Salt: “that which gives liveliness, freshness, or piquancy to a person’s character, life, etc.” Oxford English Dictionary.

Welcome to my lifestyle blog! I am a wife and mother in my 40’s trying to “flavor my life.”

I grew up an East Coaster (from Maryland) in a not-so-typical family. My childhood was pretty lonely. My dad died when I was nine and as a result, my family struggled both financially and emotionally. Due to many factors, my mom wasn’t around much while I was growing up.

As a young girl, I watched the world around me and saw what was possible. I dreamt of how I would shape my life to make those possibilities my reality. Growing up on my own fueled my determination and ambition to create the life I wanted.

I graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Maryland, College Park. I was so focused on getting a job after undergrad, I had no life during college.

I spent my 20’s working hard in my professional career in New York City as a CPA at Arthur Andersen and then a VP in corporate restructuring for Ernst & Young.

Continuing to further my career, I started Northwestern’s Kellogg MBA program. Love changed things and I left the program to follow my now husband to California. My 30’s were focused on figuring out how motherhood works along with helping my husband set up and run his medical practice.

When I turned 40, I felt like I could breathe a little easier. The fog of trying to be Superwoman and juggling so many things at once suddenly lifted. My perspective started to shift and I found myself enjoying life more.

I wasn’t so hard on myself to be the perfect mom, the perfect wife, or the perfect woman. Once I let go of my expectations a bit, I was able to live in the moment and see things more clearly. More authentically.

Now, I love my life. I love it for all the wonder it allows me to experience, the strong friendships I am grateful to have, the warm Manhattan Beach community in which I am able to raise my children, the fresh California air. I love being able to look at my husband with deeper love as time passes, to watch my children grow into their unique personalities.

I believe life is very magical. But it goes by fast. We need to spend more time on a day-to-day basis, LIVING.

My purpose for this lifestyle blog is to share my inspiration for living a BEAUTIFUL LIFE. A fulfilling life as a woman, wife, mother, friend, and individual.

Flavor your Life with an Ounce of Salt.

A lifestyle blog by Jen Oliak.