Why it's important to go off the grid. #dearladies

Happy Monday, friends. Today I am sharing another post in my #dearladies series which happens EVERY single Monday for the sole purpose of not letting the joy of Monday shake us, as well as inspiring + encouraging women.

Maybe you can empathize or possibly relate with me on this one. Social media is a powerful tool for businesses and for you + me in our everyday lives. It captures our weekends, memories we don't want to forget and well our blogs (if you so happen to have one.)  But sometimes it gets to be too much to keep up with. It is constant. It is always refreshed and sometimes you go on there for a few minutes but before you know it - you get distracted. You could end up spending hours or all day on the social media sites. Don't you miss the 90's when we didn't have this much technology that sometimes clogs up our lives too much?

When did you first get into social media? Did you get into it because you had heard about it from a friend?  I heard about Facebook when I was attending college locally. I would see other students log in, and due to my non existent car situation (I rode the bus everywhere), I would people watch and see these people's lives become consumed by a website. (Please note: This was my first impression of this website - in 2006.)

I don't want to come off seeming that technology hasn't changed my life for the better. When I moved around a bunch, I didn't have any way to keep in touch with friends/family other than traditional snail mail. Which when you're seven - you're not exactly breaking bank at all to pay for postage or know where your friends live - in the 90's. When I was older, it enabled me a way to look for jobs after high school/college/grad school, to find my first apartment and eventually to meet my husband.

But when does it become too much? The answer to that is up to you, my friend. For me personally, I have a personal preference of when I go on certain sites. I use some to post my blog links. I use one for pictures. I use this site for my blogs. I check email. But I've dialed my use of technology back. I refuse to let it consume my life. I changed the setting on my phone to where I don't want notification of when I get messages/anything on my sites so that I feel like my phone is blowing up constantly or my life is interrupted by non essential things. I also don't use it if I am at date night or with family.

So I've come to the realization or the epiphany that while there are some pretty cool items out there - I am perfectly okay with going off the grid mostly (internet/techy speaking). There are days when I keep my phone on vibrate in my room and I don't bother with it. I will listen to my Pandora and just start writing or watch Netflix but there is just so much more to life than watching social media like a hawk.


Spend time with family/friends. Go to a coffee shop, the beach, theme park, etc. Scrapbook. This weekend I went off the grid completely. I literally deep cleaned my kitchen for 3 hours. Pulling our pans/pots and the like out of cabinets, cleaning the cabinets & sanitizing while finally organizing everything. I slept better and I couldn't care less what was happening on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or anything because my kitchen looked great and that was the big important part to me.

How has technology changed your life? Do you have days or time blocked out to go off the grid? Thanks for stopping by. Hope your Monday is going well. :) ~ Jessica

Why I'm THANKFUL for Grace.

Hooray, the weekend has almost returned & with a payday attached. Best kind in my opinion. :)

Monday I posted about how us ladies need not to forget that even in the worst circumstances that we're in that God has not brought us so far to feel that we've been forgotten. If you're just joining us, I hope you will check THIS post out! Often, He reminds me of what's important by using life examples and I shouldn't have been surprised after yesterday that I do feel encouraged and not stressed. He took care of all the details and made it seamless.


Yesterday, en-route to work, Chris + I were running late when our car was backed into by an individual who then sped off and when I had to track him down, claimed he didn't know he hit us. This story later changed when he felt that we should've been at fault. {Sadly, sir - that's NOT how common sense works.} We were blessed with a great police officer who sorted through all the frustration and details to give us what we needed to start the fun claims process. We went on our way and went to work which proved to be hard to focus on anything else.

But behind the scenes, God was working on OUR behalf. By the end of the day, our inspection for car repairs was made and today I took the last of my vacation days to ensure that my car was taken care of, my family & I were taken care of in terms of a rental and that we got all of the questions answered so this was a seamless process. Afterwards, I treated myself to Starbucks/Target & caught up on my shows.

So, its hard to feel stressed about the entire situation because through all of it - I see HIS fingerprints stringing together all the details, putting the most graceful, right people to work on our behalf to ensure we were taken care of. All in all, He blessed us with immense GRACE so that while we were shaken up, He took the details and we were blessed with the work on our behalf. While the car is being worked on this weekend, we were not stranded or feel like we had no direction. He has provided ALL of our needs for us and we're being taken care of on His radar.

Thank you as always for stopping by my blog. I hope your week has gone beautifully. Tomorrow I'll be linking up with Farmer's Wife + September Farm for another  edition of 'Oh hey, Friday' to celebrate our top 5 of the week. Hope you'll join us & meet new friends :) xO. - Jessica

Twenty Nine Candles//Bucket Lists

Hooray, its my favorite month: October :) Well for obvious reasons, with my birthday on FRIDAY!!

         















Besides celebrating this week, this weekend and heck the entire month -  I am celebrating a lot more than when my
parents graciously brought me into the world. This year is a milestone - its the last birthday of my twenties.  Looking             back, I started this decade of birthdays with people who turned out to not be real, genuine friends. Since then, I made a       pact with myself that I only celebrate with people that are edifying and building me up.


