52 Questions: Week 4

For the complete list of 2014's "52 Questions," you can head over here.

Tell me about your mother (her name, birth date, birthplace, parents, etc.) Can you share some memories you have of your mother?

My mom is amazing.

She loves to sit with a glass of wine on our back deck on summer evenings. Her cleaning skills put Danny Tanner's to shame. She's a compassionate nurse who goes out of her way to help anyone in need (once we pulled over on a busy road because she saw a runner collapse). She even buys Christmas gifts for our garbage men.

She's 5'9" tall (why the heck am I so average?) and always looks so polished and put-together.

My mom is also one of the strongest women in this world.

In our family, she's always the one who keeps calm during stressful, scary, or sad situations.

When my laptop was stolen from my dorm room freshman year (Day 2: Welcome to college, Jenna!), my mom did zero freaking out.

"I am so sorry," she said, as I sat in the Residence Hall Director's office, a Chicago Police Officer examining our room (not dramatic at all). "But it'll be okay! Don't worry. It's just a thing. We'll buy you a new one."

She is the one who drove our sick golden retriever to the vet's office and then held her as she passed away, right there in the car.

My mom gracefully handles anything life throws at her, and I so often wish I had her strength and calm demeanor.

The two of us talk daily on the phone, and she's the first one I want to call with any sort of news.

I am very, very lucky to call her my mum! <3

My blog's THIRD birthday!

As usual, I totally forgot my blog's birthday on January 20th.

Please note that it January 26th today.

I'm essentially a week late.

I took some time yesterday to go back through my old posts.

My very first blog post! I was (am) such a dork.

I feel so grateful to this blog.

Thanks to blogging, I have beautiful, little tidbits of my life over these past three years (minus that stretch of time I went on a hiatus), and I love that I am able to go back and relive small moments I would have otherwise forgotten if it wasn't for "Leggings Love."

I also must give a humble merci to my blog for introducing me to some of the most incredible women in the world.

So, happy third birthday, "Leggings Love"!

I hope we spend more time together in 2014! <3

None of that six month hiatus stuff.

Promise.

My new Kate Spade newspaper clutch!

On Wednesday morning, I awoke to my alarm (which happens to be the song "Suddenly I See" by KT Tunstall because ever since I saw The Devil Wears Prada, it's the first song I think of in terms of getting up and getting ready in the morning).

Groggily, I reached for my iPhone and disabled the alarm.

With heavy eyelids that were nearly impossible to keep open, I quickly scanned through my emails.

Promotional email...promotional email...KATE WAS HAVING A SALE?!

Eyelids light and eyes bright, I tossed my phone aside and grabbed my laptop instead.

Kate was not only hosting a sale, she was having a "Greatest Hits" kind!

"No...it can't be...!" I audibly gasped, as I came across the Newspaper Clutch.

It was at a fantastic price and so with a few clicks, I secured it as mine.

I told everyone who would listen about my amazing clutch that was soon to be arriving and how it looked like a legitimate newspaper, and when it made its appearance on my doorstep just one night later (impressive), I tore open the box eagerly.

Okay, so the clutch?

While totally awesome in appearance and definitely a statement piece...is made out of paper.

PAPER!!!!!!!!!!!!

So basically, this clutch cannot be brought out in any sort of inclement weather...any occasion that involves red wine...etc, etc.

OH, and it must be stored in light tissue paper and away from the light because it could fade.

Because I dropped $$$ on a PAPER CLUTCH.

Anyway.

It really is gorgeous, and I like that it has an actual purse lining and all...really, I'm quite fascinated by the clutch's construction in general.

But would I buy it again?

No.

Because really now, how impractical is it to be carrying around a clutch made of paper?

52 Questions: Week 3

For the complete list of 2014's "52 Questions," you can head over here.

Tell me* about your father (his name, birth date, birthplace, parents, etc.) Can you share some memories you have of your father?

My dad is one of my most favorite people in this world.

Golf fanatic. Nap enthusiast. Wonderful sense of humor. Hard worker. Lover of libraries.

All describe my dad.

The two of us have been called the sensitive ones of our family and tend to be more laid back about things. We're very alike in personality.

Since my mom worked a lot of evenings and weekends when we were little, my brothers and I have an especially close relationship to our dad.

I can remember my dad taking us to the airport and letting us marvel at the planes taking off and landing. He would make special trips with me to the incredible downtown library and let me check out a dozen books.

While my dad can be on the quiet side when he first meets somebody, once you get to know him, he's just hysterical.

He has the best sense of humor, and few people can make me laugh as hard as he does.

We call him "Cam" sometimes because of his dramatic stories and over-the-top reactions.

You know, like Cam on Modern Family.

Totally normal.

