Runs on Coffee and Cream

Tomorrow is the first day of December which means no one can look at me funny when I talk about Christmas movies, sing along to Christmas songs, or post pictures of my Christmas decorations! Honestly, our decorations have been up for about three weeks now and our tree was put up two weeks ago. Canadian Thanksgiving is in October, so I see no reason to hold off on decorating for my favourite holiday once Halloween is over.




We've been picking up more ornaments when we go out shopping. The Mario ornaments were a set of 4 that we just bought at EB Games. We've also been eyeing up some Marvel and Star Wars ones from Hallmark so I'm sure we'll be adding some more over the month of December. The bottom picture is of my Rudolph Pop! Vinyls I've collected so far. I really, really want Bumble but I haven't seen him in any stores unfortunately.

Are you decorated for Christmas or do you wait until it's closer to the holiday?
xo Jen

The past few months have been a trying period. Struggles with health issues, what feels like working opposite shifts to Adam's most of the time, unexpected bills, dark days, exhaustion. This isn't completely new to me. I've had crappy times in the past where I just have to keep on fighting.

I've been working on making things better - both myself and my life. During this I've been pushing Adam to make some positive changes as well. Things like getting out of our comfort zones, doing things that might scare us a bit, scheduling dates, scheduling time to rest, eating more fruits and veggies. Our social calendar over the last month has been more packed than it has in years. It's crazy. Fun, but exhausting. After a night playing board games with people, I want to hide in our home for a week to recover. I don't know if this feeling will last forever. But I really do prefer my cats to humans most days.

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson couldn't have come at a better time. Jenny writes about her life with mental illness - good days, bad days, struggles, her phobias, and tells some very interesting stories about her life. She is a fantastic writer and absolutely hilarious. The book itself is such a wonderful look into life with depression and anxiety. Not only did it make me feel more normal and less like a freak, it gave me encouragement to keep going forward because good days are around the corner.

“You learn to appreciate the fact that what drives you is very different from what you’re told should make you happy. You learn that it’s okay to prefer your personal idea of heaven (live-tweeting zombie movies from under a blanket of kittens) rather than someone else’s idea that fame/fortune/parties are the pinnacle we should all reach for. And there’s something surprisingly freeing about that.” 
― Jenny Lawson, Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things

I cannot recommend this book enough to everyone. I'm actually looking forward to re-reading it because I have a feeling I'll laugh every time and it'll give me some comfort.


December is sneaking up on us and I'm hoping the month of Christmas lights, baking, movies, wrapping gifts, and cheery music will be a fun one and that I can find some balance so I don't wear myself out.

xo Jen

I'm at the point in the holiday season where I think "where did the time go? How is Christmas SO soon?!" The fact that it's less than a month until Christmas blows my mind. Work has become super busy so I'm working more hours. I have Etsy orders coming in, a craft show to prepare for, and of course, Christmas gifts to buy.

A lot of my photos lately have been from around the house and tend to be of our pets since they distract me when photographing products for Etsy or finished treats for recipe posts. So if you don't want to see adorable baby turtles or cute cats, turn away now!






My window sill garden is expanding!


How's your November been?
xo Jen

5. Once cookies are completely cool, melt chocolate chips in microwave in a microwave-safe bowl. I added in the chips a little bit at a time and microwaved in 20 second intervals and stirred vigorously in between to prevent burning the chocolate.

6. Once you have the consistency you like, dip cookies in white chocolate and place on wax paper to dry. If you want sprinkles, add them at this point while the chocolate is still wet.



7. Let the cookies harden completely before packing them in a container. You may want to put the cookies in the refrigerator to help harden the chocolate.


These are by far one of my favourite ginger cookies I've ever had. Slightly chewy and very spicy. The chocolate adds a nice bit of sweetness to them, but I think the next time I make these I'll omit the chocolate. They're the perfect compliment to a cup of coffee or tea.

And now that I have leftover molasses on hand, be prepared for all the gingerbread recipes!

xo Jen

Over the last couple of years I've found myself playing more and more tabletop games. I really enjoy them and I find they're a great icebreaker for my semi-awkward self. As adults, getting to know new people in this new(ish... it's only been two years) city, it's nice to have something to do when hanging out the first few times.

Growing up I played a ton of tabletop games with my family - Life, Scattergories, Monopoly, Checkers, Taboo, Headbanz. I still own all of these games and I find myself pulling them out every once in a while to play.

However, I've been introduced to a few new-to-me games over the years by friends that I really like:

Scrabble
Never as a child did I want to play this. Even though my Mom played it often. Now as an adult I enjoy playing it. It find it relaxing with a cup of tea.

Apples to Apples
This is a super fun game with a group of people. It can become PG-rated but it's not too bad.

Cards Against Humanity
The R-rated version of Apples to Apples basically. This game is absolutely hilarious and it's one of my favourite games to play with people. As long as no one is too young or too shy to handle the racy game.

