2015 Was A Great Year!

2015 was a good year in my book. I taught for 3 different companies online at the beginning of it. That was such an amazing gig for being a stay/work at home momma. We got to go back to South Korea for the first time in 4 years, and we got to visit my friends in Japan. I don't think I had seen them since 2007?  I was fortunate enough to be able to have the BEST day/night with my best friends that are still in Korea. (that's something money cannot buy) We had our Korean Wedding and Wilson partied when he turned one in Korea and The U.S. He has more friends than I do!

I got involved in so many "mommy" groups and we had so many play dates and adventures in TN! We made the best friends anyone could have! I will forever hold dear my Franklin mommas, My Hermitage/Nashville moms, My Mommy Fit Camp ladies, and my Hike it Baby Crew. We had a playdate every single day of the week. We went to the library like book addicts. That time will be forever treasured in my heart. I feel so very privileged to be able to take a year and spend every second with my baby.

I also read a massive amount of books this year, because I joined 3 or 4 different book clubs. I'm still trying to keep up with what they are reading. I am grateful for meeting those bookworm friends as well.

My husband and I are very spontaneous people, and we like it that way. We want to live life to the fullest, so before we even went to Korea, we were contemplating the idea of moving to Atlanta, GA. We went there a lot to go grocery shopping for Korean food. We both miss Korea so badly. When we were in Korea we were thinking of all these scenarios of how we could move back to Korea. None of those ideas were great because the nursing profession in Korea is not like nursing in the U.S. You have to work a lot more hours and get paid way less. We thought about working on an American military base.

My husband has worked every single weekend for 3 1/2 years and did overtime at the same position in the same hospital. He was never able to go to weekend parties or events with me. I would have to go visit my relatives and friends by myself. He was getting really burnt out. We were both ready for a change in scenery and just a change in life, in general. We felt as if we had taken all that Nashville really had to offer for us. I cut all my hair off in Korea. My hair is the shortest it has ever been, and I love it!

When we got to the airport to leave Korea, we realized we did not pack Changhee's green card??!! They would not allow him to fly back to the states without it. Changhee had to stay in Korea another week while I shipped him his green card to the states at the fastest rate. I have been to 31 different countries (not to brag, okay, maybe a little), and that flight with my almost 1-year-old, by myself, was the worst flight of my entire life! I was wedged against a window with a sometimes screaming child, trying to breastfeed, sitting beside a couple and they had a dog! So I guess babies and dogs go in the same cargo category, and they have to sit together on the plane??! I wanted to murder that Korean lady. If I ever go back to Korea, I will find her, and I will kill her. jk.

As soon as I got back to the states, I became proactive. I started applying to every teaching job in Fulton and Gwinnett County. I was so surprised at how many interviews I got! And, I got offered every single position I interviewed for! In TN, it took me 1 1/2 years to even get an interview. I took a job because the principal looked like Meryl Streep's daughter. (She really does) Just kidding, I took the job, because she seemed so amazing, and the location of the school was amazing, and it seemed like a marvelous fit for me with the most diverse population of children. I wanted everything to be totally different. I am now teaching 4th grade, which I have never taught, so I knew it would be a learning experience for me.

So now I teach 4th grade, which is an amazing fit for me. I love going to school every single day to teach and see them learn all of this advanced material that I don't think I learned until the 8th grade, but the 4th-grade content is so interesting and very fun to teach. I want to stay in 4th grade for a very long time. I will cry if I have to move grade levels anytime soon. I also still teach for one of my online companies. They have been so good to me. The students are Chinese, and they have asked if I would go to China, but my regular teaching job wouldn't allow for that. So I got my fingers crossed for this next summer. I would love to visit Shanghai.

Changhee decided to be a stay at home dad for a while, but one of the main reasons we moved to GA is so Wilson could have more Korean culture in his life, and because I am very adamant on the issue of him reading, writing, and speaking Korean. His grandparents only speak Korean. (My husband is a terrible teacher) We soon found him an amazing Korean Daycare. They only speak Korean, and they do so many fascinating things with them. Every activity you can think to be done with a one-year-old, they do. They even do massage!

