown origin, fevers, and more pain in my muscles and joints have further hindered my work outs.

I have now gained about twenty pounds since my surgery and I am heavier than I have ever been.

I feel ashamed. 

In my head I have always paired my feeling of being strong with my physicality.  I feel weak now.  I feel heavy....I feel fat.

I am starting to realize that even though my body is a mess right now I have to get to a place in my head where I feel strong so that maybe my body will eventually follow.

So, I have started slow.  I walked for thirty minutes on Saturday.  I walked thirty minutes this morning.  Maybe if I feel o.k. I will walk thirty minutes on Wednesday.

I am not good at slow, I am yearning to start a slow jog which I cannot do.  My body will not do it either.

I hope that every Monday you will be here with me to go through this journey.  There will definitely be some ups and downs.  I will talk about everything in this series.  Recipes, exercise, success, and failure.

Now some fitness quotes that will hopefully keep me motivated!

 Lots of Love,

Jess
 

Lovely Sunday Photograph

Lovely Sunday to you All!

I can't believe how fast the weekend flies by.  Yesterday I had a wonderful day with my parents.  I took a nap in their bed (does anyone else sleep really well in their parent's bed?), we went to see the Avengers, ate dinner, and then I brought home dinner to Mer who wasn't feeling well.

Today I have been trying to relax but I did go through a MILLION, yes a MILLION papers and I tried to organize Meridyth's who keeps just as much stuff as I do!

How has everyone's weekend been?  I hope it has been whatever you wanted it to be!

Now onto the photograph!

Image on Flickr by Paul Harts a Glasgow photographer:  Heylipol Church, Tiree

Isn't this image awesome?!  Mer and I have a few dream vacations we want to take but one of them is Ireland and Scotland.  This image was taken by an amazing photographer I found on flickr.  His name is Paul Harts and his work is really breathtaking.

His images make me want to hop on a plane to Scotland today.

One can only wish!

Until tomorrow,

Jess

Muju World

Hello Lovelies!

I have been looking back at my posts and Oh My Goodness!  I am all over the place!  There are many reasons for this but lately I have had no attention span and a hard time focusing therefore you are getting some really random posts!

Today my random post is about Muju World.  Muju World is a collaboration between two artists known on their website at Mr and Mrs. Muju.  The live in England and both are VERY talented and create resin sculptures, felt sculptures, prints, zines, pencil cases, and custom skateboards.

When I came across their site I couldn't help but smile.  I love finding quirky, original artists that don't seem to care about if their product is going to sell but just make really cool things.

I think that the felt and resin sculptures are just so fun so I am going to show you a few images of those!

Whirlpool Muju Felt Sculpture

Atlantic Ocean Guardian Sculpture

Black Astral Muju Felt Sculpture

Deep Water Felt Sculpture #3

Pacific Ocean Guardian Sculpture

Aren't they awesome?  Check out more of their stuff at Muju World

(Note:  I am not paid to promote any of these sites.  I just like them and want to share the coolness)

Lots of Love,

Jess

Quotes, Products, and Pictures!

Happy Wednesday!

We have made it half way through the week!

I have been finding so many random things that I just adore around the web and I wanted to share a smorgasbord with you today!  I hope you get a kick out of everything as much as I do.

The Fancy

Aren't these really adorable?  Who wouldn't want these in your house?  I thought it would be a cute engagement present too!

Heidi and Lola- Heather Trine

I have turned into a cat lady.  I never thought it would happen but it has!  I am going to embrace it and aren't these sets of pictures a great way to do it?!

I am not the biggest Lady Gaga fan but this quote is AWESOME!  I might letterpress this one because I could use this reminder probably once a day.

Rachel Reynold Designs

Rachel Reynold Designs

Slide lamps shades by Rachel Reynold Designs on Etsy.  How cool is that?  I wish I had thought of that in my college days when I had slides all over the place!

Oh Dier Living on Etsy

If you were a child in the 90's who did not see The Sandlot and who has not said this for the rest of their lives?  My best friend and I still say this to each other!  Available here.

Hope all this randomness made you smile!

Lots of Love,

Jess

Dave Devries and the Monster Engine

Good Tuesday Morning!

I had to share what I came across the other day and I hope you think it is as cool as I do.

Dave Devries is an author and artist and he did an amazing project called the Monster Engine.

What he did was take drawings done by kids and take their structure and idea and draw what they would like like if these simple drawings were done realistically.

The drawings totally captured my heart.  They are quirky, scary, funny, and completely original.

How awesome are these?  Definitely check out the website The Monster Engine.  It talks about the whole project and has more examples!

Lots of Love,

Jess

New print on LoveUPaperly: Don't Forget To Be Awesome Today

Hi Gorgeous People!

I have been working hard on new items for LoveUPaperly.

This print will be up for sale later today!

It measures 8.5 by 11 inches. I used different stamps with archival inks to make patterns in yellow green, and pink. The words are stamped in navy blue saying "Don't Forget to be Awesome Today".  I then drew a whimsical picture of a girl flying over a charming town holding balloons.  The drawing is ink and watercolor drawn over the inks used for stamping.  The print is sprayed with acrylic sealer to ensure a long lasting piece of art!

I think this is a good reminder of what to do everyday and the print is selling for only $7.50!

Hope you guys like!  More to come in a few days.

Lot's of Love,

Jess