My Muse and Memoirs
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Learning Me
People are complex. People are not one-dimensional. People are interesting. Plenty of people love to people-watch. And they do it because all three of the above statement are true. Sometimes I do it because I like to imagine the lives people are living outside of their morning coffee run where I’ve spotted them, or outside…
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Character Build: Amelia Joy Erenstein
Born in December 2000, Amelia Joy Erenstein, the sixth child in the Erenstein family, is the one who walks the line between practicality and whimsy. She’s a mix of dreamy optimism and biting sarcasm, a combination that makes her both endearing and occasionally intimidating. Amelia is fiercely independent, with a creative streak that runs deep,…
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Imagination Character Build: Jed Erenstein
Jedidiah “Jed” Henry Erenstein, born in May 1993, is the kind of person you can’t quite pin down, no matter how well you think you know him. The third-born in the Erenstein clan, he’s often perceived as the laid-back brother, but there’s a lot more going on under the surface. While Jed embraces a low-key,…
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Character Build: Josa Marie Erenstein
Josa Marie, the second-born Erenstein, has always been a grounding presence in the family, though she’s never sought out that role—it just happened. Born in February 1992, Josa is practical, sharp, and fiercely protective of her own. With dark brown hair and eyes that seem to absorb everything around her, she has a quiet intensity…
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Imagination Character Build: James Willoughby Erenstein
James Willoughby Erenstein, born in December 1988, is the eldest of the Erenstein clan, and though he doesn’t seek to be in the spotlight, his presence is undeniable. Standing at 6′ 2″ with dark hair and sharp green eyes, he’s an imposing figure, but it’s his calm intensity that sets him apart. There’s always a…
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How “Biblical” Patriarchy Bleeds Into a Low View of Women
Having grown up in a Reformed Baptist/Fundamental Baptist circle, I often heard phrases like, “Wives, submit to your husbands,” “God created man to lead,” and “A woman’s place is in the home.” These ideas were woven into the religious fabric I was surrounded by, and at first, I didn’t think much of it. But as I got older, these so-called…
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Career Building From Nearly Nothing (Not a Guide)
Sometimes I really do have to take a step and appreciate how freaking FAR I have come?? I didn’t get a good education as a child. In fact, a lot of what I learned was picked up in books. It’s honestly so humiliating for me to look back on texts and messages I sent to…
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2023: A Year Made of Magic
I learned so much about myself in 2023. And so much about the type of person I wanted to be. In 2023, I pushed my body to the limits like never before. Weight training that I actually stuck to, lots of running and walking and journaling. A lot of therapy. There were a lot of…
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Starved Rock. 5 Years. <3
September marked five years married to Dan. <3 We did something we’ve been dreaming about from before that, though–and got a cabin in the backwoods at Starved Rock for a little getaway. Hint: it was glorious. It was also the PERFECT time for it because we’ve had a lot of rain. And it did rain…
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Rating Children’s Shows from the 2000s
There is not a single cell in my being that wants to be an old person saying, “In my day…” but I swear kids shows were a whole different caliber in the early/mid-2000s. I thought it might be fun to reminisce a little bit and dig up some oldie Goldies. Maybe discover some more childhood…
Got any book recommendations?