I thought I’d follow along with the Zero To Hero assignments to improve my site. The first challenge is to introduce myself.
Hello! I’m Jean, a 40-something woman making her way through life, trying to juggle family, business and everything in between. We live in Arizona although I hail from the Bay Area of California and spent my high school years in Reno, Nevada. I also did a short stint in Appleton, Wisconsin, and spent two summers in Sarasota, Florida.
My husband, Tom, and I have been together twelve years. We run our own business (celebrating its 25th anniversary this year!) publishing the local real estate guide. It is a full color, glossy magazine of which we are very proud. It is distributed in California, Nevada and Arizona.
We have two daughters, ages 11 and 9, who love school, dancing, drawing, acting, acrobatics, and animals. During the summer months, we travel to Anaheim as a family, and enjoy many of that area’s attractions. On shorter breaks, we visit local points of interest such as Grand Canyon Caverns, the Wild Animal Park in Valentine, or the old mining town of Oatman. We also enjoy boating on the Colorado River which is 3 miles from our house.
When I need to get away, I visit nearby Las Vegas, a 90-minute drive north, to shop at the various malls and enjoy a decadent meal. I always bring a treat home such as cupcakes, cheesecake, or fresh fruit from Trader Joe’s.
Before falling off to sleep at night, I watch recorded episodes of The Housewives of (name any city), Vanderpump Rules, The Shahs of Sunset – all things Bravo – or The Dead Files, Ghost Hunters, The Haunting Of – all things Travel Channel. I wake up to Headline News or Weekend Express every morning. I love to know what’s going on in the world.
I don’t exercise. I don’t eat right. But I think about both every day.
I’m not very crafty, but I will attempt crafts for the sake of my children.
I’m shy and reserved, but I won’t take crap.
I enjoy learning and sharing knowledge.
If there’s anything else you’d like to know, please ask.
Comment By: Ingrid
January 15th, 2014 at 5:46 pm
Nice post Jean. Love that you have the Colorado River nearby for boating. How fun. I’ll take a slice of Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory on your next trip to Vegas 🙂
Comment By: Jean
January 15th, 2014 at 6:51 pm
You got it, Ingrid! There’s so many to choose from (cheesecakes, that is). 🙂
Comment By: Danielle
January 15th, 2014 at 5:51 pm
Nice to see you’re participating in the Zero to Hero challenge too, Jean! 😀 Glad to know more about you 🙂
I’ve been to Vegas a few times before, but never to Arizona. Would love to visit the next time I’m on a road trip down from Vancouver where I live! 🙂
Cheers,
Danielle
Comment By: Jean
January 15th, 2014 at 6:51 pm
Thanks, Danielle! I’m getting a late start, but I’m on board.
AZ is so nice, with much to see. A slower pace than Vegas, for sure, but I do love Vegas!
Comment By: Ron
January 15th, 2014 at 7:56 pm
Oh, Jean…I love this! What a great post to find out more about your fabulous self!
I too lived in Nevada, but just for a summer (Vegas and Lake Tahoe), but I also visited Reno while I was there. And preferred the drier heat of Nevada to the more humid heat in Florida.
“I’m shy and reserved, but I won’t take crap.”
HA! Good for you!
Fun post! And I am sooooo glad you and I met through our blogs. Awesome lady you are!
Comment By: Jean
January 16th, 2014 at 8:58 am
I’m so glad to have met you too, Ron!
Lake Tahoe is such a beautiful area.
Comment By: Rach
January 15th, 2014 at 8:11 pm
Glad to get to know you a little better! 🙂 Sounds like life is fun (and busy!) for you guys!
Comment By: Jean
January 16th, 2014 at 8:56 am
It is fun & busy… just the way we like it. 🙂 Thanks, Rach!
Comment By: Amanda
January 15th, 2014 at 10:35 pm
So awesome to live so close to Vegas!!!! Super jealous!!! My girlfriends and I are planning a trip there this summer! 🙂
Comment By: Jean
January 16th, 2014 at 8:55 am
Not that you don’t already know this but… you will have so much fun!!!
Comment By: Bijoux
January 16th, 2014 at 5:08 am
It’s so nice to get to know you! We love the west and have visited many times and my husband has an aunt and uncle in Vegas. I’m glad you admit to watching those a Bravo shows, because I watch them too!
Comment By: Jean
January 16th, 2014 at 8:08 am
Yes! Someone to hash over those reality shows with! My gosh, there’s so many teams! I’m team Brandi (not Joyce), team MJ (not GG), and team anybody but Stassi! How ’bout you?
Comment By: Bijoux
January 16th, 2014 at 9:57 am
Isn’t that Stassi SUPER annoying? Hahahah……I don’t like Brandi or Joyce, but I actually like GG better than MJ. Can’t wait for New York to start! And I love Kandi and Phaedra on Atlanta….they CRACK ME UP!
Do you love Flippin’ Out, too?
Comment By: Jean
January 16th, 2014 at 10:24 am
Yes, Stassi needs to stuff a sock in it! MJ has been conniving this year. I’m ready for NY too! Kandi & Phaedra talking about that Chuck Smith — OH! Too funny! (Bite sized brownie)
I LOVE Flippin’ Out! Yes, I do!
Comment By: Kristin
January 16th, 2014 at 2:28 pm
I’ve been slacking on the clean eating and regular exercising the past few months too! It’s a new year right? I’m ready to tackle them! 🙂
Comment By: Jean
January 16th, 2014 at 2:59 pm
Yes, and Happy New Year to you, Kristin! Thank you for stopping by. Your site is amazingly gorgeous, and I look forward to dropping in regularly.
Comment By: Catherine Gacad
January 16th, 2014 at 8:25 pm
jean you know i’m from SF. but did you know my hubby’s from scottsdale? in fact he’s there right now hanging out with his family! he’s also there for a work trip. i’ve always wanted to go to the grand canyon. that’s on my bucket list.
Comment By: Jean
January 16th, 2014 at 8:59 pm
That is so cool, Catherine! Scottsdale is about 5 hours from us.
You will love the Grand Canyon! There’s nothing like approaching the view and seeing it for the first time.
Comment By: Jayda
January 16th, 2014 at 9:23 pm
Love this! Yes to not eating right or exercising…I definitely think about it a lot too, but I never do it. And I’m so sad that we don’t have Trader Joe’s here. It sounds fabulous!
Comment By: Jean
January 17th, 2014 at 3:03 pm
Trader Joe’s is such a nice grocery store with natural, fresh, and organic choices. I tend to go overboard when I visit, bringing home cheeses, breads, fruit and beverages.