It was really great coming home from work, and my house would be clean, and my dinner would be ready for me, on the table. Let's be real, though, a teaching salary cannot support a "house daddy" forever. I am very proud of Changhee, he supported me while I stayed at home, and I would gladly do the same for him for a little while. I am also proud of him because he finally finished his bachelor's by taking that one speech class that he was too afraid to take. (He gets anxiety when speaking in front of a group) Changhee is now working part-time for a home healthcare company, in which he takes care of children who are on life support, other breathing machines, and things like that. He also just had an interview yesterday for a nursing management job, which I think he would be perfect for, and they will work around Wilson's daycare schedule! (fingers crossed)

I adore living near Atlanta. It is the perfect place to live. We have the most delicious food in the world everywhere we go. There are so many restaurants, we could try something new every day of the year. There are gorgeous parks and hiking trails all around. To me, it's like TN on crack! There are still mountains and waterfalls, but Atlanta has so much more than Nashville. I swear I walk around or drive around every day and think to myself, "I love it here. I am never moving anywhere else." My coworkers are so wonderful where I work. They also inspire me every day. Some of them are quickly becoming some of my best friends. Atlanta is also perfect for us because it is only a 3 1/2 hour drive to visit my parents. I can still visit my best friends in TN, and they can visit me anytime!! (hint, hint) One of my best friends from high school came to visit last week actually. It was great.

We have put in an offer on a short sale townhome.It is in a great location, half-way between Wilson's daycare and my job. It's a gorgeous 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, with stone siding, a two-car garage, and a back deck. Because it is a short sale, it will take the bank forever to close. We are shooting for an April closing date. If we get it, it will be the perfect size at an awesome price. I am really hoping we get it. I'm ready to put my decorating hat back on and get to work making something that is mine beautiful. I've already been pinning away ideas on Pinterest. Plus, it is extremely hard to go back to living in an apartment. after having your own house for 3 years. I am more than ready to have our house and be settled here.

I'm proud of myself for 2 things lately. I started working out again. Being surrounded by all this delicious food has been really bad for my body. Ha! I finally joined the gym in December. Some of the best things about my gym are that it is 7 minutes from my house, it has a pool, sauna, group classes, every piece of exercise machinery you can think of, but the most amazing thing is they have daycare. It's $10 extra a month, and worth every penny! The other thing is that I am very proud of is that I stuck to my guns, and I breastfed my baby right up until 18 months. Then I weaned him within a couple of days. I think that is worth bragging about.

My 2016 Resolutions:

1. I resolve to be happier than ever! I think happiness is a state of mind. I am going to get a good night's sleep every night, exercise, drink lots of water, and eat well. I am going to stay positive and keep going no matter what happens.
2. I resolve to exercise every day that I am physically able. I am going to have a bikini body this summer if it kills me, damn it!
3. I am going to potty train Wilson this year.
4. We are going to get a house, and I am going to make it beautiful.
5. My husband and I are going to work on our relationship. We are going to have a date night every week or so and do something amazing downtown, go to cooking, dance classes, or little adventures.
6. This is going to be the year that I get into sports. I've never really cared about sports, but this year, I resolve to become a big sports fan in all the sports. I am going to research and pick teams. lol (That way I can contribute to conversations at social gatherings in GA. I feel like Joey on friends when he buys that one Encyclopedia)
7. I am going to become more of an artisan this year  and create more. I am going to crochet things again, learn new art skills, and do more DIY projects.
8. I am going to learn how to use and utilize every piece of technology I can get my hands on.
9. I always resolve to read and write more, so I'll stick to that one.
10. I want to spend more time reflecting on things that matter and not material items.
11. I want to keep my job(s) and improve as a teacher daily. (Always reading the latest professional development books and articles) I want to start working on my masters again by next school year. My ultimate goal is to get my doctorate in the next 5 years.




Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful New Year's! 2016 is going to be the best ever! 

Jess' Favorite things for February 2015

So I am hoping to start this new series in my blog, where I promote things that I love, instead of bashing what I hate. I hope I can keep it up! Please follow my blog and tell me what you think in comments. What are some amazing things you have discovered lately?


1. This play list: awesome mix

2. This large tartan scarf. It's on it's way to my house at the moment. I can't wait to wear it!

3. Mommyfitcamp: Which is like having bootcamp and having a personal trainer, plus I don't need a babysitter, because I can bring my boo in his jogging stroller. Although, my bubs is still super clingy, so I usually opt to leave him with the hubs. This is such an amazing program for mommies trying to get back in shape and also to meet awesome mommy friends. MFC

4. Wildtree meal prep Wildtree Meal prep 

I absolutely love the convenience of not having to think about meals, I just pull something out of the freezer, and prepare every night! Plus, I know every single meal is GMO, hormone, peanut oil, and every other chemical you can think of, free! They are so organic and healthy. Check them out! 

5. Wilson started saying "Mama." 2/13/15 Yay! "Dadadada" is so yesterday.

6.  The Fifty Shades of Grey movie

and this article from Buzzfeed: 141 thoughts (hilarious)

7. The Walking Dead is back, and this amazing clip from Conan!! Steven Yeun & Conan Visit A Korean Spa  - CONAN on TBShttp://youtu.be/k70xBg8en-4 

This made me laugh so hard, I cried, and simultaneously, want to go to a Korean spa.

