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💕❣️ Valentine’s Day ready! And unlike at

💕❣️ Valentine’s Day ready! And unlike at Christmas, everything is labeled correctly. Amen. 🙌🏽🥂 #valentines #valentinesgift #giftsforkids #pinkeverything #glittery #motherhood #glittereverywhere #valentinesgifts #valentinesday

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Today marks 7 years of the day my brother called m

Today marks 7 years of the day my brother called me and told me that “no matter what happens” he would be okay.⁣⁣
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I vividly remember the conversation and where I was sitting, watching the sunlight coming through the window while we talked. ⁣⁣
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I can still replay the words in my head. Even years later, I have to stop myself from the ‘I should have .... ’ thoughts.⁣⁣
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We talked nearly every day. His words from that day weighed heavily on me for the next month, but I never once imagined the outcome.⁣⁣
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I knew his struggles. I had always been very direct about his drinking. We had multiple confrontations about it over the years. He knew where I stood, but we still loved each other fiercely.⁣⁣
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Here’s the thing about suicide: there will always be unanswered questions. Those left behind will forever struggle with the ‘what ifs.’ It will quickly become the new normal. ⁣⁣
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An array of emotions will flood the day and sometimes years. Sadness, anger, depression, acceptance, bitterness, denial, even joy in remembering. It’s normal. And no emotion is ever wrong.⁣⁣
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Your entire life can suddenly feel like a giant puzzle, with each piece being a bit of new information learned. Though in the end, there are still pieces missing.⁣⁣
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‘Facts’ that don’t make sense and questions that will never be resolved.⁣⁣
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Though my puzzle isn’t complete, I had to find peace in knowing that it never will be. had to resolve that I had lost my brother to a horrific situation and a terrible disease.⁣⁣
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If you are walking this horrific journey, be gentle with yourself. Healing takes time. It took me years to come to some sort of peace in knowing that he isn’t struggling.⁣⁣
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I have to believe he was doing the best that he thought he could do.⁣⁣
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→ If you ever know someone walking this journey, don’t try to solve the puzzle. Those pieces are ‘family business.’ The chatter can quickly turn to exaggerated stories and gossip.⁣⁣
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Behind every hard story, there is a hurting family.⁣⁣
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Respect that.⁣⁣
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#mentalhealthawareness #itsoktonotbeok #mentalhealthmatters #endthestigma #suicideprevention #mentalwellness #mentalhealth #selfcaredaily #selfcareisntselfish #tellyourstory

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Have y’all seen the idea of baking cinnamon roll

Have y’all seen the idea of baking cinnamon rolls on a waffle maker? ⁣🧇⁣⁠⠀
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I can’t remember if I first saw it on Pinterest or on Instagram stories. ⁣⁣⁠⠀
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Either way, I’m not usually one to jump on a bandwagon of ‘oh it’s the latest thing ….’, but this idea was cute and seemed simple enough and hello? I am all about some simple. ⁣⁣⁠⠀
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Me + my handy-dandy, worn-out waffle maker from William Sonoma, that is probably as old as Nicholas (that is missing the light cover) kicked it and in just a few minutes had these cute waffled-cinnamon rolls.⁣⁣⁠⠀
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And there were happy plates all around and no complaints. Amen.⁣⁣⁠⠀
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Note: this will be the simplest thing you ever do in your kitchen besides boil water. ⁣⁣⁠⠀
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Also note: I only ‘cooked’ (and I use that term _very_ loosely) one cinnamon roll at a time. And it worked best when I held the waffle maker closed.⁣⁣⁠⠀
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You’re welcome. ⁣😘 ⁣⁠⠀
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💡:: drizzle icing on each waffled-cinnamon roll as you stack. Again, this was my first gig. I wasn’t thinking about that and stacked them and “poured” the icing as I would have syrup. #thereisabetterway⁣⁣⁠⠀
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JC: “Wouldn’t it be easier just to throw them in a pan and into the over?”⁣⁣⁠⠀
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Me: “Probably. But, #Pinterest.”⁣⁣⁠⠀
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#pinterestinspired #whatsforbreakfast #easyrecipe #kidsinthekitchen #breakfastideas #breakfastisserved #notthehealthiest #easybreakfast #cinnamonrollwaffles #wintereats #simpleanddelicious

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Each of the girls got sweet Maghon’s (@allshewro

Each of the girls got sweet Maghon’s (@allshewrotenotes) book for Christmas. ⁣
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Maybe so I could subtly ‘borrow’ one of them. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 😉 ⁣
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Girl’s book + boys’ markers = momma’s creative outlet for this Friday night. 🎨⁣
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#handlettering #handletteringpractice #getcreativewith #crayolaforlife

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🌟 This is 44.⁣ 🌟 ⁣ ⁣⁣ Looking back o

