the UC bike challenge.

It's that time again for another Uncommon Goods challenge! 

I just submitted my doodle drawings of bikes for the UC challenge. Bikes have a LOT of meaning for me, so it was both challenging and full filling to share my story below.

 

Bikes are really important to my family and i. The last few years have been really rough on all of us. At the most difficult time, my parents started to ride a tandem bike together.  The unity that must happen for two to ride a bike together along with all the time they spent together during their rides, helped our family life slowly but surely get better.

 

 A couple weeks ago i read an article about Rebecca Romain and her husband Jerry saying:

"Riding a tandem bike became the best marital therapy you could possibly ask for. We would always come back completely different—in sync, the team again." 

and that's exactly what helped my parents too. 

I'm so thankful.

*Crossing my Fingers*

 -Jenipher

THREE ways to say "I'm Sorry!"

Sometimes it could be REALLY difficult to say I'm sorry.

I was talking to a friend recently who suggested i make a line of 'sorry greetings' for special situations. But for now, here are THREE different ways to say you're sorry.

Happy 'i'm not sorry it's' Friday!

-Jenipher :)

Bridesmaid cards anyone?

I am SO in love my new card. If i could marry it [and then give myself one!] i totally would! 

I'm ordering them right now and then they'll be in my shop soon!

Blogger Bash NYC!

Last week i blogged about going to go to #bloggerbashNYC. 

This past Saturday morning i went into New York City to mingle with a few dozen folks i've never met before. :) 

I also had the pleasure of eating these delicious strawberry cupcakes you see above, drink a yummy beverage, and chat with the very talented Wendy and Laura.

At the end of the event, we learned Rebecca's birthday and her sweet boyfriend and close friends brought her some candle lit cupcakes to make a wish on.

It was a fun event, with lots of great sponsors [you can see all of them below!], I look forward to attending the next one!

psst....down here!

//Goodie Bags//

Brooklyn Slate, Curious Creatures, Miniature Rhino, Walker Standstill, Paper and Olives, Ravenna Girls, Tim Gibson Photography, Yes Jess Knits, Pins and Needles, Knot & Bow, Pink Olive

//Food+Drink//

HoneyBee Brownies, Kumquat Cupcakery, The Stand NY

//Misc.//

M Wild's Studio - venue, Chris Ozer - photographer, Michelle Edgemont - planning and design, A Daily Something - planning and design, Red Table Stationery - graphic designer, True Florette - flowers and greenery, Doodads and Noodles - door prize, Patina Vintage Rentals - vintage props, Hipsters for Sisters - door prize, Scratch Weddings - DJ (Lil Ray), Jim Kamoosi - videographer

How freaking cool!! #lollypops

I was included in a really swell treasury today that included this handmade lolly pops and i coudn't help but blog about these babies.

They were made by Vintage Confections, and you can purchase them  here!

Hope you're having a {sweet} day!

-jenipher

Blogger Bash!!!

Invite by Laura from Red Table Stationery.

I am SO excited to get the opportunity to attend the Blogger Bash this coming Saturday morning!

I'm a big fan of Michelle Edgemont, and super stoked to meet all the other creative, talented folks that are going to be in attendance as well!

I'll make sure to take pictures [with a REAL! camera] so you can see the excitement. :) 

Do you have any fun plans this weekend?

Smiles,

Jenipher

Foodie Friday: Peach Oatmeal Muffins!

 

 

Happy Foodie Friday friends!!

 

 While searching through Pinterest for delicious things to make, i came across these muffins. They sounds AMAZING, but really, what makes it, are these incredible delicious images i found on the 'scaling back' blog.

Peach Oatmeal muffins

makes 12 muffins

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 large eggs

For the topping:

2 medium peaches
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup sugar

Let me know if you try them! And i'll let YOU know if i do!

Happy Foodie Friday!!

smiles,

Jenipher

The good kind of Overwhellmed. :)

One YEAR ago {{today}} my bestest bud Amanda Leigh said this to me while i'm guessing i was coming over for the weekend. 

It makes me kind of sad that i don't feel overwhelmed by fun... mostly by 

fear. 

rejection. 

loss. 

loneliness. 

Worrying i'm not doing enough, or doing too much of the wrong things.

But, starting today, i'm really going to try to EMBRACE a new type of overwhelmed.

