THE KIM LYN JOURNAL

My little corner of the internet where I share all about being a Girlboss, photographer, mama, and about life in general.
 Based in North Smithfield, Rhode Island. Available for travel.

Blush Babe Tribe | Shawna | Rhode Island Boudoir Photographer

Let me introduce you to one of the strongest women I know.  We first met through email a few years ago when she wanted to book a Blush session with me.  She literally changed my life for the better.  She likes to tell people that I changed her life but I don’t think she really knows the impact she has had on mine.  She has become one of my biggest supporters and greatest friends.  I don’t have too many Mom friends and I know that’s mostly because as Moms we are so busy taking care of our little ones but Shawna has been a constant in my life.  I’ve met her amazing children and love them to pieces.  When I first met Shawna she was shy, a little insecure, and felt like she had lost herself.  Fast forward a few years and five sessions with me….she is now a motivational speaker, she has started a youtube channel (The Red Bra Project) empowering women.  She is an advocate for women and I am so beyond proud of her and the woman she is.  She continuously builds women up even when her own life is going through craziness!  She stays positive and is a light in my life.  Everyone meet Shawna.

1. Name, age, job, hobbies etc (your three words to describe you)

Tell us a little bit about yourself:My name is Shawna and I am mom to two wonderful children. I am 38 years old which often surprises people when I tell them that. I guess you could say I was blessed with good genes and an amazing skin care regimen 🙂

 
I love to write. When my son was diagnosed with autism I took to the blog world. Initially I was only writing for me because it was therapy. It was a great way for me to get out everything that I was struggling with daily. 
 
I love the stage I was a theater major in college, but now I focus my energy on motivational speaking. I really want to become a speaker at the high school and college level to encourage young women to believe in themselves. To be ok with their bodies, their minds, their personalities. To not be so hard on themselves. It has always been a struggle for women, but even more so now in the age of social media. 
 
My current side hustle is the Red Bra Project. My good friend Renee and I have taken on this movement to stay positive and encourage women to believe in themselves, but also to support other women. Much like the blush babe tribe we want women to be cheerleaders for one another and not competitors. 
 
Three words to describe me: Funny, Mom, Resilient

2. What is a typical day like for you?

My days are crazy. I start at 5am and don’t typically stop until midnight. I begin by getting myself ready and then I move on to my kiddos and finally somehow end up at work after all drop-off are complete. I spend a solid eight hours a day at my job and lose about 1.5 hours everyday to traffic. At the end of the night I rush home to spend the remaining hours with my kiddos who are either at school, camp, or with the babysitter. I take in every second I can on the weekends because the weekdays are so busy.
 

3. On hard days, what motivates you to get up and start your day?
This year has been particularly difficult for me. It’s been a good test that the stuff that used to work for me doesn’t work anymore. I would wear a lot of masks so that people thought I was ok, but inside I was breaking. I have learned that to get through my struggles I have to acknowledge them, to be ok with them, and to accept that not smiling every day or having a bad day does not equate to failure. What I have went through this year is not normal, but it’s made me stronger. I also realize people are fighting far bigger battles than I am. I have to breathe, take one thing at a time, and not get lost in what could easily become darkness.
 

4. Who inspires you to live your best life?
My children. I know I need to be their advocate and a good role model for them. On my worst days they bring joy. I want to teach them resiliency. My daughter has high anxiety and I want to teach her coping skills and to enjoy life more. My son has autism and struggles daily to get the world to speak his language. He inspires me. He is a little superhero in my eyes and my daughter is equally inspiring. 


5. If you could go back and tell your 13 year old self something….what would that be? So many things, but the most important thing would be love myself. I have ALWAYS had low self esteem. I never saw myself as pretty enough. I look in the mirror now and not in a conceited way I love the woman staring back at me. There are days my eyes look a little more puffy, my make-up does’t apply right or my belly is more bloated than usual, but overall I love the woman I have become and I love the most that I am confident. 

6. What is your favorite quote? One day someone is going to hug you so tight that all of your broken pieces will stick back together. or…..She remembered who she was and the game changed. – Lalah Deliah

7. You are inspiring women to stop hating and start loving themselves and each other, what piece of advice would you give them?
 Make yourself number one on your list. You can’t expect others to love you if you don’t love yourself. https://youtu.be/lbhO7aipDrM

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