Meet Jenn

Hello friends

Welcome to The Diary of A Dreamer.

My name is Jenn, a 20 something (i'm too lazy to keep changing my age) from Texas and Florida. I currently reside in Fayetteville, North Carolina (yet again). I am a veteran of the U.S. Army who was medically retired after 5.5 years due to a chronic neuromuscular pain disorder and degenerated disks in my back. I served as an Air Traffic Controller and spent 2 years at Fort Bragg, NC, a year in Afghanistan, and 20 months in Germany. I am once again a student (college this time) and am pursuing a Bachelors in Business as well as a full time traveling photographer. 

This is my lifestyle blog where I share posts about my dreams, the end of my career in the military, my crafts, my travels, life with a Chronic Pain Disorder, tattoos, cooking, lots of geekery, and share other things that I love. 

I like to spend my spare time volunteering for Breast Cancer Awareness, building communities around small businesses and handmade brands.

Some things about me:

1. I have 11 tattoos and a half sleeve. I plan on getting more. And finishing my half-sleeve. 

2. I am quite a nerd. The list of things I love is quite extensive... and deserves a post of it's own I think. Here is a little taste though. Harry Potter, Criminal Minds, NCIS, Batman, the Avengers, J.R.R. Tolkien, Disney, Pixar, and many more.

3. I love to cook and the unbelievable part is I didn't care for it until I was 18 years old. My favorite thing to do is bake yummy deserts and also bake chicken.

4. I joined the Army on the delayed entry program in February 2010. I went to basic in July of 2010, and have spent the last 5.5 years of my life at Fort Bragg, Afghanistan, and Germany. While I am sad to have ended my time in the military, I am excited to start the next chapter of my life.

5. I am an avid crafter. I dabble in several different crafts: sewing, drawing, painting, crochet, memory keeping, and making things with paracord. 

6. I was recently introduced to the world of the Travelers Notebook and have even convinced my mom to join me in selling some handmade ones to make a little extra cash. I think we might be opening an Etsy store before the end of the year.

7. I like to be busy. I've always been that way. In school I was balancing honors classes, chorus, NJROTC, and my friends. I was constantly on the move. Now in my adult life, I am trying to do the same. It helps keep me distracted from a broken heart and my anxiety. I work 8-10 hours days with the Army, I run a photography business, I craft, I volunteer, and I am launching a new brand. I work best when I am busy. Too much free time means I sit around and watch television, and then get nothing down.

8. I am an insomniac, thanks to my disorder, but luckily I happen to work best at night, when I can't sleep. 

9. I like to read and I take copious amounts of notes. I have a crappy memory sometimes, so I work best off of notes. So I have a TON of notebooks laying around, full of various things. If you ever see me in public with a bag, there is a good bet that I have at least one notebook with me. :) It also helps with a disorganized brain.

10. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Gastroesophogial Reflux Disease (GERD), insomnia, degenerated disks in my back, and anxiety. I'm waiting on a confirmation of whether or not I have arthritis as well. I suffered for years with these before I found a doctor who would give me an actual diagnosis, not just tell me that it was all in my head.

11. Although most people would never know it.... I have some pretty severe social anxiety. I've always been described as an outgoing personality but inside.... I freak out. Meeting new people kind of freaks me out and if they don't initiate conversation, I have no idea what to say. OH! And I hate being put on the spot.... it freaks me out and I forget everything I know about any given topic. Crowds make me really uncomfortable and I am constantly looking around and on edge. That usually bugs people, they think I am not paying attention.... however I am just a really good multitasker!

So please send me an email, leave me a comment, or hit me up on social media. I would love to get to know you and make new friends. Thank you for stopping by!!