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Adoption, motherhood and midlife

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All About Jill

laughing pictureI’m an experienced digital content creator, essayist, and humorist. Just so you know, if this weren’t the internet, I’d be smiling awkwardly and answering simple questions like “How are you today” with gems like “I like pockets” and “Great but I forgot my deodorant.”

I really do love pockets, though.

If you’re interested in working with me, please check out my Media Kit. If you like what you see, I’d love for you to email me about your product, service, or destination and we’ll talk from there. I do not accept guest posts.

I spent 26 years in the United States Air Force, which went by really, really fast. I held a variety of positions in administration, legal, and security, and although I’m very proud of my service, I am loving my second act even more. I am a creative in everything I do and digital content and writing gives me the opportunity to flex that creative muscle and makes me happy.

I’m married to a man I met while pouring draft beer for a fundraising activity at Busch Stadium (go Cardinals!) My beer pouring skills impressed him so much that he asked me out and quickly decided to marry me. He might not remember things that way but that’s OK.

I have three children. My oldest is 27 and lives with her husband and the most brilliant two-year-old ever in southern Spain. My two sons are 10. Yes, I know that’s a big gap between kids, although I try not to grimace when people point this out to me. My boys are four months apart and adopted from China. They are both considered special needs, although that means something different in China adoption speak. Our last adoption was in 2013 so I don’t feel comfortable giving adoption advice but it’s a subject I do love to talk about.

family picture outside of home

We went from being two empty nesters to a family of five in 11 months. It really was as crazy as it sounds.

I cope with parenting through humor and snark. I have a serious relationship with my Keurig and I buy my wine at Costco, which I think is the happiest place on earth that Disney doesn’t own. I own a minivan that hasn’t been cleaned out this calendar year. Obviously, I’m sort of OK with being a mom cliche. My best piece of parenting advice is to pretend everything on your floor you can’t identify is a fruit snack.

picture at ikea shopping

I am a born wanderer and there’s probably very few places on the planet I wouldn’t go…unless we happen to be in the middle of a global pandemic. Then I’m a little bit pickier. I’ve been to 29 countries and 27 of the 50 U.S. states but don’t ask me if I have a favorite place. There are too many cool places for me to choose just one.

family picture in mountains traveling

About this website:

I started Ripped Jeans and Bifocals (I came up with the name on a whim and I have a love/hate relationship with it) in 2014 to share our adoption story and my struggles with depression after our second adoption in 2013.
While I still write about adoption sometimes – you can check out our adoption archives – most of the content on this website falls under lifestyle (to include food), parenting and traveling.

Thanks for checking out my site and getting to know us a little better. Shoot me an email or connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to my weekly newsletter. I would love to hear from you.

Popular Blog Posts:

Why you should give an adoptive mom a baby shower adoption shower|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals.

14 things that are awesome about a Disney Cruise|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

Yes I know my kid is small|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

Other writing and press:

My writing has also appeared in The Washington Post, Scary Mommy, Babble, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, Ravishly, Your Tango, SheKnows, The Huffington Post, Mamalode, What the Flicka, Blunt Moms, The Good Men Project, Mamapedia, xo Jane, Mamamia, Collective Bias, Red Tricycle and Role Reboot.

I have essays in three anthologies: Mothering Through the Darkness, Martinis and Motherhood: Tales of Wonder, Woe and WTF, and Only Trollops Shave Above the Knees: The Crazy, Wonderful Lessons We Learned From Our Mothers.

Locally, my writing has appeared on Alamo City Moms Blog, The Rivard Report and in San Antonio Woman Magazine. I’ve also been honored as one of Healthline Magazine’s Adoption Blog of the Year for five years running, although my blog isn’t very focused on adoption anymore.

In spite of that whole awkward at parties thing, I’m an experienced speaker and can talk to groups about parenting, adoption, social media and how much I love a dress with pockets.

Hi I’m Jill and I love pockets.

I’m a three time producer of Listen to Your Mother in San Antonio and an alum of the 2015 Austin cast. Helping other women tell their stories of motherhood is a huge labor of love for me. 

