Hey! I’m Renn
I’m the face behind SymonSaysSmile. I’m a highly caffeinated 30-something year old who’s navigating life, finding fitness, and staying positive. I’m sorta sustainable, but I don’t want to be lumped with those crunchy people. I’m somewhat stylish, but a serial outfit repeater. Oh- and I refuse to refer to myself as a “hot mess mom” no matter how many times I forget to finish my coffee before it gets cold.
I grew up in Upstate New York, then moved to southeast Texas in my twenties and ended up in the Charleston, South Carolina area a few years after that. I traded my formal background in hospitality and tourism for the rewarding full time side hustles of pet sitting and fitness training.
Me, as a blogger
A writer since birth, it’s not surprising that the young girl pouring her heart into a diary would ultimately go digital. Here I am.
I began blogging during a Food Blogging course in college. Although blogging was still a new concept, I combined my love of writing and local tourism to create a blog called Kate Placid: life in Lake Placid. I shifted my personal blog into recording my pageant experiences- the prep, the competition, and my predictions. That transformed into The Pageant File, the largest online chronicle of New York’s pageant history. Although TPF is technically still active, it has converted more into a social strategy tool for titleholders.
The Launch of SymonSaysSmile
After changing my last name to Symons (pronounced like Simon), the name SymonSaysSmile came to me in a dream. Just like that, my final blog adventure had begun!
Though the premise is simple… adventures and inspiration with a sip of caffeine, it is so much more than a mommy blog. It has evolved into an outlet for self-care, free range parenting and homeschooling, fitness for everyone, and local tourism. Theres with a dash of DIY, rental approved renovations, and some simple beauty and casual fashion. SymonSaysSmile is a lifestyle blog about finding fitness, crushing the comparison trap, and chasing joy.
So this is me… leading by example to inspire a healthy body, active mind, positive spirit. Follow me as we put ourselves first and strive to be “less mess” as a mom. Let’s be happy, healthy, and find every excuse to smile.
