happy 2 years

April 17, 2010 - Brooklyn, New York
I love you, Ryan.

6 years

and counting...
Love you, Ryan!

A Gambit & Rouge Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day, friends!

I'm not exactly known for my patience :) so the moment my Gambit and Rogue framed initials arrived, I couldn't wait to show Ryan! (I totally gave him his Valentine's day gift last Friday.) The initials are covered with actual comic book pages featuring Gambit and Rouge and made by Sophia of Spotted Flats. The cake toppers from our wedding were mini figures of the two Marvel characters. And since I have decorating on my mind, I wanted to do something that we could display, that meant something really special to us both.

How are you all spending LOVE day?

Life in L.A.

It's been nearly 4 months since our big cross country move. While we've settled into our apartment and daily routine, I'm not certain we're exactly settling into the west coast. Needless to say, it is drastically different from the hustle and bustle of New York City though I have to admit, the weather here is ah-mah-zing and the produce, spectacular. I am definitely eating my fill of fresh fruits and vegetables from the local farmers markets.

Here are just some random thoughts I'd like to share:

1) The traffic in L.A. is atrocious. Luckily I work from home so I avoid most of the horrific rush hour traffic but when you're stuck in it, it is barely a crawl. When I do need to drive, run errands, meet people, etc., I try not to leave home before 10:30 am and I need to head home around 3PM ish or wait it out until after 8PM. Yup. There is a strict schedule to follow. Sure, traffic during rush hour is pretty bad in NYC but there are other options, ie: public transportation. I never thought I'd say this but I really miss the subway.

2) Different branding: This was just something random (but interesting) that we noticed. The packaging (sans logo) as well as product taste is exactly the same - to be honest, we didn't pick up on this immediately.

3) Celebrity sightings: (Though celebrity sightings are somewhat common in NYC...) We haven't seen any A-listers out and about but have come across a small handful of actors and actresses. Personally, I don't like accosting strangers in public. It seems like a huge invasion of privacy. And, for the most part, I am horrible at remembering the real names of actors. (We saw Scott Porter, Jason Street from Friday Night Lights or George Tucker from Hart of Dixie at a Petco and I had to google his name while holding toys for our pups.) If you saw someone famous, would you say hi?

In any case, I leave you with one bit of advice. Adding a little rice wine vinegar to your ramen makes it exponentially better. Didn't see that one coming, didya? :) But really. It does.

In Need of Inspiration

I've been in need of a little inspiration lately so pardon the lack of posts. I happened to come across this photo on Pinterest (via bippity boppity boo) and it made me smile... so I figured I'd share it. Speaking of Pinterest, it's a great place to find inspiration on anything and everything - find my pins + boards here!

Happy {inspirational} October

Happy October, friends! Ever since we moved to L.A., I've been feeling a bit uninspired - just not in my usual groove. I'll chalk it up to trying to settle into a new city... plus for the past week, I've been severely under the weather with a mean cold. But slowly, I feel my artistic mojo kicking in and my idea/to-do list, growing.

make a wish

I celebrated my 28th birthday this past Friday (although I still feel like I'm 20 - but age is but a number, right?). There were beautiful flowers, tons of mini cupcakes from Big Man Bakes, a few surprises along the way from my amazing husband... and the cherry on top? A brand new, shiny white iPad 2 to store all the things that inspire me.

For this new month, I wish for all my blog friends...

an abundance of inspiration

where ever you may find it

laughter and joy

and of course, some delicious desserts

xo, Janie

An East Coast Girl at Heart

Normally around this time of year, I'd start bringing out my fall and winter clothing in anticipation of my favorite season, autumn, and half-dreading the winter to come. I start living in boots, comfy sweaters and warm scarves. Autumn brings around my birthday, as well as my mom's, plus the air becomes refreshingly cool and brisk and the leaves start changing into gorgeous colors. Now that we no longer live in New York, I'm not sure what to expect here in LA. It kinda bums me out. Speaking of being bummed, after trying so many different types (brands, styles, etc.) of boots over the years, I found my perfect boot. I've gone through 5 or 6 different pairs of the Enzo Angiolini 'Zoot' boot (pictured above) and I wish I was smart enough to stock up because I cannot find it in my size. Anywhere.

