Unbashedly Emotional…Shamelessly Hot
This month’s Favorite Things post is about scents and smells. My list is a pretty short one – I’m not big on scents, to be honest, but there are a few I absolutely love.
Sheets dried on the clothes line – NOTHING BETTER! One of my favorite things when warmer weather comes around.
Fresh baked bread
Bacon – Because…well, it’s BACON
Coconut oil – I don’t like a heavy coconut scent, but coconut oil is light and just enough.
Bronwyn Green | Gwendolyn Cease
Happy Wednesday. It’s the first Wednesday of the month, and that means another Favorite Things post. This month we’re talking favorite musicians/artists/groups.
To be honest, sitting down to write this, I’m drawing a blank. Which is just silly because I love music, listen to it all the time. I’m going to chalk it up to being on vacation, the long drive home, and being on a deadline, which all equals Jess with Little Braining Ability.
So I went to my writing playlists and am going with the groups/artists that have made their presence quite known lately as I work on my books. So in no particular order…
Imagine Dragons
OneRepublic
Joshua Radin
Jason Mraz
Gavin DeGraw
Adele
Kelly Clarkson
Jewel
Maroon 5
Deathcab For Cutie
Clocks & Clouds
Helio Sequence
Mumford & Sons
Nickel Creek
John Legend
Bruno Mars
Christina Perri
Florence + the Machine
Ellie Goulding
Ed Sheeran
And I’m gong to stop it here, darlings. These are the “regulars” on my playlists. There are way more artists I love, especially if I start reminiscing about the past LOL
Instead of linking tons of songs from the above artists, I’m going to share my most played song lately…. It is on several playlists and I adore it.
“Paperweight” by Joshua Radin, featuring Schuyler Fisk
Don’t forget to head to the other blogs and see who everyone else loves to listen to.
Bronwyn Green | Gwendolyn Cease | Jessica De La Rosa
Kayleigh Jones | Kris Norris
Before I get to the actual post, I’d like to say…
…Bronwyn Green (today) and Gwendolyn Cease (a couple days ago)!!! HUGS
(And now I’m thinking I’ve missed other ppl’s birthdays and am feeling like a twat. But I am going to find them all out and mark them on my calendar…I will!)
This month’s favorite things topic is QUOTES.
I could go a lot of ways with this – quotes that I like or find inspirational, quotes from tv shows, movies, books, songs…
I couldn’t decide which way to go. So I just did a variety – you lucky ducks. So enjoy my short and sweet post. 
It can’t be a surprise I slipped a Merlin quote in there, yeah? I miss Merlin Club desperately. And this is one moment when I identified with Merlin greatly. 🙂
And for fun…the Doctor… (only doing one from Nine through Twelve, otherwise I’d be here ALL night)
And one from my favorite companion
And I’ll just leave you with this… Just because. 
Can’t wait to see what other quotes come up today. 🙂
Bronwyn Green | Gwendolyn Cease | Jessica De La Rosa
Kayleigh Jones | Kellie St. James | Kris Norris
This is going to be a fairly short post this week. Why? Because I have very few beauty products that are favorites. I have really, really sensitive skin – that has gotten even more sensitive in the past, oh, two years or so. I have yet to find a facial cleanser that does not make me feel like my face is on fire and in danger of falling off my skull – even the so called “for sensitve skin” products. Same goes for moisturizers. Which really sucks because my skin is dry too – I can play pictionary on it with my fingernail. It’s just sad.
BUT there are some things I have found that work for me, though, and have a permanent place in my life.
Coconut oil – Seriously, I love the stuff. So many uses and I definitely use it because it doesn’t make me hurt or make my skin break out. I use it as a eye makeup remover, hair treatment (sometimes with other things but it’s fabulous on its own), on dry, cracked skin in the winter, as lip balm in a pinch. And there are other uses, too, but those are hte big ones.
Aloe Vera Gel– Not the kind with any alcohol or coloring or all the things you can’t pronounce. The best is straight from the plant but if you use a good amount, hit Amazon and find some. It’s worth it. Aside from the wonderful healing properties of aloe vera, there’s a lot you can do with this stuff. Seriously, Google it. The big thing I use it for is “aloe packing”. Since my skin is so sensitive and try this has been a life saver (and you would never use the icky green gel that is full of chemicals and alcohol for this!) and I just started doing it. Basically, you put the gel on your face, and you wait for your skin to soak it all in, then you put on an other layer. You do this until your skin just won’t absorb anymore. It’s lovely and soothing.
Say Yes to Coconut Lip Balm – This is the lip balm I carry with me everywhere. I love it. And my lips thank me for it. 
Slow It Body Wash and Lotion – I discovered this whilst getting the hair ripped from my legs. A truely joyous experience. I don’t use this on my face, mind, but I love it for everything else. The first ingredient listed? Aloe. LOVE. It keeps my dry-ass skin hydrated and feeling smooth. And it really does seem to slow hair growth down. So win. These are products sold through European Wax Centers, and I’m not sure you can order online or anything. I just get mine when I endure the torture in the summers. (But I buy enough and still use even when I’m not waxing. It works and I’m not straying from it).
