Jessie Leigh
Motivational Monday
Yup, it's Monday. The world's most hated day of the week. You rise, you shine, you flip everyone off in traffic. There seems to never be enough coffee. Your couch is calling your name. The clock ticks slowly, and I mean sloooowwwwly. Now don't get me wrong, I can be the most Negative Nancy on the planet but I am making a point that every week I have my Motivational Monday. They say positivity can increase your endorphins, produce better blood flow and make you an overall happier person. So why not start your week off right? Whether it be trying something new, sitting on a eight machine and just watching people work out, or sifting through hundreds of quotes on Pinterest (my method), motivate yourself. Whatever it takes. Here are my latest favorite words of wisdom and I just can't get enough. P.S if you don't have a Pinterest board you need one.Now.
Xoxo,
Jessie Leigh
Jessie Leigh
The Rollercoaster Ride
Life never ceases to amaze me. The twists, the turns, ups and downs. I never seem to be able to keep up. Just when you think events are leveling out, the good will overcome the bad, life smacks you across the face and drops you right back down to where you started.
I never was the easy child. The youngest of three, I always challenged myself and everyone else for that matter with my personality, my creativity and most of all, my faith. I've never been one to openly discuss my religion, my beliefs or frankly anything that I stand for but I guess this is what happens in your mid twenties. You open your eyes, let more light in and really see things for what they are sometimes. Shit. Complete and utter shit. I've realized that in life, you have no control. Despite everything you do, things change, time keeps moving, people come and go but the ride just keeps going. It never stops. It never lets you come up for air, catch your breath and regain your strength. It screams at you to hold on and just keep going. Keep going? Seriously? But sometimes I just want to fall down and give up. But I can't. Because the ride doesn't ever stop.Ever.
My whole life is made up of memories with friends, family, things. All of which at one point or another will be gone in time. I've sat and thought, why am I Here? Why do I exist in this world? I've talked to God in more ways then one, begging for him to answer these questions. But what I've realized, with no response yet, is that I am simply in charge of my own existence. My own life. My own destiny. If I'm unhappy, do something that will make me happy. Change my own fate. Take an instance, a moment and turn it around for the better. The only one that will do it is me.
I used to be so scared of what everyone thought about what I had to say. What I believed in. I would forget to just speak my mind if my feelings were hurt, if someone made me feel amazing and most of all when I met people that made me thankful for the gift of life. I forgot to speak what I wanted, what I needed in my heart, in my mind and most of all in this life. You read it in books, women finding themselves through tragedy like Cheryl Strayed in Wild, through divorce like Elizabeth Gilbert in Eat ,Pray,Love or through loneliness like Katie Heaney in Never Have I Ever. The thing is, there are so many roads to the sanctuary of happiness.
This weekend has taught me alot of things. Through tragedy, it has taught me to always speak my mind and my feelings, for you never know when you won't be able to any longer. Through loss, as hard as it may be in the moment, my heart and mind will overcome with my good old companion named time. I won't always understand why God works in mysterious ways. Why he brings some people into our lives and then takes them away. But what I do know, and what I have learned at my ripe old age of 26 is to always be thankful for my time with them, for each person has inflicted something on me that will sit within me for the rest of my life. I may cry, I may laugh and I may struggle but I will always come back from it. Every.Single.Time. I guess my point here is, I'd rather people know that everyone falls apart, even if we don't show it, talk about or express it. We all have our struggles, our heartbreaks, our ride that just never stops. In the words of Meredith Grey, " the carousel never stops turning."
This weekend has taught me alot of things. Through tragedy, it has taught me to always speak my mind and my feelings, for you never know when you won't be able to any longer. Through loss, as hard as it may be in the moment, my heart and mind will overcome with my good old companion named time. I won't always understand why God works in mysterious ways. Why he brings some people into our lives and then takes them away. But what I do know, and what I have learned at my ripe old age of 26 is to always be thankful for my time with them, for each person has inflicted something on me that will sit within me for the rest of my life. I may cry, I may laugh and I may struggle but I will always come back from it. Every.Single.Time. I guess my point here is, I'd rather people know that everyone falls apart, even if we don't show it, talk about or express it. We all have our struggles, our heartbreaks, our ride that just never stops. In the words of Meredith Grey, " the carousel never stops turning."
