Official Website of JillandKate

The other day we were talking about something or other and somehow the topic of seahorses came up…

I was talking about a school field trip as a kid and something about seeing a dead sea horse in a jar & that you could make a wish on them because they weren’t real…

Kate was all “A’hem…whaaaaaaaat? No, Jill, No. Unicorns aren’t real. Seahorses are real.”

I had no idea! Someone told me as a kid that they were fake and for 20-some years, I’ve believed that. Wow.

It’s like the How I Met Your Mother episode where Barney never learned how to use a screwdriver…and Ted never learned how to pronounce “chameleon” and he kept saying “Cha-Ma-Lee-On…”

I guess it’s true that everyone has something they missed out on learning earlier in life. I mean, there’s a lot of information out there, folks! You can’t know it all. (I am totally trying to justify how stupid I feel right now…haha.)

Is there something you realized as an adult that you never learned as a child…and maybe you should have learned much earlier?

For now, I’m going to go celebrate the fact that seahorses are real. And hey, you never know…maybe unicorns are too!? (Jk, jk. Or am I?)

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-

Do you ever have awesome morning hair?

Like this?????

Jill is such a good sport.

Hahahaaaaa.

Happy Saturday.

-j’s really awesome hair & kate-

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

If it isn’t Monday again. The weeks go by rather fast these days don’t they? For me they have been flying. I can’t believe it’s already March. Want to know what’s weird? As I was typing that, the Ellen show was on in the background and she said “I can’t believe it’s March…” It’s so crazy when stuff like that happens. I love it.

So I have these incredible friends back in Nashville who gave me the most awesome Christmas present ever. It’s a day planner with little notes/cards for every week that I am out on the road so that whenever I need a little pick-me-up from back home, I can open it up and read one of their cards. Seriously, best friends ever award. I’m so lucky.

Anyway, today’s card had a quote in it and you know how much I love quotes. So here it is:

“Rudeness is the weak person’s imitation of strength.”

I’ve never heard that one before, but it hit me pretty hard just now. It is pretty easy to get annoyed with little things and be rude especially out here on the road. It’s easy to lose perspective and for everything to become a much bigger deal than it actually is. It’s easy to become completely self-focused. Sometimes I just want to be complain and be rude and act like a two year old who needs a nap. But I have to remember to suck it up, be strong and act appropriately.

So there ya go. Jill’s thoughts for the day. Keep on truckin.

-j-

Hi. Jill here. So, I haven’t been able to watch American Idol too much this year because of our tour schedule, but I’m excited for this season and here’s why:

Hallie Day (who is in the Top 24 and performing tonight) is married to my cousin Ryan! You might have seen him featured in her audition video. My cousin Ryan and I are the same age and grew up down the street from each other. Here we are with my other cousin Caitlin when we were little. Check out all of our sweet hair.

Ryan and Hallie live in Baltimore now and I haven’t gotten to meet Hallie yet since they’ve gotten married, but I’m proud to have the family representing on AI this season!

Check her out tonight and vote for Hallie Day!

-jill-

“F-R-I-E-N-D-S.” It’s now on Nick@Nite…what’s not to love about that?

Flip-Flops. We have been in Florida for the past week and I’ve been able to wear flip-flops daily. It’s like a dream. If I could wear flip-flops every day for the rest of my life, I would. They are far superior to shoes…in my opinion.

The show “An Idiot Abroad.” It’s our favorite show to watch on the bus on this tour. It is AWESOME. If you need a new show to watch, check it out. I think you’ll be glad you did.

Pinterest. Why was I so late to the party on this? It’s brilliant and addicting and inspiring. What’s not to like?

This hilarious skit from SNL last week: 

http://www.nbc.com/assets/video/widget/widget.html?vid=1386283

Those are the things I like this week.

Peace!

-j-

So again…we are borrowing the idea from PEOPLE magazine & their “One Last Thing” fun. Joe Jonas…you and your perfectly manicured eyebrows are just precious…now we will take a stab at your survey. Here it goes.

Last Celebrity Crush….

Jill: Ben Affleck. He’s a Boston boy…need I say more?

Kate: I had a momentary SNL crush on Andy Samberg. All those SNL boys are so nice &  funny. But it would never work out…I think I’d want to one-up him with my jokes…cause I’m very funny. Haha. See?

Last Album I Bought…

Jill: Jack’s Mannequin…I bought a bunch of their older albums on an iTunes shopping spree.

Kate: Ben Howard’s album “Every Kingdom.” He has such a cool voice. “Gracious” and “Promise” are some of my favorites so far.

Last Gift I Gave…

Jill: A massage. No…I didn’t actually “give” someone a massage…I gave my friend a gift certificate “for” a massage.

Kate: My brother’s birthday present…an Xbox game. Some game where I’m sure there is violence and blowing things up…therefore I’m participating in the general chaos of the pre-teen generation.

Last Time I Apologized…

Jill: Two minutes ago. Don’t ask.

Kate: Two minutes ago. Really…don’t ask

(We bicker like sisters, okay? Deal with it.)

Last Coupon I Used…

Jill: A coupon for a free oil change. Boo-yeah!

Kate: Hmmm….coupon…I don’t think I’ve used a coupon since 1998. Haha. I probably have I just can’t remember it. Hahahahha.

Well wasn’t that fun!!!

-j&k-

If you feel so inclined…

1. Drink More Coffee (try this new creamer our friend Jenny told us about “Natural Bliss“…yum)

2. Watch Revenge (my favorite show on TV right now…if you haven’t seen it, go download all the episodes! It really gets you thinking about revenge, retaliation, forgiveness, etc.)

3. Listen to this song and tell me it’s not awesome:

4. Read The Hunger Games. (Give into the masses. It’s good. I just read the first book in 2 days and am onto the second.)

5. Forgive someone you’re holding a grudge against. (“It’s hard to give, it’s hard to get, but everybody needs a little forgiveness.” -Patty Griffin)

This is all optional. I’m not trying to tell you what to do! Haha. As always, returned suggestions are welcomed. What should we do?

-jill-

I’ve been sick. Well, since you asked….I have had this nasty little thing representing flu-like symptoms the last couple of days and it is no fun at all. Okay, well a little fun cause I’ve laid in bed or on the couch for 48 hours doing nothing but watching movies & TV & eating frozen yogurt…and besides feeling the knives in my throat and not being able to talk, it’s been a real hoot. But during this sickness I realized again my deep love affair with Ricola’s. They are herbal cough suppressant throat drops…aka…heaven to your throat when it’s hurting. With the seasons changing, these little drops are always good to have around

I had this dream last night that I was dating David Schwimmer. Now, what was my subconscious trying to tell me? Too many cold pills, too many romantic comedies leaving me lonely, too many FRIENDS episodes?? I don’t know…it’s weird…we were out on a lake with lots of people…then we were eating dinner…hmmm…I don’t think I’ve ever had a “thing” for David (yes, we are on a first name basis now)…but I distinctly remember waking up knowing that moments ago in dreamland David and I were happily dating…aren’t dreams SO WEIRD? Weird, weird, weird. Ey yi yi.

And finally I wanted to share that hipstamatic is still the coolest iPhone photo application in my book…check out this rad pic of Jill I took the other day:

You can thank me later for all of these gems.

Haha.

-k