My First Mile …

Jennifer BendasLeave a comment

So, I am not that gal who was ever a “fitness person.” I mean, I remember wanting to be and even trying to be (at times), but it was not exactly in my make-up, and it was not exactly my “thing.” 🤷🏻‍♀️

– I think my 7th Grade Track Tryout scared me out of “fitness” and “sports” to be honest 🤣 I remember doing sprints at this tryout, and whatever else, etc. with no training what so ever, and my lanta, to my times …

I am just going to leave this memory right here! – lol 🤣

At the end of middle school though, I now wanted to be a cheerleader, (after cheering for a township team and coaching little ones too, I enjoyed it.) So, now in High School, I tried out for Cheerleading. As a Freshman, I was only allowed to make the Freshman Squad because we were on Staggered Sessions at the time, (due to the school being over crowded and another High School being built.)

Only two (2) Freshman were super skilled enough actually, and they did make Varsity Cheer, but that was it. So, I made the Freshman Team. Then I tried out at the end of my Freshman year and I made Varsity Cheerleading. 🤗 Which I was super excited about, considering I had little to no experience in Cheer!

I remember walking with one of my guy besties, at the end of the school day and he telling me, “You made the team, no stressing.” Walking to the team’s list, I was super nervous, but seeing my number on that list was the BEST feeling EVER, as I jumped into his arms with pure excitement. He said, “I told you so!” …

So, looking back, as a kid, I was a cheerleader and a dance kind of gal. It was just more my speed. 😉

So, when did I get into fitness? (Fitness for me became running.) At the age of twenty-six (26) years old, I was married for about a year and my husband and I decided to quit smoking. (I smoked during those college years and a few years after), so now married, we both decided, no more smoking! 🙏🏼

So, one (1) day, after gaining like ten (10lbs.) 😬 I decided, that’s it, it’s time to run. (I guess it’s true, you gain weight after quitting smoking.) 🤷🏻‍♀️ So, I came home from work, got changed into my work-out clothes, and I went out for a run.

I was feeling crappy on this day too, because I had my period. However, I still decided to go out for a run. (I mean runners always made it look so easy, so how hard can it be? Let me pause … it is NOT easy, at all!) and as I was running, I told myself, “If you can run a mile today, then you can run a mile any day.” 😉

– In my head, I was like, you are feeling crappy and crampy, bloated, have a slight head ache, and have never ran a mile, etc. So, if you run a mile today, then you will know, you can now run a mile on any day …

Well, I did it! I ran my FIRST MILE and to be honest, I was pretty impressed with myself too.

Dainty me, actually just ran her first mile! 🤗

I ran here and there for the next year. I would head out and go for my run, running a mile 🤣, but that mile, “to me,” was now running. Then we found out we were expecting our first little love. 💗

After she was born, I ran a few miles ever so often, then found out we were expecting our 2nd little love. 💗

Now a mama to two (2) little loves, running was no longer something I thought about. We found out we were expecting our 3rd little love 💗 as we were in search for our family home. So, now a mama to three (3) little loves, I would run here and there, but not as often as I did before babies.

So, when did “actual fitness” become a thing? Well, after I was at a few Doctor’s Appointments, both said similar things to me and it got me thinking. 🤔 They both said, “For a smaller sized woman, who appears fit you have a higher resting heart rate!” Now, they both said to me, it’s not alarming “yet” but they both were surprised by it! So, I told my husband this, and I said, “I want to start-up cardio. See if this will help my resting heart rate?” and we got me an apple iwatch, to track my heart rate too. My husband ended up buying a treadmill for us also, now that we were in our new family home.

This was when my 5K running began. 😉

I started running a mile, then pausing, then running another mile , then pausing, and finishing it out, ending a little over three (3) miles. I eventually stopped with the pausing and just ran three (3) miles. My resting heart rate which was in the nineties (90’s) ended up getting into the sixties (60’s) and at times fifties (50’s.)

I actually ended up pushing myself too hard in the world of running and fitness, causing a minor case of hypotension where my blood pressure would drop to like 80’s/50’s … So, after visiting with my Doctor, her explaining my dizzy spells and all else to me, I took it easier and I began Target Heart Rate training.

Target Heart Rate training was not easy. My goal as a runner was to get my times lower, so that meant pushing myself to run faster, when running on a treadmill. I actually got my mile into the almost seven (7’s.) However, now that I was Target Heart Rate training, my mile was back in the twelves (12’s) again!

