LES MISÉRABLES at The Seattle Paramount is HERE! I had the mind-blowing opportunity to attend the opening night performance with my husband and WOW. I have seen A LOT of shows, but never, ever, never Les Mis… until Tuesday night.

Photo by Matthew Murphy

Broadway-level brilliance. No notes.

OK, I have a few:

Les Misérables at The Seattle Paramount… I have not one negative to note. Broadway came to the Paramount and didn’t hold back. Both my husband and I were captivated by the broad range of talent – not only the singing and acting, but the talent of the set design, sound design, and the costume design… simply incredible.

Photo by Matthew Murphy

PNW friends, if you are holding out to see Les Misérables in NYC, I would encourage you to think twice. The performance in Les Misérables at The Seattle Paramount is stacked with the highest measure of skill and talent as any Broadway show in NYC. We are so fortunate to have Broadway at the Paramount here is Seattle. I have been to quite a few of the Paramount’s Broadway shows and every one has left me filled with awe and delight.

Photo by Matthew Murphy

There are still tickets available to see Les Misérables at The Seattle Paramount, and the show runs through April 19th. Tickets are available online at STGPresents.org, Ticketmaster.com, or in person at The Paramount Theatre Box Office at 911 Pine Street in Downtown Seattle (Monday – Friday, 10am to 6pm).

We laughed. We cried. I didn’t want it to end.

Let me leave you with the words of my husband he shared in his Facebook post, “Zero miserable is more like it. Total opposite of miserable as a matter of fact.”

More information can be found at LesMis.com, the official global website for LES MISÉRABLES.

Do you remember the time my daughter and I Saw Phantom of the Opera at The Paramount? That was fun too. You can read about it here.

The post Les Misérables at The Seattle Paramount: A Masterpiece appeared first on Jenny On the Spot.

My new book, Bible Study Workbook for Kids: Lessons, Activities, Quizzes, and Questions to Deepen Your Faith is available for preorder now and comes out August 6th, 2024!

Explore the amazing and meaningful stories in the Bible with this study guide for kids. Each week for a whole year, you’ll read a different passage from the Bible. Then, you’ll dive into fun questions and activities that will help you think about what you learned and grow closer to God. Kids and families will, draw, fill in the blanks, and try hands-on projects using items around your home as you read and discuss stories like “Adam and Eve,” “The Last Supper,” and “Daniel Faces the Lions’ Den.”

Inside this book you will find:

• 52 engaging Bible stories or lessons in Bible Study Workbook for Kids
• Each story includes an accompanying message to connect more deeply with the story
• Each lesson includes an activity such as a quiz, matching, or general activity to pull out a deeper understanding of the story
• Each lesson also includes an object lesson crafted to encourage deeper learning by getting those hands and brains busy.
• Busy families, I thought of you! Most items needed for object lessons can easily be found around the house
• The end of each chapter (or lesson) includes two questions. A child can work independently on these, but the real value is when discussed with an adult or as a family. These questions as a great way to open up dialog and help the child make connections not only with the lesson, but with his or her family.

Would you like a little peek inside? I can do that for ya!

Bible Study Workbook for Kids is available for preorder from your favorite book seller!

If you preorder (you can do that here!), you will receive the book ON release day, which is August 6th. If you do NOT preorder – it doesn’t mean you wont get the book, it just means you’ll be late to the party 😉

Originally, Bible Study Workbook for Kids was to be be published the Spring of 2022. Then it seemed it was going to disappear forever. I was devastated. I fell in love with this book. It was so sad for me to potentially not be able to share it with the world. But! God is good! In fact, due to the delay we got to make some important edits. The book got new artwork too, and I LOVE how it turned out.

I also need to give a shout-out to my editor, Laura Apperson. This book is so much better and solidly thought-out because of her inquisitive, wise, and keen eye. How incredible to have worked with such a hard-working and smart woman.

God is good. I hope you love this book. It is an honor to be part of bringing a piece of learning more about God into the homes and lives of families.

xo, Jenny

The post Bible Study Workbook for Kids – My New Book! appeared first on Jenny On the Spot.

