xo xo, Jenna

Today I miss..

Books. It has been a while since I have browsed new titles and flipped through pages of pure unidentified art that pours from the heart. I miss working at Barnes and Noble with the smell of the trade paperbacks. The stacks of books ready to be shelved and sorted. The craft section books always falling off the shelves on my toes. I even miss the silly questions people would ask. " HI!  am looking for a book. It is green and it is a New York Times Best Seller. It is about this thick..umm..not sure who it is by. "

 

The smell of used books have a different but pleasant smell...like the used bookstore that we have in downtown Salem.

  The bookstore is filled to the brim with books.

You can't even really move without the fear of knocking over books. There is a tiny slot in the slew of books to hand your money through. It is tucked away on one of those cobblestone streets like we have in New Bedford. It is worth every minute of searching for a new read. It is really a nook. The tumbling towers of hardcover and paperbacks make this little shop unique. They also have old copies of classics that still have written notes in them -maybe passed down to someone else. The creased pages and folded edges. Coffee rings. I need something new and inspiring to read. Something that will change things.

 

 

 

 

 

 by Jim Skea (contact)

Wednesday.

Today is just as hot as yesterday. Probably around 86 and sunny. Sticky. I like it but this air conditioner at work is giving me the chills.  Kinda a bummy day because I found out that my loans didn't cover much of my tuition for my on-line classes I wanted to take for web design.  Well ..at least the weather is fine and the sun is shining..  Some pictures that have made me happy today:

by smaginnis11565 (contact)The car I've always wanted!

Summery..

Until later.. xo Jenna

by katiedaisy

Sunny days

Today feels like light weight dresses that hug your sticky skin. Waves crashing and the smell of salty sea. Maybe the water will be warm today. I just want to close my eyes in the sun and have the warmth on my eyelids. Some pictures that make me happy today and remind me of summer:

until later...xo jenna

AlpineGypsy (contact)

by NicaMom (contact)

Sundays are for reading and coffee.

Classes are starting next week and I feel less than ready. I need to get into school mode but I haven't been in school since 2004. I am enjoying this beautiful weather we have been having. It is just about 70 degrees today and sunny. Perfect patio weather. Although I only have a teeny apartment complex patio I dream of a large backyard paradise with hammocks and a fire pit. I could sit and sip iced coffee while reading a book and soak in the vitamin D. Or a perfect day for a road trip. The sunroof open and some good music. The little flowers I have planted are finally starting to bloom.. On a sad note we lost a pretty kitty this week : RIP Marvin. Hopefully he went to the land of cat nip and flowers and other pretty things. 

 
(We will miss you! )

I have been really into the Rolling Stones' older stuff lately. I have been in search of an old vintage style Stones girl shirt. This one is pretty but it isn't exactly what I am looking for. Hmm..

 

                    
photo by gatheringspriggs on flickr

 

photo by Kaleia on Flickr

Some photos that make me happy today. This is it for now..until later..xo Jenna

Wednesday still has rain.

 

So I've recently looked into web design as a new career goal. I've always loved dawdling with the web and getting inspiration from other's web pages and blogs. One of the most inspirational websites that has sparked and fueled my passion for web design is Neet Magazine . This site is based mainly on fashion but it also has a strong fan base of crafters, zine writers & readers, and lovers of just about anything. It uses what seems to be Flash to run its fabulous features and also has a pretty interactive interface that let's the readers flip pages and click on features for more information. It may take some time to load but it definitely is worth the wait! I recently got accepted to an on-line based school (Westwood College) and I am excited about all of the mutli-media options! But in order to make it through to that..I would probably have to take Algebra..which is pretty much the devil. I am not sure how you feel about math..but for me:

 +2ab -5b = ?

But I am excited to learn some more about it in hopes that I will be able to create my own website some day. Maybe even for the store I am dreaming of opening with healthy snacks and baked goods!  So I can design my home to look something like the photo that I put in this post with all of the pennies I have saved. I love the colors and set up of this ! If you are looking for inspiration in photos if you do not take them yourself : flickr storm is probably one of the best websites for beautiful photos that are taken and submitted by bloggers and designers and just about anyone. If you type in a key word it will bring up all pictures related to that. Super neat!!

 

Top 5 Things Today:

 1.Chicken Salad  made with celery, pomegranate, cranberries, black currants, walnuts on multi-grain bread!

2. She & Him Volume 2

3. Rain is always bad and good ( Steady rain calms me but it also doesn't make for productive nights to work on algebra problems)

4. Coffee

5. Typepad.com for amazing blog materials that let me share my doodles with you.

 

That's it for now. Until later xo Jenna

 

the rain is coming down pretty steady now. sleep ..baby..sleep.

Tuesdays Smooosdays

I have been searching up and down for one of the Kind brand bars that I love. It is called a Almond and Coconut snack bar and seems to be out of stock everywhere except for a NY airport. Excuse to fly somewhere- I think so. But today when I went to a little organic shop called The Organic Rainbow I was able to find one that was comparable. No coconutty flavors but sesame and peanuts drizzled with dark chocolate goodness. Id love to open a website with healthy homemade cookies and snacks. My friend Courtney would be especially excellent for this as a partner! But for now..only dreams. Also this week I picked the most beautiful vintage inspired dress from forever twenty-one. Id love to have purchased this from a vintage shop like so many I see but this time it was only the mall. Completely adorable adorned with strawberries and lace ..it makes me feel like summer is just around the corner. I miss the smell of rain right before a thunderstorm. Almost sweet...until later.. xo Jenna

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mother's day

 

Happiness means being able to still hug your Mom on Mother's day. My sister and I made her whole wheat strawberry pancakes with agave nectar syrup. We also got her some flowers with daises and sunflowers. We went to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston for the Egyptian Tomb exhibit and got lunch at the Cafe. My Dad also turned 60 this week ..oh makes me feel so old.  Even though I am only 30 now... I feel like it was just yesterday that I was out in Boston going record shopping. I used to take trips to Harvard Square for Newbury Comics. They always had special import 7 "s that I could never find anywhere else. Like Avocado Baby or Huggybear. I'd come home and put on those records and write in my journal. I would start a new issue of my zine..paper clippings would fill my floor and I'd type out on my Mom's old typewriter. I have been typing on that same typewriter since I was in 5th grade. My first piece was a story about a young girl who was babysitting in a haunted house. I was so proud of my first typed up piece. I am sure it is packed away now. Under boxes Under letters.  Under everything that is no longer. In shoeboxes. Totes. Now.. I am typing on here instead. Expressing myself and jotting down everything ..staring at this blinking cursor. I am hoping that my old albums will be passed down to my little ones. Like so many short stories written and put aside..

    
 

thunderstorms throughout the night make me happy. my rainy saturday morning starts with toast with almond flax seed butter and an egg white omelette with spinach and cheese. hazelnut coffee with raw honey comb that i got in portsmouth nh. sometimes i think breakfast is the best part of the day. i am hoping my plants will start to bloom. i spent some time last week planting the seeds for various flowers . it will make our little patio alive. today is great for movies in bed. maybe an old movie or episodes of dark shadows. until later. jenna xo