Official Website of JillandKate

Hi friends…it’s Kate.

Newsflash: I  have the best friend in the whole wide world. AND TODAY IS HER BIRTHDAY! PARTTTYYYYYY!!!!!

I am also lucky enough to work with my BFF and that it makes work seem a lot less like “work” sometimes. Which is fun because we “work” a lot so that in turn means that I get to have fun a lot. I like fun. But enough about me…

You all know and love her too…well…cause you can’t not. She is funny, talented and has a heart of gold. Seriously. She is so stupid talented and so humble about it sometimes it’s annoying. Haha. She’s just so ridiculously kind and talented….so being the best friend I am I thought I’d embarrass her and post a pic of us from right around the time we met & started working together…ahhhh….you ready for this….?

 I had a thought to put this picture through a filter on Instagram but then I realized that not even a filter would help me out. Wait, I thought I was supposed to be embarrassing Jill?

Here we are working on recording our very first songs together…not a lot has changed as I remember posting a similar picture from us working on Heart of Stone.

And one last pic of Jill from around the time we started playing together…her hair was so with the times now…highlighted at the ends…you go Jill.

Okay….enough embarrassing photographs.

So thankful for such an awesome BFF.

Show her some love today.

-kate-

It’s June 3rd folks…which means that it is non-other than Jason Halbert’s BIRTHDAY! We did a blog last year with pics & we decided to do it again this year. We have the pleasure of working alongside him & this last year has proved yet again why we are so thankful for him! He is our fearless musical leader on the road, a great friend, kick-A running buddy & an example of a fabulous husband and father. Also, he is always inspiring us to take pictures to document our many travels so we decided to put together a collection of those from the last 12 months. We are so happy to know him, laugh with him and j&k are looking forward to seeing what awesome things are in store for JH this year.

Jason…first off…..HAPPY BIRTHDAY…

This is how we see you a lot…

Sometimes you wear a shirt to remind us who you are and what you’re doing there…

Australia soundcheck…

VH1 Unplugged rehearsal.

“STRONGER” video shoot rockin’ the key-tar.

No clue when this was…some rehearsal in the last 365 days

When things really get going you’ll move on to this instrument…

Power faces.

Food is an important staple…Cracker Barrel pit stop…hmm…

Chowing down on Koi NYC. Yum.

Music City Hot Chicken Festival, Nashville, TN.

BK & long car rides….good combo.

Just normal breakfast table conversations happening here…

We like to run…Sydney, Australia.

Run club…West Hollywood, CA.

We hauled our butts over that bridge & back…hoo-yeah run club 2012! San Francisco, CA.

We admire all of Jason’s modes of transportation….swing….

Mini-car…

Surf board…

Bike…

We also support a creative wardrobe…when you feel like wearing all grey animated uniforms….

And wizard costumes…

And star shaped glasses….

And yuppy yacht apparel…

And bibs…

And neon green suits…

And mostly when you wear your party rockin’ LMFAO lovin’ gear.

Group shots extravaganza….

These next few pics didn’t have a category but thought they were honorable mentions of good times!

Weirdest city ever for a wine bar…Reno.

Dance party on the bus.

Best day ever…Universal.

Jill’s birthday….Denver, CO.

Made up game…entertainment for at least 30 minutes.

Free drinks on January 1st flying to New Orleans!

Culture Committee party Jacksonville, FL.

Jay Leno!

Dressing room at SNL. Aben looks thoroughly entertained.

Recording in Australia.

Some coffee shop somewhere in the world…

Best German driver ever. #preoseccoforever

New iPhone photo app DIPTIC…all of us demonstrating the “jet lag”

UK X-Factor.

Stretching it out before our pre-flight to Australia.

NO idea where this was but I bet we were having loads of fun!

Australia.

Until next year….

-j&k-

Boredom at its finest backstage.

Okay…maybe THIS is boredom at its finest backstage.

Boredom also leads to sticking tiny silver hearts on our cheeks. Pretty sure you can only see Lesley’s. #picturefail

Y’all have been asking for pics of the birthday girl on her birthday…here ya go!

A little karaoke action in Denver for Jill’s bday.

Birthday hats = serious party time.

Gorgeous drive to Seattle!

Seriously unreal.

Still driving to Seattle…

An afternoon in San Francisco!!!

OO-AH run club run across the Golden Gate bridge…AND back. (pic taken by kate while running…notice finger in bottom left hand corner!)

That’s kate running…

After a fun day of running and wandering around downtown SF, we had fabulous food at the Crab House…and a delicious MOJITO! Yummy.

Jason was all bibb-ed and ready to go.

We saw the sea lions just chillin’ on the pier.

Finished off the night with ice cream….

We just got to celebrate our dear friend & bandmate Einar’s birthday…HOORAY!

Driving to Bakersfield we saw these crazy orange flowers…

After the Bakersfield show we met a new friend TeriAnn & she gave us these adorable purses that she MADE HERSELF. Along with a super sweet handwritten note inside. (Jill’s purse isn’t pictured but it is equally adorable!) We love them & cannot wait to use them.

So there you have it…those are some pics from the last week or so…

Can’t believe it is almost April….wowza.

-j&k-

This is Jill…today I turned 30. YIKES! Actually, I’m excited. I’ve heard that your 30′s are better than your 20′s so I guess I’ll find out if that’s true!

Here are a few things I’ve learned over my 30 years…also they are things I want to remember as I continue on in this crazy world. In no particular order:
1. When things are ridiculous, laugh.

