By Jessica Zamora

Our story starts with David and I meeting and becoming very good friends. It was the summer before my junior year and David’s sophomore year. That’s right David is a year younger then I am so he jokes and calls me a cougar. I have a younger brother who is the same age and grade as David. I guess you could say I owe it to my little brother that David and I met each other.

David played high school football with my brother and I was a cheerleader. One day over the summer the football team was hosting a BBQ fundraiser and I had to be there to help out. My mom had asked me to go tell my brother something so I had to find him. He was on the bleachers hanging out with all of his friends. After I told my brother what I needed to say I turned to walk away, and then my brother thought he would be funny and throw a wrapped hamburger at my butt. It hit me and fell to the floor. David (being the odd individual he is) walked over, picked it up, and started to eat it. The entire group then began to call us ass-burger  I was totally embarrassed and thought David was weird and I sort of stayed away from him because of it.

When the school year began I didn’t talk to David that often but he was always around since he was my brother’s friend. It wasn’t until my senior year his junior that we became very good friends. We hung out at lunch every day, talked on the phone, saw each other at sporting events or school events, and even hung out outside of school. We never ended up dating but everyone always knew we liked each other. Most everyone would say our attraction to each other was the “elephant in the room.” It was obvious we had always liked each other but it just seemed like there was something always in our way.

David went into the Marine Corps right out of high school so I didn’t get to see or speak to him for a while. It wasn’t until Christmas of 2009 when David sent me a text message saying Merry Christmas that we became attached all over again. He was home on leave so I got to see him and spend some time with him before he had to head back to the east coast. From that time on he has been my best friend and the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. This is how our story began and every day is an adventure for us. I enjoy living our love story and I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.

Until next time :)

june

Until next time :)

June

Until next time :0)

june

Everyone needs a support structure, especially when starting and owning your own business, and the Modha’s are a HUGE part of our support structure.  Honesty, we couldn’t do photography without their help.  They and a few other amazing people watch our little girl when we have a photo session.  In return, we did this family session for them as a way to say thank you for believing in our dream and helping us achieve it.  We love them more then words could ever express and the gratitude we feel for the Modha’s and everyone else that helps us is GINORMOUS.  

Until next time :0)

june

And for the sheer sake of fun…here is some behind the scenes shots…..

See…. for the last few months Isiah had listened intently to all the wedding plans. Plans for a great glorious event. An event that he was not going to be able to take part in.  So he figured if he came right before the big day his parents would just have to postpone the whole thing and then he would get to partake in the festivities.  His masterful plan worked and now this May Jillian and Josiah are set to walk down the aisle a 2nd time with their son Isiah by their side!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay I may have taken a little liberty with retelling this story but I think it is entirely possible that this is what was going on in Isiah’s head before he arrived. Don’t you?

Until next time :0)

june

A very special thank you to the Kirtlan’s for letting us use your ranch!  We are truly in LOVE with your property :0)

I will share a few from my list, only with the understanding, that if you read this you must share a few of your favorites in the comment section. Yes… you read that correctly.  This requires reader participation.  Some of you may be scratching your heads as to why but my idea is simple and sound.  Maybe, just maybe, we will discover new things to try and it is just flat out fun.  Who doesn’t need a little bit more fun in their life?

My Favorite Things:

1) Scarves – self proclaimed addiction to them and really no shock to anyone who knows me!

2) Kayaking – I honestly don’t do this nearly enough but I absolutely adore it.  When I close my eyes and think of a happy place,  kayaking with my husband at Lake Alpine quickly comes to mind.

3) Coffee - I adore coffee.  I prefer a plain old simple drip coffee with lots of room for creamer.  Unless at Starbucks and then I order a vanilla latte and once a year I allow myself to have one, yes just one, eggnog latte. Mmmm… so yummy :)

4) Vintage leather coach handbags - I hunt for these little treasures at thrift stores.  They are not the quintessential coach bag and you probably at first wouldn’t even realize it was a coach bag but I just adore them because they are shabby in just the right way.

5) Antique Mason Jars and glass bottles - This one goes back to my childhood.  When I was a little girl we used to go hunting for old glass bottles.  I have since been given my families collection and I adore them.  They hold so much sentimental value and I think they are just beautiful.

6) Old doors and windows  – This one has transcended into our home decor.  We have an old window hanging up in our dinning room and we turned an old door into a desk.

7) The colors yellow and blue together - Oh man I just adore this color combination!

8) Classic VW bugs - I have always adored these cars.  Have yet to own one but I will someday! Psst…  ever ride in a vehicle with us EXPECT to play slug bug.  Its kinda mandatory!

9) Almond Roca - MMMMMM!! So good.  I am not a big sweet fan but this one I cant resist.

10) Flower bowls – No not bowls with flowers on them but bowls that are shaped as flowers.  Totally random I know but I love them!  Again a treasure I keep my eye out for at thrift stores!!!

Your turn!!!

The beginning of our happily ever after…

By Jillian Kilmer

The Herrera’s annual family camping trip held special importance in the fall of 2010 for this was the trip the family laid Grandma Joyce to rest at the point of the lake. Josiah and I arrived to Bucks Lake to weather that wasn’t so happy to see us. The first night was rough, the tent was cold and damp from the rain, the air mattress deflated in the middle of the night, and the dogs were freezing. Needless to say everyone spent the night fighting for blankets and space!

The cold morning started early, I wanted to hit the local lodge bar and grab a morning cocktail to make light of the previous night. Josiah had other plans. He selected a very small group of people, Uncle Terry, his sister Elaina, and her boyfriend Rodrigo, to take a drive to the dam on the lake, and informed us to get in the car. Naturally I argued the time line reminding him the dam would still be there after the bar! Needless to say I won and the group traveled to the lodge to enjoy some morning cocktails! 

Josiah, the tour guide, decided two to three slammers were enough for the group, and decided we should now leave for the dam. “Road soda’s” in hand, we took to the road with our sober tour guide dictator driver, as the group joked, and headed to the dam. Winding around the lake gave us time to get silly so by the time we got to their destination, everyone was in great spirits. One by one they walked down the old road, to the even older bridge, and finally to the dam, which over looked the entire lake but more importantly the point at Bucks Lake. 

Upon taking pictures of the breath taking view, I was shocked to find a full moon in the middle of the morning! Uncle Terry had dropped trousers and was mooning the camera. A belly aching laugh infected the group for a good 5 minutes, and by the time I had regained my senses  my camera had been snatched from my hand. Spinning around expecting to find the culprit, I instead found Josiah on one knee. Stuttering over my name he managed to get out the words “Jillian, will you marry me?” and in the most appropriate Jillian-esc way I responded with “Are you f*cking kidding me”, followed by tears, hugs, and many whispers of “yes” in Joe’s ear! With Grandma Joyce looking down upon the most special of moments, the sun broke through, and Josiah and I knew that this was the beginning of our happily ever after.

A very special thank you to the Kirtlan’s for allowing us to use their ranch!

Until next time :0)

june

 Here is a roundup of our year so far through Instagram….

magnet fun on cookie sheets ~ found a gem at the thrift store (cant wait to wear this!) ~ took our little princess to Disney on Ice ~ smiled bc of love notes from cleinds ~ made a road side stop for a sunset pic  ~ Mommy made art at Art Beast (we call him squishy and he is my friend) ~ made more stops on the side of the road for a pic opportunity ~ rocked cool camera jewelry (Thanks Tegan!) ~ Little one began her photography training! 

So far, I have to say our year has started out pretty good and I cant wait to see what our next few months look like through Instragram!  It really is kinda of fun to see it all together.

Until next time :)

June