Fresh Style: Cruisin the Caribbean
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Cruisin the Caribbean!
Read MoreFresh Faves: Byron Gronseth & a Re:Fresh Jess
/People ask me all the time how I manage to work, blog, be out and have a life. The truth is, you never get anywhere (sanely) without the help of a great team, and for mine, I'm grateful. I enlisted the help of one of my dear friends, Byron Gronseth, to help me breathe some new life into the look and feel of Fresh Jess. What he is giving me in return is so much more.
Byron is definitely not your cookie cutter graphic designer. At least not to me. He sat me down in a coffee shop for a few hours and walked me through a ton of questions, delving deep into my interests, passions and visual stimuli to come up with a whole new branding identity.
What you now see here on FreshJess.com is one piece of that. "Pretty, witty, girly, worldly" - I also wanted imagery to reflect the West Coast and Pacific Northwest without a cliche shot of the Space Needle and me holding an umbrella or something. We both agreed on a darker palette too. Take one look at my Pinterest style boards and you'll see I'm not one for frills and sequins and glitter (unless I have to be.)
I also wanted to reflect my insistence on keeping FreshJess a lifestyle blog, even though I'm classified as a fashion blogger about 90% of the time. It's fine, but I still want to cover other things that mean a lot to me: the causes I support, the celebrities and mentors who inspire me, the books I read, the places I eat, etc.
All things fresh in the eyes of a young Seattleite. Life + style, if you will.
Anywho, I'm so extremely thankful for Byron's help in making FreshJess look so fly. Thank you thank you thank you!!!
Check out ByronGronseth.com and his Behance gallery.
Guinness & FreshJess = The Largest St. Patty's Day Celebration Ever!
/What's a holiday like St. Patty's Day without a little fun & games?
This year, Guinness is setting its sights high with a mission to set a Guinness World Record for The Largest St. Patty's Day Celebration Ever. They've partnered with me to lead the efforts here in Washington State!
How can you help make this The Largest St. Patty's Day Celebration Ever?
It's easy:
1) Head over to Guinness.com
2) Fill out the form to confirm you're over 21 (sorry kiddos)
3) Click "Join the Party"
4) Fill out the pledge form & enter "JESS" in the optional code
5) Share it on Facebook
Simple as that!
Master Brewer Fergal Murray
For each pledge made that includes code "JESS", I'm donating a dollar to my dear Bulldog Haven NW in support of their efforts to provide better lives to rescued bulldogs.
Drink responsibly - it's for a good cause this time!
Fresh Style: Fight Night
/My boyfriend had his second pro mixed martial arts fight last night (and came home with the win!)
I love fight nights. People always ask me if I get scared or nervous watching him fight, but I always tell them that MMA is a sport and like every other athlete, he goes through training, conditioning and strict dieting to prep for the fight. I do get nervous during the fight because I want him to win :)
Dressing for fight nights is always a lot of fun. I like to think of the significant others of famous boxers and ultimate fighters, while keeping it fun, functional and fresh. In a sea of jeans and tees though, it's not that hard to stand out!
This time I took my Jeffrey Campbell Night Walks for a spin. You can find them at SoleStruck!
Dimepiece Designs dress / Jeffrey Campbell Night Walks / MNG wool coat / Vintage Pendelton scarf / Bracelets from: Sustalux, Moksha & gifted (from my grandma in the Philippines)
Fresh Style in NYC
/Snaps of my outfits while in NYC. Shouts to Mollie for taking these!
With Mollie & Michelle (Amuse Bouche) outside Chelsea Market
Climbing the steps up to the Highline
Illin' in Soho
H&M denim shirt / Vintage crossbody bag & sunnies / Necklace & speckled denim from Moksha / Steve Madden boots
At the tents!
Uniqlo J+ kimono down coat / H&M colored denim / Zara booties
Had a blast with Mollie!
