I have to confess: Writing this page is the absolute hardest part about blogging! I never know what anyone wants to know about me.

Hi! My name is Jen!

Who am I?

I am a homebody and I love my family. I have one daughter, Q, affectionately known as “the kid” and I am lucky to be married to my best friend, Big Man. Q just turned 10 in June and she started 5th grade (middles school in my town)this year.  I met Big Man when Q was 3-going-on-4; I was 25 and I worked full time and went to college full time all the while I was a single mom. Somehow, my friend convinced me to go out some (ok, a lot more than some) nights after class. I am so glad I did because I did in-fact meet the most awesome man … in a bar! Big Man, the kid, and I are perfect for each other we are very tight family! We were engaged for four (4) years while I finished college. Three days after I graduated, on May 9, 2007 we were all in New Orleans getting married!  I am sure I will mention the kid and the husband often.

September began my third year as an English teacher at an alternative high school. I am very lucky to be doing what I love and what I believe I was meant to do. My students are considered “at-risk” and have “problems” that effect their education and potential to graduate. I love my school and still believe that no one ever got a better or more appropriate first teaching job. I really feel like I am making a difference. Our school mission is to “transition youth towards productive independence.” This allows me to be creative in my lessons and focus on reality and real-world as opposed to tests. **My students must pass all the same requirements as they would if they were at any other high school in NJ.**

Why do I blog?

I started blogging last year after I joined Weight Watchers. I started WW on November 8, 2008 and I mentioned this on twitter. Within an hour I had a bunch of new followers who were also on  the weight loss journey and I noticed that so many had blogs. I really had no idea what a blog was or why I would need one…and then I started reading weight loss blogs…and WOW, there are some seriously inspiring bloggers! I wanted a blog!

I love blogging!

My blog gives me a place to talk about whatever is on my mind. I started out blogging about weightloss but found that almost every aspect of my life has some effects on my weightloss…whether it is mental or physical…and blogging has helped me sort out so much of the mental.

Keepin’ it REAL

This blog is a fresh start for me. This place is going to take the place and combine the other two blogs I have been keeping (http://bookwormonamission.blogspot.com/ and http://bookwormcooks.blogspot.com/).

I will blog about REAL life.

It may not always be pretty but it will be REAL!