My dad is such an incredible husband to my mom. He loves her like crazy, and I love that he has always helped out with the cooking and housework. My parents definitely work as a team, and I really admire them both for that.

With my new job downtown, my dad and I are now able to have lunch dates.

It's so crazy neat.

I know that I am a very, very lucky girl to have such an amazing father.

*Note: Who is this elusive "me"? The creator of these questions? Weird.

...and that's all you can do.

I only blogged once this week. I hate that!

I wasn't able to workout tonight. No wonder I'm not at my ideal weight.

Why didn't I have more insightful points to make in class? I wish I had spent more time on the reading.

I should have known how to do that work task. How could I have forgotten?

-*-

Confession: Sometimes, I can get really down on myself.

I often feel like I have to perform all of my daily responsibilities perfectly.

No mistakes. Total confidence. All the time.

You know, like Kate Middleton. 

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For example, tonight I stayed later at work and was faced with the dilemma- should I workout or go to Target (where I actually needed quite a few necessities)? 

I only had time for one since I knew I needed to be home around 8 or so to do schoolwork.

Rather than be proud of the work I had accomplished for the day, I was really hard on myself, questioning why I wasn't someone who worked out in the morning or why I hadn't made time for Target over the weekend.

Leaving work and heading out into the cold, January night, I thought of something my mom would tell me whenever I was anxious about a school project or other event.

"Just do your best, and that's all you can do."

I reflected on my day.

I really had done my best. 

I had devoted myself fully to all of my tasks and done my best work. 

And it was in that moment that I made a promise to myself.

I am going to keep trying my best at everything I do and knowing that's all I can do. 

I'm never going to do everything perfectly. 

There will, of course, be days that I do manage to pull everything off flawlessly, but as long as I know deep down that I gave something my best effort, I am going to be satisfied with that.

:)

Pity Party

If I have to spend my entire weekend doing schoolwork, I at least reserve the right to do it from my bed.

Being warm and cozy definitely brightens up the mood of a pity party, after all.

More exciting and interesting blog posts to come soon.

Maybe.

52 Questions: Week 2

Happy Tuesday, bloggers!

For the complete list of 2014's "52 Questions," you can head over here.

Now then...on to week 2!

When and where were you born? Describe your home, your neighborhood and the town you grew up in.

I was born on December 19, 1989 in Cincinnati, Ohio. I wish I could tell you I was born in the backseat of a BMW on the side of the Autobahn or perhaps in a charming old hospital adjacent to the Eiffel Tower, but neither is true.

My family moved to the house I grew up in when I was only eighteen months old so it's the only house I've really ever known. I've always loved my family's house- red brick, a big backyard, and loads of neighborhood kids to play with. As the only girl, I had the biggest bedroom out of the children. When I was younger, it was painted a pale pink with tulips stenciled around the top and my name written above my window. Of course, when I was 12, I begged my parents to paint it purple.

Au revoir, lovely tulips!

Teenagers make the worst decisions.

Our suburban neighborhood was full of children, and we would all get together and play giant games of "Ghost in the Graveyard" and "Capture the Flag." My childhood best friend lived right next door, and we were always running back and forth between our two houses. On Friday nights, we would have sleepovers where we would spread out our sleeping bags in front of the TV for TGIF and eat popcorn and have the crazy cool privilege of having our drinks in the family room.

Wild stuff, I know.

I've almost always lived in Cincinnati.

Cincinnati is in the southwest corner of Ohio and is fun to say- Cincinnati! I mean, that has major pizzazz, right? It has a beautiful skyline, especially if you're driving from Kentucky, and is home to the headquarters of quite a few major companies, such as Procter & Gamble, Macy's, and GE. We also have two major universities, the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University, the most incredible zoo and botanical garden, an extraordinary museum center, amazing art museum, a majestic fountain right in the middle of town...I'll stop here, but there is surprisingly a lot to see and experience around the city!

Thanksgiving Day Race! Rachel raced, not me (obviously)

An outdoor concert at Music Hall!

The Macy's Christmas Tree downtown

In Cincinnati, we love our chili with spaghetti and cheese, everyone cares what high school you went to, and whether you're from the east or west side is a huge factor in your identity.

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It's a city that despite its population of over 2 million (that is the major metropolitan area), so often feels like a small town.

I don't know if it's my forever city, but I'll always hold a special place in my heart for Cincinnati.

Cozy, cozy

Today is a rainy day.

It took all of my willpower and then some to trudge up to campus for my night class. All I wanted to do was curl up with a blanket on the sofa and watch HGTV. And eat soup.

Now though, after much anticipation, I have escaped the wet evening and am all warm and cozy in my bed.

Rainy night or not, this is the time of day when I feel the happiest.