And that is it from me. I don’t really have any fave makeup – mostly because I suck at makeup so I rarely wear it.
Dont’ forget to check out the other gals’ posts. I know I will be…hoping to find some new favorites!
Brownwyn Green | Gwendolyn Cease | Jenny Trout | Jessica De La Rosa
Kellie St. James | Kris Norris | Paige Prince
Today, we’re doing another Favorite Things post, talking about our favorite season.
Anyone who knows me KNOWS it isn’t winter. I can’t tell you how happy I am to see the tail end of that season! The other seasons I don’t mind, but if hard-pressed to choose one, I’d pick summer. For several reasons.
One – I don’t like being cold. And living in Minnesota… *sigh* …it gets cold.
Two – Less running around. Oh, we’re still busy in the summer with camps and trips etc, but the day-to-day running is sooooo much less than in the school months. So there’s less of this….
…and more of this…
Okay, I may not be doing it up like drunk Ron Swanson, but in the summer, I definitely sleep better and have more energy.
Three – Believe it or not, I’m going to say camping trips. I know, it’s a shocker, but I do enjoy myself when camping. Time with my family – immediate and extended – is awesome, and I always fine some alone time to do what I love to do…
And to be honest, it’s the camping prep and set up (and then inevitible take down) is what I really hate about camping. The actual camping? I can get on board with that, and I can admit that it’s part of what makes summer my favorite season.
Four – WRITING RETREAT! A week on beautiful Lake Superior
Lots of writing happens, good food is eaten, lots of wine is consumed (by me anyway), I laugh so hard my face and belly hurt, and I get to be with some of the greatest ladies I know.
Head over and see what seasons the other ladies chose as their faves. 🙂
Bronwyn Green | Gwendolyn Cease | Jessica De La Rosa | Kris Norris | Paige Prince
Until next week!
Hugs,
~J
This month’s edition of Fave Things is websites. I’m keeping this short and sweet. I mean, I could list a ton of websites I love—author sites, friends’ sites, etc—but I’m going to limit myself to the sites I visit with sickening frequency.
Tumblr – Well, this isn’t a shock, is it? Tumblr is a wonderful place, a happy place I go when I need a break from it all. Of course, it’s not all rainbows and sparkles—there’s some serious shit on Tumblr—but that’s what I focus on when I need the breaks.
And it gives me things like this…
(I may have just used this post as an excuse to choose pics/gifs of beautiful men.)
Archive of Our Own—A wonderful place where people post wonderful fanfic. Hello, filthy Merthur stories, how I love thee.
I’m not allowed to go here until I’ve written my own words, though. It’s a rule.
Pinterest—This is where I collect recipes, pretty pictures that inspire me, crafts I would love to do but can’t because, my friends, as much as I desire to be crafty, I’m hopeless at such things. It’s very sad but I can still look at the pretties and dream.
And that is where I’m going to leave it, this week. Top 3 for my fave websites AKA Top 3 Ways Jess Wastes Ridiculous Amounts of Time. 🙂
Head over and see what sites ranked as faves for the other ladies.
Bronwyn Green | Gwendolyn Cease | Jessica De La Rosa | Kellie St. James | Kris Norris
Happy Wednesday! It’s another A Few of My Favorite Things post. And this week is all about villains. I’m going to keep this short and sweet and just share a few of my fave villains. No muss, no fuss, and back to work for this girl. (just ignore the fact the trend that they tend to be good looking guys. Oh, love a bad boy, me.)
Loki (Thor)
Winter Soldier/Bucky (Captain America: The Winter Soldier)
Sark (Alias)
The Master (Doctor Who)
Particularly the incarnation John Simms plays. 
Moriarty (Sherlock)
Lucifer (Supernatural)
Be sure to see the villains the other ladies love. 🙂
Bronwyn Green | Gwendolyn Cease | Jessica De La Rosa | Kris Norris
Until next week!
Hugs,
~J
Happy Wednesday, everyone! It’s the first Wednesday of the month so that means another Fave Things post – and this week is (Super)Heroes.
Captain America
I love Cap. ADORE. And not just because he’s HAWT (and he is), but as a character he is fascinating to me. And he’s kinda broken – which apparently I have a thing for. Even when young and weak, he wanted to do the right thing. And even though now, he’s changed physically and is out of his time, a part of him is still that bullied young man who wants to to do the right thing.
Daryl Dixon
Oh Daryl. Yeah, yeah he’s not a SUPERhero, but he’s a damned hero. I love him and his character development over the course of the series. I can’t wait to see where they take him in future episodes. If they fuck him up, though, the destruction of Atlanta we see in the show? It will pale in comparison to what I with bring with my wrath.
The Doctor
EVERY REGENERATION! Including the latest…
How can you not love the Doctor? Major timelord love happening here. Even the dark side of him…oh yes. I love the complexity of the character, the different layers. That there’s so much about him we still done know.