Also, some links may be affiliate links which means I receive a portion of sales made using these links at no added cost to you!

As I was saying… I will be hitting “buy” on those adorable camo jogger jeans (PAIGE Women’s Mayslie Jogger here) soonly as they are on wicked sale and while I am not a brand-snob, I do know that Paige jeans are *chef’s kiss* and these are a deal as of the moment I am typing this.

The other item is the woven bag/tote. I love her and hope to add her to my collection of bags that I roate through. I love options!

The rest of my Amazon summer faves are:

• Kimono – There are many color options for this Kimono, but I love the golden yellow! I have had this one for a few years and it’s just the best. I always get compliments on it!
• T-shirt – it’s soft, oversized and goes with jeans, shorts, leggings, pajama pants… When my sister visited she borrowed it and barely had it on 30 minutes before asking for the link so she could get her own!

• Clear bag – I don’t go to many stadium events, but when I do (I just went a couple of weeks ago), I am PREPARED with the cutest bag in any section I sit!
• That straw belt – I got a cute dress from Zara for some event I can’t recall and it came with a fabric belt that brought down the level of fantastic that the dress had in it. I got this cute belt to keep it summery and fun… and goes great with…
• The clutch – I love her. She holds all I need for an evening and even has a gold shoulder strap as an option. As I said before, I love me some options!
• Cosmetic bag – you may have seen this style everywhere, and I am here to testify – I love it. It folds up nicely and fits a remarkable amount of toiletries. I am more of a plastic zipper bag kinda-toiletry packer, but this has changed my game! I can see everything when it opens up!
• The tote – I went on about at the top of this post!

• Black jeans – I don’t know if black jeans are something people recommend as summer wear, but I don’t care. They have a little hole at the knee (ventilation) and are cropped with a raw edge and I say OWN IT GIRL! I LOVE them. And my ankles get too cold to wear them in winter, so…
• The cuff jeans – are cuff jeans still in? Regardless they cute & comfy and I wear them so much I have 2 pair. Sue me.
• The jogger jeans – they are regularly $218 and marked down 59% to $89.99 so that makes them even cuter, right?

If you liked this post chock-full of solid recommendations, check out this detailed post on the super awesome standing desk by FlexiSpot. She’s a beauty and every bit of amazing today as she has been since day 1!

The post Amazon Finds: My Current Summer Fashion Favorites appeared first on Jenny On the Spot.

For the best vanilla extract, make your own. Nothing beats homemade vanilla extract! You know exactly what is in there!

And if you’re like me, you might throw in an extra vanilla bean or two *winky face*

By the way, have you seen the price for PURE vanilla extract these days? WHOA. At one point (thanks p@ndemic) I was faced with a 4 oz jar of pure extract for $16! SIXTEEN DOLLARS YOU GUYS. My 32 ounce bottle of vodka cost me $17 (plus Washington state tax, but that is another topic for another day).

Imitation extract is just fine I suppose, but gosh guys. Imitation?!! If left with a choice of NO vanilla in my favorite recipe vs. imitation… I suppose I’d go there, but I’d go kicking and screaming.

The thing about your own vanilla extract is It’s crazy easy to make, but you will have to be patient! This will need to sit for 6-12 months before using. The longer the yummier. Plan ahead for the holidays and think of how wonderful a gift this would make (I think these containers with these labels would be so cute to gift it in!) OR make things REAl easy on yourself check out this gift set:

This set contains 10 vanilla beans, 375 ml clear glass bottle imported from Italy with round wooden cork stopper, plus a cute custom label that you can write your name and bottled date on – instructions included!

Wouldn’t you just be SO tickled and thought of if you received a cute bottle of homemade pure vanilla extract? Give a friend a cookie and feed her for a day but give her bottle of homemade vanilla extract and then maybe she’ll decide to feed YOU!

There are two ingredients…. vodka and vanilla beans, I recommend these organic madagascar vanilla beans, and the basic Smirnoff for my vodka choice. Just make sure the vodka is at least 70 proof.

I haven’t tried it, but think it is next on my list…. BOURBON vanilla extract. I found this bottle on Amazon and I think I can get that price point down a bit!