8. Toy Elephant Photography!! My friend Sally, took these absolutely amazing photos of me and my little guy. 

Check her out on Facebook!!Toy Elephant photography Facebook

9. BabyWearing International: BWI Facebook (middle Tennessee)Which is a group of mamas in Nashville, where you can pay only $30 for a yearly membership. You can rent a different carrier of your choice every month. I usually go with the buckle carriers, because I have no training on wraps. 

10. This Boba baby carrier that I rented for the month (I have yet to take a pic of Wilson and I using it.), so I will let you look at Jennifer Connelly carrying her baby with it.

P.S. I love it, so far!! I need to add it to my reviews soon.

11. This book: The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd, which is a historical fiction semi-biographical novel about women's rights and slavery. And all 4 book clubs that I have managed to join in the Nashville area.

Mommy pet peeves

I'm sure this will turn into a forever on-going list:

1. When a mom's facebook name is so and so's mom. For example: Johnny's mom. I love Wilson more than anything in this world, but my whole identity is not Wilson's Mom.

Like I said, that's all I got so far. List your pet peeves, mommy, or otherwise. lol

Let's talk I was told there'd by cake (a book by Sloane Crosley) *spoiler alert

What I've learned about writing from this book: If you want to be a successful memoir writer, you must follow these rules:

1. Write about your upbringing in ways that make it sound charming in its quirkiness (e.g. the Vowell/Klosterman strategy), charming in its weirdness (the Sedaris strategy) or terrifying (the Burroughs strategy). Under no circumstances should you have normal, perceptive parents who were socially adept with no strange habits whatsoever. No one wants to read about that.

2. Write about high school and college, but make sure you don’t make your experience sound too fun or interesting.. Make sure you write about your social and academic struggles and/or humiliations so your readers can either relate and/or feel superior. Do not be popular at college or high school! This is the kiss of death. Make sure you paint yourself as kind of a loser.

3. Write about the shitty jobs you have had. Remember, some of your readers may have shitty jobs and want to be successful writers themselves. You have to give them the glimmer of hope that they, too, will be someday on Oprah or a bestselling author.

4. Write about religion but only from a distant “my family wasn’t that into it” or “my family was into it but I’m not now,” perspective. Stating “I still go to mass every Sunday, yep, sit in the back pew” will kill your book deal. 

5. Write about your family, of course, but choose a strategy (see #1) and stick with it. Make sure you are alternately embarrassed in front of and embarrassed by your family. Loving parents are ok as long as they’re generally clueless.

6. Write at least one chapter/essay as a mash note to New York City. If this can be combined with the shitty job (see #3) all the better. Make sure you refer to New York in ways people who have never been to NY will not understand (e.g. “I lived in the seventies”) but would like to pretend they do. Describe your small and crappy apartment. Extra points if you can work in a 9/11 reference.

7. Be gay.

8. If you can’t be gay, then address both the fact you have chosen your dates/relationships badly (e.g. dated strange, almost psychotic partners) and behaved poorly in other situations (e.g. blown it with the potentially perfect partner). Do not admit to having a healthy romantic relationship unless you catalog your previous poor choices and frame your current relationship within a lens of redemption (e.g. the Jancee Dunn method). Describe at least one sexual encounter gone awry.

9. Reference slightly obscure pop culture as much as possible. Bands, television shows, etc. all work. Your readers will recognize these references and think that if they write about, say, the first time they saw “Twin Peaks” then they too can be successful memoirists/essayists.

10. Include a few drug/alcohol experiences but do not get into sad, “I’m a drug addict" territory. That’s a different type of book (exception: Burrough’s Dry). Don’t forget to frame these experiences as more or less harmless but connected to #s 2, 3, and 8 above when appropriate.

Do you guys agree with those rules? I got them from another reviewer  and thought they were almost as funny as this book. I laughed out loud several times when she was talking about playing Oregon Trail, and I loved how she had such a comedic way with words. I wish I were that witty, especially in my writing. 

Let's talk about the book: Wild by Cheryl Strayed (spoilers)

I picked this book u, when it first came out. Then some life stuff happened, and I figured it might be boring anyway. I read all the time, so I guess I just chose to read something else, or didn't have time.

I have been a stay at home mom for a while now and have started to read things again that didn't involve babies or parenting. I had planned to read a ton of ghost stories for Halloween, and wound up getting through One!That took me over a month after Halloween. Anyway, I used to have a wine and book club, but no one ever read the book, and it became about just drinking, and gossiping, which is awesome, but sometimes you really want to discuss the book you read.

