tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10676002079679773212024-03-17T20:03:40.751-07:00jen.ahnjenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-88562290731407537552015-03-18T14:49:00.003-07:002015-03-18T14:49:52.647-07:00Noteworthy: A Reusable NotebookIf you haven't heard about this <a href="http://www.fastcodesign.com/3043562/wanted/to-reuse-this-notebook-just-pop-it-in-the-microwave" target="_blank">notebook</a> yet, you may just be amazed. Check it out.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/121288955" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>So what did you think?</i><br />
<i>x</i><i>o, jen</i></div>
jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-25883021547067743292015-03-05T21:46:00.001-08:002015-03-05T21:46:10.190-08:00Women's History Month + My FriendsMarch is Women's History month. There are so many important women in history we can learn about and celebrate, but right now I want to celebrate the amazing women in my life since moving to LA.<br />
<div class="p1">
I love my girlfriends. I love seeing them face to face, laughing, talking, crying, eating, working out or whatever it is we chose to do. I love getting and sending just thinking of you text. I love their families, seeing their children grow up. I love how we try to encourage one another by recognizing our talents, strengths, and weaknesses. I love how we want nothing but the best for each other and celebrate each others victories. To me all my girlfriends are beautiful. I see beauty inside and out in each and every one of them. I feel lucky, blessed really, to have such wonderful women in my life. Thanks for being the mighty women that you are and for being my friend.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5of_7AR_N7c5gPT7iG1xC_XNX-UpbiG2yQz0AOVOmzYMwi0isM-ukdC-yO7wL4XdeJ_NIFWu3Q-dW50-0XP86xv9hTgRhPYPlt0ECAkjdbFIXc7JL88j-mabzBwsU7u2FrmSIKBmvfnvg/s1600/friends1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5of_7AR_N7c5gPT7iG1xC_XNX-UpbiG2yQz0AOVOmzYMwi0isM-ukdC-yO7wL4XdeJ_NIFWu3Q-dW50-0XP86xv9hTgRhPYPlt0ECAkjdbFIXc7JL88j-mabzBwsU7u2FrmSIKBmvfnvg/s1600/friends1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFw9yjMwTLVtzswfSiPz2rBFHnAASItKaCRKQClJvQsL9DTMuqPsDhNwFchNfPMuJbXeppIV1UEBFTYmdBos-yIEwnAt_Zbpb2GXIyRJZ6bXPx9M3TgH_zLcM26HHPjMbnJE_Xc21eB31X/s1600/IMG_4048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFw9yjMwTLVtzswfSiPz2rBFHnAASItKaCRKQClJvQsL9DTMuqPsDhNwFchNfPMuJbXeppIV1UEBFTYmdBos-yIEwnAt_Zbpb2GXIyRJZ6bXPx9M3TgH_zLcM26HHPjMbnJE_Xc21eB31X/s1600/IMG_4048.JPG" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlJ1VN7cISddyiSotfT37q07fPvFRCJVmp1wdD8C8KRqOtOVFhsRAtLd2_IkBdHZXC04g6ad0IxyqfRn55_fuq2EToAw_JVmtcTjkei6b3zFIX6hDcQWnsFXdDfomqrjldC_DO5zubafV/s1600/friends2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlJ1VN7cISddyiSotfT37q07fPvFRCJVmp1wdD8C8KRqOtOVFhsRAtLd2_IkBdHZXC04g6ad0IxyqfRn55_fuq2EToAw_JVmtcTjkei6b3zFIX6hDcQWnsFXdDfomqrjldC_DO5zubafV/s1600/friends2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2x9m3CPpgVVa6l73WzDiWJI9gcrET6nQCywgr0enw02s8qnpXZxbzyv6Qd3H5651ZVuT9ts9pef5bF7kDz3fMAMWCwoWzl8S86iD9Mj3_EWzynDp-eec68REi2-yRz66hwQyqIjK6CFY/s1600/friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2x9m3CPpgVVa6l73WzDiWJI9gcrET6nQCywgr0enw02s8qnpXZxbzyv6Qd3H5651ZVuT9ts9pef5bF7kDz3fMAMWCwoWzl8S86iD9Mj3_EWzynDp-eec68REi2-yRz66hwQyqIjK6CFY/s1600/friends.jpg" /></a></div>
<i>xo, jen</i><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>note: as I was going through my pictures I realized we don't take a lot of pictures together and a few just simply refuse to take pictures. That being said if you don't see your beautiful face here that is why.</i></div>
</div>
jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-25324739559452001342015-02-26T11:03:00.000-08:002015-02-26T11:03:27.384-08:00Black History Month: A Booklist for KidsLast week I was raving to a friend about a couple of books by African-American authors that won the <a href="http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2015/02/american-library-association-announces-2015-youth-media-award-winners" target="_blank">2015 Newbery Medal</a> and a Newbery Honor awards. We thought one of them might be a good fit for her son Justus who is in the 5th grade. Justus was not interested and balked about having to check it out. However, once home and he started reading it, he didn't want to stop. Justus finished the book in one day. Not only did he finish reading it, he recommended it to his friends.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlSXM5tKbbfiZumBKHIzjBDO-3I1tCsIwv0hBOap3HTO83q0qqRaiKpA1K9yxhSdifLUaKfVE1smMVworq0GdlsRB4l61AeSEnVLjN7klT37zI_Q5qGjgIsYrplUJePn0kK-PIbG6YhTu/s1600/justus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlSXM5tKbbfiZumBKHIzjBDO-3I1tCsIwv0hBOap3HTO83q0qqRaiKpA1K9yxhSdifLUaKfVE1smMVworq0GdlsRB4l61AeSEnVLjN7klT37zI_Q5qGjgIsYrplUJePn0kK-PIbG6YhTu/s1600/justus.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justus' mom sent this picture of him reading <i>The Crossover.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This was so encouraging to hear. <i>statistically it is more challenging to get boys to read, so when they find something that excites them it is to be celebrated</i>. Another friend then suggested I post a booklist here. So in celebration of Black History Month I compiled a <b>short</b> list of books by incredible African American children's authors and illustrators.<br />
<b><u>For younger kids:</u></b><br />
<ul>
<li>Moses: when Harriet Tubman led her people to freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford</li>
<li>Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson (<i>award winning author and illustrator</i>)</li>
<li>Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold</li>
<li>I Love My Hair by Natasha Tarpley (<i>perfect our textured hair girls</i>)</li>
