je suis...
I am Jen
I live in Southern California with my husband and our five kids. Although the oldest three are moved out and living their lives, we are still a hectic household with life, school, sports, and our pack of Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs.
I was raised in SoCal, and have a Bachelors Degree in English, with a concentration in writing. My work background is deeply rooted in EMS and the fire service and, besides Kohana Cake Artistry, I also have a professional writing and copyediting business writing textbooks and web content. #GIRLBOSS
In April 2018, I retired from the fire service after 29 years, and am now a stay-at-home mom for the first time in my 34 years of motherhood. Life is happy, crazy, and busy between running my youngest around, writing and baking, staying heavily involved in our AKC dog club, and hanging out with my gorgeous, silly husband!
On a personal note, I've been challenged in many ways and have endured some very difficult experiences. But I find blessings in and draw strength from each one. I nearly died from a cardiac event over Christmas 2015, survived trauma as a young girl, was a single mom for 17 years, suffered three miscarriages, and for 7 years juggled being a mom and wife with a full-time career - while trying to finish my degree.
2020 brought an incomprehensible amount of devastation and challenges to our family. My husband was struck especially hard by the COVID-19 virus, suffering a tremendous amount of physical and neurological damage from the virus and its aftermath. As a family, we work hard to support and care for him and each other as we face the long haul of recovery and rehabilitation, while realizing our new norm is not so normal or easy.
Life throws its punches, but they don't define me. I stand my ground (or get back up!) and persevere. My empathy meter is very high, my tolerance meter for BS or lame games? not so much.
I am a tomboy at heart, and tend to cuss like a sailor. But I love to be girly and fancy, and my eyelash extensions are one indulgence I'm not likely to give up soon! Indeed, the decision between sassy high heels and lipstick, or flip-flops and worn out jeans constantly test my loyalties.
I cry over sappy love stories, laugh at dark humor, speak overly blunt at times, and am avidly addicted to chocolate and lemon. I enjoy good wine and love sipping my favorite tequila.
I have always enjoyed cooking and baking, especially with my mom and my grandmother. It is very satisfying serving a healthy, delicious meal, or amazing my family with a decadent dessert. My fire career, however, was so time-consuming, I rarely had time to truly delve into what interested me, such as making BIG cakes, mastering piping and painting techniques, or pushing my boundaries with flavors and concepts.
I come from an extremely talented and gifted family of artists, engineers, and musicians; my mother and youngest sister are incredible painters, and my brother is an amazing violist. Art and music permeates my family, yet my art is based in frosting. Retirement has definitely afforded me the time to learn, to create, and to learn how to create. My KitchenAid motor hardly cools before the next recipe hits the bowl. I am obsessed with piping pretty flowers, smoothing clean edges, and practicing the skill of painting or distressing frosting.
Desserts amaze me.
Frosting is joyful.
My chocolate cake speaks for itself.
~jen
