Braids by Jenn

A little Braids By Jen love for the communities who have been trying to get me out there… ❤️🪶

I just want to say THANK YOU to all of you who have reached out, invited me, tried to make dates work and continue to keep me on your list. 🥹❤️

Wet’suwet’en, Lake Babine Nation, Foundry Burns Lake and Nazko First Nation — I SEE YOU! 👀❤️

And Nazko… 😭 I was supposed to be with you THIS WHOLE WEEK and my heart hurts that it didn’t work out!

Please know that just because I haven’t made it to your community yet DOES NOT mean I don’t want to come. You are absolutely still on my list, and I would LOVE to get out there when the timing finally lines up.

I’m really trying to be a little more intentional this year about not having my kids miss so much school. As much as I love packing up my braid box and hitting the road, I’m also trying to remember that these little humans are only little once. ❤️

So sometimes the dates just don’t cooperate, the schedules don’t line up, somebody has school, somebody needs a ride, somebody needs dinner… and suddenly I’m like HOW DO I HAVE 47 JOBS?! 😂😭

But I promise — I haven’t forgotten about you.

Thank you for thinking of me, supporting Braids By Jen and wanting me to come share space with your communities. It means more to me than you know. 🥹❤️

Hopefully we can make it happen soon!

Still on my list. Still wanting to come. Still packing that braid box. 🪶❤️

PS- Picture of my beautiful daughter for attention!!

— Braids By Jen

August was a BUSY one… so here’s a little dump of all the selfies and random moments I managed to capture along the way. 😂❤️📸

I really do try to take as many pictures as I can because life moves SO damn fast, and I want to remember the people, the places, the laughs, the chaos, and all the little moments in between.

And honestly… I’m feeling extra blessed looking through these. 🥹❤️

I’m so thankful for all the beautiful people who let me pull out my phone and say, “Okay, picture!!” 😂 Some of you probably didn’t even know what you were signing up for when you met me. 🤣

Every face in these photos represents a moment, a memory, a connection, or a little piece of my August that I’m grateful for.

I don’t take any of it for granted. 🙏🏼❤️

Thank you to everyone who welcomed me, laughed with me, braided with me, worked beside me, travelled with me, supported me, took pictures with me, or simply let me be part of your day.

I’m truly blessed. Truly thankful. And apparently… physically incapable of going anywhere without taking a selfie. 😂📸❤️

Here’s to the memories. 🥂✨

DAY 2 at the Elders Gathering

Another AMAZING day of braiding and visiting with some of the most beautiful people. 🥰❤️

I’ve been having such a good time being here, doing what I love, laughing, connecting, hearing stories and just soaking it all in. There’s something so special about being around our Elders — the wisdom, the humour, the stories… and of course, the hair! 😂❤️

My hands are tired, my feet are tired, but my heart is FULL. 🥹

So grateful to be here and grateful for every person who has sat in my chair these past two days. ❤️

And a HUGE thank you to Carrier Sekani Family Services for putting on such a beautiful gathering for our Elders. ❤️ What a wonderful way to honour, celebrate, connect and bring our Elders together. It’s truly special to be a part of it. 🙏🏼❤️

Day 2 done… and somehow I’m still standing! 😂💪🏽

A heartfelt thank you to Nadleh Whut’en for having me out for your Back-to-School event. ❤️🫶🏻

It had been awhile since I was back in Nadleh, and I’ve really missed being there. Sometimes life gets so busy and the stars just don’t seem to align — but this time, they finally did. 🥹🪶

I had been home for three whole days, finally sleeping in and enjoying a little downtime. My braid box was STILL packed from all the travelling, and then I get a message asking if I’d come braid for their Back-to-School event.

My answer was basically… say no more, I’m on the wayyyy! 😂❤️

So me and the kids got ourselves ready, got a much-needed oil change, loaded up and hit the road to Nadleh. 🚙☀️ And it was honestly the perfect day for a drive.

I got there around noon and spent the afternoon doing what I love — sitting with these beautiful girls, visiting, laughing, and getting them all ready for a brand new school year. 🎒🪶❤️

I was back on the road by dinner time. 😂💪🏼

And then there was the little tire miracle… 😂

Both my siblings needed new back tires, and somehow they needed the exact same size. After searching everywhere, we found the best price at Canadian Tire — and luckily they were able to split the LAST set between them! 😂🙌🏼

So honestly, this little braiding job came at a time when it was truly a Godsend for me. 🙏🏼❤️ Sometimes things really do fall into place exactly when they’re supposed to.

And my kids? 😂 After all the travelling they had done with me that month, they are MORE than happy to stay home and get back into their school routine. 😂❤️

Thank you, Nadleh Whut’en, for welcoming me back and letting me be part of such a special Back-to-School day.

It may have only been one afternoon, but it meant a lot to me to be back. ❤️🪶

Until next time, Nadleh. 🫶🏻❤️

Guns N’ Roses… we finally did it. 🎸🌹❤️

And the funniest part? The last day of Salmon Fest got cut short by one day… so one minute I was braiding at Salmon Fest, and the next day I was in Vancouver for Guns N’ Roses! 😂🐟➡️🎸

10 years ago, David and I tried to see Guns N’ Roses when our daughter was only ONE. We had everything planned, but we had to miss it. 😭

Fast forward 10 years… and THIS time we made it happen! ❤️

This was also a very overdue date night for us. 🥹❤️ After everything life has thrown at us, we really needed some time to just be us — to get away, laugh, explore and make some memories together.

We had such a fun little adventure. We stayed in a beautiful 4-bedroom Airbnb, went to the PNE, stopped for fish and chips by the ocean in White Rock, laughed, explored and just enjoyed being away together. 🌊🍟❤️

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Jenn trip without a little chaos. 😂 My brother wasn’t able to make it for his birthday trip, there was a mix-up with some of the other attendees, and somehow I even managed to lose my favourite blue earrings at the Airbnb. 😭😂💙

But honestly… it all worked out for the best.

I ended up bringing my cousin Cindy and her husband along, and I’m so grateful I did. 🥰❤️

And then came the concert…

I’m not even going to lie — I cried through almost the whole thing. 😭😂❤️

I absolutely LOVE Guns N’ Roses, and finally getting to stand there and hear those songs live after waiting 10 years was emotional in a way I didn’t expect.

But then The Black Crowes came on…

And they played “She Talks to Angels.” 😭🌹

The Black Crowes are my Mom’s favourite band, and that was her favourite song.

So there I was, at a Guns N’ Roses concert that David and I had waited 10 years to experience, listening to my Mom’s favourite song.

It felt like she was there with me. 🥹❤️🪶

This trip ended up meaning SO much more to me than just seeing my favourite band.

It was a second chance at something we missed 10 years ago.
It was a much-needed date night with my common law.
It was time with my cousin Cindy.
It was fish and chips by the ocean, the PNE, losing my favourite earrings 😂, laughing, exploring and making memories.

And somehow, in the middle of it all, I got a little piece of Mom too. ❤️🌹🪶

Some things just work out exactly the way they’re meant to.

Guns N’ Roses… after 10 years, we finally made it. 🎸❤️🤘🏼