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Kalahari Weekend!

4/26/2016

This weekend me and the husband got to vacation it up at Kalahari Resorts for his sister's birthday celebration. It was a grand time! I was in dire need of a vacation, and this just hit the spot! It was a great little weekend getaway trip that was just what I needed!
Here's some pictures of the crazy fun!

And for an extra special treat, you get a short video of the husband wakeboarding! And at about 28 seconds, he face plants! Hehe, you're welcome! :D

Hahaha I kicked a chair in the hotel room!

And here we are all fancied up (pizza tie and all!) for dinner at the super fancy restaurant inside Kalahari.
I hope you enjoyed the pictures from our trip! Kalahari is a blast, and a great place for a weekend getaway (especially if you live in or around Ohio, Wisconsin, or Pennsylvania)!
Check it our for yourself!

Peace Love and Kalahari
Jess <3

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Michiko Bates Chronicles

4/18/2016

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Recently I did some modeling for an eBook; The Michiko Bates Chronicles. Turns out, me and the main character look a lot alike!
It was a fun time, and I got to learn a lot about this character, and about the book too!

Meet Michiko, a 17-year-old teenager that mixes with the social crowd but likes her own space, having a knack for tech and using her head. After a trip with her friends to the movies one night, she finds a pendant that allows her to visit a mysterious world with massive trees, each leading to yet another different world with a new adventure. After getting drawn into a town in danger from a legendary creature, its up to Michiko to make a difference in the outcome. Her involvement is just the beginning…

I told you we look a lot alike!

Here's what the author, Janeil H said about his book; “I always liked adventure stories. When I was younger I discovered a lack of “travelling to other worlds via magic” stories that were not Medieval in tone missing from my local library. I decided I would write something better and more diverse for these bookshelves when I got older in hopes of providing something new to read. One story I’ve wanted to write was an adventure of a young girl discovering a mystical place and wanting to explore it deeper. The story would have an old-fashioned flair and yet be connected to modern conveniences, as sometimes portrayed in certain Japanese manga. I was inspired by many things which show through the appearance of the main character and the vistas she would encounter. Exploring anachronism and the interactions of different peoples she would run across. Something that left the reader wondering ‘what if” when they put the book down and looked out the window."

This is a great book, aimed at young adults, but adults of all ages will also enjoy! It's a great way to leave behind real life, for just a little bit, and enter into an exciting fantasy world, where anything can happen!
Sound interesting? Well, you can download the first chapter of this book here, and see what you think!

You can find buy the entire book, for your Kindle, for only $3.99! On Amazon.

Here you can see all the platforms to find this book!
and

Don't forget to like them on facebook!

*Disclosure*
I was selected for this opportunity, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Peace Love and Michiko Bates
Jess <3

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How to Host a 1950's Housewife Dinner Party

4/11/2016

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How to Host a 1950's Housewife Dinner Party

If you are an old soul like me, you probably love a good dinner party. And even if you aren't, it is still a really fun thing to do!
I absolutely love anything themed, and I am obsessed with the 1950's (my wedding was retro themed for cryin' out loud!), so I had a blast creating this dinner party theme!
So here I give you the how-to for your next get-together!

For your 50's Dinner Party, you gotta have a certain retro feel to it, and here I have some ways to get that feel, and how to pull off the perfect retro dinner party!

-Music!
If you have Pandora, fire up the 50's Rock 'n' Roll Radio Station, slip in a 50's compilation cd from the library, or make yourself a rockin 50's playlist on your Ipod!
Some great artists to get started with are Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, The Coasters, Little Richard, The Drifters, Chubby Checker, Sam Cooke, The Shirelles, and Dion and the Belmonts. Just to name a few! Bonus points if you have a record player and actual records!

-Add some Retro touches!
As you can see, I have a stack of vintage magazines, a vintage lamp, two vintage suitcases, even my table is vintage! You can find most these items at thrift stores, estate auctions, flea markets, or even in a relative's attic!

-Vinyl vinyl vinyl!
The fastest way to add some retro feel, is with vinyl!
The three easiest ways to use vinyl; 1. Get an old record at a thrift store, and, using a glue stick, glue a picture in the middle of it (like I did at my wedding, below)! 2. Write out your food menu for the evening, and glue that onto the middle of the record (like I also did for my wedding, below). 3. Use record bowls to hold candy, or silverware, like I did above. You can purchase record bowls from myEtsy Shop.

-Don't use paper plates!
Use real silverware, real plates, and real napkins.

-Plenty of lace, pearls, and candles

Dress the Part.
Dress like an adorable 50's housewife!
-Lots of pearls
-Red Lipstick
-A retro apron
-Heels
-A cute dress
-An updo
(Or just watch an episode of I Love Lucy, and go from there!)

Serve some drool-worthy food, and afterwards, have some wine and dancing! Now that's a party!

Check it out! I'm modeling as the main character for a great new young adult/adult fantasy book series! Visit their site!

Peace Love and Dinner Parties
Jess <3

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14 Must Have Wedding Pictures You'll Regret not Taking

4/4/2016

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14 Must Have Wedding Pictures You'll Regret not Taking

Now obviously, there are more than 14 pictures you should make sure to have on your wedding day! You need the traditional and obvious pictures of you walking down the aisle, your first kiss as man and wife, your groom's face as he sees you for the first time, you and your family, etc. etc!
Those are not the pictures I'm talking about today.
Today I have here for you, 14 pictures from my own wedding, that I loved so much, I wanted to make sure everyone else had the chance to see them, and if they liked them, put them on their "wedding must-have photos" list! When I was getting ready for my own wedding, I went through Bridal magazines, and websites, looking at hundreds of pictures, trying to figure out what shots I wanted for my big day, so I thought this could be a much more condensed list for you to go through! So go through these pictures, see what you think, and add them to your list if you like them!

1. A picture that makes you feel like the sexy and beautiful bride you are.

2. A full body shot of you in your dress.

3. You sitting in your dress.

4. A b-a picture of your groom and his boys.

5. Similarly, a b-a picture of you and your girls.

6. Your groom sweeping you off your feet. Literally.

7. A serious and cool picture of the whole bridal party.
You know, the one that makes you look like the cover of a boy band album.

8. A silly picture of the entire bridal party.
The one that makes you look like the bunch of hoodlums you really are.

9. A faraway shot of the ceremony. Hint, if you have a balcony, use it!
Close-ups are great, and necessary, but having the faraway shot that captures everyone all at once, during the ceremony, is just magical!

10. The shot that makes you guys look like models on the cover of a Bridal Magazine.

11. Everyone always wants a picture of the joy on the groom's face. What about yours?

12. Let the Sunshine in!
On your wedding day, your face will already be glowing, so why not let the sun's light accent that glow!

13. A picture that shows off how cool your wedding venue is.
We got married in a 100 year old theatre, so this picture of us sitting in the audience was so great! Just think about what you like best about your venue, or what is the coolest part about it, and incorporate that into a couple of pictures!

14. A few well placed black and whites.
Everything looks stunning in black and white, especially wedding pictures!

What do you think of my list of must have wedding pictures? What are some of your must-have wedding pictures? Let me know in the comments below! And don't forget to use those handy little buttons below to share these must have wedding pictures with everyone!

Peace Love and Must-Have Shots
Jess <3

Kalahari Weekend!

Michiko Bates Chronicles

How to Host a 1950's Housewife Dinner Party

14 Must Have Wedding Pictures You'll Regret not Taking

I'm China Barbie!

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