Rebecca Minkoff F/W '12 Runway Show
/I had the privilege of catching the Rebecca Minkoff fall/winter '12 runway show thanks to Mollie of MollieInSeattle. Theophilus London performed briefly before the models took the stage in beautiful leather, metallic, sherbet tones and geometric prints. I'm not sure there was a bag in this collection worthy of taking the Morning After's place as "It Bag", but there were a few cute accessories in the mix.
Check out some of my favorite looks from the show, then my video of the final walk (all photos via Fashionista.com):
Erin Fetherston F/W '12 Presentation at Milk Studios
/I had the pleasure of attending Erin Fetherston's F/W 2012 presentation at Milk Studios last night. Ms. Fetherston's collection is packed with tons of chiffon, berry tones, brocade and lovely, flattering lines. These are perfect for every occasion from a night out on the town to a fancy gala. The presentation attracted a beautiful crowd of celebrities, industry professionals and bloggers alike.
Enjoy the pics!
Erin!
Fresh Style: Eazy Breezy
/After weeks of cold temps and even a few days of snow and ice, the sun came out in the Emerald City and decided to bring some (relative) warmth with it! In upper-50 degree weather, it only made sense to reach for some shorts, my vintage Eazy-E tee and my current staple, the denim shirt, for a few errands and a casual chocolate cooking demo at my best friend Sara's boutique, SPUN Sustainable Collective.
H&M denim shirt & faux leather shorts / Vintage Eazy-E tee / Marc by Marc Jacobs necklace / Steve Madden military boots (another staple of mine)
Traipsing the city & catching reflections
Illin at home after a great day!
IFB Conference Feb 2012 - Recap
/The February 2012 IFB conference was the perfect way to kick off New York Fashion Week! This was my third time attending and my first as a speaker, moderating the "Media Goes Mobile" panel.
The audience was full of fresh faces and judging by the #IFBcon tweets, they had a great time and learned a lot from all of the speakers!
I hadn't really considered myself a "veteran" blogger - in fact, I still don't since I have a lot to learn and do! However, it was really fulfilling to be onstage sharing information and advice on social media and blogging.
Milk Studios was absolutely PACKED to the walls for each panel, so my pictures are mostly backstage. Enjoy!
The panel! Karen Moon (StyleMusee), Macala Wright (Fashionably Marketing Me), Tom & Lorenzo, Bryan Boy & Aliza Licht (DKNY PR Girl)
H&M sleeveless top w/back cutout; vintage belt from Sustalux
With Jennine Jacob, founder of IFB
With Karen Moon & Bryan Boy
With Aliza Licht in our capes
With Macala & Aliza before our panel
Tom & Lorenzo
Met one of my favorite bloggers, Vintage Vandalizm!
Another fabulous panel
bling!
Guest of a Guest has their conference photos up already. Check them out!
I am in town for the rest of the week catching a few shows and catching up with some great friends. Tweet at me if you're around! @JessEstrada
Fresh Style: Alive and Well
/Alive and Well might only stock menswear for now, but that doesn't mean the stylish ladies can't work some pieces into their wardrobe. After getting a sneak peek last week, I came back for a couple of beanies, from the house brand as well as Seattle's own Actual Pain.
Remember that HUF x Haroshi deck I posted? We got that too! It'll stay in our home as a collector piece though. No skating here :)
Black leather jacket / Grey short sleeve drape tee / Deena & Ozzy python print leggings / Black/metallic gold TOMS from Coastal / Vintage Ray-Ban aviators from Sustalux
Seattle: Alive and Well opens February 1 on Capitol Hill
/The Hill is Alive and Well!
Seattle's latest boutique, Alive and Well, premieres with a bang tomorrow at 11:00a.m. in the old punctuation art gallery on Pike. Marcus Lalario of Lil Woody's, HG Lodge, Captain Blacks and various other ventures is partnering with George Otto and Steve Gonzales on this "Northwest-centric skate shop."
“We have love and respect for our city and its culture,” said Marcus Lalario. “Alive and Well will showcase the very best of the Northwest, and beyond.”
