Holidays in Review - A picture story

This year I decided to write my holiday review in pictures. I didn’t release a lot of content over the holidays because, well, being a mom over the holidays is a full-time job and there’s not much room for anything else! But here’s what I did do and the stories behind it…

My story starts the day after Thanksgiving - though Thanksgiving was fun, I didn’t see the need to take a picture of the Turkey or Lasagna, but we had my both grandpas staying over with their girlfriends for the week so I was busssy. The next day, the elves arrived and quickly started menacing.

Shortly after, I was impacted by a layoff at my company. Everyone said, “what a shame, right before the holidays,” but I hadn’t gotten through planning my Q1, so I was kinda relieved? No. It was a hit. But there were so many of us impacted that we have been supporting each other through it. I am one of the best at what I do (Sales Enablement) and am considering all leads! Referrals are the best way through the talent management portals :) I was shocked, but also thought, “I’ve been through this before. I can handle it. Everything will be ok. No, everything will BE BETTER than it was before!”

The next day, we headed to New York for my sister’s secret engagement in Central Park. Before we met up with them, we did our annual New York Christmas tour. Here’s us freezing in front of the tree at Rockefeller Center…

These Louis Vuitton suitcases were all the rage on Social Media this year, so I had to take a selfie, too, especially since THEY WERE BUILT BY MY GODFATHER!! Yes, and he reads this blog, and I’m so proud of him and his accomplishments.

The engagement was a success - she said yes! We all hid on a bridge in Central Park whilst my future brother-in-law, Jack, an Irishman (owner of Cafe Maude in the East Village if you get a chance to visit!) waited underneath. The set up was that my brother, who was in town for a photography job would do a mini photo shoot of my twin sisters (they are twins, not me) for Christmas. Little did she know it was all a set up. After she said yes, we all cheered from atop the bridge and she jumped up and down in excitement to see us all. Then we had an after party in Columbus Circle. This is a picture with all my siblings there. I still have a bit of tinnitus from that night - so I’m going to the ENT next week. I have always been nervous about my hearing and I’m really hoping it’s just an ear infection or something? Advice welcomed.

A few days later, I went down to Philly for my husband’s company party at the Loews. (Did I tell you I live right between Philly and NYC? - very convenient) They had a Casino Night and I took this picture because we always referred to my grandmother as the Queen of Hearts, so I knew she was with me. I’ve been calling on her a lot to help guide my music career - where am I going, actually? I’m not sure - so as a type A personality, that is very uncomfortable to me. My grandma doesn’t know, but she puts the right people and opportunities in front of me at the right time so I have faith I am moving in the right direction (as long as I keep moving).

Speaking of Grandma, ten years ago, when I hosted my first Christmas Eve, she was very nervous I wouldn’t pass down the traditions so she came and observed (ahem, judged) and, thankfully, approved my Christmas Eve hosting abilities. You know what the hardest part is? Getting the freaking house ready for guests - there’s clean and then there’s “Mommy Clean,” like, “Company clean,” you know? Anyway, I serve the Seven Fishes as is the Italian American tradition, but also meat for the fish-haters, and everyone squeezes around my kitchen table even though there’s plenty of room in the dining room… I love hosting Christmas Eve, especially when the kids were younger, because they could go right up to bed and wait for Santa instead of getting into a cold car fast asleep.

Here’s a picture of the hosts… aren’t we cute? Anthony has a collection of Christmas suits and he has a hard time deciding every year which one to wear! I stick to my English Bulldog sweater I found on the clearance rack at Marshall’s. Nobody wanted this??? It’s my pride and joy.

I always take a picture of the presents before they tear into it. The small presents are the ones from Santa - the big ones are from Mom and Dad! No way Santa knows how to make a Playstation - so mom and dad it is :). My teenager kept begging for stuff right before Christmas so I told him “It’s going under the tree, then…” So some of these presents are clothes he already wore that I wrapped up again. They probably prefer one big present, but I just love seeing lots of boxes under the tree, even if some of them are sock and underwear!