This week at work, for the first time I've worked here - I invited all my work friends to do lunch @ Tijuana Flats with me. Not many showed up but when I returned after a not so pleasant day, my former team I miss working with had surprised  me with a signed card from the team w/chocolate. Literally welled up with tears and excited to celebrate with them soon!

    

To really appreciate the year ahead of me. I've decided and created a growing Bucket List. Everyone has them - namely things they want to do before they die. That isn't as thrilling to me personally because I like to make the most of every day/month/year that God blesses me with with a hint of realistic planning.

 If any of readers/friends think of anything they'd like to add comment below. I would LOVE to make this next year - the  most EPIC year of my life. & so far, I think I am on a good start:

My TWENTY NINTH #BucketList#

   1) Finish writing the book I started over 5+ years ago to publish as an ebook with Amazon. 

   2) For EVERY trip I take, send a postcard to myself to scrapbook later to relive memories later.

   3) Take days off the grid at least twice every month. 

   4) Indulge here & there for more last minute getaways with Chris. <3

   5) Get in the most absolute fit, healthy version of myself. 

   6)  Learn how to be crafty: sewing, crocheting, knitting, practicing making crazy, awesome cakes.

   7) Incorporate our love of Disney into our home even more. (Lotsa shoppin' @ Disney!)

   8) Sacrificing more to pay down my student loans (working part time, etc).

   9) Learn what my style is, how to apply makeup, etc. {I cared way too much about candy & junk as a teen rather than making myself look good!}

  10) Re-discover my love for my crock pot.  Use my KitchenAid & Pampered Chef tools to create incredible food. 

Thanks for stopping by. Thursday, I'll be sharing my verses that I am picking out for the year ahead. :) See you then!

Without my FAMILY, I wouldn't be ME.

Hello friends. Happy first day of the best time of year: FALL! Those who know me hear this phrase essentially everyday from September til December. Since I live in Central Florida where FALL weather sadly is non-existent - I live vicariously through my friends instagram/facebook/pictures where they get to enjoy the leaves changing, the cooler weather, etc.
I am originally from up North and I always loved the beginning of fall - sunsets were prettier, leaves changed colors, and well because my birthday is in the fall. ;) So those who get to enjoy FALL for what it really is outside FL - ENJOY IT. :)

I discovered the TimeHop App on accident earlier this year and I am so glad I found it. It reminds me of moments that I have almost forgotten and most, if not all, put a smile on my face and give me goosebumps. Something along these lines.

Today, this picture was waiting for me inside the app. & it definitely gave me a smile/goosebump combo right away.

This picture (taken by my Mom) is in the fall of 2009. This particular year was blessed heavily in my family for a plethora of reasons:
1) March 2009 - My Papa (Dad's Dad) passed away unexpectedly. It was a dark time for me but while I miss him daily - he is in eternity, waiting for everyone and I can't wait to see him again.

2) May 2009 - I graduated college. While we were in the heat of the recession, I didn't land a job or face any prospects. Good thing God is at the helm of my plans and steers me in the direction He wants for me which was coming weeks later by introducing the love of my life.

3) July 2009 - I met my now husband, Chris online and we fell in love. He was moving back west at the end of the summer. When he did and I had to say goodbye, a part of my heart got on that plane.

4) October 2009 - I moved halfway across the country to Kansas to be with the man I loved. This was the first time in my entire life I took such a risk but when you know that you're supposed to be with them -- you just kind of make some decisions and take some risks on the fly. We have a love story that will be one to tell the grandkids.

THIS PHOTO was taken in the summer of 2009, maybe early fall 2009. 

 I had lost weight - a good amount. I felt really good. I was getting ready to start another chapter and this picture reminds me who has my back, who I have in my corner. My family has always been special and very close knit to me. Especially extended family. No matter what chapter I am beginning, am in the middle of or just ended, I can always rest assured knowing my family is in my corner and has helped transform me into who I am today. Each of them have special roles individually but when we're all together - you can't put a price on that. The love we have for each other and love we share as a family is an unbreakable bond. Without them, my extended family & in-laws - I wouldn't be who I am today. I wouldn't be growing or know what its like to be strong/resilient in tough times. I wouldn't know how to love, or know what love is without the Godly examples I grew up with my great grandparents, my grandparents or my parents. I wouldn't understand what the big life lessons are and why its important to beat to the drum of your own beat. These beautiful people are my family and I couldn't be happier or feel more complete. :)

//Currently.Lately.Soon//

//Currently//

Tonight I decided that I was going to stop making excuses and work out. Part of my childhood that I miss dearly was taking ballet/tap & jazz classes along with gymnastics. I miss my ballerina days, putting on my tutu, tights, and losing myself in song while dancing my heart out. Tonight I found a YouTube channel that I love on Barre workouts. I will feel this tomorrow but I can't wait to do it again!

