as much as i hate to be at work when no one else is, i am experiencing now something i haven’t experienced in quite some time during the weekday hours of 8 to 5 (or 6 or 7 or whatever, you know. it’s work.)

some free time.

so, what to do w/ a couple hours of free time when nearly everyone else is on vacation?  blog surf.

i found one blog that i very much appreciated, and i’d like to share.

it’s called “welcome home- a guide to modern living” and it can be located here: heartanddesign.blogspot.com

at first it appeared to be a pretty standard “inspiring design” compilation blog.  i can appreciate those.  and i do. but every now and then, i like to see them mix it up.

example?

there is a whole post highlighting the shenanigans of this shark. how can one not enjoy that?

misplaced as it may seem in a design blog, i find it wholly acceptable and even necessary.

additionally, i saw this quote:

I heard the other day you can tell a lot about a person’s personality in how they handle three situations:
1. Lost luggage
2. Getting caught in the rain
3. Untangling Christmas lights

and i thought, this is very true, i will judge people based on these standards from now on.

last thing: giant underwear.  for those not aware, my sisters and i, at one point in time, had a pair of giant underwear.  yes, giant (okay, bigger than normal…big enough to fit 3 young adults).  perfect for photo ops and awkward family reunions, they were never far from the three of us when we were united.  sadly, i have no idea where they have wandered off to, but today i saw this picture and was reminded of fond memories.

check it:

oh, and i feel i must mention, there are tons of sweet decor photos.  which is exactly what i came for.
-jessica

all I want is your eyes
in the morning
as we wake for a short while

bowerbirds ~ northern lights

 Merry Christmas!

-jess

and that’s where i’m headed…Riviera Maya to be exact. 4 days of sand and sun and warmth. so the fact that it’s 20 degrees here in st louis can’t really get me down today because i’m soon headed south for a toasty holiday.

i leave early morning on Christmas eve.  i’m a little sad about missing the actual day of Christmas w/ my family, but we’ve rescheduled.  i’m not sure it will be the same.  i’ll be w/ my aunt,uncle and cousin emma.  (she just turned 18).  i created this photo of all of us on the beach to simulate what the experience would be like.  this is what we gave to emma on her birthday to break the news about Mexico:

it’s obviously a very realistic representation.

as far as the actual holiday goes, i have almost all of my shopping done…need to pick up a few odds and ends, but overall, i’ve done quite well this year.  ahead of schedule, even.  which is surprising considering i put nearly all of my own holiday needs aside to tackle Switch’s.  if your company every suggests you personally send out all of the holiday cards, i recommend you politely decline, if that is at all possible.  it’s a big task. (though, i must say, the site/card turned out really well, and i’m really happy about the results.)

ok.  time for some email blasting fun.  i’m launching our Q4 “switch hits” today.  if you’re interested in what Switch is up to, you can check it out here. the field day video is complete with cheesy music and all, AND if you watch closely, you’ll notice the magenta shirted indian on the human roulette wheel is me!  it’s worth viewing simply because of that fact, i think. :)

have a good week before Christmas week.

-jess

which is why my company, Switch, has decided to give away all the stuff in my boss’ office this holiday season.

we’re giving away a ton of sweet stuff, including the massage chair that i love sooooo very much :/
from hockey sticks to a computer to a bass guitar, the items are definitely grab-worthy.

check it out and pass it along if you like it!

-jess

i’m disappointed in my lack of postings as of late.  between work, moving, a spastic puppy, and just attempting to keep a social life, i’ve been a touch busy.

i want to show you pictures of my fabulous new stuff (fabulous may be an overstatement, but i really enjoy it), but i haven’t taken them quite yet. soon.  i purchased my first new couch.  pieced together a desk, a tv stand and an elliptical.  i bartered for a vintage coffee table on craigs list, which i’m in the process of painting.  (orange and green, if you were wondering).

i’m finally feeling comfortable in that place.  it feels more like home.  i made friends w/ a few of the neighbors, and i’m really excited to live so close to fun people (in maplewood i never saw my neighbors, and in belleville most of my neighbors were older than my grandparents).  in fact, i planned a little shin-dig to celebrate my birthday this friday.  having a luau in december.  i see no issue with this.

i turned 25 yesterday.  woah. 25.  it feels weird.   i was feeling old, and to combat that, my friends from work surprised me with a night at Chuck e Cheese’s.  it was magical.  i had such a fun time…and who knew they sold beer there? i had the blow up hat, the “i partied with chuck e” balloon and a small, sparkly, chuck e w/ top hat temporary tattoo on my left hand.

the high-point of my birthday (besides watching Mark hit the jack-pot on the bounce ball drop game), was getting a wii.  i’ve wanted one for so very long, and now i am the proud owner.  addiction will soon follow.

