tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34471233333458929382024-03-13T21:42:57.016-07:00The Wildflower Life.You belong among the wildflowers,
You belong somewhere close to me.
Far away from your trouble and worries. You belong somewhere you feel free. - Tom PettyJenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-90808851135093399572016-09-12T10:40:00.002-07:002016-09-12T10:40:38.832-07:00My Body Can't Keep Up with My AmbitionIt's really difficult to put into words the frustration I feel day in and day out of all the projects I want to do or places I want to go but I'm too tired and in pain from dealing with fibromyalgia, chronic sinusitis, and IBS. I have days where I truly feel unhappy and I know it's because of how I feel. There isn't one day that goes by where my body isn't screaming at me about something that hurts. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't feel tired mentally and physically. This is the life sentence I was given.<br />
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I am lucky knowing that the disorders I have won't kill me or are degenerative. I am purely writing this out of annoyance. I have a Type A brain with a Type B body. I would love to uphoster furniture, or be good at running, or try really complicated recipes, or play hide and seek for 3 hours straight with my daughter...but this is not the reality I live in. It's an accomplishment to just get through the work day with lots of caffeine. By the time I get home to have family time, it's hard for me to think clearly or really do anything without a tremendous amount of pain either in my muscles, sinuses, or both. If I make dinner, it's something easy. My husband does a lot of housework and for that, I feel very guilty. By the time I put my daughter to bed, I want to lie down in bed. I get all my work stuff out the night before because I know I will be so tired in the morning.<br />
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I want to be the girl on the go, even if for just a week. I can't help but look at people on social media at all these fun events and doing so many hobbies (while I'm curled up on my couch checking social media because I'm in so much pain and exhaustion) and be jealous! I have to reminder myself that people only post what they want you to see (which is also true about what I post). I don't know what struggles other people have. Social media shows the rosy colored version of life (at least most of the time).<br />
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Maybe one day there will be a cure for fibromyalgia. Maybe one day I can have sinus surgery again and it will actually help. Maybe I will be able to stop worrying about if my IBS is acting up. Those are the things that get my through my worst days when I want to scream, "I GIVE UP! I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS!" But I don't give up, and I do what I can. In fact, there is a quote from an Emily Dickinson poem that I always come back to when the pain seems like too much:<br />
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"Hope is the thing with feathers-<br />
That perches on the soul-<br />
And sings the tune without the words-<br />
And never stops at all."<br />
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<br />Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-61396373873791816042016-06-09T16:38:00.000-07:002016-06-09T16:38:33.448-07:00Rape.I felt the need to write this post because the man recently in the news who received minimal punishment for the horrendous crime he committed in raping an unconscious woman is infuriating.<br />
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I know some men are dumpster fires that believe non consensual sex is still sex (somehow the woman was asking for it) and I really wish they understood or cared that raped women hide deep emotional issues very long after the incident. <br />
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I have never admitted this publicly but for the sake of hopefully having more men and women talk about this...I am a rape victim. It's so weird to type that, and extremely freeing at the same time.<br />
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When I was in my senior year of college, I went to a bar. I hung out with friends and met a guy (aka the rapist) that I knew through friends. He was cute and I enjoyed talking to him. I decided it was late and I wanted to go home. He asked for a ride. I agreed and talked about how tired I was. He said we should just go to my apartment. I agreed but told him he could only sleep in my bed if we just slept and he kept his clothes on. When we got in my bed, he tried to make out with me and said I needed to go to sleep. I fell asleep. I woke up with my pj pants off and my hands held back even though I fought it. He was naked but seemed to ignore me as I yelled and cried "NO!!!!" He proceeded to rape me. I cried and yelled no while my hands were bound the whole time. When he was done, I was crying and he told me I liked it and was asking for it. I screamed for him to get out. I developed dark bruises inside my thighs in the next couple days.<br />
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What did I do? I cried. I didn't call the cops, or tell anyone. All I kept hearing was, "I asked for it" over and over in my head. I made myself believe that because I still couldn't wrap my head around what happened and how a seemingly normal guy could do that. I also felt embarrassed, like I was dumb or drank too much to allow it to happen. Instead of going to the cops, I quietly got tested for all STDs not mentioning what happened and went to my doctor for an antidepressant. It took over a month to even tell my best friend who just hugged me while I cried. She didn't condone me for not reporting it, she knew how bad I felt already.<br />
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In fact, guys I dated afterwards I never told. It took me years to even tell my family. I got panic attacks going into bars and seeing men look at me. I eventually saw a therapist to help me sort out the lingering distrust I had towards men because of it. I was always the DD too because I was terrified of being drunk and not have complete control over my awareness and my mace. <br />
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Millions of women have been raped and in much worse situations than me that never report it. We feel responsible and this is NOT OK. When we do report a rape, we should not be shamed by our attacker who gets a minimal sentence. A pot grower should not be in prison longer than a rapist. Period.<br />
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I felt I needed to share my story because you might have a sister, friend, or daughter and you need to let them know rape is NOT the woman's fault. I wish no woman would ever have to go through what I went through. It scars us for years and makes us feel a hatred for ourselves. <br />
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No means no. Unconscious means NO. A woman crying and begging for a man to stop means no. This should not be happening in our society but it does. <br />
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I am very sad for the woman in this case. I feel for her on a level I wish I never had to. That is all I have left to say.Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-7479569190157770812016-04-27T19:50:00.001-07:002016-04-27T19:50:33.398-07:00Talkin' 'Bout My Generation<div>
Introduction...</div>
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So there has been a viral video with a girl ranting about Millennials aka Generation Y aka the generation I guess I am placed in. I couldn't help but feel bad for her because I do not know who she hangs out with to feel like our generation is so rude, entitled, and lazy. Of course, EVERY generation has people with those qualities...but this negative video is wrong about us. Let me shed some light on my generation (at least what I see) and the positive qualities we do possess.<div>
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We Don't Work Harder, We Work Smarter</div>
