Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club Challenge

I am Janthina (Jan-thee-na). Beginning this blog has been on my bucket list for quite some time. To be honest, I lacked the belief in myself to accomplish this goal. Today that has changed. Not only do I believe in myself, but I believe we can create a fun and safe atmosphere to connect, to discuss the important things in life, and to laugh. So, welcome to my lifestyle blog, where I’ll be sharing a little piece of my world. I couldn’t be more excited to embark on this journey with you.

As a firm believer in living a balanced and fulfilling life, (although it can be quite difficult to do), I’ll be covering a wide range of topics that encompass various aspects of our daily lives. From fabulously easy recipes to sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly about life, love, and motherhood. I hope to provide you with practical tips and ideas that you can incorporate into your own lifestyle.

Life can be a whirlwind, and it’s important to take the time to nurture ourselves and create spaces that bring us joy. Through this blog, I hope to inspire you to embrace a life filled with intention, beauty, and well-being. I will talk about being a wife and a mom, about creating happy spaces, what I am currently reading (when I have 5 minutes to spare), and what I am reading to my little ones. From being single to having a daughter, then divorce, remarried, and a blended family I understand how crazy and complicated life can get. I want this to be something you enjoy reading while waiting to pick up your kids from school or when you are scrolling in bed.

A little about me. I am originally from Bakersfield, California, and moved to Paso Robles, CA in 2012. I married at 18 and had my beautiful daughter (who was not biologically mine, but all mine in my heart), divorced around 23. Met my now husband 15 years ago who had a son, who now belongs to me too, LOL. Later, we had two little ones, and I absolutely love my blended family. We are perfectly imperfect, baggage and all, we are truly a mix of six. Our children’s ages range from 28 to 8 years old. I have amazing parents, fabulous in-laws, and wonderful friends, none of whom I see enough due to well…life! I created my business Love, Wine and Beach Designs in 2014 to give myself an outlet to help cope with the loss of my brother, and it has been amazing. In 2020, I partnered with one of my great friends, and together we created J&J Paso Time Away. In the shop, you will see a mix of merchandise from both businesses. I have a master’s degree in English but chose to tighten up and be a stay-at-home mama with the shop at my home. One day, when I grow up, I would like to be an English professor, but while the little ones are still young, I love what I am doing from home. It hasn’t been easy. Life has sent me some twists and turns, but I learned to take it all with grace and maybe make lemon drops from all the lemons thrown my way. Most days, who are we kidding, all days I survive on caffeine and chaos!

But this blog isn’t just about me—I want it to be a community where we can connect and learn from one another. I encourage you to share your thoughts, experiences, recipes, and suggestions in the comments section, as we grow and evolve together. I am not sure where this blog will be taking us, but I hope we enjoy the journey!

Stay tuned for weekly posts filled with inspiration, tips, and resources to help you enhance your everyday life. It’s time to make every moment we can count and embrace the beauty of living your best life-whatever that may look like!

XO, Janthina