our backyard

It's been a little more than two months that I left our house in La Mirada to live in an apartment. And I love it. I haven't written much about our new apartment since the week we moved in. However, it has been wonderful. Between the amazing facilities - pool with cabanas, outdoor lounge areas and 24 hour fitness center - and having a fridge where my strawberries aren't fighting over space with my roommate's fish is quite a good experience. 

One of the things I was not looking forward to about living in an apartment was the lack of a backyard. Or a front one for that matter. I loved our backyard at the last house. It was really spacious and perfect for laying out and reading in the grass. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that our new "backyard" was a beautiful courtyard complete with a coy pond. I am so glad we are on the first floor! I love opening the sliding glass doors out to our patio in the afternoon to listen to the waterfall. We have two patios and I was really excited when I found out Christy and I got the room with the attached patio. 

The above photo is our "view." However, we currently don't have any patio decor. Therefore, my current project is fixing up our patio so we can actually sit outside and enjoy our "backyard" without actually being in the fish bowl of the courtyard. :) 

the Ws: DesignSpongeOnline

Welcome to the W's.  Today, I am introducing my new favorite daily read that Deannah recently introduced me to: designspongeonline. You may as well leave my blog right now and start reading the wonderful columns and articles on everything design. 

Each day, there are 8 to 12 posts on topics ranging from entertaining, art, interior design and even a recent column on how to write a book. Although, it works as a blog, it is similar to a website in the sense that you can search for past projects and posts on specific topics. So if you want to cook something different for dinner, browse through their recipe tab and for your weekend trips, check out their city guides for fabulous places to visit with style. 

Today is my favorite day for designsponge, as it is DIY Wednesday, aka: they post DIY projects all throughout the day. I like to call that inspiration. 

So go, now, and be inspired! 

oh, and i hope you have a lovely day. 

hand sewn

I had a date Friday night. With my sewing machine. (I live an exciting life.) Unfortunately, I got stood up because the Singer couldn't wind his Bobbin or something of the sorts, so he sent his wing man - second best, but just as fun. Fortunately, we hit it off pretty well. His name is needle and thread.

*****

I've always loved the idea of sewing. In seventh grade we had Medieval Day and I remember coming up with this grand design and pulling out old sheets and to my parent's dismay, try to sew myself a costume. Unfortunately at about ten o'clock the night before I sat in a heap on the floor frustrated and my Dad convinced me to find something in my Mom's closet. Thankfully, since then I've learned a bit more about sewing and I have a little more patience.

I tend to go through phases though. I'm sure Megan, my old roommate, will never forget coming home to the dorms after classes and see me attempting to sew an apron for a week straight before I realized I didn't have much time to sew and hold two jobs and oh yeah, be a full time student.

However, I'm pretty sure my sewing phase will stick this time. I've been crafting a lot the last few months, which I will soon have a fun announcement going with that, but I also really want to learn to sew...like really know how. So I'm taking a class in a few weeks for how to use a machine. Hopefully, one of my sewing machines will be back in commission soon. Until then, I am loving hand sewing. As I said before, my date with needle and thread went pretty well and this is the result, a new purse! I'm pretty happy with how it turned out since I wasn't really sure what I was doing when I started. 

Up close and personal. I slightly puckered the top under the ruffle. 
Back of purse and inside of the strap.
First lined pocket. I double lined the purse and love how sturdy it feels. Also, notice the light silvery gray floral design on the lining. I love the simplicity of it. 
Second pocket — the perfect size for my iPhone. :)

kitchen things

Our kitchen has lots of things, as most do. And by things, I mean decorative pieces, fruit baskets, blenders, coffee grinders, etc. At one point after moving in, one of my roommates finally found a home for everything. We now keep our spatulas in mason jars which I love and our blenders under the kitchen counter, which I also love. The one thing or things we did not have were nice kitchen towels.

Oh yes, we had an abundance of pink died and bleach spotted kitchen towels. But I found this unacceptable for everyday decor. So when I found these on sale at Sur La Table, I decided it was fate.



Most things involving green, stripes and matching yellow-green lemons are.

series: The W's

Dear Blog Readers (all five of you),

Beginning next Wednesday, I'll be starting a new "series" delving into the world wide web...and my favorite parts of it. Over the past year, I have just fallen in love with browsing through websites, be it paper goods shops or a photographer's website. I think you deserve to see just some of the wonderful people and things I've seen over the last year and continue to. Therefore, come back next Wednesday and I'll share with you a lovely new site that I'm sure you will adore as I do.

To start "The W's" - wednesday website wonderfulness - check out Cristina's blog and see what I was up to this past weekend in Northern California.

Much love,
Jenna

ps. Thank you for reading! And...While I'm addressing you directly, always feel free to comment on posts. Don't be shy. I like to feel loved. :)

because of Him

It’s not because the novelty of no homework has worn off. Or because I’m excited about sacrificing my weekend trips to reading text books. Or because there is just too much money in my savings.

It’s really about learning more about myself and God. It’s becoming the person I really want to be and am not quite sure how to be right now. It’s learning to have an overflow of love for others. And it’s about loving God and my relationship with Him.

I don’t have grand expectations, because I’m not quite sure what to expect and reality is always a little different. But I am excited to start Grad. School. Though it was a journey in itself and took a bit of patience, I was accepted into the Institute for Spiritual Formation. In the Fall, I will begin working toward my Master’s degree in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care!

Thank you to those who have prayed for me through this time. I can’t wait to begin this new journey. I know it will be difficult, thus I am a little scared. But I have confidence that good is the result of hard situations and emotions. So here is to homework and deepening my knowledge and relationship with the Lord in an exciting new way!

les fleurs

I visited my grandparents this weekend and not only did I return home with cake, but with these beautiful roses. She planted them earlier this year and they are in full bloom. I was in awe of their gorgeous color that this photo does not do justice to. They certainly add a touch of happiness to my office.