I was a BlogHer Voice of the Year in 2015, which goes down as one of THE coolest experiences ever:

This blog is managed by Ripped Jeans and Bifocals LLC and all content is copyrighted. If you want to use/share any of my images, please get in touch.

 

 

Recent Snaps

rippedjeansandbifocals

Freelance Writer & Travel Expert
Producer, Listen to Your Mother SA
💜Mom via birth & adoption
🐈 Human to @remusthebengalcat
🇺🇸 USAF veteran
📍#texas

Jill Robbins
Sometimes, I just need easy. Yesterday was one of Sometimes, I just need easy. Yesterday was one of those days.
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Deadlines, soccer practice, laundry, one sick kid, the calendar I can’t seem to stay ahead of...I could go on but you get the idea.
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Yesterday was our @maidprosanantonio and it couldn’t have been more well timed. Our house was sort of a disaster and I’m incredibly grateful I could hammer away at my to-do list and let someone else put the kitchen back together.
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And, to keep things from getting too messy too fast, dinner was baked potato bar FTW.
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If you’re in the San Antonio area and need some easy in your life, why not outsource your house cleaning? @maidprosanantonio is locally owned and supports local moms with jobs (they’re hiring BTW) and I’m proud to support them.
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Check out the link in my profile for $100 off a recurring cleaning.
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#maidpropartner #maidprosanantonio #alamocreatives #satx #maidpro #igsanantonio #satxbloggers #momlife
Have you ever driven to and around Walt Disney Wor Have you ever driven to and around Walt Disney World?
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Despite having many trips to Disney under our belts, driving around Walt Disney World Resort and to and from the parks was something we'd just never done. Our last trip was a little different - we had a second leg of our trip outside of Orlando and needed a car. Our trip luckily coinicided with the opportunity to review the 2021 Mazda CX-9 Signature AWD. 
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The Mazda CX-9 is a roomy midsize crossover with some seriously luxe touches. The second row has roomy captain's chairs which is perfect for our boys and would also work for adults. We didn't use the third row and kept it folded down for extra cargo space but if you need extra seating, you've got it. 
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This car has a lot of nice features but I have to say the wireless charging pad and the cooling seats were my favorites. It was above 90 on one of our Disney days and it was definitely nice to cool off in the car after a long day having fun in the parks. 
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My profile has a full review of the Mazda CX-9 and also some helpful information on driving at Disney World and why you might want to consider it for a future trip. Happy to answer any questions!
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#mazda #drivemazda #mazdacx9signature #mazdacx9 #shedrives #disneyworld #disneykids #nowmorethanever #waldisneyworld #waltdisneyworldresort #getyourearson #familyvacation #disneyvacation
Masks at Walt Disney World: a small change effecti Masks at Walt Disney World: a small change effective today: guests may briefly remove their face coverings for outdoor photos while maintaining appropriate social distance. 😷
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Prior to today (like in this snap of my family at EPCOT last week) face coverings were required unless eating or drinking while stationary. This small change makes me so happy and hopeful. I appreciate all Disney is doing to keep us safe and look forward to our next set of magical photos where you can SEE our smiles.
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Do you have any questions about visiting Walt Disney World right now?
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This trip was sponsored by @visitflorida in collaboration with @travelingmom 
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#disneyworld #disneyfamily #nowmorethanever #lovefl #tmom #travelingmom #epcot #disneycreators #disneymagicmoments
Flying on Easter Sunday is a new one for us. We ar Flying on Easter Sunday is a new one for us. We are together and that’s what matters...there might be a little something chocolaty waiting for us at home this evening.
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Thanks @travelingmom @visitflorida and their partners for giving us lots of memories this week. We can’t wait to share more pictures, videos and stories about what we did in Florida and to help inspire you to plan your own adventure.
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#tmom #lovefl #visitflorida #travelingmom #happyeaster #eastersunday #familytime #familytravel #southwestairlines #orlandoflorida
Happy "another year around the sun" to my best fri Happy "another year around the sun" to my best friend and partner in crime. Here's to celebrating doing what we love best. Thanks for never laughing at me when I lose stuff and never calling my crazy ideas crazy, even when they are a little. 

#lovefl #unlocktampabay #tampabay #happybirthday #thisisus #travelingmom #tmom
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