Hostess with the Most-ess

I love hosting people at my house. Did I say LOVE… I LOVE hosting people at my house. I love everything that goes into it: cleaning, prepping a menu, grocery shopping, planning fun things for everyone to do together, researching new fun places.. ALL OF IT! I love it.

Not only do I love the planning, but I love the hustle and bustle of people in my home, good conversations, kids playing, blankets and people snuggled on couches, fire pits, smore’s, games, memories being made, good food, candles, joy.. pure joy.

I grew up with friends always at my house, my cousins were always at my house, people were always in and out, and it was fun. I want that for my kids, and I want that for my family. I want people to just stop by because they were in the area and thought about us, then they end up staying for dinner and maybe dinner happens in the driveway because the kids are outside playing and the adults get to have nice conversations. I want people to come over and we all do something fun, did I mention that I love having people over?

When I was little my mom, my sister, and I would go to our very best friend’s house (they only lived 5 blocks away) and my mom and my friends mom would do some kind of craft or make pasta or something else that I don’t remember because I was too busy playing with all the kids on the block riding bikes, playing school or office, or house with our babies. It was so much fun! That is what I want for my family.

It’s interesting that those types of relationships don’t exist much anymore, the just stopping in to say hello relationships. Everything seems to be planned, and we are always calling ahead to triple check that it’s okay that we go to someone’s house.. I don’t quite understand that. Mainly because well..  I love when people come over.

How about we stop worrying about is our house a mess… do we have enough food.. does everyone have enough time.. are they going to mad that we stopped by… I don’t have anything to bring.. all the things, stop worrying about them. Just stop by, I promise they will be glad you did. Make the memories. Enjoy the  moments. Let time slow down. Enjoy each others company. You won’t regret it. These are the things we are made for.

This weekend we will have 7 adults and 3 children in my home and I COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED! The hustle and bustle of people I care about and conversations about life are going to be overflowing. The best part is everyone will walk away with a memory and valuable time spent together no matter if the food was good or if the house was clean. That is what fills my cup.

My cup overflows with JOY.

xo, Jessica

The kindness station

The kindness news station.. would you watch it? Think about CNN but like all the kindness and happy things happening in the world. Would you honestly watch it? I would.

You know what’s funny… most people I asked this question to said no. Why? Why wouldn’t you want to watch the joy and beauty in the world? The answer I got from people: “because I would be too emotional watching all the nice things, plus it would probably get old.” WHAT?! Really? The kind, beautiful, amazing things happening in the world would get old? What about CNN, BBC, or any news station for that matter… does that terrible information ever get old? But you still watch it!

We spend so much time watching and hearing about the tragedies in the world we have become immune to them. We don’t cry about sad things anymore, we don’t have reactions the same way because we see it all the time. But the fear you can see in someone when you mentions a Kindness News Station is unreal. Why are we afraid of kindness?

Kindness isn’t easy for us, we have to think about it. And then we have to think about not getting recognition for being kind because everyone always wants recognition. How about just be kind? Just be kind to everyone, not just the people you know, but everyone. You don’t know everyone’s story, you literally see people for minutes, sometimes seconds in their day — they have a whole life span of stories that contribute to the kind of person they are — who are you to judge? You are not there to judge. You are there to be kind. Just be kind.

Kindness has 2 sides, the giver and the receiver. The giver of kindness has it’s own challenges, but the receiver of kindness actually has to be open to receiving. What if they are not open to the receipt of kindness? What then!? It doesn’t matter. As the giver of kindness, you are doing it because you want to be kind. Not because the person asked for it, or because they need it. You gave out kindness because you wanted to. But also, we need to open ourselves up to acknowledge and accept kindness no matter how big or small. Don’t fear kindness, allow people to show you the beauty in the world.

The other day I was in the grocery store with my kids. This mother and her 2 kids were following us very closely and I kept wondering what they were doing. I will admit I was wondering in a very negative way saying things in my head like “what is your problem? stop following me and my kids!” About 5 minutes into them following us, her daughter came up to my daughter and said, “I like your unicorn jacket. Where did you get it?” Then the mom chimed in and said, “Sorry, she really liked the jacket and I am trying to teach her how to speak up for herself.” Man did I feel like dirt on the floor. The mom was just trying to teach her daughter how to be kind and I was annoyed. My daughter was so happy and proud that some other little girl liked her unicorn jacket and the girls were able to have a kind conversation about the jacket. I want to be like that mom. I want to teach my daughter kindness. I want to teach her how to give kindness and how to receive it. What a world that would be…

We are in the season of thankfulness. But what if we were in the season of kindness as well. Turn your kindness into someone’s thankful. Be so kind that they are thankful for you that day, then just maybe, they will be kind enough to someone else to be that someone else’s thankful.

Create your own Kindness News Station. Be your own news reporter. What would you report for the day?

be kind.

xo,

Jessica

Thankful to be in November

Praise! I could not be more happy it is November. It feels like a New Year for me. At least that is what I am treating it like. Do you ever feel like you need a “New Year” in the middle of the year? A time where you make lofty goals and try to revitalize your life?

You know, there is nothing special about January 1. You can restart your year whenever you want. On a Monday, on the 1st of the month. Geez… You can even restart your year on a random Thursday if you want. The new year new beginning is all about a mindset. January 1 has nothing to do with the  new-ness of your goals, or the next phase in life. The next phase is whenever you choose to make it a priority to make it the next phase.

I chose November 1 as my next phase. 1. because as you know, I like thanksgiving. 2. October rocked my world. 3. because I need a refresh.

My counselor took me back to May, when I was still fresh on my January goal, which was that 2019 is the year of me. I wanted to focus on things I wanted to do, things I needed. So November is back to that, THE YEAR OF ME!

You know what is funny.. the year of me includes my husband, because I so need and want him in my life. We chose each other and he is one of the best parts of my life. He is something I need in the YEAR OF ME to be my best me.

My kids, no matter how much they push my buttons, are a part of ME, and I need them in the YEAR OF ME to be my best me.

My family, again, no matter how much they frustrate me.. they made me ME, and I need them in the YEAR OF ME to be my best me.

See, I went into this year thinking — honestly — it was going to be all about me, and all the things I needed/wanted/would do to be my best self. Here’s what October taught me, to be my best me, I need all of these people. I can’t be the best me without any of it.

So November… let’s do this. Let’s refresh. Let’s be thankful, let’s be grateful, let’s start a new phase. Happy New Year to me. I am just over here working on the YEAR OF ME with a new perspective in hand.

xo,

Jessica

No make up. Fresh cut. Oh yes!