On Doing.
I did one of these posts back in September and have wanted to do one ever since – here’s what we’ve been up to lately.
Wishing: that every morning could look like this.
Reading: through Kate Hudson’s book, Pretty Happy. I adore her, I have such a fascination with her, and maybe it’s because my mom always loved Goldie Hawn when I was growing up? I just think she is adorable. Aside from that, I’m really enjoying the book!
Deciding: to post whatever the heck I want on instagram. I don’t like what instagram has become, and I’m just as guilty – reposting content from my blog. I find it so boring. And I know, I’m doing it too. I’ll probably even continue. But then if you want to post something else it’s like OMG DOES IT FIT MY THEME that I don’t even have? and is it really even instagram-worthy? blah. I look at my insta feed and I’m like my entire life is not food, whyyyy am I doing this. I’m not going to repost all my old blog content from years ago because it brings me followers. I completely respect it from a true photographer’s point of view, but I’m definitely not that. So there.
Seeing: if I can drink my coffee black and seriously I just cannot do it. No no no no no.
Tasting: allll the things at Smallman Galley. Oh it’s so, so good! I love the idea of it. A few weeks ago my cousin and I ordered the Chicken and Toast from Josephine’s Toast (YES, and entire TOAST PLACE!) which basically tasted like Caesar salad on garlic toast and was incredible. We also ordered the fries and burger from Provision, and I made my own version of these fries that will be coming up on my blog soon. So flipping good.
Plus, um how super cute is it?
Consuming: everything blood orange, still. I’ve been absolutely blood orange crazy this season. Max loves it too, even though it stains everything to high heavens. On Monday night, I made these blood orange champagne margaritas and wanted to down about seven of them.
Hoping: that Leo wins the Oscar. I’ll totally DVR his speech and probably listen to it 37 times.
Making: these Easter egg topiary tree things. YES, I made these! And I totally hate crafts! A few weeks ago my sis-in-law and I made these one Saturday afternoon and I didn’t even throw a massive tantrum. They are super cute annnnd I might want to make a neon one. And a metallic rose gold one. We followed this tutorial right here.
Feeling: so wonderful after getting outside and running around in the fresh air the past few days. It’s been… invigorating! Or something.
Dreaming: of sushi rolls. I’ve been craving them weekly. Many of you have asked where my favorite sushi is in Pittsburgh and that would be Umi, hands down.
Wondering: how I really feel about the OJ Simpson series on FX. Are you watching? I was at the beach when we watched the live chase on TV and it was CRAZY. I was so young but old enough to understand, and that’s what I know OJ from, not sports. But the show? I have a really hard time taking Ross Gellar seriously. Same with John Travolta.
Snacking: on Cheerios with bananas and almond milk. So boring, simple and classic, right? Eddie and I have been on a huge Cheerios kick thanks to Max and have been eating bowl after bowl with different fruit daily. I love it for an afternoon snack.
Remembering: this time last year when I binge watched Parenthood. OMG I miss it so freaking much.
Flipping: out over what a great little shopper Max is. I think I’ve talked about this on the baby page, but my mom and I will go shopping for hours on end and he is so super chill. And happy. And that’s not just because my mom gave him about fifty four sips of her milkshake.
Chasing: him constantly. We both look forward to bath times, for different reasons.
Throwing: an internal tantrum that I 1. lined up these pencils incorrectly by day (do you see it? I cannot stand it.) and 2. that there is only one pencil for “weekend.” I mean really, how difficult would it be to include ONE MORE pencil for Sunday? And how did I not see what I did?
Struggling: to listen to my intuition and DO certain things and GIVE UP on other things.
Trying: not to let me heart melt over how much Max loves to color. I tape pieces of paper to his high chair tray and give him the big, fat crayons daily. Also, I haven’t been able to throw away any of his random scribbles on the pages. I cannot even BELIEVE that I am this person.
Wearing: this dress to a wedding next weekend. I think!
Loving: how wonderful a new fresh bouquet of flowers is feeling in our house each week. It makes the atmosphere spring-like, even though last week I was super excited to buy a $1 bouquet of tulips for them to fall apart the next day. $1 people. $1.
Vowing: to learn how to spell bouquet correctly. Because for the third time I just typed out B O Q U E T. Nope.
Wanting: to tell you about these macarons that came from… wait for it… Sam’s Club. Yes, Sam’s Club. They have two huge variety packs for a fairly low price (I think $20?) and they are actually pretty good! I needed a bunch of macarons for a photo shoot and these fit the bill perfectly. Plus, this pack has a red velvet one AND a speculoos flavor. Pretty darn good.
