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January 4, 2016

Four Things


Last July my lovely Australian friend Vanessa posted an interesting blogging tag on her her site, Nessbow, that I hadn't seen before (best I could recall) in which the person posting about it shares four different answers to a slew of various quick, fun questions.

Being a fan of blog tags and the like, this one struck a chord with me and I decided right then and there that I'd post my own replies to the Four Things questions as soon as I got the chance. Little did I know it would take the better part of six months for that to happen, but as the second half of the tends to be for me/us, this past one was immensely busy.

Today, on the first Monday of the new year, a time when many of our brains are still in holiday mood (even if we're heading back to work and/or school this morning), I thought it would be fun to ease into the blogging year by giving the Four Things blog tag a spin (with speedy, breezy answers). I'm not going to tap anyone specifically to play along, so if you'd like to do so yourself, by all means have at 'er!

Four places I've lived


* Calgary, Alberta

* Dublin, Ireland

* Toronto, Ontario

* The historical living ghost town of Barkerville (technically the tiny community of Wells, right outside of it), British Columbia



Four jobs I've had


* Candy store manager

* Printing company office manager

* Professional photographer

* Freelance writer (and ghost writer)



Four things I don't eat


As I've mentioned before here over the years, there is a huge volume of different foods that I can't safely eat because of some of my medical conditions, but I'm going to take that out of the equation and think back to foods that I wasn't a fan of in those glorious days when I could have eaten whatever I pleased (though should mention, I've always been an adventurous eater and there aren't many foods I strongly dislike).

* Most types of seafood (though I do really like some, such as grilled salmon or popcorn shrimp)

* Yellow grapefruit (or its juice)

* Blue cheese of any type (mixed into a "four cheese" sauce or such, I don't mind it though)

* Lime beans



Four of my favourite foods




Again, I'm going to answer these as though I didn't have any medical dietary restrictions.

* Pizza (especially a great Margarita, ham and pineapple, or bbq chicken pizza - yum!!!)

* English trifle

* Hamburger Pie

* Stroganoff




Four films I've watched more than once


* Hocus Pocus

* Back to the Future

* Roman Holiday

White Christmas



Four TV shows I watch


* Sherlock Holmes

* Masters of Sex

* Ripper Street (Bennet Drake for the win. Always.)

* Suits

Four celebrity crushes
 

* Cary Grant

* Marcello Mastroianni

** Pierce Brosnan

* Liam Neeson



Four pet peeves


In general I like to think of myself as an easy going person who doesn't sweat the small things too much and who tries to find and see the good in as many situations as I can, so this was the only tricky question, in terms of the answers, that I encountered in this post.

* Stores that close needlessly early and/or aren't open on completely logical days.

* When you want to buy something online and its sold out in your size on every single website that stocks said piece (and all the more so when its a newly released item!).

* Public restrooms - and there are no shortage of them - that doesn't provide paper toilet seat covers (I get around this by usually just carrying a purse pack of my own)

* When you get a pit in an olive that is supposed to be pitted (it's so easy to break a tooth that way!)


Four things I wish I could do


* Travel through time (1940s shopping spree, anyone? :))

* Have the health and funds needed to take an around-the-world trip

* Live in a gorgeous Victorian house akin to this stunner (who knows, maybe some day!)

* Paint like one of the great masters


Four subjects I studied in school


* English

* History

* Psychology

* Home economics



Four things that are (located) near me right now


* Our adorable little grey tabby cat, Stella

* The latest outgoing orders from my Etsy shop (where my 30% storewide winter holiday season sale is enjoying its last and final day)

* A great historical fashion book that I'm going to be reviewing and giving away here later on this month (you'll have to turn into find out which one!)

* An extra blanket (it is January after all!)



