Meet Jess
How many children do you have and what are their age(s)?
I have one little boy, Beau who turned one in September. He thinks he’s 2, so I let him live under that assumption.
How long have you lived in (your town)? What made you decide to live here?
We moved to Jersey City about 5 years ago from NYC. My husband had worked here before so he knew the downtown neighborhood pretty well before we came over. We decided to move in search of more space but close proximity to the city; as Steve is a Jersey boy, Brooklyn was out of the question, so JC it was!
What’s your favorite family activity (in your town)?
Exploring! I’ve worked in the Hospitality industry my whole life, so that scene has always been a huge part of our life. We just moved to the Heights, and finding new spots to eat, shop and take Beau has been quite exciting. I’m also obsessed with the parks up here as well!
Where’s your favorite place to eat and/or shop in your town?
Where to start?! Current favorite restaurant is Corto on Palisade and I also love Lo Fidelity down the street. Lo Fidelity has a mean cocktail list and they also make a killer margarita (take note!) and Corto excels at everything they send out from the kitchen. I love Kanibal and Casa Mona for gift shopping and Van Hook Cheese Shop is my go-to for hosting.
What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I’m originally a California girl and a huge Sci-fi/Fantasy book nerd. In addition to working in the Hospitality business, I was a personal trainer and taught kickboxing when I was in New York. Basically I love being active and busy, but given the chance I’ll pass up a party for a night in with a good book. (Hello intro/extrovert!) I didn’t even know about The Local Moms Network until earlier this year when a family friend told me about it, so this in itself has been a fun adventure to embark on!
Funniest shortcut/routine for helping you through parenthood?
I have 3 much younger sisters and was a nanny in my 20’s, so I grew up loving kids and have always wanted to be a stay at home mom. That being said, a couple of things I’ve learned so far is that whatever you think you know, be ready to change your mind and adapt at a moment’s notice! And self care is KEY! If you aren’t your best self, you won’t be able to be the best parent you can be to your little ones. It’s a struggle to remember to make time, but I am currently prioritizing getting back into a work out routine and it’s been very fulfilling.
As one mother so sagely told me, “You can read all of the books on how to raise a baby, but they don’t read them” and nothing more true has been said! My husband and I knew we wanted to have a little one who was comfortable in social settings, so we started taking him out very early on and I do enjoy bringing him with me almost everywhere I go. (If you see us out, come say Hi!)
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
Shortly after I had Beau I started working part time at Jane Do, mostly to get out of the house for a few hours week. I have been with them a year now and I absolutely love their energy when I walk into the studio and their classes are amazing! I currently work part time with their creative team and as their front desk girl which gets me a couple of baby-free hours a week. And of course starting up the Jersey City Local Moms Network has been a awesome adventure. I didn’t have a mom crew in Jersey City when I had Beau and through TLMN I have been lucky to meet some amazing moms, business owners and just overall great women in our community. In the future I am looking forward to getting involved with some local charities, I would love to work with children to teach them cooking skills/nutrition which has always been a point of interest for me.
How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
It’s been everything! It’s been very interesting to find this whole other side of Jersey City involving motherhood and I love being able to share it with other parents. There are so many great classes, artists and events for children in our city and more arriving every day. Jersey City is a rapidly evolving community and it’s been a pleasure to be along for the ride!