Thursday, March 29, 2012

Friends Make Life Better!

True: This week was awesome
True: I didn't want Jenny's trip to end
True: I was exhausted when it was all over
False: I wouldn't do it again.

I hope your week was filled with lots of moments that brought you joy and smiles.
This past week was one of the most fun weeks I've had in quite some time.

Check out the highlights of Jenny's trip to WA!



Justin Bieber's new single, "Boyfriend" is keeping my ears happy this week. I have a feeling this song is going to be on repeat until his new album comes out in June-ish. I'm really impressed with him. Go buy his single, and support and artist who is talented, genuine, and helps generous. He's the kind of entertainer who's worthy of having lots of fans. And I must say, he's quite the looker these days.



Layla is even hooked



After months of waiting and going through a ridiculous address/mail issue, I finally have my boots! Jenny was so sweet to buy them for me and graciously ship these babies to me 4 times, because of our mail problem. She ended up just bringing them for me when she visited, but I appreciated the massive effort she made to get them to me. It's still raining here, so these boots have some life in them yet! Thank you, friend!




Here's a fact for you... I enjoy Edgar Allan Poe. I have been reunited with him this last week, through this book. His mysteriously dark writing is awfully intriguing to me. I've enjoyed getting reacquainted with his work. He's a bit of a tortured soul, but sometimes, tortured souls are the best storytellers.

Seeing The Hunger Games was an absolute highlight of my week! Maybe even my year! Oh man, we had so much fun, and the movie was impressive. Read the books first, before you see the movie, but if you already read them, get your butt to the theater and see this movie. It was awesome. We had so much fun!





A few highlights from this last week while Jenny was here.











It's true that life is better shared...
...especially with good friends!


I'll see you all in April!
~Jessica




Friday, March 23, 2012

Down With the Capital

This "Thursday Latelies" is coming to you a day late because of the monumental day I had yesterday.

Can you guess why it was such a huge day?!

Yup- Hunger Games!! AND Jenny is here with me.
So. Much. Fun.

Andrea joined us for Hunger Games too, and that was the cherry on top! We had a bitchin good time!

So, welcome to Thursday Latelies- Special Edition: Hunger Games




We had Starbucks, popcorn, cupcakes, laughter, and whole lotta fun.







 
What did you do this week that

 brought you some fun and joy?

May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor
~Jessica

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Thursday Latelies!


We are halfway through March already. What?!

I'm grateful for the extra sunlight we've started to get up here (thanks daylight savings!), and the hope of spring that extra bit of light brings.

There are a few other things that made my week "tick," so check out my loves below!






Essie Nail Polish- It may be a pretty penny for nail polish, BUT when it stays on for days and days, it's money well spent. I'm loving me some "tart deco."






Wet N' Wild- Remember that brand? Flashbacks of middle school are flooding my mind. I'm so glad I've been reacquainted with it. "Tickled Pink" is brightening up my week, with it's soft, bubblegum-y look. I think you'll like it too! Try it!

                   



Creative Inspiration Struck! I love it when that happens. This weekend I did a few projects, but below is my favorite one. When creativity happens, it's really quite fun! Once I hang the frames, I'll show you a final final picture.





Zumba- For a gal who isn't into Latin music, I'm surprised that Zumba has caught my attention. Do you need a work out that's fun, structured, and makes you sweat? Yes? Then this is the thing for you. It's even more fun with an awesome friend like Andrea. Thanks for laughing with me!
Jenny, we're trying to do you proud!

Next week's Thursday Latelies will be a hoot, I can just feel it.
AND the Hunger Games countdown is on. 7 days.
Watch out high school girls, these late 20 somethings are gonna beat you to the front of the line. That's perk of being an adult and/or a stay at home mom. Boo- yah!!!


See you next Thursday!
~Jessica

Saturday, March 10, 2012

My Son Ruined My Lipstick

A tweet from one of my favorite teacher/pastor/communicators, Greg Boyd, had me thinking this week.

"Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, THIS moment, RIGHT NOW, is a sacred moment, for you are engulfed in the perfect love of God."

I've said this before, but because motherhood requires constant energy, I don't find myself "enjoying every moment" of it. I don't know if we can ever really enjoy every single moment of every single thing, but sometimes there are moments in parenting where time seems to stop, and for that short time, you are fully aware of the magnitude of love, affection, and wonder you have for your children. I'd like to say that those moments happen often, but truthfully, they happen much less than the moments where I feel like I am working hard with little reward. But, those time-stopping moments are worth the tough in between times.

So on Wednesday, when I walked into
the bathroom and saw this happening....





I was frustrated that my lipstick,
which I obsess over keeping like this...





Now looked like this...



Please notice the pool of spit that formed in one
of the craters Cullen made


It was NOT a "time stopping," affectionate moment for me.
Even if Cullen is super cute and goofy.





But when a few minutes later, I read this quote while laying down with him to get him to sleep....

"Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, THIS moment,
RIGHT NOW, is a sacred moment, for
you are engulfed in the perfect love of God."

