Ultimate Blog Party 2010

Hey everybody – and if you’re new here, welcome!  I have heard so many fun things about this party that I just had to join in for myself!  Can’t wait to blog hop and meet a bunch of new bloggers this week!  If you’ve already been reading for a while, well….you’ll just learn a few new facts about me today! :)

My name is Jessica and I grew up in coastal Connecticut. I met my husband, Chris, at Cedarville University in Ohio.  I have a degree in multi-age music education, and my husband has degrees in classical guitar performance and in music composition.  He’s one class away from his master’s in composition and theory.  (I always like to know what people went to school for – sometimes it surprises you!) We got married in 2006:

 

 

Now we live in Pennsylvania near my husband’s family – I married a pastor’s son so we all attend the same church, as well.  Pennsylvania is pretty, but I miss New England every day – if you’ve ever lived there you understand that there’s nowhere else quite like it!  Thankfully my family still lives there so we take lots of trips home (and I still get to go to the beach!).

In 2008 we bought our first home, a foreclosure – it cost about the same as a mid-sized Lexus, but it’s also been the definition of a fixer-upper!  We love our home, though, and have learned SO much along the way.  We kept hearing, “New House, New Baby” and sure enough, it proved true for us!  Three months (almost to the day) of moving in, we found out I was pregnant!  Surprise! :)

I was working as an elementary music teacher, but I decided to leave at the end of the school year to be a permanent SAHM.  I loved my students, but I have NO regrets about my decision. 

(It’s easy to forget how puffy you were when pregnant! Yowza!)

Our son was born in July, 12 days early, via unexpected c-section.  We named him Lukas Anthony.  I am really big on name meanings – Lukas is German after my husband (he’s 100%) and the name means “Bringer of Light”, which we loved.  We call him Luke (which happens to a Bible name, so that worked out well!)  His middle name reflects my Italian heritage – it’s my grandfathers name, whom I love dearly.  Luke looked like this at first:

 

And here he is on Easter Sunday, all 20 pounds of him!

 

 (Yes, he has tons of hair!)

 

We love him to pieces, although he has been refusing to sleep lately so we’re starting to love him a little less. (Kidding!) 

This is our most recent family photo, at Olive Garden over Easter weekend. 

 

So, what will you find here? 

I write about a little of everything – my favorite recipes, yard sale finds, home crafting, and more.  I have a lot of interests and I blog a little bit about all of them!

(My Easy Framed Monogram Project – March 1st, 2010)

I am on a 5-year journey to replace 95% of the foods in our home with whole food options – you can read about that goal here. 

Since I’m also obsessed with bargain shopping (you kinda have to be when you have a lunch-money budget to work with!) I recently started a party called “Work Your Wallet Wednesday” where anyone can link up with fabulous finds or bargains for $50 or less. 

The title of this blog is “This Blessed Life”, not because I think my life is charmed or better than anyone else’s, but because by God’s grace I have been given the blessing of an abundant life in Christ.  I am a Christian, and although I don’t mention it in every post, God is definitely at the center of our family life.  Please feel free to e-mail me (blessedlifeblog {at} gmail {dot} com) if you have any questions about that! 

Hope you enjoyed a little glimpse into my life! Have a great day!

 

P.S.  You’re supposed to list your favorite prizes – holy cow there are a ton of good ones so here goes!  My top choice would be #3 International (blog design from The Girl Creative), because I follow her blog and I’ve looked at her portfolio and I LOVE her design ideas!  Second favorite pick would be #3 or #15 U.S./Canada, the $50 Target card from Peg’s Play or from Love Life and Family, because I am there at least once a week! Third favorite would be #16 U.S./Canada (blog design from Especially Simple).

Other favorites are 32,39,48,49 (U.S.); 8,32 (U.S./Canada); or 5 or 8 from International.  How can I choose one favorite?!  There are so many good ones to choose from!

 

I’m also participating in “New Friend Friday” today!