The spotlight is on Josephine in this fifth installment of my A Woman I Know series. My weekly link up post is published on Saturdays and, during every month, I cycle through four recurring themes, for designated for each week. On the occasion when there is a fifth Saturday in the month, I publish this special feature. You can get caught up on the past features about Amy, Joya, Cathy, and Bernice by clicking on their names.
My life would not be the same without this very special woman. Josephine (or Jo as she prefers) is a loving and kind soul who has enriched my life in so many ways and best of all, she’s my daughter. Not a day goes that her father and I don’t marvel at how blessed we feel to be her parents. She was an easy and adorable baby, a delightful and curious toddler, and an eager and diligent student. Jo’s friendly and outgoing manner has allowed her to make friends easily in all types of situations.
In line with the theme of A Woman I Know, this will not be a feature about her childhood (other than the photo below). Josephine has grown into a responsible and nearly self-sustaining adult and I want to highlight the qualities and talents that make her such a fantastic person.
Back in May, I shared about Jo’s graduation from college (read about it here) but what I didn’t say is that her major was graphic design and she has career goals to do web and user-interface design. In the summer before her senior year, she was hired by CSUN’s Viscom Center, an on-campus, student-run creative agency that provides design for brands, experiences, and time-based media for a wide range of clients. In her last semester, Jo worked full-time splitting her week between internships at two different companies. Someday soon, I will tap into her skills to update the format of this blog.
As you will read in the interview, Jo is not a lost soul without direction. She is a talented artisan, an adventurous traveler, and conscientious about her health and the environment. Jo has been earning money at various jobs since she was about 13 and during one period, she had three part-time jobs at the same time that she juggled along with going to school. I don’t think that there’s anything that this woman can’t do if she sets her mind to it.
While a lot of what makes up Josephine may have come from her father and me, there is much about her for which we cannot take credit. I know that I’ve often been motivated to improve myself because of her, either by her example or to be a better role model for her. We’re immensely proud of this person we created even as we work through the challenges that come with the transitioning of a child into an independent adult.
Josephine – In Her Own Words
Q – How would you describe your style?
A – I guess it depends on what aspect of my life we are talking about…
Fashion: laid back, bohemian, hippie, expressive, not excessive, mostly all of my clothes are worn too many times to count
Graphic Design: minimalistic, relevant, colorful
Q – Do you have any fashion challenges? What’s the biggest one?
A – My biggest fashion challenge is to remain trendy/relevant (in my own opinion, not necessarily according to current fashion trends) with spending little to no money on new clothes. Also, I have way too much black clothing…not sure if that’s a bad thing though.
Q – What gives you joy?
A – I love crafting, nature, socializing, and traveling.
Crafting: I am a craft enthusiast! Some crafts that I particularly enjoy are sewing, jewelry making, weaving, and making wall decorations. I love trying new crafts as well!
Nature: I love being totally immersed in nature. I particularly enjoy going to the beach and forests. I have always loved going hiking (favorably on less trafficked trails) in my spare time, and I recently started backpacking.
Socializing: Hanging out with friends, meeting new people, and spending time with my family.
Traveling: I try to travel as much as I possibly can! I frequently go on road-trips, and occasionally (when I have enough money/time) I will buy a plane ticket somewhere. I have road-tripped all up and down the West Coast, and to Arizona, Utah, and Nevada. My next road-trips are to Las Vegas (in a week) and to Idaho (mid-late August) to see the full solar eclipse. States I have been to are California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. National Parks I have been to are Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Sequoia, Yosemite, Lassen Volcanic, Redwood, Crater Lake, Zion. I have flown to the East Coast to visit my family too many times to count. So far I have only been to 2 countries: Israel and Mexico. I am traveling to Bali, Indonesia very very soon for all of September.
Q – You’ve become a pescatarian … what was your motivation?
A – I became a pescatarian for environmental reasons. There are a lot of resources that go into raising animals that could be used elsewhere on the planet, or at least not be depleted so quickly. There is also a lot of unnecessary pollution created from raising livestock. Also, I’m allergic to dairy, so I’m practically vegan. I only buy ethically sourced eggs and eat fish on occasion.
Q – What else do you do to stay healthy?
A – I exercise regularly. This past year I have gotten myself back into the routine of going to the gym at least 3-4 times a week. My boyfriend and I have a deal that if I don’t go to the gym at least 4 times a week then I will owe him $20 for each day I do not go (the incentive is to keep me motivated lol). I have recently started rock climbing with my boyfriend, which is a crazy intense workout. I also enjoy hiking with friends, when it’s not so incredibly hot.
Q – Now that you’ve graduated from college … what are your next 5 goals?
A – 1) travel, 2) make money so I can travel more, 3) get my Etsy shop Stoned Craft Works to “take off”, 4) be healthier (eat healthier/exercise more), 5) get a job in my chosen field (and that I like)
Q – What do you value most in life?