🌟 This is 44.⁣ 🌟 ⁣
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Looking back on the last decade can make my head spin. 🤯 I lost my Nan, have watched both of my parents fight cancer. Lost my brother to suicide and a piece of my sister to mental health. I got divorced. I fought for my kids. I watched my oldest walk his own journey of hell, while I was living mine. I got remarried. I realized that living and being the true version of *me* is more important than anything anyone thinks of me.⁣⁣
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For the next half of my life, I am confident to not question my gut. And know that some people simply need to be loved from a distance. I’m not responsible for my kids’ happiness—or anyone’s for that matter. And that I should stand up and fight for myself first—before standing up for anyone else.⁣⁣
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Here’s to 2020. 🥳 And all of us remembering that we matter. That our voices and our stories matter—in our homes, in our communities, and for the world.⁣⁣
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#tellyourstory #decadechallenge #mybirthday🎂 #mybirthday #liveyourbestlife #creativelifehappylife #communityovercompetition #dreamersanddoers #mycreativebiz #femaleentrepreneur #womensupportingwomen #womeninbusiness #buildyourempire #yourstorymatters

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Merry, happy everything, y’all. 🎄🎅🏼⁣

Merry, happy everything, y’all. 🎄🎅🏼⁣
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Also, I ran out of Ys. 🍸 ⁣
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#christmastree #christmas #christmasdecor #christmas🎄 #christmastime #christmasgifts #christmashome #christmasinarkansas #treesofinstagram #letterboard #letterboards #christmasletterboard #messageboard #letterboardfun

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Don’t let all of this cutest fool you. 🐾 ⁣⁣
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These two have been in the business of eating all the Christmas ornaments. 😑⁣⁣
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If you saw my #stories yesterday, you saw the little lion that once was. RIP. 🦁 ⁣⁣
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Then JC pointed out that it won’t take us long to take the boys’ tree down, because the dogs have eaten.half.the.ornaments. 😒⁣⁣
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Not shown :: a (now empty) bag of treats that was required for us to win these photos.⁣⁣
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#dogsofinstagram #boxersofinstagram #dogsatchristmas #christmaswithdogs #christmaslights #christmasfun #liveyourbestlife #boxerpitmix #christmastime🎄 #christmascountdown #doglife #dogsofinsta #doglife #christmasspirit #christmasiscoming #christmasiscoming🎄

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Forget all the pressures of all the #Christmasshop

Forget all the pressures of all the #Christmasshopping left to do.⁣⁣
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If we didn’t get it tonight or #amazonprime isn’t delivering it by Tuesday, it’s not happening in 2019. And y’all, ain’t nobody going to die. Amen. 🙌🏽⁣⁣
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Side note :: do y’all realize what an amazing time we live in to be able to shop online and have your order delivered the next day? Hallelujah. ⁣⁣
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We ran into Target earlier for some essentials, and his face lit up when he remembered we could get @starbucks there at the same time. #itsthelittlethings⁣⁣
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And that extra shot of expresso helped to power through all of the crowds and the other last minute people, who were just as jolly and merry as we were about being out shopping on December 21 in.the.rain. 😂 🛍 🎅🏼 ⁣⁣
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#tistheseason #christmastime #dateyourspouse #choose901 #targetchristmas #targetdoesitagain

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Y’all, why do we (as women) stress about what we

Y’all, why do we (as women) stress about what we wear? 👗 ⁣
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Seriously. 🤦🏼‍♀️⁣
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We went to a fundraiser for Sheriff Bonner last night and (in typical Jenn fashion) on Friday I was in a panic of “OMG I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR.” 🙄⁣
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I had two doctor appointments to take my dad to Friday morning. Got him home and situated and I ran BACK to #Memphis like a mad woman to find something to wear.⁣
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Four stores later and no luck, I was so discouraged I drove home with my @chickfila sweet tea.⁣
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I convinced myself all was well—I had 24 hours to figure this crap out. #procrastinatorsunite 👊🏽 ⁣
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Fast forward to Friday night, I had the bright idea to run to @catofashions (because it’s pretty much the only store we have in town that was open) to try to avoid having to go back to Memphis Saturday.⁣
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Y’all. The two sales girls were so.much.fun and played dress up with me and $30 later, I found this cute, flowly dress that was super comfortable—one of those that I could eat anything I wanted and didn’t have to worry about it stickin’ to me. And @spanx weren’t even needed. 🙌🏽 #canigetanamen⁣
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And y’all. We get to the shindig and people were dressed.to.the.hilt and yet there are others in blue jeans. Fo’ real. And here I was stressing’ about what to wear. 🙄 #notetaken⁣
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And Y’ALL. I.wore.heals. 👠 JC, watch out, baby. I just gained two inches on ya. 😘#pleaseholdmeup⁣
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Nevermind as the night progressed the shoes came off and the red neck came out with my bare feet, because this gal can’t wobble and shuffle very well in heels. 💃🏼 #imissmyflipflops⁣
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#truestory⁣
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#iloveus #christmasparty #christmaspartyoutfits #christmastime #choose901 @agricenterinternational #memphis #christmasinmemphis #901 #memphismade #dateyourspouse @westmemphiscato #ootd #ootdinspiration

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I am Jenn | Lifestyle Blog

Southern gal, my kids' biggest fan. Encouraging you to celebrate life—even in the midst of chaos.

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