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We are the generation that grew up during a major technology boom and learned to use technology to be more efficient in our work. I am able to write a work email within 2 minutes from my phone while doing other things. I can text a coworker some information they need while talking to another coworker. I have lists upon lists written in my phone with reminder alarms. Also, GPS is a necessity for my job. We have embraced technology. This does not make us lazy, it makes us advanced. Secondly, we have been through and seen that grunt work or 'pulling yourself up by your bootstraps' is a lie. We have worked hard at pretty mindless jobs (I cleaned dog kennels in high school) but just because I worked hard didn't mean I got a raise or would have future employers be impressed I picked up dog poop. That is why I got a college degree, education (or at least educating yourself) is important, learning how to think is important because we have learned that you get ahead by working smarter, not harder. Also, most of us graduated college as the recession hit and the generation before us were scrambling to get the entry level jobs since they had been laid off. We had to adapt and think outside the box in order to survive, For me, it was having my own freelance floral design business. My husband has done stage management on the side. I know many people who work a job on the side for the income they need. We didn't all get a chance to follow the status quo of landing that entry level position out of college so we did what we had to. There are so many entrepreneurs in our generation who are excelling in the business world. I don't see us as lazy, we just think outside the box when it comes to making a decent living.</div>
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We Aren't All Old Fashioned, And That's Ok</div>
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So what if our friends have kids and are not married? Who cares if we want to put off marriage because the divorce rate is about 50%? Yes, quite a few of us have tattoos, even piercings! We aren't rebelling against our elders (who we DO respect, if they give us the same respect in return), we just don't see why we HAVE to do something because that is what our grandparents or parents did or did not do. Our gay friends should be able to marry, our transgender friends should be able to go to the bathroom without fear, we should be able to date any race, class, or gender without the judging eyes of other generations. Please tell me how these things I've mentioned are hurtful to our society other than it being not 'old fashioned'? If you are old fashioned, that is great! However, discrimination is not cool. Let us be us, and you can be you. Diversity is a GOOD thing!</div>
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We Aren't All Religious, And That's Ok Too!</div>
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Some of us have had bad experiences with religion, some of us find hypocrisies within religion, and some of us just are not interested. That doesn't mean we are BAD people. Most Atheists I know are the kindest, most moral people I have ever met. They do the right thing because they love humanity, not for fear of God's wrath or being burned in hell. In fact, there are Atheists all around us (not just in our generation). No, they will not kidnap your child. No, they won't kill puppies for fun. No, they will not steal your wallet. Just because someone is not religious does not make them a bad person. Again, this is not to go against elders, we just know what works best in how we view life or what happens after. Some of us are very religious, and some of us aren't. We can live in peace together if we don't push our beliefs on each other and cast judgement based on religious or non religious affiliations. </div>
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We Are Entitled...To Stand Up For What's Right</div>
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This is my final point because I HATE when my generation is called entitled with no explanation. Entitled to what? If you are talking about free healthcare, sure, we are entitled to that (like every other industrialized country). We are entitled to marry the gender we want to marry, because, how is LOVE a bad thing?! But no, we don't feel entitled to a fancy job, a European vacation, or a McMansion just because we went to college or worked a job for more than a year; we faced the great recession as young adults...remember? The generation I know that I am part of is less about material things and more about human connection and experiences. We aren't using massive amounts of credit cards to 'Keep Up with the Jones's'. We are spending our time connecting with other humans instead of outdoing them. Yes, there are Millennial brats, but there are also Baby Boomer brats, and 4 year old brats. Just because you know a brat doesn't mean you should just sum up our generation as entitled brats. </div>
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Conclusion</div>
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I feel like anyone ranting about our generation is not doing anything to fix our generation. We should be focusing on the positive things that each generation has contributed to in our country. United we stand and divided we fall. 'Millennial' should not be a bad word, it should just be a word. When you feel down about society, go volunteer to make it better! Don't use Facebook (created by a man in my generation) to complain about our generation being lazy, rude, and entitled. Let's just chill out and realize we are all on this planet together...there is no need to make someone's life harder by putting them down. Peace and love until next time.</div>
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Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-57395692416142549662015-10-08T18:48:00.002-07:002015-10-08T18:48:49.267-07:00The Legend of PerfectionHave you ever stayed up later than you should have worried that you aren't good enough? It's an isolating feeling, but ironically many of us feel this way. When we were children, it was easy to know if we were doing a good or bad job at most things: praise or discipline from your parents, report cards, trophies, certificates, etc. We grew up with others helping us to excel, and we usually stayed in a hobby or sport we were good at.<br />
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As adults, we are given a gift and a curse. We are given the freedom to study a skill that can become a job, we can stay up as late as we want with no one yelling at us, and we can sneak a candy bar for lunch without getting grounded! But, as adults, we are given responsibility. We may not be in a job we love because we need that paycheck for bills, to pay a student loan, to feed and clothe our children, and to make sure we aren't kicked out of our homes. We might have to give up a hobby in order to spend more time with family or deal with a critical illness. We lose sleep, we forget to take our vitamins, our anxieties increase, and we lose our patience easily because there never seems to be enough time in the day.<br />
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We are left thinking, "I wish things were perfect." Oh, how I have always longed to feel perfect, to be the woman who can do it all flawlessly while looking glamorous. I feel the more I think about it, the more this idea of perfection is so far out of my reach. I go through regrets in my head like a hamster wheel. "I should have done this, I could have been this, if I had just done this than life would be better..." Is this a healthy thought behavior? Not at all. Is it a tool to keep me motivated to put on pants every day and be an adult? Yes, but it doesn't have to be that way.<br />
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I have hard days where I feel like I am failing as a mother, wife, employee, and adult. This only becomes a slippery slope of self pity and frustration. So I have a new goal that is better for my life. I am going to stop chasing perfection. I will do my best to find the lessons in every up and down I experience day in and day out. I think through learning as much as I can, that will make me a better person, not perfect by any means, but better than I was the day or year before.<br />
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I think it's time to be more patient with ourselves, to actually say to ourselves, "I forgive you." I have priorities, and as long as those priorities are taken care of then maybe I am not failing after all. The things I can't control should have no control over me. None of us are perfect and 100% happy with every single thing in our lives, but that is okay. I am now officially an okayist (yep I made that up) instead of a perfectionist for my own peace of mind. At least in my life, perfection is a legend. Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-43713390670603816402015-03-15T06:08:00.002-07:002015-03-15T06:08:27.782-07:00All Dogs Go to HeavenTwo days ago, my sister and I had to take our family dog, Zoey, to the vet to be put to sleep. At about seventeen years old, she had pretty severe arthritis, incontinence, little vision, two found tumors, and was losing weight. She didn't want to interact with anybody and spent most of her day just lying down in my mom's room. She was just hanging on. Fortunately she wasn't scared when we got to the vet's office, and didn't even have the energy to fight against the IV that went in her little arm. I looked her in the face and told her how much she has been loved and thanked her for her loyalty to my family, especially my mom.<br />
