Come with me to Bloglovin!

Don't forget to start following me on Bloglovin!!! Google Reader disappears tomorrow and I'd hate to lose you all!!!

Come check me out!!!

I am so excited to be introduced today over at Tampa Bay Moms Blog!!!

When I was approached by Sheriss to be a contributing writer for the blog, I thought she was nutso!!!  Why would anyone want to hear what I had to say?  But we all know how much I like to talk and share about my life and experiences so I said why not!  I'm blessed to be working with an amazing group of local Mommas who are passionate about being the best Mom they can be.  Plus I can't complain about finally having a picture of myself that I absolutely adore!!!! (shameless plug....Yeah I did it....I'm being totally shallow right now!!!)

Yep....that's my head shot for the blog

I have to credit the amazing Christina Higman for working magic on my picture! She is a genius!!!  

I can't wait to see what this new endeavor has in store for me and for the incredible women I'm working with. I really hope I can live up to the high expectations we have for the blog!!!

The Tampa Bay Moms Blog Girlies!!!!!

 Go check us out!  Like us on Facebook!  Follow us on Twitter!  I'm sure Instagram will be coming soon!!!!

Some people just don't get it

We've all been there.  We've all been asked the questions and given the remarks.  Some people just don't understand the blogging community.  And don't say you're going to meet a blogger in real life.  Then you're setting yourself up for all sorts of crazy comments.

This is the story of my life.

I started this blog as a way to keep everyone up to date on our house buying journey and my pregnancy.  But it evolved into so much more.  It's a diary of sorts for me.  It's a place where I can go back and relive all the things that my family has experienced over the years.  It's a place that I'm proud of.

I've been afforded some amazing opportunities through blogging.  I've reviewed some products.  I've been able to run in a few more races than I would have planned to run.  I've met people I probably wouldn't have met before.  Some who have turned into amazing friends (and style consultants!!!)  I'm now embarking on my newest adventure as a contributing writer on a Tampa blog.

Yet I still get the looks and smart comments from the people I love the most.  I guess some people just don't get it.  The Hubs thinks its stupid but he knows it's important to me so he goes along for the ride.  He even calls me a bad blogger when I only have 1 post for the week (which is most weeks lately) which proves he actually reads it.  He might even been a follower.  My parents just don't get it at all.  I've learned to just not talk about it around them because it's easier that way. Which hurts in a way because I have such an exciting opportunity in front of me.  One that I'm proud to be a part of.  But when I get questions like "are you sure these people are real people" or "do you need to be packing when you meet them" or "what would you even write about that people will want to read", it kinda gets to you.  I was excited to tell my mom about it but then she just brushed it off like it wasn't anything worth talking about.  It hurts.  No matter how much I try not to let it.

But I'm not going to dwell on it.  The blogging community has been one I'm proud to be a part of.  I've made friends from all over the country, from all walks of life.  I know that I can ask Kate any question, no matter how crazy, about navigating the dance world.  I have tons of friends who I turn to for running advice.  I can send Becca pics of different outfits I'm choosing between for that best girlfriend advice or just vent all my issues to.  I've been blessed with amazing people, all because of the internet.  Yeah, it might sound a little weird, but you know what...I wouldn't trade it for the world.

So to all those people who don't understand, I'm sorry.  I'm sorry you can't see how great this community is.  I'm sorry you don't see how many things I'm experiencing because of it.  I'm sorry that you just don't get it.     

Say My Name

Thanks Amber.  Now I have that song stuck in my head!!!!

I love the link ups where you get to introduce yourself a little more to readers.  This one is all about blog names.  I'm sure I've done a post about this before but I'm so in love with the direction my blog went that I have to share it again.

Obviously my blog is now titled "Life With My Loves."  It wasn't always titled that.  Before I got into blogging, like REALLY got into it, I used my blog as a way to document our journey of buying a house and our new pregnancy journey.  It was a nice way to document what Noah was up to, how the house hunt was going, and to track my pregnancy with Emmy, aka belly pics.  When I went on bedrest at 28 weeks, it was the best place for me to give updates on my appointments, ultrasounds, and testings.  I would write up a post, link it to facebook, and email it out to the family.  Then it was a place for me to vent when I was bored out of my mind while on bedrest (or stalk my mailman...yes it happened).  At this point, it was titled "A Day in the Life of the Crimella's."  Very informative title I guess.  But then the blog took a turn in a different direction.

I started reading more and more blogs.  I started interacting with some other bloggers via email.  I fell in love with the whole idea of blogging and the blogging community.  The blog morphed into an outlet for me to describe my life, not just a place to update family members.  It wasn't about a day in the life of the Crimella's.  It was more about Jessica's life with the Crimella's. I realized this when a group of Tampa bloggers met up one night and we were sharing our blog names and I totally blanked on what mine was.  It was at that moment I knew I needed a change.  This blog had evolved and I needed to acknowledge that change.  I have to credit Lauren for helping me with the name.  I was a Twitter virgin at that moment and she was helping me navigate the Twitter world and we came up with my Twitter handle @lifewithmyloves (you should follow me....shameless plug!!)  I instantly knew this was my blog's new name.

Life With My Loves

It sums up everything that my blog is about.  It's about my adventures with the loves of my life...the Hubs and the kiddos.  I don't know why I didn't see it a long time before that.  That's where the blog was headed.  It's our life, through my eyes, for me to remember.

