High Five for Friday: May 13

May 13, 2022JessComment

Hi friends! Thanks for stopping by—I’m so glad you’re here! 😁

Because last week (like, the week ending 5/6… last last week??) was pretty rough emotionally, I made a real effort to mix it up this week and incorporate gentleness and fun into every day. (Sometimes, I tend to sleepwalk through the week, putting off fun stuff till the weekend.) It has made a world of difference! So here’s what’s brought the sparkle:

Proactively scheduling an extra therapy session! I wanted this week to be different than last week, so I set myself up with more support before it even started. 10/10 would recommend.

Signing up for The Life Edit with Almost 30! Honestly, I didn’t sign up until the last minute, and yet it has been exactly what I needed. Week One has been about cleaning up our digital spaces (photos, emails, etc.), and it has been SO CATHARTIC. Like, I was hoping to feel a little less scattered and cluttered at the end of the program, but just clearing out ancient emails and thousands of photos has felt magnificent—like a weight has been lifted. Like I’m bringing my digital spaces into alignment with who I am now, rather than who I was three, or eight, or ten years ago. As I mentioned above, I am apt to sleepwalk through the day-to-day to keep anxiety at bay, but it seems like cultivating a more enjoyable, less overwhelming daily life could be an antidote to that…?!

This absolute gem! I have zero recollection of saving it back in 2019 (thank you, Alana, for sharing it in an IG Story!), but cleaning out my Photos brought it back into my life at the perfect time. It has really become the theme of the week. ❤️

Watching RachhLovesLife! I have no interest in cooking, I just find Rachel and Chris so enjoyable and comforting. (The beauty guru and the Tolkien nerd? Is there a better duo?! 😂) The editing is also top notch, and this visual representation of the “Mint Train” that accompanied a discussion of Junior Mints and peppermint lattes made me laugh out loud.

Rachel also totally influenced me to check out Holo Taco, and I’m so glad I did, because my order arrived last week and has put LITERAL HOLOGRAPHIC SPARKLE into my days! When Coral Chaser catches the light, I am in love. 😍 I have many nail polishes, and I don’t think I have anything quite like this!

A bonus sixth thing, courtesy of sweet Mica, who sent this my way this week! 💜

What put the sparkle in your week? ✨

Happy Friday! xoxo

Linking up with Andrea and Erika over at Friday Favorites! (And continuing to call this H54F even though that link-up is defunct, haha.)

High Five for Friday: May 6

May 6, 2022JessComment

Hi friends! Thanks for stopping by—I’m so glad you’re here! 😁

Since I focused on flowers last Friday, let’s see what else has brought the sparkle over the past two weeks!

(FYI: I make a small commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post.)

This sweet gift arrived from Kristin’s sister and mom! How adorable! I love that it’s from Claire’s! 😂 I may not be their target demographic, but I am certainly their target aesthetic. Kristin’s sister sent me a cute card too! 😭💖

Last Friday was sunny and lovely, and I managed to get out and break up the work day, which never happens! I stopped by Plato’s Closet and picked up my first thrifted items since possibly before covid?? 😮

I also found this sweatshirt at Target over the weekend. (I’m sorry I ever blasphemed the small Target because it’s been crushing it lately!) I am in love with this mauvey-brown color in all the things. For size reference, this is an XXL (also the only size they had in this color). I have def needed the ✨cozy vibes✨ this week.

An oversized crew neck + bike shorts AM I HAILEY BIEBER YET???

For a while now, I’ve been pulling a card from my Zelda tarot deck every month, kind of like an oracle card. What does the universe have to tell me? etc. For May, I got a card I’ve never pulled before—the Wheel of Fortune.

It is SO spot-on for what’s been coming up for me lately—just look at what quote was in the write-up!!

Yes, my “Be the pretty inspirational quote you wish to see in the world” quote! So perfect!

Annnnd “being the pretty inspirational quote” has definitely continued over the past two weeks! I have needed a lot of reminders in my face during stormy emotional moments, so for a bit there, I was making pretty phone wallpapers in Canva like daily. (Is this what a coping skill feels like?! Do I need a Canva intervention OR is it healing me?? 😂)

I’ve also made a gorgeous (if I do say so myself) wallpaper that pleases me immensely every time I open my laptop. Who knew this creative outlet was something I needed in my life? My college roommate was a graphic design major, and I guess some of her interest rubbed off on me! 😁

If you are also going through stormy emotional moments right now, I’m sorry—it sucks. It is so so exhausting and terrifying. But I am trying to give myself some love and gentleness, and I am sending that your way too. 💜💜

What put the sparkle in your week? ✨

Happy Friday! xoxo

Linking up with Andrea and Erika over at Friday Favorites! (And continuing to call this H54F even though that link-up is defunct, haha.)

Friday Favorites: Spring flowers!

