Tuesdays with Jenbiff

Frankenstorm

When I first heard that we were going to be hit by another hurricane, like most New Englanders I took it with a grain of salt. Weather men and women in this part of the world have such a difficult job predicting what mother nature is actually going to do to us, so I didn't really expect too much from this. The morning of the Sandy's arrival came and I was actually a little nervous to go to work. As the day moved on it got windier and more rainy, so I left work early to prepare for the worst. The storm picked up a little, but we never lost power. It seemed like a really bad rain storm and then it was over. Thank goodness.

I tried to keep up with what was happening along the east coast, and make sure that my friends and family were all safe and sound. As far as I know everyone's doing well. My thoughts are definitely with everyone who isn't.

Since this is really the first storm that I have my own home to worry about all my family members made sure to give me a check list of emergency must-haves. We were actually a lot more prepared than I thought we were going to be, but here's my version of the list for anyone who's curious:

1. Bottled water
We actually get the big jugs of Poland Spring from Walmart. It has 2.5 gallons and can last us at least 2 weeks if that's the only thing we're drinking.

2.Flashlights/Candles
Somehow we've collected a lot more candles than I ever would have expected. I think there's something a little romantic about loosing power and huddling around flickering candles. That being said, we have one flashlight that could probably use new batteries. I also have a flashlight app on my ipod for when I miss the glow of technology.

3. Canned food
Canned food, peanut butter, bread, and basically anything that requires no cooking and doesn't need any refrigeration.

4. Blankets
Just in case the storm happens to be like the Frankenstorm that hit Western MA last year (which for those of you who don't know killed the power for a couple of weeks and brought a couple feet of snow), having a few extra blankets is prob a good thing.

5.First Aid Kit
Do I really need to explain this? It's a good idea to have one even if you're not being threatened by a big storm.

6. Non-Electrical Entertainment
I know. Is there even such a thing anymore? If you loose power you might want to come up with something. You should def have charged your cell, ipod, ipad, tablet, laptop and anything else that might last a little while unplugged, but don't rush to use up the battery in each. You don't know how long the power will be out, so it would be a good idea to come up with things that don't require batteries just in case. Read that book you keep saying you'll read (my suggestions here, here and here), take up knitting, play card games with whoever you're with, volunteer for the Red Cross.

I'm sure when winter comes and I experience more storms out of my parents house I will come up with more things, but for now I think this covers the basics to get you through a short power outage. Stay safe!

*All Photos from Google Images

Fridays with Jenbiff

Halloween DIY part 2: Mummified

Pinterest. The place where I have found so many cool things to try and do (as I’m sure many of you have found things you’ve at least thought about trying). I found this little guy and didn’t think twice about it. Then after finishing another jar of pickles I yelled to my boyfriend: “DON’T THROW AWAY THE PICKLE JAR!!!!!!!” Slightly worried about me, he didn’t question and left the jar alone. I washed it out and got out my small craft supply box to get started.  

My inspiration (Photo Credit: Pinterest)

To get the label off, don’t just yank and pull until you get annoyed enough to leave half of it still on. Let the jar soak in warm water until the glue under the label has softened. Then slowly pull it off. If you’re still having problems let it soak longer.

 For this little guy you will need a pickle jar (or something similar), white streamer, glue stick, googly eyes.

 All I did was choose a point to start wrapping the jar with the streamer. My jar still had a little glue from the label, which held the streamer in place, but to be safe I also just held onto it until I was done. If your jar doesn’t have any glue left, use the glue stick on the end of the streamer to hold it into place. Then wrap the entire jar with the streamer. I wrapped my jar twice, and the second time I went at diagonals to great a “sloppy” wrap job. When I was done wrapping the jar I glued the end of the streamer to the streamer on the jar. Then I glued the googly eyes on one side and…it’s ALIVE! Easy peasy lemon squeesy. 

Quote of the Week: “From ghoulies and ghosties
And long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us!”

