Jess Dinney
Jess Dinney is a Florida transplant who grew up in New York but has been living in Jacksonville for 8 years. After working as a corporate event planner and conference manager for 14 years, Jess is now a full-time stay-at-home mom to her 1-year-old twins. In her free time (wait, twin toddlers, what is free time?) Jess loves spending time outdoors with her wife and kids, going to Jags games, and trying out new restaurants around town. Follow her on Instagram @doublethedinneys for the low-down on twin mom life, LGBTQ advocacy, local food tours, and more!
Getting Laid Off: How the Worst Thing Became the Best Thing
June 22. A date that, for me and my now wife, had been historically characterized by exciting and memorable events in our life. On that day in 2017, we got engaged in the Puerto...
It’s Okay to Put Aside Your (Other Kind of) Pride
As a queer woman and mother living in Florida, this Pride month feels different than in years past. Typically, June is a time of celebration for the LGBTQ+ community. A celebration of living life...
The Taylor Swift Obsession Explained: Why Moms are Swifties, Too
When the idea of writing a Taylor Swift post leading up to her recent three-night stint in Tampa was first floated around, the swarm of Jacksonville Mom contributors volunteering to share their love for...
My Toddler’s First ER Trip: When Mom Becomes the Patient, Too
I didn’t think when I brought my toddler to the emergency room for the first time that the medical staff would also end up having to take care of me.
My 2-year-old son took a...
For Duval, It Was (and Always Will Be) the Jags
As someone who’s always had ties to Jacksonville, but didn’t grow up here (born and raised New Yorker, but I’ve been a First Coast resident for almost 9 years), I have a unique viewpoint...
6 Reasons Why You Should Consider Thrifting
Let’s face it: Kids are EXPENSIVE. One easy way to save a ton of money on kids’ items is by thrift shopping. Unfortunately, thrift stores have always gotten a bad rap. People assume the...
Do I Want Another Kid?
I am so very fortunate to have two incredible children. Twins, in fact! One boy and one girl. The ideal scenario, people constantly tell me. They truly are my pride and joy, and I...
‘Coming Out’ Happens More Than Once
Many people have the misconception that "coming out" is a one-time conversation, and while those very first times you talk about it out loud are usually the hardest, having to "out" yourself to strangers...
Wife Appreciation: Cheers to You, Ladies!
I will start off by saying that I am writing this wife appreciation blog post from an interesting position. I both am and have a wife! And she is one incredible wife — the...
Yay, I’m Pregnant! Now What?
There they are — those two pink lines you’ve been waiting for! You’ve been dreaming about being pregnant, and it’s finally happened! But now what??
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed as a first-time mom when...
10 Tips for Traveling with Toddlers
Summertime is in full swing, which for many people is prime time for family vacations! Actually, let’s rephrase that to family “trips.” Coming from a mom of 16-month-old twins, traveling with toddlers is rarely...
How to Be a Fabulous LGBTQ Ally (and Not Just During June)
The month of June has arrived, and for most people, that signifies the start of summer BBQs and pool parties — but for many in the queer community, it means a month of celebrating...