Don't let the tomatoes die.

It has taken me a long time to get this blog going and to figure out whether or not other women could benefit from it.

The idea was born while I was in my second year in grad school. Conversations I had with friends and random strangers ran the gamut. From how to organize a kitchen, to what are the side effects of certain birth control. I decided that something needed to be done; but what? What can I do to help these women and how do I provide the resources they need to answer these questions? How can I use my talent and expertise to help women answer these questions?


Months and months went by, and finally one day after sitting with one of my favorite professor's and artist, Elena Stone, I realized that I had allowed myself to be consumed by the everyday. I had forgotten my creativity (I use creativity loosely because it means so many different things for me). I was stuck in a rut because I was so focused on being married, working and being in school full time. After six months of journey-ing with Elena I realized that this idea for a blog was not going to let me go. I had not talked to my husband about it at all and it was killing me not to tell him, but I was too ashamed because I had stopped nursing my love for art, gardening, music, etc. I didn't want to be seen as a fake, even though I knew that what I was missing and what I wanted back was real.
During this journey, I talked to my friend Greg who restores old bikes for a small community and works in a community garden in Ohio. He basically told me one thing that has stuck with me since then. He said, "Jenn, your garden is dying because you are not nurturing it (literally and figuratively) (at this point in time I had just started my garden and I was not seeing results). He said, "Jenn you need to get out of this craziness you call life and get back to the basics. Don't let your tomatoes die."
 Okay, so you might be thinking, "what the heck does that mean?"  The point is that to him, my life is the garden and my tomatoes are the fruit I bear in my life, whether that is following my dreams in Boston or following my dreams in Kenya or Costa Rica.
That was when I knew that my life, even though it is beautiful and blessed, was missing something. It was missing me and my artistic flair.

Approximately one year or so later around 3am while I was semi-asleep, I had a revelation in my dreams. I rolled over in bed and looked at my husband and said, "I need to start a blog on tips and recipes for women, and I need to have a section on hang-overs!" He was half asleep too, but being the supportive husband that he is, he said, "absolutely, my love! you need to do it!" we both rolled back over and fell back asleep.


So, this is it! This blog is a chance for me to share my thoughts on certain health concerns, share tips on my love for organizing and cleaning, share pictures of my small garden, recipe ideas I am trying or dying to try, and share tips on eliminating toxic beauty items from your bathroom by making your own! (my new project)

Please feel free to leave comments, suggestions or questions.  I look forward to sharing this journey with you that has taken me so long to start. This is for all the women in my life; for those who ask questions and for those who are making a difference in women's lives by having conversations and by supporting each other in the journey to self discovery and creativity.


Thank you for sharing this journey with me.