Note: I was not trying to be artsy here. This photo had to be in B&W due to lack of makeup. This blog is for entertainment purposes, not scaring people

I love washing off my makeup, letting my hair down, changing into my most comfortable clothes, and crawling into bed with a cup of hot tea on my nightstand and either a good book on my lap or a fun TV show playing.

This is the time of the day when I finally get to catch up with friends...online window shop...day dream...whatever I am doing, everything slows down.

I feel calm, relaxed, and content.

And then, I turn off the light and switch on my sleep playlist (songs include Chicago's "If You Leave Me Now," Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris," and plenty of Enya).

And even though it's an hour's worth of songs, I've always drifted off after the first two or three (sometimes I don't even make it past one).

Cozy, cozy indeed.

GIRLS is back!

Tonight, HBO is bringing something wonderful back into my life- Girls.

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I started watching the television series last year, and I can still remember closing my Macbook afterwards and thinking, "Oh my God. I'm not alone."

The year after graduating college was a rough one for me.

Living Situation
College: Six-bedroom house near campus, which was always bustling with friends and activity. Whenever I walked in the door, I would throw my purse on the dining room table and just feel like I was home.
Post-Grad: Two-bedroom apartment with a horrible landlord. Went without heat for 10 days (just an example), and the kitchen cabinets always looked like they were on the verge of collapsing. Even after 12 months living there, arriving home never filled me with comfort.

Social Life
College: I lived with five wonderful girls and had a close group of friends. We were out 2-3 nights each week (sometimes more often in nicer weather), and our favorite bar was no farther than a 5 minute stroll away!
Post-Grad: Nearly everyone moved away. Of the friends that remained, everyone's lives suddenly became crazy busy with work and real life responsibilities. Seeing each other once a month was an accomplishment.

Attitude
College: By senior year, I felt confident and sure of myself. I was an English major, and I knew exactly what I was good at.
Post-Grad: While feeling very fortunate to have a good job, it was a career that didn't appeal to my interests or talents. I so often felt lost and unsure of myself, and I was a serious sufferer of the Sunday Night Blues.

Tough transitions indeed.

And while there was plenty of commiserating over wine with friends, Lena Dunham's Girls was the first show that so perfectly explained what it was like to be in your early twenties. It brought such a sense of relief to my life and made me laugh at my own woes and dilemmas.

Even though I'm in a much happier place of my life now, I still feel incredibly comforted whenever I curl up with a new (or old) episode of Girls.

Cheers to Season 3 and new adventures with Hannah, Marnie, Jessa, and Shosh!

Morning Jump Start

Yesterday morning, I was lounging on the couch and eating one of those delicious Key Lime Greek yogurts for breakfast (the kind with the crumbles- seriously so good) and watching Good Morning America when my roommate came inside from the garage.

"I'm an idiot. I left the light on in my car overnight, and now it's dead," she moaned, understandably upset.

"Do you need me to drive you to work?" I asked as we both work downtown (although I'd like to think I'd offer even if we didn't). "That won't be a problem at all!"

She shrugged, "Nah, we'll just jump it."

"Wait, you're going to jump the car?" I set my yogurt down. Sh*t was getting real.

"Of course. Can we use your car?"

"Yes!" Excited for a morning adventure, I followed her outside with the keys to my Corolla.

I forgot how shiny she used to be. This is depressing.

I couldn't believe this.

We weren't going to call someone's dad or brother or Triple A? We were going to be doing this all by ourselves?*

I popped the hood of my car (something I actually did know how to do). My roommate attached the appropriates cables, and then I started the engine when she instructed me to.

In a matter of seconds, her car was up and roaring.

"IT'S ALIVE!" I proclaimed, utterly amazed. "YOU ARE INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!! OH MY GOSH!"

It was crazy cool and empowering.

As Rosie the Riveter would say, "We can do it!"

*By "ourselves" I mean "herself."

52 Questions: Week 1

While reading Preppin' Postgrad last night, I came across a really cool post featuring 52 questions for the year ahead.

I thought that this sounded like a fun activity so have decided to answer one question each week, just as Jessica is doing.

Not that I've ever been any good at sticking to weekly posts.

But I'll try anyway.

So here we go with week 1!

What is your full name? Why did your parents give you that name?

My full name is Jenna Elizabeth.

My mum and dad simply liked the name Jenna (I do, too!), and my middle name is after my paternal grandmother (who is one of the most amazing women in this world and who I love so incredibly much).

As for my last name, it's hardly worth mentioning. It is English, and I think it's fairly average as far as last names go.

Although, if I ever get married someday, I am only trading up.

I've never had any nicknames (That's a bit weird, isn't it?), which is all well and fine with me as I believe my name suits me quite perfectly.