<li>Little Melba and Her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown</li>
<li>Knock Knock: My Dad's Dream for Me by Daniel Beaty (<i>beautifully written and illustrated story of a boy and his father, love and loss. great for boys.)</i></li>
</ul>
<b><u>For older kids:</u></b><br />
<ul>
<li>Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor (<i>one of my all time favorites</i>)</li>
<li>The Crossover by Kwame Alexander (<i>2015 Newbery Award winner</i>)</li>
<li>Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (<i>one of my favorite authors & this title is a 2015 Newbery Honor, 2015 Coretta Scott King award winner, & a <a href="http://www.nationalbook.org/nba2014.html#.VO9sLbDF8ww" target="_blank">2014 National Book Award </a>winner</i>)</li>
<li>Monster by Walter Dean Myers (<i>this book is so good. for high school kids</i>)</li>
<li>Forged by Fire by Sharon Draper</li>
<li>The Skin I'm In by Sharon Flake (<i>great book. especially good for middle/high school girls</i>)</li>
</ul>
<b>This is by no means an exhaustive list</b>. There are many more beautiful and wonderfully written children's books by and about African-Americans. Do you have any favorites you care to share?<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>xo, jen</i></div>
<br />jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-9897597873832709262015-02-20T22:31:00.001-08:002015-02-20T22:31:37.985-08:00Podcast PlaylistTime to cycle through another round of new to me podcasts. The other day a co-worker suggested a couple of comical ones that I'm looking forward to checking out soon. This time around though I wanted food and money related podcasts. My search was kind of random, but turned up some pretty good morning commute listenings. Here's what's playing now:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnocrZ2FZK66g5JSlLJf1P2czEp05WDgxu706gYcSfeXDQOIKTwEqZ6oFW2yS918lqy__ii8SjujEIfItay9vmVVxc_ulo9LfWrnoPcgVbrfozDFp4dib-LaHW3DtOe3z_6Xx159pt51G/s1600/podcast.jpg" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>images via google</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
What are you listening to?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>xo, jen</i></div>
jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-48993132873921643152015-02-18T14:33:00.001-08:002015-02-18T14:33:21.712-08:00How to (hopefully) Find a Lost PhoneJust over a week ago I lost my new phone at LAX airport. <i>horrible</i>. The fact that I wouldn't be connected the whole trip, couldn't take pictures, and would have to buy another phone was depressing. <i>So glad my friend had her phone</i>. I borrowed my friend's phone and called my husband so he would look in his car and when he didn't find it, accused him of not looking well. <i>Oh-vey, my poor husband.</i> Having never been in this situation, I really did not know what to do. My friend and husband offered a few suggestions that were helpful and I thought it would be good to share here:<br />
<br />
1. To the best of your ability, retrace your steps. Where were you when you last saw/ used your phone? Do you remember putting it away?<br />
2. Borrow a phone and call your number. Maybe someone found your phone and will answer. Also, try Find My Phone. Great app to locate your phone if you've misplaced or lost it. Available on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/find-my-iphone/id376101648?mt=8" target="_blank">iTunes</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fsp.android.phonetracker&hl=en" target="_blank">Google Play</a>.<br />
3. Call anyone you might know to look for it at the last place you remember having it.<br />
4. Check to see if anyone may have turned it in at the lost and found department in the location you last had it.<br />
5. If you still can't find the phone, breathe and lock it remotely if possible.<br />
6. If you have insurance, it may cover a good portion of the replacement cost. If you don't have insurance, call your carrier and find out what your options are for a replacement.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, my Find My Phone setting was not turned on so I couldn't use it to try to locate the phone. This just added to my stress. I didn't have insurance so the bottom line for me meant buying another phone. I had already figured out how many extra hours I would have to work to not feel the chunk of change a new phone would cost. <i>So sad</i>.<br />
I did end up calling two of the lost and found departments at the airport. <i>who knew there were multiple lost and found departments</i>. The representative on the phone was friendly and said that they had 4 iPhones turned in the day I lost mine. <i>my spirits lifted</i>. She then told me that the phones are kept in a safe and that I would have to wait until her supervisor got back with the key. She put me on hold to find out what time the supervisor would be back. While on hold, the supervisor returned, she got the phones, and asked me to describe my phone and for the passcode. She tried it and it worked! They had my phone. Hooray!<br />
When we arrived back to LAX I went to the airlines baggage claim office to be reunited with my phone. They told me that a passenger found it on the ground outside the departure terminal. <i>Crazy</i>. Anyway, I'm super grateful to the person that turned in the phone. I hope that something beautiful comes their way.<br />