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Instead of this blog being sad about the loss of Zoey, I wanted to write this to celebrate her life. I never had a dog as a kid. My dad forbade having one (I later found out he wanted to protect my sister and me from the pain he went through when he lost his childhood dog). Two days before Mother's Day in 2000, Gwyn (my sister) decided to go to the Humane Society on a whim. She saw a scrawny beagle/terrier in the corner of a cage that the employees had nicknamed Mighty Dog. She was a 2 year old stray who looked like she had just had puppies and had a bad case of kennel cough. She was on schedule to be put down since no one wanted her. My sister felt a connection with Zoey and took me back to the kennel with her to meet Zoey. Despite being scared and sick, she was so kind and had the type of stare that just made you want to hug her forever. We were both determined to save Zoey from an early death and be our family pet. The next step was to convince our parents.<br />
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My mom was actually optimistic about meeting Zoey and possibly taking her home, my dad was reluctant. Fortunately, we got our father to go to the Humane Society with us since it was Mother's Day and my mom asked him to go to humor her. When we got there, my dad didn't even want to go back to the kennel convinced we were NOT getting a dog. We were allowed to put Zoey on a leash and decided we were going to take her out to the waiting room to meet my dad. As soon as Zoey walked into the waiting room, she pulled herself away from the leash, jumped up on the bench right next to my dad, and just stared at him. My dad started to crack a smile and gave in. We got to take Zoey home that day and saved her from a morbid fate.<br />
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The next week was hard trying to treat Zoey's kennel cough, gain her trust, and get her to gain weight. Soon after that, Zoey was really close with all of us. She loved walks, our wooded backyard, chewing on pig ears, and playing tag. I was actually shy at this time in my life so Zoey was who I hung out with. She was a good friend to me, didn't judge me, didn't make fun of me. She just wanted to play and be loved.<br />
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5 months after getting Zoey, my dad was diagnosed with lymphoma. The more treatments my dad went through, the more Zoey stayed by his side. She took naps with him and let him be when he wanted to be alone. She instinctively knew when to be by him or leave him be. Six short months later, my dad died. This time, Zoey followed my mom around everywhere and slept next to her every night. My mom admitted she felt better with Zoey watching over her. <br />
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When I went off to college, I even had a sense that my mom would be ok since she had Zoey. I'd still come home every weekend to do laundry and play with Zoey. The summer before my senior year, I was dealing with unbearable sinus headaches and a broken heart from a breakup. Zoey was by my side, letting me hug her as I cried into her fur. I couldn't leave the house much due to how lousy I felt but I had Zoey. <br />
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Over the years, Zoey started to show her age and I moved to Indianapolis so I didn't see her as much. She still slept with my mom every night. It's times like these I wish I had spent more time with her after moving out of West Lafayette. A year ago, Zoey's health started to go downhill. It was hard for my mom to see but she did the best she could to take care of Zoey. Last week, Gwyn and I saw Zoey and could tell she was doing very poorly. We felt it was the right thing to do to go take Zoey to the vet since we were the ones who begged to save her. I felt an irrational sense of guilt taking Zoey away from my mom, but she isn't in pain anymore. She isn't just hanging on. I want to think she is in a heaven, running around with pure joy and getting some hugs in from my dad. <br />
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I think it's an understatement to say that Zoey was a great dog. I think it's an understatement to even say she was an amazing dog. She was what you'd hope for in a dog. She loved so much and so loyally. I think that is what makes Zoey's death so sad despite living a long life; we loved her so much it made saying goodbye so much harder. She was the rescue dog that rescued us. I will always be grateful for her, forever.<br />
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<br />Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-60950811933673739632015-02-23T18:55:00.001-08:002015-02-23T18:55:04.112-08:00You Can Crush My Body, But Not My SoulBeing a mom is tiring, being a mom with Fibromyalgia is some days extremely hard. Fibromyalgia makes you feel excruciating pain when you may not even have inflammation but it's not just that. Fibromyalgia has caused chronic sinus issues, gastroparesis, and even exacerbated anxiety and in very low points, depression. I'm not new to this disorder, I have had it since I was ten after a bad case of the flu. For four years, Riley Children's Hospital ran many tests on me to find a cause until a rheumatoligist gave me certain tests to pinpoint Fibromyalgia which is rare in children. I have gone on to do some amazing things in my life because of my willpower knowing deep down that I am stronger than what my body puts me through. I do have some guilt knowing there have been more things I've wanted to achieve but brain fog, exhaustion, and pain can be unbearable at times. I had a lot of anxiety after Raven was born because I realized she might grow up with a mom who has bad days and has to just lie on the couch but I have made peace with the fact that my daughter wouldn't love me any less than if I had diabetes, cancer, or any other disease/disorder. I admit I don't take the best care of myself and it's showing more as I age. However, I will adapt to whatever changes fibromyalgia brings and I will prevail. I am just grateful I don't have a terminal illness and that the right distraction techniques help me forget about my pain and exhaustion. I'm looking forward to moving up in my career in logistics and doing some home renovations. When I feel ok, I am so thankful (that others take for granted). I hope they find a cure or at least an affordable treatment plan but in the mean time, I'm dancing in the rain and finding the positives that define my life!Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-80313163350096309852015-01-23T10:38:00.000-08:002015-01-23T10:38:06.016-08:00I've Got Thick Skin and An Elastic HeartI don't know if you've heard the song "Elastic Heart" by Sia, but I adore it (and the video is very cool). I know the song is probably about a break up, but I really love the line, "I've got thick skin and an elastic heart." I feel like this resonates with how I feel about myself nowadays.<br />
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Growing up, I was a pretty sensitive child who got offended or upset easily by friends or family. I don't know if it was because I was the baby of the family or I didn't know any better but to be overly sensitive. I would dwell on any negative comment made towards me by elementary school girls to the point I refused to go to school. I guess you could say I had bullies, but looking back what they said was completely laughable and not at all threatening. I just couldn't handle people disliking me for no known reason. I wanted acceptance in everything I did, it was my priority in life.<br />
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My father died right before I turned sixteen and this threw me into a deeper pit of needing acceptance. Not only did I feel like I needed people to accept me, but also for a God to love and accept me. I became religious because I was automatically accepted as a Christian. People were nice to me at church and in youth group. I don't regret that time in my life because going to Bible Study was a better choice of a form of acceptance than sleeping around or partying as a teenager.<br />
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I then got into modeling and I had to learn very quickly to take rejection. I was asked multiple times by casting agents if I was planning to have a nose job, boob job, lip injections, if I could lose more weight, grow my hair out, cut my hair, be blonde, act more serious, the list goes on. At first, it was absolutely frightening and then I realized that my body was a product (that sounds wrong, but you know what I'm getting at) and these agents weren't attacking my character, they didn't know me as a person at all! They were simply looking for the perfect model for a specific look they had in mind. I knew I wasn't the worst model because I did get jobs and was accepted into some very sought after agencies. I got to travel, meet designers, be independent, and make new friends so despite all the rejection, I had a good time modeling internationally and also started to grow a thick skin as a result.<br />
