buenas noches...

Hello there, kiddies! I'm coming to you from heaven on earth Costa Rica! I'm about to head to bed (yes at 10:30pm!) but wanted to check in...



First of all, I absolutely loved coming on here to see all the wonderful guest-posts! Let's pause give these ladies a round of applause, shall we?

:) :) :)



The last 24 hours have been nothing short of awesome... I had a chance encounter with some howler monkeys on the drive from the airport and the driver let me out to snap some pics:



There is simply too much to fill you in on. My first surfing lesson was awesome and I have a million bruises on my knees! And the yoga - well - I've never in my life practiced in an open-air studio like this! The entire front of the studio is open to the jungle... it's beyond ridiculous. The two hour (gah) class magically flew by too!

Harmony Hotel is simply beautiful, entirely eco-friendly and has amenities I never even knew I could want... like my own private outdoor shower and hammock!



So my whole goal for this trip is to de-stress and I think it's working so far (?) - although I find myself stressing about de-stressing (meh, I clearly need help). Hopefully I'll find more of the anti-anxiety medication I so badly need on the waves or in savasana. Either way, I've got a big, tan smile on my face :)

On that note, I'll leave you with some pics of tonight's sunset... check out those waves!!!





Hasta luego!

xoxo,
Jess

wrap it up...

How great are these scarf how-to's?
Maybe now my attempts at accessorizing with scarves won't look like a five year old took the reigns :)

Spotted on Design Dig (and Free People)

on growing up...

So far, my 2009 has been filled with nothing but self-reflection. I think mainly because my 27th birthday is looming next week and for the first time, I'm actually having a bit of anxiety about getting ever so closer to the big three-ohh.

Last week started off with a complete ransack of my closet, filling three huge bags with old gap jeans, h+m tops (that were probably stylish for all of a week) and more banana republic sweaters than I'd like to admit. It felt cleansing and invigorating to say the least. Now my nicer pieces aren't being hidden by some fugly $10 "what was i thinking" next to them anymore. And although there are less options, there are nicer options :)

That said, I just read the perfect post over on New Brahmin entitled Ugh! (Not Ugg) which thankfully gave me the kick in the ass I needed to order a grown up pair of snow boots and ditch (well, lets face it - they'll sit in the closet) my Emus.

I proudly introduce to you, a 27-year-old's winter alternatives - aptly named, the Jess Winter Boots (I'm not kidding).



Okay okay I'm not gonna lie... these are actually the 2nd pair of shoes I've bought with my namesake recently. Yup, just last month I grabbed a delicious pair of heels at French Connection named, oddly enough, the Jess Heel.


(Sorry for the blurry New Years photo)

But I digress...

I know this is much more than I normally write but I felt so inclined to share tonight. I guess I could chalk it all up to some sort of New Years Resolution - shopping for my age? Ugg it's late...

george nelson: designer & innovator...

When it comes to modern furniture designers, George Nelson is the best of the best! Nelson is responsible for some of this century’s coolest modern furniture including the Coconut Chair, the fabulous Marshmallow Sofa and the sleek and simple Platform Bench. Nelson spent 25 of his 50 years as a designer collaborating with modern furniture master class, Herman Miller. Nelson admired Herman Miller's ability to create pieces that seamlessly blend both form and function.



One of my favorite Nelson designs is the Coconut Chair (1955), a true modern icon. Nelson once said that "total design is nothing more or less than a process of relating everything to everything." The Coconut Chair is certainly something everyone can relate to!



Another favorite Nelson piece is his famous Swag Leg collection (1958). "Swagging" actually refers to the process in which the steel legs are manufactured and this iconic collection includes tables, desk chairs, dining chairs and dining tables. The Nelson Swag Leg Chair is the most well known Herman Miller chair, and for good reason! It's timeless.

today i learned....

how to embed images into gmail...

I know it sounds silly and simple but so help me god, I've never been able to it. Not a big deal but it has prevented me from doing email blast for some clients.

Anyways, for all those out there who don't already know:
1. find the image online (or upload it to a site so it can live online)
2. select the image by dragging the mouse over it (it will turn grey when selected)
3. simply copy the image (command+c)
4. go to your gmail message and turn on "rich formatting"
5. paste the image into the body of the email (command+v)
6. blast away

It's so easy that I honestly feel slightly stupid for even posting this. Whatever. If I
didn't know how, no doubt there are other just-as-clueless folk out there.

xoxo