Raising the Bar: Vision Boards for 2013

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Happy new year everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season celebrating love and life with your loved ones.

Did any of you make a vision board or resolutions for the year ahead? I made a couple of vision boards last year that hung in my closet. They say that in order to achieve your dreams, you have to jot them down. I was fascinated to look at these boards and see that most of my visions had manifested themselves in some way. Did everything come true? Maybe not, but I am definitely a believer in putting your dreams and goals in a place where you can see them. It's funny how things can manifest if you think about them enough.

My goals & priorities vision board. Be responsible. Be focused. Be clear. Be simple. Be grateful.

I took the week between Christmas and New Year's Day to reflect back on the year, prioritize my goals and set my theme for 2013. I did this with Stratejoy's Holiday Council workshop lighting my way. During the Council, Molly asked us how/what we want to be in the new year. What a different way of looking at your resolutions? Now it's not so much "learning how to surf," but about all the things I want to feel when I've mastered my first wave.

This is what fueled the fire that created these vision boards. I made one for my overall theme, "Be Responsible," and one more around my personal style. I know it's not a fancy theme, but I really want to work on instilling new habits in my life this year. Eat better. Save more. Work out more. Love more. Not a huge change from my past years' resolutions. Just a new way of looking at them. I have a lot to do this year and these habits will be my solid foundation in achieving them all.

My style vision board. A little bit of opulence. Sexiness. Boldness. A whole lot of confidence.

"Take it to the stars. How many people you know can take it this far?"

Fresh Style: 2012 Recap

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I worked hard to infuse more personal style posts into Fresh Jess this year. While I'll never consider myself a pro photographer, stylist or model, their tricks & tools of the trade are now part of mine too. My understanding of: cameras, proper lighting, signature posing, "my good side," and especially my style has expanded greatly this year.

When I met Stacy London on her Westfield Style Tour this summer, one thing she said really stuck out to me:

"I think that fashion and style can sometimes be written off as superficial, and that's one of the most dangerous things we can do. Style is an emotional investment and we can learn a lot about ourselves from it."

While some think fashion isn't a thing in Seattle, it is always nice to see people who put care, time and thought into how they present themselves for specific events and everyday situations. I believe that style can be a determining factor in the way that you feel and think. I've always told myself I am not a bonafide fashion blogger, but I know you wonderful readers come here for my perspective on style and fashion. Maybe it's time to stop rejecting that part of me! 

Maybe it's because I know I don't dress like a conventional PNW girl. My style inspirations come from my culture, and I am interested in all kinds of people, places, things and experiences.  I am also severely realistic about my shopping. I shop a lot, but I am always looking for the best bang for my buck - my ROI, or WPC (wear per cost) if you will. Designer names and trends are great to be aware of, but don't phase my overall style very much. Quality, character and comfort over all other factors. More than anything, I don't like to look like everyone else.

These are ten of my favorite style posts from the past year from a perspective of seeing the evolution of both my personal style throughout the season, as well as my focused efforts to be a better style blogger. I have a long way to go, but I'm having a blast on the journey. That's what it's all about, right?

Fresh Style: Northwest Cool

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This might've been the hardest style post for me to do thus far. What do you style with a North Face jacket? For a lot of Pacific Northwesterners, owning a North Face or three is a necessity under these rainy skies. I, on the other hand, have never owned one of these in my life. It has more to do with working at Nike and having access to performance gear than anything. Nevertheless, I'm now the owner of not one, but two North Face pieces; the Resolve waterproof hooded jacket and E-Tip smartphone gloves. 

I chose a light jacket with a hood (a must 'round these parts) in a size up so that I could layer over it for the fall & winter and still be able to wear it in spring and summer. Heading into the depths of winter, I knew I'd need a pair of gloves to keep my digits warm. I've always been skeptical of smartphone gloves, but these E-tips work remarkably well. It's been particularly cold these last few days, so I've layered with tons of different textures, patterns and local designer fare.

The North Face jacket in Resolve / North Face E-Tip smartphone gloves / Charlotte Ronson army jacket / Ann Taylor sweater / Vintage Pendleton scarf (modern one here) / Alive & Well waffle knit beanie / Actual Pain 'Sigil' leggings / Zara boots

This is a sponsored post with product provided by GigaSavvy.com. All opinions expressed in this post, as with all posts on Fresh Jess, are mine.

