You can find me...

HERE

Feel free to follow along.

xoxo,

Jessica

Follow This Mother

I was recently asked by the author of Another Mother Runner if I would be this weeks Follow This Mother. My husband's response was, "Do they know you're not a runner?" Ha! Well, I'm no marathoner, and I never said I was a "runner", but I guess everyone starts some where. Oh, and I'm down 11 pounds now, but who's counting?!?!?!? :)

If you follow along on this blog, you'll notice I'm not around much so it would be awesome if you'd follow my fitness blog so we can stay in touch. Now go check it out...Thanks!!

xoxo,

Confessions {my new fitness blog}

I have a little secret...I am now blogging over at runningtobeskinny.com
After making my New Year's Resolution to run a half marathon, and the desire to get back my old healthy lifestyle (pre-kids), I decided to journal it all on a new fitness blog. You can read more HERE.

xoxo,

Blissdom Remembered {Wrap-Up}

{The Hotel}

The Opryland Hotel was enormous and so beautiful!!

{My Roommate}

I couldn't have hand picked a better roommate. Patty from Finding Serendipty is not only beautiful, she's  "hate me" in shape, warm, so kind hearted, patient, friendly, fun, smart, humble, makes you feel at ease and has more talent than she realizes. She's a licensed physical therapist turned stay at home mom/fitness instructor/photographer & writer...in other words, she's not an axe-murderer. :) We had so many great tickle fights ha! I mean talks...I'm going through withdrawls!!

{Our Room}

The rooms were nice, and the view from our balcony was serene.

{The Perks}

To my surprise, at every turn there was some sort of fabulous giveaway. The lovelies on the right are adorable handouts from other bloggers such as necklaces, flower pins, book thongs, handmade rose earrings and homemade fudge. 

Fabulous keynote speakers: Scott Stratten and Brene Brown

Authors of: Unmarketing & The Gifts of Imperfection

{Long Time Favorites Bloggers}

Center : Edie from Life In Grace

I've been following the blogs of these talented ladies since 2008. You all know how much I love Edie, so I'll start with her...thank you so much for your friendship! Surprising me at the airport because you knew how nervous I was (in true Edie fashion). You are smart, gracious, classy, selfless, unique, brave, gifted with words and so beautiful inside and out. Thanks for incouraging me to stretch myself and step out
of my comfort zone.

 The Nester and Emily (if you don't already know), are sisters. The Nester inspires me to make my home beautiful and cozy by 'shopping the house' first as to not break the family budget.

 I relate with Emily in that she's an introvert but has her extrovert moments. She writes beautifully and incourages women to find their inner beauty and God given talents. Thank you both for being so sweet and friendly!!

{Forever Friends}

Ruthanne, Ruth, Brooke, Melissa S., Patty, Polly, Melissa M , Deanna, Shannan and Edie.



If I haven't convinced you to go to Blissdom 2012...

that's because I saved the best for last.

I had such anxiety about going, "What the heck were you thinking!?!?" went through my head more times than I can tell you. Having never met any of these bloggers in real life, I had all sorts of worries and insecurities. Besides that, I prefer to be in small groups not rooms full of five hundred plus women.

The night before I even cried out to my mommy on facebook, (which did me no good)

...she was half-way around the world!

When I got to the airport, rather than going through security, I found myself eating, shopping & wandering, 

in other words...

stalling!!

 My heart was beating out of my chest, my nose was sweating (as it does when I'm nervous), but I soon  realized, the stress eating, sleepless nights and self doubt were all for nothing!!

Most of the women there felt the exact same way,
and if they didn't,

they remembered those feelings and reached out with their motherly souls;

 calming my fears, boosting my confidence and making my
Blissdom experience unforgettable!

What I learned from Blissdom?

• Vulnerability is the key to loving with your whole heart
• When we exercise vulnerability we are courageous and brave
• Never let anybody steal your voice
• I am enough
• I can do hard things

Thank you friends for a fabulous weekend.

xoxo,

The Real Deal...

Homeschooling is not always nursery rhymes and nature walks, but rather two year old's crumbling deodorant all over your bedroom, sneaky six year old's dumping their entire lunch down the kitchen sink, ten year old's who'd rather free read all day than do a single math problem and a mom who's left wondering "Why did I want to do this again?"

Here are a few good quotes I've come across this week:

"Pretending is acting a certain way and hoping that someday you will feel that way. Hypocrisy is acting a certain way and never intending to feel that way."
- C.S. Lewis

"No man can for any considerable time wear one face to himself and another to the multitude with out finally getting bewildered as to which is the true one."
- Nathaniel Hawthorn

I love blogging, it's been a great outlet for me and a fun way to connect with other women in my same situation, not to mention a great way to journal our happenings that would have otherwise fallen by the wayside. I do not however, wish to portray that I 'have it all together' or that I'm a 'pro at homeschooling' because that would just be pure hypocrisy. This is my first year, I'm learning as I go and praying for guidance AND patience through this journey, taking it one day at a time.

Hypocrisy = The intent to deceive others for the sake of appearing better than you know yourself to be.

When someone looks at my home school blog and tells me "I don't know how you do it , you are amazing," I not only laugh but I always let them know that cyberspace makes it easy to look like we've got all our ducks in a row. Not that I'm trying to deceive anyone, because I'm not but if I posted all the drama and chaos...I'd be bloggin' 24/7, so if you're thinking of homeschooling, let me tell you it's not for everyone. There are many pros but there's also cons that should be seriously considered.

I am going to make sure I'm 'keeping it real' on my blog but also, make sure my actions match my words. I am far from perfect, and know that I have a long way to go, but I'm trying and I truly desire to be the best example I can be to my kids, my husband and anyone I come in contact with. No one wants to be 'called out' by their facebook friend, or their ten year old for not practicing what they preach, so I'm going to commit to do better. I know I'll fall but I'll keep on trying. I love this quote too...

"Be not angry that you cannot make others as you want them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be."

- Thomas a Kempis

Oh and let's make one thing clear...that gorgeous, ginormous English Manor at the top of my blog...that's not our real home!

Am I a hypocrit? Of course I am...sometimes, I'm only human. Here's to staying true to ourselves, and using our blogs to support, uplift, and enlighten one another. Peace out, and blog on!!