This was super frustrating to run this slow, but it was now about health and the slow running, didn’t last super long. I eventually got my mile into the nines (9’s) again, and it’s still in the nines (9’s.) I think the more I stick with running consistently, I’ll get faster too … maybe? 🤷🏻‍♀️

However, life is busy, so I often take breaks. So, I seem to stay where I am at because I take breaks and then start up running again, take breaks and then start up running again.

In the mix of Covid, I actually took up running outside. 😉 Looovvveee outside running, and it’s sooo different compared to the treadmill. (You runners will say, YEAH it is!) Like my mile inside is in the nines (9’s) and outside it “was” in like the twelves (12’s.)

Right now, when I run outside, I am going back and forth with it being in the nines (9’s), tens (10’s), and the elevens (11’s.) So, yes, getting faster!

In my defense … I just started up running again, about a month ago. 😉

My goal is to get my mile, into the nines (9’s) consistently when running outside by the end of the Summer and to eventually sign-up for an actual 5K too! 😉

So, to be continued … and in conclusion, nothing like that first mile!!! 🥰

Fitness of course, but Health …

Jennifer BendasLeave a comment

Okay, I am trying, I am … I am trying to drink more water. Hydration is key and “OH!” to the times of me being dehydrated! I was on average drinking maybe 8-20 ounces of water, a day. Now, my goal is to drink 50-60 ounces daily.

I am on week two (2) or maybe three (3) 🤔, I believe. I can do this and stick with this too! 😉 To be honest, I start this up and I do good for about a week, but then I usually stop. So, trying to stick with it this time …

I was told by many that you are to drink half of your body weight in ounces.

That to me, I was like, there is NO WAY I can drink that much WATER daily! Where my husband drinks like a gallon of water daily. Drinking a good amount of water, just isn’t as easy as one would think? 🤔 Especially, if you are not use to it (like me.)

Here was my normal daily routine of drinking beverages. I would wake-up and drink my morning coffee, and then I may sip on water here and there. Then I would have a cup of hot tea in the afternoon, then I finally would drink water with dinner and before bed. So, I was drinking fluids, but WATER, not so much. So, I am consciously trying to drink 30 ounces of water before 12:00 noon and then the next 30 ounces before sleepy time.

I keep reminding myself (so I stay motivated), that you are flushing out toxins!!! Try it, it helps … 🤷🏻‍♀️😉

You see, in the last ten (10) years I have learned much about my body, more in regards to my health and how my body responds to certain things, like food. I mean, once our first little love was six (6) months old … (on Christmas Eve to be exact.) We were leaving a family party and my mouth was suddenly in pain. I initially thought, I must have burned my mouth on something. As the days, weeks, months progressed, the pain intensified!

My tongue was sooo sore and my mouth would always have canker sores and this was only one (1) of my new found issues/symptoms. However, it was one of the WORST too. I also had joint pain, fibromyalgia pain, GI issues, weird anxiety, a rash on my upper arms, etc. I thought for awhile, (and certain Doctors confirmed) it was hormonal , postpartum … after all I just had a baby. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Today, I am gluten free and labeled “Undiagnosed Celiac.” Mainly because I just get too sick from gluten, and I can’t eat it long enough to be tested. (To be honest, I no longer need to be told I have Celiac Disease.) I tried a few years back to go through testing, (per my Doctor.) First step, was to go on a gluten challenge. I made it to only, day three (3), goal was to eat gluten for twenty-one (21) days. 😬 After dealing with pain, (fetal position pain) off and on for over 24 hours and ongoing GI issues, my Doctor said to stop eating gluten. When I went into the Doctor’s office, he said, “Clearly gluten is no good for you, so DO NOT eat it! Listen to your body, and if you need a diagnosis … I am diagnosing you with Undiagnosed Celiac!”