Thank You! #MyHolidayStyle

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I just wanted to say THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Your tweets and comments helped Fresh Jess win the Macy's #MyHolidayStyle competition. I am truly grateful for your readership. 

There is a $100 Macy's gift card to give away. As a thank you to everyone who voted, I'm throwing all of those who voted for Alix, Mollie and Carolyn via blog comment into the pot. For Fresh Jess readers, you get an extra entry for each blog comment and tweet you submitted during this competition. 

Congrats to Tara Theoharis for winning this much-coveted gift card! Email or DM me your address!

Thanks again. This has been my favorite style post to date, and your response has inspired me to keep doing these outfit posts, no matter how awkward I feel in them :)

Fresh Style: Holiday Party Style with Macy's

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The holiday season is upon us, and while the weather outside is sometimes frightful, I'm enjoying the many opportunities to bundle up and keep cozy.

Macy's invited five bloggers to share their holiday party style with a $100 gift card and free reign to choose what we thought would accomplish our goal. At first, my thoughts went straight to sparkly party dresses and tights, but the reality of this Seattle city girl is one of casual comfort. My holiday season is about spending time with friends watching movies in our homes and buffet-style setups at a relative's home for huge Filipino family gatherings. 

After trying on a few dresses & jumpsuits, I settled on what I'd been eyeing when I first set foot on the women's floor at Macy's: this Rachel by Rachel Roy sweater coat. I actually went straight to the Rachel Roy section because, after meeting her this fall, she made a real fan of me and was the reason I agreed to do this campaign. 

It was love at first sight for this sweater coat, from the ornate Aztec-inspired design to the beautiful clay & burnt orange tones to the draping of the sleeves & neckline. It makes a statement in and of itself. I paired it with vegan leather leggings, a worn tee & layered silver necklaces for that holiday rockstar style.

Want to win $100 Macy's gift card of your own?

Vote for my holiday style! Find out how below.

Rachel by Rachel Roy sweater coat (courtesy Macy's via Curator) / vegan leather leggings / vintage boots (similar here) / various silver necklaces / AllSaints tee

Want to win $100 Macy's gift card of your own?

 Vote for my holiday style and one could be yours! Here's how (one vote per action:)

1) Leave a comment below

2) Tweet at Macy's & I:  Tweet

You can vote as much as you like until Monday, December 10th. I would love and appreciate your vote! Thank you for reading Fresh Jess, and happy holiday style shopping!

Check out AlixRose, Carolyn of Hey Pretty Thing & MollieinSeattle's holiday style too!

Thank you Macy's for the opportunity!

Fresh Style: Five Reasons for a Fancy Coat

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Because you scored an amazing deal on this coat at Goodwill's Glitter Sale.

Because a local reclaimed/vintage furniture studio is the perfect backdrop. Hi Marian Built!

Because sometimes you're asked to dress up for a 60's-themed party, and you oblige for once.

Because one of your best friends is in town and life becomes infinitely more colorful.

Because it's the icing on the (cup)cake of a wonderful girl's night out.

Vintage long dress coat w/faux-fur trim / vintage gold brocade dress (beautiful similar modern one here) & over-the-knee boots (similar) from Nasty Gal / vintage clutch

Fresh Style: Coast to Coast Cool

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C&C California sponsored the Lucky FABB conference back in September and invited us to show our "Coast to Coast Cool" with pieces from their fall/winter '12 collection. I was drawn again to the leather pieces, and chose a laser-cut tank along with a hi-lo wax-coated sweater. 

I styled these two pieces with other winter staples and classics from my closet. I had a lot of fun playing with mixing textures as much as I could; velvet over leather under chambray denim, and one of my favorite vintage brocade dresses underneath the waxed sweater. The results are more of that signature casual but cool. Fresh :)

C&C California leather laser-cut tank / Tobi velvet skirt / H&M chambray top / Zara leather jacket / vintage necklace

Thank you C&C California!

