Featured Blogger Friday: "The Coconut Diaries"

Lovelies, I'm hesitant to bring you today's featured blogger, Jenn from The Coconut Diaries, because she is that much more hilarious, wise, and all-around talented than I am.  Yes, yes -difficult to imagine, I grant you - but there you have it.  

A fellow Californian-turned-Austinite, Jenn works in higher education by day and makes me and the interwebs laugh our delicately feminine arses off in her spare time.  She doesn't post every day, but when she does, you are guaranteed a witty, honest, irreverent, and insightful package of splendiferousness. Before I get too Fraulein Maria (a Jenn phrase, by the way) about how wonderful she is, let's get to the woman of the day herself:

Why She Started a Blog:  

MISS AMERICA ANSWER:  I think it's healthy for people to tell their stories (and, boy, do I gots stories!). As a community, a country, a generation we've lost a true connection to others.  Part of that connection comes from realizing that you are not alone in your experience. Even if it's someone you've never met, there is some security in believing you are not alone. Otherwise, how did Ricky Lake stay on the air so long? 

TRUTHFUL ANSWER:  I am in debt up to my ass and was hoping I'd get discovered all Stephanie Klein/Jen Lancaster/Dooce-like to pay the bills; because there is no cash in working at a university. Unless you're the football coach.  Or a pot dealer. 

Her Blogging Inspirations:  I really had no idea of the expansiveness of the blog community- that there are bajillions of people in the universe who are intelligent, funny, and creative in ways I could never hope to be.  It took me, like, months to figure out the whole commenting thing.  Once I did, I found that there's a rhythm to the writing. To the comments. That there are mommy blogs and celebrity blogs and news blogs and blogs about (Cover your eyes, delicate ones!) sh*t I had no idea people cared that much about.

I started my blog after we relocated to Austin, where I didn't know a soul and needed an outlet that wouldn't send me to rehab. Or divorce court.  Or the unemployment office (sans Prada bag because I learned from Jen Lancaster...and also because I don't own one).  The relocation was my chance to pursue a career change, so my initial blogging inspirations were people who worked in areas I had interest in. 

Of course, I started with Jen Lancaster, where I stumbled across Kristabella. Dingo does these things with Photoshop that would make the geeks at Dreamworks giggle.  Slynnro is that put-together girl I always wished I could be.  

(Pretty Note:  I'm nodding my head in agreement with these blog inspirations as I type.  Pretty Seal of Approval x infinity)

Her Hobbies Outside of Blogging:  I love sports and doing anything active.  I try anything once because I know that I am no where near developed. Every other hobby is learning how to be a grown up.  I still don't know how to properly butter my bread at dinner or how much perfume is too much.  I still need to know how to be a good wife in spite of the fact that I don't cook, clean, or jump The Hubster's bones after a 3-second back rub.   

I'm in constant search of great.  A great martini, a great facial, a great idea, a great friend, a great dance club, great shoes-  things that make living on this spinning, warming globe a little more fun. I am looking for inspiration. Moments that keep us going.  The underdog team winning a championship, that black member of the Olympic swim team, the first black woman being honored with a statue on campus, theWear Your Sunscreen speech. 

Her Future Goals, Both for Her Blog & Real Life:  

IN REAL LIFE:  Personally, I would love to be comfortable.  That comfort lies in my ability to gain financial freedom. All of my stress is tied up in my strain of my finances, so I feel like my life is stuck until that happens.  I should be able to think and plan beyond that, but, for now, that's all I want. 

FOR THE BLOG:  I would love, love, love to be able to have a blog that supports my family.  Until then, I am content that it connects me to people I never would have met otherwise.  The fact that I just had dinner with Dingo and Blakspring floors me. That I will meet up with TUWABVB and I Pick Pretty is cooler than I can imagine (Pretty Note: Yay!).  It's more than I had hoped when I started this little online brain dump, but I wouldn't have it any other way.  

Before Clicking Over to Her Blog, What She Wants You to Know:  Most of the time, I write and post and then go back and edit later.  On some days the blog is light and fun; and other times I plunge into the past to get some stuff out. I hope, whatever day you catch me on, you find something that you connect to, that tickles you, or at least makes you glad you stopped by. I'm looking forward to meeting you!

See how incredibly clever and fun she is? Please stop by Jenn's blog and tell her so here.  You can also follow her on Twitter here.

Note: If anyone else is interested in being a featured Friday blogger or have a blogger you would like to suggest, please peruse my original guidelines here & leave me a comment including your email address.