I live less than 5 min. from our local library, and they have a book club, so I decided to utilize it, and read the book. They were reading Wild. I showed up to the meeting, just barely finishing the book, the day before, with my 5 month old in tow.

The majority of this group was made up of retirees, possibly at least 20 years older than me. I would almost bet I was the younger person there, besides my five month old.

I must say, I really loved this book. I love the writing, and could relate to the writer's feelings in some parts of the book, like I was right there with her. I was ready to gush about all the things I loved about it, but I really think now that I have attended this meeting, age has so much to do with how much you like books.

A lot of the older ladies in the group though that the author was super self-centered. They said she was so self-absorbed, and ill prepared. She messes up her life with drugs and reckless sex. She gets special treatment, because she was pretty and 26 years old. They had their doubts she was even truthful about the whole book.

I defended her saying that her bravery and honesty really touched me. To me this is a story about loss and pain. She could have given up, but she didn't. She pressed on. She finished the trail by herself. I felt like she encompassed and made the reader feel her emotions as she was hungry, lonely, sore, her pack was way too heavy, and her feet were bleeding. I was blown away by her courage. I would never take on an adventure of this measure by myself, so it was good to live vicariously through her and feel her hardships. I've never lost a parent, but I have no idea how I would deal with such an ordeal, and Cheryl used the Pacific Crest Trail to face her demons and work through her issues with her mother's death.

The only criticism I have is that I'm really not sure what she realized by the end of the book...What was so different about her? I feel she rushed the ending and didn't really summarize what she had learned. Maybe that was supposed to be a read between the lines sort of thing. I didn't get it. She did say she had learned to love again, and now had children, but I really wanted to learn how she became a better person, and she never really thoroughly explained that.

Did you read the book? What were your thoughts? I'm really anxious to watch the movie now!

Why I am one and done!

I am utterly obsessed with my child. I adore him, and I get separation anxiety if I have to go get my hair done without him, but there is no part of baby making/growing/raising that I want to do again.

 I have jokingly said that I was going to write a book called, "When Two Selfish People Have a Baby," because honestly, my husband is perfect for me. We were best friends. We agree on everything, and love nothing more than to just hang out with each other and never go out. We never get sick of each other, and then we have a baby, and boom! I honestly, don't know if our relationship can handle another baby. It has brought out the ugliest parts of both of us.

First of all, my pregnancy was one of the worst things I have experienced. Honestly, if I could have afforded a surrogate, I would have gone that route. I had nausea and vomiting all day, every day, the first three months, migraines at least twice a week the second trimester, heartburn, swelling, itching, and people constantly telling me how gigantic I was. Except, during the last trimester, I had people ask me if I was on a special diet, because I looked nowhere near 9 months. Make up your freakin minds already!

 I really don't want to go through the sleep challenges again. I never again want to rock a baby to sleep for an hour and half or longer, or hear them cry until they fall asleep. It breaks my heart, and I can't do it again. Also the teething, I have done everything I can to help his little hurting gums. He wears a Baltic amber teething necklace, and I give him teething tablets from time to time, but I know his little gums still bother him, as he chews on everything he can get into his mouth.

I want to know I have enough time to focus on my one child. I want to know that we can afford lessons/courses for whatever he wants to learn. I don't want to struggle financially to provide him with the very best education. We have a beautiful, smart baby boy. I have never wanted, and gotten anything more perfect, but he alone, is a lot of work!

We (and when I say we, I mean me), because my husband doesn't even want to talk about it when I tell him constantly, we are only having one, because there is no way I'm doing this again. He says it's up to me, but refuses to get a vasectomy....hmmm.

I also like the fact that when Wilson is napping, we can have Mommy and Daddy time, or I have time to blog, read, or watch my shows. I feel like I might get more of this time as he gets more independent. I can't bring another one into the mix and take my precious, selfish time.

This next thing I'm about to mention is especially selfish, but I'm going to say it anyway. I got really lucky, although, I was sick, even miserable sometimes during pregnancy, my baby was always healthy and fine (even though, I didn't eat as well as I should have), and he was born perfect. (to me) He is a perfect, beautiful mix of both me and my husband. I sometimes have the fear that if we were to try to have another, it might be high needs, autistic, mentally ill, and would wreck our future plans, or that we might not get a girl. (go ahead and crucify me), but honestly, if I had another, I would definitely want it to be a girl. I would want a beautiful, little girl that I could dress up in tutus and oversize hair bows, and if it turned out to be a boy, I would cry. I would love him with all my heart just as much as Wilson, but I would be sad for a time.