A Few of My Favorite Things - Holiday 2012

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Are you holiday gift guide-d out yet? I hope not! In case you are, I decided to make this a simple list of some of my favorite things that have added some extra sweetness to my life lately. You can use this as a resource for your holiday gift shopping, or just as a chance to meet some amazing independent or eco-friendly designers and products!

I'm loving what Hana has done with Craft & Culture this year. Hana carefully selects indie designers to showcase their wares on C&C. For shoppers like me, it's a handy site to read up on up & coming designers while choosing gifts that are limited or one-of-a-kind. There are a lot of Seattle designers featured on the site too! CraftAndCulture.com

These Harman London room diffusers ($32.99) have been filling my home with the most wonderful aromas this fall & winter. Based in Olympia, WA, Harman London specializes in eco-friendly skin care, candles as well as these lovely diffusers. HarmanLondon.com

Ladies, you know how hard it can be to find the perfect lip products! I am madly in love with Seattle-based Kari Gran Skincare's Lip Whips ($15.) I had the opportunity to meet the lovely ladies behind Kari Gran this summer in their Lake Union studio where all of their products are made with love, care and special attention to ingredients that are as good for your skin & body as they are for the earth.  KariGran.com

I'm so sad that Melvita has closed in Pacific Place. I went in for a facial earlier this year and absolutely adore their skincare line. Melvita sets the beauty bar for organic and sustainable products, fine-tuning most of their products in their home base in France. Do you see a trend here? I'm on a slow but steady path to being as eco-friendly as I can possibly be. Melvita.com

"Last night a Boostcase saved my life!"  No really, Boostcase has come in so clutch when I'm out all day in meetings, with clients then at events. I bought this hybrid case + battery pack ($79.95) from Nordstrom before New York Fashion Week in September, because I knew I'd be running around all day with very limited access to outlets. I came thisclose to getting a Mophie until I saw other fashion bloggers talking about their Boostcases. Once I took a look at the different colors and styles available, I was sold. Boostcase comes in a variety of colors and charges your iPhone back to full life, and only takes a couple of hours to recharge itself. Boostcase.com

Detox cleanses freak me out. I think it's weird to not consume anything except for a weird powdered mix of things that may or may not be healthy for you. I did decide to give Kaeng Raeng a whirl because of its all-natural, vegan & gluten-free nature. You can eat raw fruits and veggies during the program too. I did the beginner 3-day course ($62.99), and definitely felt more energy while less bloated. Also, it tasted great to me, which is another risk factor in powdered mixes of any kind. If you're looking for a good start to refreshing your body after the holidays, this is an option! KaengRaeng.com

I've been living in this J Project  scarf since I got it earlier this fall. I adore the fabulous Jaime Marie, founder of J Project too. Find her and the other mobile fashion trucks at the Fremont Market in Seattle. Find these scarves and the rest of Jaime's handmade creations online at JProjectClothing.com.

If you need help with finding a specific gift for a loved one, feel free to tweet me or shoot me an email at info@freshjess.com.

I'd love to help you!

Baohaus' Eddie Huang Has a Show & It's Awesome

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I love following entrepreneurs on Twitter. They come in all shapes and sizes, and keep me on my toes while inspiring to ALWAYS be who I want to be regardless of who I work for and what I want to do. Entrepreneurs over everything.

I started following Eddie Huang after hearing about his infamous Four Loko Thursdays, which enjoyed a short but mighty run before it (and his restaurant, Xiao Ye) were shut down by the NYPD. This was back when Four Loko was still in its "we're legal but we'll fuck you up" stage, not in its watered-down, Dimetapp-with-some-bubbles current state. I wanted to go to there so bad.

Anyway, I thought it was awesome to see a (cool) Asian-American doing his thang in the restaurant business, so I found his blog and Twitter. Since his General Loko days, Huang has rubbed elbows with Anthony Bourdain & Tom Colicchio, seen Baohaus take off and even found a place for himself among other 2013 TED fellows. Lately, he's been illin with VICE magazine for a short web series called "Fresh Off the Boat." Check out the first two episodes in Taiwan below and follow Eddie on some food adventures around the world on VICE's YouTube.