Tuesday's Answer: Peter Pan

Tuesdays with Jenbiff

Fall Traditions with my Favs

Going to a wine tasting wasn't the only fun thing the girls and I did during our weekend together. On Saturday we carved pumpkins and watched Hocus Pocus. I think both of these activities are quintessential for this time of the year. I mean how can you not feel completely prepared for Halloween after shoving your hands in pumpkin goo and watching such a 90's classic? (Maybe the movie is a generational thing, but those of you older and younger can't deny it's awesome-ness!) Even if you have no idea what to wear out on Halloween, your pumpkin is carved. I think that is a big success.

The girls hard at work

All of us with our finished pumpkins

You know who they are. (Photo Credit: Google Images)

A little bit extra:
Before sitting down to write this post, I came across an article about two little brands called Urban Outfitters and Lisa Frank. Yea, you read that right: Lisa Frank. Apparently the two have teamed up for a limited time to sell us all the stationary, stickers, and notebooks from our youth. The designs are vintage and exactly like the ones printed from Lisa Frank's start in the early 1980s all the way to 2008. There is even a video with Lisa herself at the Lisa Frank Head Quarters! (Lisa Frank Video ) If that isn't interesting enough for you, there's also a dancing bear...go check it out!

Quote of the Week: "Second to the right, and straight on till morning."
Friday's Answer: Casper

Fridays with Jenbiff

Halloween DIY

Happy Friday readers! So while browsing the wonderful world on Pinterest, I found some really cute and totally do-able crafty things. I am beyond excited to share this one with you. I found this one under the holiday section and was curious if it really is as easy as it looked. Let me tell you…IT WAS!

Picture and inspiration from Pinterest

My first task: get the supplies. Since money is really tight right now, I wanted to find the best items at the best price. So I started at the Dollar Tree, where I found these tall red, unscented candles. Win. Then I went over to the Christmas Tree Shop and found these white, unscented candles for $1.99. Then, just before making this creepy creation, I realized I needed something to put it on! Quick stop to Wal-Mart where I found these clear and very versatile candle plates for $1, and I was ready to go. 

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect so I prepared by putting paper towel under the white candle. Then I lit the red candle, held it over the edge of the white candle and voila! Literally that was it. I think each one took me about 15 minutes because I did the first layer of red then went back over to make it a little darker. Check it out!

 

Happy Halloween!

Quote of the Week: “Can I keep you?”

Tuesday's Answer: Oliver Goldsmith

Wacky Wednesday With Vicki Live

 Boo!

Hello followers! Hope everyone has been enjoying their autumn so far and have made the most of this wonderful weather! If you read Jen Biff's post from yesterday you can see that I've been making the most of this time of year. 

Besides wine tastings, carving pumpkins, and watching Halloween movies like Hocus Pocus, one of my favorite things to do in October is dress up for Halloween parties!

Here's a look at some of the costumes I've worn over the past few years for Halloween:

Patriots Girl

Patriots Girl: Me, Courtney, Leanne, and Jess

Cowgirl

Hartford, CT: Cowgirl 

Softball Player

Alyssa & I getting ready to go into Boston

Me, Courtney & Jen our Senior Year

Victoria's Secret Angel

Sophomore Year: Me, Courtney, Jen Biff, Jen Boo & Stine

Cheetah Girl

Getting ready to go out in London!!!
Stine, KM, Vanessa & Me

So, the question is what should I be this year?!  Most likely the costume of choice this year  for me will be a Cheetah girl. Jen Boo is wearing one of her old Cheetah costumes and I figured why not do the same! I have a mask, a cute cheetah printed top, and also cheetah tights. Figured I'll buy a hot black mini leather skirt (which is very trendy this season), wear my black leather jacket & throw on some black booties. An affordable but sexy Halloween costume! Who says you have to spend $50 on a has-been costume from iParty when you can just throw something together yourself!?!