The Rock Salt Ice Cream Maker
Definitively an exciting time here in sunny California. El Niño is striking in full force and while most other states are covered in a blanket of snow, we are having nothing but sunshine and no one knows what to do about. Pump the A/C? Skip work for a day and head to the beach? One thing that is for sure on my mind is some freezing cold ice cream.
Growing up and still to this day, my family summers were/are spent at our lake house, complete with the whole family, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles. You name it, they were there. It was always a thing for us to invite friends up for the weekend, making the three story house packed with people so full that every inch of the main living room was covered in blankets and sleeping bags and no one even cared. The sun would rise, everyone would get up for the morning water ski ride, enjoy a sausage and egg breakfast and before we knew it, the clock had struck noon, the sun was hot & lunch was beginning to be prepared.
My Grandparents purchased the house back in the 1950's, still having much of its vintage flair to this day. For years, even after both my Grandparent's passings, their belongings remained as a part of the house, untouched & undisturbed. Besides gathering dust, they really had no role, except for supplying the family with sentimental reminders here and there. The family eventually pitched in time together & rid the house of the things that weren't necessary and kept very few pieces that were irreplaceable one of which was the rock salt ice cream machine. Vanilla, Chocolate, you name it, we had at some point made every flavor ice cream on that machine.
As the weather has been shifting, I can't help but be reminded of the day's my mom & I would churn the ice cream on our back patio, watching it thicken slower than molasses & our mouths simply watering at just the eager thought of the first bite. The machine had to be churned by hand, a tedious task, but the outcome was rewarding being that the ice cream was always 100% homemade. With strawberries being part of my favorite addition to the spring season, I experimented in making this tremendously creamy,fresh & rich ice cream that I sure hope you will enjoy as much as I do, and may it continue to become a potential staple as it has in mine, reminding me of some amazing childhood memories.
*Strawberry Buttermilk Ice Cream is listed in the Recipe section of the blog on the home page.*
*P.S.- Using a rock salt ice cream machine is very different than the modern day ice cream machines. If you want to make the most homemade flavor, be sure to use rock salt. You will not be sorry.
Enjoy!
Jessie Leigh
Do Better 2016!
Every year everyone compiles their list of New Year's resolutions and pretty much always fall of the tracks around March or April. After being asked more than a handful of times, I decided that basically all I really want to focus on is to "Do Better" and that this will be my mantra for the year. I can't ask myself to be perfect, or to strive for unattainable goals. All I can really expect from myself is to do better than each day before. Now, there are always things I wish to improve on which you will see below but I honestly can't say I have ever successfully attained any New Years Resolution I have ever set. So, at 26, I have decided not to really set anything and I have a great feeling that 2016 is going to be a great one. I want to read more books, watch less television, take a trip to Hawaii, and maybe even attempt getting into some type of Yoga or Pilates. Will this happen? Maybe, maybe not. All I will be focusing on is waking up each and everyday and do better than the day before. I challenge everybody else to do the same and hope everyone starts their 2016 off right!
Bye Bye Netflix & Chill, Hello Books!
Aloha!
Xoxo,
Jessica Leigh
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not
Yay! Yes, everyone will gasp but my most favorite holiday is just around the corner! Valentine's Day! As much as it has been made into a "Hallmark Holiday," I still find it to be one of the most important holidays to show my love towards those close to me. From the days when I was a kid, making the slotted cardboard desk box for me and my classmates to exchange our handmade cards and candies into was always so much fun. Now, as an adult, hosting a crafting party, sending those valentines off in the mail each year is one of the most fun things especially with me and my craftiness pent up day after day. Papersource is always the place for me to find the essentials for my cards, embellishing antique valentines I have found in thrift shops or even creating brand new ones altogether.
Being in my mid 20's, I can completely understand how this holiday can get expensive but I encourage everyone to get creative! Whether it be a small handmade card or a lush bouquet of red roses, make this holiday fun! Below is a carefully selected playlist that brings the past to the present and will have a great twist of fun for an evening with any loved one. Hope you enjoy!
Enjoy!
XOXO,
Jessica Leigh
Being in my mid 20's, I can completely understand how this holiday can get expensive but I encourage everyone to get creative! Whether it be a small handmade card or a lush bouquet of red roses, make this holiday fun! Below is a carefully selected playlist that brings the past to the present and will have a great twist of fun for an evening with any loved one. Hope you enjoy!