This one I had to throw in because it features Filipino food:

"I think our generation...it's our job to break the barriers and get people to eat outside their comfort zone."

Seattle: King Tut's Going Strong at Pacific Science Center!

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"Everywhere, the glint of gold." - Howard Carter

If you're looking for something amazing to do this holiday season, make sure the King Tut exhibit at the Pacific Science Center is on your list. Whether you're entertaining guests from out of town or looking for something different to do in the city you live in, the King Tut exhibit is a must-see.

The Pacific Science Center is currently housing over 100 artifacts from the young pharoah's tomb plus other ancient Egyptian rulers' sites, chronicling over 2000 years of rich culture, opulence and history. I remember doing a major project on Ancient Egypt in third grade around a book on her majesty, Queen Hathepsut. I've been hooked on the ancient civilization ever since, and was stoked when PacSci invited me down for a blogger tour in August.

Some highlights you'll see on this tour include: a 10-foot statue that's the largest image of King Tut ever unearthed; the boy king's golden sandals; Khufu (the king whose face adorns the Great Sphinx and commissioner of one of the Great Pyramids); the first CT scans of King Tut's mummy; and Harrison Ford's voice accompanying you through the exhibit on the audio guide.

The exhibit runs through January 6th, 2013 and is the last stop in North America before it heads back to Egypt for good. The majority of proceeds from the tour support the preservation and conservation of antiquities and monuments in Egypt, including construction of the new Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza.

Unfortunately, exhibit-goers can no longer take photographs as they go through the exhibit, but it's my pleasure to share the ones I took with you before the rule was instated. You can see the rest on the Fresh Jess Facebook page.

Getting Fresh at The Bar Method Seattle (+ Giveaway!)

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A couple of weeks ago, I took a barre class for the first time - and it kicked my ass in a way that no other workout has ever done before.

You can go to almost any gym now and take a barre class. The biggest common thread is that they all incorporate a ballet barre in the workout. What sets The Bar Method apart is the blend of interval training (fat-burning), isometrics (muscle-shaping), dance conditioning (flexibility & elongation) and the science of physical therapy with personalized attention and results.

What's all that mean?

Basically, a class at The Bar Method is an intensive hour, an extreme bang for your buck and a magnifying glass on what you're doing shone on you by people who know exactly what they're doing.

That's why we take workout classes, right? If we stayed content in our comfort zone, we wouldn't see results. My time at The Bar Method was tough on me mentally and physically, but left me with the determination to do better. I knew where my bar was set (no pun intended), and I know I can only get better from there. 

At a Bar Method class, you can expect: a warm-up, free-weight exercises & push-ups; leg, seat & ab work at the bar; then more ab work on the floor; with plenty of stretching in between. One of the key differentiators between Bar Method and other classes is the philosophy of the workout, which in the case of Bar Method is designed to sculpt muscle, putting the least impact on the joints an burning the maximum amount of calories. Bar Method instructors are purists who only teach Bar Method. They are handpicked from among our existing clients & go through over 300 hours of extensive training prior to teaching their first class.

GIVEAWAY

They say that barre yields the best benefits when performed 3-5x per week. Lucky for you, I've got a month of unlimited classes* to give away! Want to win it? Just leave me a comment below & you'll be entered to win!

I'll draw a winner on Friday, November 23rd at 5:00p.m. Good luck! *Seattle residents new to The Bar Method only.

Fresh Style: Fight Night

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By day, my boyfriend is a spreadsheet ninja (analyst) at a global non-profit based in Seattle. By night, he's a professional mixed martial arts fighter. When I get to put my fighter wifey hat on for his fights, I always have a lot of fun dressing for it. 

The thoughts running through my mind are mostly around finding a balance between the glitzy glamour of Vegas fights and the overwhelming lack of any kind of dress code of fights here in Washington state. I never expect to attract attention, but I want to look put together for my fighter's big night. More than anything, I have to be comfortable and I have to stay true to my own style.

What you see here is the product of all that brainstorming before his last fight in August. Vintage, military and leather with red lips, a few accents and sleek hair. The ingredients for a fun night of fights!

