Meal Planning 101

A recent obsession of mine is weekly meal planning. I've known people, mostly married couples and young families, who were able to save a ton of money by planning and cooking each breakfast, lunch, and dinner for their week. But as a young professional, a New Yorker, and unfortunately a certified takeout queen, could I ever pull this off? The answer is a resounding yes!

I'm more than 3 weeks in now, and have already saved hundreds of dollars, since I was used to buying breakfast ($5+), lunch ($10+), and dinner ($15+) out every single day. Believe me when I tell you that ANYONE can do this, and the savings alone makes it worthwhile. But there are plenty of additional benefits like added nutritional value (this is amazing for dieters), less urge to snack since you know what and when your next meal is coming, and the satisfaction of both learning new recipes and taking pride in everything you put into your body. I am a meal planning believer!

I've been scouting Etsy for some cute printables that will help me in my meal planning endeavors, and I've displayed a few of my faves below. I may eventually DIY something of my own, but wanted to share for those of you who aren't graphic designers!

This week's meals included:
Sweet Cucumber, Red Onion & Dill Salad (Eat Yourself Skinny)
Clean Egg & Zucchini Muffins (Eat Yourself Skinny)
Spinach Lasagna Rolls (Skinnytaste)
Easy Crust-less Spinach & Feta Pie (Skinnytaste)
Squash-tastic Shepherd's Pie (Hungry Girl)

Customizable PDF from AtomicaPress - $6.00

Handmade Item from askingfortrouble - $8.62

Instant Download from SweetPaperTrail - $3.00

Instant Download from LauraDraytonCreative - $10.00

Instant Download from TinyStripes - $5.00

Call Me, Maybe?

There are sooo many good jams songs about telephones...from Blondie, to The Backstreet Boys (a millennial classic), right down the the Song of 2012 from Carly Rae Jepson. Though I have to admit I am not personally very good at answering my telephone–SORRY friends and family! Yes, I'm aware it means I'm a bit antisocial if I prefer texting, and sort of can't remember a time before my iPhone was more for apps than conversation. But, after contemplating the purchase of few of these vintage phones on Etsy, purely for decoration, I can kind of see why the Telephone Hour was so popular.

1 Red 1980's Desk Phone – $42.50
2 Mustard 1980's Swedish-made Phone – $54.00
3 Yellow Push-Button Phone – $75.00
4 Vintage Green Rotary Phone – $27.50
5 Vintage Green USSR-Made Rotary Phone – $19.00
6 Vintage Purple USSR-Made Rotary Phone – $39.00

12.12.12

I feel a little sad thinking about the date today. Is that weird? It's the last time the date, month, and year will be the same number for nearly another century. And certainly the last time we'll experience it in most of our lifetimes. Yes, that's a little dark. Are any of you guys experiencing the feeling like you didn't enjoy the last decade as much as you should have? Just me? OK, haha. Moving on! Below are a list of lovely little things to commemorate the date!

1  Motorcycle Image pinned by Danny O'Connor on Pinterest
2  Number Twelve necklace by TwoReasons on Etsy. $18.50.
3  Vintage 12 billiard ball from amyquerin on Etsy
4  Vintage Hotel Number, including braille from vintageseas on Etsy
5  French  Crown No. 12 Pillow from WordGarden on Etsy
6  Old School Colorblindness Tests
7  An Imprecise Clock spotted on Clusterflock
8  Twelve O'Clock High poster starring Gregory Peck

Eye Candy

It's been kind of a dreary week, and having a quite a few long lunches in Bryant park in the month of April have made me very spoiled. But today the sun is shining, and it's Friday, and I hear there are early Cinco de Mayo margaritas happening in the office very soon... I love Spring. And I'm really not in a hurry toward a blazing hot New York Summer. So for today, some Spring-has-sprung eye candy for all of you. Have a very merry Friday!

Macaron Trinket Boxes from Ruche

Apricot Plaid Bow Tie by Forage

Mint Oxford Brogues by Goodbyefolk on Etsy (neeeeed these!)

