Monica Mouet :: 2012 Outstanding Sophomore Writer

A few days ago, I had been notified by the Creative Writing Conservatory at OCHSA (Orange County High School of the Arts) that Monica was going to receive an award at an awards ceremony that we needed to attend ... but that we needed to keep the award a secret from Monica. So as non-chalantly as possible, I rounded up The Mister and Monica and we went. (Andrew decided to stay home.)

Of all the awards, there is one for Outstanding Freshman writer, Outstanding Sophomore writer, Outstanding Junior writer, and Outstanding Senior writer ... the ones given out toward the end of the ceremony.

I had no idea which award she would be getting. But as the night progressed and she hadn't been called up for any of the other ones, it dawned on me that perhaps she might be named Outstanding Sophomore writer. And you know what? That's exactly what happened. Monica Mouet is OCHSA's 2012 Outstanding Sophomore Writer.

I'm not sure if anyone really understands how proud I am.

From the moment Monica came into this world, I knew she had a unique point of view and that she had the potential to express this point of view through the written word. Her words. They have already accomplished so much. And I know that whether she decides to use her skills to write arguments that affect public policy, or to develop clever characters in screenplays, or to create the next great American novel, or to move mountains, she'll do it.

My Monica.
My daughter.
Her words.

I can hardly wait to read the words she will continue to craft in the months and years ahead ... words that will entertain, challenge, persuade, and delight.

My daughter.
My heart.

Flowers Wrapped with Painted Paper

I'm a lucky girl to have received these lovely flowers from my friend recently ... a gesture of support and "you can do it" cheering on for some of my work projects ...

The flowers were wrapped with a piece of kraft paper that she had painted. It's genius, actually.

The flowers are still going strong, but when they are here no longer, I will have the best thing of all ... the beautiful painted paper. Maybe I'll cover a journal with it. We'll see.

Surpassed Imaginations

The evening surpassed all or our imaginations.

:: THANK YOU ::
Stephanie Jones Rubiano
Kim Caldwell
Terry Frias
The Painting Studio Artists
Cynthia Shaffer
Tracy Schultz
The Mouet Family
... and all of our friends and family who understand
and support our love affair with art and creativity.

More to come.

Good Night Irene :: Goodbye 2011

Thank you to my family, friends, team, and artists for an incredible 2011. Onward we go to 2012.

Christmas 2011 :: Scenes of Blessings

This Christmas, the blessing I treasure most is being with the ones I love. Simply, easily, deeply.

As the morning turns into afternoon and then evening, and then soon a distant memory, there are scenes I want to record and remember about this Christmas ...

Beautiful flowers from friends Amanda and Christopher ...

Hilarious gift from Monica and Andrew ... a book titled Go the F*ck to Sleep ... one that humorously honors all parents who do the hardest job in the world every single night to get their young kids to go to sleep.

Meaningful gift by friends Sarah and Lane who are helping bring clean water to the world.

Powerful words of love professed from Monica and Andrew that bring me to my knees.

From our house to yours, Merry Christmas.

Love,

Jenny, Gerardo (The Mister), Monica, Andrew, Toby & Scout
Santa Ana • 2011

Jenny + Monica + Andrew = Happy Thanksgiving 2011

Dedicated to the miserable ones.

With love, Jenny, Andrew, and Monica.

On a Street Called Hasti Acres

This morning, Andrew and I had the pleasure of having breakfast with Chris Wulfekuehler. Who is Chris Wulfekuehler? Let's see ... where do I start?

Let's go back to 1974. It's the year my family came to the United States. Here's a photo of Chris with me and my two older brothers.

And here's Chris (below) with his older siblings, Deb and Dave, and their parents, Ed and Marilyn. The Wulfekuehler family is the family that sponsored the Doh family in our journey as immigrants to the United States.

This family opened up their home to us, allowed us to live with them for months as we found our footing. So many memories I have. One memory was that I had major dental problems when I arrived, causing me to undergo intense oral surgery to repair my teeth. I remember Ed transporting me and my mom to and from the dental surgeon, carring me in and out of his station wagon, as I recovered from surgery. I remember Marilyn helping me get better. To the least of these it is love they gave.

We arrived in August and in September, my brothers and I were enrolled in the local elementary school: Amy B. Seibert school. There was a girl in my class. Her name was Andrea. She used to bully me and slap me. No teacher intervened. I complained about it to my parents and the next day, Marilyn came with me to school. Once we got there, she asked me, "Where's Andrea?" I pointed her out and Marilyn went up to her. I don't know what she said. I think I was in earshot but I still didn't know how to speak English. But whatever Marilyn said ... well ... Andrea never slapped me again.

This is the house that we were part of during our first months as an immigrant family. On a street called Hasti Acres. The house that to me will always represent the gateway to America. Where I learned about Fourth of July block parties, about the traditions of Halloween, about an audacious family who through what may seem like a small act of sponsoring and welcoming an immigrant family into their lives, provided profound leadership to a community about the meaning of tolerance, acceptance, friendship, and love.

Paper Love Boat Cupcake Picks for Andrew

Check out this paper love boat cupcake pick. So cute, huh?

I used the methods I shared with you here in this paper boat tutorial to create much smaller paper boats and rather than using bamboo skewers, I used toothpicks.

I made these to adorn the cupcakes I bought at The Perfect Circle Cupcakery in honor of my Andrew's last day of 7th grade: 1 Red Velvet, 1 Cookies and Cream, and 1 Vanilla with Robin's Egg Blue icing.

It was a little after-school celebration with me and the kids. Andrew got to pick first ... and true to form, he picked Cookies and Cream. Monica was next to pick and true to form, she picked Red Velvet.

Can't believe how quickly he's grown. He's taller than me. His voice is deep. His clever humor, so rich with intelligence and irony, keeps the whole family laughing.

But even if he grows a foot taller this summer, he'll always be my little baby ... a baby who began to sleep through the night at 3 months, who never sucked his thumb or a pacifier, who clung onto me like a little koala bear, who grew to be a student underestimated by his Pre-K teacher, who brushed underestimation off his shoulders and delved into the arts throughout his life to emerge as a young man with a passion to create ... an artist whose heart is filled with good intent and will be entering the Visual Arts Conservatory this fall at the Orange County High School of the Arts ... a person who I love so much and am so proud to call my son.

Onward we go to new adventures, new discoveries, new chapter.

Everyday Extraordinary :: Art Saves

.: Everyday Extraordinary :.

Signing.
Packing.
Shipping.
My book. My heart.

Many thanks to everyone for the support and enthusiasm. Blessed am I.

Z is for Zinnia

It was so fun to see my good friend, Sonya Nimri today, as we signed copies of Signature Styles at the one and only Zinnia's in South Pasadena.

Had great fun making new friends ...

And reconnecting with longtime friends ... like the adorable Christine ... who is embarking on some very cool, interesting, and courageous endeavors.

Many thanks to Tamara and her crew for being the perfect hosts today. Zinnia's has many exciting classes lined up in the coming months that I hope you'll check out here on their calendar, including a few very cool ones coming up from my buddy Michael deMeng.

The best part of the day? Being able to hang with my "entourage" ... Gerardo, Monica, and Andrew ... the coolest cats in all of southern California.

Blessed am I.