All About Jamie

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All about Jamie

Jamie O’Brien Kindem was born January 30, 1977 in Manhattan, NY. Jamie spent her early years in and around NYC, but her family (parents Dan & Maureen, brother Douglas, and sister Kathryn) moved to the suburbs of Philadelphia when she was around 10 years old. Jamie excelled at school, was a lacrosse and soccer star, and was very well-liked by her peers. Jamie started college off at Cornell and was set to play lacrosse there, but she quickly realized that the school wasn’t the right fit for her, so she transferred to Sarah Lawrence College.

Jamie graduated from Sarah Lawrence in 2000 and it proved to be the perfect fit. She met many close friends and the school allowed her to explore many of her greatest passions (i.e. arts, culture, travel, photography, history, etc.) and in a sense, she was able to find herself there. Shortly after graduation she started her career in NYC working for Elyse Connolly’s boutique photography agency. After a number of years of managing photo shoots (some of which were in exotic places, which she loved), she made a difficult decision to leave NY and Elyse (her NY mom & great friend) and moved to San Diego, CA. Jamie was extremely affected by the 9/11 tragedy and the daily commute into the city was always difficult for her, which added to her need for a change. She enjoyed many aspects of San Diego, including the weather, the culture, the food, making new friends, and of course, getting to spend lots of time with her dear friends and adopted California parents, Barry and Kennette. However, in 2007, she decided that she missed the East coast and knew it was time to move back home.

Jamie and I (Paul) met at her cousins wedding in Mexico very shortly after she moved back to the East Coast. After living and working in NYC for 8 months, she moved to North Carolina to be with me and to start our life together. Jamie and I got married and purchased our home in 2008. We made the first addition to our family in March, 2009 when we picked out our Golden Retriever Logan, had our twins John and Larkin on November 17, 2010, and our baby girl Reagan on July 31, 2012. Jamie loved her family more than anything and was overjoyed with the life that we had created together. Jamie was a truly special person who transformed everyone around her; especially her immediate family and I. “She sparkled,” as her mother describes her, and she was an absolute joy to be around. Jamie is deeply missed by all who knew her.

Jamie had a real passion for experiencing all that life had to offer and I have noted below some of her favorite activities, books, foods, artists, etc. Jamie was loving, thoughtful, classy, and sophisticated, and she had a very good sense of what was important in life. I hope that you will find her favorites interesting and maybe you’ll even learn something new about yourself. Some of them are silly and made her laugh or simply intrigued her and kept her on her toes, and others were more deeply rooted in who she was as a person. I encourage you to read some of her favorite books, see some of her favorite Broadway shows, enjoy some of her favorite foods and drinks, and watch a favorite movie of hers. Hopefully doing this will help us all stay connected with her as time passes.

May Jamie’s spirit live on and shine brightly in all of us.

  • Sports Teams
  • Movies
  • Meals
  • Books
  • TV Shows
  • Restaurants
  • Restaurant Meals
  • Activities
  • Trips
  • Sayings
  • Drinks
  • Musicians
  • Theater Shows
  • Goals
  • Songs

