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I miss my grandparents so much.
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And like many, the ache in my heart feels deeper as we approach the holidays.
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I feel like I say this often — and while yes it’s expected to lose grandparents — I didn’t know what life looked like without them, until they were gone. We spoke almost daily. I saw them constantly. My Grams was my biggest confidant, my Grandpa my biggest sounding board. They were both more than grandparents, they were friends. And I miss them. So much.
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As we decorate for the holidays, as we get excited for all the festivities, I think it’s important to mention it’s ok to feel a little sad too. It’s ok to feel the loss. To miss the loved ones. Yes, this season is a bright and joyous one but we need to allow ourselves the grace that we are all human and sometimes life is just hard.
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So this is your daily reminder from lil ol’ me that while you scroll the feeds of your friends and family — what may appear to be a highlight reel — is sometimes just a lot of people trying to push past their own sadness or behind the scenes chaos — and smile.
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Let’s give GRACE to others this holiday season, friends. 🙏🏼

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I don’t care how many times I have to ask them to put on their shoes as we try to leave the house. 🏡
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...Or how many times I have to ask them not to smear toothpaste all over the bathroom. 🛁
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I don’t care how many times I have to say “don’t sit on your brother’s head!” 🗣👦🏻👦🏼
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...Or how many times I have to scream out as a LEGO squishes beneath my bare foot. 🦶🏼
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I don’t care how many times I have to plead with them to eat their dinner. 🥣
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...Or how many times I have to re-tuck them into bed with yet another glass of water.🥛
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I don’t care how many Pokémons I have to walk around trying to catch because it’s “a rare ghost type” 👻
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...Or how many times I have to take a NERF gun bullet to the butt. 🍑🔫
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BECAUSE I will ALWAYS feel GRATEFUL that God chose me as their mom.
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...And that I have those trivial “mom things” to complain about every day. 🙏🏼
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They are my world. 🌎❤️

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Safe to say we are ALL enjoying Disney+! 😂🐶🖤 #Verizon coming through with the free 1 year subscription. 👏🏼 Have you subscribed yet? Fav movies? 🥰

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BUT WILL I STILL FEEL SEXY?
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I asked this question of myself many, many times as I contended with the decision to remove my breast implants due to what I believed to be #breastimplantillness
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SOUNDS SILLY, RIGHT? 🙈
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Two pieces of “plastic” determining my ability to feel sexy? 🤷🏻‍♀️
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Yet, there the feeling was. And for months, vanity outweighed the chance that an #explantsurgery would give me my health back. 😔
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So, real talk?
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POST-EXPLANT WAS HARD FOR ME.
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✋🏼I get asked often why I chose to “share so little” about the post-op process — until I shared that my blood tests came back 8 weeks post-explant NORMAL after two years of fighting for my health... And the short answer to that question is...
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I WAS NOT IN A GREAT MENTAL PLACE.
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I had implants for 15 years. It was the only body I could really remember. And post-explant, I stared back at myself in the mirror and did NOT like what I saw. 😔
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HOW COULD I SHARE THAT WITH ALL OF YOU?
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After so many of you told me how strong and brave I was to do the surgery and fight for my health... How could I tell all of you that mentally... I was a mess?
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I had to mentally and physically HEAL before I could SHARE.
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And about SIX MONTHS into the healing process I began to see noticeable change in my body. I was told by my surgeon that the breast tissue would undergo a “fluffing phase” where essentially the breast tissue regenerates to form a fuller breast... And it did. I went from an A post-explant to a C 6 months later. My breasts regained a shape. The angry red scars healed.
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MENTALLY & PHYSICALLY, 6 months later, I was in a better place. 🙏🏼
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And TODAY — 16 months later — I say with full confidence that I DO FEEL SEXY.
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It’s no longer about big breasts or small breasts — it’s about an overall feeling of APPRECIATION for what this body of mine has been through and what it has overcome.
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I share this for those debating an explant but are afraid... Yes, it may be HARD. Physically. Emotionally. Mentally.
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But it WILL be worth it.
I believe that with all my heart. ❤️
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#myexplantjourney

