About me

I know I have a great story somewhere. I know it. I lived a good story so far. I’m sure that’s something. I know I have a good story. It’s somewhere. I know it.
I have been blogging seriously on the side for 4 months now and really trying to grow this time. I am trying to become a real author eventually.  To date I sold 2 books. One to the librarian and one to someone else. The someone else gave me such positive feedback and I was so happy. Then he messaged me like “No one will ever buy your book. My market is to small. My writing is good but needs to be focused on a sell able genre.” So, thank you for the review?
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I want to write what I know. And I know what I have lived. So I write that. There has to be a market for that, right?  Maybe I’ll sell some. That’s my dream, but for now I am just trying to grow and audience. So thank you for stopping by and I hope that you stay!
My real name is Jessica. I live in Connecticut in the US. I am feeling like no one is going to buy my damn books no matter what price I charge. I write about me and my experience. It’s the only thing I know 100%. But no one will find that interesting if I am not already famous said the guy that I don’t know that did buy one book. So I am trying to figure out my next move. Do I try to write a fiction book and see if that will help me? Do I keep the books I have and continue to promote them? Can I promote books and not have to actually interact with anyone? I’m really terrible at public speaking. I’m terrified actually.
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The thing is I really am not interesting at all. I go to work. I go home. I take care of my people. I am not that interesting. I use to always joke about how my life could be a soap opera. And it really could have 20 years ago, which is why I wrote the books I have.  But really, my life is not a soap opera, not anymore. I mean, maybe some of it.
I have a 4th grade  teacher who’s a bully to my son, I’m trying to figure that out. My daughter is crazy silly and funny. My husband is amazing. I am just trying to move forward in life. I am working on trying to have multiple revenue streams that will one day just pour into my account. Well,that’s a dream of mine, so that’s what I am working on. I guess I better get super interesting quick, huh?
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I am just trying to figure out what my next moves are and I hope that you all will follow with me while I figure out my next career. Thank you for taking the time to read!
What are you currently working on?

Public speaking and me

I am terrible at public speaking. I just can’t. I get all red. I talk super fast. I can’t breath. I put off speech class until my absolute last class that I had to take to get my Associates. Luckily, I was 7 months pregnant when taking the class and then I felt like if people laughed at the bright red, trying not to faint, pregnant girl, then they were just assholes. My first speech was a how to speech. I decided to do “How to fold a flag” That was a terrible idea because everyone could see how shaky I was! Then I discovered the PowerPoint presentation and that helped a lot so people could focus on pretty pictures and not me. I passed the class.
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I have a severe problem speaking in front of people. Even in meetings at work I don’t speak unless spoken to and even then I get nervous.  Even when I know what I am talking about. It’s usually about 3 years in that I feel like I can actually speak for a few minutes and not turn weird colors.
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I made a deal with my best friend that if my books ever do sell that she would have to go on the interviews because I would mess up my words and then be mad at myself for the rest of eternity.
How are you with public speaking? Are you are weird and awkward as me? Or are you like my husband and best friend who can get up in front of people and talk about anything and people just like them and listen and laugh. I’ll leave the public speaking to them.

Isabel’s post

It was fundraiser night for the kindergarten so we went to dinner to support them. Then I came home and was trying to think of my next post. I have a few started but I need to add more. My daughter said that she was going to help me write my blog tonight. So tonight I’m doing a guest blog by her.
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Isabel’s blog:
I’m going to talk about me. I’m 7 and my name is Isabel. I like dogs. I believe in unicorns.
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I like my friends and family. My favorite thing to do is art and go to school. I like music. I like to sing and dance. I like to write a lot, like my mommy.
This is my book. I have to illustrate it still:
Growing In Color by [Acosta, Jessica, Acosta, Isabel]
I think unicorns are real and not mythical. I love my dad and my mom and everyone in my family and some other people, I guess. I have a lot of friends. My family is kind to me. My favorite holiday is Easter and Christmas and Thanksgiving. My favorite toy is art supplies and calico critters. My favorite store is target. My favorite food is apples and bananas and Mac and cheese. My favorite drink is milk and water.
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I like to go on vacation. I collect pennies. I love to read.
Thanks for reading my blog! Have a nice weekend.

Boston Family Trip Planning

I am planning a trip to Boston in the next few weeks. We are taking my Mom and Sister and Niece with us. I have booked the Hotel and we plan on driving up and then all getting around in my Honda Pilot.
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So far the only thing I really have planned is to eat at Quincy market because that is what my mom has asked for. I am thinking about buying the Boston Go cards because it’s one price and you get access to a bunch of stuff. I don’t like to create itinerary’s because I get stressed when we are late for things so I like to have an idea of what there is to do and then kind of go with the flow.
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I am planning on The Aquarium and the Trolley sightseeing tour. I think the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of fine arts sound really cool. The Museum of Science sounds interesting too. Then there is the Skywalk Observatory and the Fenway Park Tour that my mom might be interested in.
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Anyone from Boston? What are things that you need to do? We are only there for 2 nights, 3 days and I want to pack in as much as possible. I heard there is another Market in the Bay Back area, so I think we are going to stop there on the way home.