Four things I'm looking forward to this year 


* Next Halloween (though that is true of every year! :))

* Hopefully getting the chance to do a little traveling

* Making more YouTube videos

* My Etsy shop's 2nd anniversary in early May



{To learn more about a specific image used in this post, please click on it to be taken to its respective source.}

 
♥ ♥ ♥


I really did aim for brevity here, so if there's anything that I mentioned that you'd like to know more about, please don't hesitate to ask.

Thank you very much, dear Vanessa, for posting these questions on your terrific blog and in turn inspiring me to pen today's post. I always delight in sharing more about myself through such avenues and feel like this is a great note for any blogger to kick a brand new year off on!

60 comments:

  1. I think I might know what book that is :) Hope you enjoy/have enjoyed it! I don't know if this is going to sound stupid, but I don't think I even know what paper toilet seat covers are... I don't think they've made it to the UK! And I've finally found something where we're un-alike - I love both seafood and blue cheese ;) x

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    1. Your hunch is correct on the book front, sweet dear (and I've definitely been enjoying it big time - there are few things I love to read about more than the general topic that it falls under).

      Hmm, now you've got me thinking. I don't honestly recall if I ever encountered paper toilet seat covers while in Europe. That was almost a decade ago now, and if I did, I don't remember it. Personally I think they should be required by law in all public restrooms, but then again, I fall into the a-bathroom-can-never-be-too-clean camp, so perhaps not everyone else would feel as strongly about the matter as I do.

      Good to know! You and Tony are alike there. The seafood one always threw me, as I really am a fairly adventurous eater, but I guess we all just have a few foods or food groups that for whatever reason, are not are cup of tea (or in this case, bouillabaisse).

      Hard to believe that the holiday season is coming to a close and that we're back to the usual daily grind today. I hope that your festive days were marvelous ones and that this year is already off to a great start for you, my dear friend.

      Oodles of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  2. Great questions, and I love all your cute vintage graphics! Candy store manager...sounds fun and dangerous!! I worked in the retail store of a cheese factory during holidays as a teenager. Odd and educational!

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    1. Thank you very much, lovely lady. The pay was atrocious, the store owner (who thankfully was almost never there) was pretty much akin to a Rocky & Bullwinkle villain, and it was anything but a lucrative career, but those points scarcely mattered. I was very young and very in need of a job and I'm grateful that I had that one when I did. Plus, I learned a lot more about candy and cut my teeth in the retail word, so there were certainly silver linings (I totally agree with your description of the experience being odd and educational at the same time, that rings true for me as well).

      Have a splendid week!
      ♥ Jessica

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  3. Very glad to see Bennett Drake is your fave in Ripper Street! He's my favourite too.

    Have you seen Peaky Blinders yet? If you like Ripper Street, Peaky Blinders could well be your sort of thing. I very much enjoy both.

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    1. How can you not love Mr. Drake? He's got that perfect combination of tortured soul, kind heart, and fair handed toughness. :)

      I haven't see Peaky Blinders yet, no, but I'm virtually certain its on Netflix Canada, so I'll definitely look into it. Thank you very much for the recommendation, sweet Mim.

      Big hugs & happy start of January wishes!
      ♥ Jessica

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  4. Replies
    1. Thank you very much, sweet lady. I hope that your year is off to a terrific start!

      Happy New Year's wishes!
      ♥ Jessica

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  5. This is such a great idea for a post! Love when bloggers share more than the usual style posts. You've lived in far cooler places than I ever have and I also share a distaste for public restrooms. My least favorite thing...

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    1. Seriously...they're a necessary evil of course, but, really, why must they be such hovels often? I have encountered some that were, relatively speaking, pleasant, but they're very few and far between.

      Thank you very much, sweet dear. I adore that as well and always enjoy when tags, interviews or similar things give me a chance to share facts about myself that I haven't done so (or at least done often) here over almost seven years of blogging.

      Big hugs & happy first week of January wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  6. I'm hoping to make more Youtube videos this year, too! I've never been a fan of seafood in general, which appalls most people since I live next to the ocean and seafood is a huge part of Chinese cuisine. Cary Grant is so classically cool, I love his films. Gregory Peck is right up there tied with him, for me, though.