Have you ever lost your phone? Did you find it? If so, how?<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>xo, jen</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>note: something I never did until now is back up my phone. all my contacts and photos would have been lost had I not found it. backing up is always a good idea.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-6257549588760221442015-02-05T20:24:00.001-08:002015-02-05T20:24:57.385-08:00The Drinkable Book - Water is LifeThis is amazing...for many reasons! My boss shared this with me and I thought I would share it with all of you. Hope you're as moved and blown away as I was.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qYTif9F188E" width="480"></iframe>jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-10276867925972091002015-02-03T21:22:00.001-08:002015-02-03T21:22:40.423-08:00HuckleberryFinally, brunch at Huckleberry! This is a cute spot in Santa Monica that I've heard about and have wanted to try for a long time. <i>In this <a href="http://www.jenahn.com/2015/01/made-almond-milk.html" target="_blank">post</a>, I shared about the almond milk from the Huckleberry cookbook.</i> <br />
The wait was long, but aren't most brunch hot spots? The decor is cute. <i>the yellow polka dots were my fave</i>. The staff was really nice and when it came time to be seated, the process was very organized. <i>loved that</i>. My husband ordered some sort of brisket hash and I had the green eggs and ham. His meal was okay and mine was pretty good. The greens were really fresh and the from scratch english muffin was yummy. However, hands down my favorite items were the coffee and the maple bacon biscuit that I took to go. <i>yum yum</i>. So glad we finally got to try this spot and I would definitely come here again and try more of their baked goods.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxXmi6Dvcbx6o2pdVbcVRBAJ-6uxml51VsLqkir_zkrVnJcTMMa0STIWdg6Dii6qqT7KQW2sViwze6mkHJ58Kj-psrSheHJrA_2HVgJ19cQYxElcdgmpraCp2Hf3KDQBnnolqPF3aWm_5/s1600/huck.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxXmi6Dvcbx6o2pdVbcVRBAJ-6uxml51VsLqkir_zkrVnJcTMMa0STIWdg6Dii6qqT7KQW2sViwze6mkHJ58Kj-psrSheHJrA_2HVgJ19cQYxElcdgmpraCp2Hf3KDQBnnolqPF3aWm_5/s1600/huck.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1RJuRFo1TYzDX5YaeQlCSgA3DdrsSjFJxzdSlfebGqLybF_1uWjp4eslOlKgjANZGBLW642CLyrAP3zTtQzBAQAuWXGuOyOouvwO5IgPODTd5g3xehPTJfshXfzW7BxJFHGd8D7v-miK/s1600/brisket.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1RJuRFo1TYzDX5YaeQlCSgA3DdrsSjFJxzdSlfebGqLybF_1uWjp4eslOlKgjANZGBLW642CLyrAP3zTtQzBAQAuWXGuOyOouvwO5IgPODTd5g3xehPTJfshXfzW7BxJFHGd8D7v-miK/s1600/brisket.png" /></a><i> xo, jen</i></div>
jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-2357459378756923692015-01-29T08:03:00.000-08:002015-01-29T08:06:25.043-08:00Made :: Pasta with Peas, Bacon, and RicottaNow that I'm pretty much over that horrible flu, it's time to get back to home cooking. <i>baby steps though</i>. Currently, I have <i>Dinner: the Playbook</i> by Jenny Rosenstrach checked out from the library. I read Jenny's first book, <i>Dinner: a Love Story</i> and enjoyed it, so I was excited to see that she had another book. It's all about meal planning, the value of family dinners, tips and recipes in the back. Like all recipes, it's good to read it in its entirety before trying to recreate and the ones in this book are no exception. <i>I had to reread the recipe steps a few times</i>.<br />
A couple of weeks ago I made the Pan Roasted Chicken and it was delicious. <i>so easy</i>. Last night I tried another recipe from the book and again another winner. It was simple and oh so tasty...<i>although not the healthiest of meals</i>. I adapted the recipe by using whole grain pasta and my own seasoning. The meal would easily feed 4, but since it's just me and the hubby, we get to have leftovers tonight. <i>yay</i>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHusDSMAd1eXLZbPCsX5MUbm1wjIxWzAdn9l5-_xZmZisVc8hgEkJsWvp2SOgDJK1O1DrDmRM55NTnL3cb3MW1xmJTS1wuq8d18x5YrfXshUhsZUuWLSxpnf5Q2MkEwkM8jikcCDAFNPQm/s1600/peas.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHusDSMAd1eXLZbPCsX5MUbm1wjIxWzAdn9l5-_xZmZisVc8hgEkJsWvp2SOgDJK1O1DrDmRM55NTnL3cb3MW1xmJTS1wuq8d18x5YrfXshUhsZUuWLSxpnf5Q2MkEwkM8jikcCDAFNPQm/s1600/peas.png" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhqj3vACT6YOpahyphenhyphene3V5VpgkZR88KrqV2YqKqhLHWD0oKv8vm77oqwBAyUOXG3Ml8LedrgtHcM0drMg83ndWuoBvOtldJRGuLmDK63hKgqjl6Xe1ARKNjuGUlLju8sqwLSMADMvTXw5Iu/s1600/pasta.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwhqj3vACT6YOpahyphenhyphene3V5VpgkZR88KrqV2YqKqhLHWD0oKv8vm77oqwBAyUOXG3Ml8LedrgtHcM0drMg83ndWuoBvOtldJRGuLmDK63hKgqjl6Xe1ARKNjuGUlLju8sqwLSMADMvTXw5Iu/s1600/pasta.png" /></a> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>xo, jen </i></div>
jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-37525385988866734682015-01-26T14:34:00.001-08:002015-01-26T14:34:50.747-08:00dineLA Restaurant WeekIf you're in the Los Angeles area and didn't already know about <a href="http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/dinela-los-angeles-restaurant-week" target="_blank">restaurant week</a>, you still have time to take part. It can be a great opportunity to try a restaurant that may be on your <i>"to try"</i> radar. The menus are prix-fixe and set prices for lunch and dinner. My girlfriends and I usually go together, but it also makes for a great date. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnB_fMm0lGDDVDrMsUKumMmmE7T1fKL5Uuz_ZINk0czvYRaLLjjxQFF-lt5BJB82UqXxGs3ERnkO8vxG7wlg0gx01hf3u8Q_0lHzdD3Y3bXYyekBjd8BteoEUoiX5Yu4eQ1u3T6iEfnTYH/s1600/dinela.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnB_fMm0lGDDVDrMsUKumMmmE7T1fKL5Uuz_ZINk0czvYRaLLjjxQFF-lt5BJB82UqXxGs3ERnkO8vxG7wlg0gx01hf3u8Q_0lHzdD3Y3bXYyekBjd8BteoEUoiX5Yu4eQ1u3T6iEfnTYH/s1600/dinela.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><a href="http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/dinela-los-angeles-restaurant-week" target="_blank">image </a></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>xo, jen</i></div>
jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-87690885267734478112015-01-20T21:27:00.000-08:002015-01-20T21:27:07.363-08:00Library LootAs you already know I love libraries and take advantage of the services they provide. Every week new books are finding their way into my home, even when I say <i>"I'm not checking anything out this week." </i>Here's what's currently checked out on my library card:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTT-NCx16PDIwKVi3Deu_4LnRs7H_ajPtz1ReQUouns1N-JJorr8SNZvLT8XTDHhvbdKIbpp5fDbg0MhnFpftQ3-KGCiXnadyswSKzMWx1b1sNFM3SIbpZp0PhdEQmF_nacRbjcOQXC_p/s1600/books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTT-NCx16PDIwKVi3Deu_4LnRs7H_ajPtz1ReQUouns1N-JJorr8SNZvLT8XTDHhvbdKIbpp5fDbg0MhnFpftQ3-KGCiXnadyswSKzMWx1b1sNFM3SIbpZp0PhdEQmF_nacRbjcOQXC_p/s1600/books.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>What's checked out on your library card?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>xo, jen</i></div>
jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-48299036795848692452015-01-15T21:02:00.003-08:002015-01-15T21:02:44.264-08:00What's the Word?Even though we're two weeks into January, there's still plenty of time to make resolutions or to think about what you want your 2015 to look like. For the past couple of years at my church, the women have been doing One Word. Have you heard of it? It's when you pick one word that speaks to you, that challenges you to reflect, grow, consider, etc. Picking a word is not always easy and is actually a little scary because the word we chose usually challenges us to our core. I have my word and as much as I'm excited about it, I'm nervous too. The word calls me to step out of my comfort zone and to take leaps of faith. It's calling me to deny myself and not try to control everything. <i>Yikes</i>. So far I've shared my word with some friends, coworkers, and now whoever reads this. So without further ado, my word for 2015 is:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rdAzo2pS-FmV3ob5-1e669jQgCrQTjKIqlrDA92uxtf7dTj65oO8IdbDeBf3jC7X2L9T_gXQKG0GCm6QiIpA-lCVjG9SQ7Suz8_yIfBVTUWhVtBJ-4htpK601g0NzCGm6YLuiWwiGAdk/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rdAzo2pS-FmV3ob5-1e669jQgCrQTjKIqlrDA92uxtf7dTj65oO8IdbDeBf3jC7X2L9T_gXQKG0GCm6QiIpA-lCVjG9SQ7Suz8_yIfBVTUWhVtBJ-4htpK601g0NzCGm6YLuiWwiGAdk/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Some synonyms for BRIGHT are: clear, sharp, deep, fresh, intense, brave, colorful, showy. These synonyms are the reasons why I chose bright. They are all a part of who I want to be.</i><br />
<br />
<i>Do you have One Word? Care to share? </i><br />
<i>xo, jen</i><br />
<br />
<i>here's a couple of items/resources you may be interested in: </i><br />
<i><a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/3040362/how-one-word-can-change-your-new-year" target="_blank">resource 1</a> </i><br />
<i><a href="http://myoneword.org/" target="_blank">resource 2</a> </i></div>
jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-69464069287502388262015-01-13T15:41:00.001-08:002015-01-13T15:41:24.384-08:00Listening to Lately :: PodcastsSince getting my new phone I've been listening to podcasts. Podcasts are not anything new, but there seems to be a resurgence going on. They're the new "it" thing. My husband is always playing a podcast and when we take road trips, they're a must. It's pretty amazing how many there are. There's something for everyones listening pleasure. <i>really</i>. I tend to lean more toward the design, lifestyle, inspiring shows. If you haven't already, check out the iTunes store or Google Play and see what you might be interested in listening to.<br />
Here's what's on my playlist:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JprLeAeNiebRcf5KFJmRj28lKytE_iF37ZjDK3Tv_Cma_qezzJNqLwAKksIPE1FjENSzua5NhaffNGLj1m-3pQyJwcIzJusH1MUA6DXUDf-ZR1zGWV5hFjQd1rbIrgzPy-aGhdcy8DhR/s1600/podcast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JprLeAeNiebRcf5KFJmRj28lKytE_iF37ZjDK3Tv_Cma_qezzJNqLwAKksIPE1FjENSzua5NhaffNGLj1m-3pQyJwcIzJusH1MUA6DXUDf-ZR1zGWV5hFjQd1rbIrgzPy-aGhdcy8DhR/s1600/podcast.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://jesslively.com/livelyshow/" target="_blank">The Lively Show</a> / <a href="http://www.heritageradionetwork.com/programs/79-After-the-Jump" target="_blank">After the Jump</a> / <a href="http://www.thisamericanlife.org/podcast" target="_blank">This American Life</a> / And although I haven't listened to this one yet, from what I understand, it's a hot one:<a href="http://serialpodcast.org/" target="_blank">Serial</a><br />
<br />
Do you have a favorite podcast that you subscribe to? Please share.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>xo, jen</i></div>
jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-34349753565808170132015-01-08T10:18:00.000-08:002015-01-08T10:18:03.857-08:00Made:: Almond MilkSomething that I've been making on the regular <i>(two times a week)</i> for the past month is Almond Milk. Before making it, I really thought it would be a daunting process. To my pleasant surprise, it's one of the easiest and tastiest things in the world to make. Seriously, if you make your own milk, it will be hard to go back to store bought. There are many recipes online or you can try the one I use. This recipe is from the<i> </i>beautiful and yummy<i> <a href="http://www.huckleberrycafe.com/cookbook.html" target="_blank">Huckleberry</a></i> cookbook by Zoe Nathan. The milk is so creamy, fresh, and tasty. And because there's no preservatives or added junk, you can feel good about what you're putting into your body. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Vanilla Almond Milk</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
----------------------------------------</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
3/4c of raw almonds</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
