Who Loves Stationary? I Do!

maybe give the mail a try.


i know in this day and age it is more common to get a package of Anthrax or Swine Flu in the mail then a greeting card or a letter, but with adorable stationary you could find yourself strangely drawn to that "box" down the street and might want to drop something pretty inside it. i've made a collection of my favourite paper people ( aka 'stationary makers' ) for your penmanship desires and needs. it really does show that special "extra touch" to send someone an actual birthday card rather than an e-card. and perhaps a hand written letter rather than an email or Facebook message. i know i would appreciate it! 

i love letterpressed stationary. i would say it's my number one choice. Green Grass Press is based out of Portland, Oregon and has a wonderful little history behind it. you can find more of their gorgeous hand printed correspondence on Etsy or right here.

^ stationary set! ^

^ stationary set! ^

^ address labels! ^

how adorable is the name 'Paper Pastries'? i'll answer that for you . . . it's friggin adorable. Paper Pastries was founded by Margaret Haas and she has a fabulous blog about all things paper, photography, handmade goods that you can find here. to shop more of her cute paper designs click here. 

if you've been a loyal reader of my blog than i'm sure you've seen this company mentioned once or twice. it's MadeByGirl by Jen Ramos . . . she started this cute and successful little company and also runs one of my most favourite blogs ever all about interior design, art, furniture and anything else that inspires her. you can check that out here and shop for more of her unique and simple cards and posters here.

FJ Inspirational Quote of the Day...

Life Lessons : "Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know." - Pema Chodron

via TinyBuddha

Free Me

you only gotta raise your eyes and see me fly.


the truth is, i'm insecure . . . just like you. but i'd like to think, i'm insecure only some of the time. can you be insecure only "some" of the time? i've got everything i need not to be insecure yet still i find myself self-doubting, imposing limits, trying to control time and not working nearly as hard as i could be. don't get me wrong. i am incredibly grateful for all that i have. if you think about it, worrying about insecurity is almost a blessing. i do have to remind myself that there are people in this world that worry about far greater things. i suppose it's kind of like how a turtle only grows as big as his environment will let him. our worries will only grow as big as our environment will let them. 


i have to think that, with all the ways of doing things on this Earth, i should stop trying to live the "right" way. most of the time what we consider to be right or wrong are established based on comparing ourselves to what other's believe to be right or wrong. there are obvious things that are wrong. things that only take common sense. i think that if your intentions are well, that's all that really matters. each person has to create their own world of what is right and wrong for them. and what is right for me, may very well not be right for you. but judgement should never come into play if people have opposing viewpoints. judgement is a joke and a sad waste of time. there are many things wrong with this world and i'm skeptical that will ever change . . . but i do have hope and belief in the power of all of us. in the power of the individual. i do think that we, with the help of God, create our own destinies. we are the masters. books upon books will tell you this, but until you thoroughly understand what it is to be God, then i don't know if you can ever be free. and once you understand it, then you have to put it into action . . . because what's the point of inhibiting God and not doing much with it.


i want to do great things. i will do great things. you will too. if you want. i feel like i've been preparing for a marathon but never actually getting to run the thing. never feeling accomplishment so big i could burst at the seams. i start off with solid intentions, full of confidence and excitement . . . well, this time, i really want to see some results. from this moment on . . . here's what i want to do :

• start my own freelance makeup business 
• LAND an agent
• do lots of yoga ( if you're in the GTA, best yoga studio alive; Kula )
• meditate
• do lots of cardio 
• continue singing lessons
• continue to develop my peace & happiness ( aggressively! )
• take a french class
• book a 15 day trip to Europe for next spring with Ish. (targets : Ireland, France, Italy )
• buy a house
• inspire you
• do more Second City
• have the best blog ever
• book acting roles

all of this is possible. i want it all to happen by this time next year. are you with me? a dear friend and fellow blogger ( A Simple Girl ) posted possibly the best description of "happiness" that i've ever heard in my life from the book i'm currently reading (and is now out in theatres) Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. please FOR THE LOVE OF GOD read it here. we all think a lot alike. we're all searching for the same thing. never forget ( as i'm trying to do ) that what we're searching for is with us at all times . . .  then you will be free.

here are some inspiring tunes from the soul of Joss Stone . . .

ps. have you ever typed 'God' into Google Images? it seems that many think he resembles Ariel's father from The Little Mermaid.