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Our Family Review

Sam: It was a good movie. He liked it
Isabel: it was a great movie and I loved all of the dragons. It was pretty cool. My favorite dragon is Toothless. I liked that they saved the day. And they got married. It was funny.  It was sad when they let the dragons go. Toothless got a wife. I liked the battle. When they ate, it made me hungry.
Ramon: I liked it. I liked how they developed the characters, the world, actually went somewhere with the story. Not sure about the warlords. They were kind of there but the story wasn’t about them. I liked the flashbacks with his father.
Me: I liked it. It was very  entertaining even if you don’t follow the story to closely. Which I don’t. I liked the animation. It was really pretty to watch and then story kept me entertained.
The lady that worked there said that her 16 year old son loved it and thought it was a good conclusion to the movies. My niece who’s 13 thought the same thing. She has been watching and reading the Dragon books forever.
We all recommend going to see it. It’s worth going to the movies to see!
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Self doubt day

I’m feeling a little down today. I have been seeing growth in my blog and I am really happy about it. I have been growing my numbers on the social media accounts too. It’s so encouraging and wonderful. Some days though, some days I feel so small and not important at all. Like nothing I say is good enough or carries any value.
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I keep reading all tips on pintrest about developing blogs and getting new traffic. I hope to grow a following and a blog audience. I don’t know if I’m doing it right. I’ve been thinking about taking the books down and slowing down on the blogs. It’s a lot of work and I have really nothing to show of it yet.
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Of course, I’m  not going to stop writing. I know sometimes I have something important to say. I’m going to keep believing in myself and I’m going to keep posting and promoting my mini books. It’s just one of those days…
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Do you have those days? How do you get past them? I just put my head down, focus on my family, try not to make any serious decisions, and keep going. I will get through this.

I was asked to Rate myself as a Mom

One of my friends does studies with new born babies and parents. It’s really interesting but I would be leave that explaining up to her as I will probably junk it all up and not make any sense.
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The other day she asked a group of us in the girls chat what we would rate ourselves as mothers. It was off the Questioner from the group study. The answers to pick were something like:
  1. I’m a great mom
  2. I’m an okay mom
  3. I’m sometimes okay sometimes I struggle
  4. Mostly I struggle sometimes I’m okay
  5. I always struggle and I’m not a great mom at all.
These aren’t actually the exact answers, but it was basically something like that.
The crazy part was that every single one of us picked between 3 or 5 depending on the day.
The reality is we are all great mothers and we feel bad about ourselves because we feel like we aren’t doing enough. Yeah, sometimes you’re going to yell, sometimes you’re going to lose it, we’re human. But you are always there when they need. You are reliable and loving and understanding. You are providing stability and care for them. You listen when they need to talk.You make sure everyone is taken care of. You love those kids with every piece of your heart and would do anything for them and they know it.
We all seemed to think that we are doing so poorly in the child care department because of our thoughts stuck in our heads of what we think a good mother is. I put myself down because the kids aren’t in enough after school things.  I work till 5, I have to make dinner and sometimes I just trust that the afters school people had them do their homework right because I don’t even get around to checking it. On those days, I’m a 5. Most days I feel between a 3 and 4. Really though, I am a 1. We are all 1’s.
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I hope you know that you are a #1 mom or dad too.

 

Planning a Trip to California with Kids

My son is turning 10 this year in June and he’s always asked if we can go to Lego land. I read that the Lego land in California is so much better than the one in Florida. The past 2 years we have gone to Florida to Disney World. One year we stayed on the Resort and the next year we stayed in our friends timeshare down the street from Disney world. Both times were fun.
This year we are going with our Friends to Virginia so I figured that I would plan a super surprise birthday present for my son. We are going to fly out to California on his birthday and stay at Lego land for 2 nights…
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Then we will rent a convertible and stay in a hotel in San Diego and spend the next 5 days exploring. I plan on going to the zoo one day. I was looking at Disney Land but it is really expensive! Seriously, for 2 nights to stay at Disney Land I can rent a car and stay somewhere else with a kitchen for 5 days and buy groceries. Is Disney land really worth that? I don’t know.
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I am thinking of getting the California Explorer Pass and picking the Universal Studios attraction since we already are staying at Lego land in the Castle.
This is the pass:
 Has anyone used this pass before? Is it worth it? Are there any attractions that are a must see in California? I have only been there twice in my 20’s. Once to see the American Music awards and once to visit friends and hang out. I have never been there with Kids before and I am really excited!
This will be his 10th birthday present this year.

Celebration!

To Celebrate crushing all my February Goals I am dropping all my Books to 99 Cents! Please check me out and leave a review on Amazon. They are all short reads and I will forever be grateful to you for helping me accomplish my dream.
My newest book “Having Children and some things they don’t tell you.”  It’s a short book on some of the things I learned after I had kids. My expectations verse the realities that I encountered. This is the link if you all are interested and would like to help me out. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NKB848R
This was a tough book for me to write. It’s a lot of the traumas I went through and the things that forced me to grow up a little.
Kissing all the frogs: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L1HPVX5
A short book on all the stupid relationships I had that eventually lead me to my husband.
Working my way through life: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K72DRZD
A short book on all the jobs I have had throughout my life and things that each job taught me.
I am currently working on my next mini book and that should be up by the end of March so stayed tuned!
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Thank you Crossing Guard

I drive my kids to school every morning. We don’t use the crossing guard but we see him every morning and we wave and he always smiles and waves back.
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At Christmas time the kids hop out of the car and give him a hug and a card with a few lotto tickets in it and some chocolate. Sometimes I roll the window down and wish him a good day or weekend when I am rushing from school to work. He’s just he nicest man to me in the mornings. Especially when I am having a bad morning and I am rushed and he’s just standing there, smiling and waving. Even when it’s 15 degrees outside, when it’s snowing, when it’s raining. He brightens my day. So, thank you Mr Crossing Guard. For always being there and for brightening my morning. I appreciate you!
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Is there anyone you see every day that brightens your day just a little?