Some Facts About Me

by with No Comment lifestyle

I wanted to share with you some fun facts about me, some things I’ve learned, and some things maybe you didn’t know about me. If any of this sounds familiar let me know in the comments, I love learning about all of you too <3

  1. I’m Chamorro and Irish
  2. Foot stuff bother me, let me explain: stepping into water with socks on. Equally annoying is when my sock slips off my foot deep inside my shoe..ugh Uggs. Or when the bottom of my foot itches … or stepping on a lego (which I haven’t had to do in a while but still) a lot of foot stuff apparently
  3. I play with my food. Move it around with my spoon, nibble chocolate off my candy bars before eating the actual candy bar, flatten See’s lollipops with my teeth..very weird things happen with food and I
  4. I only eat with spoons. Forks are just so annoying, all the food falls off!
  5. I hate salads. I’ll eat them but like, they have to be piled with not good stuff
  6. I was a teen mom. 16 when I had Corriney but somehow we made it out okay
  7. I THINK I want more babies. That’s a really hard one, ask me again tomorrow
  8. I’m a master at the smile mask and my coping skills include shielding, running, and screaming. Sounds like a horror film
  9. I never had animals growing up but I LOOOVE animals. We have two fur babies, Luna and Ace and I can’t live without them
  10. I spend money on skincare over anything else
  11. I live for comfort so 90% of the time I’m in sweats or athleisure attire
  12. Instagram displays only 1% of my actual life and how I feel
  13. Champagne and tequila are my drinks of choice
  14. I love country music
  15. I’m an Army brat, my dad was a Drill Sergeant for 23 years and we moved. A lot
  16. My favorite color is royal blue. And black
  17. I get eyelash extensions every 2 weeks but that’s the only beauty maintenance I have, contrary to people thinking I’ve ever gotten my lips done or face filled, I have not. If I ever do you’ll be the first to know I’m an open book about those things
  18. I got breast augmentation almost 13 years ago. For me, myself, and I. I nursed Corrine at age 16 for 10 months so having saggy boobs at 18 was no fun for me personally. I love them now
  19. I’ve only ever cut 3 people out of my life. 2 exes and a friend. It takes a lot for me to not want to be around you, if I stop talking to you it’s because you’re toxic
  20. I have a lot of friend groups but very few close friends that I see and talk to regularly. It took me a minute to realize that your friend circles are ever changing, seasons change and people change. It’s okay, it’s quality or quantity. It’s not time that we’re limited on, time is infinite. It’s our energy we must protect- who we give it to, what we spend it on, where we place it. Our energy is limited and we have to guard it. I read that somewhere and it really landed on me. If you know where please let me know so I can credit them. I used to give my energy to everyone and all of it. I learned
  21. I’m not a needy friend or partner, but when I need your attention I need it now. I’m not patient just ask Joe
  22. I’m pretty independent but I also feel my best when I’m around others. And I love to make people laugh
  23. I live for helping others, I can be captain save-a-ho at times so I’ve had to learn when someone just needs a lil boosting and when someone has to save themselves, but I love being a good friend and I really try to be
  24. Fitness has become such a wonderful part of my daily life that I look forward to empowering other women because they’re all so damn strong inside and out
  25. I love to cook but I really LOVE to bake
  26. I did a lot of drugs when I was younger and I’m happy that I can be open and honest about those things when Corrine comes to me with questions
  27. When I was younger we had a pet pig named Pepper, he ran away and bit a horse and was never heard from again
  28. I’m a control freak and I’m working on that, remember that whole energy thing? Well I try not to give my energy away to things out of my control
  29. I’m boarder line hoarder status over here with all these clothes and makeup products. I need Marie Kondo
  30. Joe is the love of my life. He’s also working beside me and I want to squeeze his face but I’ll let him work
  31. I’m most proud to be Corrine’s mom. She and I have really been through some shit together and she’s grown into the most grounded, genuine, loving, and most wonderful young lady and I’m beyond honored to be her mama
  32. She and I have definitely slept in our car before. Ah yes, those days sucked
  33. I fed Corrine fast food (what’s up dollar menu) for almost a year because it was all I could afford one year when she was little and I ran from a repo company for almost a year during that time too. Talk about stressful
  34. I’ve learned that abusive relationships don’t start abusive. At least it didn’t for me, it started with a shove and some name calling. I’d like to talk about that more with you some day
  35. I’ve experienced that being a parent requires you to be selfless and when put in certain circumstances you’ll ensure their happiness and safety above your own and that will drive you. My love for Corrine has made me the most powerful tool when it comes to making sure she’s safe and happy
  36. No one is perfect, doesn’t that just sound boring?
  37. I’m still learning every day and damn I need to read more

That’s all I’ve got for now, thank you for following along in all that, it felt therapeutic! I enjoy sharing with you but I also really love learning about each of you so tell me some fun facts about yourself or some lessons you’ve learned <3

 

 

 

 

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MOTHER’S DAY MADE SPECIAL!

by with No Comment artDIYfamilyholidaysinspirationvideo

Easily titled one of the most special holidays of the year, Mother’s Day is next weekend! I love Mother’s Day, not just because I’m a mom but because it’s a day to celebrate all moms, and the dads who take on mom duty full-time, I’m looking at you!

