Tuesday, November 22

Day 2



I took my elderly neighbor a pumpkin pie today and had a very nice and long visit with her and her daughter and son-in-law.  I didn't realize that she is now in a jazzy so I'm glad I popped in and got up-to-date on her situation.  We had a very nice afternoon conversation on a gloomy day.

Hilda is 88 if not 89, has crippling arthritis that 'causes her no pain' and will live in her home that her husband built until she dies.  She is the original independent woman...she was liberated long before the 60's.  Go Hilda.

PS...side note, this may or may not be random...as all my leaves have blown into her yard, she was more than due to be my second RAK.

Monday, November 21

The 41 Days ~ Day 1

One of the things that puts me in touch with my 'higher self' is when I receive a random act of kindness.  It doesn't have to be big...just a little 'thought of you today' kinda thing.  Today, after work and errands on a drizzly, foggy day, I came home to a delivery from the porch fairy...two beautiful (and I'm sure tasty) designer cupcakes (yes, we may be small town but we have our indulgences).


What warms my heart even more is when I perform such random acts.  I do, from time to time, but life is full of busy-ness and these things slip away.  All my friends have been posting the entire month of November about what they are Thankful for each day. I'm just trying to put my thoughts into action with a little project to end the year...41 Days of Random Acts of Kindness.


Since I only have 3 blog followers, I feel like I can share my project without being self-conscious.  I've been a bit of a bah humbug with all this Christmas in November merchandising overload.  Since our immediately family decided to do things a bit differently this year, I've needed a little pick-me-up and I think this will bring my holiday cheer back and make Jess Woods happy.


Day 1: Ordered a special Christmas tree cookie to be delivered to a random person (preferably elderly) in northern Pennsylvania.  My friend, Cathy, the Director of Wow (yes, that is her title on her business card), is selling them as a fundraiser in Edinboro.  I asked her to deliver one to someone random once they arrive (Dec 15th or so...so this is a delayed RAK but I just put the check in the mail so it qualifies as today's act).


Saturday, October 22

My Makeup Must Haves

Ok, I had a friend ask me for help in some makeup choices.  I normally wouldn't blog about this but since I typed it out for her, I thought I might as well copy/paste.  Please excuse any proofreading mishaps.

You should know that overall, Benefit is one of my favorite brands.  This is a liquid blush that is really a stain.  It lasts all day long which is what originally drew me to it.  In the evenings, I’ll use an additional sparkly shimmer blush over it to make it pop.  But what is great about this is that you don’t rub it or wear it off.  Very natural glow.  This lasts forever…years.
No makeup brush needed – use fingers

This is a concealer for your eyelids that you can use with or without eyeshadow (I usually will put something on even if it is a neutral vanilla color that you can’t tell).  My eyelids show a lot of redness and veins and this hides them with just a touch of it.  It really is wonderful and lasts forever.
No makeup brush needed – use fingers

I use to get this at Sephora but wasn’t on there right now.  This is awesome if you want to give your lips a little something.  Especially thin lips (aging lips).  I also use it on pimples, red areas around my nose or where it is just hard to get regular concealer.  Again, lasts forever.
No makeup brush needed – use fingers

You should probably get this at Macy’s first so they can tell you what color you need.  I’m pretty sure I use Light Buff but use to use Clair II when I tanned.  This also lasts me forever.  Most concealers would settle in my mini wrinkles and enhance my lines but this (mixed with my next two products) doesn’t do that.  Since I don’t wear any foundation, I also use this on any other blotchy areas of my face to even it out before I put powder all over.  I LOVE IT!
No makeup brush needed – use fingers

This is magic.  It is a very fine powder that I use in conjunction with my concealer and since it is so fine, it really works so much better than regular powder on not enhancing wrinkles.  I love this stuff.  Laura Mercier is one of my favorite brands.
Needs brush – next item

You don’t necessarily need this brand but one like it so you might as well order this one if you don’t have one like it.

This is what I put all over my face after my tint, concealers and eye powder.  It sets the foundation then I put a little color on.  This is a general color that works for everyone.  Translucent.  There are lots of brands out there but I’ve not found anything that compares to this.  You’ll need a large powder brush and I’m sure you have one.  We can always go brush shopping if you need help finding some.

OK, that may seem like a long list with a lot of work but it really isn’t and it is totally worth it.  My goal for all my makeup is to look natural as well as not to enhance any lines.  Sometimes makeup can make you look older which is crap!  These products above are all for all skin tones except for the concealer which you need to figure out your color.  If you have favorite mascara that goes on well for you, use it or I can make a recommendation on what I like.  Same with your eye shadows, blushes and lip glosses.  If you have a great foundation, that stuff really doesn’t matter much.  I am pretty picky about eye liner and therefore I’ll give you a link to something I really like:

Since they are only $5, get a couple.  I like the glitter black (not very glitterly so don’t panic) and I’m sure coffee would be a good one. Make sure you have a sharpener.

Ok, there you go.  My foundation.  If you want to ‘try before you buy’ let me know and you can come over and we’ll make you up.

Sunday, August 7

I HGTV'd my Kitchen!

So...I'm finally ready to start sharing my progress (please note that in no way are we done).  Besides a lot of touch up painting still left to do, we have 7 more doors to paint/install, decide if we will paint the faux beams black to match the cabinets...that is ultimately the goal however my neck is not agreeable. Also, the breakfast/fireplace/office area still left to do.

Before Photos





I'm a bit embarrassed to share these before photos but just know this 40 year old wallpaper was the biggest deterrent to the makeover.  Also, the goal for the last 10 years was to gut the kitchen, knockout a wall and and make my small galley kitchen more open.  That is still the goal (5-8 year plan) however, me and this kitchen could no longer coexist.