Have you ever made your own vanilla extract? Is it too much work to think to shake every week or so? I just added a reminder to my calendar. I will shake my bottles on the day I water my houseplants!

Homemade Vanilla Vodka

Yield: 8 oz

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Two ingredients and this simple recipe will make you wonder ehy you ever bought vanilla extract from the grocery store.

Print

Ingredients

• 8 oz Vodka (at least 7 proof)
• 5-6 good quality vanilla beans

Instructions

1. Use a sharp knife to split open the vanilla beans
2. Add beans to jar
3. Pour vodka
4. Place airtight lid on jar
5. Shake.
6. Store in cool, dark place for 6-12 months and shake every week or two

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

If this little project isn’t DIY enough for you, here’s the tutorial for my pantry doors. Outright replacing my doors was a no-go as far as budget so I tapped into a little creativity and sourced a reputable cane webbing seller on Etsy and it’s been almost 3 years since and I am every bit in love with those doors as I was at the beginning. That little project proved that hard work really does pay off!

The post Homemade Vanilla Extract appeared first on Jenny On the Spot.

But first, in case you don’t care about helpful tips *ahem*, here is the “ingredient list”. Some links may be affiliate links, which means if you purchase items through those links I may receive a little $ at no additional cost to you.

• Nutter Butter cookies (I used double stuff because if those are an option, is there any other choice?!
• Mini pretzels
• Mini M&Ms
• White chocolate melts
• Candy eyes

If you want to watch these guys being put together… watch it here:

Now for the insight:

1 – THE REINDEER ANTLERS ARE HARDER TO ACCOMPLISH THAN THEY LOOK.

Plan to either eat A LOT of broken pretzels or throw a bunch of pieces away. ALSO PLAN FOR A LOT OF CRUMBS. I don’t know if there are any secrets to breaking pretzels into antlers neatly and without a lot of waste. If there are – somebody share because I didn’t want to take the time to google “how to neatly break mini pretzels into antlers for Nutter Butter Reindeer Cookies.” Of course you can always save the fails to sprinkle on or in stuff.

2 – USE CANDY MELTS AND NOT FROSTING FOR THE GLUE

If we were just considering eyes and nose, frosting is fine. But if you are aiming for awesome antlers, you’re gonna want the strength of candy melts.

3 – USE NUTTER BUTTERS TO HELP HOLD THE ANTERS UNTIL THE CANDY MELTS SET

Place a plain Nutter Butter cookie under each antler as it hangs off the edge until the candy melt has set. Otherwise… oh poor widdle reindeer with janky antlers…

If you like food crafts… here’s another one for ya! And as luck would have it, these Acorn Cookie Kisses also use Nutter Butter cookies. Who knew they were so versatile?!

For this and other fun ideas, connect with me on Pinterest!

Speaking of Pinterest… feel feee to pin this post!

The post Nutter Butter Reindeer Cookies – Three Important Tips appeared first on Jenny On the Spot.

What makes the FlexiSpot a “must-have”? Well, there are a few features! The one here is their Pro Plus Standing Desk, E7:

• It is beauuuutiful (we have the bamboo top and hubba hubba).
• It’s customizable (you choose the frame color and desktop material, our frame is white).

• It’s electric and it’s slick (the motor is quiet, and runs smooth).
• This must-have standing desk has a handy keypad (no hand-cranking during those Zoom meetings!). Ours is the premium keypad.
• It’s programmable (premium keypad FTW!).
• There are cool accessory options (like monitor stands and keyboard trays and mats for standing).
• A standing desk contributes toward better health. I am not saying it will make you healthy, to be clear, but… if sitting really is the new smoking, the FlexiSpot makes the process of integrating standing easy, and even kind-of fun, then that’s a big win!

This must-have standing desk comes in two separate boxes, and that’s a good thing. The base is heavy, and the bamboo top isn’t a wimp either. My husband put it together, and lucky him, he is the main user of this new must-have desk by FlexiSpot.

