Happy 25th to our beautiful nut, Jess! While we won’t be together this year to celebrate, we are all thinking of you and love you dearly. There are an infinite amount of things we love about you, here are just 25 our readers may not know…
1. We all know that Jess is inanutshell‘s music guru, but a couple hours spent with Jess will teach you that she truly is an expert in the field. Jess appreciates all genres, she can rhyme off a jam from Drake just as well as she can belt out the words to Kings of Leon, or even, a golden classic from the The Flamingos. Hilariously enough – Jess is so entrenched in the world of underground, local and up-and-coming bands, that she quite often misses the mainstream altogether – learning only about songs by the likes of Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry at a pre-drink, or the dance floor. Perhaps we should all take a page from her book…
2. One song Jess will never listen to? Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses. The story behind this one is up to Jess to divulge, but let’s just say you will find her marching out of the room, both hands on her ears, the instant this song plays.
3. Jess does not keep her passion for music to herself. It’s not uncommon that she’ll hear a new song and instantly send it to a loved one, saying “I think you’ll love this” or “made me think of you”. She has undoubtedly brought countless people to fall for bands, songs and whole albums due to her uncanny ability to target a person’s music preference.
4. While yes, Jess is certainly not a mainstream gal, she will indulge her friend’s music obsessions without a second thought. She has fully embraced Beyoncé, Kaylee’s fave, even attending her concert a few weeks ago, and coming onboard as a Bey fanatic, giving the visual album rave reviews on her revered music blog.
5. While Jess certainly excels in the music department, it cannot be overlooked that she is an expert in so. many. other. things. She can partake in an enlightened conversation on just about any topic; from literature, to green living, to fashion, the newest city hot spots, current events, and so much more. She is an exceptional conversationalist, with a warmth about her that draws you in, making a long chat, seem like mere moments.
6. Accompanying her skills as a conversationalist, Jess is also one of the best listeners. She is inquisitive and thoughtful, remembering things you forgot even mentioning. She will always offer honest advice and anecdotes, while remaining respectful and kind. Evidently, this makes Jess an amazing friend, and a go-to for life’s moments of de
liberation.
7. Jess is an animal lover, but her skin-deep obsessions lie in two specific breeds. One look at her kitchen will tell you that she has a thing for wiener dogs (see: salt & pepper shakers and dish towel). She will one day in the near future own a pup of her own, named Goose, and we have no doubt that he will be attached to her hip forevermore. Jess’ other animal obsession is of the feline variety; Jess grew up with a siamese cat named Jade, and Kaylee’s cat Shady, another seal point siamese, has since stolen her heart all over again.
8. While Jess can often be found out on the town, enjoying some vino with friends or catching a show, she is also quite the homebody. With a knack for décor, her home is always warm and inviting, filled with piles of books, beautiful photography and plenty of candles. Most noteworthy though, is her affinity for pantsless-ness. She will take any opportunity to hang in her undies, taking the mantra “home is where the pants aren’t” to a whole new level.
9. Speaking of home, Jess recently went from living it up solo to moving to Toronto’s West side for a cozy spot with two new roomies. They have since thrown two noteworthy house parties, complete with Daft Punk-esque DJ and delicious treats, respectively.
The sweetest duo: Jess and her momma
10. Jess has an unbreakable bond with her mom; it’s not your typical mother-daughter relationship. They are best friends with an incredibly deep connection. They speak on the phone most days, talking through everything from small occurrences to big choices. It is not unusual for Jess to be telling a story, and for her to add “well, my mom’s thoughts were…” (always an enlightened, fascinating point of view) exemplifying that Laurie often gets the first take of Jess’ stories.
11. Jess is a bit of a minimalist. She purges clothes like they are expired veggies, donating them without a second thought – never falling victim to the popular “maybe I’ll wear this in 10 years when belly tops are in again” fallback. And yet, she appreciates nice things, collecting dozens of Essie polishes, statement jewels, cute tops and accessories like so many of us ladies do.
