Make Your Work Hours Count!

The years 2011 - 2014 are a bit of a blur. I don't remember everything, but I remember the way I felt after coming home from work each day. I remember crawling in bed night after night thinking to myself, "I just worked my tail off, but did I actually accomplish anything? I worked hard, really hard for 12 hours today, but did I even make any money? Why am I working so hard and have nothing to show for it?" During those years, I could have won an academy award for my act. "How's business?" they would ask ...

Tough Love

I need to speak to those of you who are working from home. Those of you who have little ones running around while you are simultaneously trying to build your own business. Those of you who are preparing lunch for your kids while you answer client calls.

Why I Quit

Every single day I quit the same thing - I quit my work.

Have you ever been home with your family and that little “ding” sound goes off notifying you of a new email? You immediately check it and feel the urgency to respond right away. While you are simply trying to get your thoughts from your head through your fingertips and onto the screen so you can press send, and your child walks over to you and says, “Mommy, look at…” only to be abruptly cut off by you with a response that resembles something like, “Honey, I need you to give mommy just a second - I’m just trying to finish this one thing then I can listen to you.”

Partnership and Finances in Marriage with Brian Zimmerman

Brian Zimmerman is on the podcast, y'all! I typically keep my work and home life separate, but we’re looking back at when I invited my husband Brian to join me on my monthly Questions with Rachel episode of Zimmerman Podcast. We're talking all about our system for annual planning and getting on the same page as a family, how Brian and I first met, and what we think about the term 'breadwinner.'

Quarantine and the Family Bubble

I love my alone time. Most people assume I’m an extrovert. Now, that could be because I spend my work days talking— mostly loudly— communicating, teaching, interviewing… you get the idea. But in reality, that’s work Jess! And when I’m off the clock, I’m a true introverted extrovert. In real life, when it’s time to go to a party, I have to spend all evening convincing myself to leave the house.

The idea of ordering takeout and hunkering down at home in my Christmas Pj’s is way more appealing than putting on real pants and motivating to go be with people.

Partnership and Finances in Marriage with Brian Zimmerman

Brian Zimmerman is on the podcast, y'all!

I typically keep my work and home life separate, but this week, I invited my husband Brian to join me on my monthly Questions with Rachel episode of Zimmerman Podcast.

We're talking all about our system for annual planning and getting on the same page as a family, how Brian and I first met, and what we think about the term 'breadwinner.'

PodcastJessica ZimmermanDecember 3, 2019annual planning, finances, jessica zimmerman podcast, marriage, work family balanceComment

My Priority

Miami was an adventure. My flowers were scheduled to be waiting for me in my hotel room when I arrived, but because of inclement weather, they were stuck in Memphis. The Miami wholesaler was closed by the time I landed in Miami and I wasn't able to get my flowers until just hours before my client needed her bouquet. Thankfully everything worked out and she loved her bouquet and her portrait session was a huge success.

Exuma, Bahamas

We successfully completed our busiest wedding season yet and after all that hard work, I decided a celebration was in order! With only a about ten days notice, I booked a trip to Exuma, Bahamas for our family of five and we fell in love with the island.

Our summer escape to Camp Wandawega

Our kids currently go to preschool year-round. Every July they are off for one week and every July we go somewhere fun. The weather in Arkansas is brutally hot during this time, so traveling someplace a little less hot is always a big incentive, too. This past year, we traveled to Wisconsin and stayed at a lovely little place called Camp Wandawega.

How I get more joy and less stress out of my kids’ birthday parties

I’ve only been doing kid birthday parties for four years, but it only took me two years to figure this thing out. Here’s what I do to make sure I actually get to be present during the parties – you know, like actually talk to the people there, watch my kids as they blow out their candles with my actual eyes and not through the viewfinder on my phone – and have zero clean up when the party's over.

"How did you know you were ready?"

My Great-Uncle Buck was a successful, self-made businessman. He grew up on a farm in Arkansas and later moved to Seattle with his wife, Lou. He started out dirt poor working in construction. Later, he began investing in storage units, then office rental properties, and eventually became a self-made millionaire. You would never know it. He wore the same pair of Levi’s jeans and denim shirt every single day of his life. He knew what was important in life, and it wasn’t flashy, material things.

I put on the Swimsuit

I am a travel junkie at heart. I am one of those people who would totally take my kids out of school for a year and travel the world. Maybe one day I will! A lot of our traveling the past couple of years, especially with three little ones, has felt more like trips than vacations. Seaside, Florida is that one place where we go every year that actually feels like a vacation. We rent a beach house for a week and we have zero problem unplugging. We go about the day with no real schedule. We go for bike rides, swim in the pool, and play by the beach. Everything is in walking distance. We eat good food and each day the kids pick a treat, either a snow cone, ice cream, or something from the local candy shop.