4 dates, pits removed</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1/2 tsp kosher salt</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
cold water</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Soak almonds and pitted dates in 1 cup of water overnight in the refrigerator. Drain water from the almonds and dates. In a blender place the almonds, dates, salt, vanilla, and 3.5 cups of cold water and blend for a minute or two. Strain the mixture using cheesecloth or fine mesh sieve. Bottle and refrigerate. Milk will keep for 4 days. Enjoy!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxtSkSwhLIBpDUTtkUWgvdWYm1f9lT0VVkCO1Z0zZ1HDnrSm0amwtNDsMoxPKg_sYh7nF2psuRTE8oE1IB4ZVI-u2t7fnalqo1hr8VBUHVOThTgciSIfPd3taSpRY2Msmfb34SZihGWf3/s1600/almond-milk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxtSkSwhLIBpDUTtkUWgvdWYm1f9lT0VVkCO1Z0zZ1HDnrSm0amwtNDsMoxPKg_sYh7nF2psuRTE8oE1IB4ZVI-u2t7fnalqo1hr8VBUHVOThTgciSIfPd3taSpRY2Msmfb34SZihGWf3/s1600/almond-milk.jpg" /></a><b> </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuPXHeIXtge4pFpbTp12HT0MCRO7kggldK866JNUXSJBbgGM9ilLIy2nK6uKK-ROfUApvWYNs7fajtDSj2OMPUtXdIeggbLBZpw7E0WunZn6uY_j-R5OdX-3dq_q14Cu_zMgzFsFfYyxV/s1600/almond-milk1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuPXHeIXtge4pFpbTp12HT0MCRO7kggldK866JNUXSJBbgGM9ilLIy2nK6uKK-ROfUApvWYNs7fajtDSj2OMPUtXdIeggbLBZpw7E0WunZn6uY_j-R5OdX-3dq_q14Cu_zMgzFsFfYyxV/s1600/almond-milk1.jpg" /></a></b></div>
<br />
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1vKhtJHLiXb8iwfiTucjwtWJt8DaLTs8ni-hX1MSt66julD6wwCnzr_qywuYQDe2M-x62nMQyhV4qH0h1ZNVZQbTOLoDb4B9I1e9mKeVmu-WKOiIq-AT4ejwYcgndjkuifLVUzL7xs8W/s1600/almond-milk2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1vKhtJHLiXb8iwfiTucjwtWJt8DaLTs8ni-hX1MSt66julD6wwCnzr_qywuYQDe2M-x62nMQyhV4qH0h1ZNVZQbTOLoDb4B9I1e9mKeVmu-WKOiIq-AT4ejwYcgndjkuifLVUzL7xs8W/s1600/almond-milk2.jpg" /></a><b> notes:</b> <span style="font-weight: normal;">Vanilla bean can be used instead of extract. Split bean lengthwise and scrape seeds into the blender. Add the vanilla bean pod to the bottled milk. The milk will separate<b> </b>so just shake bottle to mix. Also, I read somewhere that you could use the strained almond mixture for almond meal once it's dried out. I haven't tried this so if you try it, let me know how it works. </span></b><br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>xo, jen</i></div>
jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-40423774028596481882015-01-06T15:43:00.004-08:002015-01-06T15:43:58.281-08:00Back on the iPhone WagonJust over a year ago I jumped off the "iPhone wagon." My iPhone 4 was dying a slow, painful <i>(for me) </i>death and needed to be replaced. Instead of staying on <i>the wagon</i>, I decided to try something different. It was great and I felt free from trying to keep up with what seems like <i>"the constant phone upgrade."</i> <i>although I never upgraded, the self-imposed pressure was always there</i>. The new phone I decided on was cool. There were a lot of great features <i>(especially the camera,)</i> so many that in the 13 months that I owned it, I barely scratched the surface. What I later realized is that most of my family and friends use iPhones. When group texts with pictures were shared, it was disappointing trying to download pictures that would rarely download. Friends would ask did you get my text or pictures and my answer was no. Also, Facetiming was not an option. Needless to say, it was not only a little frustrating, but at times I felt disconnected. Has this happened to any of you? I just had to suck it up...or so I thought.<br />
<br />
After the holidays my husband was ready to upgrade. We went to a couple of places and found a great deal with our current carrier. A deal that also allowed me to sell my current phone back and switch back to iPhone. Hooray!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MiJaGHWuLff7-sIQN8yDiCkSlfiRluqdVVBA_3HSc9P02BH0xsax8qyRS_FR-MLogWyj3scB11HumPMfA30clCLJVI9oqAIGz956CusNKD25JAFH682aRuV6Nx0lYL3ST2pulpd46LRH/s1600/PHONE-GOLD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MiJaGHWuLff7-sIQN8yDiCkSlfiRluqdVVBA_3HSc9P02BH0xsax8qyRS_FR-MLogWyj3scB11HumPMfA30clCLJVI9oqAIGz956CusNKD25JAFH682aRuV6Nx0lYL3ST2pulpd46LRH/s1600/PHONE-GOLD.jpg" /></a></div>
And can I just say that it's only been a couple of days and already I feel better connected to my family and friends and a bit more organized. The phone also has a lot of new, fun features since the iPhone 4. This is a wagon I'm glad to be back on!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>xo, jen </i></div>
jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-50370863303805861362015-01-02T08:00:00.000-08:002015-01-02T08:00:27.859-08:00Happy New YearLooking back, 2014 was a really good year for us. Not that everything was easy because it wasn't or that we didn't experience heartaches because we did. Then what made it so good? Really it's simply the fact that we're still here, still pressing forward, hopeful that 2015 will be filled with good health, new adventures, life lessons, and the strength to handle tough times. That's it, still here and hopeful. So welcome 2015, I'm glad you're here.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy New Year!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>xo, jen</i></div>
jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-44568156052625742562014-11-11T12:44:00.003-08:002015-05-22T08:29:09.101-07:00Made :: DakdoritangSince we've been back I've seriously been craving Korean food. It's flavorful, fresh, and healthy. The foods I enjoyed the most were the soups and stews with tasty broths. Seriously, you could just drink the broth and be happy, happy, happy. Needless to say I came back happy and ready to try my hand at cooking Korean food.<br />
