A Place, a Space and Some Words

I miss writing. Sure, I do it often enough on that other blog of mine...but I miss the free-form writing that can only come from having a sacred space to call your own. A space that's free from a brand or a business. A space where I can just be me. I used to journal regularly--as in every day regularly--but once I started blogging and engaging in conversation with others about things that were on my heart and theirs, I realized that I didn't want to horde my thoughts into one private book anymore.

So, inspired in large part by Dian Reid and her "secondary" blog, Dian Reid Writes, I decided to resurrect my old blogspot blog and start sharing more personal thoughts and opinions with all of you. Warning: I might say some things you don't agree with. I might not always be in a good mood. I might get personal. But we're all big girls and boys, so I trust we can all handle whatever it is my fingers my fly off the handle about.

One of the biggest reasons I brought Happily Ever After out of retirement was so I can participate in blog challenges like the one Dian is holding over at her place. She's asked people to write about 13 different topics for the month of June, including subjects like: compassion, intention, self-awareness, wisdom, etc. Many times, I sign up for a blog challenge and then realize that most of the topics I'm supposed to write about aren't in keeping with The Style Geek brand (whatever that is); so, I end up not participating in the challenge as much as I'd like to. (Sorry, Bindu Wiles and the #215800 crew.)

But as I said above, this blog is free from a brand or a business. This blog has no boundaries.

Since Dian was part of the inspiration behind this blog, I think it's only fitting that I close this first entry with a quote by Pema Chodron that Dian shared on her awesomely inspiring Rock Your Authentic You teleclass that I had the privilege of attending earlier today.

"Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth."

Let that one roll off your tongue and around in your head for a while. Think about how those words have and are currently manifesting themselves in your life. Share your thoughts in the comment section. OOHHH the thought of connecting with everyone in a different way makes me very, very excited!

-Jenn

Happily Ever After Is Now The Style Geek

Hey Friends!

Check out my new site at http://www.thestylegeek.com!!!!!

Thanks for reading!!!!

And They Lived Happily Ever After...

I thought it was only appropriate to make that the title of my last post on this blog. GREAT NEWS, though! Thestylegeek.com is officially up and ready for your consumption! It's still a work in progress, but if I waited till every "i" was dotted and "t" was crossed, I'd never launch the site.

Thank you all so much for your readership, kind words of encouragement and general support over these past few months. I hope you will come along with me on this next phase of my journey through the world wide web.

Looking forward to hearing from all of you soon!

-Jennifer Lynn

Letters To My Former Self: The Early Nineties

I have to say, I had more fun looking through my old journals for this entry than I have had preparing for any post to date--not just the Letters To My Former Self series. I wrote the following entries between the ages of 8-11 years old (1992-1995). I haven't changed any spelling or grammar, and all I can say is: Enjoy!

Dear Diary,

February 4, 1992, 8 years old
Today I found out what sex is: A guy and a girl laying naked on top of each other. That's gross! Yuck!

February 8, 1993, 9 years old
I can't decide between Cory and Brandon. Who should I date? Cory is very matcho. So is Brandon. I guess Cory is my dicision: 1.) he's younger 2.) Brandon is not centimental.

April 4, 1993, 9 years old
Today was Sunday and as we all know, all I can think about is Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy. He's really cute. Guess what he did? He said he liked me by body language. He sat by me.

February 23, 1994, 10 years old
I hate my dad and my mom! They said I can't shave my legs! You may think it's stupid, but if you don't shave your legs and your armpits and you don't wear a bra, you're not cool. I do wear a bra, but as far as the legs and the armpits, well, i dont do them. Please, please, please Mom and Dad, if you read this, let me shave my legs! If not, I might just do something I regret!

March 10, 1994, 10 years old
Today I went to practice for the speech contest and Georgie was sitting with me and he started making faces at me and I never could have been so happy in my life. I like him so much!

November 16, 1994, 10 years old
I get to shave my legs today!!

March 16, 1995, 11 years old
I am going to an Amy Grant concert, and I cannot wait! I am sooooooooooooooo excited! I get out of school early. I can't wait!! I am listening to House of Love as I write. I am soooooooooo excited!

March 19, 1995, 11 years old
Today I was flipping through the channels and I stopped at MTV which I don't watch except when Boyz to Men is on. Anyhow, I stopped and I was trying to figure out who this lady was on there and finally I saw that it was Madonna and I thought "AAHHHHHH" I would get in so much trouble if my parents knew I saw that!