I got a little preview of the space and I'm excited to see the finished product tomorrow. Check it out:
Alive and Well is for the man who knows his brands. Along with an in-house line, the shop will feature Sausage Skateboards, Nike SB, Black Scale, Converse, Adidas and Seattle's Actual Pain.
Sorry for the bad pic! The team is already has collaborations in the works with many of the brands they carry. This deck is a HUF x Haroshi collaboration - and Alive and Well is just one of 16 retailers in the world to carry the collection! I want this. I pinned this image a couple of weeks ago!
Design & logo by the multi-talented Four Color Zack
"We’ve got some great things in the works,” said Steve Gonzales, who also serves as Youth Program Coordinator for the Bellevue Parks Department. “Funneling money back into our community is important.” One way will be through their Seattle Legends collection, which includes this amazing hoodie & hat:
Alive and Well opens at 11:00a.m. with DJs BlesOne, Sean Cee, Cherry Canoe, Astronomar, and Lacao Time spinning throughout the day. You can shop Monday through Saturday 11:00a.m. - 8:00p.m. and Sunday 12:00 - 6:00p.m.
“We got next”
So You Want to Start Blogging
/I've received a lot of emails & messages with a variety of questions from people who want to start a blog, so I thought I'd write a post with some of my general thoughts and tips!
First of all, kudos to you for wanting to start a blog! Fresh Jess has been an outlet for me to share with you the things in my life that inspire me. It's also been a great exercise in refining my writing style and ultimately learning about myself. I love it, and I hope you do too!
With that, here are some tips on getting started:
Know your passion(s)
Having an answer to the question "What do I want to write about?" isn't enough, especially if it's a vague, one-word term like "fashion" or "food." What is it about fashion that moves you? What do you gravitate towards when you find yourself thinking about food? Try to be specific in defining what it is your blog will be about, but be broad enough that you can write about a diversity of topics. Whether it's personal style, covering the latest trends or highlighting independent, unknown designers, knowing what you're passionate about will help guide you in writing blog posts. In turn, your readers will have the best possible idea of what to expect when they visit your blog.
Do your research
Now that you have an idea of what you want to write about, take some time and make a list of other blogs or online publications who are covering those topics. What are they doing well? What do you like about the layout, design, writing style, and content of these blogs? What don't you like? There's nothing like seeing what's already out there to conjure up - and focus - inspirations for what you want with your blog.
Make time for it!
This might sound like a no-brainer, but it's important to make the time commitment to writing and maintaining your blog if you're going to start one. It sucks to Google a topic, find an interesting blog about it and find out that the author hasn't posted anything since 2006! Carve out some time each week devoted to writing blog posts, promoting your blog, networking with other bloggers, and maintenance or analytics. If you don't work it into your current schedule, it's really easy to fall off and really hard to pick it back up again. Your readers also won't have an idea of how often you post, if at all.
Are you adding value?
This one is absolutely necessary. Does writing and maintaining a blog bring value to you? If it stresses you out to even think about sitting down to create blog posts, maybe you're better off with a less time-intensive social media platform like Twitter, Facebook or Tumblr. You can still write and share what you want to there. Beyond that, think about whether or not you're adding value to your readers' lives. Are you sharing valuable information? Setting the platform for dynamic conversation? Hoping to inspire your readers through visual imagery or video? This is all part of really knowing why you want to blog.
Write, Write, Write!
Practice makes perfect. I created FreshJess.com then posted 25 blogs before telling anyone (aside from my boyfriend) about it. Doing that gave me time to get comfortable writing blogs, playing with different post formats, finding my voice and just getting in the habit of writing regularly. When I first started at my job, I got so busy that I nearly stopped blogging altogether. I reached the point where I was always working and never writing, and eventually it felt like writer's paralysis. I couldn't write because I felt like I didn't know how anymore. I got back to journaling (with pen and paper) and started writing for my agency's blog, and that helped me get back in the groove of posting here on Fresh Jess.