I also have a family history of Celiac Disease, Crohn’s Disease, Diverticulitis, Thyroid Disease, etc. (which many or maybe all 🤷🏻‍♀️ are autoimmune) So, it was inevitable that I would end up with something at some point. I mean, I have been told that I have had many things, since I was a kid. I was diagnosed and placed into categories like IBS, Lactose Intolerant, Interstitial Cystitis, Keratosis Pilaris, etc. All come to find out, are are linked to Celiac Disease and can mimic or even cause these symptoms, and when I gave birth to our first little love, WOW to the symptoms!!! Hence the beginning of me, going gluten free. (When she was around eight (8) months old to be exact.) Then, I ended up pregnant again with our 2nd little love, when she was just ten (10) months old, so I stopped my gluten free diet per my OBGYN’s request. At the time I was deficient in certain vitamins too, so she put me on a prescription prenatal vitamin. She explained to me that eating gluten while pregnant, may be more beneficial to the baby and it may not bother you while pregnant too. She explained that staying gluten free while baby is in utero, could actually bring forth an allergy to baby earlier, if not exposed to gluten. So, I ate gluten (and it was delicious) and I was not bothered by it either. 🙏🏼 However, after our 2nd little love was born, WOW again to the symptoms. So, I officially went gluten free when she was just a few months old and I have been gluten free ever since.

I tried to eat gluten again while pregnant with our 3rd little love, but at this point I no longer could, because it made me sick. More so with fibromyalgia pain, joint pains, tongue pain, canker sores, etc. and here’s the crazy thing too, our littlest love came out with Eczema and still has episodes of Eczema. So, could it be because she wasn’t exposed to gluten while in utero like my one OBGYN explained. 🤷🏻‍♀️🤔

I have been doing research too on different foods, plant based foods, avocados, red meat, protein, etc. Trying to figure all out. As I have been researching and looking into nutrition, as a whole. Foods are actually medicines for our body, so like “eating” is hugely important. Helps with so much from our sleep, anxiety, to hormonal health, etc.

I never looked at food this way, I looked at it as, “I am hungry, is it dinner time, okay eat!” or “I am NOT eating that!”

So, like I said, looking into nutrition more so now. As well as HYDRATION. Also, fitness, and getting back into it because I just feel better over all when I am working out. Trying to run more, walk the miles too, just basically loving cardio, but as we all know …adult life, parent life = busy life!

Wellness Wednesdays …

Jennifer BendasLeave a comment

I started up Wellness Wednesdays, a few weeks ago. I wanted to try to take fifteen (15) minutes to an hour or more to do something for “myself”, like wash my hair, maybe a mani/pedi at home, facial, take a bubble bath, etc.

Just a moment to pause …

So, I had a “day of rest” yesterday for Wellness Wednesday. After a Doctor’s Appointment that went well on Tuesday, praise God. 🙏🏼 I said to myself, “Just relax today, take a bath, blog again and just be, and don’t feel guilty. You owe this to yourself!” 🙏🏼

You see … Mommy life, and life in general. I just often do not schedule in those little things that I once did for myself, before having babies. Life is just busy differently now, so things like hair and nails aren’t a constant anymore.

So, for example, I normally get my hair done maybe twice a year. (So here was the deal, I haven’t had a hair cut, gosh in like 6-9 months, maybe longer. I mean, I did get to the salon in October, to get a quick gloss because my hair was lighter over the Summer … Yes, I actually for the first time EVER was at the hair salon three (3) times over the Summer going lighter.) So, anyways, my roots were now like 2 inches long, so I decided to go back to brunette (and now, not sure if I’ll go blonder again this Summer. 🤷🏻‍♀️)

Now back to being busy, so I often will schedule a hair appointment and then cancel, schedule, then cancel. No worries though, I finally made an appointment and actually went too. Just wanted to get my hair cut and I ended up taking a good 4 inches off, maybe more 😉 so back to self care, I was actually getting my nails done for a few months in the fall, because I told myself, “You can do something little like this for yourself” … but now I am over that (not a surprise) so stopped with that all together because my nails just got too weak.

Wanted to explain something, I have never been “that” kind of girl. Who’s always at a salon. I just cannot sit at salons for hours 🤷🏻‍♀️ I think I am just too type A. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I mean I try, I do, I try, but then I am like okay, no! I don’t feel like sitting in here for an hour or more.

However, I do want to have moments (from time to time) of feeling pampered, so I love to get a pedi, and maybe I will start scheduling facials? I am trying to learn to go to the salons more … especially now that Covid is lifting. 🙏🏼 (we are praying that is … )

So maybe, I’ll schedule them in from time to time now, on Wellness Wednesdays. 😉

Female Things …

Jennifer BendasLeave a comment

This is a deary diary blog, and more so for the females. I am not going to share on social media, but it is here for those who are now reading my blog, for those who are researching hormonal health (like I was), and for me to look back on too!!!