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I feel like when I entered college, I slid back into the NEED to be accepted. I think it was because I was insecure about being a 'townie' since I was going to school less than 10 minutes away from my mother's house. I joined a sorority in order to feel accepted and I felt more outcast than accepted (though I do not blame any girls in the house, I just didn't feel like I was really part of a sisterhood since I was so used to doing my own thing). I felt like the people I connected with most were the artsy kids and the people in my major, Apparel Design, who looked at life outside the box like I did. Suffice to say, I did NOT want to become a fashion designer, but stuck with it because I loved the people I was around in my major and didn't want to pay for more college to change my major! I think being around the artistic community at Purdue fueled my need to be accepted but also we celebrated our diversity and independence at the same time.<br />
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After college when the recession hit hard, I felt very vulnerable trying to be a grown up with no real job prospects. I went in and out of relationships in order to try to feel fulfilled in a new life that was quite frankly scary. At this time, I was too old to start over in fashion modeling and I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. Haha, I still don't but at least I've accepted that now! Several jobs and relationships later, I finally started dating my now husband JD, who is tough as nails and has inspired me to keep a tough skin. The world can be rough, but he's shown me you can get back up, brush yourself off, and keep moving.<br />
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Though JD inspired me to be a little more thick skinned, he didn't push me to be so, I had to be willing to do that myself. Maybe it's age or the fact I'm a mother now, but I don't feel the need for the whole world to love me. The most important person I need love from is myself. I am thankful for all my experiences to bring me to the woman I am today. I hope things will only keep getting better.Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-75030518129959838272014-12-31T08:44:00.001-08:002014-12-31T09:45:36.695-08:002014 Year in ReviewToday is the last day of 2014 if you don't live in a cave, you already know that. I'm planning on ringing in the new year with good friends at a casual party (The in-laws are babysitting overnight, woo!). I feel like every year, the last day of the year brings upon a lot of reflection about the highs and lows of that year. Here is a little summary of my year.<br />
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2014 did not start off well. I was still having stomach issues which was depressing me and we had the polar vortex which forced my daughter and I to stay inside. I was still mostly a stay at home mom and it was very lonely since my daughter couldn't talk to me and I couldn't really go anywhere with the bad weather. I eventually joined a mom's group which helped being around adults and our kids getting to play together. I hate January and February anyway, so I guess winter is never a fun time for me.<br />
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When spring rolled around, I finally had an answer and solution to my digestion issues and was able to start putting on weight that I had been losing like crazy. We celebrated Raven turning one with family and friends! Raven also started walking like a boss which was exciting but also brought about new challenges as a mother. We also took a road trip to Austin, Texas for JD's cousin's wedding and we had a great time (and Raven did very well for such a long road trip).<br />
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Summer was fantastic, besides still having fibromyalgia and chronic sinusitis which I still deal with on a daily basis. I got out with Raven everyday, ran, went to barbecues, saw Murder By Death, started working occasionally for other florists as extra help besides still having my own floral business, I dyed my hair red, I got a new car, I got to attend several fun weddings, I made some paintings, and I enjoyed the sunshine even though we had a cooler summer than I would have liked. I also got in a pool more than once this summer! Ok, I went to a pool twice but that's better than once the year before!<br />
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Fall was pretty awesome. I started a new job at a logistics company which made me feel more productive as well as contributing money to the household. It was hard the first couple weeks not seeing Raven all day, but it made me appreciate the time I had with her more after work. We still had a little fun trick-or-treating despite how nasty the weather was. JD and I also got to go see Ryan Adams and Butch Walker. I can't leave out getting to see The Script and Howie Day, they were fun concerts as well. JD started in a new band called Prowlers and the Prey and I have really enjoyed seeing their shows these past few months.<br />
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Christmas was good, Raven loved all the toys she got and I LOVE my huge 'The Walking Dead' graphic novel (books 5-8) that JD got me for Christmas. It was nice to see family and play with my niece, nephew, and step nephew. My mother also made the world's most delicious pot roast which I am still thinking about (I wish I could cook like her but I hate cooking). <br />
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I hope 2015 is even better than 2014. My hopes for 2015 is that my sinus headaches get better, I get a promotion, my daughter gets potty trained, we take at least one fun family trip, I get more wedding floral business, and also do some more photo shoots since I only did 3 this past year and love modeling. I also have some sketches I need to paint, I just need to get around to doing that! This year, I am looking at the year ahead with hope instead of frustration. I wish you all the same as well. Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-85139660037298085092014-12-29T08:15:00.000-08:002014-12-29T08:15:26.707-08:00The Five Random People I'd Love to MeetThis weekend, I have been busy playing with my daughter and all her new toys so I have not blogged. Today I am back with ThinkKit's prompt: what conversation would I want to have with the world and who are the five people I'd want to meet first? Since I am a random person and don't have just one question to ask all five people, I have made a list of five random people and the one question I'd like to ask them...<br />
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1. Barack Obama- "What's up?" I'd love to meet the president and honestly if I met him, I'd have no idea what to ask him because I'd be too nervous to ask any thoughtful question so in all honesty, if I met the president, I'd just ask him what's up? I think with the amount of what is going on in our country, he'd probably laugh and say, "You couldn't even possibly begin to understand." Then I'd give him a high five and tell my grandkids one day that I high fived the president.<br />
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2. Jennifer Aniston- "How pissed are you that Brad Pitt left you for Angelina Jolie?" I was a big Brad Pitt fan until he left Jenn and went on to adopt and procreate with Angelina Jolie (who I CAN'T STAND). I don't care how much humanitarian work Angelina has done, she had an affair with a married man and that makes her a piece of shit in my book. I'd love to have coffee with Jenn and just make fun of Angelina and how whipped Brad is by her. Chelsea Handler is free to come along, as she is good friends with Jenn and I'm sure she has some much better punchlines to throw at that couple than I do! I know it's been a long time, but I'm still mad about Brangelina!<br />
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3. Justin Bieber- "Can you please stop making music?" Seriously. He'd probably egg my house after I asked him that.<br />
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4. Jessica Lange- "Can we be friends?" I love her. So. Much. I'd have a cocktail with her any day.<br />