I've also found a great resource for getting started over at What I Wore. The video below is from one of my favorite bloggers, Tac Anderson of New Comm Biz, on quitting the overthinking and just diving into it!
You don't need weeks or even hours to create something. sometimes you need to stop overthinking things and trust your creative impulses.
Happy blogging!
Do you have any questions on blogging? Leave a comment below, or feel free to email me at info@freshjess.com.
How Bill Gates Has Saved the World (So Far) (Infographic)
/Everyone's got their own perceptions of Bill Gates as the founder of Microsoft and a pillar in the tech world. Though the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been around since 1997, much of the strides they've made have gone under the radar compared to his press for Microsoft. I thought this was a great infographic to show what they have done so far.
Mr. Gates, Melinda and Bill Gates Sr. are three of my biggest heroes. I admire their dedication to give. He may not be a superhero in the traditional sense. He may be so much better.
Source: frugaldad.com
Fresh Faves: Gabe de Dios, Stylist
/Sometimes the Emerald City is so small, you meet people and you can't remember how you met or who introduced you. All I know is that as long as I've known Gabe de Dios, I knew he was going to be a star. Back in the day, Gabe was a mainstay in the Seattle dance community. He would eventually follow his passion for fashion to L.A., where he now lives, works and plays as one of the most unique stylists in the game.
Gabe de Dios is a wardrobe stylist who has worked with such celebrity clients as Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Colton Haynes and Gilles Marini.
Nicki! in the "Dance/@$$" video
Gilles Marini
Katy Perry
Perez Hilton
A lover of fashion, music, food and dance, he also designs for his own t-shirt line called J'TEES ME and is the founder of his dance crewHaus of Shablamcakes. You can find his perspectives over at 102.7 KIIS FM's The Stitch, where he contributes fashion posts regularly.
I asked Gabe for a few of his favorite outfits and to answer a couple of questions from my Seattle Style interview, then went over to his official Facebook page and pulled a few (okay a lot) of my favorite photos of his work. Check them out!
Comme des Garcons army trench coat, Rojas tank, Alexander Wang pants, Kris van Assche shoes & Jeremy Scott x Linda Farrow sunnies
How would you describe your style?
hyper, sensational & kawaii AKA J'CRAY
Comme des Garcons lace shirt, Burberry pleated skirt, Dr. Martens boots, Jeremy Scott x Linda Farrow TV sunnies, gifted vintage Rubik's Cube purse (best birthday gift ever!) & Paige Bae Jewelry necklace
What are your favorite shops?
LA: Joyrich, Wasteland and Freak City
Seattle: Urbanity, Goods, Zebraclub, Ian and Red Light
Online: Ssense, Luisa Via Roma, Fred Flare
Gerlan Jeans pink monster tee, vintage Bone Thugs & Harmony camouflage jacket, Onch Movement custom teddy bear neckace, LA RAP making loot pants, Dr. Martens boots, Paola Loves to Shop Mickey x Chanel ring, SEE Eyewear glasses, Jeremy Scott x Swatch watch
What's your favorite thing about Seattle?
The friendly, genuinely nice and chill vibe - the gorgeous scenery (there ain't no mountains or snow in L.A.!) I miss Seattle!!
Find Gabe on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube & The Stitch
Rumi of FashionToast!
All images and so many more photos can be found on Gabe's Facebook page.
Find these Bulldog Haven NW foster dogs a home!
/It's the new year, and Bulldog Haven NW has a group of foster bullies waiting for their "fur-ever" home! As regular Fresh Jess readers know, I am a big fan of english bulldogs with one bulldog angel in the sky and one recently adopted from Bulldog Haven NW. Look at those faces! I'm helping BHNW spread the word in hopes of finding these sweetie pies a new home.
If you're interested in adopting one of these bullies, please look over their information carefully and fill out an application at BulldogHavenNW.org.
Meet Diesel, a soon-to-be 3 year old. He is an affectionate bullie who likes to play, go for a walk and get lots of attention. He needs to be an only pet and does well with older children. A fenced yard will be best and he is house and crate trained.