Jamie's favorite sports teams

  • New York Giants
  • New York Yankees
  • North Carolina Tarheels
  • Men's and Women's U.S. Soccer
  • Durham Bulls
  • Shawshank Redemption
  • Her Wedding Video
  • Videos of John and Larkin
  • Forks over Knives
  • Breakfast at Triffanys
  • Roman Holiday
  • An Affair to Remember
  • Gone with the Wind
  • Rear Window
  • Sabrena
  • Shawshank Redemption
  • Once
  • The Big Lebowski
  • Life is Beautiful
  • Casablanca
  • Original Star Wars
  • Pride and Prejudice
  • Pretty Woman
  • When Harry Met Sally
  • Marley and Me
  • Taladega Nights
  • The Hangover
  • Forgetting Sarah Marshall
  • Thanksgiving Dinner
  • Sushi - Yellowtail Sashimi - @ Kanki in Durham Poseiden Roll and Tuna Rio Roll (not baked)
  • Pizza - Always ordered well done "crispy" - peppers with fresh mushrooms
  • French Fries / Cheese Fries (Berwyn Pizza, Outback), Malt Vinegar on regular fries
  • Eggplant Parmesan - Dad's homemade recipe
  • Fajita Tacos - Steak & Chx, Chz, onions & peppers, tomato, guacamole, salsa, lettuce
  • Omelets - thin w/ american chz, onion, pep, mush, tom, avocado
  • Chicken Kabobs - Chx in carribean jerk marinade w/ peppers, mush, onion, tom
  • Perogies w/ sauteed onions and lowfat yogurt (J changed it from sour cream)
  • Awesome burger w/ cheese, extra lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup
  • Homemade Salad - Romaine lettuce, cuc, carrots, tomatoe, peppers, avacados, black bean, cheddar cheese
  • Chip's and Salsa / Guacamole - Chili's for Salsa, Nice Guac a must
  • Beef Stew - mom or jamie's recipe her fav.
  • Homemade Chili on top of crunchy lettuce
  • Homemade Turkey meat sauce over Angel Hair Pasta
  • Angel Hair pasta with a Clam and Shrimp white wine sauce
  • Red meat or turkey w/ mashed potatoes, gravy, and green beans
  • Fav. Snacks: Cheese and crackers, Gold Fish, Triscuits
  • Delicious Fish: Cod, Flounder, Chillean Sea Bass, Salmon, Tuna
  • Grilled Egglplant and Fresh vegetables
  • Everything bagel (scooped out & toasted) w/ cream cheese, lox, tomato, red onion, capers
  • Purried Soups - especially in Ireland
  • Cheese (Brie & Extra Sharp Cheddar were her go to's)
  • Nepoleon & Josephine
  • Henry VIII Books
  • Pride and Prejudice
  • Books by Jodi Picoult
  • Parenting Books (ex. Happiest Baby on the Block)
  • Pregnancy Books
  • Books on Health and Living Right
  • Love in the Time of Cholera
  • 100 Years of Solitude
  • Savage Beauty
  • The Unbearable Lightness of Being
  • Hunger Games Trilogy
  • Shades of Grey Trilogy
  • Loving Frank
  • The Empathic Attitude
  • Extremely Loud & Incredible Close
  • Everything Is Illuminated
  • Gilmore Girls
  • Gossip Girl (short period of time)
  • Dawson's Creek
  • Law and Order, SVU and Criminal Intent
  • Guilliana and Bill
  • Cold Case
  • The Tudors
  • Modern Family
  • Sapranos
  • Little House on the Prarie
  • Ali McBeal
  • Party of Five
  • Seventh Heaven
  • Sesame Street (childhood fav)
  • Family Ties
  • The Cosby Show
  • HGTV Home Shows
  • Sex and the City
  • American Idol
  • Jersey Shore (typically while breastfeeding or pumping)
  • Kardashians
  • Real Housewives
  • Dexter
  • Lost
  • Bethenny Ever After
  • Ruth Chris Steakhouse - Any Location
  • Vin Rouge - Durham, NC
  • Peter Luger's - Brooklyn, NY
  • Uncle Nick's - Hells Kitchen, NY
  • Our Deli - Paoli, PA
  • Mama's Fish House - Maui, HI
  • Totonno's Pizzeria - Coney Island, NY
  • Carrburittos - Carrboro, NC
  • Ballaro' Caffe' Proscuitteria - NYC
  • Al Di La Tratorria - Brooklyn, NY
  • Cafe Loup - NYC
  • Rue Cler - Durham, NC
  • Rhumb Lines - St. Johns, VI
  • Joe's Stone Crab - Miami Beach, FL
  • Beaufort Grocery - Beaufort, NC
  • Magnolias - Charleston, SC
  • Austin Grill - Alexandria, VA
  • Sevilla - NYC
  • Two Boots - Brooklyn, NY
