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Jen A. Miller Consulting

Tag: Jen Smith

  • Single Girl Reveals | Moving In Together

    Single Girl Reveals | Moving In Together

    Jen Smith shares her experience moving in with her boyfriend and what to consider before taking the leap

    moving in together
    PHOTO: Stephanie Rausser.

    Moving in with my boyfriend was a HUGE decision but one that came surprisingly easy for the two of us. Alex and I have been dating over 7 years, with two small breaks in there. We’ve talked about living together for several years, but it never felt right so we always chose to wait.

    I pride myself on my independence. Since I went through my quarter-life crisis a few years ago, I worked extremely hard to redefine myself by joining several organizations, making quality friends, and starting a new career path. I thought by living together I would lose my individuality, miss out on seeing my friends, and give up what I love doing most. I was surprisingly wrong.

    Alex asked me to “live together” rather than “with him.” Many may not see a difference, but to me, it was an important distinction. To be comfortable moving in together, the act had to be done together and the decision about where to live had to be ours. We worked together to choose which furniture and decorations we were keeping so that our space was a blend of our personalities—for example, he got to keep his sports bobble head collection and me? I got to keep my owl collection.

    I value a well-rounded life, and I was worried that by living with Alex, my life would be too focused on “home”… that I wouldn’t have enough time for friends or activities I love. Instead, we find a balance: on nights he’s out with the boys, I can choose to have a girls’ night, attend my favorite yoga class, or finish reading the latest book on my list.

    Alex and I are big on communication and find that many conflicts can be avoided with a conversation, so we chose to talk about our concerns before living together. Since I’m a list-maker, I pulled together a list of things to discuss before taking the leap that might also be helpful for you to consider when you are ready to take this step in your relationship.

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  • Single Girl Reads | Gone Girl

    Single Girl Reads | Gone Girl

    Four reasons you need to read Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl before it hits theaters

    gone girl
    If you haven’t seen the trailer for Gone Girl, click through and scroll down. You’ll have chills down your spine, and not the Grease kind. The movie starring Ben Affleck hits theaters October 3rd, which means you have three weeks to dive into this psychological thrilling novel. It may seem like an endless read when you pick it up, but trust me: you won’t put it down. Sure, going straight to the movie instead of losing 3 days of your life reading non-stop cover to cover seems more efficient, but you will be missing out. But you don’t have to take my word for it…

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  • All Hail Our Single Girls

    All Hail Our Single Girls

    A Shout Out to Our Amazing Contributors, Our Single Girls

    single-girls

    As we celebrate 1 year of The Single Diaries we would be remiss not to recognize the Single Girls who have contributed to the making of this site. From our long-time friends to friends whom we’ve recently met, there are nearly 50 amazing women whose talents make up these pages.

    The posts that they have contributed are as varied as the women themselves. Some have shared their advice through original articles. Others have let us tap their talents for an interview. While still others have shared their words of wisdom for posts Catherine and I have put together.

    No matter the method, the result remains the same. We are always inspired by their passion, ability, and fortitude. We’ve:

    • Learned from their adventures in romance.
    • Explored the world through their travels.
    • Gotten to know the cities they call home.
    • Been motivated by their pursuits.

    Needless to say, we think our Single Girls rock.

    A few weeks ago one of our contributors introduced me to a dinner party game called “I’m a badass because…”. Everyone around the table was asked to share what personal accomplishments she was most proud of. I had two immediate reactions when our host initiated the game- fear and appreciation. Fear because I, like many of us, am not comfortable tooting my own horn. Appreciation, for having a friend that was pushing this group of girls not only to cheer for one another but also for themselves.

    When I thought about the best way to recognize The Single Diaries contributors I could think of no better idea than to carry forward this game and allow each girl the chance to express what she is most proud. See what they had to say-

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  • Now I See Through Your Eyes | Happy Mother’s Day

    A tribute to our first teachers, our mothers

    mothers

    We look up to women who have changed the world in different ways, but many girls will say that her mom changed her world in the most lasting way. A gift on Mother’s Day is such a small token compared to everything the mothers in our lives have done for us. In honor of these fearless women, we’re recounting the important lessons we’ve learned growing up.

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  • Single Girl Reads: Catching Fire

    “The bird, the pin, the song, the berries, the watch, the cracker, the dress that burst into flames. I am the mockingjay. The one that survived despite the Capitol’s plans. The symbol of the rebellion.”

     

    Published in 2009, Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games has become a phenomenon for kids of all ages. A year and a half of anticipation after the first film in the trilogy was released, Catching Fire finally hits theaters today. Jen Smith rereads the novel and shares her take on the book’s surprising lessons in becoming Superbly Single. *This review contains spoilers.

     

    A friend once told me that we don’t have to love an entire book, as long as we find that one nugget, that one lifelong takeaway that we can forever use to benefit ourselves. To my surprise, in rereading Catching Fire, I realized that the book offered more than just one nugget—it was a complete guide to becoming an independent girl.

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