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    1. We're not alone. Though countless people go wild for the ocean's bounty, I have encountered plenty of others (interestingly, in my experience, more often men than women) who aren't fans either. I don't mind some types (and really do love both salmon and popcorn shrimp), but as much of a foodie as I am, I know that I'll never be sitting down to it for supper each night by any means.

      Thank you very much for your great comment, sweet dear. I look forward to seeing any and all new videos you share with us this year.

      Many hugs & happy Tuesday wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  7. I am so jealous you worked in a candy store! I have always wanted to work in a candy store - like Willy Wonka! Or in a book store, either/or! Pretty much any film with Audrey Hepburn is a win for me!

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    1. It was a pretty neat experience for sure. A lot of pros and cons to put it mildly, but ultimately quite fun. The fact that most of the staff and I were all in our late teens and it often felt like a bunch of friends just hanging out after school certainly didn't hurt at all. I would love to work in a bookstore (or library), too. I'm a huge bookworm though, so I'd probably end up spending my pay cheque before it was even cashed. :D

      Big hugs & happy first week of January wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  8. What a fun post! I like learning new things about you. Such as your prior residence in Toronto -- I plan to visit there this year. I'll probably right my bike up; it's not far from the New York/Canada border. "Masters of Sex" is a great TV show.

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    1. It really is a stellar show. Tony and I were both hooked from the first episode and love that it still gives us a mid-century dramatic series in the wake of Mad Men wrapping up.

      How exciting that you're planning a trip to Toronto! If you're aiming to do some vintage shopping, drop me a line before you leave and I'll share a list of my favourite shops (assuming they're still open) there.

      Here's to a stellar 2016!

      ♥ Jessica

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  9. Oooh, I've been wanting to watch Masters of Sex! I've actually been thinking of getting a standalone Showtime subscription so that I can watch that, and The Affair. And pitted olives with pits - totally a legit pet peeve.

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    1. It's fantastic and could be well worth the subscription, IMO. If you were a Mad Men fan, chances are you'll absolutely dig MOS as well. So glad to know I'm not the only who gets irked by pits in supposedly pit-less olives. The risk for a dental emergency is sooo high there!

      Have a fabulous first week of January, my lovely friend!
      ♥ Jessica

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  10. Oh what a fun post! Have a Happy New Year, Jessica! I wanna watch all the Back to the Future movies now.

    Carla, Tiny Angry Crafts

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    1. They're the best! I love watching them all again every year or two (ditto for a few other classic 80s series like Crocodile Dundee and the Naked Guns). Too bad we don't live closer, it would be a blast to have a viewing marathon together.

      Joyful New Year's wishes to you as well, sweet dear!
      ♥ Jessica

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  11. 1940's shopping spree? I'm there!

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    1. Wouldn't it be amazing? Especially if we could take our 21st income with us to shop back then. Talk about bang for one's buck! :)

      I hope that all is well on your end as we welcome in the new year, Deb, and that you had a terrific holiday season.

      Big hugs & best wishes for 2016!
      ♥ Jessica

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  12. This was a fun post. I always love reading more about my favorite bloggers. Oh, and I totally agree with you on the public restroom pet peeve, what's up with that? Hope you are having a good 2016 so far ;)

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    1. Thank you very much, lovely lady. I am indeed and hope that you are as well. Jam packed busy, but I knew it would be (much like December, and really, the fall, too), so I'm not caught off guard by it. The main focus for me this week is my business taxes, as the filing for some elements of it (such as the provincial sales tax that I have to, by law, charge customers in BC) is due this month, so I'm throwing myself into that to get it taken care of asap. Then I can hopefully grab a quick breather before launching into getting plenty of new listings up in my Etsy shop in the near future.