I have said maybe if Wilson, himself, asks me for a brother or sister, I might consider it, but I'm almost 32 and he's not even 1, so I think by the time he even considers doing that, I would consider myself too high risk and old to have another anyway.

Right now, with one child, our house is the perfect size. We have plenty of room for the 3 of us in our cute, little house. If I had another child, I would definitely have to buy a bigger home. I hate moving, and never want to do it again, unless it's just temporary. Another thing is traveling. I want to travel all around the world with my son. My dream is to move to different countries, teach English, and let my son learn different languages, and all about different cultures in the world. If you have more than one child, traveling becomes way more of a hassle, and more complicated with things to pack, and keep up with. I know for a fact, we will be traveling to South Korea at least every other year.

I really struggle with how I would give more than one child the love and attention I want to give them. If Wilson wants to learn how to play an instrument, play sports, and get acting lessons, I want to give him all of them, as much as he wants, and I want to be there to watch as much as can, of him learning and growing. I was one of four children, growing up, and I wish that my family had the means to provide me with opportunities to reach my full potential (like studying abroad), and learn everything I wanted, but they just couldn't, because they had to worry about three other children, as well.

People always say I should have another, because Wilson will get lonely. I don't think so. Wilson has more baby friends than I have friends, and he doesn't even know it yet. I get out with him all the time, and everywhere I go, there are tons of other children. I pull out his toys, and I know, he doesn't understand, but I always let all the other children play with his toys, and I will always show him how to share what he has, and be giving and considerate of others.

I was at a baby wearing meeting one day, and I told the other moms that I had to go, because I was having brunch with a friend. One of the moms said, "Oh, the luxury of only having one child." I said in response, "Yes, that is why I am one and done. I want to keep having brunch with my friends. Mama likes to drink and hang out."

Call me selfish, but these are my reasons, in a nutshell. Thanks for reading. Feel free to comment.

Random collections

I am currently reading a book called, "I Was Told There'd Be Cake", by Sloane Crosley.  It is freaking hilarious.  She opens the book with an essay about how she embarrassingly collects ponies. With all of her ex-boyfriends, she has requested that they buy her a pony, and so she has plastic ponies from all of them stashed in her kitchen cabinet.  Today on Facebook, I saw a post about what moms collect. I feel like I collect nothing interesting. I used to collect books and home interior dolls.  But then when you move 500 times,  you realize you want to live a more minimalist lifestyle. I kind of collect Willow Tree statues, but I'm not too crazy. I check books out from the library now. Anyway, I've made a list of interesting things people like to collect:

1. Pyrex

2. Disney plush dolls

3. cloth diapers  (you would not believe the amount of money these crazy mamas will pay for diapers!)

4. Custom fabrics (PUL knits) "Toothless" print seems to be the bees knees. (?)

5. JuJuBee bags

6. yarn

7.wool pants (?)

8. Vintage little people (? Are those those fisherprice thingy toys?)

9. fairy figurines

10. Aden and Anais swaddles (?)

11. thread

12. work boots

13. condemned houses and apartments

14. antique dishes

15. Hallmark ornaments

16. Mox (?, I think they are a type of socks)

17. Johnny Depp stuff

18. legos

19. Washi tape (?)

20. wicker baskets

21. shaped candles (example butterfly, rainbow, flower, peace sign, squirrel etc. shaped)

22. Vintage Disney

23. kitchen gizmos

24. Victoria Secret bras

25. handmade cloth baby wipes

26. Matilda Jane

27. Baking stuff

28. Old game systems (NES, N64, game cube, play station, Xbox360,etc.)

29. Rubber Duckies seemed to be a huge one!

30. small animal figurines

31. salt and pepper shakers

32. Kipling (?)

33. Ornaments

34. Vintage brooches

35. Wizard of Oz stuff

36. Jam berry wraps (Is that a nail polish company?)

37. Casino chips

38. MAC makeup (I have some of this, but by no means have the money to collect it)

39. Scrap-booking stuff

40. Coffee cups (Okay, maybe I collect these a little bit)

41. beer bottle caps

42. cookbooks

43. carnival glass

44. Yankee candles

45. Red Sox stuff

46. Vinyl records (I find this one cool)

47. Cu ski (?)

50. sewing stuff (I wish I could sew.)

51. Mason jars

52. guns and ammo

53. craft supplies

54. angels

55. running shoes

56. lockets and sweetheart jewelry

57. 

I had to look a lot of these things up! lol. What are some things you guys collect and why? Not sure why I find other peoples collections fascinating, but I do.