A Whole New Me
I did it! I left the office world for good!!
Don’t get me wrong, it didn’t all start by choice. I’ve been a social worker for 18 years. And I’d been with my last agency for over 12 years! And with this seniority, came a higher pay. But when funding for programs was cut, I was also the first to be cut, as I was “too expensive”. Wait, what?!
It really got me thinking, what is stability? When do you know you have it? And why would I ever want to give my all again for an agency that believes I’m just a number, a coat against their bottom line?!
So I decided I wasn’t going back.
I took a lot of training about digital marketing and online businesses. And I opened my own business. Now, my stability rests on me. Only me!
I’ve opened up financial freedom. And TIME freedom! What a thing to be able to be home and raise my own kids!
Now I know my calling.
So, I say this all to let you know that if you are struggling too, you can do what I did and find your freedom as well!!
I can show you how!
I follow a proven blueprint that teaches you how to work for yourself a couple of hours a day, and make money all from home. Unlimited income! And it works!
If you want more info on my courses, a proven plan to financial and time freedom, and a course you can sell for 100% profits as well, start here!!
And always let me know if you want more info or have questions! Let me mentor you! Let’s do it together!!
We can do this! 💪
Xx,
Jess
A Mom Must Have
Ok, so it isn’t really for mom, but it sure does help mom’s peace of mind!
That’s the Gabb Wireless watch (or phone!).
Gabb Wireless makes smart watches and phones for kids who aren’t quite ready for the scary world of unlimited tech. Or parents who aren’t ready.
They make keeping kids safe super easy. The devices don’t have internet access, for one. Boom, no unsupervised access. Secondly, they only allow calls and texts to and from approved contacts. I enter approved contact info within the parent app. Third, the devices allow tracking though the parent app. I can make sure B is where he needs to be. The devices even allow for scheduling of no usage times. Like during school, I can have it scheduled that B can only make am emergency call, nothing else.
Plans start at $10/month, and you can save $25 on any device with the code JESSIMARIE. Shop here.
So, at an age where I need to have contact with B, knowing he has sports and activities and will be without me at times or need rides, but also being too young for full access to unlimited internet, this thing is a huge help. We both love it and have been using it for over a year now.
Keep them young, keep them safe.
Xx,
Jess
Beauty Must Haves
Mom life may keep me super busy, but I still have a few beauty essentials that are must use, no matter how busy.
First, kids, business and stress may add to my wrinkles, and I believe in aging gracefully, but there are still few things I can do to combat early aging. Good skincare. No, it doesn’t have to be expensive. It just has to have the right ingredients.
My favorite skincare brand is Dime Beauty! I use every single product from them and have better skin now than I did in my 20’s! They use clean, safe ingredients and are cruelty free, plus affordable and EFFECTIVE!
This is my holy grail morning and night trio!
The eyelash boost serum has been amazing! And the blue facial oil saves me from break outs!
Use code JessicaM20 at Dime too!
Another must have for me is dry shampoo. No brainer. Life is crazy. Sometimes I don’t have the time to wash, dry, and style my hair. But I do have a quick second to dry shampoo. It refreshes my style, eliminates oils, and volumizes. Win!!
Gimme Beauty dry shampoo is my favorite. They use safe and natural ingredients, like arrowroot, and it leaves my hair soft and fresh. They have a citrus to pick you up the morning, a coconut with UV protection for daytime, and a lavender scent to be calming at night. I truly love them all.
Use code JESSICALAING50 for 50% off your first subscription order at Gimme. (Cancel anytime)
One more thing that I highly recommend and totally don’t want to live without… my Ellavive gel nail system. Manicures are great. But often time consuming and expensive. A super quick and affordable option saves my nails!
This is the fastest system, and 1 minute per coat under the UV light, and it lasts me so long!
You can use code EA20JLAING at Ellavive too!
What do you think? Anything else you would add?
XX,
Jess
Kids Gift Idea and Black Friday Deals
Christmas is fast approaching! But I’ve got an awesome gift idea for your littles!
Barrett fell in love with the balance bike from Coco Village! He rides it everywhere!
It really is a great skill to build for kids too. Even big brother (8) can ride this one! Barrett is 3 and it took some prefecting. They also have a 3 wheeled version!
Plus, if you subscribe to the VIP list here, you will receive an email on NOVEMBER 23rd giving you special early access to all their Black Friday deals!!
Coco Village is our favorite stop for gorgeous and fun kids toys. Check them all out!
Here are a few more of their adorable kids items too!
Hope your kiddos will love these ideas!
XX,
Jess
Trip Must Haves
We road trip and day trip a lot this time of year! So, I’ve put together a few things that are super helpful when we travel. These are good for kids of all ages!
I pack food. Duh. More importantly, I pack fun food that we don’t normally have. It makes great entertainment and fun, and even works when you need a little bribe. So helpful on a trip. Pre-packaged stuff is handy too!
I pack mess free coloring. So simple, but so handy. And I don’t have to worry about clothes and car being destroyed or crayons melting. They make some awesome mess free goodies now, all are clear to begin and make color on the special pages. Viola!