Saying: how much I value you! Thank you so much for being here.
64 Comments on “On Doing.”
Oh, my! I so wish I could throw Thursdays in to my weekend, that would be awesome *but weekend would have to be 2 days, not one day + Thursday*
Ross Gellar! My sentiments exactly. Also, we all deserve to have Friday after Wednesday. I mean, what is Thursday, really?
Same feelings about the OJ series! But then I googled what Rob Kardashian looked like and there is a resemblance. But still, hard to take seriously. And John Travolta? Forget it!
Also, metallic rose gold Easter egg topiary tree – YES!
You are so refreshing! Love your thoughts on Instagram. So tired of seeing the same beautiful, stylized photos pulled straight from blogs. And I’m guilty of holding back because it’s not Instagram worthy on my own photos. I miss the messy, real-life of blogs, social media and photography sometimes. Give me messed up pencils any day :)
Two posts in one day. Yay!
Those macarons…Sams club? Whaaaaat? Must grab. They look wonderful!
Love this Jess! You gotta do more of these. Maybe instead of Real Life Wednesday?
Where are the pencils from?
target dollar section, but a few months ago!
Totally agree about the Instagram feeds. I subscribe to the blogs of all the people I follow on Instagram so it is very redundant to see the same thing in both spots day after day. I would love it if you started posting more “real life” photos there. I love seeing new Max photos and videos!
so impressed with your craft! look at you, crafting!
re: pencils. i did notice the days out of order but i also noticed that monday is not all the way on the pencil. that short-circuited me. go back and look, you’ll forget all about the order of the days…
OMG. I recently bing-watched parenthood (and TOTALLY ugly cried THE WHOLE TIME) and now I don’t know what to do. The characters totally became my family! I NEED MORE.
just wanted to say – i still use this mnemonic i learned in 4th grade(!) every time i need to spell bouquet – blooms open up quickly upon every table. try it!
oh my gosh i never learned this. UNTIL NOW.
Lovedlovedloved this post, Jessica! It’s funny that you’re struggling with Instagram…I have literally been searching for the “perfect” photo to post on Instagram for the past 15 minutes now. :|
For me:
Dying to: Try Smallman Galley! I CANNOT wait to head over to the Strip once the weather breaks and get my grub on. Also, we passed Umi the other day, and I made a mental note to get there ASAP.
I don’t think your Instagram is borning! I like when you post your food so I know you have new recipes on the blog! But give us more!!! We love you Jessica.
Love this!
As much as I love you, I have to agree about Instagram. And you’re definitely not the only blogger who does it. Everyone is showing their ‘real life’ over on Snapchat these days, but what about those of us who don’t have Snapchat? We want real life on Instagram. I follow blogs by email, so don’t need to see food posts on Instagram again. I always scroll straight past them. I started following Eddie, just so I could see more pictures of Max! I love what Bev from Bev Cooks does on her Instagram putting up her food posts in between hilariously captioned photos of her twins.
I just wanted to stop by and say how inspiring you are to me. I have been following your blog for years and it’s the only one I follow. I also purchased your cook book and I drool over your photos for many reasons daily. I really do appreciate your honesty and willingness to be human when so many others hide behind a manufactured image. So, thank you for being you and sharing that with us :)
thank you SO much carrie. this means a ton to me.
This app – Artkive (https://www.artkiveapp.com) – it will help contain the pages baby scribbles. Total storage saver!
oh my gosh THANK YOU
I love this kind of post! Def do more of them please!
LOVE this post! I am going to be the first person at Michaels today! Those Easter topiaries are to die for. Great job!!
I love you! and this post!!
I’m totally going to check out macs at Sam’s now.
Where did you get that vase the roses are in? A square vase or jar is so cute!
it was a vase from a florist that an arrangement came in!! i wish i knew, i’d want to get more!
Do you follow Kate Hudson on Snapchat? She’s too funny.
yes, adore.
Speaking of sushi in Pittsburgh, have you tried the Slippery Mermaid in Sewickley? Newly discovered and amazing ??????
i haven’t yet but am DYING to try!!
Not sure if you follow Kate Hudson on snapchat but if not I highly recommend it, she is HILARIOUS!! I totally want to be her BFF and def want to read her book!
i do and am obsessed.
