A Rose By Any Other Name…
With Valentine’s Day coming up, I wanted to open up my heart to all of you, my loyal readers, and share something that I’ve been wanting to share with you for quite awhile. My real name.
When I started this blog I was unsure about blogging, the direction that I would be taking, and the overall privacy of the internet. So I decided to develop a writing alias. Kenley Leigh is a combination of my husband’s middle name (Kenley) and mine (Leigh).
The alias worked for awhile. But the lines began to blur. Something happened that I hadn’t planned on when I began this blogging journey. I became part of this amazing community. This is a community that supports one another. We lift each other up to be able to explore new heights. If someone hasn’t blogged in awhile, I get genuinely concerned — hoping that everything is ok. We praise each others accomplishments and are shoulders to cry and ears to listen during harder times. Most of us will never come face to face. But we are friends.
And friends share. They reveal and expose themselves. I apologize for not doing this sooner but my concerns for internet privacy kept getting in the way. But the need to be true to myself and my community is greater than any concern. As I move forward with Green Door Hospitality, I want my readers –my blogging family — to see all of me, holding nothing back.
My name is Jessica. And I look forward to continuing this journey with you, my friend.
52 comments on “A Rose By Any Other Name…”
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Green Door Hospitality 
Jessica, I really thought your name was Kenley, look forward to more and more from you, I really enjoy your blog.
Thanks Suzanne! I appreciate that.
Nice to meet you, Jessica! 🙂
🙂 Thanks! And of course, nice to meet you too. 😉
Hey, I kinda like that name 🙂
I kinda thought you might! 😉
LOL, I really thought your name was Kenley. Jessica it has been great having you as a friend and following you on your journey. We have been following one another for quite a while. Thanks for sharing that with us and friend you can call me Cindy if you want. I used Cynthia because that is what my mom always wanted everyone to call me and they all chose Cindy instead.
Thanks so much Cindy! I really appreciate all your support and friendship throughout this whole journey!
Jessica
Hiya Jessica. 🙂 Still love the name Kenley Leigh though.
Thanks Joan! 🙂
I know how you feel about the thought of privacy and trying to remain a bit anonymous. I also know how you feel about the wonderful blogging community and the friendships that are developed…it is so special. Nice to meet you Jessica….I’m Seana. 🙂
Hi Seana!! 🙂 And thanks so much for your comment and the understanding.
I too assumed your name was Kenley. That really is a nice name. Glad to meet you Jessica.
Thanks Donna! 🙂
My name is Sharon and I like you what ever you choose to call yourself.
More Dewars pictures!!
Hi Sharon! Well, I like you too!! 🙂 And I believe Dewars will be making another special appearance for Valentine’s Day! 😉
Darling Jessica, You are radiant in the photo. You are a rose. From day one that you left me a message, it did come across what a lovely person you are. With you smile and talent, you captured everyone’s heart. I feel the same about our community. I don’t leave comments every time, but I make sure I do give a visit to the community we created and participate. I like your name Kenley very much too, as my son’s name is Ken and this was a cute version of it. Looking forward to visit and learn more from Jessica!
Thank you so much Fae for this wonderfully sweet and thoughtful comment! I can’t begin to tell you how much I greatly appreciate it!! It really touched me.
Jessica
Ha ha, you fooled me too, I totally thought that was your real name and what a clever nom-de-plume it was too, like how you took the middle names.
anyhow: Hi Jessica! 😀
Thanks! I thought it was pretty clever too! 😉
Appreciate all your support. 🙂
Nice to meet you Jessica – although I will probably always call you Kenley! 🙂 I felt the same way as you for a long time but I have found when I became a real person using my real picture, my blog grew and yours will too!
You can call me whatever you like Kelli! 🙂 Just as long as you call me. hehe
Jessica, Completely understand the desire to be honest and yet somehow maintain privacy. It’s a balancing act in a wired world where information stays permanent. I hope I don’t slip up and call you Kenley! Love your photograph and your blog. And glad to know you a little more now.
Thanks so much Lindy! And don’t worry if you slip up… 🙂
Appreciate all your support and kind words!!
Dear Jessica, what a beautiful name…the blogging world does get involving:) You did pull off the alias wonderfully and somewhere in my mind, I’ll continue to think of you as Kenley:)
Thanks so much for your sweet comment and support! 🙂
Beautiful! This is the hard part, opening up to your comfort level with the rest of the WORLD! Happy Valentine’s Day!
Thanks! It sure is. 🙂
Happy Valentine’s Day to you as well!
Hi Jessica, Just wanted to let you know that I love your blog and I have nominated you in mine. Check it out. (http://designsecretsnj.wordpress.com/2014/02/10/the-7-wonders-of-the-blogosphere/)
Thanks so very much! I am honored and I greatly appreciate it!!! 🙂
Jessica
Thank you for sharing this with us! It was a big leap of faith, and I’m so glad you took it. 🙂
Thanks Anika! It is because of amazing bloggers like you that I decided to take that leap! 🙂
I love this post so much it moves me to tears! Happy joyful heart-strings-pulled shiny tears! It is SO nice to meet you pretty lady, witty and clever blogger extraordinaire! I can totally relate to the caution-thing, and that I too now feel a blossoming with regards to blogging. It is a family. I’m so proud of you for doing this Jessica. Warmest hugs from your friend Gina.
Thanks so much for your very sweet comment Gina! I greatly appreciate it!!
Jessica
Hello Jessica, happy cooking in the Green Door Hospitality.
Thanks Valentina! 🙂
Wow! Nice to meet you Jessica! That’s funny, but I totally get it. Thank you for all of your support too! You are awesome!
Thanks Alicia! You’re pretty awesome yourself! 🙂
LOVE this. I’ve felt the same way about blogging – you start a blog, thinking no-one will read and all of a sudden you find a new family! Thanks for sharing Jessica
Thanks Cat!! Totally — a whole new family that I can’t imagine life without. 🙂
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I noticed there was a name change and wondering what was going on. Thanks for clarifying and you are so correct. Blogging is about the relationships. I so appreciate your friendship and support right form the beginning!
Thanks Thea! I greatly appreciate your support and friendship!
Jessica
Hello Jessica, and yes a rose by any other name indeed. An outstanding post writing by a most excellent friend, thank you for being so wonderfully you! 🙂 xx
Thanks so much Penny! I greatly appreciate all of your friendship and outstanding support! 🙂
xx Jessica
🙂 xx
I like you no matter what your name is!!!
Hehe, oh good! Cause I like you too!! 🙂
Be it Kenley in the past or Jessica now, It is great to have you my friend. If I slip up and address you as Kenley sometimes, just knock on my head and say “It’s Jessica!” 🙂
warmly, danny
Thanks so much Danny for your kind words and never wavering support my friend! 🙂
Jessica! Lovely! I am so happy to have had the chance to go back in time and find/read this post (and catch up on others too). I have been away for a few months, but was so happy tonight to see you pop up in my reader!!! 🙂 Have missed you! MM (or Marisa, to you 😉 ) xx
I believe we both have had some busy few months…. I was very happy as well to have you pop back up in my reader as well 🙂 I also was actually just looking at your ketchup recipe yesterday. Needing to make some ketchup and love your use of paste (since it will still be a few months before my tomatoes are ready in the garden)
Jessica