2. You are who you surround yourself with.

3. I always feel better after a workout. But that doesn’t always motivate me to actually go do it.

4. I really have never used anything I learned in geometry/trigonometry in real life. Ever. So when I yelled at my math teachers in high school and said it was useless, I was right. I feel satisfaction in knowing that.

5. Africa is magical.

6. Hearts can be mended.

7. People will always let me down even if they have every intention not to. God will never let me down even if I have every expectation that He will.

8. Forgiveness is hard. Forgiveness is necessary and life-giving. Usually the necessary, life-giving things are hard.

9. Being around kids brings joy. It keeps you feeling young too.

10. The ocean is my happy place.

11. I’m a major introvert. That’s okay.

12. When all else fails, find some chocolate.

13. I have a LOT to learn.

14. Seasons. They exist. Remember and accept that when it’s time for a new season.
“There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

15. Most people are driven by insecurity. Try not to be one of those people. Learn to recognize those people and don’t let them get to you.

16. Happiness is a choice.

17. I’d like to think I’m more creative than this, but I could wear jeans, a black hoodie and flip-flops or converse every day of my life and be content. Heck, I pretty much do that. Who am I kidding?

18. The Sound of Music never goes out of style. It was my favorite movie as a child and it still is now.

19. Family is the most important. Your real family and the family you choose. Treat them well.

20. Don’t take yourself too seriously.

21. Trust your instincts. They are usually right.

22. Write notes to people. I learned that from my mom.

23. Be generous. I learned that from my Dad.

24. Pray. Talk with God. Listen to God. Communicate with Him however it is that you communicate. I learned that from both of my parents.

25. Don’t be easily offended. (This is hard for me.)

26. Appreciate other people. Don’t just put up with them or be indifferent. Learn to genuinely appreciate them.

27. Time FLIES. Be here now. Enjoy the moments.

28. Drink a lot of water.

29. Have a go-to karaoke song and own it.

30. Always be thankful.

Thank you for all of your birthday messages, tweets, etc. I had the best birthday! Here’s to my 30′s!

-j

This blog is dedicated to the one and only KATE!

Obviously this is Jill writing it because well, that would be weird to dedicate a blog to yourself…or maybe not! But either way, it’s still me, Jill.

Today is Kate’s birthday and I’m so glad she’s alive, aren’t you?

Here are just a few of the reasons why Kate the Great lives up to her name:

She can rock a BK crown like nobody’s business.

She is THE queen of jumping pictures.

Her heart is huge. (Not literally. She has a normal sized heart.) But seriously, her kindness and compassion are off the charts.

She loves Nutella. With a passion.

She cares about everyone. Even giant Elvis pig statues. I told you she had a huge heart.

And of course, the KATE face!!

Happy Birthday Kate!!

-j

Tonight we gathered at a friend’s house for a little holiday cheer & a little bit of birthday action for Kate. We sang Christmas carols, ate cupcakes, cookies…drank some wine. It was fun, fun, fun. It’s always fun to gather at holiday parties and chat with people that you haven’t seen in awhile. Catch up. Good times.

Yay for holiday parties.

-j&k-

Well, we wanted to wish our dear friend Kelly a HAPPY BIRTHDAY on our blog. Not only is she super-duper talented, but she is also a ridiculously awesome friend. She is trustworthy, listens and always takes the high road…quality people…straight up quality.

Our friendship has seen lots of things:

Gondoloa Rides in Italy

Cold weather on the streets of NYC waiting to see Patty Griffin

Warm sun of the beaches of St. Tropez

Hotel room somewhere in the world

In our Christmas PJ’s on the bus:

And if all of that doesn’t speak for itself, we have stood together on the FRIENDS stage and that will make us FRIENDS for life.

Love you lots.

-j&k-

Here are 2 pics from Kate’s birthday fun. Pancake pantry and cupcake time.

In other news, I (this is Jill now) get a weird sense of satisfaction when I do self-checkout at the grocery store and nothing goes wrong. You know how a lot of times you do everything right, but it starts beeping at you and saying “Needs Assistance…Please Call Attendant”…and you’re like…”I didn’t do anything wrong!” That bugs me…and it’s also a little bit embarrassing. Like-how hard is it to self-checkout? Am I that incompetent?  If there’s going to be a problem every time, I’d rather just go to a “Real Attendant” aisle.  So when all goes smoothly and I check out without any problems, it feels awesome.

In even more news, I’ve been asking myself lately…”Why haven’t I bought myself a Snuggie yet?” I see them all the time and hear about how great they are…then I sit on the couch with cold arms and wonder…”What’s holding me back? Just buy the Snuggie” I tell myself.  But I wonder if I am just caught up in the hype of the Snuggie. I don’t know. I think I will buy one before long.

Lastly, as I reflect on these not so important things, I think to myself…”I wish that Home Alone were on instead of The Santa Clause 2 because Home Alone is definitely one of the best Christmas movies ever and The Santa Clause 2 is not.” However, The Santa Clause is a good movie. Also, I (secretly) loved the first Alvin and the Chipmunks movie and may (secretly) be excited about “The Squeakquel”…yeah.

I will stop reflecting now as I am wasting both your time and mine. -j

1 week til Christmas.

Be good.

-j&k-

Hey everyone–

So I seriously haven’t even opened my computer in a week…after a crazy week of rehearsals we were off to LA, Indio & San Diego and just returned home to Nashville this afternoon. The shows were SO FUN! Got to meet Miriam & Brenda in San Diego last night…they were awesome!! Blogging is harder on the road…but we will get into the swing of things…so more blogs to come!

It was “Stixie’s” birthday yesterday so we are going out tonight to celebrate. Woohoo!!!!

Hope everyone is jazzy.

-kate