You can get your own must-have standing desk from FlexiSpot here… just in time for the busy back-to-school study season! Oh, and important note – the desktop is scratch and stain resistant – perfect the busy and sometimes messy student in your life…

How about that student in your life that seems to never stop moving? Well, FlexiSpot isn’t just about the must-have standing desk… check out their Sit2Go Fitness chair! This chair is an ideal way to ease an exercise routine into your day by combining the comfort of a traditional desk chair with the health benefits of an exercise bike!

And if you organization is your love language, they evne have a desk to speak to you. Their All-In-One Comhar Standing Desk (a modern tempered glass desk top finished with rounded edges)

My husband did end up adding a keyboard tray the this must-have standing desk by FlexiSpot, and I added flowers on the desk for the pictures *wink*. He does not keep a plant and flowers on his desk… that’s my all my vibe. Do you keep flowers on your desk? What is one must-have desk accessory you cannot live without?

For another must-have recommendation, bit one NOT having to do with work, have you checked out our stock tank pool (link here)?

The post Must-Have Standing Desk by FlexiSpot appeared first on Jenny On the Spot.

One of the HOTTEST trends in my favorite field of fashion, HOME FASHION is cane webbing. It is one of the coolest and one of my most FAVORITE mediums to use in my home (beside macrame!). Obviously, natural fiber is where it is AT!

Home decor with cane webbing is everywhere – I challenge you to go to the store or browse Pinterest without seeing some form of cane webbing, rattan, or reed material. From chairs to plant stands to IKEA hacks to folding doors, and now to even taking your candles to the next level!

DIY Cane Webbing Candle Holder Covers

I love this particular project for two mains reasons: it’s super easy and it’s super cute.

Here are the items you’ll need for this project:

• cane webbing (get it here)
• scissors (use this link for these electric scissors from General Tools for an extra 10% coupon!)
• hot glue gun
• assorted glass jars (mason jars are awesome or any clear glass jar), or even your favorite Yankee Candle!
• not necessary but fun: ribbon!

Watch this video to get the simple step-by-step:

Let’s review how to make your DIY Cane Webbing Candle Holder Covers:

Measure the cane so it can wrap around the glass, with a bit of a overlay.

• Measure the cane to wrap around the glass, with overlay.
• Trim cane with scissors (I prefer General Tools electric craft scissors since cane is a bit thick to cut with regular scissors)
• Hot glue the ends of the cane together.
• Embellish with ribbon or jute or… get creative!
• Slip over your the glass, light a candle and enjoy!

What are some other items you can use to embellish your own DIY cane webbing candle holder covers? Don’t forget, you can use these covers over your favorite store-bought candles as well! Sure, you can buy candle covers at your favorite bath and body store, but they can be spendy and… maybe I am a little biased, they are not nearly as charming as THESE!

Am I right? Are you a fan of cane webbing?

The post DIY Cane Webbing Candle Holder Covers appeared first on Jenny On the Spot.

Discloser: post includes some affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, at no added cost to you I may receive a small fee from the seller.

What do you think of when you hear (read) the work INFLATABLE?

Do you think of a terrible night’s sleep on your grandmother’s living room floor?

Or is the idea of the inflatable exclusive to a day at the pool?

Speaking of, let’s talk POOLS… there are basic pools like this one, and there are leveled-up kiddie pools that make me want to turn back time.

And what would a pool in this advanced day and age be without a floating drink holder or float cooler…

Or buffet bars?

Rabbit trail: have you heard of stock tank pools? TOTALLY not inflatable, but TOTALLY awesome!

But I digress. As I was saying, the invention that made a solid effort to solve the problem of floor sleeping less back-breaking has come a long, LONG way over the years.

Not only have air mattresses leveled-up but but the ENTIRE inflatable market has had a SERIOUS level-up.

For example, raise your hand if you’ve heard of an inflatable hot tub…

Or sectional sofa…

Y’all. THIS movie screen!

Don’t forget about bounce houses!

And there are also ottomans…

Or the chaise lounge.

And there’s even an inflatable tub… for inside your tub.

There are also inflatable camping beds that’ll fit snug inside many cars! Whatever happened to layers and layers of blankets and having a survival story?? Doesn’t anyone walk uphill in the snow to school both ways anymore???