      Big hugs & joyful New Year's wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  13. Good morning dear Jessica,

    I really enjoyed this post! It was fun seeing the jobs you’ve had, the food you love, the things you love and would love to do.

    Roman Holiday is one of my favorite movies and has some of my very favorite actors.

    I collected your Hamburger Pie and potato salad recipes (although I don’t think your point was the potato salad, but biting into olive pits – however, the salad sounds good).

    I attempted to take a peek at your dream Victorian house, but the link refused to work for me.I, personally, want a little cottage by the seaside. (I probably won’t get it in this life, but I am hoping heaven has something like that.)

    Hmm…a historical fashion book giveaway – sounds very exciting!

    Although I am still sad about Christmas being over, I am looking forward to the many good things the New Year has in store.

    Love and hugs,
    ♥Hope

    P.S. When seat covers are not available, I just line the seat with toilet paper :)

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    1. Hi sweet Hope, thank you very much for your wonderfully nice comment. Agreed, that potato salad recipe (which I think I actually featured here in a recipe post unto itself a while back) does sound delicious. I adore a great potato salad and like to make them all year round, not just during the dog days of summer.

      I do that trick, too. My mom taught her kids to always do that in public restrooms and I never use one without employing it (or a seat cover). Safety and health first!

      It is a touch sad that the Christmas season is pretty much over at this point. We had such a lovely one this time around. It whizzed past, but left us with scores of happy memories that I know I'll look back fondly on for a long time to come. I really hope that the same was/is true for you as well.

      Strange about the link not working. It definitely was when I wrote the post just the other day. Perhaps that site is down? Here's another fairly similar 19th century stunner that I would be over-the-moon elated to call my own (a gal can always dream!!!): http://homesoftherich.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_8580rt-OPS.jpg

      Many thanks for your lovely comment. I hope that all is well on your end this week and that some of those good things you mentioned are already coming your way.

      Many hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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    2. Hello there dear Jessica,

      I just followed that link you gave me. Wow! What a grand house that is! That is dreamy, all right!

      The first thought that came to my mind when I saw this house was the 1960 Walt Disney movie Pollyanna.

      When I was younger, this would have been the kind of house I would have dreamed of filling with children of my own. Alas, my baby days are over.

      Yes, thank you, we did have a spectacular Christmas and New Years. I have two older children who no longer live at home, but both of them spent several night here during the holidays. It was such a joy to have everyone home.

      Thank you for the delightful chat. It is always a pleasure visiting with you, dearest Jessica.

      Hugs and good night,
      ♥Hope

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    3. You're sincerely welcome, dear Hope. The feeling is completely mutual and I really have to say how much I've always appreciated the fact that you put such time, thought and care into your blog comments.

      I'm really happy to hear that you and your family were able to all get together this holiday season. I can just imagine how marvelous that must have been for everyone.

      Many thanks again & have a splendid rest of your week,
      ♥ Jessica

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  14. Love this list! I might swipe this idea for my blog. ;-) I agree with so many things on this list, like the food dislikes and the movie likes. Love Hocus Pocus and White Christmas! Oh, and Cary Grant. Always Cary Grant. ;-)

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    1. Please swipe away! I'd love to read your own answers anytime. Tags like these are so fun and a nice way to inject a bit more of one's self into their site.

      Wishing you a fantastic first week of January,
      ♥ Jessica

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  15. this is really a fun tag!!
    can i come with you on the 40s shopping trip?! and maybe we can meet here and there on our around the world travel? :-)
    once a friend of mine stole a olive from my plate (at a arabien restaurant) and broke a tooth on the unexpected pit!!!!
    the kitty and a blanket are my accessories too right now!
    big hugs! xxxxxx

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    1. That's my exact fear with the pits. It's not chocking or the "shock" of a pit, but the potential dental emergencies that they can create. I'm sorry that happened to your friend and hope they were able to get their tooth repaired.

