My Story

    • Connect With Me

    mail mail mail mail Follow me on Instagram RSS Feed

    Archives By Category

    Archives By Date

    I Post

    View All view all

    I Tweet

      • Sign up here to receive Email notifications when a new post is up

      39 List – Our Blue Lily Family Photo Shoot

      11 March 2012

      Our first ever photo shoot… big sigh. I’m in love. I love the lighting, the colors, and these kids. I really love these kids. I’m so thankful that Wendy and Tyler of Blue Lily Photography captured our family just how I see us… full of life, smily, colorful, loud, and loving. I wrote about our experience with Blue Lily here, but let me tell you once more.

      Our photo shoot was effortless. Jeff and I loved Wendy and Tyler. I left the photoshoot totally inspired. Wendy and Tyler sold their house and all of their possessions, and are traveling the world with their 2 gorgeous children while taking pictures and video. Yes, please.

      So since this is our first photo shoot, I am refusing to apologize for overloading you with photos. Hopefully I don’t make your computer irritable.

       

       
      (more…)

      40 Comments

      Life List – Take Kids to Feed Giraffes

      7 March 2012

      The kids got an early release today from school and I decided to take advantage of it and the absolutely gorgeous weather, here in Phoenix, Arizona. It was windy and a little cooler than usual, but that means I was wearing my favorite jeans and a jersey sweatshirt. This is code for Happy Jenny.

      Sam and I read an animal book every night and she always talks about wanting to feed the “Raffies”. I did some research and then remembered the Wildlife World Zoo. It’s about 40 minutes from my home and I had been once before with Emily’s Kindergarten class field trip. I was very pregnant with Sam, so I didn’t climb the tower to feed the giraffes.

      It was amazing how close we got to the giraffes. The giraffes loved being fed and would let you touch their leathery tongues, but gently moved if you tried to touch their faces. They are truly magnificent animals. And on a side note, I loved how their house/enclosure had a tall, skinny “doggie door” cut out for them. The kids really got a kick out of that.

       


      (more…)

      18 Comments

      39 List – Take the Kids to See Wicked

      1 March 2012

      Jeff and I had the amazing opportunity to see Wicked at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. last summer. Aside from our dancing video and reuniting with my high school friends, a highlight of the trip was seeing this Broadway show. We weren’t planning on seeing the musical, but we went to a Washington National’s baseball game and Dee Roscioli sang the national anthem and it was the most beautiful rendition I ever heard. The announcer mentioned that she was starring as Elphaba in the Broadway musical, Wicked. I gave Jeff that look and he knew we were going to have to see the musical if there was any possibility.

      Jeff and I got back to the hotel room, we ordered tickets for the following night, and had one of the best nights of our life. We even got to meet Dee after the show.

      When we left the show, I was moved to tears. Music is so powerful. I told Jeff on the plane back to Phoenix, that if Wicked comes to town, we MUST take the kids.

      So several months later we drove by a billboard for Wicked and Jeff looked at me and smiled. So for Valentine’s Day, Jeff went to the Gammage Theater box office to buy tickets. He told the ticket salesperson that he wanted us to have decent tickets, so that the kids would be able to see it. He told Jeff the options, but Jeff wasn’t happy with the options or the price. Then Jeff explained that this was a gift and an item on my life list. The salesperson kept searching and then asked Jeff, “Do you mind going in the middle of the week with the kids?” Jeff said we could go any night. Jeff ended up scoring great seats for the SAME price as the tickets in the back of the theatre. He said, “These tickets weren’t here just a second ago,” and scratched his head. Magic I tell you, magic.

      Moods had been dampened over the past week, with losing the house, my car being hit in a parking lot, and Hank our dog has been missing for a couple of days. They say bad things come in three’s and I have to tend to agree with that this week. So this night was a welcomed relief.

       

       


       

      (more…)

      18 Comments

      Loving the bigger picture

      19 February 2012

      When I started this blog, I had lost a part of my identity. I was consumed with full time work and being Jeff’s wife. I was referred to as Rebecca’s mom for almost 2 years by one lady at our school, before I finally said, “You can call me Jenny.” I’m sure every wife and mom can relate to this at some point in their journey. I had to sit down and remind myself what I liked and what excited me that wasn’t related to Jeff or the kids.

      But in my planning for 2012, I went to the opposite extreme of planning without taking into consideration what the dreams of the other 5 people in my family wanted. Don’t get me wrong, most of my items include them, but looking back I don’t know if I really asked them.