So, here’s the deal, I am in “pain” … in pain off and on throughout the month. Sometimes, it is month after month and sometimes, I skip a month or even a few. In which, I am thankful!

Let us begin with my ovulation pain, it is just annoying!!! It is more annoying than period pain. Like knock you off your feet, feeling three (3) months pregnant (bc of bloating) pain. My mood gets effected too, I mean do you blame me, I am in pain, up some pounds, bloated, crampy and just miserable.

Then there is my PMS pain and period pain, which has been an off and on thing since I was a teenager.

Not to mention, spotting (sorry for the tmi) but this happens anywhere from 1-3 days before my period. It happens more often than not, ever since I had a missed miscarriage.

So, what is going on? I just pray it is nothing serious!!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

You see, a few years back we were expecting our 4th little blessing from above. I ended up having a missed miscarriage in my 10th week of pregnancy. Then a few months later, we had a faint positive pregnancy test. So thinking we were pregnant again, I called and made a Doctor’s Appointment, but on the day of my Appointment, period came and was told I may be having an early miscarriage.

Baby was due October of 2019

These types of things many women do not discuss. It is just difficult 😥 and difficult to wrap our minds around too!

I mean in my experiences as a female and as a mama, I had three (3) easy to conceive and healthy pregnancies, so what is going on?

Three (3) years later, I still have painful ovulations, not always, but more often than not and some periods/pms are quite the ordeal, but again this has always been more of a common thing for me.

So, I had my annual, and I talked it over with my OBGYN/Gyno. “again” and she decided to book an ultrasound to check things out, such as endometrial polyps, fibroids, cysts, endometriosis, etc. more so because of the spotting before my period.

Now, of course I would love if all of this was not my current situation and that we were blessed with expecting another blessing from above. My husband says, having babies, although a blessing has effected my health. However, I just always felt we would have another, but first and foremost this mama wants to be healthy. So, praying 🙏🏼 that all is OKAY and that I am healthy!

God has blessed me/us with three (3) beautiful baby girls 💗💗💗 and if the door is officially closed to having any more babies, then I am at peace with that too, but again just praying that I am okay! 🙏🏼

So, I have a Doctor’s Appointment tomorrow morning and I am totally nervous, but God has given me the peace that all is okay, over and over again. So very thankful for that, but I have always been a worrier (it’s my thorn in my side) so I am blogging now to remember this, and I am going to continue to pray … 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

… so here we are, I am here at my Doctor’s Appointment. Just had the ultrasound and now waiting for the Doctor to call me back. Praying that the images the ultrasound tech. took, were just that “images.” I personally felt that it took forever to get them too, after all I do have a tilted uterus. I write this because us ladies are all built differently and many of us don’t realize things like a “tilted uterus.”

It’s weird because as I sit here, part of me wants answers, but praying Father God that I am okay first and foremost! 🙏🏼

Okay, just left the Doctor’s Office … Praise God!!! All is okay, I am completely healthy and well!!! 🥰🙏🏼🥰

She said, all is fine, healthy and looks beautiful!!! I asked her, why then to the things mentioned above … she said, your body had three (3) babies, you breastfed all three (3) too and things just change. Periods change, and many women feel ovulation pain after having babies.

Now, I’ve always felt ovulation, but now I get actual cramps and pain for sometimes up to five (5) days. So, moving forward … I am now eating more of an anti-inflammatory diet, drinking MORE water, eating plant foods, protein, avocado, etc. More exercise, and taking ibprophen along with using a heating pad when feeling the pains.

Let me say though that … my lanta, I feel sooo relieved!!! Thank you Jesus 🙏🏼 and on another positive note. They were shocked that I am 39 years old!!! “You don’t look 39 years old!” 💗 The doctor said, “all is healthy and looks beautiful, and you’re always beautiful. Tell the hubby, have another, we can control this one a little better this time and no crazy birth stories. If no, totally okay too because you have 3 and 3 is a good number!” 💗💗💗

So, to be continued and if you have questions like I did, go to the Doctor. 🙏🏼 I was nervous, but my husband said, “Go, at least you will have answers.”

Starting an “Actual Blog” …

Jennifer BendasLeave a comment

Okay, here goes, Happy Monday … as you have seen, I am starting an actual blog. A blog where I will actually try to “more so” take moments throughout the week to spend an hour or so writing, posting, researching, sharing.

