Team Jeanine

For about a month and half or so, my sister-in-laws and I have been keeping a secret from someone we love very dearly. It's been hard, but we were able to finally share our secret yesterday for the first time.

At the end of July, Jeanine sent an email out to our family about the Making Strides for Breast Cancer charity walk in October. She asked if any of us would be interested in joining her in the charity walk, and she received an overwhelming response of YES. The day after she sent that email, my sister-in-law, Meredith, asked me and Kristie, Jeanine's older sister, if we thought getting t-shirts and hats made for the event would be something Jeanine would like. Meredith had a contact at her children's school that could print a design for us at a really great price. Kristie and I thought it would be fabulous surprise for Jeanine, and Meredith and Kristie wanted me to create the design for the t-shirts.

Initially, I drafted two design concepts. The first design concept was one of Jeanine riding in her new convertible. She had once joked with me that when her hair started falling out because of chemotherapy, she was going to ride in her convertible with the top down and let the wind just swish all the hair away. It was that conversation that gave me the idea to draft the following sketch and t-shirt mock up:






My husband came up the second design concept. He described for me his idea of a silhouette with sparse hairs sticking out from the scalp that spelled out words like love and hope. Together we came up with the messaging for the t-shirt and ended up with the following sketch and t-shirt mock up:






When I presented the concepts to Meredith and Kristie, they fell in love with Jason's design concept. With the design chosen, we began collecting orders for friends and family. The t-shirts arrived just in time for Terry and Jeanine's 60-40 Party. Before the guests arrived for the party, we presented Jeanine with our surprise for her. Needless to say, she was verklempt.

Jeanine hugging Meredith

Jeanine posing with the official Team Jeanine gear

Jake and Jeanine promoting Team Jeanine

It was a very special moment to share with the family. The further Jeanine progresses with her battle with breast cancer, the more I am in awe of her and our family. I am so proud to be a part of something so strong and so special despite the circumstances from which it was derived. It is true what they say about blood being thicker than water. I think Jeanine explained it best last night when she said that she feels the love around her each and every day and is thankful for it. There's just no greater gift than the bonds of family.

"Families are the compass that guide us.
They are the inspiration to reach great heights,
and our comfort when we occasionally falter."
- Brad Henry

Words to Live By: Week 13

My friend Jeanine has cancer, but cancer does not have Jeanine.

Happy 100th birthday, Terry and Jeanine! Today we all come together to celebrate this milestone in your lives. Thanks for letting us be a part of your special day. We love you.

Week 13

Imagination to the Rescue!

I am a visual person. Always have been. I just can't seem to shut off that part of my brain. If I could only share the visions that float in and out of my head all day with other people, they'd understand why I have the ideas that I sometimes do. When other people interpret the world the way that I do, I am inspired.

Take some of the lovely ladies I work with, for example. They share an office space in the center of the building. The room has no access to the outside world. No windows. No skylight. No nothing. They have affectionately named their workspace "the cave" and have referred to themselves as the daring batgirls who work in the cave. Instantly, my head started churning. I got the urge to create a proper sign for them to proclaim this cavern formally to the world.

It's welcoming, yet it means business. Go Batgirls!

Batman: "How did you know that Robin and I

might be in trouble at this glue factory?"
Batgirl: "Through the one thing you couldn't possibly
have in your utility belt, Batman. A woman's intuition."

Words to Live By: Week 12

My friend Jeanine has cancer, but cancer does not have Jeanine.
For as frustrating and as difficult as cancer can be, it has given her the unique opportunity to refresh and renew relationships with those closest to her.

Week 12

Fall is Almost Here!

Yesterday was the first day that I felt a hint of a chill in the air. All I could think was, "Fall is finally coming." For a December baby, having to go through a season of sweating, humidity, and heat (unless I am poolside with a daiquiri to enjoy) is just too much to bear.

With autumn on the horizon, a giddy feeling tends to build up inside of me. The prospect of changing out my wardrobe and airing out my winter sweaters and scarves is a task that allows me to bring out my inner diva. I am much happier in my skin with a few extra layers of stylish cashmere or colorful wool knitting cloaking it. Even the threat of static electricity cannot bring me down during this change in the seasons.


And as with the start of every fall, I am in search of the perfect boots! Not only do they have to meet my specifications below, they also have to be affordable. Does such a thing exist?


Not sure if I can pull off the bitch boot... That's just too much diva to channel. But a girl can set a goal for herself, I suppose.

Happy Autumn!

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and
if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the
successive autumns."
- George Eliot

'Staching for the Cure

As many of you know, my dear friend and sister-in-law, Jeanine, was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. And despite the shock of this news, our family has pulled together to support Jeanine and her family in any way that we can.

Through this experience, Jeanine has been working hard at living a healthy lifestyle. She has switched to eating organic foods as much as possible, has cut red meat from her diet, and has walked one mile every day. Although at times she feels physically weak, she is the strongest she has ever been. It is this strength that has inspired her to raise money and participate in Making Strides, a breast cancer walk that is being held in Raleigh on October 3, 2009. Her oldest brother, Kevin, established Team Jeanine for the event, and many of us are signed up to raise funds and are walking with Jeanine on that day.

My husband, Jason, is taking a unique approach to raising funds and supporting his big sister on that day. Jason has pledged that for every $5 that is donated under his name, he will forgo shaving for one day. My husband, a man who usually keeps his face a little scruffy, has never committed to a full grown 'stache. He has coined his efforts as "'Staching for the Cure." So if you would like to support Jason and Team Jeanine, please donate to 'Staching for the Cure here.

To help you picture what Jason may look like with a serious mustache, I've created these series of visualizations for you to enjoy and ponder:

"Cancer is a word, not a sentence."
- John Diamond

Celebrating 100 Years of Terry and Jeanine

This September, my dear friend, Jeanine turns 40. Her husband, Terry, turned 60 in February. To celebrate these milestone birthdays, the dynamic duo has chosen to celebrate this achievement in style -- with a 60-40 party. The theme? A casino-like party that will surely be remembered fondly for years to come and discussed at all of the major holiday gatherings. You see, Jeanine is not only my friend, she is also family.

To help out with the event, I have been asked to design and be responsible for the invitations. Immediately, the king and queen of hearts came to my mind. Gambling is a way that Jeanine and Terry often like to relax and spend time away together. Cherokee is often their city of choice, having spent many a weekend there with Lady Luck. What better way to capture this couple than as king and queen of our hearts?

I used a real set of cards to help me with the physical layout of the design. Once I had my placement mapped out, I began sketching the couple using a candid family photo. Slowly, the design began to take shape.

King and Queen of Our Hearts

Finishing Touches

Once I completed the design, I began to use a combination of water color pencils and regular color pencils to add dimension and color to the design. I'm pretty happy with the results. Now to mail off the invites and keep track of all of the RSVPs...

What a difference color makes!

"All of us have bad luck and good luck.
The man who persists through the bad luck --
who keeps right on going --
is the man who is there when the good luck comes --
and is ready to receive it."
- Robert Collier