I only wish that my parents had named me Genevieve so that when people asked my name, I could nonchalantly shrug, "It's Gena. With a G."

I mean, how posh would that be?

Brrrrr...

Just like millions of other Americans right now, Cincinnatians are very, very cold.

Allow me to be the first to admit- I am a lover of winter and its brisk temperatures.

The following Edith Sitwell quote sums up my attitude quite perfectly.

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.

My adoration for winter may have started on December 19, 1989...a day of record-breaking cold in Cincinnati, Ohio and also the glorious date when I decided to make my appearance into this world. Perhaps my preference for winter began when I was six or seven, and chilly temperatures meant I could stay inside with my books and printer paper (which I used to write and illustrate stories on, commonly featuring princesses named "Lisa" and princes named "Jimmy") rather than be forced to participate in outside activities, as summer almost always demanded. 

Having said all of that, the weather hitting Cincinnati right now?

Brutal.

I am terribly spoiled in my bedroom with its glorious 1919 radiator, which keeps me comfortable and warm. I am further indulged by a roommate who wakes up earlier than me and keeps the hot fan on outside the shower (Our house seriously ROCKS! A hot fan outside the shower = genius) so I get to enjoy a warm bathroom after having exited my bed.

Beautiful, sweet radiator

Unfortunately, nothing could protect me from the walk in and out of work today or the idiotic decision I made to walk four city blocks (eight round trip!) so that I could go to the bank during lunch.

Bloggers. It literally hurt.

My face was throbbing, and my legs ached.

It was just that miserable.

I could even feel the inside of my NOSE freeze up, which is rather disgusting.

My university is amazing and cancelled classes today so instead of spending more time trekking back and forth between campus tonight, I am getting ready to curl up with a book and a glass of orange juice (I feel that vitamin C is imperative right now...I want to ward off any potential illnesses).

Winter, please ease up a little bit.

Bright year ahead!

I am a sucker for New Year's resolutions.

I really, truly am.

I love new beginnings and fresh starts. A new calendar year is like one beautiful blank slate. The possibilities practically make me giddy!

A new planner! A new year!

Here is what I am hoping to accomplish in 2014.

Enjoy better quality "me" time. I am not against binge-watching mindless Bravo television. Sometimes, you really just need a few hours of Patti Stanger and The Millionaire Matchmaker. Having said that, I'd like to spend the majority of my sacred alone time doing things like reading novels, catching up on my favorite blogs (and finding some new ones!), and writing, of course...those sorts of things!

Improve my time management. I want to be honest, bloggers. My first semester being a part-time graduate student on top of a full-time job was not exactly pretty. My poor mom received many tearful phone calls, and there were nights I was so tired I could have just collapsed. In the new year, I hope to practice much improved time management skills so I can avoid these sorts of scenarios!

Drink more water. Healthier body. Beautiful skin. All that jazz.

Focus on the present. Don't worry about the future. This is something I really need to work on. For example, about halfway through my recent New York City trip, I started worrying about my flight home to Cincinnati and that stress kept me from fulling enjoying myself. I need to live in the moment and appreciate the present.

Shop less. Ha ha. Just kidding!

What are your New Year's resolutions for 2014?

A Nora Ephron New Year's Eve

As soon as I walked in the door from work yesterday afternoon, I gracefully popped open a bottle of champagne and took a shower. I sipped on the bubbles as I carefully applied silver eyeshadow and sparkly makeup. I braided my hair in its signature style and put on a pair of glitzy earrings.

Then, I changed into my comfiest pajamas and curled up on the sofa because this New Year's Eve?

I was not leaving the house.

Instead, I cooked some of my favorite stir-fry for dinner, poured myself another glass (or two) of champagne, and watched two of my favorite movies- Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally.

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So not only was it to be a cozy NYE but one filled with Nora Ephron's wit and Meg Ryan's amazing 1980s (and early 1990s) hair.

Kenny (Often thought of as one of my most favorite people in the world but more commonly referred to as my friend) called around 11, and we talked for hours.

"I feel like this is us! You're Harry, and I'm Sally," I said excitedly before pausing thoughtfully. "Except I'm not as choosy of an eater as Sally, and you definitely don't have Harry's same faults."

Kenny mostly agreed.

We wished each other a happy new year at midnight and talked about what we hoped to accomplish in 2014.

By the time we finally hung up, it was 4AM!

While long phone conversations are the norm for us, a 5 hour conversation was definitely a new record.

As I plugged my phone in to charge and drifted off to sleep, I couldn't remember a time I felt happier or more content.

It was a perfect New Year's Eve and undoubtedly one enjoyed in true Nora Ephron fashion.