  • Waterman's Crab House - Rock Hall, MD
  • Hide Away Cafe - San Diego, CA
  • In and Out Burger - California
  • Donovan's - San Diego, CA
  • French Dip with Baked Potato - Firebird's (Durham)
  • Green Curry - Any great Thai Restaurant - Thai Cafe (Durham, NC)
  • Chinese Broccoli w/ Shrimp and Egglant with Garlic Sauce - China Palace (Durham, NC)
  • Chips and Guacamole w/ Margarita's - Nana Taco (Durham, NC)
  • Awesome Salads - Southwest Blackened Chicken Salad - Tossed (Morrisville, NC)
  • Quesadilla/Burrito & Nachos - Carrburitos (Carrboro, NC) - no flour chips
  • Sushi - Yellowtail Sashimi, Rolls w/ yummy fish, avacado, cucumber, shrimp tempura, etc.)
  • Turkey hoagie, cheese steak, cheese fries - Our Deli (Paoli, PA)
  • Veggie hoagie (American Chz on bottom, add pretzels, yum) - Our Deli (Paoli, PA)
  • Cheese fries & Greek salad - Berwyn Pizza (Berwyn, PA)
  • Blue Crabs - Waterman's Crab House (Rock Hall, MD)
  • Fried Chicken from Magnolia's (Charleston, SC) & Mama Dip's (Chapel Hill, NC)
  • Stone Crabs - Joe's Stone Crab (Miami Beach)
  • Fillet w/ baked potato and creamed spinach - Ruth Chris's
  • Burger w/ Fries - Only Burger (Durham), In-N-OUT Burger (California)
  • Donuts - Krispy Creme Donuts
  • Omelet (pep., onions, am. chx, tom., avocado) w/ tomato slices and wheat toast - Rick's Diner (Durham, NC)
  • Murgh Chettinad (absolutely loved this) & Lamb Vindaloo - Saffron (Chapel Hill)
  • Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans - Foster's (Rhinebeck, NY)
  • NY Pizza - Totonno's Pizzeria (Coney Island)
  • Researching her next trip / vacation
  • Writing lists and then going grocery shopping (not sure why, but she loved this)
  • Going to broadway shows or most live shows
  • Going out to restaurants and bars
  • Going for long walks or hikes
  • Going to live sporting events (esp. Yankee games)
  • Sailing or being near the ocean
  • Reading a great book
  • Hosting a Party
  • Researching children's toys, equipment or how to raise them
  • Researching how to live a more healthy life
  • Getting a pedicure / manicure
  • Taking kid's to a park or out in public to show them off
  • Taste testing challenges with different wines / beers / liquors
  • Spontaneous Dance Parties
  • Tailgating for UNC Football Games
  • Dancing at home or to live music
  • Seeing the NYC marathon & cheering loudly for the participants
  • Family Trips to Ireland
  • Family Trips to BVI
  • Family Ski Trips (w/ the Babbitts and Smiths)
  • Family Trips to Hamptons (w/the Babbitts and Smiths)
  • Tortola, BVI (w/ Kathryn)
  • Cross country trip to California (w/ Mamon)
  • Negril, Jamaica (w/ Paul)
  • Key West, FL (w/ Paul, Mamon and Dad)
  • London, UK & Ireland (w/ Paul)
  • San Diego (w/ Paul)
  • Hawaii (Honeymoon w/ Paul)
  • Paris (w/ Elyse and Mamon)
  • NYC and Brooklyn (w/ Paul)
  • Quogue, NY (w/ Paul & Elyse)
  • Watauga Lake, TN (w/ Paul, John, Larkin and O'Brien & Kindem Families)
  • Queretaro, Mexico (Met Paul & Hap, Nan, Dan, Maureen and extended Family for Wedding)
  • Ocho Rios, Jamaica (Paul, John, Larkin, and Kindem Family)
  • Asheville, NC (Paul and O'Brien Family)
  • Lake Amy Belle, WI (w/ Paul & Kindem Family)
  • Ski Trip w/ Paul and Kindem Family
  • "Snap Dragon"
  • "NMP, Dude, NMP" (Not My Problem)
  • "You do good work…Not much…But good" (stolen from Pop Fitz)
  • "That's a good boy" to Paul
  • "You're not wrong Walter, you're just an asshole" (line from Big Lebowski)
  • "Good girl yourself"
  • "It's not worth doing, if it's not worth doing right"
  • "Always Wuvin' You"
  • "You're dead to me...for 5 seconds"
  • "Mom, if you don't get over here now, I'm going to beat you" - haha
  • "Bless your heart" - she loved how southerners said this
  • "Seriously?"
  • "UMMMbrella" enjoyed repeating how Paul and Sase say umbrella