Stones jacket from Piperlime / Vintage Eazy-E tee / Vegan leather skirt (similar) / Vintage Dior belt / ShoeMINT Kristin wedges c/o Bollare / Vintage crossbody bag / Jeweled bib necklace (similar)

Fresh Jess in NYC: Microsoft Store Launch & Surface Tablet

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Last week, I flew out to NYC for a last-minute trip to help Microsoft celebrate the launch of the Surface tablet alongside Windows 8 & the grand opening of the Microsoft Store holiday pop-up in Times Square.  I was accompanied by my best friend Paula, three other invited guests from Nashville, Chicago & L.A. and their friends.  It was a whirlwind of fun, learning, exploring and luck! (We got out of there early Sunday morning and avoided any Hurricane Sandy chaos. Phew!)

You can see shots from my trip on the Fresh Jess Facebook page, including the big Microsoft Store opening, Windows 8 installations in the middle of Times Square, and more playing around with the Surface Tablet in the store. Microsoft was kind enough to equip us with photographers and a video crew who recorded our time in the store. 

So what were my initial thoughts? Watch the video below:

So what are my thoughts on the Surface tablet?

Before I share them with you, I just want to stress that I am not a gadget geek at all. I don't need the latest and greatest, I want something reliable that does most of the things I need it to. I own all Mac products, but do not own an iPad. These are the opinions of a casual tech consumer who spends a ton of time on a computer working and on social media.

That being said, I think the Surface tablet is a great lifestyle computer. The resolution is great, the screen's glare-resistant and is really responsive to touch & swipe. There are touch covers in several colors, but I found the keyboard on these touch covers not as responsive as the tablet screen or the Type Pad cover (I got one of those.) It's got a built-in kickstand, USB and memory card ports.

I'm a big fan of the Start screen. It's colorful and customizable to the apps, sites and settings of your liking. There are a ton of apps in the Microsoft Store, but small in comparison to the Apple or Android store. I'm hoping developers will warm up to making more sweet apps for the Surface soon! I'd love to see native apps for Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram. One big feature of the Surface is the "Charms" sidebar, which appears with a short swipe of the right side of the screen and allows you to share links and updates from your Surface among other things. Until I see native apps for those social media sites, though, I don't know that I'll use Charms often. A swipe of the bottom of the screen will bring up more settings controls.

What are my other favorite features?

I love that Microsoft Office 2013 is included in the Surface tablet. I bought MS Office for my MacBook Air, and it's nice to be able to work on documents, spreadsheets & PowerPoint presentations on either one. 

The camera is amazing. The screen sits at an angle when it's in kickstand mode, but the camera corrects itself and captures a lot. You can fit at least four people in on a conference call on it. 

Resolution for movies and music videos is clear too. Battery life will get you through a whole day of use, so if you're only using it sparingly, should keep for a few days.

I've had a lot of people ask me how it compares to the iPad, or if they should trade out their iPad for a Surface tablet. I think it's like comparing apples and oranges. If you've got an iPad and you love it, why would you want to make a switch? It'd be hard to switch between operating systems, but if you're only using the Surface for some light work and mostly entertainment purposes, it's a good choice. More than anything, think about your needs & budget for your tablet, then go from there.

I'm honored to be among the first to play with it, and look forward to seeing what Microsoft does to improve it in the months and years to come.

All photos above credit Edelman & Microsoft

I'll finish this post with some of my own behind-the-scenes photos:

In action!

Getting prepped

Interviewing Microsoft Store manager Melinda

Thank you Microsoft for my new toy!

The outfit: Stones jacket from Piperlime / Zara sweater, booties & bag / Old Navy Rockstar jeans / Gifted bib necklace (similar)

Check out the Surface tablet with Windows RT at MicrosoftStore.com. Thanks again!

Fresh Style: Leather Night Out

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Sometimes you gotta dress for a night that starts early and ends (somewhat) late. This particular night started at the Seattle Arts Museum for the Elles exhibition preview; moved onto the Diesel store for Crown Social's anniversary shindig; stopped by Tigerbeat Thursdays at TIG Tapas & Asian Bar in Pioneer Square and ended back downtown at the Rich Kids Brand fall launch party at 1927 Events. Then home in bed by midnight!