The fun kind. :)

I reccomend you try it with me!! :D

smiles to you dear friends,

Jenipher

YOU. ARE. STRONG.

This drawing is especially close to my heart.
I have blogged here and there about my struggles with depression and anxiety on my this blog.

Recently, i've been trying to figure out the proper way to deal with these struggles and sometimes i feel like i'm at a loss...

BUT..there is hope!
And i write about it on this blog post. :)

I hope you know you are NOT alone.
I'm here.

I might not know you. I might not know EXACTLY what you're going through, but i do know how to listen. And heck, i'm a GREAT cryer compannion!

Smiles and Blessings,
-Jenipher

Waiting...it's NOT passive!

Last week i went on a Women's Retreat with my church; Skyline City Church. While there, I spent a LOT of time doodling all the amazing messages i heard and wanted to share. I think i have 10 or 12 overall, and this is the first one i created! 

It's so true.

We just have to remind ourselves of it!

Now if only i knew WHEN i had to STOP waiting....

Have a glorious day friends!

-jenipher

Nightly Doodles AS PENDANTS!?!

How freaking COOL are these pendants friends!?

From this....

^^to THIS!^^

My friend Billie [from Zu-Li Designs] offered to make these for me to see how they would look and i think she did a STELLAR job!! 

I'm currently putting chains on some of them to print to a local shop to see how they do! I'm very excited! :D 

What do you think?!

-Jenipher

Foodie Friday: Sweet Potato, Bean burger.

"His and Hers"

 Boyfriend and I try to cook together anytime we can, which brings joy to my heart! It's a dream that we both love trying new food! 

[how freaking cute is a guy cooking in the kitchen?] 

This week [after a VERY hard day for me] boyfriend suggested this recipe i said i wanted to make a few weeks ago. We made sweet potato, white bean burgers with avocado. Good freaking golly, they were SO GOOD!

 

.......................................................

Sweet Potato Veggies Burgers

[with white beans!]
makes 3-4 large patties

   

^^ his ^^            ^^ hers ^^

1 19oz can of cannelloni white beans, drained
1 large sweet potato, baked/peeled/mashed (about 2 cups)
2 tsp maple or agave syrup
1 tsp Adobo Spice (or another fave spice!)
1/4 cup wheat flour
salt to taste if needed

plentiful Panko and Bread crumbs
corn oil for pan

burgers: avocado, Dijon mustard, buns, onion, olive oil, pepper

Directions: 

1. Bake sweet potato.
2. Add drained beans to mixing bowl. Mash beans.
3. Mash in seasoning, flour and any additional seasoning. Your mixture will be quite soft and moist. But you should be able to form a patty. Add more flour or a scoop of breadcrumbs - or dry rice to thicken the mixture if needed.

 

 

4. Mash in sweet potato. 

4. Heat 1 Tbsp corn oil in a pan over high heat.
5. Form a patty from mixture and coat in Panko crumbs. Thick coating. Then drop the patty in the pan. Repeat until the pan is filled. Cook until browned on both sides. You could also bake. If baking, use less Panko.

6. Transfer cooked patties to paper towel. Cool for a few minutes.
7. Serve on toasted bun with lotsa toppings.

 This patty does fall kind of apart as you eat it. But that is OK because it tastes yummy.I remedied this by eating it sans Bun with Avocado and Dijon.

 

 

This burger is SERIOUSLY amazing! Boyfriend and i both LOVED IT. 

It even made great leftovers!

We changed the recipe a bit from the original above [click the image], but you can make it either way, and I'm sure it will be splendid!

Let me know if you make one! It's highly recommended you do!

Happy Foodie Friday!

-Jenipher

 PS:

 

Nightly Doodles in the MOMA?!

Nightly Doodles in the MOMA?!

BOY...i hope so!!

The MOMA design store was looking for new NYC artists to submit their work to add to the shop. I submitted my work, and got an e-mail saying i made it 'to the next round' aka can bring in samples of my work!! 

Late last week, i picked three i really loved [thanks for your help deciding boyfriend!] and brought them and a hand written 'nightly doodles' note card to the office building.

This would be...

IN-FREAKING-CREDIBLE! 

Here's crossing fingers that i get picked! 

Smiles to you dear friends,

Jenipher