Oh, hi! Welcome to my website. If you’re new to Ramshackle Glam, you might have gotten here by way of a Google search for makeup tips for asymmetrical eyes, or because you’re nervous about having a baby (or a second baby) and how it’ll change your life, or because you read the saga of my hacking, or maybe because you’ve stumbled across my (many) musings on single motherhood. All of these ways of arriving here are completely legit, because those are all things that I write about.
It’s a lot, I know. Let me help you figure out what the site’s all about, so you can decide if you want to hang out. (That said, if you’re trying to get in touch with me for a specific reason and don’t want to wade through a full life history, go ahead and email me at jordan@ramshackleglam.com.)
About Me, Real Quick
My name is Jordan Reid, and I’m a mother of two living in Southern California. I was born in NYC, studied cognitive neuroscience at Harvard, and then did the next logical thing: I drove an ancient convertible across the country to Hollywood, and became an actress. When my acting career went down in flames a few years later (it’s a hell of a story; you should check it out), I spent a few years excelling in the fields of Feeling Sorry For Myself and Wailing. Finally, I did what any responsible adult with a stack of monthly bills should do: I decided to quit my 9-to-5 job, and started a blog.
Since 2009, I’ve been writing daily about my experiments (and frequent failures) in fashion, beauty, home renovation, parenting, and decor. Ramshackle Glam has been featured in publications including Time Magazine, Cosmopolitan, the New York Observer, The Huffington Post, and Lonny, and has spun off into three web series and six books (we just put the seventh into contract!). I also write for a bunch of other outlets, including Newsweek, Romper, and Mashable.
I’ve hosted a couple of shows – two seasons of the Meredith Video Studios-produced Jordan In The House, two beauty-focused shows for Allure Magazine, and FYI’s Trash House. I’ve also shot and appeared in campaigns for companies including Clorox, DKNY, Simple Skincare, Dove, Canada Dry, Nexxus, and SK-II. (As an aside, I love writing about the business side of blogging, and have written a whole bunch of Blog Advice posts if you’re into that kind of thing.)
Here’s a rundown of what I talk about and do on Ramshackle Glam.
Divorce
In 2018, my husband of 10 years and I separated, and we’ve now been divorced for six years. Writing has always helped me through difficult situations, but never quite so much as recently. You can read all my posts on the topic here.
Anxiety (And Other Tough Stuff)
I write a lot about the chronic anxiety I suffered from for over a decade, because I think that all the stigma surrounding mental health issues is BS. I’ve also written about sexual assault, and postpartum depression, and the anorexia I dealt with in my 20s.
I don’t like the idea of hiding these parts of my life, because secrecy feels far too close to shame, and I’m not ashamed.
Home Videos
I shoot a lot of home videos with my family. They are usually ridiculous, and I love them so much (both the people and the videos).
Parenting
I have a 13-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter, and have written several books about either pregnancy or new parenthood, so I think it’s safe to say this is a big topic for me. My general take on parenting is that it’s hard – so hard – and that the more we can talk openly and honestly about our struggles, the better. I’ve written about how scared I was that having a second child would change my relationship with my first, how I worry that my children will grow up and remember me mostly as a rule-maker and a house-straightener and a nag. I’ve also written about much I hate hearing people say “savor every moment! it goes so fast!,” and about the pros and cons of being a working parent who travels frequently.
There is no judgment here, when it comes to parenting or anything else.
Fashion And Beauty (My Way)
I write about fashion and beauty a lot, but mostly enjoy confronting the disaster that is the aging process and being wide-open about it. As some examples, I’ve written about Botox, my breast augmentation, adult acne, and that time I accidentally froze my entire forehead (obviously I made a video about this).
The “pregnant” part of my life is officially in the past, but my maternity style posts are some of my all-time favorites. I guess I feel like if you even manage to put on pants when you’re lugging around a watermelon in your uterus, you win at fashion (and life) for the day.
Home Ownership (And Renovation)
I’ve renovated three homes at this point, and decor and design are massive passions of mine. If you’d like to see some of the projects we’ve done recently, here’s a roundup. I’ve also written how-tos on staging a house for sale, selling a house, and buying a house, and shot a full video series about renovating a house that I bought via FaceTime (really) for Thumbtack.
My Books!
I’ve written eleven (!) books: Ramshackle Glam and Carrying On (which you have probably never heard of), and then The Big Activity Book series, coauthored with Erin Williams…and you totally might have heard about those! My favorite, though, is the kids’ spinoff of The Big Activity Book for Anxious People – The Everybody Gets Anxious Activity Book. Such a dream project, and I couldn’t be prouder of the outcome.
(You can buy them here.)