...I had a "time stopping" moment. For that short time, Cullen was all I saw. He was peaceful, quiet, and things seemed right for a few seconds. He had just said, "seeckle, mommy," which is his way of saying, "will you tickle my tummy?" Right as I read that quote, I felt overwhelmed by a love greater than the love I could ever give Cullen. It was a sacred moment, it was a meaningful moment, it was a moment full of engulfing love.

Then I realized, just as the moment laying with Cullen was sacred, so was the moment that he was playing with my lipstick. He was exploring, having fun, and doing exactly what he's supposed to at his age... be curious.

I can't say that I will be able to feel that way every time something of mine gets ruined, but for that situation, and that moment, I was able to gain some perspective. It was a great reminder to me that even when we don't feel like we are surrounded by deep love, we still are.

As you walk through your morning, afternoon, or evening, no matter what they look like, or how you feel, remember....

"...THIS moment, RIGHT NOW, is a sacred moment, for you are engulfed in the perfect love of God."

Love to you all,
~Jessica

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Springy Sandals, De-lish Dip, and Kony 2012

Happy Thursday!


AND

Happy International Women's Day!




I'm not a necessarily a feminist, but I do believe in women being empowered and having a voice.
So, here's to all the women I know and love that make me proud to be a woman, myself!


Check out this week's video, and see what's going on over here!



KONY 2012- A campaign to stop Joseph Kony from abducting young boys into his LRA army, in the Central African Republic.
You can be a part of bringing him to justice. If you haven't seen the video below, please watch it. If you feel compelled to act, do it. Let's speak for those who don't have a voice.





Amazing Peanut Butter, Yogurt, and Honey fruit dip
If there was a slogan for this dip, it would read, "A dollop of heaven with every dip."
It's healthy AND tasty, plus it takes 3 minutes. Seriously, you'll be hooked in the first dip.
Thank you, Jenny, for posting this life changing recipe.




Target Floral Glasses


Similar Sunglasses
        

Cullen modeling them for you



Shoes on Sale!

I was so excited to see that the sandals I had been eye-ing on UrbanOG.com,
finally went on sale for $13.00! I snag two pairs, since the deal was so good!

Unfortunately, they aren't on sale anymore since it was a "Deal of the Day" special.
BUT, if you love them, they are still available for purchase at $22.50
This website has a ton of other great shoes as well, and their daily sales are always fun!


                                   


Allen Stone
I first heard Allen Stone when he performed on Conan O'Brien awhile back. Fast forward a few months, and I once again reminded of him through another blogger. I've been hooked for the last two weeks. Again. This guy is the real deal. Check out my favorite song of his below.





Have a great day!
And remember to change your clocks 

an hour ahead this weekend!
Spring is upon us! YES!
~Jessica

Monday, March 5, 2012

Blog-versary Giveaway Winner!

I want to thank each and every one of you who participated in my giveaway! I had such a great time reading your responses. Thanks for your vulnerability. I really wanted to send each of you a gift!

Watch the video to see who won!



Congratulations to...
KIMBERLY CALIGER!

Kim! Email me at jessinyourhead@hotmail.com
or send me a facebook message with your address,
and I will send out this baby right away!



I plan on responding to each one of your comments, because I am so grateful for your vulnerability and honesty. Thank you all for being so transparent.

Thank you, also, for making this blogging thing so much fun. I look forward to sharing more life with you in this next year.

See you all for "Thursday Latelies," my friends!
~Jessica

Sunday, March 4, 2012

10 Things I've Learned About Blogging

I will admit, that there are few hobby-like things in my life that I have stuck to. I have regrets about quitting the piano when I entered high school, I never played a sport that I then got good at, and I have done minimal exploring of my interests. Finding an interest of mine, that I like enough to stick with it when it's hard, and have a continual desire to learn and stretch myself to be better at it, has been non-existent or minimal in my life.

I was encouraged to start blogging last year at this time. When I started, my expectations of myself weren't high.  I simply knew that I loved writing, and that I had a lot on my mind, but I didn't start this with the intention of it becoming anything other than a space to clear my head.  To my delight, what started as a place to get "5 Minutes Peace," has become one of the most rich and meaningful experiences of my life. One that has brought me much fulfillment, joy, energy, and encouragement, in a season of much questioning. Blogging is the first hobby I've taken up that I have committed to for the long hall. It's the first hobby that I have had a desire to "master." Meaning, I want this blog to be the best I can make it. I don't strive to be the best blogger the world has ever seen, because there are many better than me, but I strive for my little space in the world wide web to be something I'm proud of and excited to share. I always want to keep an attitude of "desire to learn and grow" at the forefront of every post.

I've learned much about blogging this year, and I just thought, "Why not share?" I don't claim to have a wealth of knowledge on the perfect "how to's" of blogging, or the best recipe for a thriving blog, but I have had some really cool and helpful experiences that I wanted to pass along to you, my readers!

1) Only start blogging if you love it.
Don't start a blog because it's the thing to do. Only start a blog if you have inspiration and a passion for expression in that way. If you do it because it's the "in" thing to do, it's going to fizzle quickly. And honestly, I think people see through that.