I scored a free photo book with Shutterfly and while I love scrapbooking - I can't seem to find time to do that with my mom so I am digitally remembering our Disney cruise in March this way. This way by our next one, I will be all caught up to scrapbook that one.

Photographs & collage frames are incredulously becoming part of my life. I have a growing wish list on Amazon for ones that I want to add to my hallway.

Baking is my life. In the past ten days - I've added quite a few tools to my collection. & that wish list is also growing. YAY.

Our next vacation isn't for a few months but I am pretty much already kind of adding to our existing plans. Planning gets me excited.

I've a lot of sweet tea tonight and I am totes okay with this fact.

//Lately//

I haven't really worked out. I kept making excuses but as of tonight - I am stopping that trend and getting back on the right track. I have a lot of big events coming up.. like my birthday, being an aunt again, and the holidays. I want to go shopping again and feel good.

I've been really stressed at work, its been really busy and overwhelming. I kept telling myself that I wanted to have an outlet or three to take my mind off it. I think these outlets are: baking, making collages, and working out.

I really enjoy cleaning. I am like a fierce cleaner lately - its therapeutic.

I did a little early Christmas shopping - took advantage of pretty freaking sweet sale and scored somethin for me too that was unexpected.

//Soon//

This week I have an endocrinologist appointment and I am pretty sure it may not go in my favor. Thankfully Carlos is all about self improvement and making strides.

I get to pay off one of my loans entirely this week. Take that loan debt!

All my fall shows come back on in a month: Parenthood, Scandal, Bob's Burgers, Bones, Blacklist & that beautiful list goes on..

I am going to start the Squat September challenge paired with Barre + Frisky Fall Challenge with Tone It Up.  I'd like to have nice birthday pictures, fall pictures and later - Christmas pictures that look dazzling after all my hard work!

Fall goodness is arriving soon -- cooler weather, the holidays, my birthday.. all the beautiful joyness!

//etc//

I am really excited about what is going on now, to come and possibly in the next five minutes. I've been working on a post that may not happen til Thursday but its in the sake of encouraging and inspiring.

As always, thanks for stopping by! Thank God tomorrow is Wednesday :)

30 days of #THANKS

Every November, I make a point of taking time to be thankful. I feel the holidays come and go, and people get so invested in getting gifts that they lose focus on what the holidays are. The holidays are a time to be thankful for everything in your life, you know? Whether its your job, your family, your kids, your home, everything that God has blessed you with this year.  Everyday this month, my posts will be honoring someone or something that I am #thankful for.

Here we goooo. Day #1.

First & foremost, I am so very thankful for my husband. He is my better half, he loves me for me & completes me. That sounds so very cheesy but it's true. I am so blessed that we found each other, because I appreciate the man he is. He always makes me laugh and supports my dreams. 

He knows that I am destined for greatness and appreciates the lady I am. We've already been together for 4 years and I am so excited for the many more.  He is an incredible husband & I know he will be a fantastic daddy when the moment comes. 

Hope your first day of November was fantastic. Here in central Florida, its supposed to be cold & will make it feel even more like FALL :)  I encourage you to remember what you're thankful for this month, it will make THANKSGIVING, the Macy's day parade & all that yummy food feel even better :)

{jess}

the last three.

I've said this so much in the past week that I feel like an iPod stuck on repeat. Here in central Florida, we don't really have seasons like those in the other parts of the country. I really miss the days when I lived in South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio, because y'all get to experience the four different seasons. While I love living where I do, I get one season: hot with a thick side of humidity whenever possible. But in the past few days, there's been a nice breeze. Like that makes you want to sit outside all day and just daydream, go to the beach/theme parks or just something outside. For example, my hubs & I took a walk tonight with our pups and you couldn't wipe the smile off my face. It was so dark, but there wasn't a peep in my neighborhood. I was able to enjoy being outside without any humidity and just get some exercise with my family. Usually, I can't stay outside that long because mosquitoes (who must all be waiting in a cluster for me to leave my house) swarm me and bite me, leaving quite attractive welts. It is a graphic, attractive image isn't it? ;)

Anywho, since we've had this cooler weather that I hope is here to stay for awhile -- it really is true that I really live for the last three months of the year. From my birthday month through December, you just can't get me to stop smiling. The weather, the holidays, the seasonal goodies that pop back up into my life -- just make me the happiest lady ever. Granted, I am almost done Christmas shopping much to my husband who isn't as thrilled -- these months just perk me up like the clearance rack. Which side note, helped me score some sweet gems this weekend, y'all :)

Soon the traditions of the season will be settling in. The Halloween decorations will come down, followed by the setting up of Christmas lights, the Christmas tree & all the other Pinterest inspired but husband approved projects that i can get my hands on. This really really excites me. Kind of like back in the day on a Friday night when Boy Meets World came on.

So, to all y'all who stop by my page and are enjoying their real FALL weather, the changing of the leaves and the wonderfulness of the season -- enjoy yourselves a bit more for me. Fall is beautiful and my absolute favorite season. :)

{jess}