Gus Gus is a character. He is 5 and likes alot of attention and can be very vocal when he's not getting it. He does get along with other dogs and cats but can be over zealous with smaller dogs. He would do best with a strong personality with training knowledge who is home most of the day.
If you want a very loyal, affectionate, lively, energetic, and great guard dog then Portis is your man. He would be best suited with a strong and loving owner without young children. He can be dog aggressive at times and should be the only dog in the house (mostly because he loves all the attention for himself). He humps when happy and excited and he loves pull toys and chew toys. He likes to sleep on the bed with his people and ride in the front seat of the car. Once he likes you he wants to go everywhere with you. He`s a great walker, but he can be selective about where he wants to walk. Portis' allergies are currently under control in his new foster home and he has grown his coat back nicely. It appears that his skin issues were primarily environmental. It is possible he could breakout in sores again in a different environment, but preventing this can be discussed with his current foster dad. Portis will make a lucky person a wonderful companion.
Precious is a 5 yr old sweetheart. She loves children but needs to be an only pet. She can test her parents to see who is in charge, so a good pack leader would be best for her. She likes to play and get rowdy but also chills and likes to hang out.
Sadie is a 4 yr old Olde English Bulldogge. She can go for a good walk and likes to sleep with you and hang on the couch. She will allow you to rub her belly for an indefinite amount of time and gladly gives kisses. She needs to be an only dog, older children and fence required.
If you have any questions on fostering a bulldog, please feel free to reach out to me! jess(at)freshjess.com
Happy New Year!
/
My view at midnight on New Year's Eve
May 2012 be filled with prosperity, happiness, friends & family, great food, amazing places, and most of all - STYLE & GRACE!
xo
Jess
I Go For Mine: 2012 Resolutions
/As I started thinking about my new year's resolutions, I decided to read over last year's resolutions to get my mind going. I'm still not a fan of all the hype around 'new year's resolutions', only because it's somewhat commonplace for people to create lofty goals at one time of the year, just to abandon them a few weeks later.
If you make resolutions or goals - no matter what time of the year - then great! Write them down. Break down your goals into tasks/baby steps. Revisit your list throughout the year to see how you're doing.
Commit to them rather than making them for the sake of a new year ahead.
Taking great things from 2011 with me into the next year, and adding more!
I have a few goals in regards to my blog, my career and my life. Last year's resolutions actually helped me stick to reaching those goals, and I'll carry these into next year too. I just want to add a couple more this time around:
Be present in the moment
This is one thing Russell Simmons stresses in both of his books, Super Rich and Do You. In the age of social media, technology and multi-tasking, so many things fight for our attention at any given time. It's tough, but focusing on the task/conversation/moment at hand is something I'm really trying to work on this year! Hopefully this will lead to better productivity and less stress over time.
Be militant in avoiding distractions
I read this Inc. Magazine article on "7 Things Highly Productive People Do" recently and this point really stuck with me. It's amazing how one email can pop up in the middle of something I'm working on, and an hour later I'm so distracted and far removed from what I was doing. One of my biggest struggles this year has been being productive. Avoiding distractions from social tweeting & FBing (i.e. not for work) all the way up to too much partying will help keep me focused on the things I want to accomplish!
Respect the temple
My body, that is. Trading in that fast food & all those nights eating out for some clean food, juice and meals at home with my man and our dog. Getting that workout plan cemented and worked into my schedule better. Not working too hard. Not stressing too hard. Loving life!
Keep writing
Writing is one of my favorite things to do to channel back to myself when I'm getting too stressed or consumed by work & life. This year I'm committed to much more journaling and blogging. Also, it's a pleasure writing these posts for you :)
Giving is getting
Supporting what you're passionate in, whether that's a non-profit, a movement or your relationships, is one of the most fulfilling things you can do in life. For me, that means supporting Bulldog Haven NW and PAWS, and spending time with friends and family.