In case you couldn't tell, I'm reveling in the mountain of leather, vegan leather & leather-accented pieces available this season. I also am a fan of military & utilitarian anything. I like to stay in comfortable & functional wear!

Four different events with some elements of business and some of fun. One outfit to encompass it all. 

Stones military jacket w/leather sleeves / Nameless Clothing sheer hippie oversize dress top (worn as a shirt) via Flat 84 womens' tops / Zara platform wedge booties / Vintage clutch / Wood earrings from Moksha

Photos courtesy Crown Social & Rich Kids Brand

Fashion: Workroom to Runway at the Wing Luke Asian Museum

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The Wing Luke Asian Museum has a fabulous fashion exhibition in place right now. Fashion: Workroom to Runway highlights personal stories from early sewing schools and garment workers to current designers in the limelight.

Asian Pacific Americans have helped shape the garment and fashion industry in many ways, from design and production to finished product. Now, they're making their mark as innovative, successful and respected figures in the garment and fashion industry.  Get a taste for the creative process and hard work involved in this industry and see original designs by local and national designers. Learn about issues on ethics and labor, stereotypes, ideals of beauty and the APA influence. 

Fashion: Workroom to Runway features national and local designers and professionals, including: 

Gei Chan, Banchong Douangphrachanh, Harold Koda, Hisako Nakaya, Josie Natori, Maiden Noir, Malia Peoples, Andy South, Chrissy Wai-Ching & Luly Yang.

The Wing Luke Asian Museum is open Tues-Sun, 10:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. First Thursdays and Third Saturdays are free to the public, 10:00a.m. to 8:00p.m. Exhibits are free for young children and all members, and $8.95 - $12.95 for non-members. Visit the Wing Luke museum's website for more info.

Seattle: Worn to Be Wild Debuts at EMP with Project Leather

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The EMP Museum's newest exhibition is a look through the history of leather's foray from the outskirts of culture to one of the most timelessly fashionable pieces in our wardrobes today.

Worn to be Wild: The Black Leather Jacket Showcases History of Iconic Garment is presented in partnership with the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee and runs through January 13, 2013. The EMP kicked off this awesome exhibition with Project Leather, a runway show featuring some of Seattle's established and upcoming designers. 

AlixRose and I had a blast at Project Leather and got to take a walk through the exhibition afterwards. Enjoy photos from the runway show below, and photos from the exhibition on the Fresh Jess Facebook page.

Mango wool belted coat (thrifted) / Umgee USA Autumn white splatter top via Flat 84 / Tobi vegan leather skirt (similar here) / Zara wedge platform booties

All photos below courtesy of EMP Museum

Fresh Friends: Jessica Piha & JVP Media

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I'm reviving my Fresh Friends series, highlighting some of the best and brightest talents that I've encountered here in Seattle and beyond. In a few brief questions, you'll find out a little more about what makes these fabulous people tick - what lights the fire that inspires them to pursue their passions.

Next up, meet Jessica Piha, who recently launched JVP Media. Taking the leap into starting your own business is one of the scariest but most rewarding things, and it's no surprise this go-getter made it look easy.

What do you do? 

I recently launched my own PR business, JVP Media! It’s been my lifelong dream to run my own business. I come from a long line of small business owners and I hope to achieve the great success that my father and grandfather have had.

Who inspires you, and why?

My family, boyfriend and strong, independent women who help other women inspire me.

Penelope Ann Miller outfitted in Blue Nile Jewelry thanks to Jessica

What are you listening to right now?

I love classical music, so I’ll listen to 98.1 a lot. I also love NPR so I’m tuned into KUOW a lot to.

Brooklyn Decker outfitted in Blue Nile Jewelry thanks to Jessica

What are your favorite things about Seattle?

The entrepreneurial spirit and gorgeous scenery makes it a very easy place to live!

Helen Mirren outfitted in Blue Nile Jewelry thanks to Jessica

Where can we usually find you?

www.jvpmedia.com is my website and I’m currently accepting clients! Also, I’ve found a nice little niche with twitter, @jvpmedia. Physically, I’m a homebody believe it or not and nothing gives me greater pleasure than cooking a great dinner for friends or family.