Happy Valentine's Day!
A cute surprise photo-shoot for Mom is always fun for Valentine's Day! Be creative! Have fun!
Valentine's Day Playlist
Enjoy!
XOXO,
Jessica Leigh
Blah, Blah, Blog
I debated for a good amount of time whether or not to create a new blog after the idea was constantly swirling through my brain. When I first started reading blogs years and years ago, there were many times when I would wonder how much time do people actually devote from their lives to this "hobby." What's the point? Entering into this blindly, knowing nothing, I realized that the blogging world starts friendships with your readers, creating a community of smart, funny, ambitious women who more than likely would be some of my great friends if we all were to live near each other.
The blogging world allows you to share your passions, explore what inspires you and best of all, VENT! I debated for a good year and a half whether I would create a blog or not. Would I have actual time to devote to it while adding to my full time job? What would my blog be about? Would anyone even read it? And then I realized, the reason I would write and create this would be to do it for myself. With that, it would just be something extra if people actually liked it. With this blog, I wanted it to be a place for me to express my love towards my interests, passions, family and friends. I wanted it to be something that would make people smile and warm their soul, the same way I felt after reading some of my favorite blogs. I wanted to write about things very close to my heart. I wanted people to feel inspired to do more.
I may not have been doing this long but I have been blessed to have talked and met with some amazing people. I have become friends with so many wonderful humans that I otherwise would more than likely never have had the chance to meet. I thrive off their positive support. I look forward to the future when I can look back and have this wonderful life of mine documented. I hope you as readers find inspiration to create your own potentially & enjoy.
Xoxo,
Jessica Leigh
The blogging world allows you to share your passions, explore what inspires you and best of all, VENT! I debated for a good year and a half whether I would create a blog or not. Would I have actual time to devote to it while adding to my full time job? What would my blog be about? Would anyone even read it? And then I realized, the reason I would write and create this would be to do it for myself. With that, it would just be something extra if people actually liked it. With this blog, I wanted it to be a place for me to express my love towards my interests, passions, family and friends. I wanted it to be something that would make people smile and warm their soul, the same way I felt after reading some of my favorite blogs. I wanted to write about things very close to my heart. I wanted people to feel inspired to do more.
I may not have been doing this long but I have been blessed to have talked and met with some amazing people. I have become friends with so many wonderful humans that I otherwise would more than likely never have had the chance to meet. I thrive off their positive support. I look forward to the future when I can look back and have this wonderful life of mine documented. I hope you as readers find inspiration to create your own potentially & enjoy.
Xoxo,
Jessica Leigh
Pop, Pour & Clink!
Everything seems to happen so fast. Some good, some bad. 2015 ah, what to say about it. Life didn't change too much. I changed jobs and began working in the bougie town of Beverly Hills at BHLDN as a Bridal Stylist. My family had to put down one of our beloved dogs after being diagnosed with untreatable cancer in late 2014. And I had my heart broken once again in the later days of October.
It's interesting how each year really is just another chapter in the big book of life. As cheesy as it sounds. Some years are good, others are bad. Amazing how as you get older, the years get more complicated, more stressful, beating each day down to the pulp just to get by and make memories. I find that the biggest motivations for me are found in words, whether they be from a book, my own Mom, or even a stranger on the street or even Pinterest. They motivate me, push me to find myself and be a better person. As silly as it sounds, I find solace in them. A glimmer of hope.
These are just a few of my favorites. More to come. I definitely plan on posting more and can't wait for what 2016 holds for everyone!
Xoxo,
Jessica Leigh
It's interesting how each year really is just another chapter in the big book of life. As cheesy as it sounds. Some years are good, others are bad. Amazing how as you get older, the years get more complicated, more stressful, beating each day down to the pulp just to get by and make memories. I find that the biggest motivations for me are found in words, whether they be from a book, my own Mom, or even a stranger on the street or even Pinterest. They motivate me, push me to find myself and be a better person. As silly as it sounds, I find solace in them. A glimmer of hope.
These are just a few of my favorites. More to come. I definitely plan on posting more and can't wait for what 2016 holds for everyone!
Xoxo,
Jessica Leigh
