Hey gals! I’m Jess Connolly, I’m a wife to a handsome church planter/pastor, mom to four wild kiddos, and accidental entrepreneur who loves writing and speaking to women about abundant life. I started the Naptime Diaries print shop in 2011, cofounded The Influence Network with Hayley Morgan in 2012, and I spend my days here in Charleston, SC running around with my kids and helping my husband build our church, Gospel Community. I’m a huge fan of coffee, handstands, and quiet time alone because I’m the biggest introvert you’ve ever met in your life.
How do you take care of yourself so that you’re physically and mentally prepared to be your best self for others?
The biggest way I take care of myself is getting time alone. Again, I’m a huge introvert. Most people don’t think I am because I love people and I’m not shy in the slightest, but I really recharge from quiet and being by myself. So most days I wake up an hour or two earlier than everyone in my house – sometimes to read or work, sometimes just to sit. I try to take a short minute in the afternoon to do the same thing and get ready for the crazy of the night-time routine with four kids!
What’s your favorite beauty secret?
Kylie Jenner lip kits, all the way. I mean, Kylie’s lips are famous for a reason. Her matte lip kit is a game changer and I think everyone should have one.
What’s your favorite go-to outfit for a quick polished look?
Black ripped jeans, nicer tshirt, leather jacket, high heel clogs! I’m a really, really casual dresser so my polished has to feel casual or I just feel fussy!
What’s your favorite quick-prep dinner for your family?
Make your own salad night with paper plates and plastic forks! I’ll cut up all the veggies we’ve got, dice up some leftover meat, throw all the salad dressings on the table and let the kids have fun. I can also rustle up fun random things from the pantry to make the salad options more interesting: dried cranberries, cashews, even tortilla chips!
Tell us your favorite Instagram account to follow and why?
Oooooh, that’s a hard one. I’ve actually had an internet girl crush on Debra Parker for like 5 years. She’s a mom who serves and does ministry where she’s at locally, but I love watching her relationships with her kids – because they’re a few years ahead of mine. She is inspiring and to me – what it looks like to walk wildly with the Lord on mission, right where you’re at.
What tradition or routine is important to you?
Greeting my kids well in the morning is really important to me. I don’t always do it well every day, but I feel like a person who is spoken life to first thing starts the day totally different. So I try to greet them warmly and furiously encourage them right when they wake up.
What’s in your purse?
Hobo wallet, my Kylie Jenner lip kit, eighteen business receipts that I need to give to my husband, and some business cards I’ve blotted my lipstick on :).
Where do you find your inspiration?
The ocean, the Bible, watching other women worship God, good writing, and music!
We know you’re a busy lady! How do you balance all of your work responsibilities with your home life? Any tips for our readers?
I think one of the best tools to create balance is saying no a lot. We’re all offered way more than we can accomplish by life every single day, so I think if we don’t have a firm balance of saying no we’ll be saying yes way too much. Say no, it’s freeing and it frees other people up too!
What’s your favorite app (or other tool) for helping you do life?
My Macros Plus :) It’s where I track my nutrition and make sure my macros are on point :)
Follow along with Jess:
Website: www.jessconnolly.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jessaconnolly
Instagram: @jessaconnolly
Twitter: @jessaconnolly