Olivietti Typewriter "California Love" from TheAntikeyChop on Etsy

The Saguaro Hotel in Palm Springs

Coming Down the Pipeline

My roommates commented recently how often they've been mentioned in my blog lately (when I actually post, that is...) and all I have to say is, blogging imitates life! Our sometimes-slow-moving home decorating projects are the only blog-worthy thing I have to show for myself lately, and Ryan Dean recently found something so cool on Etsy that I couldn't resist sharing it with all of you.

These industrial-chic storage solutions from StellaBleuDesigns on Etsy are easily the raddest things I've seen lately. If my room didn't look like a 26-year-old's take on the Pottery Barn Kids catalogue (hey, it's a work in progress...) I would have ordered them for myself! But alas, I've realized lately that I am faaaar too girly. And they are perfect for our resident male! I will be so jealous when these arrive and his room looks amazing (and age-appropriate) and just plain cool. I am not 100% certain, but I think he ordered the Industrial Pipe Shelf Level 3 Wood and the Bookshelf Industrial Pipe Mario Bros Finish Line. I am also totally digging the Industrial Pipe Corner Shelf with Pendant Lighting and the Industrial Garment Rack Triple Level. So definitely check out StellaBleuDesigns ASAP if any of these pieces are striking your fancy!

Bookshelf Industrial Pipe Mario Bros

Industrial Pipe Corner Shelf with Pendant Lighting

Industrial Pipe Shelf Level 3 Wood

Industrial Corner Pipe Shelf

Industrial Garment Rack Triple Level

Wandering...

Adorable print from Malobi on Etsy

You guys! I am alive I promise. I could never have imagined how hard it would be to move to a new city, start a new job, completely redecorate a new apartment, AND have time to blog about all of the amazing, inspiring, crazy things I'm seeing on a daily basis. So please bear with me while this dust settles a little. And in turn, I will give you a mini-update on all of the madness happening in my life:

1  Work
Work is good. Work is work, of course, but work is good. I love designing, and I love waking up every morning and getting on the train like a worker bee swarming midtown with all the others as we pour out of the Rockefellar Plaza subway station headed for 5th avenue. The novelty of that still hasn't worn off, and I'm hoping it won't for at least a year...

2  Apartment
Still chaos. We've painted every room but one, and we've technically finished none of them...But the kitchen is the farthest along. Pictures coming ASAP. My own bedroom will be spectacular, and just for a teaser, I've done a little matte/glossy tone-on-tone paint stripe that I can't wait to show you. But for now, there is just stuff everywhere. Nothing organized. Stressful? yes. But somehow we're all managing...

3  Life
Fun. I am having a ton of cool, new experiences. And I am seeing a ton of live theatre, which has always been one of my favorite things in life...For that aspect alone, I couldn't be more at home in NYC. I am enjoying making new friends in the workplace, through roommates, and on my own too. I am just having a blast.

4  The City
I am confident that I feel about New York the way people feel when they've met their soulmate. When you know, you just know. I was always meant to live here, and for now, I can't imagine ever leaving.

5  A Promise
Things are stabilizing so much that I can guarantee you regularly updated (DAILY) content every day starting in May. In fact, that is a goal I am forcing myself to stick to. So you can all, hopefully, look forward to that!

Lots of love,
Jenna

Hungry? Why Wait!

Did you see the movie yet?? As planned, I saw The Hunger Games on Friday night in Times Square. (It still trips me out to come out of a movie and find myself in the craziest, most crowded part of New York City, though I think I love it...) But before the movie, I met Cody, the jewelry artist I blogged about here and he gifted me my very own beautiful charm necklace to wear! I was beyond surprised and excited. All through dinner, I couldn't stop looking at it...I even clutched it a few times during the movie in moments of nervous suspense. Let's be honest, the entire theatre got a little emotional at certain parts (you know exactly which ones I'm talking about) but my roommate Colleen and I were maybe the top teary offenders...Oops. Anyway, it was everything I wanted it to be. Can't wait for the next one!