Check out a few options I have in mind for my bottom piece of my costume:

344.com
Black Panel Mini Skirt ($38)

344.com
Coated Shorts ($38)

Forever21.com
Rib Panel Shorts $15.80

And I totally would rock either the skirt or shorts on a night out on the town! Style this outfit with a bright colored tank top, an asymmetrical blazer, peep toe  booties, some tights (for a little bit of warmth), add some bling and I'd be good to go!

Check out this trend below and see how celebs rocked this look:

summerclothing.com

http://blog.shopedropoff.com/2012/08/21/trend-report-leather/

ohhlalablog.com
Kim K is rocking the look too! Personally I think this top
looks awful on her and makes her look frumpy. But
atleast the skirt & shoes are hot!

Have a Happy Halloween Everybody!

The New Tuesdays with Jenbiff!

Girls Weekend

Hello readers! Jenbiff here. I know, I know it's only Tuesday, what am I doing? Well even though all the girls need to scale back how much they are writing due to work and other conflicts, I on the other hand would like to write more. So starting today I am going to write as many Tuesdays as I can. For the moment I can't promise I will post every Tuesday, but I will do my best! So on to today's post!

So this past weekend Christine came up to visit us. It was so great to be able to catch up and spend time as a group. And I am so excited to share that on Sunday we went to a winery! The first one I've ever been to! We went to Nashoba Valley Winery in Bolton MA. At Noshoba they don't just make wine out of grapes. They use a few different types of fruit, some they grow on their land and others they don't. We were able to try 7 different types of wine while learning about the process to get the fruits to wine. I def learned a lot on such a short little tour. I absolutely loved it!

We're ready to start the tour!

After the tour the girls and I decided to walk around the grounds a little. They had a really pretty garden and obviously orchards where they grow the different fruits they use. A beautiful day hanging out with my friends, tasting wine and topped with the changing of the New England fall leaves, I couldn't have asked for a better day.

 I hope you had a lovely weekend!

Quote of the Week: "I love everything that's old, - old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wine."
Last Weeks Answer: Arsenic and Old Lace

Fridays with Jenbiff

Oldies but Goodies

Happy Friday readers! Sorry for the late Oldies post, but better late then never right??

Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

Starring: Cary Grant, Priscilla Lane and Raymond Massey

Mortimer Brewster is a famous newspaper writer, who is known for his articles against marriage. While at city hall getting his marriage license, he tries to keep his identity unknown. After finishing up downtown, he and his bride, Elaine Harper, return home to tell their families and pack for the honeymoon (they conveniently live next door to each other). While at home, Mortimer tells his aunts; who were his legal guardians since his parents are dead; the news. His aunts are known for their charitable acts, and immense kindness. So when Mortimer finds a dead man in their living room, he is concerned. It doesn’t take long for him to realize this was accident that this man is dead, and his aunts are the reason why! Mortimer tries to find a way to get his aunts out of this, but all they want to do is keep “helping lonely old men”. How does Mortimer solve this problem? Who unexpectedly stops by? And will he ever go on his honeymoon?

 *Runner up this month!*

Mortimer with his aunt

 

The Blob (1958)

Starring: Steve McQueen, Aneta Corsault and Earl Rowe

A mysterious creature from outer space has landed on Earth. Steve Andrews and girlfriend Jane Martin see the crash and go to investigate. As they are on their way to find out what fell from the sky, they find an old man who has some jelly like substance on his arm that he can’t get off. They offer to drive him to the doctors, and everyone quickly sees that this jelly like substance is actually consuming the man. Steve goes to tell the police about the situation and when no one will listen to him, he returns to the doctors to see the man and the doctor are gone. And the blob is bigger. How is Steve going to stop the blob? Will anyone believe him?