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5. Casey Anthony- "What's it like being the most hated former mother in the U.S.?" This case still bugs me to this day, especially now that I'm a mother. Fine, there might not have been proof without a reasonable doubt that she killed or covered up her daughter's death, but HOW do you NOT report your child missing right away, why would you lie to police, and HOW could you go out and party while your DAUGHTER is missing?!?!?! If my daughter went missing even an hour, I'd be calling all sorts of authorities and people while having a constant panic attack. I'd be waiting at home for any answers and fully cooperating with law enforcement in order to find my daughter. I'd be too upset to even leave my house, let alone party or get tattoos. Did her daughter drown while she wasn't looking? Maybe...but reporting that right away is a lot more responsible than making up a nanny and a job while dumping your own daughter into a swamp with duct tape across her mouth. I hope she is living in her own hell for what she allowed her daughter to go through.<br />
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Anyway, happy Monday!:)<br />Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-24779958893610743892014-12-26T08:00:00.001-08:002014-12-26T08:00:28.057-08:00100 Acres Park is AWESOMEThinkKit's prompt today is to talk about a place that stood out to me this year. The first place that came to my mind is the 100 Acres Park on the IMA Museum's grounds. I have been there before, but they have added new installations to the park which are REALLY cool.<br />
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One summer morning, I loaded Raven up in the car and drove to the IMA museum. I will admit, walking all those steps down to 100 Acres and holding a heavy toddler was a workout and not so much fun. We finally got to the first installation in the forest full of different signs and Raven LOVED it. It was amazing to see her look at every sign and study each one. We made our way over to the log with swings on it and she didn't want to stop swinging, she was having such a blast. I thought this installation was just beautiful and appreciated the fact that it had swings so it was also like a playground. <br />
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Everyone I'm sure is aware of the skeleton installation (The Fault In Our Stars showed it in theirmovie). Raven loved playing on that, and I loved watching her play on it. The funny thing about my daughter is she is pretty fearless even though she's not even two years old! She was hopping up and attempting to jump off the bones while I quickly grabbed her to prevent her breaking a bone (ironic right?). She also loved the open field to just run while the sun shined down on us. <br />
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We made our way over to the two ponds in the park and it was quite relaxing despite having a rambunctious toddler. We even wandered in the woods a little bit because the weather was perfect and it seemed like all the bugs were leaving us alone. Raven loved the mixture of art and nature just like me.<br />
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I will never forget this day because it was so peaceful and a lovely time with my daughter. The IMA grounds are also so beautiful but 100 Acres is VERY cool. If you haven't been and live in Indianapolis, I highly recommend going even though you have to walk down a ton of steps and back up them to get to the park. Indianapolis is lucky to have such a place so do yourself a favor when it's nice out again and go!Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-91045778064103235982014-12-25T09:10:00.002-08:002014-12-25T09:10:34.146-08:00Merry Christmas!From my family to yours, I hope 2015 is filled with as much love as I get from my two goofballs!<br />
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<br />Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-38454142982229839222014-12-24T07:53:00.004-08:002014-12-24T07:53:52.990-08:00Hey, Thanks.ThinkKit's prompt today was to write about what I've been thankful for this year. I feel like it would be cliche to write about how thankful I am for a healthy toddler, good marriage, new job, better health, etc. so I have decided to compile a list of little things I've been thankful for this year. Sometimes the little things make a big difference in our lives, either way I am thankful for:<br />
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*Papa Murphy's $5 Pizza<br />
*That first sip of coffee when I wake up (I'm a coffee drinker now, I can officially say)<br />
*A new car that doesn't break down every 2-3 months (car payments make me sad though)<br />
*Taylor Swift's 1989 (guilty)<br />
*I have not broken my phone this year!<br />
*Teaching my daughter eskimo kisses<br />
*How about that $1.99 gas everybody?!<br />
*The amazing pictures I got taken of Raven and me by Charles Letbetter<br />
*All the wedding flowers I got to do, I love flowers so much!<br />
*My husband's new band, Prowlers and the Prey (they put on AMAZING shows)<br />
*The time I got to spend with family and friends<br />
*My car being totaled, and I walked away completely unharmed (Thank you Oldsmobile)<br />
*Seeing Ryan Adams perform<br />
*The awesome parks Indianapolis has, Raven and I went to a lot of parks this summer<br />
*Marriage Equality in Indiana!!!!<br />
*Finding a daycare that my kiddo loves<br />
*Pinot Grigio<br />
*All the new bands I've discovered thanks to Alt Nation on Sirius Radio<br />
*All the nostalgia I get from 90's on 9 on Sirius Radio as well!<br />
*So many fun weddings and birthday parties JD and I got to go to<br />
*New glasses so I can see better<br />
*Cosmic brownies<br />
*All the babysitters that have watched my little girl<br />
*The Walking Dead<br />
*Don't forget Game of Thrones!<br />
*Endless Love (plot line is stupid, but Alex Pettyfer hellooooooooo....)<br />
*My Target Red Card<br />
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I hope you enjoyed my list of some things I'm thankful for this year off the top of my head. I know it's random, but so is my brain. I'm betting 2015 is going to be even better so bring it on!Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-1103176834982612642014-12-23T09:54:00.003-08:002014-12-23T09:54:40.380-08:00I'm a RebelI'm not doing the ThinKkit blog today, instead I am going to show you this awesome picture.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2I4EY3UukMA/VJmsOsTQlDI/AAAAAAAAAPc/h4LkQ0Q9hpY/s1600/YlEEce8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2I4EY3UukMA/VJmsOsTQlDI/AAAAAAAAAPc/h4LkQ0Q9hpY/s1600/YlEEce8.jpg" height="390" width="400" /></a>You're welcome.</div>
Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-75110556470230281622014-12-22T11:09:00.001-08:002014-12-22T11:09:49.410-08:00My Favorite TV Show EVER.ThinkKit's prompt today was to talk about whatever us bloggers want! I am going to talk to you about my favorite tv show ever, The Walking Dead! If you haven't seen all the seasons and do not want any spoilers, please quit reading my blog..........now. Now it's time to talk about the AWESOME that is The Walking Dead!<br />
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What I love about The Walking Dead or TWD, is that at a glance, you think this show is about people running from zombies, but that is really not the plot at all. TWD goes in-depth into character development and relationships. So many lives have been lost in a zombie apocalypse that strangers become your family or mortal enemy, there is not really a gray area. The characters that are on TWD are from all different backgrounds and yet care so much for each other. The show really is about relationships and what you would go through to protect the people you call family.<br />
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I don't believe any show has made me cry as much as TWD. Since there are fights and zombies (aka walkers), no character is really safe from one season to the next. A couple characters I didn't really care about when they died but here is a list (if you've seen the show) of the people who made me cry by their deaths.<br />
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*Sophia (comes back as a zombie too)<br />
*Merle (just seeing Daryl cry did it for me)<br />
*Lizzie (not so much because I liked her but because it was so hard for Carol "Look at the flowers, Lizzie")<br />
*Hershel (NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO)<br />
*Lori (I was pregnant at the time and her dying during childbirth made me cry for an hour straight, on top of Rick's reaction to her death is now making me get watery eyes just thinking of it)<br />
*Beth (again, the look on Daryl's face carrying her made me die a little inside)<br />
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I did, however, love it when The Governor died. What an ass!!!!!!!!!!! <br />
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I love just about everyone on this show who is a main character. I really have no complaints about any way that the show has progressed besides the people I liked dying. I feel like I can't explain how amazing this show is without having someone watch it for themselves. I will say, though, that this is probably my all time favorite tv show and I will probably curl up and cry the day the last episode ever airs. I love this show and am so happy to be part of its journey as viewer.<br />