Jenga
Yes, another game that was suitable for a child but I didn't play it. But now I can't get enough of it.



There are also some games I want to check out and play based on recommendations:

-Sushi Go
-Settlers of Catan
-Card Wars



We're lucky enough to have a local Board Game Cafe near us. It's an inexpensive and fun night to try new games or get together with a group of people.

What tabletop games would you recommend?
xo Jen

*all images courtesy of amazon*

Cold, Winter days are upon us and I'm already wearing my Winter coat daily now. Honestly though, I love wearing layers and I'm not going to complain about living in comfy leggings, oversized sweaters and cardigans. I just wish I was able to wear dresses at work, even though that'd be ridiculous if you knew where I worked. But I want more opportunities to dress up. That's one thing I miss about working in an office - I could live in dresses and tights.

Now if I had the money and/or reasons to wear these dresses, they'd be added to my wardrobe asap!

Normally during this time of the year I'm not sewing much. I'm just packing up Etsy orders. However, this year I decided to sign up for a local Holiday Craft Show - the Sudbury Makers' Market. I'm looking forward to it since I haven't sold at a holiday show in years and I love the festive feeling that surrounds them. But this means I'm busy making some last minute things and re-stocking my kitty kickers.


I still have another 6 Christmas stockings to photograph and add to my shop, as well as a few more tote bags.

On top of all that, it looks like I might be selling my items in a local store here which is super exciting and very stressful since I've never had my products in a store before.

How's November going for you?
xo Jen

The holiday season is upon us and it's already exhausting! I swear I love this time of year and Christmas makes me beam like a 5 year old, but working retail during this time can really stress you out. Add in all my other hobbies (sewing, baking), a craft show, possibly getting my items into a local store (eee!), and Christmas shopping, I've become a walking zombie that lives on caffeine, preferably in peppermint mocha form, and Christmas music.

So what have I been loving recently (besides peppermint everything and Christmas music)...

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour

From Goodreads:
"Amy Curry is not looking forward to her summer. Her mother decided to move across the country and now it's Amy's responsibility to get their car from California to Connecticut. The only problem is, since her father died in a car accident, she isn't ready to get behind the wheel. Enter Roger. An old family friend, he also has to make the cross-country trip - and has plenty of baggage of his own. The road home may be unfamiliar - especially with their friendship venturing into uncharted territory - but together, Amy and Roger will figure out how to map their way."

This book was really good and it will cause a lot of feels. You keep reading to find out more about Amy and Roger because the author just shares small details about each of their stories slowly in the writing. Also, the descriptive writing about the states they drive through, the landscapes they see, the places they visit - it set pleasant and vivid imagery in my brain. Each segment of the story includes a road trip music playlist and, oh boy, did it ever make me nostalgic for some bands - hellogoodbye, Passion Pit, Jack's Mannequin. 





What have you been loving this month?
xo Jen

This month's theme over at IGGPPC, is 'We Love The 90s". So of course it's brought up so many conversations amongst the staff and in the community about our favourite things from the 90s - television shows, music, fashion, movies. It's brought back so many memories and I'm finding myself wanting to surround myself with some of the nostalgia. Like my urge to start watching Friends on Netflix and wanting to pull out my No Doubt and Letters to Cleo albums.

I was 6-16 years old during the 90s. A lot of my childhood, middle school, and the beginning of high school happened during this time. It was an impressionable period in my life.

These are some of my favourite things from this time period.

Cartoons:

X-Men
Saturday morning was the time for cartoons. Fox played all the best shows but what stands out the most during this line up was the animated X-Men cartoon. It played at 11 a.m. and my brothers and myself were always ready to watch it.
Rugrats & Doug
The other time we watched cartoons in our house was right after school. These were the two shows that I watched everyday when I got home. To this day I have a soft spot for both of these shows and probably kept watching them a lot longer than I should have for my age.

The Powerpuff Girls
This show came out at the end of middle school for me, so I wasn't watching as many cartoons anymore. But this show won me over. And my best friend. We became Powerpuff Girls fans, bought their merchandise, and covered our lockers in stickers of the girls.


TV Shows:

Beverly Hills 90210
I was way too young to watch this show. But I watched it anyways. It was my introduction to teenager drama and how addictive this type of show could be. I wanted to be Kelly. I wanted to date Brandon. It was quite the show to watch during puberty. I actually learned a lot from it.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
This was yet another show I watched with my brothers. I remember watching it first thing in the morning before school. And then spending recess discussing the episode or acting it out.

TGIF - Boy Meets World, Family Matters, Step by Step, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch 
I spent SO many Friday nights in front of the TV watching the TGIF line up. Usually with snacks, sometimes with my cousin, and sometimes at my grandparents' apartment or trailer. It was one of my favourite things.


Music:

Backstreet Boys
Oh, BSB. They were THE boy band that I listened to during middle school. I was obsessed. They were also the first concert I ever went to.