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Just a girl...
Standing in front of a tree...
Asking it to decorate itself. 😂😂🎄🎄
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@kingofchristmas // 9 foot king lit flocked tree // 10% off with code jennrichardson.xo // link in bio #kingofchristmas

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It’s our first HOLIDAY PARTY of the season!❤️❄️🎄 DISNEY-STYLE!
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We were invited to check out @waltdisneyworld ANIMAL 🐆 KINGDOM HOLIDAY EVENT 🎅🏼 tonight and we’re pretty excited! ✨✨✨ Follow along the Insta stories for behind the scenes! 😉💋#disneyholidays

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MEOW. 🐆🌾🖤
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The SAVANNAH launch was the BIGGEST @fitcouturecollection has seen since we opened our virtual doors this summer!
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Y’all really love your animal print, don’t ya? 😜
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I’ve basically been hunkered down in my house, in my pajamas, since Monday packing up HUNDREDS of your orders! Super cute. Super glam. #notatall 😂 And while it was overwhelming at times I was so FULL OF GRATITUDE. SO full of gratitude. SO thankful for y’all’s support and excitement over this passion project that has quickly become something more in my heart.
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The Savannah is a LIMITED EDITION and has already started selling out so if you’re wanting one of these sassy cats head on over to the site! I have them on promo for the month of November when you buy as a set! 🔥👏🏼
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And stay tuned... OTHER BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS coming in the next two weeks! 😱😱😱 Gotta keep y’all on your toes! 😉 #fitcouturecollection #mompreneur #passionproject

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So... I’m thinking next week the Fall decor is coming down and the Christmas is going up... 🤐😱🙈
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Thanksgiving just looks prettier with the twinkling lights of a Christmas tree, doesn’t it? 🙈😂👏🏼🎄❤️
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Let’s hear it, are you Team Christmas BEFORE or AFTER Thanksgiving? 🦃

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PUBLIC SPEAKING? WHO, ME?
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My fear of getting up in front of a crowd of people would literally leave me anxiety-ridden. Panic. Cotton mouth. Shaky hands. I mean... I was basically a complete disaster.
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BUT. As I started growing my business, I realized I was going to need to get over that. That fear was going to need to be conquered. And even though, at the time, I couldn’t imagine it being possible, I wanted to at least try.
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So I put myself in situations where I would quite literally FORCE MYSELF to get in front of a crowd of people whether it was in person or virtually. I figured, the more I did it, the easier it would become — right?
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One time, two times, three times, a dozen times... It was still SCARY. It was still HARD. And I began to lose hope that I would ever be able to conquer the fear.
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BUT. I kept going. And as time went on... It DID get easier. With each time, over the course of years, the nerves started to fade away... I found myself becoming stronger and more confident.. I saw that fear starting to FADE AWAY.
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A couple months ago I was asked to fly to Austin to speak in front of an incredible crowd of entrepreneurs — and the old me would have flown into a tizzy of nerves and panic... But what I found this time — was excitement.
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FULL CIRCLE MOMENT!
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Just wrapped up speaking and my heart feels really full. Corny? Maybe. True? 100%.
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Heart full that I was able to provide value to some incredible people.
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Heart full that I was able to explore an incredible new city with one of my best friends.
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And heart full that it was possible because I overcame a fear.
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So friends — listen.
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This is me CHALLENGING YOU to do something that makes you uncomfortable.
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This is me challenging you to step outside your comfort zone.
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This is me challenging you to GROW. 😉👏🏼
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Challenge accepted?

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Ok, Austin. I see you. And I like you. 👏🏼 #austintexas #peaceloveaustin

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Photo Oct 03, 9 32 05 AM

October 8, 2017

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