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<br />Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-85444991719275695462014-12-20T10:45:00.002-08:002014-12-20T10:45:12.083-08:00Timeout!I took a few days off of ThinkKit blogging due to a busy work schedule, a kid with a double ear infection, and having a nasty cold that has made me completely lazy when not at work. I'm back in the game now! ThinkKit's prompt today is to talk about something I am on the fence about, what I can't make a decision or opinion on. I think because I'm the mother of a mischievous toddler, I would have to say it's discipline.<br />
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Discipline for a 21 month old is difficult and I constantly question if I'm doing the right thing when Raven does something that could be dangerous or just naughty. I admit that I get so frustrated when she does the same thing I tell her sternly not to do and I try to give her several warnings but I just don't know how much she understands versus how much she wants to defy me. This is why I try to explain to her something she is doing is wrong before my bad cop persona comes into play.<br />
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When I get very fed up with Raven's bad behavior after verbal warnings, and counting down to have her stop, I put Raven in her room for a five minute timeout. This works about 75% of the time to where she will come out and behave. However, she screams and cries during her timeouts and it breaks my heart. I feel like a bad mother for making her so upset and making her be alone. I hate hearing my daughter wail as if she's expressing how much she hates me. I know discipline is important when raising a child, but maybe I'm more sensitive to it because I hate making anyone upset. I want everyone to be happy always (in a perfect world, yea even the people I don't like). <br />
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Am I doing the right thing by using timeouts? Does my daughter think I am mean because she might not understand what she's doing wrong? Am I too harsh with using timeouts or should I just keep telling her no to what she should not be doing? Am I even a good mother (this runs through my head everyday).<br />
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One thing I will NOT do is spank, hit, or slap my child or possible future children ever. I personally feel physically hurting your child as punishment is abusive but our parents came from a generation where this discipline was acceptable so I'm not mad at my grandparents or parents for using harm as discipline though I cannot fathom hurting my child to get my point across. I'm sure there are still parents out there that do spank, and honestly I would rather not know who does this because maybe they were raised that it was ok to do so and I don't want to judge others' parenting styles. Though I was spanked sometimes, my parents never left a scar on me and I didn't grow up resenting them for it. I just choose not to ever use this method.<br />
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Toddler discipline, it's hard you guys. It's like trying to solve a math equation without any multiple choice selections. I'm sure as my daughter gets older, it will hopefully be easier to know how to properly discipline her especially when she can talk. I will be able to figure out what works and what doesn't work with her to teach her right from wrong. In the meantime, I will suffer through the short timeouts that she does not like either. I just hope my daughter becomes a good person and never has to go to therapy because of her mother!;)<br />
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<br />Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-45154572289754502352014-12-16T09:42:00.000-08:002014-12-16T09:42:11.300-08:00We need more hugs and less gunshots.ThinkKit wants me to take a moment and talk about what world or national event happened this year that moved me. Honestly, I didn't research TOO much about several events that transpired between cops and unarmed black men because it was just really depressing news to me. All I know is that these men who were killed by cops were not carrying guns and were shot several times.. what the hell?!?!?! <br />
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Yes, I know there are two sides to every story but you can't help but question why cops were so trigger happy to these men who were not pointing guns at them. Cops have to practice shooting, couldn't they shoot them in the leg if they had to shoot and then arrest the men? What about NOT using guns and tazering or masing someone who is acting out against the police but unarmed? How can you shoot someone several times who was not an immediate threat to your life, kill them, get away with it, and be able to sleep at night?<br />
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HOW did these cops get away with the amount of fatal shots they fired? What about the death chokehold too caught on camera? WHY are there cops choosing to kill.. especially in the black community? What is going on with our country? <br />
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I have to be honest, I am a skinny white female but I have felt threatened by cops on numerous occasions instead of feeling protected. I don't want to feel that way about law enforcement. I wish no one felt that way about law enforcement (except people doing really illegal stuff obviously). It seems cops and government care about protecting themselves at times more than the tax paying citizens paying their salaries. <br />
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There are GOOD cops out there, so please don't take this blog as a generalization that I think all cops are bad or don't protect citizens. The purpose of this post was to raise the question of why gun violence is needed and why there are cops that would rather condescend people in their community than help build up the community.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iuTydAaChPY/VJBtfIGPXVI/AAAAAAAAAOw/eIj8Nv_BCaU/s1600/devonteap923168250429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iuTydAaChPY/VJBtfIGPXVI/AAAAAAAAAOw/eIj8Nv_BCaU/s1600/devonteap923168250429.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Do I agree with the protests? Yes. Do I agree with the rioting? No. Rioting and looting stores because you're mad at the police doesn't fix anything and just worsens the situation like what's happened in Ferguson. My thoughts go out to those who have been victims in the Ferguson riots.<br />
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I propose that this country as a whole needs more hugs and less gunshots. Life is fragile and everyone including the police should respect that as well as citizens. Hugs heal, and usually don't cause protests and rioting.<br />
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<br />Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-16400689903204346442014-12-15T15:01:00.000-08:002014-12-15T15:01:01.852-08:002014: A Year of Firsts!ThinkKit wants me to write about a significant number in my year and I would say one to symbolize firsts that happened this year! Here is a list so this blog isn't TLDR.<br />
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*First time I saw my daughter WALK! It was amazing, and she has only gotten faster since!<br />
*First time I took a 16 hour road trip with a toddler, it wasn't as hectic as I thought it would be.<br />
*First time I went to a Dinosaur park (outside of Austin, TX), it was AWESOME.<br />
*First time I had fire engine red hair!<br />
*First time I bought a new car!<br />
*First time I have freelanced as a florist for other florists (I still got to work with flowers without all the paperwork and stress)<br />
*First time I went on a carousel with my daughter, she was so amazed by it.<br />
*First time I saw a lot of great shows and movies thanks to my husband who is great at picking out good shows and movies.<br />
*First time I started reading graphic novels, I LOVE them.<br />
*First time I went to Minnesota for a half hour just because I could (We were in LaCrosse, Wisconsin for a wedding)<br />
*First time I REALLY surprised my husband for his birthday (his band got to play at Birdy's and he had no idea!)<br />
*First time all three of us have had stomach flu at the same time (NEVER AGAIN)<br />
*First time I got to hold my nephew.<br />
*First time I went trick or treating with my daughter<br />
