Kristina Bant Jenkins
I am a graphic designer and a blossoming photographer. I have had a lifelong fascination with all elements of design. I grey up admiring my uncle, a renowned architect and would sit for hours at his drafting table admiring the many pencils used for drafting. I drew, painted, crafted, and just made "stuff." I am a native of southern California and I studied architecture at the University of Southern California's School of Architecture before heading off to Italy to model and explore museums. After a good career that took me to New York, Paris, and Miami, I found a new career while working for an interior designer as director of marketing and advertising. It was then that I fell in love with graphic design.
While working as a graphic artist, what was a hobby grew into a business. A passion for photography started while modeling for some amazing photographers including Troy Plota and Walter Iooss. I found that I much preferred being behind the camera taking the pictures. A few generous photographers shared bits of their knowledge, even saying, “Here, take a roll!” But after my son was born, I cherished being able to capture those eyes that engaged me, that incredible smile that I was at a loss for words to describe! To capture life’s moments, to be able to share them with loved ones, that is what I love to do.
I will start by introducing myself. I'm Kristina, Co-Creator of Mommies in the Hood, and I occupy many of the types of moms described in our blog description. I am a divorced, single mom to a beautiful 4-year old boy with special needs, Charlie. He has autism. Because Charlie receives a lot of therapy that many children with autism benefit from, I choose to work from home, so I'm somewhere between a stay-at-home mom and a career mom. We either have therapists in the home, or we drive to the therapy, then I work at night, when all is quiet.
I am a graphic designer and a blossoming photographer. I have had a lifelong fascination with all elements of design. I grey up admiring my uncle, a renowned architect and would sit for hours at his drafting table admiring the many pencils used for drafting. I drew, painted, crafted, and just made "stuff." I am a native of southern California and I studied architecture at the University of Southern California's School of Architecture before heading off to Italy to model and explore museums. After a good career that took me to New York, Paris, and Miami, I found a new career while working for an interior designer as director of marketing and advertising. It was then that I fell in love with graphic design. While working as a graphic artist, what was a hobby grew into a business. A passion for photography started while modeling for some amazing photographers including Troy Plota and Walter Iooss. I found that I much preferred being behind the camera taking the pictures. A few generous photographers shared bits of their knowledge, even saying, “Here, take a roll!” But after my son was born, I cherished being able to capture those eyes that engaged me, that incredible smile that I was at a loss for words to describe! To capture life’s moments, to be able to share them with loved ones, that is what I love to do.
I'm an athlete-mom, I try to train six days a week. It may sound great, but really it's just the one thing I do for myself, it's my sanity. I love the outdoors, riding horses, going to the beach, going for hikes, and all the kid stuff. We live in Los Angeles, and we have wonderful weather for everything outside. Does that make me a Hollywood mom? I don't know, all of our friends are part of Hollywood in some way, while we are not. I'm not sure about that one. But I love southern California, the beaches, the sunshine, the culture, and the wine country, the desert, or the mountains not too far away.
Sometimes all of this is tough, I'm usually exhausted, or not at all ready to be creative. But it's how I have to do it. I work from home so that I can give Charlie what he needs. I guess all of that makes me a juggling-it-all mom. Like all moms, I am just trying to do my best each day while trying hard not to forget to take time to enjoy it along the way. So often, it's nice to hear that we are not the only ones out there experiencing what we are. I hope to share a few things about what we go through, maybe even share some knowledge, in this blog.
Lisa Frodsham Spalla
Lisa Spalla, Co-Creator of Mommies in the Hood, has more than 16 years of entertainment news experience. She is a veteran TV journalist having worked as a producer, director, host and reporter for several network and shows like Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, Extra, E! Entertainment Television and Animal Planet. She is currently a Reporter/Blogger for California Life.
Lisa previously spent over 10 years developing programming for TV Guide Network and most recently worked as Executive Producer for two of the Guide’s shows, TV Watercooler and InFANity.
Lisa recently married into a ground breaking Hollywood family with roots deep in the entertainment business. Her father-in-law, Rick Spalla founded the company Hollywood Newsreel Syndicate. He pioneered entertainment news producing the first syndicated show called Hollywood Backstage, exclusively covering the Oscars and the Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremonies. Lisa has joined her husband in re-opening the vault of priceless vintage footage to create some memorable programming. Now they just have to teach their new baby how to run a camera. When not working, Lisa treasures spending time with her one-year old son, Luke and husband, Rick.
Lisa previously spent over 10 years developing programming for TV Guide Network and most recently worked as Executive Producer for two of the Guide’s shows, TV Watercooler and InFANity.
Landing her first TV gig at Entertainment Tonight, Lisa spent five years learning the Hollywood ropes, becoming an associate director for the domestic show, then producing and directing the ET International Show. She continues to be a constant figure on red carpets conducting celebrity interviews. Taking her entertainment expertise online, Lisa is now focusing on more personal stories about motherhood, while still maintaining a Hollywood flare.
As we've mentioned, we are both busy working moms ourselves. So please check out our other ventures and visit our websites!
kbj-design.com graphic design
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