even got a little tennis action in before bed last night.

on a completely different note, i’m doing some exciting things at work.  i moved to a new desk.  i have THREE walls instead of two (moving on up!). i also have more time to devote to Switch’s marketing efforts (the real excitement).  we’re getting ready to launch our 2nd edition of the Switch Hits electronic newsletter, our holiday promotion/card is nearly up and ready, and we’re making plans for next year.  organization!

i have high hopes for 2010…just in general.  so bring it on.

oh yes, and per my older sister’s suggestion, i picked up and nearly finished the Alchemist this week.  adoring it so far.  recommending it strongly to you.

i hope to soon return to you with photos of my evolving apartment, my sweet pup, and maybe some warm/fuzzy holiday moments.  stay tuned!

jessica

And you can’t sustain anything
Everything must change
So be thankful for everything
And I am

maria taylor ~ two of those too

stella got fixed this week.

she also had to have some of her puppy teeth removed.

soon to follow i will tackle her and cut her talons.

she will probably hate me at the end of all this.  but i will still love her because she’s the best dog ever.

-jessica

i’m going to Mexico for Christmas.

it will be very strange to be someplace warm for the holidays.  i’m pretty sure that has never happened to me before.

chicago tomorrow through thursday.  digital marketing mixer. 

can’t wait to get some field day photos up here.  it was an awesome awesome day for Switch.

-jessica

do you like? (it’s currently in multiple pieces in a box behind my desk because i am homeless).

i move in in 2 days.  finally. FINALLY.

oh, and here’s a picture of my new roommate.

things i’m missing: couch, washer/dryer, tv, tv stand, rug, desk, dog bowls, mop, vacumn, pots/pans, glasses, utensils, shower curtain, all other bathroom accessories.

so yes, basically, i have a chair.

-jessica

but be bright,
bright,
bright as yellow,
warm as yellow.

the innocence mission ~ bright as yellow

i never thought that not having a place to live would be so stressful.  okay, that’s a lie.  i knew it would be stressful, but perhaps i did not anticipate that it would leave me exhausted and sick with worry/stress.

i suppose i thought i would find something more quickly.  or maybe i thought the time would fly by (it has not).

i’m headed home to spend some time with my parents and my lovely puppy, Stella, this weekend.  i’m ready to have some control back, at least for a weekend.  to sleep in a bed/room/place that is “mine” not borrowed.

i’m helping my parents get a yard sale together this weekend.  i used to loveee helping w/ the yardsales when i was little.  my sisters and i, being entrepreneurs at heart, always made lemonade and brownies to sell to the (hopefully) hungry/thirsty shoppers.  we usually made bank (for 10 year olds).

i misssss that.  after the yard sale my dad would give us each a share of the pot for us to spend, or in my case hoard.  i was a true money hoarder as a child.  i saved nearly every penny, usually with some big purchase in mind.  this was the direct opposite of my sister who spent money before she even had it in her hand.

i once even saved up my cash from chores and the decent sum i managed to win at a talent show (i was quite the little performer back in the day) and bought a trampoline.  best purchase ever, btw.  ever.

we had it for years until we moved across town to a house with a much smaller yard.  no room for trampoline.  we sold it, even though it had a small, but noticable hole from an incident involving trampoline sparklers.  (not a good idea.)

i loved that thing, though.  i remember one night when it was actually quite cold, my dad woke us up in the middle of the night and we grabbed a ton of blankets and headed out to the trampoline to watch the meteor shower.  it was quite amazing.  also, my sisters and i used to drag the hose on top of the trampoline and turn it into a giant slippery circle of dangerousness.  great fun, but someone always managed to get hurt…especially our super-lame neighbors.

i suppose i should stick to the present, though.  the present, where i am a nomad.  but this will soon be over, i am hoping.  i think i have found the place.

it’s a 4 family.  1/2 block from a giant park.  it has a nice enclosed backyard.  2nd floor.  sunroom. big modern kitchen. stained glass windows. original fireplace.  little balcony.  lots of space.  walgreens/schnucks close by. allows dogs!

the downsides: street parking.  pricey-ish.  borders the “shady” part of town. not as close to restaurants/bars as i would like.  i might get lonely (this is where Stella comes in).

if you don’t know Stella, she’s my awesome pug/terrier pup.  she’s about 6 months old, and  she’s living w/ my parents at the moment.  i’m so incredibly excited to take her home with me.  i know she’s going to be a pain for awhile, but i imagine we’ll get along just fine once we get into the groove.

if i can manage to hold out for 2 more weeks, everything will be okay.

-jessica

now here’s the sun, it’s alright

the arcade fire ~ rebellion (lies)

does anyone still read this?  why don’t you say hello? comment to let me know you’re alive.

still homeless.