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I'm sure there are more but I can't think of them. I think 2014 was a pretty swell year!Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-55763143845846338652014-12-14T16:52:00.000-08:002014-12-14T16:55:03.498-08:00Running is good for you but, God, at what cost?!ThinkKit asked me what I discovered this year and the answer is I officially hate running. This June, I made a commitment to run at least every other day and did so for about 2 months until I came down with bronchitis. I hadn't been on a run for 4 years and it seemed so many people run and feel good doing it that I would give it a shot. I got so focused on making this a hobby I even looked up 5k runs for the fall. I did work my way up from running then walking to running a mile straight (which I haven't done in over 7 years). <br />
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I honestly do NOT know how people can or even want to run more than a mile. I hate being out of breath, I hate how my knees and back feel like they are going to break, I hate how I look while running (my knees knock and I feel like Ricky Bobby, not knowing what to do with my hands). I also find running really boring. It's like I get bored while running but also feel like I'm hyperventilating and going to die no matter how long I've run. <br />
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I respect those who do run, I understand wanting to be in shape and the endorphins that come along with it. But I will say this summer, I definitely discovered I will never be a long distance runner or even a runner in general. I gave it a go, I gave it what I had. I am just not a runner. I prefer to get my exercise going on long fast paced walks, dancing for a half hour in my living room with my daughter, or doing some chores that are physically demanding (that kills 2 birds with 1 stone!). So sorry folks, but you won't see me in any marathons probably ever. Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-661857603912199252014-12-13T06:53:00.001-08:002014-12-13T06:53:14.206-08:00Can you believe I went to art school?ThinkKit asked me to make a drawing today so without further ado, here ya go:<br />
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A five minute pen sketch of me who looks like a shaggy haired man according to my drawing skills. I guess it's a step up from a stick figure right?</div>
<br />Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-47697077275814237262014-12-12T09:34:00.000-08:002014-12-12T09:34:36.252-08:00I'm taking a timeout from ThinkKit today to write a really ridiculous poem about my daughter's favorite stuffed animal that my husband has named Purple Monkey Dishwasher (it's a purple monkey stuffed animal in case you couldn't figure that out).<br />
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Purple Monkey by Jenn King<br />
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Purple Monkey works hard washing dishes<br />
So he can spend money on all of Raven's wishes<br />
He got fired from Chili's, what a sad place to be<br />
But he found a job at our local Applebee's.<br />
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Although he works, he will still snuggle with his girl<br />
Because Raven is more precious than any rare pearl<br />
Purple Monkey washes dishes late, late at night<br />
So he is in Raven's crib by the time it is light.<br />
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Raven and Purple Monkey are the best of friends<br />
A bond so tight that it will never end.<br />
He goes with her to daycare and many car rides<br />
He'll go with her anywhere, if time abides.<br />
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For Purple Monkey, he goes far above<br />
To show Raven what it is to love<br />
He may have to wash dishes to make ends meet<br />
But his loyalty to his friend is really quite neat.<br />
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Raven will get older, this is what we know<br />
And her attachment to 'Purple' may start to slow<br />
But he will always be there for the baby he adores<br />
And will still be her friend even if she's forty four.<br />
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Purple Monkey is a great dishwasher and bud<br />
Even when he grows old and full of crud<br />
Raven will never forget her very first friend<br />
What a silly poem, so this is the end!<br />
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<br />Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-50917149246752333762014-12-11T08:31:00.002-08:002014-12-11T08:34:38.654-08:00Meeting JoeThinKit's prompt today was to talk about someone I met for the first time this year. Well, I am happy to say I got to meet my first biological nephew, Mr. Anthony Joseph Cornell Jr. or Joe for short!<br />
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Don't mind my appearance in this photo, I was not expecting my sister to have little Joe so quickly (uhhh only a 4 hour labor for a first time mom?! Any other moms want to scream out their jealousy?) I guess I could have at least showered. The neat thing about Joe being born was my sister and brother-in-law didn't want family in the delivery room (understandable) but I did get to wait outside her door and hear his cry as soon as he was born. I'm not going to lie, I burst out into tears. I told my mom it was so exciting because I got to experience the joy of a newborn all over again without ME having to go through labor and pushing (over 21 hours for me and 3 of it was pushing). <br />
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Joe came into this world as perfect as a newborn can be, but maybe I am biased because he's my nephew;) He is a very chill baby, the complete opposite of my daughter who had colic and then never quit mumbling or getting dramatic about something ever since. Raven loves Joe and calls him "JoJo". I'm glad she has a boy cousin close to her age since she also has a girl cousin only 3 months older than her. My cousin closest in age to me is 4 years younger so I am glad she has 2 she can grow up playing with.<br />
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Joe has brought me so much joy this year as I have gotten to spend time with a newborn again and get lots of infant snuggles. He is a beautiful boy with great parents so I know he will grow up to be a kind soul. I just hope he always knows how much Aunt Jenn loves him!Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-91710932431986879222014-12-10T10:39:00.000-08:002014-12-10T10:39:15.094-08:00Gone Too SoonThinkKit's prompt today is to talk about something strange that happened this year. I will warn you that the first thing that came to mind was not something funny or a happy. The strange thing is I have known 4 people around my age pass away this year. I guess I consider that strange because I know people MY age dying which is weird but also extremely sad. No parent should ever have to bury their child.<br />
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My husband's friend, Daniel, was delivering pizzas in January when he was shot and killed leaving the apartment he delivered to and had his car stolen. Daniel was very loved by many friends, especially musicians in the Indy area as he was a musician himself. I didn't know Daniel very well, but he was extremely kind the nights we chatted with him at the Alley Cat or saw him singing with his band. I have seen my husband cry maybe twice and when he got the news, he sobbed. I know many people miss Daniel and the way he was killed was so unfair. I know his loved ones will keep his memory alive with what a kind soul he was.<br />
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My husband's former drummer also passed away this year. I don't know the cause of death, but I know he had just welcomed a baby. I know he was younger than me which makes me realize even moreso that death doesn't care what age you are, we are all vulnerable to it. RIP Ben.<br />
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A former coworker of mine committed suicide a few months ago. Of all people, I would have never guessed she would be depressed enough to think suicide was the only way out. Rachel seemed very bubbly and excited about things going on in her life in the little time that I knew her. I don't know if she was suffering then and putting on a brave face, or something happened after we didn't work together that made her upset enough to end it. Suicide brings on so many questions. Unfortunately, I've known several people in the last 10 years who have committed suicide. I couldn't tell you why, but I hope their families and friends are finding peace as time goes on.<br />
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A great guy I knew named Todd who was a prominent hairstylist in the Indy area who I happened to work with on some photo shoots also passed away this year at the age of 38. He had a heart attack a year ago and later found out he would need a heart transplant. While waiting on a transplant, he had a major stroke and passed away. I miss his sarcastic humor on social media and the fun I had working with him. I wish he had found a heart and could be here today since so many people in our community loved him. <br />
