Hey, you! So nice of you to click to learn more about me, Kristina Henson.
I live in Upstate New York with my daughter, a Golden Retriever, and two cats. Before writing and illustrating my two books, One Hundred Birds Telling One Hundred Little Stories and Letters to Lily, I maintained a blog and regularly published personal essays while working in the graphic design industry by day and devoting the majority of the rest of my time doing what I love the most — writing and creating books. I love everything about books. With all that’s inside of them—the things I can learn, the places I can travel to, the characters I can fall in love with—what isn’t there to love?
I can define myself by being so many things: a mother, a daughter, a sister, an artist, an author, a designer. But most importantly—and what I remind myself of often—is that I am a woman who needs to create. 
I hope you enjoy a peek into my studio and life. 
Kristina 

Blue Jeans Blues

Blue Jeans Blues

kristina henson

I did it again. I went shopping yesterday for a pair of jeans. I do this every couple of years, fully aware that I am about to take my pants off in a dressing room with wayyyyy too many mirrors and unforgiving lighting. I'm confident with my appearance; I'm old enough to have done the work to stop comparing my body to other women and knock it off with the body shaming. I'm seriously grateful every day that my squishy body is healthy. Still, holy shit, oof, dang it, I left that store with a new cardigan, a butterfly t-shirt , and a promise to never, ever do that again. I even wondered if my therapist was available for an emergency call.

I went into that dressing room with such optimism. I had eight pairs of jeans in different colors, styles, and sizes and was confident that I would walk out with at least one pair that I LOVED.

Nope.

I handed the sweet and smiley-faced sales girl my crumpled-up pile of jeans to return to the store for the next sucker.

She asked, "Did I find anything I liked?"

Speechless, I shook my head no.

"Can I help you find another style to try on?" she asked.

"No, I don't have the strength to take my pants off in there again," I replied.

I wasn't being dramatic. I did feel physically weaker than when I entered the dressing room. I tried to remember how good I felt leaving the house with my clean hair that I even took the time to blow dry. I put mascara on, for God's sake. I was on a mission to feel good and own a cute pair of blue jeans.

Today is a new day. I have hope, a renewed sense of clarity that only a night of rest can give me, and plans:

1) I'm going to order different styles online and create an inviting, candle-lit space to try them on in front of a dusty mirror in the safe zone of my own home. If that doesn't work:

2) I'll sign up for one of those online personal shopper services and have a stylist sort through the one thousand options of wide leg, skinny leg, high rise, low rise, boot cut jeans and fix this for me. I want to know precisely what jeans are suitable for my body type.

There has to be one pair of jeans that I LOVE that doesn't make my butt look like a misshaped pancake.

To all you women that know how to clothes shop and rock every pair of jeans you own: I love and admire you. Keep crushin' it. Tell me your secret.

I will only report back on this subject if I have good news.

xo

Still

Still
Balance

Balance
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