After scouring the web, checking out Korean cookbooks at the library, and hitting the Korean market, I was ready. First dish Dakdoritang.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXG1JXNadDf1xC1_tp_KME2BbsOIJM2sTfqoG1mIiZplP-zviGKr2alM1UsISjxYLJPnxh8j7f1I_txR3yVWn5MWwMLiv_70wFUl2Eisrdh830VZDkynvZf4-8t66K9smgHrHNa9CrFfeZ/s1600/dak1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXG1JXNadDf1xC1_tp_KME2BbsOIJM2sTfqoG1mIiZplP-zviGKr2alM1UsISjxYLJPnxh8j7f1I_txR3yVWn5MWwMLiv_70wFUl2Eisrdh830VZDkynvZf4-8t66K9smgHrHNa9CrFfeZ/s1600/dak1.jpg" /></a> <br />
Results: my husband who's Korean gave me a 90%. Not bad for the first time, right? It could also be because he loves me :) Next week, I'm going to try an all time favorite meal called Samgyetang.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
xo, jen</div>
jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-74968306486115685432014-11-06T22:20:00.002-08:002014-11-06T22:20:35.932-08:00Beautiful Jeju IslandEvery couple of years or so we take one big vacation. This year our spot was Korea and Japan. It was an incredible trip. Our friends even came to spend time with us while in Korea and then we all flew to Japan. <i>so much fun</i>. People keep asking what were the highlights of the trip and I can't really give them a good answer. There were so many things about the trip that were amazing. For instance, I loved spending time with my sister-in-law and her family, loved just being with our friends and their son, walking around in the rain, exploring places I've never been before, shopping, the museums, and of course, THE FOOD!<br />
However, the place I thought was the most beautiful is Jeju Island. Although I've been to Korea before, I never got the chance to visit Jeju Island. It's like an untapped Hawaiian island. It's off season right now so it's not crowded with too many tourists. We explored, hiked, and ate really, really good food. The seafood we ate was the freshest I had ever eaten. This is a place I definitely want to visit again in the near future. If you're planning a trip to Korea be sure to try to make it to <a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Jeju" target="_blank">Jeju</a>.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKQm3xcoDItqoUFlAYkgl5vqg1MWkCeIPyAkjLBsNmq9FoDsKoTqQhASadNQAIZjK9y1OgYeTBIR1B4PN2vHfKJH7ajeUCbTXhL4g1yblipfUjgMi-XALF9TvmcidoVxSLwvYvQbDgfub/s1600/seafood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKQm3xcoDItqoUFlAYkgl5vqg1MWkCeIPyAkjLBsNmq9FoDsKoTqQhASadNQAIZjK9y1OgYeTBIR1B4PN2vHfKJH7ajeUCbTXhL4g1yblipfUjgMi-XALF9TvmcidoVxSLwvYvQbDgfub/s1600/seafood.jpg" /></a> <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFQLlLkxOzSJ-ZuVAkyzY1nBa0D21wUbYWXcnIgSy8B0LMQuFaEzobozimfzNbGXh6-3pcjaWVUaKgBvrto0Lu2KDyq40FLrP-mj51gZre7OoKuYP8sW39AfgmlYPWHAmkXEZApOc0565/s1600/JEJU-water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFQLlLkxOzSJ-ZuVAkyzY1nBa0D21wUbYWXcnIgSy8B0LMQuFaEzobozimfzNbGXh6-3pcjaWVUaKgBvrto0Lu2KDyq40FLrP-mj51gZre7OoKuYP8sW39AfgmlYPWHAmkXEZApOc0565/s1600/JEJU-water.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqD_83I6mWmj2JrIOeW51CFPff5F58teRwx_dNKD2rZ4vWk5nUoANmuzORZcb4E6va7Ri2mA9QgmnMtq9wkh3QWg4hbbzhJohNd64Tazra9pOnsZz2oM7YoPk0nnpZEZagMdFLr_1C_Of/s1600/jeju1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqD_83I6mWmj2JrIOeW51CFPff5F58teRwx_dNKD2rZ4vWk5nUoANmuzORZcb4E6va7Ri2mA9QgmnMtq9wkh3QWg4hbbzhJohNd64Tazra9pOnsZz2oM7YoPk0nnpZEZagMdFLr_1C_Of/s1600/jeju1.jpg" /></a> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIL0E4ZI6WM83o40dk3T7o6vJ-6nKcRd1ZFD18iQmTqRVooUW-_yiGuPF_-nMPG2v8eO-ED4uQOTv3Wm2tjEGDNu9Xh20uXB5ZWZELsNYWPWN3Q1wA20ftFy3H3ef4JepJLyFizOFFmVHX/s1600/jeju3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIL0E4ZI6WM83o40dk3T7o6vJ-6nKcRd1ZFD18iQmTqRVooUW-_yiGuPF_-nMPG2v8eO-ED4uQOTv3Wm2tjEGDNu9Xh20uXB5ZWZELsNYWPWN3Q1wA20ftFy3H3ef4JepJLyFizOFFmVHX/s1600/jeju3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> xo, jen</i></div>
jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-20925094498777314942014-11-05T11:44:00.000-08:002014-11-05T11:44:38.792-08:00Eight YearsToday is our wedding anniversary. We've known each other for 18years and have now been married for eight. <i>wow, wow, wow!</i><br />
If someone would have told me ten years ago that I would one day marry my best friend, go through the toughest years of our lives to date, but would one day be happier than we could ever imagine, I would have said <i>"you're crazy."</i><br />
If someone would have told me that I would marry my best friend and after eight years love him more than I did the day I married him, I would have said <i>"that's not possible."</i><br />
If someone would have told me that I would marry my best friend, give up all my years of being <i>"miss independent"</i> and become a partner that allows someone else to take the reigns sometimes. I would have laughed...<i>ha ha ha</i>.<br />
Well, I am happier than I imagined, I do love him more now than when we got married, and we are partners in this marriage and life.<br />
Good thing no one told me these things because I probably would have
resisted more and got in the way
of my future.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFe_eWcSVbgrh0tTeVROOOOrqt9a3sewmu_FKr_6_sr8QJ5iaGrAnJOLy_KIBbfPhi4q8d2vWyKnfNKNGnvzOiGdQnhME4lBK3VahcFlm-KV1wASCCssXbyTdK8md18G-Ad44x_8vplbY/s1600/photo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFe_eWcSVbgrh0tTeVROOOOrqt9a3sewmu_FKr_6_sr8QJ5iaGrAnJOLy_KIBbfPhi4q8d2vWyKnfNKNGnvzOiGdQnhME4lBK3VahcFlm-KV1wASCCssXbyTdK8md18G-Ad44x_8vplbY/s1600/photo+2.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>xo, jen </i></div>