      Please do! One definitely needs a good friend by their side when on a time travel shopping spree. :)

      Tons of hugs to you and your darling kitty (from Miss Stella and I),
      ♥ Jessica

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  16. This was lots of fun! You have reminded me that I need to catch up on Masters of Sex, I watched half the first series and then kept missing when it was on. I saw Mim's suggestion of Peaky Blinders and I second that, it is brilliantly done, I really enjoyed it and want season 3 to be ready right now!

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    1. You ladies have amply convinced me. The next chance I get to spend some quality time with a new (to me) series, Peaky Blinders it is. Thank you for the great recommendation.

      Oodles of hugs & happy start of January wishes, sweet Kate,
      ♥ Jessica

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  17. The moment I read the post tittle I knew I had to make one myself! I might add something, like fashion, art or music related :)

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    1. Definitely do! It's really cool to watch tags evolve, so to speak, as they're shared from one blog to the next. I'm delighted to know that this post spoke to you, honey, and really look forward to reading your answers.

      Big hugs & happy Tuesday wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  18. Always lovely to get to know someone even better! This is a great way!! So simple!

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    1. Thank you very much! I agree 100% and always adore it when fellow bloggers that I follow post similar tags/Q&A. They're not a great way to share more about one's self in the moment, but I often find that answering such questions can spark a whole post (or two) pertaining to one of the points as well.

      Have a fantastic New Year!
      ♥ Jessica

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  19. Really great list. I wish home economics got the credit it deserves I teach special ed in a separate school for intellectualy disabled kids and
    They got rid of home economics for more academics
    I also love trifle

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    1. I couldn't possibly agree more with you, Kate. It was, and remains, such an important part of one's well rounded education (after all, those are very practical life skills being taught there, which are equally beneficial to both girls and boys) and I think that we as a society lost something timeless and great when home ec was cut from a lot of schools.

      Thank you for your great comment, my fellow trifle adoring gal!

      ♥ Jessica

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  20. Hello Jess!
    Snowy Christmas greetings from accross the globe!
    (ahh, that day off - and the time to relax, read some blog posts, get some inspiration.. and eat your heart out!). :)
    ...
    I'm quite fond of lists.
    I believe they are the perfect way to learn more about someone. That is why, when we were kids, we used to make those little books with question on every page, and send them off to our class-mates to fill in.. I guess I never grew out of it.
    Say, did you have those???

    Many hugs.
    I would send you treats, but I'm affraid they won't make it all the way to your place.

    M.

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    1. So lovely! It's exciting that you get to experience Christmas in January, my sweet friend. I hope that your celebration has been going marvelously.

      I adore lists, too. Online and off, they're a daily part of my life and such a help to a workaholic like me. :)

      We didn't have quite those same lists at my school, but I can certainly recall passing notes with my girlfriends that included fun, silly Q&A's.

      Tons of festive wishes & hugs!
      ♥ Jessica

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  21. What a fun post! And such a great way to learn a bit more about you Jessica :) I love your pizza choice (Now I'm hungry) and I agree with you about the strange times of stores as well (that can be so frustrating, especially when you make a special trip). I also enjoyed knowing about where you have worked before. For some reason a Candy Store Manager seems so fitting for you because you are so light and friendly.

    Anyways wonderful post and I just might have to do one of my own soon.

    Have a super week!

    liz :)

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    1. Hi sweet Liz, I think this is quite a prevalent Canadian problem. It's almost becoming a run joke with me and Tony, as so many places around here have the strangest closing times (think like 5:45, and in general many of them close at half hour marks, not on the hour). Good to know that we're not the only ones who have noticed this.

      Aww, what a touchingly lovely compliment. Thank you so much! It was one of those jobs that had quite a few pros and cons for sure, but it was a job at the end of the day at a time when I desperately needed one, so I'm grateful for the time I spent working there.

      Ooohh, I really look forward to seeing your own answers if you do play along, my dear friend. I always adore getting the chance to learn more about you.