Spice Girls
Who didn't like Spice Girls that grew up in the 90s?! I used to do the dances from their music videos with my friends. I'd belt out all their songs with my cousin. I went to the movie theatre to see Spice World. They were such a fun group to listen to during this time.

No Doubt
Tragic Kingdom was the album that changed music for me. I was obsessed with Gwen and became obsessed with Much Music (Canada's version of MTV) during this time. From there I was introduced to Bush, Smashing Pumpkins, I Mother Earth, Our Lady Peace, Bif Naked... my love for pop music was behind me and I entered high school listening to alternative music.

Fashion:

During middle school I lived in - denim overalls, scrunchies, Adidas pants (with the classic stripes down the side), and Nike tear-away pants. Once I hit high school, and now wanted to dress like the ladies in Clueless or a Spice Girl (yikes!), I found myself wearing kilts and knee high socks, Silver jeans, bell bottom jeans, jean jackets (there was quite the denim trend happening), and choker necklaces.


For more 90s nostalgia, follow along with the IGGPPC twitter @geekgirlpenpals

What are some of your favourite things about the 90s?
xo Jen

*all images courtesy of imdb*

I find that my love for reading and listening to audio books comes and goes a bit. When I'm watching a really good TV show, maybe a nostalgic one (like Gilmore Girls), then I'd rather have the TV on when I'm sewing than listen to an audio book. It's the same in the evenings. I might choose Animal Crossing New Leaf or to play a video game with Adam than read a book.

Then I'll start a book that grabs my attention and sucks me in and all of a sudden I'm back into reading and listening to audio books again. This happened to me with Mosquitoland last month. With that being said, I'm so excited for a bunch of novels.

These are the books that are at the top of my pile to read or listen to:

Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson
"In her new book, FURIOUSLY HAPPY, Jenny explores her lifelong battle with mental illness. A hysterical, ridiculous book about crippling depression and anxiety? That sounds like a terrible idea. And terrible ideas are what Jenny does best."

When I get an email from my best friend about this book and how amazing it is, I know I need to read it. This book might be moving to the very top of my pile. 


All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
"Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.
 
Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.
 
When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink."
Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here—it’s their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up."
Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend–the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be and she’s been undermining her stepmother’s wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long."

Looking back at photos, October was definitely the month of Pumpkin...

Pumpkin milkshakes, pie, tea, Peeps, ale... everything pumpkin!


 

 
I pulled out my Pac-Man leggings for Northern Game Expo, which I was selling at, and my Daryl Dixon shirt for The Walking Dead premiere.


We saw the last of Fall in October. The trees are completely bare now and the leaves have been raked up. I did enjoy all the gorgeous colours on the trees while it lasted.



How's Fall been treating you?

xo Jen

New Fall TV is well underway and a lot of new shows have proved to be really fun or super disappointing.

These are the television shows that I'm enjoying or considering giving up:

The Good
Limitless
I didn't really know what to expect with this show. I liked the cast. I was happy to see Deb (from Dexter) in a new series. But I'm enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would. Seeing how the lead character's brain works while on NZT and the special effects they use for this is really interesting and entertaining. I hope this shows continues on this entertaining path.


Supergirl
So I've only seen two episodes so far but I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I have. I actually really like the actress playing Kara and I'm finding myself rooting for Supergirl. I'm not much of a DC Comics person so I'm surprised to be enjoying this show as much as I am. I hope it continues the way it's been because Kara is extremely likable.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
I was really looking forward to this show and I have not been disappointed. The lead character, Rebecca, is funny and even though the show is exaggerated, she's real and touches on some topics very truthfully. Her songs in the episodes have been hilarious and I'm really interested to see where this show goes.

The Bad
Minority Report
I know I'm not the only one who thinks this show isn't living up to its potential. The acting kills me every episode. And no, I haven't given up yet. But I wonder why I watch it after every episode. The synopsis is interesting but I think it's the lead actors that just aren't making me care for the story lines or even the well-being of the characters themselves. I read this show was cut back to 10 episodes so I doubt we'll see a second season.

Blindspot
Ok, everyone is raving about this show. I like the idea of it. I really like Jaimie Alexander. But can she just stay in the damn car for once? Or not say 'I need to speak to (insert person's name). They might know something about me'. I get it. You're in a horrible situation and I'd hate to be you but let's come up with some different dialogue and plot developments that don't include her rebelling against the FBI agents she works with. I'm torn on this show.


What new shows are you loving or hating so far?

xo Jen

Why Logan's tongue is sticking out a bit is beyond me. But it's cute.


My Halloween kitties! They were pretty interested in the pumpkins.


On Friday, IGGPPC hosted a 24 hour Halloween party so I made and shared a DIY Halloween Candy Bark recipe on the site. You can check it out here.


While handing out candy Halloween evening, I made sure to play some Animal Crossing New Leaf so I could scare people and collect candy in my town. It was fun and I absolutely love how the game incorporates holidays into town events.