My story is hard to tell, and I'm nervous telling it. This story is about hard times and determination, healing and hope. And it begins with a love story.
I felt like the luckiest girl in the whole world to have married my best friend!
We enjoyed a great marriage (married for ten years, together for fifteen) until an alcohol addiction began to take over the man I loved. The amazing man that I was proud to call my husband, turned into someone I didn't recognize. He became verbally and emotionally abusive - and some online perusing led to infidelity - which felt like torture and made me feel belittled.
As you can imagine, this started to affect my work, and I couldn't handle the stress and abuse at work. I eventually had to leave my job of fifteen years. I couldn't see a future and had no support system around me. The eventual diagnosis of PTSD and severe anxiety/stress and trauma came as no surprise. I was dealing with flashbacks and nightmares. My husband started to call all of my friends and family, telling so many lies to them, that I felt like she had no one to talk to or trust. I was completely lost and even tried to take my own life.
Eventually, I made the decision to fight for myself!
I was determined NOT to let an alcoholic disease control my life anymore! Counseling helped me find my way out of it, and I started to become strong again.
When I saw the Sugar and Spice Photography website, I decided to set a goal to get boudoir photographs taken. With everything I had been going through, I was working on becoming more beautiful and strong on the inside, and I wanted to do something to feel more beautiful on the outside again, too. I used to model and then had a huge dog bite on my face, which led to many surgeries and major facial reconstruction. So that led to more insecurities and every time I looked in the mirror, all I could see was my scar.
But, I was determined! Months of hard work getting in shape was paying off, but then I hit a stumbling block on my road to recovery. Foot surgery caused me to gain weight and lose sight of my goal for a bit. More determination and perseverance put me back on track.
In the midst of my self-healing, my husband began a healing of his own.
He entered treatment at Hazeltine and has been sober since. I was proud of how hard my husband had worked to become sober, and wanted to show him how hard I worked at becoming healthy. My shoot was not only for myself - to let my inner and outer beauty and strength show through - but also for a surprise for my husband. Needless to say, he LOVED my pictures. So, this story also ends with a true, unconditional love story...
Now, we are working on rebuilding trust and keeping our relationship on track.
My words to anyone who feels like they are struggling with more than they can handle: One day you wake up and you know you can do it. You battle through it, and all of a sudden it starts to change. You just have to get help! My support system (or lack of) even shamed me because I needed and wanted to get help...when that is the very thing you need to do: GET HELP!!! There is a life to live even if you can't see a way out!!
Jennifer~
You have shown incredible strength through so many hard times. Your fierce determination shows how amazing you really are - and we are so happy that we were a part of helping you heal and find your beauty again.
xoxo, the Sugar & Spice Girls
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Feeling hopeless? Here's some verses that we read to find encouragement and healing:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. ~ Matthew 11:28-30
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. ~ Isaiah 40:31
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GO BEHIND THE SCENES with us on Tik Tok!
Follow our team, clients and their crazy antics
Get makeup and posing tips
See before & afters and all the fun that goes into our glam room makeovers
Check out our overflowing closets and immense wardrobe
And sooo much more!
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-WHO WE ARE-
Sugar & Spice Photography is a Minnesota based, women-owned small business that specializes in boudoir and pinup photography.
WE ARE...moms, wives, engaged, divorced or single women...and we are on a mission to share our passion with you! Our intimate & tasteful boudoir photography is created to...
...CELEBRATE each woman's individuality, helping them to look and feel beautiful, be playful and ooze sexuality with dignity, elegance and class.
...ENLIGHTEN and empower the women that we touch, and help them realize that they are beautifully and wonderfully made by their Creator.
...TRANSFORM and unveil the inner bombshell of each woman, by pampering her, laughing with her, and making her feel as amazing as she is!
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-A LUXURY, EMPOWERING, BODY POSITIVE EXPERIENCE-
A boudoir photography shoot with us is done tastefully and beautifully with an all female team to nurture your comfort and ensure that you feel pampered, empowered & sexy! Nervous? We will coach you through the entire amazing, super fun experience…from outfit selection to posing! We’ll give you the Hollywood treatment and help bring out your inner supermodel!
Our sessions INCLUDE hair styling - with clip-in hair extensions at no additional cost, professional photography makeup & false lash application.
Our drawers and closets are OVERFLOWING with smoldering lingerie & sexy costumes in sizes 0-26 and tons of shoes, accessories and props for you to choose from!
We have an adorable 6,000 sq ft studio serving Minneapolis and the Twin Cities with more than 20 amazing sets and countless props: from the bedroom ...to the kitchen ...to the locker room ...and everything in between!
Say BUH-BYE to lumps & bumps, cellulite, stretch marks, scarring & unwanted tattoos! We will contour & shape body to enhance your natural beauty. We have photographed women of ALL shapes, sizes & ages & we are masters of retouching. Our custom-tailored products INCLUDE body shaping & retouching.
You may be shocked that the perfect gift for him...turns out to be the perfect present for you, too….! Check out hundreds of testimonials from our clients who left their session feeling empowered, confident, beautiful and sexy! Discover your inner bombshell with a boudoir photo shoot experience with Sugar & Spice Photography.
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-CONNECT WITH US-
Instagram Sugar & Spice Photography- https://www.instagram.com/ssboudoir/
Instagram Bombshells Pinup- https://www.instagram.com/bombshellspinup/
Instagram Crowning Images- https://www.instagram.com/crowningimages/
Facebook Sugar & Spice Photography- https://www.facebook.com/ssboudoirpinup/
Facebook Bombshells Pinup- https://www.facebook.com/BombshellsPinup
Facebook Crowning Images- https://www.facebook.com/crowningimages
YouTube- View HERE