Pack a bag within a bag. I take a fold up beach bag like this one. We stop to put our feet in the water at the beach? We can throw things we might need in here instead of taking a bigger, bulkier bag out. Anything sandy can be contained here too!
I pack a wet bag! Same idea, but wet suits or shoes won’t make a mess when contained in here!
I pack a few new or not-used-in-a-while toys. Dollar Tree is great for finding inexpensive and fun surprises to pack. This popper toy has been a road trip favorite this year (from Target).
I pack Tubby Todd Baby Fresh Spray. Mom of boys here. They can get real sweaty and stinky. What if we want to stop for dinner? Spray ’em down. Fresh boys! 😉 (you can use this link for 10% off too!)
I pack a portable fan. I’ve got one that clips to the stroller and this one that mists too in the diaper bag. Easy entertainment and so refreshing when we all need it!
I pack this multi travel bottle.
It holds 4 bottles inside. Perfect for sanitizer, soap, lotion, etc, but keeps them small and contained.
I pack our weighted blankets. Our favorites are from Moxie. These make car naps so easy and enjoyable. Aah, some peace and quiet! (You can also use code Jess15 for 15% off here!)
Hope these are helpful! Happy road tripping!
Also, if you want my bigger list of toddler travel must haves, see the post here!
XX,
Jess
Sensory Play Part 2
I wanted to follow up with some more sensory play ideas we have found since getting our table. If you are new here, here is the first post on sensory play, where we talk about our table and some items that are super helpful!
First, get a funnel. These come in a pack of three and are collapsible silicone. Makes putting it all back SO much easier!
Another thing we’ve fallen in love with are these super cute jars from Busy Littles! You can even customize your jar with her, just message her on Instagram to order!
These are so fun because she adds acrylic letters and numbers that she makes! We got an alphabet that she customized to a camo theme! We also got one of her winter jars and a rainbow number jar. The boys LOVE them all!
So, what have we learned? That ANYTHING can be added to a sensory bin! The boys love that they can mix, stir, explore, dump, and keep the fun going for hours. Ok, minutes. They are kids. But still, its impressive. And anything that entertains both a 7 year old and a 2 year old is impressive in my book!
Also, here’s a peak at the Christmas box from Little Creators Texas too! We still love these also!
Have you tried sensory play yet?!
Jess,
XX
The Best Chex Mix
I have it. The Best. Chex. Mix. Recipe.
I promise.
This recipe has been a family tradition since we were kids, and still is today for my kiddos. Its super easy and EVERYONE is a fan. We freeze a couple bags and it serves family, friends, guests, and gift recipients all season long. And is always welcomed.
I hope you all enjoy like we do!
1/2 c. Butter or Margarine
1 1/2 tsp. Seasoned Salt
4 1/2 tsp. Worchestershire Sauce
Sprinkle of Garlic Powder to taste
2 c. Corn Chex
2 c. Rice Chex
2 c. Wheat Chex
1 c. Cheerios
1 c. Pretzel Sticks
1 c. Mixed Nuts
1 c. Mix Cereal
Heat margarine at 250° in shallow roasting pan until melted. Remove and stir in seasoned salt and worchestershire sauce. Add cereal and nuts. Mix until all pieces are coated. Heat in oven 1 hour. Stir every 15 minutes. Spread to cool.
Best part is, it doubles well! Make a double batch and use a large pan. Easy!
Let me know what you think!
Jess,
XX
Why I Love My Cricut
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of <a href=”Cricuthttps://lnk2.io/wjcWg2L”>Cricut</a>. All opinions are 100% mine.
I have had my Cricut Explore Air 2 for a few months now, and to say I’m in love is an understatement! I’ve always been a crafter, but this things really helps me step up my game! Here I am going to talk about the 5 things that I love about my Cricut!
1. Its easy to use! I was truly shocked at how easy this machine is! Not going to lie, I was intimidated at first. I worried where to start and if I would be able to figure it all out. Yup. I was. Best place to start? Pick a project and jump in. They really mean it when they say their motto is “beginners luck every time.” I learn tricks and get braver each time I use my machine, but I definitely agree that picking a beginner level project and diving in head first is a great way to start and will prove to you how easy it is! Check out this shirt I made as one of my very first projects:
2. Support! That brings me to the second thing I love about my Cricut. Its like having a whole community of creators to support you. Have a question? Worried about where to begin or which type of project to do? They’ve got an answer! Not only does Cricut have a team you can email or chat with, but they have numerous pages where you can reach out to their pros or other crafters with tons of experience. They’ve all started somewhere and learned lots and are at the ready to make sure you love your machine and projects. I would know. I wasn’t sure how to customize the design I wanted to make myself for this bag, and the Facebook page group had almost immediate answers for me!