So, again I say, “here goes!”

Just paid for a domain too (eee 😉) Well, we have the money now, so saying bye bye to all of the free sites that I have used since becoming a Mommy.

Pause – still have no real clue how to do this, “this” meaning – starting an actual blog? It’s okay though, I got this … There’s Youtube, Pinterest, Google (although I question google because seriously what is going on there … anyone else realize that you cannot google the way you once did?) Now, finding time to research all it entails to become a blogger, that’s another story? 🤷🏻‍♀️

So, blogging, writing … I mean, it’s an actual “thing” … seriously … If you follow influencers, you tubers, etc. Many do have blogs. So adding “my new blog” to my to-do list. 🤷🏻‍♀️

You see a few years back, my bestie once told me, during one of our morning conversations, “You hold yourself back.” My husband then confirmed this when I asked, “Do you think I hold myself back?” … They both ended up saying the same thing, “You aren’t a risk taker, some take risks and aren’t afraid of failure!” Well, this got me thinking … 🤔

Coming from them … it just made me think. 🤔 You see, they both are indeed successful and they both will take risks. They aren’t afraid to take a risk (or to make a decision, is a better word) in their professional worlds. I guess they’ve learned that you will never know, unless you try or say yes or no. They often say, “If it doesn’t work … then okay, let’s try something else.”

To be honest, maybe this is why he is an Excutive Director at an Ivy League University and she owns her own business in the field of plasma/science.

Throughout the years, I have enjoyed meeting so many in my circle … but these two, just so very blessed by them. One, to be married to my love and my best friend, and two, to have a gal by my side since HS. I just think and talk very highly of these two, not just because they are my husband and my best friend. I am just so proud of them both, setting goals, sticking with their goals, and their work ethic, their achievements, and their success.

So, I am going to stick with blogging, or at least try to stick with it …

See I am a gal who’s always setting goals. I achieve some and let others go because that’s just “me.” 🤷🏻‍♀️

My first priority though, is always my family. We decided, while expecting our first little love that I would be a SAHM, so I gave up the career world. It’s crazy looking back because it had it’s challenges for sure, especially in the beginning, but I definitely do not regret it, not even for a second.

Throughout the years, I have taken on other roles while being a stay-at-home mommy. In volunteering at our church, our girls’ school, and their activities. I was a Cheer Coach, an Etsy Shop Owner, now an Etsy Shop Manager, a Coaches Wife, now a Scentsy Consultant, etc. Here’s my website for Scentsy ➡️ http://jenniferbendas.scentsy.us

So haven’t exactly been bored by any stretch of the means, but now an actual blogger with an actual domain 💗…

so, yay, to be continued 😉

It’s a Scentsy thing …

Jennifer BendasLeave a comment

Cozy Styling, my niche as I have mentioned is finding that cozy in life. Like what makes you feel good and gives you that extra happy? We all need that cozy from time to time.

Mine currently are things like a little matcha, getting a run in, hot yoga, listening to a sermon, date nights, family nights, maybe a bath, praying, and so forth …

Another one that I set-up for myself, (2 years ago to be exact) was/is Scentsy. I signed on as a Scentsy Consultant. Why, are you asking? It was simple really, I spent close to $200 in a single month on Scentsy. I then joked around with my girl who I bought from and said, “Maybe I should just sell this stuff at this point?” She responded with, “You actually should, you alone would keep yourself in business.” I laughed to myself and then I said, “Wait a minute, really, what do you mean?” 🤔 She explained all the details, and here I am … Been a Scentsy Consultant for 2.5 years now, with my next promotion being Director.

So, why did I sign on? … Well, after the conversation with the girl I bought from/my Sponsor, who’s now a Director and then talking it over with my husband, it was a no brainer … but to be honest, I also wanted something part-time, while all 3 of our babies 💗💗💗 were now going to be in school.

With our busy schedules, with a young family. Heading back out in the working world was a no go for us. I am a busy wife and a busy mommy. Heck, I am a busy gal. So, working from home, yes please!

… and what a blessing, truly!!! 🙏🏼

I mean I make more money now, than I did working partime before having babies. So thankful to my customers and for my Scentsy family, and for my teamies.