      Big hugs & happy Thursday wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  22. Four things ... And I find myself here with just ONE thing one my mind PIZZA! Yes, especially a great magaritha, you are so right. Yum. I have to change dinner plans.
    xx

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    1. I'm so craving pizza right now, too. There's no place in our town that has 100% guaranteed safe GF pizza, so when I just can't shake the craving, I make my own and might have to do that again soon. :)

      Have a great week, lovely lady!
      ♥ Jessica

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  23. You have been a candy store manager! How fun! And for once we are not alike - I adore seafood. But we watch the same movies over and over again. Could we go on a fifties shopping spree? Or at least late forties, that is after the release of Dior's New Look. Wishing you a lovely day, dear. :)

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    1. For sure! I'd be equally elated with either. Just think of how incredible it would be to walk into a whole department store filled with 1950s items when they were new. From the selection to the range of sizes to the vibrancy of the colours, I'm sure it would be the epitome of awesome to vintage lovers like us.

      Thanks! It was a mixed bag experience for sure, but there were fun elements certainly and more over, it was a job at a time when I needed one desperately, so I'll always be grateful for the experience (and the wealth of knowledge I picked up about candy in the process).

      Tons of hugs from snowy Penticton,
      Jessica

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  24. What a fun post...and all the images, I just love them!

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Stephanie. It was a blast rounding up relevant ones for this entry, especially since here's few things I enjoy more than spending time with (looking at/studying/savouring :)) vintage images.

      I hope that all is well on your end this week and that you have a splendid weekend!

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  25. A day of shopping in the past--just yes! I mean the glove counter alone right?! I'm right there with you. I also love pizza, Sherlock, and Ripper Street, all together they would make for a lovely evening :)

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    1. Seriously - and don't even get me started on the millinery department! So many swoons! :)

      It's awesome that we share so many loves in common. Awww, now I wish all the more that we lived nearby. How awesome would it be to get together, binge watch those shows, tuck into some pizza, and talk more about how amazing a fantasy vintage shopping trip would be. :)

      Big hugs & joyful weekend wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  26. I always love reading more about the ladies behinds the blogs :) Fun post Jessica!

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    1. Thank you sweetly, dear gal. I do as well and wish that more folks still did blog tags like these. I don't plan to stop anytime soon, so you'll likely see others from me as time goes on (when I find, or are tapped to take part in, one that speaks to me).

      Big hugs & happy weekend wishes!
      ♥ Jessica

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  27. WOW Jessica, seriously CANDY STORE MANAGER?!?!
    I would have never made it there, I would have been caught eating up all the candy...

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    1. That urge was there at first, but after a couple of weeks, it almost entirely vanished - almost! :)

      Thank you very much for your blog comments today, dear Lorena. I hope that 2016 is going well for you so far.

      Many hugs!
      ♥ Jessica

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  28. What a cool post idea! I did a similar one on my facebook account not that long ago except it was a three things post. Interesting thing was that I have not lived more than two different places or had more than three jobs. I agree about Cary Grant. I think he (or atleast some of the roles he played) had a lot of good traits.

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    1. Three things, you say...my blog question adoring interests have been piqued! :) Please feel free to share the link to that tag with me anytime. I'm always looking for others to play along with. They're a great way to both help my readers get to know me better and to offer further variety in terms of the types of blog entries that I post.

      Thank you again for playing along with this one your site, honey. It was such a blast reading your answers and getting to know you better.

      Tons of hugs & happy weekend wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  29. Hi Jessica! =D I have loved this post, so adorable to know you better! I wish I could paint like one of the great masters too, I hate dirty public restrooms, love Pierce Brosnan (he is very popular here in Portugal) and strogonoff (estrogonofe has we say :) )

    Muahs, have a lovely week!
    Narcissa*

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    1. Hi sweet Narcissa, I adore that we share so much in common. It's really cool that Pierce has such a large following in Portugal.

      I hope that you're doing well and enjoying a great January, beautiful lady.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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