      I’m thrilled to be Jeff’s wife and a mom to Rebecca, Ben, Emily, and Samantha. I want to see my dreams come true, but I also want to encourage Jeff and the kids to chase their dreams as well. I want to make sure they see that I seek to find that balance between holding onto my self identity and my cherished roles as their wife and mom.

       


       

      In making my life list, we have started talking a lot more about dreams in our house. And this weekend at their big 3 day swim meet, we have been talking about our dreams. When we started sharing, I found myself a tad shell shocked. I learned so much in just getting Jeff and the kids to tell me 5 life list items. Just 5.

      I found out that Jeff misses golf and regrets not trying to pursue professional golf longer. I learned that Rebecca wants to meet Foster the People. I had no clue who this group was, let alone that she liked them enough for them to be #1 on her life list. Emily wants to learn how to play lacrosse, Ben wants to go whale watching in Hawaii, and to no surprise, Miss Samantha wants to go see Mickey Mouse again.

      Here are their lists…
      (more…)

      29 Comments

      Around here (& Project Life Organizational Finds)

      18 February 2012

      Around here, we are hurrying around to get to a 3 day swim meet with the girls and a basketball tournament for Ben.

      Around here, we are surrounded by lots of family. My sister and family are here along with Jeff’s parents. We have a big cheering section ready for our little athletes.

      Around here, Samantha is starting to talk so much more since having tubes put in her ears. Her preschool teacher said she talked more on Thursday than she has the entire year.

      Around here, I’m just feeling good that I fixed a large spaghetti dinner for the whole crew. It felt great to be back in the kitchen. And even better that the kids inhaled their dinners.

      Around here, Julie and I are exhausted from staying up late after finding some treasures on our craft and vintage shopping spree yesterday. After Julie organized her project life supplies, I was wanting a new system. See her organization here.

       

      Vintage bread loaf pan

       

      Antique letterpress tray

       

      Wire basket from Container Store


       

      My work station (love having everything at my fingertips)

      Around here, Jeff is yelling for me to get into the car. Gotta go!

      Blessings sweet friends – Jenny

      If you are new to my site, welcome! Like what you see? I would love for you follow along on this crazy adventure of mine by subscribing to my blog and joining me on facebook, twitter, and pinterest.

      8 Comments

      39 List – Take Sam to Disneyland to Meet Mickey Mouse & Friends

      3 February 2012

      Before we left for Disneyland, I sat down and watched my two favorite Disney movies while working on my Project Life post. I know… I am a huge nerd. That’s ok. Anyway, I watched Swiss Family Robinson and Pollyanna. My favorite quote from Pollyanna is from the inscription written inside her locket, which states…

      “When you look for the bad expecting to find it, you surely will.”

      Tremendous power in such a tiny statement.

      I was determined to look for the positive in people while on vacation. Just as the statement says above, I could have chosen to look for the bad in people and I am sure I could have seen people angry while waiting in lines, parents yelling at their children, or perhaps children throwing temper tantrums. But I didn’t notice those things.

      As I wrote in my post yesterday, this past week has been one of the best of my life. It’s hard not to be happy when you have 4 kids enjoying life at the Happiest Place on Earth. But this trip was different. This trip I consciously worked at my goal of looking for the best in people.

      Adults were smiling and living with child like joy. It was contagious. Perhaps one would say it was because it wasn’t super busy or because the weather was wonderful. But I sincerely believe that is was because I intentionally chose to look for the good.
      Interesting…the more I looked for the good, the more I found. The joy was palpable in the air at times.

      I’m sure we will visit Disneyland many more times, but I will always treasure the memories from this trip and my attitude to intentionally look for the good in people. I will also remember…

       

      The joy of meeting new friends

       

       

      The sweet treats of Disney

       

       

      My gratitude for this miracle after cancer

       

       

      And our family just enjoying one another, dancing, and living life to the fullest…

       

       

      If you are having difficulty viewing this on Youtube, then go here to see the video on Vimeo.

       

      My favorite life list item remains my dancing video in Washington D.C. It’s hard to video and dance as much, when chasing after a toddler. We still had a great time.

       

      If you are new to this site, welcome! If you like what you see, I would love for you follow along on this crazy adventure of mine by subscribing to my blog above and joining me on facebook, twitter, and pinterest. I’m working hard to complete my life list of 1300+ items after surviving a battle with cancer. Specifically, this was one of the 39 items I want to complete before I turn 39 in November 2012.