Mid-Remodel






We have more skills than originally thought.  Especially Mr. Brooks.  We were a bit surprised with the teal tinted primer as it was suppose to be black.  Apparently you can't really tint primer that dark.  All who saw this mid-remodel seriously wanted us to leave the doors off the pantry. 

Almost Finished






Well, lookey there.  We Did It!  A few mishaps along the way and a few more gray hairs. I love my composite granite sink the best and very happy with the tile, paint job...countertops are ok.  What do you think of the mirror?  Since I don't have a view of my backyard garden I thought I could go with the next best thing.  We are still deciding on the mirror.  Originally I wanted to get a picture framed like a window...would change the picture seasonally.  I still may go that route.

Note the celebratory margarita in the making.  My perfect recipe is: 1 pt Tequila (gold or better), 1 pt Grand Marnier and 1 part lime or lime/orange juice (fresh squeezed).  I deserve it! 

Thanks to Joe!  He da man!

Wednesday, July 20

The Ultimate Greek Salad

(Forever Summer by Nigella Lawson – gift from the Oprah Winfrey Show in 2003)
Ingredients:
1 red onion
1 T dried oregano
black pepper
1 T red wine vinegar
¾ c plus 2 T EVOO

Peel and finely slice the red onion and place in bowl.  Sprinkle with oregano and pepper.  Add red wine vinegar and oil and toss well.  Cover with plastic wrap and leave to steep for at least 2 hours or more.  I found that this can last in the refrigerator for a week. 
NOTE:  Magic happens with red wine and red onions; as they marinate they turn a luminescent pink and the taste completely changes.
Rest of salad ingredients:
5 good tomatoes
1 t sugar
pinch sea salt
1 very large head of romaine lettuce
1 bulb fennel
½ c pitted kalamata olives
14 oz feta cheese
juice of half a lemon
Cut tomatoes in quarters, then quarter again for small segments/wedges.  Spring the segments with the salt and sugar and let sit while you prepare other ingredients.
Tear romaine into big pieces and put in large salad bowl. Slice the fennel and add that, then the olives and feta (cut or crumbled into rough chunks) and toss well.  Now add tomatoes, the red onion (now pink) and oil, and the lemon juice.  Toss gently but thoroughly so that everything is well combined.
Jenn’s Notes:  This salad is one of our favorites.  Since it is usually just me and Joe, I use my own judgment and modify the ingredients for the two of us.  The onion/dressing will keep for a while in the fridge and you can use them in other salads or for other purposes.  Also, the fennel is a replacement for cucumbers.  I haven’t tried it yet but I plan to this summer.  However, it is noted that you shouldn’t substitute cucumbers for the fennel as they will make the salad soggy after a while.

Tuesday, July 12

Tomato Tartlet Recipe

I <3 Food.  And homegrown tomatoes.  and basil.

I came across this recipe on one the weekend edition of Today Show...It comes from Martha Stewart and it is so easy that I have to pay it forward to all 4 of my loyal blog watchers.

Puff Pastry:  I've always wanted to try it.  Giada and Ina and all the great chefs rave about it on the cooking channels but I just hadn't gotten around to it.  This is a must have staple for the freezer.  I purchased Pepperidge Farm brand.  Two comes in a package and you just take one out and save the other for later (in the freezer).  Set it on the counter for 40 minutes or so and it is ready to use.

This recipe is sure to impress anyone and it is one of the easiest to make.  Let me know if you try it and how it goes.  Now...if my green tomatoes in the backyard would just turn red...


Recipe: Tomato tartlets

Ingredients
  • All-purpose flower, for rolling
  • 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
  • 2 1/2 ounces grated sharp white cheddar (2/3 cup packed)
  • 3 medium tomatoes, cut into ten 1/4-inch-thick slices
  • 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • Ground pepper
  • 1/3 cup small basil leaves, for serving
Preparation
Active time: 15 min
Total time: 40 min + cooling
Preheat oven to 375 degrees, with racks in upper and middle thirds. Lightly flour a rolling pin and work surface and roll out puff pastry to a 14-by-16-inch rectangle. With a 4-inch cookie cutter, cut out 10 rounds and transfer to two parchment-lined rimmed baking sheets; with a fork, prick each round all over. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon cheese on each, leaving a ¼-inch border, and top with 1 tomato slice. Brush with oil and season with pepper.
Bake until pastry is deep golden at edges, 25 to 30 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let tartlets cool completely on a wire rack. (Store between layers of parchment in an airtight container, up to one day.) To serve, top with basil.
Serving Size:  Makes 10

Thursday, June 30

Wag More, Bark Less - An Introduction to JennBee

If I had a credo, it would be WMBL.  My hubby of almost 11 years (this Sunday 7/3) first brought to my attention a bumper sticker he passed by one day...Wag More, Bark Less.  Immediately, it struck a chord with me and I think about it (almost) daily.

I have two dogs and two granddogs - and a lot of times I have all four of them with me in my home/workspace.  I learn so much from them.  For instance, I can be aggravated with a difficult day/situation and just one wag from any of them melts my heart in a nanosecond. 

Now, 3 of the 4 are 'little' dogs which means they have a ginormous urge to bark incessantly at passersby, squirrels or the wind (why I don't have my big picture window blocked from the world is another subject entirely).  Their bark is so destructive and can take a pretty good day down in second. 

So, if little dogs that we treasure can do that to us, imagine what our wags & barks to others can seem like.  Hence, my credo/mission statement to simply Wag More, Bark Less.

WMBL also means a variety of other things to me that I may blog about one day.  This is my first blog posting ever.  I love reading and writing and I thought I'd blog about topics that intrigue and inspire me.  A 'live' journal for myself as well as friends and family to follow if they so choose.


Photocredit: My stepdaughter http://jesalynphotographyblog.blogspot.com/