'Mad Men' Madness...

i really don't watch a lot of tv.


my dad has got me hooked on the phenomenal show, Mad Men. and in turn, i got my husband hooked and hopefully soon, my grandparents. do yourself a favor, start from season one and pretty soon you'll be watching 5 episodes a day (at an hour each) because, yes, it's just THAT good. the writing, the acting, the authenticity, the actors, the fashion, the lingo, the drama - dear God, can i please be on this show? i don't know what it is with me and past eras of the 1900's but man, i get sucked in so fast that there really is no doubt in my mind that i once lived in the past. i'm just a little too fascinated and in a strange sense, familiar with all of it. season four of Mad Men just started and i'm three quarters of the way through season two. 


i bet you can guess what i'll be doing in the future . . . having a Mad Men party. dressed head to toe in proper 'Mad Men' style. i love the dresses and how spiffy the men look. for anyone interested in bringing out the 1960's in them, check out one of my fav vintage clothing sites AdoreVintage. who wouldn't want to look like this?

ADORE VINTAGE SNEAK PEEK

( top left: 1950's Clair De Lune $115; top right: 1950's Hollywood Legend $245; bottom: 1950's Kiss The Girl $93.75 ) 

*all authentic*

FJ Inspirational Quote of the Day...

Appreciation : "When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you." - Lao Tzu

via TinyBuddha

Oh baby...

rock-a-bye.


so yes, i will admit that i have the maternal instinct to start procreating. i call it the "baby" switch and mine has certainly, and a little unexpectedly, gone off. if there's one thing i know i want to be for sure in this life, it's a mommy. phil & i will most definitely be waiting a little while before we put on our mum & dad hats but in the meantime, i can dream a little can't i? i've been noticing nurseries and have started my collection of 'favourites' to dip into when the time comes. i thought i would share my top two picks for a baby's room . . . one for a girl and one for a boy. 

GIRL

( tiffani amber thiessen's nursery )

i love the colour of the room, the crib and the wall mural! the crib is eco-friendly and you can find it here and the classy glider is by Oilo which you can find here. don't be so surprised by the prices . . . these people are rich.

( tiffani & brady's babygirl, harper renn )

look how gorgeous her crib set is! both the crib set & the white tree mural are from thiessen's own company, Petit Nest, that she & her partner plan to launch at the end of this year. . . can't wait to see what other beautiful decor they'll offer.

images via People

BOY

i am IN LOVE with this crib. how cute and retro is it? i also really like this colour scheme for a boy although this room is actually for a little girl named charlie mae. 

i also enjoy that chic bench and the mix of fluffy soft blankets, animal prints and of course, the wall mural. funny how both of these rooms have murals as their focal point . . . perhaps i REALLY like wall murals.

this was hand painted by her parents and i think it's one of the most unique things i've ever seen in a baby room. look at the little chuck taylor high top to the left . . . i don't think i would add in the real antlers though . . . not a fan of hunting.

images via Grayhood

anyone looking to start a family soon? do you have a favourite baby blog?

FJ Inspirational Quote of the Day...

Perspective : "Isn't it rather mind-numbing, that for everyone, always and forever, they have 10,000 more things to be thrilled about, than not? U R blessed." - The Universe

via Notes From the Universe by Mike Dooley.

Our Patience...

good-byes are never easy.

this morning i found out that one of my managers at The Cheesecake Factory passed away at a painfully young age. her name was Patience and she was just as special as her name. Patience was known for pulling the best pranks of all time on the staff of The Chz and she will be missed beyond words. although i no longer work there, Patience has been apart of The Chz for a long time and was much more than a manager to most of us . . . she was a friend, confidant, big sister, and just one of the guys . . .

i send love, comfort and strength to her family and dedicate this song to her. you will be sorely missed Patience.

Out of town!

enjoying summer.

fussyjussy will be out of town until august 16th vacationing with the fam. check back for new blog posts then! hope you all are able to kick back and relax before this summer slips away.

until then . . . have fun :)

Tattoo your living space!

ed hardy, it's time for you to leave.

i'm pretty in love with tattoos. if it weren't for our bodies becoming old, soft, saggy and wrinkly, i would have tons of tattoos by this point. but, i only have 3 small ones. so instead of drawing pictures all over my body with ink and a needle i discovered this fantastically talented Dutch tattoo artist by the name of Angelique Houtkamp. the story of how i discovered her is fun - i was working at The Cheesecake Factory one day when i walked by this very voluptuous woman who had a rock-a-billy thing to her and some very fresh ink. the fresh ink on her arm happened to be one of the most unique tattoo's i've ever seen and stopped to take a closer look. she told me it was a replica of the art work created by Angelique. i have been in love ever since. this was the image she had so marvelously tattooed in gorgeous, bright colour just below her shoulder. 

( ^ my absolute fave ^ )

she has complete coffee table books ready for your viewing pleasure and her prints run from $50 to $165(US). perhaps on the pricier end for an art print but i think they are exquisite and would no doubt attract "ooo's" and "ahhh's" from anyone that saw it dangling from your wall. take a look at some of my faves. . . (a very hard task picking just a few!)

( miss Angelique herself )

images via Angelique Houtkamp