Friday Roundup

Hello!! We are back from Argentina! We had an incredible time, I cannot recommend Argentina enough, we can't wait to go back some day to see more. I had hoped to post some pictures this week but I'll just start with the one above that I took of Iguazu Falls. More to come next week!

What are you up to this weekend? I'm getting my haircut and am strongly considering going for the "long bob" look. It's just hair it grows back right??

Here are some links to get us started:

Love this-- what was the #1 song on your birthday? Mine was "Jump" by Van Halen, beat that. 

Amazing 1950's house.

Oscars red carpet fashion fixes, so interesting. 

Bought these shoes before my trip and am IN LOVE.

Did you collect Beanie Babies in the 90's? My sister did -- this is a fascinating article about their rise and fall. 

Men and cats. 

Love this Sesame Street parody of House of Cards-- new season TOMORROW! 

ICYMI, Christina Aguilera's impressions of other divas are spot on. Also, a 90's duet dream come true.

Incredible photos of frozen waves in Nantucket.

Loving Keira Knightley's pregnancy style.

My New Favorite Podcast

Serial opened me up to the world of podcasts, and looking for another Serial-like show has opened my eyes to a variety of podcasts, some to be honest, are terrible, but then there are some real gems out there. I  happened upon Stuff You Missed in History Class a few weeks ago and I can't stop listening. It's not at all like Serial, but incredibly entertaining none the less.

 Basically, I feel like I'm hanging out with my two really smart friends who are telling me interesting stories, but from time to time also mentioning their love of cats and tea. I mean, the name sort of gives it away, each week Holly and Tracy tackle a little known topic in history, like Maria Tallchief, who is pictured above, the first American Prima Ballerina.

I've been listening to these running, while at the grocery store, on airplanes and most recently while driving around the Phoenix area this week picking up obscure audio cables and other odds and ends for the project we're working on. (Here's a peek!) Anyhow, these are a few of my favorite episodes so far...

Laura Ingalls Wilder 

Disney's Haunted Mansion and the very long creative process of bringing it to life.

Sarah Emma Edmonds, a woman who disguised herself as a man to act as a Civil War spy.

The Ghost Army of WWII, really, I had no idea this existed.

A History of Cheese! 

Wedding Wednesday: Insta-ideas

Some wedding inspiration from a few of my favorite wedding Instagram accounts...

Gold details, luxe silk, and a low back, our Viva by @johannajohnsonofficial gown just might have it all!

A photo posted by The Dress Theory (@thedresstheory) on Feb 24, 2015 at 5:12pm PST

We love these creative #JohnnyCash and #MirandaLambert song lyric chair signs. 🎵"Because you're mine I walk the line."🎵 📷 via @connectionphotography

A photo posted by The Knot (@theknot) on Feb 18, 2015 at 1:34pm PST

We love to do an escort/favor combo! For this wedding the family harvested blood oranges off of their own orchard to create a custom wedding marmalade fresh from their garden. Each jar had custom labels and the guests names calligraphed on the lids! {photo by: @yvetteromanphoto}

A photo posted by La Fete Weddings (@lafeteweddings) on Feb 12, 2015 at 5:27pm PST

The new collection is coming in less than two weeks!!! 18 new limited edition colors including some gorgeous neutrals this time around! // image by @josevilla with @joelserrato styling by @type_a_society and @greylikes rings by @trumpetandhorn

A photo posted by The Mrs. Box #themrsbox (@the_mrs_box) on Feb 12, 2015 at 7:52am PST

Monday Motivation

Image, Lisa Congdon via Buzzfeed

Friday Roundup

Hello! I hope you had a wonderful week! Teresa is still enjoying Argentina and will be back with us next week with plenty of stories to tell I'm sure. As or me, I'm spending my weekend searching the depths of my closet for sandals. I'm headed for the sun next week for shoot in Arizona. Alas, not quite as exotic as Argentina, but 80 degrees and a fun project to work on, I'll take it! As always, here are some fun things to keep you entertained as you start your weekend...

Ridiculous take on a birth plan from McSweeney's, I just had to read this aloud to the people around me, they wanted to know what was making me laugh so hard.

For beauty and skincare advice, this is a website I've been spending a ton of time on lately.

The real life girl who made it into Harry Potter

"Charlie's Angles" in India

Do you shower more or less than most?

Volunteering

On sale winter coats

#askhermore-love this hilarious commentary on the dumb questions ladies get asked on the red carpet. Here's hoping for better questions at the Oscars this weekend.