A – I value happiness and well being, along with my family and friends.
Let’s Wrap This Up
Perhaps featuring a millennial is a bit out of step with my usual focus on this blog but I hope that you’ve enjoyed this introduction to Josephine and learning about what makes her such a fabulous person. No matter their age, who are the awesome women that you know? What do you admire about them and how have they influenced your life?
The next month with a fifth Saturday is September and I already have another awesome woman in the queue to introduce to you. However, I’m still looking to fill the December slot as well as mapping out the ones in 2018 so be warned my other friends and family, I may soon be calling to ask you for a favor. Please consider saying yes.
Let’s connect! Subscribe, tweet, follow, friend, love, pin, stumble … all options are available and waiting for you. I look forward to hearing from you. And don’t forget to add a post or two to the link up.
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28 Comments
What is so relevant in reading this is the fact that the age really doesn’t matter! Jo is quite a charming soul, and what a gift to have met her!!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Jodie, Josephine would be the first one to agree with you that age really doesn’t matter. She is my best sounding board for style and trends. I’m glad that you enjoyed meeting her at the meet up.
That was wonderful- Thank you for sharing your daughter with us.
How delightful to see the photo of you as a young mother and Jo as a 4 year old(?) A hat on a little kid gets me every time! 🙂
You have raised a hard working, funny, ethical and poised young woman. I remember this period of time ( that you and Joe are sharing) with my own mom as she began to value the person I’d become and we gradually let go of some of our previous roles.
How lovely to have her loving support over these last few months and also to be on the receiving end of her nurturing!! What challenges, fun, hopefulness and excitement lay ahead for Josephine and her parents!! Thanks for sharing this lovely woman with us Rena.
Jude, I’m very fond of the “tea party” dress up photo with Jo as well. And you’re right, Jo has been a great source of strength and comfort in the last few months.
Such a lovely young woman. Thank you that you share this post with us Rena
Anna
http://www.glamdventure.com
Anna, I’m glad that you enjoyed the post and find Jo to be as lovely as I do.
I loved reading this installment of “A Woman I Know!”
Thank you, Andrea.
Good to meet the people in your life Rena. There’s no way I could promise $20 for not going to the gym. I’d be penniless! xx
http://www.vanityandmestyle.com
Thank you, Laurie. I had to chuckle when I read about her motivation to exercise since that was the first time I had heard about it.
What a concious, involved and sensibel woman she seems! How lovely to feature your beautiful daughter!
Thank you, Nancy. I’m glad that you enjoyed reading about her.
Love, love, love this post! Jo is as beautiful as her mother! She clearly is an amazing, talented, brilliant, and driven woman! And I am loving her Etsy shop! Thank you so much for sharing Jo’s story with us. You have every reason to be ever so proud of this lovely young woman!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Shelbee, thank you for the lovely compliments and for promoting Jo’s Etsy shop. As her mother, I of course think that Jo is extra special and I’m so glad that you do too.
Jo is beautiful and I thoroughly enjoyed the pleasure of learning more about your daughter. I will definitely check out her etsy shop. Thanks for sharing, Rena!
Jennie, I’m so glad that you enjoyed the post and the introduction to Jo. I appreciate your support of her Etsy shop, too.
She is gorgeous, so glad you have such a wonderful relationship with your daughter.
Thank you. I do feel very blessed to have such a great relationship with her.
I enjoyed reading about your daughter! Lovely relationship you both have and love the pics .. she is a hat wearer! Enjoyed reading about her creative abilities, Rita
Have a great week!
jess xx
http://www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
Jess, I’m glad that you enjoyed the post. I cherish the relationship that I have with Jo and I was so glad that she agreed to be featured.
What a sweet post on Josephine and you both look great in hats. I love that you are like a mother to her!
Welcome by Thursday and join my linkup too, Rena. Thanks. =)
OK, I meant to say: “I love that you are like a friend, not just a mother to her”. Sorry, typing so fast from my phone.
Ada, I’m glad that you clarified your first comment. It was fun to feature Jo and I’m so happy that she agreed to it.
I liked reading about your daughter, Rena. She seems like a lovely person with strong ethics and career goals who has great respect to her parents and people around her. I wish her all the best in her future endevours. Would like to see what she can do to your blog. Bali is am amazing place, sure she will love it
https://lookingfabulousat50.blogspot.com.au/
Thank you, Anna. Jo is a lovely person and I’m glad that I was able to convey that in the post.
I really enjoyed reading this, what a wonderful young woman, you must be incredibly proud. Please let us know when the Etsy shop opens!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
Thank you for introducing us to your lovely daughter. What a blessing she must be to you and obviously you have both instilled in her the desire to follow her dreams and have standards. Great post. – Amy
http://stylingrannymama.com/