What is your favorite season? Does it correlate to a special memory? Also, if anyone has any recommendations for their favorite fall boot, please send it over!

credits:

first image - second image
sunglasses || jacket || scarf || boot || bag

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Two days ago, Ryan and I went to see a taping of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Although it involved a lot of waiting around in the heat, we both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Leno is personable and funny - plus we totally got amazing seats in the 2nd row, right smack in the center. The first guest was Jenna Fisher who, btw, is super gorgeous, funny and really, really pregnant (she's having a boy!) Oh and yes. We DVR'ed the show to try and find ourselves.

(photos taken by Ryan on his iPhone of the DVR'ed show ;)

Life's a Beach

top image // sunscreen // hat // sunglasses // beach tote // swim suit // sandals

Although I've always romanticized the idea of going to the beach, I'm really not much of a beach person. It is always crowded and the beaches near NYC look toxic (I'm pretty certain the water at Jones Beach is sewage green... ) Perhaps, I simply haven't been to the right beach. Which is why I'm super excited we'll be spending the next couple of days in beautiful Santa Barbara visiting Ryan's high school buddy. Everyone is telling me that I will fall head over heels with the city and I can't wait to see it all for myself. If any of you have suggestions about great places to see/visit/eat, I'm all ears!

Scallion Pancakes

Ryan and I had such an amazing long weekend with quite a few highlights like hitting up the Pasadena City College Flea Market with Lillian and her boyfriend Mardy (more on that another day) and seeing the 4th of July fireworks show at Knott's Berry Farm.

This weekend also marked my most successful scallion pancakes... ever! Ryan is a huge fan of scallion pancakes and most things doughy so on Sunday, we rolled up our sleeves and made them from scratch. When we ran out of scallions, we filled the left over dough with sugar for a delicious dessert - I topped mine with fresh strawberries. We also made a separate batch of dough (the recipes are slightly different) for potsticker wrappers (though the potstickers were my least favorite for the night.) How was your long weekend, friends?

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Such a beautiful installation! (source)

Ryan and I are slowly settling into our new apartment (though there is apart of me that almost thinks this is just some sort of extended vacation and I'll be taking a flight back to NY soon.) We still have plenty of boxes to unpack but our living space is coming together and I love, love, love the amount of space we have. Our pups have also adapted to the change and are quite taken with our new couches. I'll be sure to post a few pictures our apartment looks more presentable.

With our honey-do list being impossibly long, we haven't really had the opportunity to explore LA just yet but I did manage to see Brandi before she started her trek up the west coast and then across the country as well as the lovely Lillian, who will no doubt be our official tour guide of SoCal. <3

P.S. - We're looking for a few art prints to add some color and interest to our super drab walls. I would love to hear any recommendations you guys have!

It's Moving Day

this print can be found + purchased here

After months of worrying and preparation, weeks of packing and saying our good byes, it's finally moving day. While it's exciting to finally be able to experience the west coast as a (temporary) resident, it is super bittersweet because New York is all I've ever known and I will reaaaaaally miss my family and friends. As we embark on this adventure together, I realize that nothing will ever be the same. Our plan doesn't extend past the two years that Ryan will be at USC. We could fall in love with sunny California and stay forever, move back to the east coast (where we're both from) or find an entirely new place to call home. But I couldn't be happier or more blessed to experience it all with Ryan, my best friend and partner in crime.

Hopefully our flight is smooth with Zoey in tow (I would hate to be the person on the plane with the crazy dog that is barking for 5 hours - she doesn't do that normally but it's her first flight and we have no idea what to expect). Barley is due to arrive a few days after us. He is to big to fly in the cabin with us so we purchased a ticket on Pet Airways. Crazy! An airline just for pets.

Our belongings should arrive tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed that they all come intact - especially my presses. (Just thinking about them makes me antsy...)

See you in LA! :)

They're Taking Our Stuff Today!!!

If only moving was this easy and glamorous.

Because I feel more like this...

top image // bottom image

Happy June

image found here

Hi, friends. Can you believe that it's already June? It's both scary and exciting because June is a huge month for us.

In:
10 days - all of my remaining projects will be need to be printed + shipped
13 days - our apartment will be emptied and our stuff will start making it's trek to California
17 days - we'll be in Massachusetts attending Ryan's 10 year HS reunion
21 days - we'll be leaving on a jet plane... or a JetBlue plane to sunny California

What do you have in store for June, darlings?

