Happy 2014

I can't tell you how much fun I had taking pix of my sweet furry babes. I was kissed, crawled on, ran away from and then they knew there was no way out of it, so they finally gave in!

I laughed so hard but what I got was complete adorableness. My lab was the hardest to capture, he thought it was just a game and kept kissing me and waiting for a treat, then he would try to shake then kiss me again - precious!

I hope your new year is as much fun as I had capturing these sweet moments. Remember to have fun, enjoy life and make it your best year yet.

Shoot for your dreams and don't give up and "you will capture that moment" you've been believing and waiting so long for ... this is your year.

WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT, YOU BRING ABOUT.

Happy 2014 to you!

xoxo 

Holy Taco!

We visited a place called, Holy Taco this weekend, and yes, it was holy! I had a shrimp taco with a blue corn tortilla that was out of this world (forgot to photograph it - I ate it so fast lol) My husband told the waiter they need to open up a place called the Righteous Burrito right beside it because it was so good :)

I thought this place was so darling from the outside in - the experience when you walk through the door was planned and thought out into Spanish perfection.

The cheese dip had just a little meat with charizo - delightful!

Just wanted to share, I thought the inspiration from the flower vases to the outside wall art took the customer to another world ... 

Life is all about enjoying the little things and I love it when others take their time to pay attention to the details to make our life experience a little more "divine."

(Jamie has on Express Hooded Leather Jacket)

Egg it On Recipe

I love eggs! And I love rye bread - so the two together are heaven to me.

I will never understand why people eat eggs without the yolk - the two were matched together in nature for a reason. I think both of them together are extremely healthy for you - not only is it healthy, but yummy too. So don't feel guilty when you eat the yolk, it's always been there :) If you were not meant to eat it, the egg would be filled with just egg whites! Plus, egg whites have always left me hungrier than just eating the whole egg.

Anyway, this recipe is so easy - eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

All you need is:

Rye bread

1 egg

Basil

Feta

Small pepper

I toast the bread. Then I fry the egg in just a splash of olive oil (normally about 3 minutes on each side) and season with kosher salt and pepper. I add the egg on top then add the fresh ingredients, feta, basil and pepper.

I always, always use cage-free eggs with naturally fed hens. This is so important to me! I can't stand the thought of animals that are not treated humanely. (I've been known to have sleepless nights of just the thought of unjustly treated animals!)

You can always leave out the cheese or add your favorite, feta just happens to be one of my favorite cheeses. You can also replace arugula for the basil or tomatoes for the peppers. It will taste just as good!

Enjoy.

Easy Shrimp Pasta Recipe

This is so easy it's ridiculous.

I love pasta but I don't eat it very often. When I do, I love egg noodles. They are fast and easy.

For this you need:

Shrimp ( I have about 5 in this dish)
3/4 c egg noodles cooked
Few leaves of basil chopped
Parmesan
Grape tomatoes sliced

After noodles are cooked I add a splash of olive oil.
Add shrimp, tomatoes, basil on top and season with salt, pepper and parmesan.
Mix. Voila!

This just makes an individual dish, but you can cook the whole bag of noodles - all you have to do is just add more shrimp, basil and tomatoes to your liking + the seasoning and parmesan.

Winner, winner - easy dinner!

Dream until your dream comes true...

Merry Christmas! It comes and goes too fast. So fast that I forget to enjoy the moment sometimes.

So this year I wanted to do something a little different for a Christmas card, don't get me wrong, I absolutely love seeing everyone's beautiful face and adorable kids when I rip open a card up from my sweet friends! That's one of the best parts of Christmas time.

But I wanted to do something that was inspirational, thought-provoking and just a reminder that dreams can come true. 

I think it did just that. I did not expect the response I got from my Christmas card. I am overwhelmed by the compliments I have received! I am thankful for my sister, Diane Simmons of Divine Photography who gets me and my "particular" ways. I can be extremely picky when it comes to photographs and design (since I am a graphic designer, I can be the toughest critic of my work at times). I had a vision and man she brought it to life! I was thrilled when I saw the end product! She took the photo and I did the design (perfect team if you ask me!)

