Tag: thank you

Life

Columbia Mall Shooting

Jessica Smith

Ugh. I don’t understand why people do the crazy things they do…

Columbia is my home. It is my happy place. It is where I grew up. It is where I went to school. It is where I bought my first house. It’s where we’ve met some of our best friends. It’s where we will have babies. It. Is. My. Home.

It could have been me at that mall. Or my husband. Or my sister, brother, mom, dad, stepmom, stepdad or mother-in-law. It could have been my best friend or my neighbors. It could have been someone I loved. It really saddens me that such a senseless act of violence took place in our mall, leaving three people dead. Three families are mourning the loss of their loved ones and I feel for them. I feel for them and at the same time am so eternally grateful that my sister and I weren’t shopping at the mall. Or that my hubby and I hadn’t just ran in to get food like we’d done two nights prior to the shooting. Or that my mom couldn’t get her manicure appointment until Sunday. So grateful that my loved ones are safe and didn’t have to endure the terror that filled the mall on Saturday.

I am also so grateful to live in such a great community with fantastic first responders. The Howard County police and all of the other first responders who attended to the mall shooting had the situation under control minutes after they received the distress call. I truly appreciate the professionalism and courage they displayed on Saturday and know that they do everything in their power to keep our community safe.

Here’s hoping the families that lost loved ones will find peace and this tragedy in Columbia will help inspire a change. No family and no community should have to suffer a loss like this.

Hug your loved ones tightly.

#HoCoBlogs

Life

Happy anniversary, A Smith of All Trades

Jessica Smith

Blogging anniversary

Holy cow, it’s my one-year blogging anniversary!

I started on this venture a year ago today after many months of trying hard to decide on a name. My coworkers had suggestions and we even had a white board in our kitchen with a running list of ideas. When I finally came up with a name I liked (I couldn’t sleep one night and A Smith of All Trades popped into my head), I started blogging pretty much immediately and haven’t slowed down since.

In 365 days:

  • I’ve written 274 posts — that’s a 75 percent posting rate!!
  • I’ve had 142,379 views
  • I’ve gotten 430 comments
  • I have 94 followers (which is more than I thought I had) on WordPress
  • I have 165 “likes” on Facebook

I have had a ton of fun in my first year of blogging all thanks to you, my readers. I know a lot of my readers are friends and family. It means the world to me that you guys come to my blog to show your support and keep in touch since life is always so crazy busy. And for those of you who I don’t personally know, you guys are awesome, too. The fact that you’ve stopped by once or keep coming back for more (especially since you have no obligation!)– well, that’s the reason I love to do this. I love getting your feedback on projects and hearing what you are up to.

I am very much looking forward  to my next year writing on A Smith of All Trades. I hope you’re ready to join me for another fun, project-filled year. If there is something you’d like to see from me, please let me know! As always, I love to hear from you all.

Here’s to another year!

-Jess

Graphic Design, Life

Football Season

Jessica Smith

 

I’m getting way more into football this year than in years past — not exactly sure why or how long it will last, but it’s been fun to watch the games so far.

This will be my last football craft for a bit, but it’s pretty funny and totally true, so I had to share.

I was in Hallmark the other day buying a card and I stumbled upon this weird little bird holding a sign that read, “We interrupt this marriage to bring you football season.”

I almost scooped it off the shelf because is it SO true (We are scheduling our anniversary dinner next week around football games), but it was a really weird flamingo-like purple bird that would have looked strange sitting around our house.

So while the Steelers were losing to the Broncos, I created this masterpiece.

Too funny, right?

*****

On a completely different note, I wanted to take a second to say that I am so proud to be an American and we will always remember those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. I also want to say “thank you” to the men and women who protect our country each and every day, whether soldiers, policemen, firefighters, etc. Our country is a better place because of all of you and I am forever grateful for what you do. Thank you.