Runs on Coffee and Cream

February is over and that seems crazy to me. How quickly this last month flew by. There's less than 2 weeks until my first show of the year which is pretty insane too. Tomorrow me and the Mr. are heading out on a mini road trip for some testing he has for a potential job. I'm excited for music, conversations, and car snacks with him.

It was a lot of fun doing the Photo a Day Challenge for February. Here are the pictures from the last week:


Day 22 - Where you Work
I'm a manager at a toy store so this was taken prior to the store being open, while the lights were still off.


Day 23 - Shoes
These shoes are fuzzy inside and feel like slippers. I wear them when I'm running around our apartment building doing laundry or taking down recycling.

 
Day 24 - Inside your Bathroom Cabinet

 
Day 25 - Green
Our last fire-bellied toad. Adam had four when I met him but over the last couple of years three of them died so now we're down to one.

 
Day 26 - Night
Not many tall buildings in our city. It's so dark out there.


Day 27 - Something You Ate
I made chocolate, coconut, pecan cookies... yum!


Day 28 - Money
I don't have any! Thank goodness for leftover Christmas gift cards!


Day 29 - Something You're Listening To
I'm addicted to this song.

So now that February is over, I'm definitely going to do the March Photo a Day Challenge. However, I'm just going to stick to posting them on Instagram (@sparklegirljen) and Twitter. I have taken on another blog challenge that will keep me busy which I'll talk about soon.



Is anyone else planning on continuing the photo a day challenge or starting it this month?

xo Jen

We've been so incredibly lucky this Winter. We haven't had much snow and there's been a lot of mild days. Living in the Niagara region, however, does gives us a bit more snow than our family and friends back in Hamilton. There were a few days over the last month where we had crazy snow squalls and while I texted friends, they said it was barely snowing in Hamilton. I'm very excited for Spring, which is right around the corner. I cannot wait to wear footless tights and flats with no socks! Anyways, here's my photos from the last month...

 
I've been busy sewing for my first show of the year!


My baking buddy.

 
I love when my tattoo shows through socks and nylons.


Just so exhausted... hehe


I straightened my hair which was a pain in the butt and made me realize how dead my ends were which resulted in a hair cut...

 


I hope everyone had a great weekend! I'm off to fold laundry and watch the Oscars.
xo Jen

My life seems to be sleep, eat, work, sew and repeat. If I'm not at my day job, I'm working at home on 'Sparklegirl'. I can't complain, though, because I love every minute of it.
I watch a lot of TV boxsets while I'm sewing, ironing and cutting out new projects. I'm currently re-watching Scrubs and I also started Bones. My best friend has been telling me for a long time I should watch it. Well, I gave it a chance and I finished season one incredibly fast. I got hooked. I now have season two in my possession so I'm guessing I'll be watching a good chunk of it over the weekend since I'm off and I plan on staying in to sew. Anyone else watch Bones? I love the chemistry of the whole cast.




Me and Adam recently started watching The IT Crowd together. Since the seasons, or series, are only 6 episodes long, we have flown through all 4 seasons. We have a couple episodes left and then we're done. It's such a great, funny show. I adore the characters and the British humour. I'm sad that we're almost done it.





Other than TV watching, I'm reading Catching Fire right now and listening to Tina Fey's Bossypants audio book. It's perfect for when I drive into Hamilton. It's absolutely hilarious and very interesting and I love hearing Tina read the book. Next on my list is Mindy Kaling's 'Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)' audio book.



I hope everyone has a great weekend!
xo Jen

Well today turned into a ridiculous snowstorm here. It hasn't stopped snowing since late afternoon. It's too bad I have to open at work tomorrow morning. Hopefully the roads aren't too bad.

Anyways, on to my photo a day updates...


Day 15 - Phone

 
Day 16 - Something New
We've been on a tight budget over the last few months but Adam did surprise me with this book for Valentine's Day!


Day 17 - Time
I borrowed Bones from a friend and I've been obsessed with it! I flew through season one and I just started season 2. All my free time is spent watching Bones and sewing!


Day 18 - Drink
I love Arizona so much <3


Day 19 - Something you hate to do
Dishes are the worst chore in my opinion.


Day 20 - Handwriting
My other wrist... my Nan's handwriting tattooed on my wrist.


Day 21 - A fave photo of You
About 15 minutes after this photo was taken Adam proposed <3 I had no idea it was going to happen.

Toronto ComiCon isn't far off so I have a busy couple of weeks ahead of me! Time to get back to work.

xo Jen

It's been a whirlwind of a year for me. There's been a lot of positives and steps forward, but there's also been a few hiccups as well. A few things have happened that I had no control over or that I let happen... things I'm unhappy with.

But there's no time like the present to make some changes. I know 2012 is going to be a crazy, yet exciting, year for me and Adam. I want to take small, steady steps towards some goals that will make life better.

Goals:
*Health - this past I've had a lot of body issues... possible food allergies, skin problems and just overall feeling gross and exhausted. I need to cut out a lot of processed food and start eating as much fruits and vegetables I can and I have to keep up on my exercising.

*Sparklegirl - I need to focus on growing my 'brand', whether it's etsy updates or blog posts. I just did my first giveaway on facebook and I want to do at least a few more throughout the year. I also want to continue promoting etsy shops and other artists that I support. Hopefully, by the end of the year I can have my etsy shop or an item I've made featured on someone else's site as well.

*Stress - this has always been something that I'm not great with. I tend to take on as much as I can and don't ask for help. I need to keep my life balanced and say no if I have to or if I want to. Also, I shouldn't be afraid to ask for a favour from a friend or family member either. If there's something in my life that's stressing me out, then I'd like to rid my life of it or at least learn how to deal with it properly.




I know there will always be something to work on and to work towards. Nothing will ever be perfect and sometimes I will make mistakes. But I want this year to be amazing and to build some strong foundations in all the areas of my life.

xo Jen

Good evening!

I wanted to let you know about a new project that I've been working on. I've been thinking about making cat toys for quite some time now. I always have scrap fabric from my other projects and I thought this would be a fun project to try out.

I've made a few test toys to give to my kitties and some friends' kitties. Seymore is pretty rough with toys. He tears through felt toys quickly because he's a 'kicker'. So far the toys I made him have held up great. He's been quite possessive of the toys and he doesn't like to share them with Logan. But I guess that means it's a good toy.



Right now I have a giveaway on my facebook page for a chance to win one of my new cat toys (you pick any one from the picture below)! All you have to do is comment on the picture on my page and I'll be drawing a winner on Sunday night.



They're made with cotton fabric and filled with polyester fibres and cat nip.

Go check out the giveaway if you can - www.facebook.com/sparklegirljen

Have a good weekend!
xo Jen

How was everyone's Valentine's Day? Mine was great, but the fact that we're half way through February already is crazy to me.

Well, here's my photo updates from the last week:


Day 8 - Sun
It was an extremely grey day and I was stuck at work. I knew I could find a sun on one of the toys.


Day 9 - Front Door
Our apartment door is pretty bland. I try to hang something on it just to add a bit of fun.


Day 10 - Self Portrait I
've had this shirt for a few years now. I will be sad when it rips or gets a hole.


Day 11 - Makes You Happy
TV on, crafting, and kitties.


Day 12 - Inside Your Closet
There's still even more dresses and skirts to the right.


Day 13 - Blue
Eyes and tote - I just finished this bag!


Day 14 - Heart
Card and gift bag for Adam.

I'm having a lot of fun with this photo challenge!

xo Jen