How did we get the dogs to cooperate is another question... well ... thank you Burger King! We bought cheeseburgers broke them up and spread them across the field. It was too funny and the dogs loved every minute of it. We walked back and forth about 20 times to get the right shot. But she made it happen. It's exactly what I envisioned. 

The cherry on top was that I got it printed through ZAZZLE on the gold metallic paper which really made the card shine and pop. I couldn't have been happier with the end result.

This year, don't be afraid to shoot for your wildest dreams. Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't have it or it's too far out of your reach.

One of the most important things you can do is write your dream down. Go grab a piece of paper or journal and write down things you would like to see happen this year. Don't quit believing, just keep your dreams before you all the time. In your purse, makeup bag, mirror or some type of reminder somewhere so you don't forget that you are worth having all your dreams come true.

This saying came to me early one morning and I have to design something as a reminder.

Every year I make a dream board or add to the one I already have. It's a great way to keep your dreams in front of your face! I will share what I do in a couple days. I am going to do something new and design a "dream mirror."

So, what dream are you shooting for? Don't give up! I don't care if it's letting go of that "impossible" 50 lbs., a dream job you love, a new car or a mate. Keep your dream alive!

Have I had my dreams come true? Yes. We put a black Toyota Tundra on our dream board and that's exactly what my husband drives today. I wanted to make royalties off of my designs - I didn't know how, but I wrote it down and that's exactly what happened. ZAZZLE "found me" and I now make royalties off my creations. They are so many more things I could share! But you get the point. 

This works. It works if you don't let go of it and say "that'll never work for me." All you have to do is say, "it will work for me." Somehow, some way your dreams will find you. That's what they were meant to do.

So this coming year ... dream until your dreams come true...

Show me the money!

Have you ever heard the saying, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step?"

I thought about this and it sounds so practical that we miss the lesson here. It's impossible to skip that first mile, that's where the whole journey begins.

Same lesson relates to money, let's just say "A journey to a millions dollars begins with one penny." You can't have a million dollars without that first penny.

I had read a story where a guy needed money, he was desperate. Someone told him he needed to respect a penny just as much as he would a $1000 dollars. That's just some good truth right there!

He was given the advice to watch for every cent that came across his path, whether it a penny, nickel, quarter or a dollar - put it in a jar and watch how much it will grow. Eventually, he received the money he needed! Awesome.

This story inspired me, I decided to do the same! I was digging around my house for a jar and came across this flower vase and thought how perfect it was to "watch my money grow."  I had a flower clip in my bathroom I bought from Forever 21 (I love beautiful gift wrapping and I used these flowers as the bows on top presents - I will demonstrate later).

So this New Year remember, YOU RECEIVE WHAT YOU FOCUS ON. So why not grab you a jar and watch your money grow! This is a perfect way to start off your New Year!

I know I've already started ... it's simple. easy. exciting. 

Do it with your hubby, kids, friends - whoever! This is a great, fun way to show kids how to save and for you to save up for those leather boots, new coat or whatever floats your boat :)

I wi$h you tons of blessings in this New Year!

xo

UPDATE 1.7.14

I saw an experiment where someone wrote on a jar of rice, thank you, grateful, love.

So I did the same thing on the side of this jar, I wrote "thank you, Jesus, grateful, multiply millions, love and taped it on the side.

Well the very next day, I found $10 in the grocery isle. Not significant? But I never, ever find money.

Later on that same day - someone called who was interested in buying a house we own that we've been trying to sell for 2 + years! Just got off the phone with him.

Enjoy.

The longer I live, the more I realize ... enjoy the moment. 

You only get one life. One. You don't get nine. You get one.

I was at a family dinner tonight and I looked around and I had this thought... enjoy the moment Jill, you don't get another one. You never get another one.

What moment in your life is giving you stress when you should be enjoying it? Stress is USELESS.

Enjoying is what life is all about. I'm thankful I have a beautiful family, amazing friends and an amazing God who reminds me of this.

If there is only one thing you can enjoy in your life... then do just that, enjoy.

xoxo