<br />jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-7211394710071926592014-11-04T17:15:00.005-08:002014-11-04T17:15:58.816-08:00Jet lagFor the first time ever, I experienced extreme jet lag and it was not fun. We spent a little over two weeks in Asia and have been back just over a week. My body did not want to adjust back. It actually took a whole week to finally feel better and sleep through the night. How do people that travel for work all over the world do it? They're like super humans. Anyway it's good to be back and getting into the swing of life. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>xo, jen</i> </div>
jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-76687432504334717172014-10-09T17:51:00.000-07:002014-10-09T17:51:40.951-07:00Unfinished Project no.3This is the last of my unfinished sewing projects and boy was it rewarding to finish. It really felt like a little load had been lifted. <i>hip hip hooray</i>.<br />
The sweet little baby bibs were fun to finish. Currently I have a few friends that are having babies so this project came right on time. I can't wait to see them on one of the babies.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYagYSWGB0Xu6VwjGBkscA_IR-svM7flVcQMVa3ASEU4ZjcEKNcoEE1jouQ9_SfbmA1TjIbo15hCP9vUq3F0rUuGT2e00BJvlff1hcgVEBTW9RVv3vRdp8B72yZUCaCxBOvvPVl_sXktVW/s1600/IMG_0076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYagYSWGB0Xu6VwjGBkscA_IR-svM7flVcQMVa3ASEU4ZjcEKNcoEE1jouQ9_SfbmA1TjIbo15hCP9vUq3F0rUuGT2e00BJvlff1hcgVEBTW9RVv3vRdp8B72yZUCaCxBOvvPVl_sXktVW/s1600/IMG_0076.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFtNn7B06e7g6pXJI-sqAJP0CM8kluV_887r-EYfl5NNeo6jSW-pc-_3dZ9q49RW8itNpiUiuOWbmmvytTfaek_IjqYdHhF9fGUULoSBThDvmWbZjsvRVCCgtVY80hBqACfAny97uxDeO/s1600/IMG_0082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFtNn7B06e7g6pXJI-sqAJP0CM8kluV_887r-EYfl5NNeo6jSW-pc-_3dZ9q49RW8itNpiUiuOWbmmvytTfaek_IjqYdHhF9fGUULoSBThDvmWbZjsvRVCCgtVY80hBqACfAny97uxDeO/s1600/IMG_0082.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
Actually there was one more project, but I couldn't find all the pieces or any more of the same fabric. It would look strange if I worked in a different fabric so rather than look strange, I scrapped it. I'll cut down the fabric pieces I do have and use them to make coasters or something small. Now that the unfinished projects are done, I can move on to something else. I have so much fabric. I thought about getting rid of some of it, but I don't think I'm ready to let go. There are still a few projects I would like to make, so if I can get through those, maybe then I can let go of what fabric is left over.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>xo, jen</i></div>
jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-28810307361134601732014-09-29T17:01:00.001-07:002014-09-29T17:01:55.098-07:00Unfinished Project no.2Yay, another project completed. I started this particular project before we moved to California...years ago. <i>crazy</i>. Even though a majority of the work was already done, it still took two hours to complete. This bag is from a pattern by Amy Butler called Frenchy bags. <i>not sure how I feel about my fabric choice for this bag, but think I can make it work</i>. It is very detailed and probably not a good beginner sewing project.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfUD3zweOQVxNs4DzeKV1NeLtrelxd2L-GXPP5CHihyuvWTcDUsvoI3Zn0fYGRdE3kRiRfGebrqEldgNed9ujZx7vXddhU0DiKBSj0UhtCV4CXEL6j68jMGxeCJrct05nPaCujQA2e6JW/s1600/unfinished2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfUD3zweOQVxNs4DzeKV1NeLtrelxd2L-GXPP5CHihyuvWTcDUsvoI3Zn0fYGRdE3kRiRfGebrqEldgNed9ujZx7vXddhU0DiKBSj0UhtCV4CXEL6j68jMGxeCJrct05nPaCujQA2e6JW/s1600/unfinished2.jpg" /></a></div>
It's amazing how freeing it is to complete unfinished work. Just a few more projects in my sewing pile and it'll be cleared.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>xo, jen</i></div>
jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-28488426913848017332014-09-24T16:28:00.000-07:002014-09-24T16:28:00.020-07:00Simple, but Really, Really Good OatmealOatmeal is probably one of the easiest breakfast foods to cook. <i>it's a pantry staple</i>. Not only is it easy and inexpensive, but it's really good for you and fills you up. Over the summer we didn't eat it much because the weather was too hot. Now with the weather cooling down, we've eaten it like 5x in the past week and a half. Here's a quick and easy recipe that I use. I think what makes this oatmeal so good is that it's cooked in some milk and you're adding toppings. Oh and maybe the vanilla makes it so yummy too. My favorite toppings are blueberry and granola. What are yours?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AsBzHWoHCRm-IS-rMT_y0DVwMlI6M6nh17ngrLuaPpiS3ORdIyZCETrDKfnGMmTb5iZjCHY-tw-qpwHtFSNE4yXqG20mNwWsmagLpLvax3IFqB4_-J3u2D4r_Hf9uqvEb9V92DraJ3jf/s1600/oatmeal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AsBzHWoHCRm-IS-rMT_y0DVwMlI6M6nh17ngrLuaPpiS3ORdIyZCETrDKfnGMmTb5iZjCHY-tw-qpwHtFSNE4yXqG20mNwWsmagLpLvax3IFqB4_-J3u2D4r_Hf9uqvEb9V92DraJ3jf/s1600/oatmeal.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>xo, jen</i></div>
jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-34614246009261978432014-09-22T16:35:00.002-07:002014-09-22T16:35:56.701-07:00Unfinished Projects no.1Lately I've been thinking about all the sewing stuff I have in the closet. <i>mostly fabrics</i>. I really enjoy sewing, but feeling busy with other things, it's hard to make the time to just sit and sew. Unfortunately now I have a few sewing projects that have been started but never completed. So in order to alleviate the unfinished projects and clear my mind, I've decided to work on an unfinished sewing project every Monday until they're all completed. I will not start a new project until the "<i>unfinished's</i>" are completed. I'm not sure that this is the best way to deal with this or not, but at least it's a start. Hopefully, after the projects are finished, I'll have a better idea of what fabrics I want to keep and what I can give up.<br />
