ABOUT

My name is Jennifer and I am a thirty-something mother of two who is working adamantly to hold it together while juggling a career, marriage, life and young boys. I am a modern DIGITAL MOM.

Random obsessions include coffee, running, self-help books, Bible study, Jack Bauer and anything Latin. One day I dream of growing up to be as cool as Lara Croft.

After surviving a fabulously fantastical and slightly insane 10-year stint in the Nashville music industry I now reside in the Baltimore / Washington D.C. Metro Area.

BLOGGY BACKGROUND: My blog career began with Tots2Tweens a couple of years ago. At that point I was asked to blog for my hometown newspaper, the Frederick News Post. It wasn’t until last Spring that I decided to venture out on my own and launch Hip As I Wanna Be. (Why the name, you ask? Read my first post. That explains it a bit.) I also blog for the Washington Times Parenting Today community – Hip As YOU Wanna Be. I believe that Twitter is an extension of my blogging. Truthfully, I’ve been addicted to it since I first registered over a year ago. It is a sickness. (@mammamania or @jennifergerlock)

HERE IS WHERE I TRY TO BE ALL GROWN UP AND PROFESSIONAL: I have over 15 years of experience as a public relations professional. I’ve represented clients that ranged from small non-profits to national record labels, multi-platinum recording artists and their respective worldwide tours. (True, I swear!) I am also a social media and marketing consultant as well as contributing writer to various magazines. I began my career in special event planning and to this day it is my biggest love, although I don’t get to do enough of it. I’ve been lucky enough to handle events ranging from music videos to black-tie galas. And although you might not believe it from reading my blog (haha!), I’ve been published by the New York Times Syndicate, Maryland Life Magazine, Frederick Magazine, Sony Worldwide Networks, Country Song Roundup Magazine, Frederick’s Child, Frederick Relocation Guide and Frederick Senior Magazine, among others. For more info on me, please check out my company website Bring It To Fruition.

PRESS:

The New York Times March 2010 “Honey, Don’t Bother Mommy. I’m Too Busy Building My Brand”
Maryland Life Magazine – March/April 2010 “It Takes A Virtual Village: Rise of the Mommy Blogs”
270Inc. Magazine – December/January 2010 “Social Media Roundtable”
Frederick Magazine – May 2009 “Marathon Woman”
Frederick News Post – 2009 Ad Campaign “Know It All”
Reader’s Digest – 2008 “Take As Directed”
Frederick News Post – 2008 “Mommy Blogs”

OTHER NOT-SO-JUICY TIDBITS:

My nickname is GiGi.
I ran my first marathon in 2007. I’ve gone on to tackle the Ragnar Relay in Washington, D.C. (181.2 miles. In the rain.)
Books are an lifelong obsession. Jane Eyre is my hero.
I am an obsessive collector of quotes.
I write the “Style” section for Frederick Magazine.
I’m learning how to skateboard. I’m pretty much destined to break a bone.
I am a sucker for a good cause.
I made the pom-pom squad in high school. I lasted three weeks.
I’ve never been outside the United States.
I was a paid extra in “Forrest Gump.”
I was present when the Dixie Chicks got their first chick feet tattoos. Wish I would have gotten one as well. (Rats!)
I have a crush on Professor Snape.
I am deathly afraid of heights and deep water, but I enjoy roller coasters and will never turn down a cruise.
When I was 12, I was run over by a horse. I’ve never recovered.
I once wanted to be an actress. Now I’m better.
I quit Girl Scouts because it was “too hard.” Ironically, I made a fabulous Cub Scout Leader.

My disclaimer: Sadly, I do not have an editor. You will find that I tend to insert random punctuation whenever I feel like it or it looks good. Please keep in mind that aside from my blogging, I also run my own company, serve on a number of committees in the community and do a lot of volunteer work. TRANSLATION: I might misspell a few words here or there. My bad.