Beyond a better night’s sleep, there is a wide selection of fun! Some predictable, some not so much. The unicorn and flamingo pool floats are rather typical “fun” these days.

But the inflatable floating ring toss game, tank, battle logs, pirate boat, and volleyball net kinda make my childhood experience of day in the neighbor’s pool feel a bit more like a scratch-and-sniff sticker compared to what kids these days have access to 😉

While I don’t think I’ll pull the trigger on an inflatable pull-out sofa bed… I must admit I have been super duper curious about this particular inflatable lounge “sofa” for quite some time.

Here’s a fun one for ya – an inflatable FORT! This definitely has a fun little inflatable twist to it.

Speaking of fun… anyone want to don a dinosaur costume, or play cornhole, inflatable-style? Or how about cooling off under a unicorn sprinkler…

And then there’s the convenience of the inflatability (is that a word?) of a kayak or stand-up paddleboard. If you’ve ever had to carry either of those you will know the challenge those water toys pose.

Finally… what is an inflatable without air? I can barely blow up a small balloon without passing out so the REAL hero in this inflatable story is… THE PUMP. Bonus points for one that is portable and wireless, but you can build some muscles if you decide to go old school with this guy. Of course, you can always count on the good ol’ air compressor.

SO. Did I miss anything? I don’t think they’ve invented an inflatable wind chime yet. But never say never, I suppose…

The post 29 Must Have Inflatables That Will Change your Life appeared first on Jenny On the Spot.

Dovetailed reached out to me last year (oh, Covid…) and offered to me one of their design packages in trade for my fair and honest Google review.

I had never heard of Dovetailed Design before, but I gotta say… the hope of a professional kitchen remodel design sure sounded like a win. So I said agreed to take on the process.

And I am not even a little mad about it.

I went through their process and provided my review. Ya’ll. I was so impressed with their service and product!

Dovetailed Design did not ask for me to share here, but I found it to be such a fantastic resource… I can’t NOT share!

Many of us many not be able to afford a designer for their kitchen remodel. Though my husband is pretty handy and though we are both pretty creative, aaaaand though we are not terribly uncomfortable dreaming about how we’d redesign our kitchen – we DO know we are not pros and love the idea of professional help.

This is where Dovetailed Design meets a real need. I experienced their Designer Kitchen Package (a $375 value). There are 8 designer packages to choose from and each include:

• Floor Plan.
• Detailed elevations.
• 3D color renderings.
• Style box of samples.
• Product and material quote.
• 2 revisions.

Did I mention this service is all virtual (waves to Covid). To kick things off, I headed to their website. I chose my kitchen remodel design package, the Fairfax Design package in City Scape. Soon after, I received my box of samples in the mail, and got working with my handy tape measure. Anything the slightest bit mathy stresses me out a little, but I did it because… I WANTED TO SEE WHAT GORGEOUS THINGS THEY COULD DO WITH OUR…

YELLOWING 80’s OAK FEST:

Honestly, the measuring really wasn’t that bad. It just required a bit of focus. And time. Though my kitchen is not trendy or modern… it is BIG. I am crazy grateful for the bigness, but it makes for a lot of cabinetry to update.

An aside: I removed the *ahem* impressive pear wallpaper border that used to line all the counters.

The I sent the measurements and less than than 2 days after I sent in my measurements and answered a couple of follow-up questions from my designer I received the 3d renderings and detailed elevations and I was smitten!

Kitchen Remodel Design – 3D Renderings

The only hiccup was a delay in reply for the 2nd revision. The service was so brand new at the time there was a notification error in the platform. I did have to reach-out for a the follow-up on the revision. However, the issue was resolved and just as advertised and promised, my revisions were delivered to me within the 2 day time frame, even with some back-and-forth for clarifying questions from the designer.

We decided a sink in the island was probably not how we roll, so the revisions reflect that change and the possibility of having only one oven instead of two (based on the fact that there are some pretty spacious single yet double oven units on the market now).

The questions she asked really helped me sort through some issues I hadn’t considered… and who knows… maybe had we been left to our own design devices we’d have had an oven door dueling a dishwasher door!