Those pencils are gorgeous! I must know where they’re from. Also good for you fighting back against the insta-establishment! I adore your gorgeous, colorful, bright photography but I also adore seeing snaps of your daily life (and Max!) so I say themes be damned!
they’re from target! but i got them a few months ago in the dollar section.
Cheerios with banana and almond milk is SO CLASSIC. And now I’m totally craving it.
Love Love Love this post. For sure do more of them. As for Instagram, I am so sick of not seeing peoples real life. Show us the good and the bad! I like seeing pictures of my favorite bloggers kids, home, and life. Love your blog and ADORE your book!!
thanks jen!!
That little Max is just too precious!! He’s got good taste, too, apparently – Nordstrom? He’s learning young!!
Please tell me you’ve tried the Blood Orange Noosa yogurt!! It’s soooo good and only available for a few months.
yessss absolutely love it.
Love this post. Keep ’em coming.
Really enjoyed this post! And you should wear that dress – so pretty!
I love your instagram. I actually sent that blood orange margarita to my husband today saying I’m making those ASAP. Jessica do you and post what you want!
thank you!
So enjoyed this post! Made me happy! Hugs!
Loving that you’re posting so much more! Like we don’t already L O V E your Food, but so Fun to see a glimpse into your life! #Grlirlyougotthis :))
thanks girl!!
Ugh yes, the OJ series! I was intrigued at first, then settled into the idea that I could watch the whole series after the first episode, and I could barely watch the second. Still haven’t been able to bring myself to watch whatever subsequent one(s) we have on DVR currently. It was just so cheesy! I almost turned the TV off when the Kardashian kids started chanting their last name.
I know exactly what you mean about Instagram! I don’t really “get” Snapchat, but for bloggers it seems like an outlet for unstyled, boring, real-life photos that don’t fit with the highly curated feeds on Insta.
yes totally! that is what has made me love snapchat.
hey girl love the list!
This is a lot of info so I had to read it in bits and pieces today, but it’s all great!
Haha…I actually was eliminated from a spelling bee in the 4th grade for the word bouquet! I spelled it “b-o-q-u-e-t” and have not misspelled it since.
I love these types of posts!! They’re super inspiring and fun to read :)
I am OBSESSED with the OJ show!! I am older than you, so I remember the trial being on during the summer & watching it regularly with my Mom & brother. It is so interesting to me to see how they decided certain things….like jury selection and Johnnie Cochran taking over Robert Shapiro. I think the kooky Kardashian bits are to appeal to younger people….but I just tune that part out. And Connie Britton as Faye Resnick – yes!
yes agree to all of this! i watched the trial every single day too. it was crazy.
must. know. where. pencils. are. from….
target! but a few months ago.
I hesitate to mention this because it might drive you even more crazy…but AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO NOTICED THAT THERE IS AN EXTRA “E” IN THE WEEKEND PENCIL?! It literally says “WEEEKEND”!!!
omggg i didn’t even notice!! what the heck! haha
Two things. First, I LOVE your feelings about Instagram! I hear so many bloggers complain that their Instagram needs to stay “on brand.” But really, it should be a reflection of YOU! So cheers to you for your refreshing outlook! Second, your comment about the missing Sunday pencil reminds me of the part in “When Harry Met Sally” when she talks about the missing Sunday in the Days of the Week underpants. “Where was Sunday? Why didn’t they make Sunday?! Because of God.”
I’ve pretty much always posted whatever I’ve wanted on IG but at the same time I’m sure it’s not helping my “brand”. But honestly, my happiness in doing what I want is more important to me than gaining extra followers. Granted it’s easier for me to say that since I’m just a part time blogger with a full time day job as a mad scientist, but the extra money I do earn from blogging is great. Just like all things money related, I often try to find ways to improve things to bump it up but when I start feeling like I am losing myself I draw the line. I love following other bloggers on IG and Snapchat for the sole purpose of seeing what’s going on in their lives outside of the food they make that make me want to eat my phone screen!
Um hi, that EASTER TOPIARY!?! Can I pay you to make me one (or two)? I literally just googled them to find out where I can buy them and they’re not available anywhere…how is that possible???
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OMG I love this post! It’s inspiring and makes me think about my own life/wants/needs/hopes/loves/etc. I totally agree with OJ series – it was kind of weird and the acting just wasn’t all that great. Your comments on Instagram are spot on. I used to love social media but now find it less authentic, like you have to follow their rules or something.. boo.
Anyway, LOVE this post. Thanks for being open and honest!