It seems a little redundant to have an About Me page when this entire blog is basically one giant overshare of my life. But, since you’re here, I’ll give you the condensed version.
I’m Kristina. Wife to Vince, the boy I met when I was 16. Mom to four daughters with a 16-year age gap between the oldest and youngest. Originally from Pittsburgh, now enjoying life in Florida, where I no longer have to scrape ice off my windshield.
I’m also a published author.
Which is still a little weird to say out loud.
I started Raising the Curtins in 2016 because I love writing, my family provides an absurd amount of material, and I needed somewhere to unload the contents of my brain.
Somewhere along the way, that little hobby turned into a book.
WELL, THIS IS HARD (that’s what she said): An Unfiltered Guide to Raising Good Humans, Including Yourself is about motherhood, the mistakes I’ve made, the things I’ve learned, and how raising my girls has forced me to grow up a little myself.
The irony is that I never wanted to be a mom. Like, ever.
And now I’ve written an entire book about being one.
Life’s funny like that.
I’m still the same woman who shares too much, occasionally says inappropriate things, and overanalyzes everything. I’m just officially an author now, too.
Childhood
I had a character-building childhood with an alcoholic/physically abusive dad, bipolar/verbally abusive mom, and schizophrenic brother. Yes, YES you assholes. I am mentally sound. So far anyways. Scarlett does challenge my sanity daily though. And I named my inner voice Nancy. But I digress.
I ran away from home when I was 8 to live with my aunt and uncle. Things were better, but not great. Then I was kicked moved out of their house when I just turned 18.
College & Career
I put myself through college, originally enrolling as a voice major because I had the delusion that I could be a singer. Ended up switching majors because I would have been required to learn an instrument in order to major. I had no patience for that at 19.
Ended up choosing my major based on what I had the most credits for at the time I needed to declare (yay Marketing!). Luckily found a job with a relatively new digital marketing company at the time that has given me great growth opportunities over the past 20 years, as the company, and myself, have evolved.
Family
I have 4 daughters, Gianna, Scarlett, Evangeline, and Marina, who make life interesting every day and never make me regret having them when I didn’t ever want kids. Married to Vince. The boy I met at the age of 16. He was my bagger at a local grocery store, and I was a cashier. We currently live in Tampa, FL.
Hobbies & What Not
I like alliteration, recycling, dollhouses, puppies, musicals, peeling sunburn, reading, palm trees, wine, quesadillas, rearranging furniture, and watching my daughters grow up.
I’m an introvert and feel exhausted a lot of the times after I have social interactions. I’m short, but not short enough to get a handicap permit. I’m Italian, but can’t cook. I don’t believe in showing love with food. I’m a struggling vegetarian and keto-enthusiast.
And I’m the creator of RaisingTheCurtins.com – a blog that documents all my crazy…along with the ones closest to me.