And because the world is still very much suffering from Hunger Games mania, I decided to put together a little assemblage of some of my favorite Etsy items I've found while scouring the web. Hope you loved the movie! If you haven't seen it yet, or read the books, I definitely recommend both. But (as always) start with the books!

1  "Change the Game" print 11x14 from EntropyTradingCo on Etsy
2  Pyrite and Black Tourmaline crystal bobby pins from BashfulOwl on Etsy
3  "Let the Games Begin" t-shirt from DarbyandDash on Etsy
4  "I am as Radiant as the Sun" print 8x10 from FaithHopeTrick on Etsy
5  "Rue's Song" poster 11x14 from EntropyTradingCo on Etsy
6  "The Rebellion" poster 11x14 from PurpleCowPosters on Etsy
7  The Hunger Games print 11x17 from TheArtOfAdamJuresko on Etsy
8  The Hunger Games charm bracelet from 1LuckySoul on Etsy

The Hunger Games: Charms

Are you guys hitting the midnight showing of The Hunger Games tonight? Sadly, I'm way to exhausted from gallivanting around beautiful New York City (or just working full-time...) to stay awake that late on a school night. But I'll be hitting it up in IMAX tomorrow with my roommates and I know we are all beyond excited. It seems like people have been talking about this movie non-stop for the past six months. And the trilogy was the first set of subway books I read on my Kindle when I moved to NYC in January.

Anyway, I have been eyeing some beautiful Hunger Games-inspired jewelry over on the Etsy shop 1LuckySoul. The designer, Cody, is incredible! The attention to detail is completely amazing... He's thought of everything: the Mockingjay pin, the bow and arrow, the tracker jacker, a District 12 medal, Katniss' pearl, Peeta's locket, even a coal bead... I kind of geeked out over this charm necklace. And there are a ton of other options too...a charm bracelet, a reaping bowl necklace, and of course the classic Mockingjay regalia as well. And he doesn't just stop at The Hunger Games. There's some fantastic Harry Potter stuff as well as some really cool steam punk pieces. Check out 1LuckySoul for some handmade, whimsical wares! (See the full necklace below)

All images via 1LuckySoul on Etsy

Match My Blog

Wow! I am loving these necklaces from Etsy, featuring bunting flags. They look exactly like my blog header...I think I might buy the colorful one. It's just too perfect to pass up!

Photo via The Polka-Dot Magpie on Etsy

Follow Me Moon

I am so, so, so deeply sad that these shoes Follow Me Moon on Etsy are too big. They are a 9.5, but labeled a size ten. They look adorable, don't they? I can just imagine them being perfect for Spring! And only $35.00. Somebody, please, give them a good home! And check out the rest of the vintage finds from Follow Me Moon today!

Hello Pretty

This bag needs to come live with me. I promise to give it a good home, honest. It is the prettiest thing I've seen today, and for a graphic designer/blogging enthusiast who spends 12+ hours a day on the internet, that is a compliment of the highest order.

Wintery Illustrations by Lisa Stubbs

I was just so charmed by the illustrations of Lisa Stubbs of Yorkshire, UK today on Etsy that I had to share with you all! I kind of want everything in her shop....

{Photos via the Etsy shoppe of Lisa Stubbs}

Love is Too Weak a Word...

...For how I feel about these Annie Hall-inspired prints by MikeOncley on Etsy.

Seriously, I want them all, but there are only 2 in stock right now...That La-Di-Da one is eventually coming to live with me, once it's back on the market, mark my words! Cate already ordered the "I lurve you, I loave you, I luff you" print and the classic "I would never want to belong to any club that would have someone like me for a member" one as well.

Artwork via Mike Oncley

I only wish they made a print that says "We can walk to the curb from here!" I confess, that is probably my favorite line...

Hello, Lover

I want you to come and live with me.

{via Becaruns on Etsy}