Image above, Shirley McClain and Warren Beatty at the Academy Awards in 1966

Watch This: MANH(A)TTAN

That's right, I found another period drama to watch!

Manhattan, set Los Alamos, New Mexico in 1943, follows the lives and jobs of the scientists involved with the Manhattan Project aka creating an atomic bomb. The work is so top secret the wives of these scientists don't even know why they've been uprooted and moved to this crazy desert outpost. I'm only a few episodes in, but the plot lines, costumes and music have already sucked me in.

The show began airing this summer, but I like to binge watch things, so I waited until the first season was all on Hulu :).

My favorite moment of watching the pilot was when Jason casually asked, "Hey, was that bearded man one of the wet bandits?" Why yes, yes he was. 

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Just a pretty photo...

...and a GREAT prop idea for an engagement shoot. Hammocks are the best! 

Sufjan Stevens

Teresa and I both have LOVED Sufjan Steven's music since college, so naturally, we're thrilled that he has a new album coming out later this year. Here's the first single, it dropped yesterday and is beautiful. 

Monday Motivation: Stevie Wonder

Somewhat randomly, I was lucky enough to be in the audience of "Songs in the Key of Life" a tribute to Stevie Wonder that was taped last week. You guys. It was amazing. And, I'm telling you about it, because it airs TONIGHT on CBS (that's Monday the 15th) and you really should watch it. If you want a second opinion, here's what Rolling Stone had to say.

I was blown away the amazing range of performances: Tony Bennett, Beyonce, Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, Jill Scott, India.Arie, Janelle Monet, John Legend, Pharrell, etc. but above all else, I was blown away by Stevie Wonder as a person, and the message of love he conveys through is songs. Whether it's "Isn't She Lovely" which he wrote for his daughter when she was born or "Happy Birthday" which was actually a very upbeat protest song, calling for a national holiday to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.. Did you know that Stevie Wonder was integral in making that happen?

Anyway, things for you to think about this Monday morning. Listen to some Stevie Wonder and start your week out with a smile...

Image via BET

Friday Roundup

Happy Valentine's weekend! It's been a very busy week in the lives of Jenny and Jason and we have a bit of a lull before things get crazy again so our weekend plans include curling up with Molly Moon and Theo, catching up on some work and some tv shows and trying to curb an oncoming cold...thrilling, I know. I hope you're weekend is filled with the ones you love.

If you're in the mood for a romantic comedy, Teresa and I really enjoyed watching What If a few weeks ago.

Beautiful Tiny House

Penguins in sweaters!

How to really be a friend to someone going through a hard time.

Styled by a 3 year old...

A creative and adorable Valentine's Day gift

DIY flower arranging tips

This is the movie I want to see this weekend...

Spring trends: Sunglasses & Muumuus! 


Image via Best Movie Kisses

Week #4: Answers

Great travel themed questions T! Here are my answers...

What are your favorite things to do on vacation?
Oh man, I LOVE to lay in the sun. Teresa, we really do need to go on a vacation together. Patrick and I could spend the day reading by the pool and you could go exploring with Jason! Since I do a bunch of work related travel, if vacation doesn't include some serious relaxing, it's not a vacation!

What three places are at the top of your bucket list to visit?

I've been lucky enough to check some amazing spots off of my travel bucket list in the last few years, I have to say, this question was harder than picking desert island movies! I love to travel and there are still so many parts of the world I want to visit and/or go back and see again! 

Here are a three that have been on my bucket list for a long time...

Since I was a little, I've dreamt of visiting Salzburg, Austria and going on the Sound of Music tour!  (Yes, I'm a huge dork, this shouldn't surprise you.)

I'm not much of a hiker, but climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro has been a goal since I started studying Africa in college. 

And lastly, Scandinavia, as that's what a lot of my heritage is, I'd love to go see where my family came from! 

Photo above is me in Australia, a bucket list spot I checked off the list. 

Week 4 Questions

Since I’m leaving for Argentina on Thursday this week’s questions are about travel!

What are your favorite things to do on vacation?

Eat and relax! When we travel in the city (which is common, we are total city people) I love to have no agenda, just wander around different neighborhoods on foot and try to find the best food. Most of our vacations revolve around discovering the best restaurants and eating whatever is local and recommended. I also like to window shop and go to the spa :)

When we are in more remote locations I like to go on long walks, swim, and read. I’m not much of a sunbather (I burn and get overheated, sadly) so Patrick and I tend to do our own thing during the day, he likes to lay in the sun and I like to explore more.