You may be asking, what are teamies? Well, each Scentsy Consultant has the opportunity to have a team. My teamies I have met throughout the years. Some I worked with, some I am friends with, some, our daughters played Soccer ⚽️ together, some were customers of mine and others I have not even met. Crazy, right? So many have wanted to sign on as a Scentsy Consultant.

If you’re thinking of having a little extra something while being at home or maybe you just want an extra something, so you can plan your next Family Vacation. You can make your Scentsy Business as little or as big as you like! It is completely up to you … 😉

Let’s Blog About It …

Jennifer BendasLeave a comment

Do you want your own blog? Do you even want to be a blogger? What even is a blogger and why do “they” bother sharing a little of this or a little of that? 🤔

My husband actually just said to me (this morning actually.) Why babe? What is the point? Just continue in your success with mommying, helping others, volunteering, Scentsy, and all the things. You do not need anything extra. We do not need anything extra. 🤷🏻‍♀️

As you are reading you may be agreeing with my husband, but you may also be saying let the gal do her thing. My response was, “Babe, I don’t know? It’s not about money. I want my “own thing” too, in between mommying, being a coaches wife, my husband’s wife, Scentsy, volunteering, etc. and I like to write and have done so, off and on since becoming a Mommy.”

I mean secretly … (or maybe now that I am blogging today it’s “outwardly!”)

I would love to have this little blog take off in some sort of fashion. I would love for Cozy Styling to turn into my own personal business (along with Scentsy) for not only myself, but for my family too.

Me & my little family 💗

I mean let’s be honest, how in the world do bloggers actually make money? I mean, I am pretty curious on how this actually could turn into another job? I find myself looking into it and then a text or call comes in, mommy gets called, I get distracted, etc. So, I get NO WHERE!!!

I have mentioned somewhere along the way though, that for whatever reason a “blog” seems to always come back to my mind and stay on my heart. I often will forget about it (because in the world of mommying, parenting and adult life), life is busy. Then something will remind me to blog again and stick/stay with it.

I don’t publish my blog posts regularly either 😬 so I have like 17 or so in my drafts. (Actually they are now saved as photos in my phone (haha) because I now have started my very first ACTUAL BLOG with its own domain … which is the reason to why you are reading this first blog post, so yayyy cozystyling.com)

So, for now, I am going to just enjoy this little hobby of mine (and I just read not to call it a hobby too 😬 … oh boy so much to learn), but like I have mentioned, I enjoy writing.

I look back and during college, a few professors actually tried to encourage me to minor in English/Writing. 📝 They loved my Writings/Essays and would tell me that I had a natural talent. Which, was such a sweet compliment … but a career in “Writing” Really? What would I even do with that? Become an Author?

I mean, a runner, yoga & pilates ☑️
… but an Author 🤷🏻‍♀️

It’s crazy really because we all have goals and even dreams in life and it’s not always easy to focus on/stay focused on these goals.

The fact is … life is busy, like when I began writing this blog post, I was running all day, Both figuratively and literally and I was in our just turned 6 year old’s room, waiting for her to go to sleepies. She wanted mommy, wanted me to put her to bed. (My husband and I take turns. We come in, tuck her in, give her kisses, pray with her, and then we sit and wait. Eventually, we know she will not care if we are in here, but for now she cares and wants us to stay, so we stay.) Sometimes while I am in with her, I will read, or I will research, I will pray and sometimes I will blog.

So, back to starting a blog. Where do I even begin with blogging? I guess, “just write!” One thing I read was, “find your niche”, well my niche is simple, “just stay true to me and blog about whatever “cozy” (or idea) that is on my mind.

Which brings me to the name, “Cozy Styling.” Cozy Styling is meant for me and for others to share their cozy in life. Maybe your cozy is a cup of tea, coffee or matcha or even a nice run? Maybe it’s going to church, reading the bible? Maybe it is your latest fitness find, diet fad or gluten free recipe? Maybe your cozy is date night with your hunnie? Maybe it’s heading to the beach or to the boardwalk on a Summer Day/Night or a night out with friends? Your cozy may be just staying in with your family and playing games?

Cozy Styling is meant to help you find that cozy in life on the daily. (It is meant to help “me” find that cozy in life on the daily.)

I look at life and like I said, life is just so darn busy and man does it fly right on by … in my 20’s I had a mommy blog and didn’t really understand blogging or know what to do with it? However, at the time I had so many things going on. Being a new mom, giving up goals and aspirations on being a career woman, being broke, letting go of the old me, embracing the blessing of being the new me, etc. On top of mommying babies, nursing them, health things, etc. So, writing was my pause in life.

