Home Sweet Home

I'm going to preface this post with the fact that I watch a lot of HGTV...like, a lot. Love it. House hunters, property brothers, the high/low project - I love it all.

Since the weather has been great and we've been using the backyard more, I've finally started on the backyard project! I bought my house about a year and a half ago and got just about everything fixed up that I wanted to...except for the backyard. So that's the latest project (still a work in progress)!

I found some pictures of the backyard from when I first bought the house and decided to do some "before & after" pics, and then just decided to do them for the whole house! ...hence today's blog post!

You can't really tell, but the original fence is about 20 years old and falling down (literally...it fell down on one side! Tacky...yes, I know.) Luckily, since there's new construction going on behind us, they put up a new beautiful fence...so of course I ripped my ugly old one down! Talk about a cheap new fence...it doesn't get any better than free! Now I just need to do some staining :)

I LOVE my home. Best decision I ever made. Want to know the best part of the whole thing? ...Making it my own, fixing it up, and redoing some things... All on a budget :) I enjoy it everyday and can't say I miss apartment living at all! Here are some before and after pics...

With a lot of help from my family, boyfriend, and family friends, my house turned out better than I could have imagined. I'm so very thankful.

Oh, and thanks HGTV for all the ideas, DIY help, and inspiration. 

What I Wore Wednesdays

Today I'm copying my friend, Karissa's post about "What I Wore Wednesday". You can read more about her blog at www.kandkshaw.blogspot.com.

In my last post I mentioned how I always feel like I have nothing to wear (which isn't really true), but I feel like I always where the same things over and over. Lately I've been trying to mix it up, or (as of last weekend) buy things from consignment stores (turned out some of them have some really cute stuff for great prices!). 

Below are some outfits from last and this week :)

Top and Skirt: Loft

Shoes: JS by Jessica Simpson, DSW

Top: Alfani, Macy's 

Skirt: Ann Taylor

Shoes: JS by Jessica Simpson, DSW

Top: The Rack

Skirt: Loft

Watch: Michael Kors, Dillard's 

Bracelet: TJ Maxx

Shoes: JS by Jessica Simpson, DSW

Dress: Loft

Blazer: The Rack

Shoes: Jessica Simpson, 6pm.com

Necklace: Consignment, Again - Eagle, ID

Top and Skirt: Loft

Shoes: Jessica Simpson, 6pm.com

Earrings: faux Tory Burch, Sassysteals.com

Happy Wednesday! 

•Jena 

Worst Things of All Time

Today’s Scoop – Most annoying things of all time.

Today’s post is inspired by my very own adorable, baseboard chewing, hole digging, sweet, tender, golden retriever, Macy. I LOVE her. However, one of the most recent and annoying things of all time is….baseboard chewing. Please see the evidence below. 

This is one of about 917 areas that have been demolished by cute, innocent, little Macy (okay – maybe 7 is slightly more realistic).

Yes, she is adorable...

But don’t be fooled – she is one dedicated, hardcore, baseboard eating machine. However, I’m going to just be glad it’s not my furniture, clothes, or most importantly, my shoes.

Which brings me to my next annoying thing of all time: never feeling like I have anything to wear. Yes, I realize I have plenty. Probably more than I need. But I still wake up in the mornings and go to my closet to get dressed and thing, “UGH I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR!”. Is this a true statement? No, of course not. But that’s how I legitimately feel. Of course, I still manage to find something to wear, but it’s a constant battle... (Yes, I realize I have a problem).

Third most annoying thing of all time: being a ginger in the summer.

Everyone gets SO excited for summer, except for gingers (no, I’m not talking to you RARE gingers that can actually tan). For example, see below – my backyard patio is perfect for summertime tanning - the chairs recline and eveything. And my roommates kindly remind me of this. “Guys, let’s tan in the backyard this weekend!”. Me: “Why yes, that sounds like so much fun – laying out in a bikini, drenching myself in 100 SPF sunscreen, getting all hot and sweaty, just to come back inside 2 hours later as white/pink/pale/albino as I was when we first went out.” Awesome. Love summer.

 That’s all I have for now – and okay, these aren’t the worst things OF ALL TIME, that might be a little dramatic.

Park Play Date

So I finally decided to blog... not for anyone else. Just for myself. It's always something I've wanted to do, and after a little inspiration from my new friend at work, Karissa, I decided to finally do it.

Today's blog is dedicated to the cutest, smartest, most adorable, fun little boy I've ever met - Mr. Hudson James! I don't have any nieces or nephews of my own - but this little boy is all I need. I wish I could see him more often, but I'll take what I can get. Today's park play date:

See what I mean?....Adorable!

Spending time with this little stud makes me realize that I am excited to have kids - SOMEDAY. I'm nowhere near ready for that in my life, but eventually it'll be a great new chapter in my life.

Thanks Elise for letting me be "Auntie Jen Jen" to this amazing little boy - I'm very lucky.