The first project completed today is a headband. The pieces were already cut and edges sewn. It took all of an hour to finish because I messed up and had to take it apart and re-sew. The results are great and I love it. More than anything it feels good to finally complete this project. Do you have any incomplete projects? How do you tackle them?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72JYfAVvDjd-Us9nJ6smtcBsUyHVIG9o1Mb8wAn3VuhPp_UHN3j0SrYjSeUp9fbgZD7XmK5udu3XEs1nQPdAp8B_nRz1g65kxfBaI8-Ha9CQZntQf335EBQpwwa75PoLe-hRYMIpoaBm4/s1600/Unfinished-Project1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72JYfAVvDjd-Us9nJ6smtcBsUyHVIG9o1Mb8wAn3VuhPp_UHN3j0SrYjSeUp9fbgZD7XmK5udu3XEs1nQPdAp8B_nRz1g65kxfBaI8-Ha9CQZntQf335EBQpwwa75PoLe-hRYMIpoaBm4/s1600/Unfinished-Project1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>xo, jen</i> </div>
jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-59805937928395886612014-09-17T14:39:00.003-07:002014-09-17T14:39:59.999-07:00I Thought it Would Be EasySilly me. Walk 10,000 steps a day, no problem. "I got this," I said. Oh, how wrong I was. It takes a lot to get to 10,000 steps. A few months ago I bought a <a href="http://www.fitbit.com/" target="_blank">Fitbit</a> because I wanted to track and see how active I was. 10,000 steps daily is what seems to be the recommended number. What I found is that in the course of my day it's nearly impossible to hit that number. In order to make it, I actually have to go out for a walk or go for a run. <i>It's not easy</i>. Wearing the Fitbit has been a reality check. I love seeing my daily progress, and getting my weekly report. It helps keeps me accountable.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKBYUMctBisB_4kv2Cvlo0OjLjW3eakc0mtRH5M4Ruw9hZxB1Hi8MsGLpgShyphenhyphen0rqlFFnlzUeeyRYF6Hs_7BjPJOor7eG97hJixgNOJGKpVxaxmnN6boXC517pkK63lziHe29gCbAROko4/s1600/fitbit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKBYUMctBisB_4kv2Cvlo0OjLjW3eakc0mtRH5M4Ruw9hZxB1Hi8MsGLpgShyphenhyphen0rqlFFnlzUeeyRYF6Hs_7BjPJOor7eG97hJixgNOJGKpVxaxmnN6boXC517pkK63lziHe29gCbAROko4/s1600/fitbit.jpg" /></a></div>
Another feature of the Fitbit I recently started using is the food tracker. It's helpful to see how many calories I'm actually consuming. <i>Alarming</i>. By simply keeping track of my steps and food, I've begun to think more about what I'm putting into my body, reduced my caloric intake, and have spent less time sitting and more time moving.<br />
Even if you don't have a Fitbit or pedometer, you can still get up and move/ walk more and you can keep track of your food by writing in a journal or if you have a smartphone, download a fitness app where you can keep track of your food. <i><a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/" target="_blank">myfitnesspal</a> seems to be a really popular site</i>.<br />
We only have one body, that means one shot to get it right and these are just a couple of simple, <i>although not necessarily easy</i>, ways to get us going.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>xo, jen</i></div>
jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1067600207967977321.post-64031939920693459842014-09-15T16:55:00.001-07:002014-09-15T16:55:14.172-07:00Four MonthsIt's been four months since I've been to this area (the blog) of my life. When I think four months, it doesn't sound like a lot of time, but looking back, so much happened. Here's a brief snapshot of my last four months:<br />
<ul>
<li>We took our 1st family vacation since we've been married. <i>8yrs</i>. This is <i>HUGE</i> because of what we went through the day we got married and the five years following. It's nothing short of a modern day miracle. <i>Thanks God</i>. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkNPnaiiNQJl9UaWBHLHvva5XpYMcoNyP249bZsEGMe5_KrfIqYJbtOP8Ap-WLuVw4zxJH2-XOZFisRRVAXp0TpxQ0WBS7VSJCVvbGV-hEOHYUb8Rv85fihT_LC5kQ1SHNFe-Ca5cAoyE/s1600/family1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkNPnaiiNQJl9UaWBHLHvva5XpYMcoNyP249bZsEGMe5_KrfIqYJbtOP8Ap-WLuVw4zxJH2-XOZFisRRVAXp0TpxQ0WBS7VSJCVvbGV-hEOHYUb8Rv85fihT_LC5kQ1SHNFe-Ca5cAoyE/s1600/family1.jpg" /></a></div>
</li>
<li>Traveled back to the New York Tri-State area...literally going to CT, NY, and NJ for an aunt's funeral, a wedding, and fun. Sometimes I miss the east, but every time we come home to Southern California, I quickly get over it. </li>
<li>The daughter, <i>Tiare Kiilani</i>, of a friend passed away after a terrible accident while hiking. It still seems very surreal. Kii is an amazing girl that comes from an amazing family. She loved and inspired so many people and led a life that many of us only hope/ strive for in our lifetime. Kii was only 18yrs. old </li>
<li>My co-workers and I collaborated together on an artist book and to date our book has been in three exhibits. <i>more about our book to come</i>. Last month I went to San Francisco to speak at one of the Artist Talks for the Pacific Center for the Book Arts exhibit at the SFPL Skylight Gallery. It was an amazing experience and I'm happy to say that it went extremely well.</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCH9pG9i9chOdXwBE5Gyug-yOBoALDhQ8Ylgn6seid9aw0lMeYhfcC3yNOrGf6LHGLyptD-H6nXcbXVW4m05Tlh0sOyfmbCuWK82jvMDndk39jopEMsJdJmCLW4TT-5eM701GCs9vpj0K/s1600/fromthere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCH9pG9i9chOdXwBE5Gyug-yOBoALDhQ8Ylgn6seid9aw0lMeYhfcC3yNOrGf6LHGLyptD-H6nXcbXVW4m05Tlh0sOyfmbCuWK82jvMDndk39jopEMsJdJmCLW4TT-5eM701GCs9vpj0K/s1600/fromthere.jpg" /></a></div>
That's a teeny snapshot! Now, however, it's time to move forward. As we all know moving forward can mean different things, depending what's going on in our lives. For me, right now, it means spending more time here <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
xo, jen</div>
jenahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02789547669496446437noreply@blogger.com10