       

      57 Comments

      Confession Time

      2 February 2012

      This week was one of the best weeks of my life. Jeff and I were able to take the kids out of school and go to Disneyland for three days. We checked off another item off my 39 list and witnessed the sheer joy of Samantha meeting Mickey Mouse and his friends. I don’t know if I’ve ever experienced anything truly better than a toddler belly laugh and/or squeal.

      Jeff and I witnessed Rebecca and Ben being excited to introduce Emily and Samantha to their favorite Disney rides. And then on the last night, we let the older 3 kids go explore the park by themselves for a couple of hours. They loved the independence and Jeff and I watched the parade while Samantha was sacked out in the stroller.

      Our adventure concluded with a trip to Temecula to have our pictures taken by Wendy and Tyler of Blue Lily Photography.

      We arrived at Tyler’s parent’s home and had our pictures taken in a beautiful meadow with wispy tall green grass and a gorgeous setting sun. We were relaxed, the kids were giggly, and Samantha was in heaven popping bubbles. But my favorite part, hands down was meeting Wendy and Tyler.

      (more…)

      62 Comments

      39 List – Have 52 families over for dinner update (Host a pizza party)

      29 January 2012

      I used to be the most hospitable person I knew. I had people over to my house for dinner 3-4 nights a week. I baked a new dessert every night. I always tried new recipes, became excited to clean my house, and treasured catching up with people and what was happening in their lives.

      I recently ran into a friend who knew me at that period in my life and said to my daughter, “Your mom is the best cook and entertainer. Don’t you just love that?” Well thank goodness my daughter just nodded and smiled. And of course she brought it up to me in the car, 2 days before my 38th birthday, “Mom, Can you be like that again? It sounds like you were really good at it and people loved it. And I could tell by your smile, when that lady was talking, that it made you really happy.” Leave it to a child to convict you of what you know is right.

      I lost my way. I became consumed with an attitude of discontentment and got lost in the busy-ness of life. I was concerned that people would think my house was too small, that my counter tops were out of date, and that I didn’t have the pretty dishes that I really wanted. Then with the financial hardship of cancer, the discontentment was off the charts. What I really lost though was my gift of hospitality and more importantly, the gift of relationship. What a tremendous gift I lost.

      Then once we were building our dream home, I would constantly say,

      “When we get into the new home, we will have people over”…

      “When we get a bigger kitchen and kitchen table, we will have everyone over”…

      “When I lose weight and feel better about myself, we will have so and so over”…

      Well the wait is over. We lost our dream house. We are still in our less than 1500 square foot house and I’m not waiting anymore. So on my 39 list, I want to host 52 different families over for dinner. I have a few criteria for my dinners:

      I want to try different recipes.

      I want to invite different families over – include the kids, mix couples that don’t necessarily know each other, and include all. (For example, I’m going to ask my UPS man and his family over for dinner. I met his wife in the bagel store and thought she was darling. So the man in brown is probably coming over for dinner! :) )

      I want to have dessert. Sometimes first. 

      I want to be focused on building relationships with real people. No frills. No petty talk. Real, genuine people living life together and supporting each other during the good and bad times. I love REAL, AUTHENTIC people. I don’t have time in my life for any others.



      (more…)

      23 Comments

      Around here

      27 January 2012

      Around here I don’t know whether to belly laugh or cry.

      Around here we have been frantically getting ready for a road trip to California.

      Around here clothes are spread out all over the bed preparing for our first ever family photo shoot.

       

      (more…)

      8 Comments

      39 List- Host a Cupcake & Lemonade Stand with the Kids

      26 January 2012

      One of the things I wanted to do before I turn 39 was to host a cupcake and lemonade stand with the kids. Well yesterday was the day… and it was amazing. The family agreed that it was a smashing success and that we should make this an annual Meyerson tradition.

      I began this process with 3 goals: to have the kids involved, make it a small community affair, and donate 100% of the proceeds.

       

       

      So right away I knew that I wanted to donate the proceeds to Miss Elizabeth Blair. Elizabeth is a young little warrior from our Central Phoenix corridor who is bravely defeating stage IV Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Her older brother was in preschool with my Emily 4 years ago. (more…)

      23 Comments

    • 52 Cupcakes

    • Project Life

    • 39 Before I am 39

    • Jeff's Story

      • © Copyright 2011, Jenny. All rights reserved.