I’d blog while I was nursing or rocking my sweet babies. 💗💗💗

… but to be honest, I still don’t know much about blogging or becoming a blogger. Except writing, so for now, I will just write! Maybe it will turn into something? Maybe it won’t? However, my first step, just write!

So adding continued blogger to my list (with an actual domain now – ahhh how cool is this) I mean stepping out of my comfort zone with this domain.

I work part-time from home with Scentsy and Etsy – Cozy Styling (changing Etsy name soon.) However in 2022, my goal is to blog more and find a routine in all of this.

It’s a New Year, so New Goals. So, stay tuned …

~ Off to run errands and pick up our girls,

Jennifer @ Cozy Styling

Linen Closet Organization

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This was super easy to do … with my husband’s help, we first cleaned out the closet.  Decided what we use on a daily/weekly basis vs. what we will be donating.  We then put all the extra blankets in another closet.  

We then put all sheets in the baskets (or the bright color sheets/towels in the baskets) and just made it look pretty.  Still may label the baskets.

Also, the towels that are on the top rack, are the towels we no longer use, but we can put out when we have guests! (I may actually get a basket to hide those too) 😉

Some Home Decor, Event Decor & other Creative Creations! :) 

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A few years ago when Frozen was literally everywhere.  These two little cuties loved Elsa and Anna, so I decided to make their Trick-or-Treating costumes.  

It was a first for me, but they still turned out pretty stinkin cute! 💗

Below are a few Home Decor Wreaths that I designed over the years. 

This was a hobby I took on a few years ago and people began placing orders “literally” over night (still feel humbled and blessed by this) I have made probably 300+ wreaths to date and I still enjoy it.  

People still contact me and ask if I can make this or that … So, thank you to all! 🙂 

I am also now trying to host “how to demos,” so people can learn how to create a wreath themselves. At some point I’ll actually write a “how to blog”, so all can follow a step by step process on here too! 🙂 


I also have a thing about mugs.  I don’t know what it is, but I’m always creating or even buying a coffee mug ☕️ It’s just another “little something” that makes me smile! 🙂 


There’s also Event Design, and Event Decor took off more so in my second year of having my little business JLB Creative Creations.  Again, this was something that just began overnight.  

My customers would ask if I could design a centerpiece, a banner, then an invitation, their thank yous and so forth.  It was something I truly enjoyed, so I actually started to make even more of my own Event Decor for our events! 🙂

I also make cake pops, that’s just another thing I started doing.  Basically because when I was pregnant with my first baby girl, I had my first cakepop and if you’ve ever been pregnant then you may relate, but it was probably one of the tastest little treats I have ever had to-date @ that time! – HaHa! 😂


I wanted to add this special wreath last to this post.  

For me as a mommy, one of the most heartwarming and emotional things is  when your babies are growing up.  Sending our firstborn off to school for her kindergarten year was not @ all easy for this mama.  

Her first year @ school was an amazing year.  She had a fabulous teacher (whom she called her best friend), made some new little best friends and loved school  💗 It truly was a blessing to her and to us as parents.  So, I designed this special wreath for her teacher.  

I was so happy with how it turned out and was so happy that her teacher loved it too! 🙂 

All the Things …

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Right now I have a few of my creative creations out for our fall decorating.

I designed this simple harvest banner this fall to hang on our fireplace mantel.  So easy too, I used a ready made burlap banner and added some vinyl black stickers to it.

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On the first day of fall, a friend and I decided to host a “how to design a wreath” demonstration.  I decided to design my Harvest Scarecrow Wreath prior to the demo.  It turned out super cute too! 🙂

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This little Hay Bale Scarecrow Harvest Decor I designed a few falls ago and I still think it’s super cute!

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This “little something” is a chair that my mother-in-law had in one of her first apartments.

She gave it to us when we moved into first home.  My husband and I reupholstered it ourselves to match our beach room and we recently decided to reupholster it again since we are adding more gray hues to our decor in our New Home! 🙂 

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Last, but not least is our powder room that we just renovated this past weekend.  It turned out awesome!  Just take a look @ the accent wall.  

My husband and I hand distressed pieces of pine and then stained the wood to give it that rustic farmhouse look we were looking for … just looovvveee! 🙂

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