The doctor and the teens trying to find out what happened to the man

The Addams Family (1991)

Starring: Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci

I know, I know this is not an old movie, but I absolutely love this movie and it’s great for this time of the year. In this Addams Family movie, Uncle Fester has been missing for 25 years. An evil doctor finds out that Fester has been missing and introduces her son as “Fester” who is suffering from memory loss. The reason the doctor wants to trick the Addams family? They have an amazing amount of money. While Gomez is so excited his brother is back, Wednesday is not so convinced. Will the truth be revealed? What if this new Fester fits in?

 *Winner this month!*

Love them (Christina Ricci is my fav Wednesday Addams)

Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

Starring: Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, and Sean Connery

This is an Agatha Christy classic ‘whodunit?’ The Orient Express is a train that is leaving from Istanbul and the first class is full. A famous Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, is in need to get on this train. Luckily he is good friends with one of the directors of the train who gets him in the last available car. The second night on the train there is a murder and who better to help solve it than the great Poirot. Luckily for him the train is stopped due to snow on the tracks, which gives him enough time to solve the mystery before the local police get involved. But who out of the rich and famous committed such a crime?

The big reveal!

I haven't spent too much time watching Halloween-y movies yet, it felt too soon, but mow I have a list going that I plan to watch by the 31^st. Maybe you can enjoy them as well! Let me know what you think of them!

Other Halloween movies that I’m planning on watching this month:

The ‘Burbs (1989)

Budd Abbott & Lou Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (I’ve seen this one a million times, but it’s a classic!)

The Old Dark House (1932)

House on Haunted Hill (1959)

The Man Who (1921)

Nosferatu (1922)

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

Dead of Night (1945)

*All pictures are from Google Images

Quote of the Week: “Man: Look, Aunt Martha, men don't just get into window seats and die!
Woman: We know, dear. He died first.”

Last Weeks Answer: Oscar Wilde

KM Explains it All!

Tuesday Ten

Here are my ten current obsessions!

1.  Colored Denim

(image taken from google.com)

I finally purchased my first pair of colored jeans and am OBSESSED with them.  I can't wait to go out and buy more colors.  

2.  Country Music

(image taken from google.com)

At the beginning of the summer I started getting into country music and have not been able to stop listening to it.

3.  Skulls

(image taken from google.com)

This past weekend I went to Charming Charlie's and purchased my first piece of skull jewelry in thr form of a ring.  I love it and really want to get some sort of shirt with a skull on it as well as a shirt for my puppy, Stella

4.  Alex and Ani

(image taken from google.com)

All of the girls I work with have at least two of these bracelets and I feel left out!  I'm dying to get my hands on one.

5.  The Perfect Curl

(image taken from google.com)

I love to wear my hair curly but it takes a lot of work so I've been trying to find quicker, easier methods to achieve the perfect curl...still working on it since I can be slightly hair challenged.

6.  Oversized Sweaters

(image taken from Pinterest.com)

The only thing that made it ok in my book for the weather to start getting colder was the fact that I could bundle up in giant sweaters.

7.  Mustaches

I got this pair of sunglasses out and Vegas and for some reason have had a strange interest in mustaches ever since...odd I know.

8.  Shellac

(image taken from google.com)

Vegas was the first time I've ever gotten shellac on my nails and I must say I will never get a regular manicure ever again.  It stays on so well and so much longer that I had a perfect manicure for two weeks.

9.  Here Comes Honey Boo Boo

(image taken from Pinterest.com)

I still can't get enough of Alana and her crazy family.  Obsessed doesn't even begin to describe how much I love this show.  In the words of Honey Boo Boo "YOU BETTER REDNECKONIZE!"

10.  Quotes

(image taken from Pinterest.com)

I've had Pinterest for a while now and mostly just used it for style ideas, DIY ideas, and different cooking ideas.  Recently I've branched off and started looking at some of the other pins and always end up looking at the quotes.  Sure they can be a little too mushy but a lot of them are really pretty!

What are your current obsessions?  Let me know!!!