Stay organized
It's easy to pick an organization system and try it out. What's hard is sticking to that system and making it work over time. I've tried a lot of things and have yet to settle on a system that works for me. I will keep at it!
Grow continuously
There's a saying that "insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results." I'm devoted to staying motivated to reach my goals. I have the drive to learn and consistently strive to be better.
"I can't be stopped. Like nope, like nope!" - Jay-Z, "Who Gon' Stop Me" - Watch the Throne
Happy new year everyone!
Stay Giving: Meet AlixRose & Clutch 22
/Christmas might be behind us now, but the giving spirit never leaves me! I love this week's project over at the Independent Fashion Bloggers - Give Your Favorite Blogger a Gift Post!
You've read about AlixRose & Clutch 22 here on Fresh Jess before, but when I think of my favorite bloggers, they are the first to pop in my mind. I love telling the people the story of how I met these Alix, Jordana & Sara at a private party hosted by Darnell Sue for Glamour Magazine back in 2009. Since then, these ladies have been among the strongest forces in my life and I am incredibly fortunate to call them my friends.
AlixRose has all that it takes to be amazing at whatever she puts her mind to. I admire her dedication to the things that are important to her, whether that be friends, family, blogging or her career. She's taught me a lot about nurturing your blog community, thinking up content ideas and taking my blog to the next level. She is diligent about posting regularly to AlixRose.com despite a busy schedule and a really demanding job in social media. We experience very similar struggles with balancing everything, and it's great to have a friend and peer to talk things through with. You have no idea how lucky you are, Seattle! If you haven't perused AlixRose.com yet, bookmark it for her unique perspective on fashion trends, outfit styling and general musings on what makes her tick.
If you've ever had the pleasure of talking with Jordana of Clutch 22 in real life, then you know how infectious her energy and tenacity are. Get her talking about something she's passionate about and she is absolutely untouchable! When I first met her, I could not believe this chick was talking to me. "I am not cool enough to hang and my little blog is just getting off the ground!" was all I could think while I read through her thoughtful takes on outfits and shopping. Clutch 22 now features more of her life in NYC and affinity for digital everything, but the smart, sassy, confident spirit is all the same. She was featured as DList Magazine's Young Northwest Blogger in 2009, and I was lucky enough to follow in her footsteps two years later. She's responsible for introducing me to the Independent Fashion Bloggers and so much more!
Thanks you two for making a blogger's life beautiful! WOO!
The Freshest Posts of 2011
/The holidays are times for family, food, fun and love. It's also a great time of reflection, and for me, 2011 has been definitely been a ride. While it's easy to describe it as a roller coaster, I don't want to call them "ups and downs." Instead, my experiences this year are all lessons learned and opportunities to grow.
Inspired by the recent Independent Fashion Bloggers' Project of the Week, this post features ten of my favorite posts from this past year. It was a trip down not-too-distant memory lane, but also a way to start reflecting on my life as it was in 2011.
Like to hear it? Here it goes... (in chronological order)
Exploring NYC
1) IFB Evolving Influence: What I Learned
They say that if you feel you're the smartest one in the room, it's time to find a different room. Part of a series of posts highlighting my trip to NYC in February for Fashion Week, this one recapped the amazing sessions at the IFB Evolving Influence conference. Milk Studios was that room for me - being there and hearing from the likes of everyone from Yuli Ziv, Jennine Jacob and the gentlemen behind Proenza Schouler showed me that I have so much to learn as a blogger. Though I always stress that I categorize myself as a Seattle lifestyle blogger and not strictly a fashion blogger, style is definitely a huge part of my blog. IFB has been so helpful in being a peer-to-peer knowledge base and sounding board for thousands of bloggers like me.
2) Mamas & Meatballs Make My World Go 'Round
As I chose these posts, it became clear to me that the personal ones - the glimpses into the inner workings of my life - are the ones that would make it in this top ten. 'Mamas & Meatballs' was written on Mother's Day, thanking my mother for always being there for me, and thanking my dearly departed bulldog baby, Meatball for giving me life. They are my everything.