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All gone too soon. I hope they rest in peace. Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-87147027814230559682014-12-09T10:16:00.000-08:002014-12-09T10:16:40.294-08:00Come back Spring!ThinkKit asked me what I look most forward to in 2015 and since we don't have any specific trips or big events planned, I would have to say the return of Spring. I like Indianapolis, it's a big city with a small town feel. My sister lives 20 minutes away and my in-laws live 25 minutes away which is great because my mother in law watches Raven part time so we can save money on daycare. My mom lives an hour away, so as you can see, I love having family close by. But I HATE this place November-March. I hate coats, I hate dry skin, I hate the rush of cold air on my face, I hate shivering, I hate snow and ice (especially scraping it off my car), I hate the darkness that is also bone chilling cold, I hate being stuck indoors with a toddler because I'm too cold to want to bundle her up and attempt to play outside, I hate how bad Indy drivers can be when the roads are slick, I hate wearing shoes (flip flops or sandals are WAY better in my book), I could go on about what I hate about winter, but I think you have the idea!<br />
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If I hate winter so much, why do I live here? Well like I said, I like being near my family (though I wish they all resided in the Southwest or a tropical island). JD and I have job security here with a low cost of living compared to other cities this size in the South. I love the fact that my daughter can see her grandparents and aunts and uncles so that just makes moving harder. We'd also have to get substantial raises to afford moving and living comfortably in a warm dry place like Austin or Las Vegas. <br />
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So since I hate the winter and everything about it (I literally do not like one thing about winter, hell I will take insects and sunburns as long as it's warm), the thing I look most forward to in 2015 is that first day where it's above 60 degrees and the sun is out. I want to see flowers blooming again. I want to take my daughter on walks around the neighborhood without coats on. I want to feel the warm sun on my face. I want to hang up my coat and put flip flops on. Basically, my body and mind were meant for someplace south. I don't care about changing of the seasons, how about one season where it's always at least 70 degrees? I even love hot weather, which we didn't have much of this past summer. <br />
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I probably have Seasonal Affective Disorder since I feel angry and trapped in the winter. I've tried Vitamin D and a light that mimics the sun, but that doesn't help. I'm still angry over the weather November-March. Hopefully we will move south sooner than later, though I will miss a lot of people including my family. I am just not meant for colder weather environments. Womp womp. Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-65659423813831193572014-12-08T09:00:00.001-08:002014-12-08T09:00:34.450-08:00All You Need is Love!ThinkKit wants to know what stance I was vocal about this year? I'm sure if you follow me on facebook, you know I am very passionate about marriage equality. I have several gay friends and truly believe they should have the same marriage rights as heterosexual couples. Why should two consenting adults in love be denied marriage rights by our country based on a RELIGIOUS belief? (Remember separation of church and state in our constitution?) If you want to take one line out of the Bible and believe it to be the true word of God, then don't be hypocrite and stop eating shrimp, getting tattoos, and wearing clothing made of mixed materials (ABOMINATIONS!) Also, here is a direct quote on what Jesus said about gay people, " ."<br />
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Ok, I get it. You may be uncomfortable with the thought of gay people being married couples because you were brought up to believe homosexuality is a sin. Guess what? You DON'T have to marry a gay person or go to a gay bar or Pride parade, no one is forcing you to. But it is wrong to deny them the legal rights of marriage as two consenting adults because you feel uncomfortable with the idea. I feel uncomfortable with people having permits to carry guns around but I'm not going to attempt to have that right taken away and make an excuse that it's part of my religion to say it's wrong just because I personally feel uncomfortable with the idea. <br />
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I just wanted to point out that I am not shaming the people who are religious. I completely understand the reasons behind someone being religious and I respect that. I do not respect, however, discrimination because of religion. Actually, I do not respect discrimination at all. There have been too many suicides and killings in this country due to bullying and discrimination of all kinds and it's time to STOP. You have NO right to make someone feel like they are second class because of their skin color, gender, sexual preference, age, weight, or disabilities. This country is so diverse and that's what makes it a fantastic country! <br />
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There was a time in this country where black and white people could not marry each other, how ridiculous does that seem now? That is what gay marriage is going to be like in 40 years, the ban of it being a completely ridiculous thought. Surprisingly, Indiana allows gay marriage now but we still have a ways to go before the whole nation allows it legally. <br />
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One last note, I want to say I am sorry on behalf of the heterosexual society to any gay/lesbian/bi/transgender that has ever felt alone, berated, bullied, or judged. I can't imagine the fear of coming out to family and friends who might not agree with who you ARE. My hope is that one day, there is never fear to come out. There should never be a reason to be afraid about who you are. Love should always be celebrated instead of judged.<br />
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<br />Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447123333345892938.post-78597586693471018472014-12-07T07:49:00.003-08:002014-12-07T07:49:59.069-08:00I'm Tired of Dealing with CRAP!ThinkKit has asked me what I would want to disappear in 2015. I mean, there are obvious things I think most people would wish for like no more violence, health ailments to go away, debt erased, etc. But the first thing that came to my mind was crap. More specifically, cleaning up disgusting toddler diapers! Don't read on if you can't handle reading about Number 2's!<br />
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Raven loves to eat and with all this eating, she poops like an adult sized amount 2-4 times a day. Her gut is also sensitive to mucous so whenever she has a cold or random stuffiness, we get DISGUSTING diapers that make me want to curl into fetal position in a corner and cry. I may have been around Raven for over a year and 8 months, but I still don't enjoy changing diapers and it seems the poo situation is grosser and bigger than when she was an infant. It is also awkward having to chase after her if I see she has a lumpy butt and try to feel for any surprises. Then, when it is diaper changing time (poo or pee), she gets ANGRY and makes the whole diaper changing experience miserable with screaming and kicking as if it wasn't bad enough. I DREAD having to change her diaper in public bathrooms or people's homes because she screams like I'm sawing off her leg while I'm trying to be as quick and calm as possible so I stop getting pity stares. I can guarantee you I've prevented a few women from ever wanting children just based off of watching my toddler diaper changes.<br />
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I truly hope by the end of 2015, we can successfully potty train Raven. She still has no idea why we use the toilet or how to communicate to us that she needs to use the restroom so it's just too early to try to teach her to pull down her pants and diaper and go potty. But I will tell you this, when that day comes where she can poop in a toilet and flush it away will be a day I will always remember fondly. I will find some hill to climb and twirl around on like Julie Andrews. I'm literally tired of dealing with Raven's crap. I will leave you with this (sorry if you are offended by its potty language but I think it's appropriate)...and wish me luck on potty training in the next year!<br />
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<br />Jenn Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05644490731790311385noreply@blogger.com0