As a single mom I really appreciate all of you guardians, care givers, single dads, and anyone else stepping in to take on the ‘mom duties’! Lucky for all of us, on May 8th we get to celebrate you all!

So today I’ll share with you my personal take on gift giving, what it means to me, and the 3 easiest yet most thoughtful gifts you can give to mom!

#1 ARTS & CRAFTS! 

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I will forever cherish hand-made gifts from people who I love, especially the little ones! I remember when Corrine would make macaroni necklaces for me for holidays, or paintings, or finger painted musings for the refrigerator. I miss those little things, but this year we made ceramics together for my birthday and I couldn’t think of a better gift to give someone than something you make with your hands. It’s so sweet and original, there won’t be another like it anywhere.

#2 I OWE YOU!

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What may seem like a cop-out or an easy gift idea is actually pretty brilliant if you ask me! An I owe you for an hour of alone time, or breakfast in bed, or for you to do the dishes for the entire day?! Yes please!!! I’ll take all the IOU’s I can get! These are special because  you’re giving mom what she wants and what you know she’d really like and appreciate. Never underestimate the power of a good IOU 😉

#3 A PERSONALIZED GIFT JUST FOR MOM

Last but definitely not least, giving her a personalized gift is personal and especially special because it’s unique and again one of a kind <3 Taking this back to those macaroni necklace days, it’s nostalgia meets new memories … and old ones. You can personalize jewelry for mom, or mugs, or a tee-shirt for her even!

Corrine and Joe surprised me by customizing necklaces for me from Jevelo, a fun and user-friendly app where you select a photo from your camera roll or take a photo and import it into the design page and create your own custom jewelry! You can even design necklaces around a drawing or idea you have so long as you can take a photo of it. I actually had Luna design a necklace for the two of them also because Mother’s Day is about family for me. A day to celebrate family and not just me … but the me part is pretty special too 😉

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Jevelo were so awesome to send us these necklaces for my our special day and even hooked up our audience with 20% off, just use the code 3SA4E6 at checkout!

No matter what you get your mom for Mother’s Day, I promise she will love it because it really is about the thought behind the gift, the intentions of making her smile and making her feel loved and appreciated. I hope you all have a beautiful Mother’s Day, don’t forget it’s next Saturday, May 8th!

Happy Mother’s Day to all my fellow mommas out there, the guardians, the caretakers, and the dads pulling double duty! My hat is off to you all <3

What are your plans for this Mother’s Day and what’s the most special gift you’ve ever given someone you love?

Our little family did a Mother’s Day surprise video on my channel! Check it out here and please Subscribe if you haven’t already xoxo

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The Beauty Of Confidence

by with No Comment beautycharitycommunityfashion

As a woman, heck as a human, I have my fair share of insecurities. It’s something we learn living in a society built on image and status, but it’s also something we unwillingly accept from judgements passed on to us from others. Something I always try to teach my daughter is that the the one thing you can wear everyday, the one thing only you can give yourself, the most beautiful accessory, is confidence. “Confidence and being comfortable are things you can see on the outside when you feel them on the inside.” – Carrie Underwood 


I heard this quote from the ever beautiful (on the inside and on the outside) Carrie Underwood. If you know me than you know I love country music. I like LOOOOOOVE it. I bought Carrie’s first album after she won American Idol back in 2005…whew time flies! And I love her, I love what she stands for, I love her voice, and most importantly, I love what uses her voice for. She conveys love, confidence, and empowerment to her listeners, to women, and I respect that she hasn’t let the industry change her. 
 
This campaign is sponsored by Almay who recently named Carrie as their latest ambassador, and I think that says a lot about the brand. Usually when a celebrity personality and a brand team up, you hear the celebrity say things that are out of character for them.  So I was pleasantly surprised to read and hear Carrie’s words in her own….words, on what she thinks makes a woman truly beautiful and why she chose Almay. 
 
I’ll share with you the video of her that I’m talking about, just click here. I’ve always loved her, I really enjoy her music, and I find it really lovely that she remains true to her own brand, still inspiring, still giving words of encouragement, and still doing what she loves. This video made me think about my own definition of beauty so here goes. 
 
Beauty is something that everyone possesses. Most people think of beauty and what comes to mind for them initially, is the esthetically pleasing kind. Yes, outer beauty is indeed beautiful. But ‘looks’ fade with age, everyone is beautiful when they are young, what makes you beautiful as you go through life and age in years and in experience, is just that. Experiences. Your thoughts, your dreams, your words, your feelings, all make you beautiful because they make you an individual. 
 
No one can take away what makes you beautiful, you can only add to it. I, like most women love makeup and clothes, and perfumes, and all things girls, and though they enhance my personality and my features, they don’t make me beautiful. My ability to love unconditionally, the way I’ve raised my daughter, my loyalty to my friends, my honesty with myself, and my big ol’ cheesy heart make me me. I like that. 
 
This video provoked me to feel these things so I’m sharing them with you. It’s been a hectic few weeks but I wanted to say hello and that you are not forgotten, and that you too are beautiful!
 
So tell me what you think makes someone beautiful, how is beauty defined to you, thank you for reading and I’ll be back here soon. And thank you to Almay for having me a part of this campaign, I truly am inspired by this beauty:

 

 
BE-YOU-TIFUL
 
xoxoxo
 
Jess