Christmas day at my mom’s house. She’s only 20 minutes up the road so Christmas morning is not a big frenzy. This is all my siblings again and me with my eyes closed, of course (it’s an ongoing problem). My mom made rigatoni alla vodka and Prime Rib. Yummmm.. It takes us about four hours to open presents because there are so many siblings (5 plus in-laws) and we are our favorite people to buy for, so we’ve never successfully done a Secret Santa or anything like that. My sister got me a nice new winter coat to replace the green one that everyone says is ugly. :)

Meanwhile, the next day, the dogs were exhausted from all the excitement! Dogs, dog(s), you say? Yes, most of the winter I dogsit my sister’s pitbull. Her and Winston are great friends. Now, wait, before you say, “Jessica, how do you have time, as a working mother and wanna be musician, to decorate your house so beautifully??” I don’t! My mom comes over every year and creates a beautiful winter wonderland in my house. She decorated holiday houses as a business after she retired as a school teacher, so I am lucky to have her expert touch. She made everything you see in my house. In return, I play Christmas Carols on her antique (also read as “out of tune”) white piano during her holiday party at her retirement community. I live-streamed it on Instagram this year - thanks for all who popped in!

Now on to our second Christmas in Ohio! (Good thing I’m unemployed, ammiright??) My husband is from Cleveland and every year they do a party, not on Christmas, so people don’t have to split the holidays with their in-laws. Genius, right? We play White Elephant every year with a theme. This year it was “Bring something that you do in your birth month.” I brought an Easter basket filled with Easter eggs with lotto tickets in each. It was one of the last ones to get picked because people thought there would be candy inside… ha! I ended up getting a candle and a lottery ticket. I scratched them off before I left Ohio, won two dollars, and got two more tickets at the gas station. I scratched those off with my fingernail on top of a stack of Bud Light cases, to win four more dollars! I felt like a real gambler (I am otherwise not inclines for someone to take my money so quickly) With that we bought a Mega Millions ticket in PA and we lost! Hey, that’s life. I thought maybe I wouldn’t have to go back to work and I could sing for you all day!

Quick shot of Frank’s room, but also to document that the new PC parts he got for Christmas took ALL DAY to install- but the lights, right? He is so much more aesthetically inclined than me! I have been sharing his video edits on Instagram, so watch out for them. He learned Adobe this summer and has been sharing edits. He even had one go viral!

Mini Blocks Kit #1 - Lego kits are super expensive but Santa got these mini block kits on Temu and they are much more reasonable. Frank got this one of a Cherry Blossom tree. Only 2,000 pieces!!!!! He did the first three steps and gave up, so I finished - again, I’m unemployed so there is some extra time!! Most of those 1,000 pieces are the tiny flowers you see on top.

And this is the one I got for Tony - a Ramen shop because he loved the Ramen restaurant we ate at in Tokyo. It was a such a great experience for them. So this one was also 2000 pieces and same story!! Mommy finished this one, too. This one was more fun to make because it was as repetitive as the 1,000 flowers. The brand is LOZ if anyone likes these kits!

During my unemployment and break, I have been allowing time for mindless stuff I usually don’t indulge in. I’ve been working on my Block Blast score. It’s like Tetris, but easier, but also not as easy. Just different. My high score is 15k - but the boys both have higher scores than me and that is just motivating me more!

I’ve also been doing a lot of soul searching and work on planning out the year in music. I’ve used some amazing prompts on ChatGPT to have conversations that help develop a brand identity for me. This is a sample brand board it recommended. What do you think? I keep reminding ChaGPT that I’m a middle-aged Caucasian woman, but it doesn’t seem to remember…

And this is a vision board it mocked up based on my goals. I like the leather suit, and I would totally wear it on stage, but I usually it’s me in my hoodie and leggings playing at my piano - so, I think I have some work to do.

Last pic! Yesterday I planted seeds in my new hydroponic UV indoor planter I got for Christmas. This is one of those gifts I didn’t ask for but am so happy I got! I’m hoping this will give me the green thumb I’ve always wanted :) Look out for updates!

Well, thanks for watching my story! Make sure you’re following me on on socials so you don’t miss my livestreams and daily stories! ❤️