A Second Collaboration.

Remember the fabulously fun patriotic photo shoot from a few weeks ago? You can view it by clicking here. Well, the talented Mary Claire Roman, (view her flickr by clicking here) who was the wonderful photographer for that shoot, graciously asked me to model for her latest project. It was such a blast, and I feel so blessed to have been a part of it! Her photos turned out beautifully, and I would have expected nothing less from her. Some of her shots from this new shoot were also featured in the online magazine called AND (click here to view it). I thought I would share these with you!

Cooking with Wolfgang.

I love to go to the Mission Viejo Library whenever I have paperwork or classwork to do. It's just a beautiful place, quiet and serene. A bit ago, when Zachary and I were leaving the Library, we noticed a cart full of books with a sign that said, "free". We glanced through them and ended up finding an fabulous Wolfgang Puck cookbook that I absolutely couldn't deny! So I took it home and honestly read through every page in the cook book, front to back. It had some marvelous recipes that I couldn't wait to try. Here is the first recipe that I attempted, and it turned out wonderfully!



Grilled Salmon With
Garlic Cream and Tomato Butter






I would be more than happy to post the recipe if someone would like it. The taste was marvelous, but it was a bit time-consuming. The meal would be perfect for a special occasion with good family and friends! I wanted to share this with you.

The Cotton Exchange

I'm a big advocate for decorating with plenty of pillows. My friends often question why I have so many pillows on my bed all of the time. I just think that the right blend of fabrics can significantly add to the design of any room. So back in March, I began making some pillows for Zachary's mama. I enjoyed it so much that I made several others and decided to sell them on Etsy, an incredible resource for handmade and vintage items. I'm sad to say that after getting into my busy summer schedule, I don't have any time to keep up my Etsy shop that I had named "The Cotton Exchange," after a famous Edgar Degas painting. I still love making the pillows and I hope to have time to maintain the shop once my schedule opens up again. I thought I would share a few with you:

One of the Patriots.

A friend of mine, Mary Claire Roman, is a talented photographer. I have a passion for costuming/ styling, which includes concept design, outfitting, hair, and makeup. I thought it would be incredibly fun if we paired up to create a photoshoot together, incorporating both of our talents and love for these creative arts. The following shots are the outcome of our collaboration. Our model and my best friend, Breanna Rathbun, was the perfect choice for the festive theme that I chose.


First, here are some images that led to my inspiration in the design of the shoot:










Here is the photoshoot:
Photographer: Mary Claire Roman
Styling/MUA: Me, Kourtney Jackson


























Keep looking out for some more collaborative shoots from Mary Claire and I in the near future!