April 29, 2022JessComment

Hi friends! Thanks for stopping by—I’m so glad you’re here! 😁

A Friday Favorites post this week because I took last Friday off to go to the local botanical garden! Mixing up my usual schedule and seeing delightful spring flowers has been a major source of sparkle this week!

(FYI: I make a small commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post.)

Now… please know when you look at the “highlight reel” pics below, I actually didn’t have the best time at the botanical garden. It was just SO CROWDED and trafficky, and I was stressed before I even got in! (Covid restrictions must have still been in place when I went this time last year.) But you know what was delightful? Editing the pictures over the weekend! No surprise, this introvert had a much better time looking at pretty plants from the comfort of her own home by herself, who knew? 😂

The spring Flower Walk is largely color-coordinated beds of tulips. Did I literally say out loud to no one YESSSSSSS PURPLE when I got to the purple section? Perhaps. 😏😂

Are all of my favorite pics purple flowers? Also yes.

What is this magical pink-to-lavender gradient?!

My tripod fell over and bopped two of these glorious dark tulips and I literally gasped in horror. 😵

There was also…

Neon purple!

Pinky orange!

Pinky pink!

The weather was gorgeous, so sunny and warm, and, stress aside, it was nice to be reunited with some of my flower friends from last year! 😁💜

If you’re off for the day, why not live it up? After I left the garden, I stopped for truffle fries and a mocktail (and an okay sandwich lol)!

And then I dropped by a few stores I never go to (aka Anthropologie and bluemercury)! Anthro is just one of those stores that I really enjoy walking through—there’s just so many fun things to look at! I ended up treating myself to this pretty ring and some cute greeting cards! (I mean, they sell Rifle Paper Co., soooo….)

New ring + painted nails for the first time in forever! I guess I was needing some #selfcarenails back in my life! (Don’t mind that one cuticle I anxiety-picked! 🙈) This color is Zoya Saint!

What put the sparkle in your week?

Happy Friday! xoxo

Linking up with Andrea and Erika over at Friday Favorites!

High Five for Friday: April 22

April 22, 2022JessComment

Hi friends! Thanks for stopping by—I’m so glad you’re here! 😁

Let’s see what brought the sparkle this week!

Well, as I said here, Easter is the deadline for taking down the Christmas decorations, and indeed, Pops made a point of doing this on Saturday:

Goodbye nutcrackers! I guess it’s like putting out the Olympic torch?

The weather here on Saturday was beautiful. Sunny and ‘70s. 😍 So it was time for the yearly re-emergence of

English major humor! What could be better?! 😂

I found these Democracy jorts at Nordstrom Rack last summer, and they are so stretchy and comfy! Truly, after two years of covid, I refuse to wear anything that’s less than an 8/10, comfort-wise. (This may be them? They are definitely the “ab-solution” kind.)

Do you guys know your enneagram and/or love language? I had taken an enneagram quiz eons ago and could not for the life of me remember what I am. Apparently, per this site, I’m a 6! A 6w5, it seems. For some reason, I was initially like “nahhh,” but once I read more about it (“Phobic Sixes”?! Risk averse?! Overthinking?!), I was like 🎶hello, it’s me…🎶

Now, I don’t think I’ve ever done a love language quiz before. I used the same site as above, and it has seven results instead of the usual five. It says my love language is “emotional,” which means that I am all about emotional support during difficult times/feelings. Now, THAT is an immediate, resounding yes. (I suppose this also explains why I love therapy? 😂) I joked here that “emotional vulnerability is my love language,” and WHO KNEW THAT WAS ACTUALLY TRUE?! 😂😂

Lastly, this quote has been rolling around in my head all week: “What is for you cannot miss you.” I think I got it from Almost 30? It is such a comforting thought for a risk-averse Phobic Six! 😂 I’ve been having fun playing around with Canva lately, so when I couldn’t readily find an image of this quote, I made my own. Be the pretty, inspirational quote you wish to see in the world! 😂😂

What put the sparkle in your week?

Happy Friday! xoxo

Linking up with Andrea and Erika over at Friday Favorites! (And continuing to call this H54F even though that link-up is defunct, haha.)

High Five for Friday: April 15

April 15, 2022JessComment

Hi friends! Thanks for stopping by—I’m so glad you’re here! 😁

TGIF! This week has been an emotional rollercoaster. I have not been sleeping well, and of course that makes everything better! 🙄😂

Since that hasn’t brought the sparkle this week, let’s see what has:

This adorbs Hello Kitty x Pusheen tee! Two great things that go great together!

This AGGRESSIVELY PINK Apple Watch band I found at Five Below!

Cleaning and dusting my bedroom! (How does everything get so dusty so fast?! At least dusting makes a space feel all neat and tidy even when it isn’t! 😂)

This IG post! Shame has been a big topic in therapy lately (not that it isn’t always, lol). So much of my mental health stuff seems to be rooted in shame—especially shame around having needs and taking up space. So this reminder is comforting, particularly that last part. I have such a hard time with the harsh and isolating messages of shame, and I need to work on not automatically accepting them as the truth.