Road Jes Traveled

Disclaimer: This post's title isn't exactly the most relevant but I wanted so badly to use it. - - - So it's officially "fall" and in Hawaii that basically means it rains a little more than usual, it's windier, and MAYBE the temperature drops a degree or two. To battle the "I miss seasons" stage, I try to recreate fall moments. Cozy movie nights in with tasty treats and fall-scented candles is one of them. When I heard that Pitch Perfect 2 was finally out on Blu-Ray, I ran to Walmart to snag a copy, duh. Then I got really excited when I saw the combo pack that includes the soundtrack! And I don't know about you but I MUST have a snack while watching a movie. A local movie-snack favorite in Hawaii is hurricane popcorn. Hurricane popcorn is a mix of buttered popcorn, rice crackers (little crackers, kinda salty, and tastes like they're seasoned with soy sauce), and sprinkled with nori (seaweed, like the stuff you wrap around sushi)....

A few weeks ago I had a string of bad days. I was sick. I was emotional. I was alone. It was the first time that I realized how alone I really am. And I'm not trying to get all depressing on you. I know that I have great friends and family (and readers!) who care. I know that I'm not alone in that sense. I mean physically. Literally. There were things that I had to do that week that seem so minuscule now but were huge daunting tasks to conquer then. But I did it. I survived. And I survived on my own! I'm learning (or trying) to appreciate and grow in these times of solitude. In previous moves, I spent so much energy resenting the fact that I had left my family and friends, my place of comfort. I don't want to waste another second doing that. And as I sit here, alone, writing at the beach, listening to the waves crash, I remember that this place, this crazy island that I live on, is truly magical. Yes, I would prefer to share my moments here with an awesome p...

Most people that live away from "home" reach the peak of their homesickness during the holiday season. All of their family and friends are gathering in their hometown. They want to be there, surrounded by their loved ones and all of that holiday cheer stuff. I get that. But for me, I miss Texas the most in the springtime. The rodeos and music festivals. The patio weather, cook-offs, and crawfish boils. The bluebonnets and the quest to find the perfect spot for a picture. These are just some of the things that I crave when spring hits. These are just some of the things that I love about Texas.

It's been almost 3 months since my last post! So much has happened and I'm back to finally spill the beans.  I know that many of you have followed my story through losing my husband and losing Duke . I want to make sure to not only share my losses with you, but also my gains. Because the lows seem to be validated once you get to a high. And I want you all to know that it does get easier and it does get better. Hawaii has such a special place in my heart. It watched me grow into a woman, into a wife, into a mom to Duke. It has taught me about living simply, that there is more to life than work and earthly things. And it watched me fall down onto my knees in the midst of my toughest season thus far. So much has happened here. Yes, I said here. :) A few months ago I got a Facebook message that read "JT! Do you still want to come back? I'm hiring. The job is yours if you want it." The message came from a friend I had met at a conference in Maui in 20...

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Ginny at Centime Gifts . She was incredibly sweet and after reading about some of the things I've been through within the past year, she asked me to send her a few handwriting samples. I sent her my signature and some of my favorite words. A few days later there was a gift in the mail from her. A ring that says "Duke" in memory of my sweet boy who went to doggy heaven in August , and a necklace that says "Jessica Stronger" in my handwriting . How cool is that?! My favorite quote is " What does not kill me will make me stronger. "... because I truly believe it. I'm stronger because of the things that life has thrown my way. So the word "stronger" reminds me of this. It doesn't get much more personal than that! I was speechless. The necklace is stunning and the ring makes me smile. Both items immediately went to the top of my favorite jewelry list. And they are always conversation starters. ...

I got a ton of feedback from my very personal post about my divorce . More than I could have ever imagined. And more positive than I could have ever hoped for. I've been so inspired and uplifted by the stories that I've heard about people in similar situations, the words of encouragement, the prayers, the kindness that has been shown to me. I've really just been blown away by it all. Sharing my story not only helped me, but helped readers too. And that means more to me than I can put into words. Along with the countless comments, emails, messages, and phone calls, I received a gift too! Whitney (the hilarious writer behind I Wore Yoga Pants to Work ) sent me a fun package that included the sweetest note, a fearless koozie, and a Fearless tank that she designed. Besides the fact that it's super comfy, it has a ton of meaning behind it for me. I'm so grateful for Whitney and the many people that I've met along this little journey of mine. Thank you al...

Home. It's a funny word, right? A tiny word that has a whole lot of meaning. I've had several "homes" but one always remains, wherever I am. TEXAS, y'all. I was trying to describe what it was like to be a Texan to a friend from Pennsylvania. He said he was more of a Texan than I was because he's from the "country" in PA. Ummmm no no no. This obviously enraged me (my fellow Texans know what kind of pride we have) but as I began to explain what the difference was, I kind of hesitated. I didn't even know where to begin. Because being Texan is a feeling. It's hard to describe. It's country music and dance halls. It's beer. Lots of beer. It's BBQ and sweet tea. It's breakfast tacos and Tex-Mex. It's Spanglish, y'all, and ain't. It's jeans and cowboy boots, big hair and belt buckles. It's southern rap (hello H-town chopped and screwed!) and southern swag. It's southern accents, southern gent...