It's the book I'm writing.

The story of my Life With My Loves.

Who's that girl? It's Jess

Now I have that song in my head.  I don't think I'm alone when I say the New Girl is great TV!  But anywho....


I'm linking up with Neely today and showing off the space I take up in the blogisphere.

I'm Jess (and this is the Hubs)

I'm a wife of 6 years.  A mom to Noah (5yrs) and Emily (2.5yrs).  I'm a pediatric hematology/oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant nurse, which means I get to take care of the best kids ever...kids with cancer and blood disorders. {It is the hardest, most stressful, most emotionally draining job I've ever had but it is the most rewarding.  These kids and their families are inspirations to me and I'm honored to play a small role in their lives}  I love photography, reading, shopping, drinks with the girls, hanging with the family, and sports...I'm a huge sports fan.  My favorite sports are volleyball, baseball, and football.  I love the Rays and my USF Bulls!

These are my kiddos...cute, aren't they?!?  ;)

I started this lil blog way back in 2008 when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter.  We were trying to buy a house too so I thought it was a great way to keep my family updated with the happenings in our life.  Then, when I went on bedrest and was trying my hardest to stay pregnant for another 9 weeks, I used the blog as a forum to update friends and family with the scary details of my doctors appointments, scans, labs, and hospitalizations.  Then I stopped blogging for a good year.  Then I picked it back up (and this is kinda embarrassing) because Shutterfly was doing a promo for free holiday cards for bloggers.  And from that moment on, I've been hooked.

Just recently, I changed my whole blog name and design.  Before the blog was so geared towards the family and the name and design reflected that.  But as this blog evolved, it's become a place for me to express myself and share what I love...my husband and children.  You'll find stuff about my life, a lot about my kids, the fun things we do, the struggles I have, our many trips to Disney, and a TON of pictures.  It's my place to put down whatever I'm feeling, no matter how silly, stupid, vulnerable, crazy, etc, it makes me sound.

Can't wait to meet some new peeps!!!

Change is Coming.....

I changed the name of my blog.  The previous name was too boring (in my mind) and plus, when I started this blog, it was to update my family on my life on bedrest.  Never in a million years did I expect myself to fall in love with blogging and all the friends that goes with it.  I think Life With My Loves is a better representation of what this blog is all about....me sharing my 3 amazing loves with all of you!  I'm so happy with it!!!

I also figured out how to make a button (I think)

Next up....changing up the layout.

However that has to wait a while.  We have a Disney trip planned for this weekend!!!

See y'all on the flip side!!!

What a Weekend!

This was one of those really great weekends.  There aren't too many times I can say that.  But truly, this was a good one.  It started off Friday night with good food, great drinks, and amazing women.  I finally got to meet some of the wonderful Tampa bloggers that I read about on a daily basis.  Now, instead of pretending that I'm one of their friends, I really am!  We hit up Fly Bar and had a blast (or at least I did!!!)  You know how I was nervous about meeting them?  The minute I walked in, all the nerves went away.  It really was like hanging out with old friends. This meet up could have been a complete disaster if these girls weren't so kick ass.  There was no way we weren't going to have fun.  I can't wait to have our next meet up!!!!

Our awesome group of gals

Love the Tampa sign behind us!!!

We had to have Meghan in the pic!!!
I stole all the pics from Lauren and Meghan....thanks girlies!!!  

After an amazing night, my mom, my bro's gf, and I headed down to the Saturday Morning Market in St Pete.  I just love that place!  Lots of great food, great produce, and tons of fun.  I'm planning on making it a Saturday morning ritual! Then it was just relaxing at home with the fam for the rest of the day....can't beat that!
Sunday we headed to the Hubs's mom's house for lunch.  His step dad had been in the hospital for some heart issues so it was nice to see him feeling well and loving that he was surrounded by his grandkids.  I just love it every time my kids get to hang out with our nephew.  The 3 of them are so cute together!  Although I'm bummed I didn't take any pics of them (I don't really know why I didn't).
It was just one of those weeks where we weren't rushing around like crazy.  That was the biggest blessing of them all!
I'm excited that tomorrow is Field Day at Noah's school and I'm helping out!  I just love this stuff!!!  Then we have our big Disney weekend starting on Friday!!!  Lots of excitement in this house!!!

If you're going to do it, do it right

Not only words to live by...
That's what the Hubs told me tonight about my blogging.  I guess I have failed to update our "Meet the Crimella's" page on here and it is really bothering him.  He told me that if I was going to do this (blog), then I better do it right.
It's funny to me that a man who thinks I'm ridiculous for getting caught up in the blogging world (more specifically, for being so excited for the Tampa Blogger Meetup), is the one who is going to critique the blog and get all bent out of shape about it.  It's kinda cute!  I guess I'm pretty lucky that the Hubs actually reads this little ol' thing.
So without further adieu.....
the "Meet the Crimella's" page is current!

Hope you're satisfied my dear Hubs ;)

Next up....my hatred of the letter carrier revisited
  

Trying something new

I thought the blog needed a makeover.  Let me know what you think.  I really wanted to do a different font (more of a handwriting font) but the Hubs thought it was too "busy."  I'm still leaning towards that font but I don't know.

Are crazy fonts obnoxious to read???