A Dreary Monday Morning

Friends, I've got a bad case of the Mondays. There is nothing worse for me than a dreary Monday morning. In the meantime, while I'm trucking along, battling a never ending to-do list, I'll be dreaming of delicious Parisian patisseries and the magical Eiffel tower. (Image found here)

Happy Weekend + Yankees vs. Red Sox

image source || top || bottom

This week has been total chaos and I'm relieved that the weekend is finally here. Ryan and I will be seeing his beloved Boston Red Sox play in enemy territory - at Yankee Stadium. I'm excited to see the famed rivalry in action as well as the new Yankee stadium for the first time. (Not that I ever saw the old stadium...) I'm even more psyched for the cotton candy. You can tell I'm a die hard baseball fan, huh? :) In any case, it should be fun!

Happy weekend, friends!

Adventures in LA

Happy Wednesday, folks! Ryan and I have some exciting news to share with you all today! After months of the unknown, it is finally official - in a few short weeks, we'll be packing up our apartment, the We Heart Paper studio and the pups... and moving to LA! While it is super exciting to start a new chapter of our life together in a brand new city - it is also bittersweet. I'm a New Yorker at heart and I'll miss my family and friends... and of course the hustle and bustle here. The atmosphere is definitely more relaxed on the west coast - I nearly jumped out of my skin waiting in line at Starbucks the last time I was in LA. I obviously need to take a chill pill. :)

We'll be spending the next few days in LA to scope out apartments. If any of you have recommendations on great restaurants, fun shops and/or apartment buildings in the downtown/South Park area, I would really appreciate any suggestions!

image: Mooncici's Etsy Shop found via NBC LA

Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden

Last month, for Valentine's Day / Anniversary, I surprised Ryan with a set of tickets to see the Celtics vs. Knicks at Madison Square Garden. (I had to pick up the tickets at will call on the day of the game but wanted something tangible to give him - I'm not sure if you can read the "fine print". Unfortunately, no cotton candy was sold at the arena but no worries, no tantrum occurred. ;)

As most of you know, I was born and raised in NYC. So why am I wearing a Boston Celtics jersey? Well, my fan-hood for all Boston sports teams: Celtics, Red Sox, Patriots... was a condition, I mean, requirement for our marriage. That and knowing what each bandanna color and weapon corresponds with what Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Yeah, you think I'm kidding. Ha.

It's super exciting because Ryan's a huge Celtics Fan and he's never been to an away game, I've never been to a NBA game, plus we're moving away from NYC so we won't have many opportunities in the near future to visit MSG.

We had a blast at the game. The fourth quarter was super exciting with a crazy Celtics comeback. In our 5+ years together, this may have been the first time I've truly paid attention to a Celtics game ;)

And the Celtics winning was the cherry on top.

Happy Weekend

taken by me in Oct. 2009

image source: digitalgold's flickr stream

image source:{JO}'s flickr stream

Happy {almost} weekend, folks! Now that the website is all done, all I want to do is catch up on some sleep. We kinda have a hectic (but very exciting) weekend ahead of us - some family events AND Ryan and I are finally off to take a belated honeymoon before the chaos that is in store for us in the coming months. Between moving and wedding season, we just decided to bite the bullet and head out to... PARIS! I've only been to the city of lights once, but I have a feeling that there is no way you can travel to Paris too many times in one lifetime. We're staying near the eiffel tower which I'm certain we'll frequent - perhaps with a picnic basket and a bottle of vino. Oh and a few visits to Laduree? Yes, please! Have a fabulous weekend, friends! xo

Ryan = Awesome

(Disclaimer: Gushy post to follow)

So obviously, it's Janie hearts Ryan week.
I seriously have the best husband in the world.

For Valentine's day, my hubby dearest surprised me with a beautiful heart box (adorned with gorgeous ribbon rosettes to boot!) from Godiva. But guess what? Instead of finding chocolates inside, he had emptied it out and filled it to the brim with all my favorite candies. I know what you're all thinking - that this is blasphemy... but I've never been much of a chocolate girl and he wanted to find a pretty heart box. He even went to Dylan's Candy Bar and hand picked (er... scooped?) tons of green gummy bears (from the mixed flavor bins because he knew I find the all green gummy bear bins to taste funny) in both regular size and mini! He didn't stop there though. I love these Japanese jelly bean like candies called Poifulls. While they're available in NY, inventory varies and he trekked all around the city to find them for me. Now that's love.

Ryan: I heart you more than poifulls, gummy bears, grapefruit slices, nerds, nerds rope + twizzlers. All put together. Thank you for an amazing week. xoxo

(I think the chocolates are hanging out in a ziplock bag in his desk at work... any takers?)

I probably should have taken a picture of everything before I ate all the candy... But the heart box is pretty, right? :)