Using their design services for a kitchen remodel design does not require you to go through their providers, but they can connect you with companies and provide quotes based on the materials, measurements, etc… “Materials include but are not limited to Semi-custom Cabinets made in Washington State, backsplash tile or solid surface, counter tops, cabinet hardware, and a paint color palette.”

If you are not in Washington state, I’d encourage you to reach out to them and ask a few questions.

Would you like to see what came in my sample box?

If you’ve seen the little update I made to my master bath (posted on Instagram here), it is clear I love me some golden touches. The thought of a kitchen with gold drawer pulls definitely makes my heart skip a beat! If you’d like to check out a FULL bathroom remodel we did all on our own, you can check that post out here.

As impressive as Dovetailed Design’s 3D color renderings are, here’s a look at the detailed elevations for the kitchen remodel design. I have the BIGGEST crush on this part of the service.

Dovetailed Design Detailed Elevations

They sent 5 pages of elevation drawings for each sample… remember this package included up to two changes!

In summary, if you are thinking of a kitchen (or bathroom – they are just offering bathroom designs as well), I vote for checking out Dovetailed Design! Poke around. See what they’re all about. Drop them a note… and tell them Jenny told ya they are awesome!

Peace and sparkles and home-improvement dreams,

Jenny ✨

The post Kitchen Remodel Design: DOVETAILED DESIGN Digital Services appeared first on Jenny On the Spot.

I’m sure you’ve seen it… that one quote/meme that goes something like,

In a less macabre description, a friend that will brave the waves, walk through the storm, fight the tide, and defend you to the end type-friend.

But here’s a little twist.

In Mark 2: 1-6 you will find the story of Jesus healing a paralytic (NIV):

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.

You guys I know the healing of a paralytic is pretty darn rad, but I want to bring our focus to the mat lower-ers.

I want a “lower the mat friend”!

These friends (“men”, as the verses describe, but I’m going to call them friends) persisted on behalf of a paralytic. For get about a friend who is willing to hide a body with me… The paralytic’s body needed hope and healing and these friends not only carried their friend, but carried it to a ROOF, dug through that roof, and made it so this man could reach …. JESUS!

Y’all we need THOSE kinds of friends… people who will carry us, and walk with us in our heaviness, and instead of turning back when things get hard… persist for the sake of our best. That crowd was so thick the only way through was to get on a stinking roof and they made that happen!

Now, let’s flip that lens a little more.

What if WE become the mat carrier?

A.K.A becoming a “lower the mat friend”.

Honestly, I don’t know if I would have have been so brave and so bold to have climbed a roof, created an opening in a roof, and interrupted Jesus by literally lowering someone into the room where he was. Talk about bold. Talk about advocacy. Talk about love.

It is not likely we will ever be in that LITERAL position. On a roof. Carrying a paralytic. Pulling up roof tiles and sheet rock. Will we get to be a literal lower the mat friend? Maybe not 😉 However, could there be people in our lives that need us to lower their proverbial mat?

?

Let’s take this a little further, shall we?

I’m not necessarily talking supporting someone, being their cheerleader. etc. But I’m not saying we shouldn’t be doing that either.

What I am trying to get to is this: Jesus. Those mat lower-ers were not working toward just any task… they were helping their friend see and experience Jesus.

The Way.

The Truth.

The Light.

So I ask, are we really lowering the mat for others?

I write this these words with full hesitation because my own answer to this question is… No I do not.

And so I pray,

Lord, birth and grow in us the courage to be bold for holy things, to be advocates for the things that break your heart, to show the love you modeled throughout the entirety of the Holy Scriptures. Give us the courage to speak and live your Truth and not our own. Guide us as we learn how to reflect your perfect love shown to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Amen?

*If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy this post I wrote, Enter Quietness. If you are the parent of a teen or young adult (or you are a teen or young adult), check out my book, Adulting for Christians: An Interactive Guide to Keeping the Faith and Learning the Ropes!

The post Are You A “Lower the Mat Friend”? appeared first on Jenny On the Spot.