Jess, Author at Bliss This Mess

In Productive SAHM

Balancing Personal Growth and Parenthood: A Work from Home Mom’s Journey to Self-Fulfillment

July 23, 2023 No Comments

Six months ago, I gave birth to my sixth (and final) baby. It has been a wild 10 years of sleepless nights, baby snuggles, changing diapers, kissing boo-boos, feeding bottomless pits, and wishing the time away all while constantly hoping time would slow down. This year, I also celebrated my 29th birthday. I don’t know how to explain it, but something just felt different. Like celebrating the last year of my 20s meant there was something I was eagerly awaiting in my 30s. It doesn’t help that as a stay at home mom, you are constantly asked by friends, family,…

In Homeschooling

A Guide to Homeschooling in Tennessee

May 20, 2023 No Comments

I love homeschooling! I love the flexibility of it, I love the extra time I am granted with my kids because of it, and I love being a part of their celebration when things finally click in their brain. My favorite moment with each of them has been when they finally learn to read. They work really hard on learning letters of the alphabet, the letter sounds, then blending letters and then suddenly, they are off on their own. Since Covid, there has been a much larger interest in homeschooling. I was joking with a mom on my son’s flag…

In Family Fun

5 Reasons to Encourage Kids to Start a Business

April 17, 2023 No Comments

My two oldest kids recently started their own businesses. I know what you’re thinking. Homeschooling mom of six kids who blogs in her limited free time; where the heck does she find the time for more projects?! I was very hesitant at first. But after witnessing some of the best pitches on why they should own their own business, we decided to invest. Just like one of the sharks on Shark Tank. After all, entrepreneurship provides many valuable lessons that my kids wouldn’t otherwise learn until later on in life. The Secret to Getting Ahead is Getting Started Last Valentine’s…

In Family Fun

St. Patrick’s Day Traditions the Whole Family Will Love

March 15, 2023 No Comments

St. Patrick’s Day is one of those holidays that seems to be brushed under the rug. I think a lot of people feel if you aren’t Irish, why celebrate it? It wasn’t until I had kids of my own that I really began to appreciate celebrating all holidays, especially the ones that don’t involve me stressing over buying them gifts. When we celebrated our first St. Patrick’s Day, I was shocked to find out that my childhood tradition of building leprechaun traps wasn’t something everyone participated in as a kid, including my husband. He had no idea what I was…

In Family Fun

The Best of 10 Years Well Spent

February 22, 2023 2 Comments

In a blink of an eye, a whole decade flew by. I guess that’s what they say, time flies when you’re having fun. Or when you’re busy having having six kids. Whichever. Time certainly doesn’t stand still for anyone. Just last month, my husband and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. I don’t think either of us imagined we would make it to this far without killing each other. Getting married at 18 and 22 isn’t for the faint of heart. You see, no one really prepares you for how hard marriage is. In a social media world, where everything…

In Family Fun

2022: The Best Year Yet

January 16, 2023 No Comments

After the dumpster fire that consumed most of 2020 and 2021, I was surprisingly optimistic about ringing in the year 2022. I know every one of us have spent the last couple of years approaching New Year’s Eve with extreme caution; not sure whether we should celebrate or resent the act of resetting our calendars. For a reason I couldn’t pinpoint at the time, 2022 just felt different. After celebrating my birthday in the beginning of March, that feeling grew stronger. It was only month later, we decided to take a huge leap of faith and put our house on…

In Crafts & DIY

Easy Fall Craft for Kids: Laminated Leaf Magnets

October 24, 2022 No Comments

At risk of being called basic, I’m going to go ahead and admit that I love fall! Growing up in a small mountain town in Colorado, every fall, I watched the aspen trees turn a whole mountain side bright yellow. Driving through those colors was always so magical and ever since then, I’ve always welcomed the changing of seasons. A year ago, I created a fall bucket list for my kids. They had so much fun racing against time in a Hail Mary attempt to check everything off the list. So this year, I wanted to try and find new…

In Family Fun

Baby #6 Means Dreams Really Do Come True

September 9, 2022 No Comments

While going through an old keepsake box of mine, I came across a Christmas card from my mom from a few years back. Referencing a handmade pillow case she had gifted to my first born that read “Dream Come True,” she wrote in the card, Merry Christmas Aaron, Jessica, and Brody!Although I tried to tie some humor into your gifts, I have a serious message behind them.’Keep Your Dreams Alive’Fall into sleep with that thought and you’ll be rewarded a fulfilling life. Strive to keep ’em alive! Always remember YOU were one of my ‘dreams come true’ and despite life’s…

In Family Fun

Colorado to Tennessee: The Adventure Begins Now

July 26, 2022 No Comments

A few months ago, you wouldn’t have been able to convince me that I would be sitting on my front porch in a brand new house in a new state, halfway across the country from our last home. 2022 has certainly surprised us. But we are so very happy with where we are at! My birthday was in March and I couldn’t shake the feeling that my 28th time around the sun had big things in store for our family. I even remember telling my husband that day that deep in my heart, I just knew this was going to…

In Family Fun

Husband Interview on Life, Fatherhood and Our Future

April 1, 2022 3 Comments

This week I wanted to give my husband, Aaron, a little spotlight on the blog. He doesn’t make an appearance very often because he works really hard so I am able to stay home and homeschool our kids. Awhile back, I wrote a thank you letter to him to remind him of how special he is to us. But in an attempt for you to get to know a little bit about this very important guy, I have put together this husband interview with 20 questions. Some are about our marriage, some are about being a dad, and some are…