2011 was my first time at the annual festival, and I loved it! This post brought back countless memories of a couple of weeks in L.A. with the love of my life, capped off with a trip to the desert with my awesome Anisa Leyla to meet up with Andy Fortson and friends for an amazing weekend filled with music, art and the most gorgeous and stylish people I've ever seen in my life. One of my favorite trips of all time.
At my photoshoot for #8
4) Showing Up for Life - Bill Gates Sr.
I traveled a lot in the first half of this year and though I don't regret any of it, I barely did anything to nourish myself. Too much indulging and toxic people. No working out, reading, writing, eating that well or blogging. Come summer, I decided this needed to change immediately. I turned to a book I'd read before, by one of my heroes, Bill Gates Sr. Showing Up for Life is a quick read on exactly that - showing up. One of the hardest things to learn is how to say "no," whether that be to attending an event, a new opportunity or to having too much fun as I was doing. This book is a great reminder to me about remembering your passions and your priorities, then choosing to "show up" for those things that matter to you - consistently.
I am fortunate to know many of the talented foodies in the city, but that's always kept me from writing about food here on Fresh Jess. I don't consider myself on their level! I do, however, love going out for a delicious dinner and checking out new restaurants in town. In July, I launched my "Fresh Eats" series, highlighting my experiences at various Seattle establishments. I am not a food critic by any means, so you won't see any of my personal dislikes here on the blog. I simply enjoy sharing my meals and featuring a small business while I'm at it!
6) Seattle Style: Bianca Casimes
Another regular feature I introduced this summer is my "Seattle Style" series. Believe it or not, there are a lot of style mavens roaming the streets of the Emerald City. Seattle Style is a monthly feature on FreshJess, giving you a look at some of the city's most stylish - who they are, what they do, and some of the very best out of their closet! It's another way for me to give back to my city, and the people who make it stylish.
New beginnings... #9
Losing a pet is so hard. Blogging about my dear Meatball has helped me focus my grief and turn it into thankfulness and positivity. It's also been a way for you, amazing readers and social media friends, to share your own pain and loss with me. Thank you! Meatball may be gone physically, but his love and energy course through my soul always. Thank you Meaty pie for showing me what it's like to love like a mama.
8) Meet the DList Magazine "Young Northwest" 2011 Honorees!
It still humbles me every day that people read and listen to what I have to say, not just here on Fresh Jess, but on Twitter, Facebook, now Pinterest and everywhere else. I was floored when Seattle's DList Magazine selected me as their Young Northwest Blogger for their annual issue. Let me tell you, the nominations for this really kicked my butt back into gear and blogging on the regular! Thank you so, so much. If there's ever anything you want to see on here, please let me know! Email me at jess(at)freshjess.com. Take a look at the rest of the Young Northwest 2011 talent in this post!
9) The Newest Member of the Family
After a summer and fall full of self-reflection and tons of work, my life has changed radically in just the past couple of months. One of those changes is a new bulldog in our home. Meet Spike, our 4-year-old rescue from Bulldog Haven NW! I'm so thrilled to be a bulldog mama again and Spike's consumed my life. I love him :)
10) Fresh Faves: Brian Oh, Photographer
One of my favorite experiences is featuring someone on Fresh Jess and getting their reaction - from them and from their own friends and fans. Brian Oh's been so thankful and appreciative of this feature I did earlier this month, and his friends from the team at Seattle lifestyle brand Rich Kids Clothing to the party rockers of Trashed have also shown their love and support. Nothing is greater than the feeling of good people helping good people!
There you have it. Ten of my favorite posts this year. Looking forward to bring you some heaters in 2012!
Merry Christmas & happy holidays from Fresh Jess!
/Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all of you!
Hope you are enjoying the season with people, food, movies, places and things you love!
Thank you so, so much for reading Fresh Jess. You have no idea the magnitude of the gift you've given me to continue posting things that I genuinely love and find interesting here.
Have a great one!
xoxo
Jess
All images of Philippine parols via Google.