Sydney Bristow
From the show Alias. Again, no super powers. But she’s super and she’s a freaking hero. Gorgeous, kicks ass, saves the world. I will admit to having a crush on her.
Merlin
It’s no surprise the sorcerer ends up on my list, is it? Yeah, didn’t think so. Oh, Merlin… So determined to do the right thing and ends up fucking it up ten ways ’til Sunday. He’s clumsy, yes. But it’s endearing. He puts aside his wants (namely the ban on magic lifted) to see Arthur and Camelot safe. And he’s funny and snarky, and his love for his king… Definitely tops my hero list. 🙂
Bronwyn Green • Gwendolyn Cease • Kayleigh Jones • Kris Norris
Until next week!
Hugs,
~J
Happy Wednesday! Today is all about our favorite holiday traditions.
Growing up, what I remember most is Christmas Eve at my mom’s parents house. It was a big party, full house. Then, we’d drive home, and Dad would say that the blinking red light on one of the towers was Rudolph so we had to hurry home and go to sleep so Santa would come. Of course, we knew it wasn’t Rudolph (it was there every night) but we played along.
Christmas morning was spent at home with Mom and Dad and my brother and sister. We got up super early and opened gifts. Eventually, we’d head over to my dad’s parents and have Christmas dinner there with that side of the family.
When we moved up north, that changed because we were hundreds of miles away from family, but I still remember the excitement of Christmas morning with the family, long after I stopped believing in Santa and all of that.
I always remember watching Christmas movies.
Still watch almost all of these every year.
Now, that I’m (supposed to be) grown up and have my own family, we’ve built our own traditions. Nothing horribly fancy or exciting, but it’s what we do together. If we are in town, not visiting my family in the UP, we put up our Christmas tree and decorations the day after Thanksgiving. If we’re gone, we do it as soon as we can when we return. (This year, I put it up the weekend before Thanksgiving and got soooooo much grief from the kids. It was ridiculous!)
On Christmas Eve, we go to church as a family. One or more of the kids are usually singing during the service, so that’s lovely. After that, we head to the hubby’s family to celebrate. The grandkids do a gift exchange. We visit, eat TONS of food, sing carols…and then it’s time to head home.
We do Christmas morning at home. I can only think of one year we weren’t home on Christmas morning as we’d gone to the UP early. For a long time, we’d open presents, eat breakfast, then pile in the car to drive to the UP and be there in time for Christmas dinner. It was insanity. Worth it so we could spend time with my side of the family, but INSANITY. We don’t do that every year anymore.
But that’s about it. We don’t have tons of traditions – it’s mostly about spending time together for us. So it gets busy and a little crazy, but the time is well spent.
Head on over to the other girls’ blogs and see what traditions they have that are their favorites. I’m sure they do a bunch of fun stuff, and I’m going to look positively boring in comparison, but I’m okay with that. I like my holidays as they are. 🙂
Bronwyn Green • Gwendolyn Cease • Kris Norris • Kellie St. James
Until next week!
Hugs,
~J
Happy Wednesday! Let’s be honest here, this post could easily be titled A Few of My Favorite Things: Colin Morgan edition – Because. He. Is. My. Favorite – but I guess I *could* mention some other actors and actresses I enjoy. (Not as much as Colin, let’s be clear on that)
Jensen Ackles & Jared Padalecki
I love these guys. Love them as Dean & Sam, but they also seem like genuinely fun and nice guys. I think I’d pretty much watch whatever they’re in.
Nathan Fillion
Loved him in Firefly and have enjoyed him in everything else I’ve seen him in.
David Tennant
He is my Doctor. And I think he’s brilliantly talented. Not just as the Doctor but in everything.
Julie Andrews
She gets mentioned because I ADORE HER. Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Victor/Victoria, The Princess Diaries…. All of it….ADORE.
Bradley James (you knew he’d show up too…)
He was fabulous as Arthur on Merlin. As the series goes on, he gets better and better. I’m so looking forward to seeing him in iZombie. Because, dammit, it’s about time he’s in something. I’ve been pining, Mr. James. Even with the guest spot you had on Homeland….it wasn’t enough.
Felicia Day
She is fabulous. Gorgeous. Talented. And seems like she’d be a ton of fun. 🙂 If she’s in something, I’ll watch it. 🙂
And now, we’re going to end this post with Colin. Mr. Colin Morgan. Le sigh. He’s a brilliant actor, soooo freaking pretty, and I heart him. I heart him A LOT. 😀
I’m all caught up on The Fall, so I’m ready for the next season he’s in. Can’t wait to see Testament of Youth. And am SUPER excited to hear he’s part of the cast for AMC’s Humans.
All right, remember to go check out what actors & actresses rank on the other ladies’ favorite lists.
Bronwyn Green • Gwendolyn Cease
Kellie St. James • Kris Norris
Until next week!
Hugs,
~J