3. Ideas! This also leads me to another thing I love about Cricut, the ideas! I never worry about having a creative block. There’s no way. The ideas of projects to make are endless, for every single occasion you cak dream of. Really. You can find ideas galore on Pinterest, and Instagram, or Cricuts’s Facebook page. And my favorite place for inspiration? The Cricut emails! They send seasonal emails showing the new ideas and templates added to Design Space, their app for making. How did I know about the new infusible ink and coaster blanks to make these? One of their idea emails! Light bulb!
4. The options! Got a bright idea to make? You can! And Cricut can help you do it! The options they supply for you is endless. Or almost. Not only do they help with the ideas, but they make it easy to find all of the supplies you need to make visions come to fruition. They have coasters, bags, shirts, materials, pens, markers, vinyls, decals, iron ons, and the widest variety of patterns in their supplies you could imagine! Sparkles, holographics, leopard, wood grain…their possibilities are never ending! Not to mention, cricut has other machines like the EasyPress, and tools like mats, cutters, Nd weeders, to make all of the options come to life!
5. Capabilities! This machine not only cuts paper and vinyls. I was shocked to learn what all it really can do. Like blown away. It can cut leather, poster board, felt, fabric and even wood. But it doesn’t just cut, it can score. And it can draw! Yup! Shocked?! Me too. You can insert pens and markers into the blade holder and it can draw or write, making handmade cards, letters, signs… mind blown.
The capabilities combined with the Cricut options alone shows you that the possibilities are truly endless. I cannot wait to do another project every time I finish one! And now all of my gifts will be one of a kind made by yours truly!
Here’s a quick breakdown of my latest project, a sign for our kitchen.
Choose a board and a quote. My board is a faded, chipped, barn board from our barn. (I’m sure to some the white paint left on one corner and the odd shape caused by years of cattle wear are not pretty, but we loved this board! 😉
Then, start on the Design Space app, and find my design template here. My board is 5ft long, but you can edit the design to adjust measurements. Once you send the design to the machine and it cuts it on vinyl, weed the excess pieces out. Use transfer tape to pick up your design and stick it down in place on your board. You could add flourishes to the ends of your quote too! You can change this design and even choose your own color vinyl. I used matte clear coat over the board to ensure no edges lift since I chose an old, rippled barn board for my project. Add a hanger or two on the back and hang. Easy peasy and a great one-of-a-kind, beginner-friendly project!
Have questions? Need help or ideas? Just ask! 😘
XX,
Jess
The Landing Strip
A landing strip, a command center, the drop spot. No matter what you call it, every house should have one. It’s a place for all the family “stuff”.
I call it a landing strip. In this house we actually have it split up a little, but it’s whatever works for you! When you come in our backdoor, we have hooks for each family member. Bag and coat go there. There’s a little hook station for car keys. And we have a small rack holding bug spray, sunscreen, sunglasses, wireless speaker, etc. But there’s still other “stuff” that accumulates. What do you do with it?! Enter our landing strip.
He we have a stash spot for everything else so that we stay organized and don’t lose important things! We use the chalk board for calendar notes and grocery lists. And each of the boys and mom and dad have a basket. We put bills in ours. The boys put homework and such in theirs. I keep a pen jar on the shelf. Here is stash stamps, a candle lighter, a marker, and pens. If you need more than that they you have to go upstairs to the office. 😆
The antique mirror got a metal insert painted with chalk paint. The little chalk marker tray below it is an antique door stop out of an old barn. The baskets are from Hobby Lobby. The shelf is a custom design I requested from Jason. He added and welded the flourish at the top of the brackets.
Here’s my tid bit of advice. Have a place for the “stuff”, whatever you may call it. I truly believe in “a place for everything and everything in its place.” Even if you don’t organize that far, at least set up a zone with a calendar and pens and notepad. Have a spot where you put mail and homework. Always put your keys in the same location. I promise you that these tricks will prevent you from losing important things or searching frantically for the lost items!
And just for fun, here’s a shot of what it looks like more often than not. 😉
Anything else you would add?
XX,
Jess
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Best For Baby And The Environment
Two kids in and we’ve tried them all. Diapers. A must have. But they also must work. And I’ve found the ones!
First of all, these work. They do their job. I know that every kiddo is different and different things work best for each, but these are universally amazing. They have a slightly bigger fit, which seems helpful in preventing leaks! Daytime, and even all night, we have yet to experience a leak!
Next, they are easy on sensitive skin. Second babe gets rashy easily and diapers usually seem to add moisture and make this worse. Not these. Nest’s diapers are hypoallergenic, with skin-safe materials throughout. They are free of harmful chemicals and known allergens. Soft, super absorbent, and easy on all skin types.
Third, I want to use a brand that is more eco friendly. Nest’s diapers are made of all plant based materials- wood, bamboo cane, and are completely compostable.
Lastly, I don’t want to break the bank for something that ultimately is a toilet. These diapers are competitively priced! And that combined with how well they work and their benefits makes them the ultimate win!
Eco-friendly, sustainable materials, soft, absorbent, gentle on sensitive skin, affordable and mailed right to you…what else could you want in a diaper?!
Find them in select Meijer stores now. Or here on Amazon too!
XX,
Jess
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Make Mine Eclectic 