12. Not sure how we got nearly halfway through this list without mentioning how insanely hilarious Jess is. She can be cocktail party witty, making a crowd of adults giggle away, but most notably for us, she can be completely bonkers amongst a group of close friends, making us fall off our chairs in gut-wrenching laughter. Complementing her intellectual side, is this completely off the charts sillyness, from her Yoda voice to her child scream laugh, and soooo much more.
13. Jess always seems to be just a few years behind when it comes to television. She once vowed that she did not find Seinfeld funny, only to be proven wrong by a couple episodes. She is currently spending the holiday season watching Breaking Bad for the first time, now that we’ve all seen the series in its entirety. Put plainly, amidst work and play, TV is not her main priority.
14. Jess doesn’t do anything half-assed. She is 100% devoted to the work she does (from full-time communications, to freelance/pro-bono PR, there’s a lot of it), to the friendships she has built and maintained over the years, to the writing she finds the time to do, and all those other things. If it’s important to her, she will see it through. (She even refuses not to finish a Smirnoff Ice when Iced – giving it her all, despite the often inconvenience timing.)
15. Jess got a new tattoo this year – her fourth – and her mom was by her side through the whole procedure, ready to celebrate with a post-tat Caesar. Jess’ tattoos each mean something truly special to her, symbolizing the people, words and places that mean the most to her. We imagine 2014 might bring her fifth…
16. Jess is a guy’s girl in many ways. She can often be found at the local pub surrounded by a group of old friends – all men – enjoying a pint and discussing everything from sports to music, fitting right in, as she does. She is equal parts tomboy, equal parts girly girl – sporting a backwards cap and Converse one day, and a feminine dress with dainty jewelry, the next.
17. If you’re an avid inanutshell reader, you already know that Jess is an incredible writer. Her articles are perfectly articulate and mindful, and always a pleasure to read. One day you’ll be able to find her name under H at the bookstore.
18. Jess holds her friendships incredibly close to her heart. She keeps in touch with countless people from high school, university and her various adventures, making sure she makes times for each of them.
19. Jess has a remarkable knack for putting outfits together, mixing and matching her existing wardrobe into endless possibilities. Her wardrobe is about one third concert swag (Arkells, Darcys, Led Zeppelin, Kanye), one third plaid, denim and stripes, and one third corporate wear. Versatility, at its best.
20. Jess is not afraid of much, least of all standing alone in a crowd listening to her favourite band. At Gentlemen of the Road this past summer, she left her group of friendly faces, hanging by the tent enjoying beers and frisbee, to catch a band no one knew because she just couldn’t bear to miss it. She was happy to be there solo, as long as she could see them play.
21. Over the past two years, Jess has grown into a true city gal. She has developed a love affair with Toronto, just like Carrie’s adoration for NYC. In the summer, her favourite pastime is a stroll through the city (for hours on end), and in the winter she enjoys a cozy drink at one of her favourite hot spots. The city really is her oyster. (or…her eggplant?)
22. Jess is incredibly thoughtful. She’s the type of friend who will buy you something for no apparent reason, just because she felt like it and was thinking of you.
23. Jess’ strength is undeniable. She rarely, if ever, complains. She has had a tough 2013, but you would never know it. Through life’s intricacies, she remains a wonderful friend and confidant, she maintains her sunny disposition, and she always sees the light at the end of the tunnel. She knows herself so well that she can tackle things head on without a question of doubt.
24. Jess has an old soul that is only evident to those lucky enough to be close to her. She would be more than happy in the middle of the woods, with a record player, her best girlfriends, a few bottles of wine, and not a modern device in sight. She also seems to have the insights and advice of someone who has been on this earth for way longer than a quarter century.
25. As you can tell, we are big fans of JHud. We are so proud of all she’s accomplished, and we just know that her 25th year will be her best yet – the sky is the limit (in a nutshell.) xo
WE LOVE YOU!
Recent Comments