  • Jamie, "Nobody loves me" Maureen, "I love you" Jamie, "But nobody good loves me..."
  • "Hey Girl"
  • Cosmo - fresh lime juice a must & just a splash of cranberry juice
  • Vodka Soda - Ketel One preferred but switched to Skyy when being budget friendly
  • Jameson's on the rocks
  • Drambuie straight up - definitely her favorite sipping drink
  • Bushmill's Black Bush on the rocks - fell in love with it at the distillery in Ireland
  • Champagne/Sparkling Wine - Dry but crisp Pink Champagne was her favorite
  • Red Wine - Zins, Malbecs, Syrahs, and only really good Pinot Nior
  • White Wine - crisp Savignon Blanc, Muscadet, selective Chardonnay's (Elyse winery)
  • Beers - most IPA's, Bells Two Hearted & Green Flash were her fav
  • Bloody Mary - extra spicy
  • Margarita on the rocks with salt - homemade recipe (Milagro Tequila, lots of fresh lime, & Trader Joes margarita mix)
  • Pomegranate Martini from Firebirds
  • Baby Guinness Shots - Combo of Tia Maria and Baileys
  • Frozen Screwdriver from Taco Boy, Folly Beach, SC
  • Bulmers Irish Cider
  • J's Signature Drink, now known as "J's Drink" - Vodka, Soda, splash of Cran, & lots of fresh lime juice
  • Coldplay
  • Dave Mathews Band
  • Bright Eyes
  • David Gray
  • The Grateful Dead
  • The Black Eyed Peas
  • Irish Rovers
  • Frank Sinatra
  • Jack Johnson
  • Diana Krall
  • Andrea Bocelli
  • Billy Joel
  • Edith Piaf
  • Ella Fitzgerald
  • Grateful Dead
  • James Taylor
  • Johnny Cash
  • Susannah McCorkle
  • Eminem
  • U2
  • Jay-Z
  • The King and I
  • Avenue Q
  • Cats
  • Miss Saigon
  • Jersey Boys
  • Legally Blond
  • Rent
  • Chicago
  • Swan Lake
  • Nutcracker Ballet
  • Phantom of the Opera
  • Wicked
  • Les Miserables
  • EXPAND YOUR EXPERIENCE (Pretty much says it all...)
  • Best mom ever
  • Best wife ever
  • Great and unique decorator
  • Be an excellent cook
  • Become a great Photographer (she had a great eye)
  • Travel the world
  • Retire at an early age
  • Own her own business
  • Falling Slowly - Once (Wedding Song)
  • Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
  • You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban
  • When You Say You Love Me - Josh Groban
  • The Prayer - Andrea Bocelli & Celine Dion
  • The Black Velvet Band - Irish Rovers
  • No Nay Never - Irish Rovers
  • The Galway Girl
  • If Heaven Weren't So Far Away - Justin Moore
  • It Won't Be Like This for Long - Darius Rucker
  • New York, New York - Frank Sinatra
  • Hey There Deliliah - Plain White T's
  • Black Velvet Band - The Dubliners
  • Wisemen - James Blunt
  • Brokedown Palace - Grateful Dead
  • Bubble Toes - Jack Johnson
  • Girlfriend - Avril Lavigne
  • Whiskey Lullaby - Brad Paisley
  • Blue Moon Night - Eliza Gilkyson
  • Home - Phillip Phillips
  • Arms - Christina Perri
  • Andy, You're A Star - The Killers
  • Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Mariah Carey
  • Child of Mine - Carole King (Father/Daughter Wedding Song)
  • Navajo Rug - Jerry Jeff Walker
  • Barefoot Blue Jean Night - Jake Owen
  • Knee Deep - Zac Brown Band (ft. Jimmy Buffett)
  • My Best Friend - Tim McGraw
  • In The Summer's When You Really Know - Jade Tree
  • Empty Picture Frame - Jade Tree
  • Be Mine - David Gray
  • The Look of Love - Diana Krall
  • Closer to Fine - Indigo Girls
  • Train Under Water - Bright Eyes
  • Extra Ordinary - Better Than Ezra
  • No Place to Hide - Declan O'Rourke
  • Pinball Wizard - The Who
  • I Was Just Thinking - Teitur
  • Turn Me On - Norah Jones
  • Unwell - Matchbox 20
  • Angel of Music - Michael Crawford & Sarah Brightman
  • The Hook - Blues Travelers
  • Beautiful Day - U2
  • Walking in Memphis - Marc Cohn
  • California Love - Tupac & Dr. Dre
  • Yeah - Usher
  • The Way I Are - Timberland
  • SexyBack - Justin Timberlake