2) Stick with it! Don't quit!
Like anything worth being good at, or feeling proud of, it takes work and consistency. It's as simple as that. If you have a passion for self-expression through blogging, than keep at it!

3) Write or post when inspired. Don't write just to fill space.
Filling space is empty. Write and/or post because sharing what's on your mind at that time, gets you excited. If you're excited or inspired, you're readers will feel that.

4) Number of "followers" doesn't define quality.
Would it be cool to see hundreds of people following your blog? Sure. But, don't let the number "followers" get you too discouraged or cocky. It's exciting, yes, but it isn't the only measure of success. Blogging can so easily become a popularity contest, where people cater to expectation and sacrifice being true to themselves. Number of followers doesn't define the quality of a blog. There are blogs on both ends of the follower spectrum that are wonderful because they are authentic. A great blog is a great blog because of honest content, not just because 10,000 say they follow it, alone. Write what you want, post what you want, and focus on being real rather than, "I hope this gets me more followers." Funny enough, I think letting go of the desire for gathering lots of followers, brings you more followers.

5) Be honest. Be yourself.
My favorite bloggers are the ones who ooze authenticity. The ones who don't take themselves too seriously, who admit their imperfections, and can laugh at themselves. Being genuine and honest is so refreshing, and cultivates a wonderful place for conversation and friendship. Be you. It's your blog after all.

6) Blogging friends can turn into real life friends!
I have "met" some of the most lovely people I know through blogging. When you are willing to be vulnerable, you find others that want and look for similar things in their lives and relationships. I look back on this year and thank God for the fantastic ladies, more like "soul sister" friends that have come into my life as a result of blogging. These are people who have made me feel less alone in my way of thinking and processing. Whether we "met" over the internet, met in person, or reconnected after many years, my life is richer because of those I know as a result of blogging. If you're going to blog, be prepared to meet some a-ma-zing pals!

7) Interact with other bloggers.
Truthfully, this is something I'm trying to get better at.
It's so fun to read others' blogs. I have found inspiration, creativity, and refreshment through reading and connecting with other bloggers. There are some fantastic people out there! One of my "blog goals" this year is to interact more.

8) Respond to your comments in a timely manner.
I'm preaching to the choir here.
I think it is so important to respond to those who take the time and effort to comment or write to you, in a timely manner (just so you know, I'm saying this while I have a few posts that are currently unattended! Yikes, and I'm sorry!). Responding more quickly is another "blog goal" of mine in this next year of blogging. It lets your readers know that you are grateful for the time they took to connect with you.

9) Sharing life is SO important!
We live in a society that tells us to grow up, and then isolate ourselves. That every man is for himself. Truth: Everyone needs help, has struggles, and hates being alone. It becomes harder to express our needs and fears because it's not the norm to show pain/struggle/questioning. We walk around thinking that we can't be honest and ask for guidance because nobody else is. But, the truth is few are doing it because, because few are modeling it. Well, in this last year, I've learned to admit my need for help, and have realized that we ALL need help, and we desperately need each other. Growing up and isolating is damaging. The older I get, the more I realize my need for community. So, whether you are sharing a recipe, a craft project, or a thought, it's meaningful. If you have something that is inspiring you, share it with others. If it's making your life more rich and doable, pass it along. Don't isolate. Join in! Blog because you want to share life with others. Blog to encourage others to do the same.

10) Have fun!
Blogging, like any other hobby, should be a source of fun and energy. Be silly, be goofy, be honest, be thoughtful. Just enjoy the journey. Blogging has been an absolute blast for me, and I can't wait to have more fun with all of you in this next year!


Thank you again, for all of your love, support, thoughts, and feedback this last year. I mean it when I say, you have been a huge part of something that has amazingly life-giving for me, and I couldn't be more grateful for each of you.

I am going to announce the "1 Year Blog-versary" winner tomorrow, March 5th, so if you haven't entered, you still have time! I'd love to give you some of my favorite goodies- hop on over and participate!

Happy Blogging, Friends!
~Jessica

Thursday, March 1, 2012

1 Year Blog-versary and Giveaway!

"It's All In Your Head" is 1 year old today!



I'm feeling much joy and gratefulness as I reflect on what this last year has brought for me, as a result of doing this whole blog thing.

Blogging has given me so much life, and it's all because of YOU!

What's a birthday/anniversary without a little something special?
As a thank you for all of your love, support, and feedback this last year, I've put together a little gift basket for a lucky reader!

Watch the video below to see what you could win, and how you enter!





How to Enter

Leave a comment answering these two questions...

1) What's your favorite, "It's All In Your Head" post from this year?

2) What is something you learned this year, about life or yourself?


I'll draw a winner either at the end of the weekend, or early next week.



Happy 18th Birthday to the BIEBS!
Something I love about him is his generosity, and concern for those in need.
Check out his charity:water campaign, and consider donating so people can have access to clean water.





Thank you for being part of
a very special year for me!
~Jessica