What three places are at the top of your bucket list to visit?

1)  Turkey!! We are dying to go to Istanbul and travel all around the country. 2) Go back to India. I traveled a bit in India after college but really only scratched the surface, Patrick and I would both love to spend more time there. 3) Vietnam – we have friends in Vietnam and have heard it’s an incredible place to visit (and eat!), we’d love to do a family vacation there with Mylo. 

Monday Motivation

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Friday Roundup

Happy Friday! What are you up to this weekend? It has been POURING rain here in Seattle all week so we are trying to think of fun indoor activities with an 18 month old, any ideas? We'll also be packing for our trip to Argentina, we leave on Thursday, eeeeekkkkk!!

ICYMI - Saved By the Bell Reunion on Fallon. Is it just me or do they all look EXACTLY the same??

I thought this was fascinating.

I've been looking for some cauliflower recipes, this one looks good. 

Important news Seattle! Visit a pop up CAT CAFE Valentine's weekend.

Best way to reheat pizza (genius).

Incredible portraits.

Awesome DIY photo-booth background. 

Cute first birthday gift idea.

Good news for slow runners like me!

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Today AKA an Ode to Wellness Pills...

Today, Jason's battling a cold and I'm feeling fine (knock on wood!).  I'm spending the day working from home, with my current favorite candle lit, listening to The Smiths over the the banging of sawing of our basement bathroom being remodeled and making Jason tea. Above all, I'm just thankful to not be feeling sick.* I'm convinced I owe it all to my favorite icky tasting pills.

While on tour last fall when I felt a cold coming on, my friend Ray introduced me to Source Naturals Wellness Formula and I've been a believer ever since.

Yes, they smell like someone died in a garlic field, and I'd recommend swallowing fast to avoid tasting them. I don't care if it's a placebo effect, these seem to do the trick for me. It's worth it to be well right now!



*I'm pretty convinced that by writing this post bragging about being well is pretty much going to guarantee that I get sick, because that's how these things always seem to go...

Week #3: Answers

Thank for the great questions this week Jenny!

What do you do to cheer yourself up?
 
Besides the normal stuff: baths, wine, chocolate, Netflix… I like to have something fun to look forward to. We love traveling so this is usually a trip of some sort. It doesn’t have to be a big one, even a weekend in Cannon Beach or the San Juan's is something that I enjoy planning and it gives me something fun to think about during weeks like this one when it’s pouring rain and dark before I leave work.

My quick trick for getting in a better mood is smiling, even if it’s forced at first. I read once that smiling/laughing is proven to alter the brain responses to stress and even releases endorphins that act as a natural pain reliever.  So if I’m in a bad mood I’ll Google funny videos or meme’s just to get me to smile and laugh.

If you were stranded on a desert island, which 5 movies would you want to have with you? 

These are the five movies (okay, there are two trilogies in there) that I could watch over and over and over.

Bourne Identity

Lord of the Rings

Pride and Prejudice

Little Women

When Harry Met Sally

Wednesday Laugh

Is your week going as well as mine? (sarcasm.) Here are two videos that made me laugh out loud last night. They say laughter is the best medicine right??

First up, Will Farrell, Kevin Hart and Jimmy Fallon epic lip sync battle:

And the "Farm Hunk" SNL Bachelor parody:

Weel #3: Questions

We're back, with another round of questions.

In light of the Superbowl sadness that's currently consuming Seattle, my first question is:

What do you do to cheer yourself up? 

I've found that music really effects my mood. Yesterday I lit one of my favorite candles and I spent  the morning singing along to 80's music.

Also, doing things that are sporadic and random always make me happy. Like in this photo, we'd been working long days for a week and a half in Maui, so on our last night there, I jumped in the ocean and went swimming with my clothes on.

Also, in college, Teresa was known to put on a pair of cat ears to study and I've taken up that habit. You just can't be sad with a pair of cat ears on!

If you were stranded on a desert island, which 5 movies would you want to have with you? 

My choices are:

Two for the Road (My favorite Audrey Hepburn movie, here's my post on why I love it)
10 Things I Hate About You
Moonrise Kingdom
The Fall
Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Although, don't hold me to this for long! Even though I came up with the question, this was harder than I thought... I think my answers would be slightly different even if you asked me tomorrow.


Incase you missed it, you can see our last two weeks of questions here.

Monday Motivation

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