Jenna Nicole

It can make rest feel like anxiety because for someone like myself growing up as the oldest daughter in a Latino household you’re tasked with a number of duties before you’re fully grown.

You’re given responsibilities at a young age and you eventually learn how to adapt.

I remember studying in college I’d stay planted for hours until I was done studying or until I completely finished writing my lab reports. I did the same in grad school. After putting my kids to bed I’d stay up until 2am working on my classes and get back up at 6am to start the next day.

This isn’t to normalize overworking or working to the point of burnout.

This isn’t to glamorize or compare.

This is to highlight that your worth and your rest was, and is, never meant to be associated with your productivity.

This is to acknowledge that unlearning those patterns is possible.

Slowing down is normal. It’s healthy. It’s essential.

And you’re allowed to rest because self-care isn’t selfish.

It’s absolutely necessary in this marathon of life.

💚🐛

There’s always different ways to look at things and I talk about this with my kids often.

I’ve had moments of frustration the last few weeks feeling like when it rains it pours because of this sling and the pain, the closure of the painted tree, and learning about my dad’s diagnosis. It all feels heavy.

Then I think about the bigger picture.

I think about how thankful I am for this healing. Each day, even though slowly, is still progress. I think about my loved ones, my family and friends who have checked in, who’ve shown up with hearts of gold ready to help me. I think about my dad who’s always been there for me. I think about how brave it is for him to walk through something like this. Anyone who knows my dad knows he always has a joke up his sleeve. His sense of humor is just one of the many great things about him and it’s still strong as ever. I think about how fortunate I am to have the relationship we do.
I think about how unequivocally important it is to care for our health, and early detection is paramount to our well-being.

I think about the moments and memories we’ve shared and the ones yet to come.

I think about life in abundance and even through the tougher moments, I’m filled with gratitude.

It’s my hope to share a ray of light your way. For whatever you may be walking through, whatever you may be experiencing, there are many who care. There are people with hearts of gold ready to lend a hand or a shoulder to cry on.

You are not alone.

💚🐛

Currently working on a wholesale order that includes bath bombs, shower steamers, body butter and candles. And a collaboration is in the works…more to come on that later.

For now, I wanted to show a quick glimpse of the extra parts, the supplies, and the raw materials that make this whole thing possible.

Because like the materials that make the whole greater than the sum of its parts, my family, friends, and our customers are all who make up the whole that is greater than the sum.

None of this would be possible without your support and the support of my kids, my parents, and my husband who have jumped in to help me during busy seasons and in this post-op season.

Right now it’s my turn to be there for someone extraordinarily important to me, my dad. He was recently diagnosed with cancer. Without going into too much detail, my hope is to share the importance of awareness and getting checked regularly. We’re hopeful and staying positive this was caught early but there are still many steps ahead.
Keeping up to date on your health, both physical and mental, can make a world of difference.

You matter and you belong here.

💚

Thank you for playing along last weekend
And guessing what movie I was watching!

Can you spot my sign from ?

Because it’s fiesta week,
Because I’m unable to do events right now, and
Because we just recouped our inventory from the

I put together a few gift sets after all and they were sent out Monday afternoon.

Hopefully they come in handy this fiesta season!
They included:
a pack of shower steamers 🚿
a hand sanitizer 🖐️
a first medal 🎖️
and a pen 🖊️

I was hurting trying to type without my sling. So these are a bit different than my norm. As far as recovery goes, I’m currently limited to the weight of a coffee mug, or a plate. Each day is gradually a little better than the last. 🐛

This inventory from the Painted Tree, like many other small businesses know, was kept exclusively for the Painted Tree. This was not inventory I account for when going to market days or other events. Any time we made more products from body butter to hand soap, steamers, diffusers, candles, etc., I looked over the spreadsheet to see what sold and what needed to be restocked. It’s a cyclical process but…

I keep thinking about the many vendors who’ve had to travel to multiple locations to retrieve their stock. The strain, both emotional and financial. The stress, the worry, the exhaustion. This isn’t how we felt opening up our spaces. This work began with a fire inside. This work carries over into long days and late nights. But this work is also fueled by excitement. It’s fueled by a love and a passion that lives deep within. It’s fueled by a vision that lives deep inside the crevices of who we are. I hope that flame is still burning strong because like the cycle of the seasons, this will pass.

Keep shining and keep spreading your light 💚🐛✨

There is beauty in the unknown 🐛

I’ve made these body butters for several years now, I have this formula memorized but I still stop to double check everything because this is where I get immersed in creating something out of simple ingredients.

It’s meditative and soothing.
Every temperature check, each mix and blend are reminders that like these formulas, life cannot be rushed.
It’s a reminder to slow down.
It’s a reminder that like my kids, growth is gradual.
It’s a reminder that patience is essential in self-care.

💚🐛