By show of hands, how many of you would like to go back to a time when having a boy sit beside you or make faces at you meant he liked you, when an Amy Grant concert (literally) rocked your world, and your biggest fear was whether or not your parents saw you watching MTV? Did all of you raise your hand?

And yet, I remember wishing away the years and always wanting to be older and have more privileges (hence the intense desire to shave my legs). In fact, my mom says that on my birthdays, people would aske me how old I was, and I'd reply: "This year I'm three, but next year I'm going to be four."

Therefore, here's the advice I would give my 8-10 year old self. I feel confident that all of you would give similar advice:

• Sex (outside of marriage) is yucky!
  
• Guys mature slower than girls, so younger is not (always) better.
  
• Boys are simple. Don't over think their actions. If they sit by you, it was probably the only available seat and if they make faces at you, they probably had something in their teeth or an itchy nose.
  
• Shaving your legs is a pain in the a**. Believe me. There will come a day when you'll look forward to cold weather. If you have pants or tights on, no one can tell you haven't picked up a razor in three days.
  
• Madonna IS bad, and wait a few years: Amy Grant's House of Love will come tumbling down alongside Vince Gill.
  

Most of all, I'd tell myself: Enjoy your youth. It passes all too quickly, and you will never get those days back.

Until Tomorrow,
Jennifer Lynn

Tune In Tonight

Husband and I made a quick trip to Sacramento this weekend and didn't return until late last night. Therefore, the third installment of Letters To My Former Self will be published this evening. Sneak preview: I'm going back to 5th and 6th grade for these entries...guaranteed to give all of us a good laugh!

I hope everyone is having a happy Monday!

Until Tonight,
Jennifer Lynn

P.S.- The weather man said it's supposed to be unusually warm this week. COME ON! It's November! I WANT COLD WEATHER!!!

A Prayer for the Smith Family

This is Malachi Smith. Yesterday, after fighting a battle with cancer for almost his entire life, Malachi went to be with the Lord. I only know of Malachi through a mutual friend, but I've been blessed by him and his family through reading his mother Rachel's blog.

This is a real-life example of what I was talking about Wednesday when I reminded myself and all of you that the choices we make every day tell other who we are what we are living for. It's clear that the Smith family are people who choose to honor and praise God, regardless of their circumstances. Their hearts, while undeniably breaking, still beat for His glory.

If you don't read any other entry on Rachel's blog, please read the one from yesterday, and then drop to your knees and pray for this family. And then praise God for every day you get to spend with your loved ones.

Lord, Words escape me, because my human mind doesn't grasp why things like this happen. But You are the God of all of our lives and circumstances, and even when we don't understand Your ways, we can trust Your heart. You work all things for Your glory and our good, including Malachi's death. Please surround the Smith family with your unfailing love. Comfort and bless them, for they have been faithful to You. In Jesus Name I Pray,
Amen

Taking Care of Business...

Short post today. Just two small "housekeeping" items for ya:

1.) There's only three days left until the Happily Ever After Book Club kicks off with our very first read: Tim Gunn's Guide to Quality, Taste & Style. There's nine chapters in the book and four weeks in November--that's two chapters the first three weeks and three chapters the last week.

During November, I will devote one post per week to a discussion of the chapters we have just read. You can either email me your thoughts ahead of time (jennprentice@gmail.com) or you can post something in the comment section below each entry. "The club" will meet every Monday, with the first meeting being November 7.

2.) Thestylegeek.com is almost ready for consumption!!!!!!!! If you get a chance, check it out and let me know what you think of the colors, the widgets (calendar, blog roll, Twitter updates, etc.). I'll be working on it this week and desperately want your feedback!

I've already ported my current blog entries over to the site, but I won't officially stop posting on here until midweek next week. Don't worry! I'll let you know!!! If you're a current follower of this blog (for which I cannot thank you enough) you can subscribe to the posts I make on thestylegeek by clicking the subscribe button in the top right corner of the site. The button will ask you where you'd like to "subscribe" at, and I would suggest "Live Bookmarks."

If you choose "Live Bookmarks" you can find a list of my posts by clicking the "Bookmarks" menu at the top of your web browser. Thestylegeek.com should show up in the drop down list. Mouse over the site name on that list and a number of my posts (newest to oldest) will appear. Click one and start reading! (It sounds complicated to explain, but I assure you that it's not hard to do.)

Ok... I better get going...My co-workers would probably appreciate it if I showered before work today!

Until Tomorrow,
Jennifer Lynn