About me
As a geriatric millennial, or zennial as I prefer it, I have had the joy of watching the internet and all that’s it’s become explode before me. Watching from the outskirts many would say that 2022 was far too late to get my start.
Raised in a lower middle class family in a wealthy upper-class suburb of Columbus Ohio, I never really fit in. I always knew I had to choose a career that was safe first and creative second. Passions were for hobbies, jobs were for paying the bills. Paying the bills meant not moving and not moving meant stability. Stability was the key to happiness I told myself.
Short Background
Let’s be real, Jessica with a G is weird and no one wants to be a weird kid. But I love being a weird adult and the uniqueness my name now provides me. I tell everyone I am a star peg in a square world. Kids can be cruel and I was bullied relentlessly at a time when bullying was just a right of passage, teachers looked the other way and parents assumed it was a phase. I always like to say it was as bad as a Lifetime Movie bad. But I made it out and somehow, I am a better person because of it. At least that’s what I tell myself.
I married my high school sweetheart after dating for 8 years, and a 1 year engagement. Within one month we adopted a puppy, bought a house and had a wedding. The Great Recession was upon us and we were lucky to have jobs and secure a loan. Owning a home was huge for us, as we had both spent much of our childhood and teenage years moving from one rental to another.
We had our son Sebastian in 2013, and our daughter Anabelle in 2015. It still feels like a whirlwind looking back even now.
I didn’t really start to officially make a blog until 2023 but my passion began long before that. I’m sure I have written 100s if not 1000s of fake blog posts in my head over the years, ones that would never see a computer or phone screen or the light of day. As a preteen long before digital, I remember asking my mom for a dark room, something that of course was impossible. I used to spend hours crushing cans on the back porch convinced I would trade them in for a shiny new laptop. Only to have my dad take them all in one day, claiming they were his cans. Another dream lost.
Photography classes were offered in high school, but came with extremely high fees, fees I was smart enough to not even ask about, so the classes went un-took, and more ideas were placed in hold. As high school finished, I kept the date of prom from my mom, as to save the money. My boyfriend had already graduated and had no interest in going. Another moment lost. So now I live for today. Now I won’t miss a moment, now I will speak my mind, even if it’s just my opinion.
Starting to Blog
Then, like most people, 2020 had a profound effect on my mind and what I wanted my future to look like. I found myself with more time on my hands so started being more mindful of posting reviews helpful information and pictures with details people actually cared about. In 2023 I decided to officially take what I was already doing on Google and blog for myself!
I posted my official first Google Review in 2017, for my OBGYN of all things (one I still stand by which is such a great feeling) and started posting pictures to Google in 2019 with a visit to the Critter Barn in Michigan which can be found in my Google Pictures.
Sharing My Kids Online
Everyone has a different opinion about how children should be shared online, so I feel like it’s important I am very clear and upfront about where I have set the boundaries for my family. While you might not agree or choose to do something differently, I always welcome positive, open dialogue.
I have never been shy about sharing my kids online but I have always been respectful of what I posted, mindful of the audience and aware of who might be seeing the pictures now or tomorrow, whenever tomorrow might be. I never wanted someone to Google either of them one-day and a half naked picture to pop up of them potty training, or something that would prevent them from getting a job for a stupid mistake as a teenager. Most importantly, age appropriate images, in age appropriate clothing to prevent any type of misuse of the image. Sexualizing children is not funny, and it’s not cute. Maybe some of this comes from my professional self on Anti-money laundering, or maybe it’s because I feel kids grow up too fast. But, hey, it’s just my opinion.
My kids are my joy and while they are not the focus of my reviews, they will pop up from time to time and will inevitably drive some of the content.