Hi Friends! It's been a busy week here at Joey Nicole Photography, and not without results! I have some very exciting news to share with you...
Last week, I had the opportunity to go to San Diego and attend a workshop with The Boudoir Divas. In case you have not already heard of these fabulous gals (Marissa Boucher & Kimberlee West and their team), they are THE experts in the industry today. They have worked hard to bring Boudoir photography back and pave the road for the rest of us. They've wiped out the stigma of those 1980s glamour shots and replaced the idea with their gorgeous, classy, and modern boudoir photography. There was no doubt that I had to attend their workshop and learn a few tricks of the trade from them. I have been wanting to launch the Boudoir side of my business for some time, and ladies, it... is... time!
I am busy putting my portfolio together and figuring out all the fine details, but if you are interested definitely shoot me an email so that I can keep you in the inside circle. It can be the perfect wedding gift for your groom... anniversary or birthday gift as well... or even that once in a lifetime shoot just for you.
Keep it in mind, and I will keep you posted!
Here's a shot of me with Marissa (on the left) and Kimberlee (on the right) at our dinner the last night of the workshop...
Dear Jake,
I know this post will embarrass you terribly, so forgive me, but I just can't keep my big mouth shut.
I love you. I love you so much. And, I just want the world to know. Not specifically about you and I, but just to know that this kind of love is possible... that it's out there... and that it can be theirs as well.
On Sunday, we spent Valentine's Day together, and it was perfect... we didn't have any fancy plans, but just devoted ourselves to spending the day together. We exchanged red-enveloped cards in the morning, held hands as we wandered around downtown, talked about our hopes and dreams, and treated ourselves to a fabulous meal. It was simple, and it was so perfect.
Since we've been married, I feel like I have changed so much, and all for the better. You teach me to be myself, to trust myself, and you encourage me every step of the way, without hesitation, no matter what project or crazy idea I have. Without you, I would probably still be shuffling papers in a cubicle, feeling "safe" with my 9-5 job, working out like a hamster, and drying my hair straight.
These days, I find myself trying new things, pushing my own boundaries, wearing my natural curls, and listening to my heart. I can only hope that I'm doing the same for you. I am so excited for our future, and to one day find out where this journey, our journey, will take us. I appreciate you so much, and I owe so much of our success to you.
So here I am, with my heart on my sleeve, so that the world can know that this kind of love is possible. The kind of love that makes curls go wild, and makes me feel so loved and so comfortable in my own shoes.
Forever Yours,
Joey
Jackie:
So sweet Joey! I love to see that kind of love and passion between married couples. It's so refreshing.
(02.16.10 @ 12:39 PM)
Addie:
Joey! I think it's amazing you sharing this with the world....we often find ourselves never really saying the most important things out loud.....
(02.16.10 @ 06:58 PM)
DAWN DAVIS:
YOU BOTH ARE ADORABLE!!!! I love people who are in love!!! It's so refreshing! xoxo ~ Dawn
(02.17.10 @ 09:43 PM)
Okay, I admit, I've been a bit distracted with a personal project the last week...
Remember my January 2nd post, "You Are What You Eat"?
It was my way of publicly coming out of the Paleo closet and sharing what I've learned on a personal level this past year about what we eat, and how to eat best. It was information I was so excited to learn that I just couldn't keep it to myself.
Well now you can find all that info and tons of healthy recipes on my new blog, Paleo Girls.
It's a joint venture between my sister, Shelley, and I and we're adding recipes daily and documenting our adventures in a Paleo lifestyle.
So, photography will resume as normal here. I have so many exciting things coming up that I can't wait to share. So stay tuned!
And if you want to check out our tasty new blog, visit PaleoGirls.com!
We've also been featured today on the Gravity Janes website as well, so be sure to check it out!
Remember my January 2nd post, "You Are What You Eat"?
It was my way of publicly coming out of the Paleo closet and sharing what I've learned on a personal level this past year about what we eat, and how to eat best. It was information I was so excited to learn that I just couldn't keep it to myself.
Well now you can find all that info and tons of healthy recipes on my new blog, Paleo Girls.
It's a joint venture between my sister, Shelley, and I and we're adding recipes daily and documenting our adventures in a Paleo lifestyle.
So, photography will resume as normal here. I have so many exciting things coming up that I can't wait to share. So stay tuned!
And if you want to check out our tasty new blog, visit PaleoGirls.com!
We've also been featured today on the Gravity Janes website as well, so be sure to check it out!
Melissa Smart:
Joey! I love your girls' blog!! I'm going to try a couple of your recipes this next week. My boyriend who is "the chef" between the two of us is uploading the app as week speak. I even checked out The Gravity Janes website, might have to check it out too!! Keep it up girl....EVERYTHING!!
(02.03.10 @ 04:18 PM)
Joey Nicole:
Hi Melissa! That's so great to hear! I hope it's useful for you both!
(02.06.10 @ 04:00 PM)
I have debated about posting this for some time. For months, in fact, because you might just think I'm nuts. But the last few days, I've seen both the Taco Bell Drive-Thru Diet and the Hollywood Cookie Diet advertised on TV and I'm just infuriated. This era of bad nutrition and misinformation needs to end!
Jake and I have been eating super-healthy for almost a year now, and feeling really, really great. Life-changing great. Our health has improved so much.
Some people think we're nuts, as what we're eating is definitely not society's "norm" and it wasn't easy for us to find the information we did. So I'm putting it here to share with you. Take it or leave it. But, I'm hoping you'll take it!
Where to begin?
My food journey, like everyone's, started as kid, I avoided vegetables like the plague. My mom served veggies with every dinner, but bless their souls, she and my dad never forced me to eat them. I knew Popeye ate his Spinach, but I never understood the reason people at things like cooked spinach that looked soooo soggy... and steamed broccoli that smelled so.... green.
I grew up surrounded by Italians with a divine love for homemade pastas (and the marinara always from scratch), garlic breadsticks, and homemade pizzas with a thin yet chewy crust.
I would start my days with a bowl or two of cereal... anything from Cheerios to Frosted Flakes... pancakes or scones or eggs and bacon on the weekends, lunches of grilled cheese, cheese and crackers and, of course, pb & j... I loved fruit and enjoyed yogurt, so later in life I thought those were the healthy choices that would keep my body healthy. I averaged a size 4, and while I often felt tired, I worked out and never thought I was out of shape or terribly unhealthy. I ate this way until I was 29. Until 9 months ago, in fact.
Last holiday season, Jake and I didn't feel like we were at our best. We tried to eat healthier by incorporating whole grains, more fruit, and some veggies (Jake was better than me at this) into our diet. But again, no science behind our methods, just what we had thought was right from the good 'ol USDA.
As we started researching new gyms and workout programs, Jake also began searching for more information on nutrition. Both of us ready for a change, we bought a few books and began reading. We were amazed at what we were learning, and decided to give things a try.
We now eat a diet that consists of:
-lean meats & seafood
-healthy fats
-non-starchy vegetables and fruits
What don't we eat? Grains, cereals, rice, processed meats, unhealthy fats, sugar, and dairy.
We went through a bit of grain/sugar withdrawl when we first started it (I literally saw cupcakes dancing in front of me one day), but once we made it past the first few weeks we saw and felt some amazing things start to happen.
The changes we've seen? All positive!
-Increased energy (I joke that I've been awakened from a lifelong grain-induced coma)
-Becoming more lean (We're both the smallest we've ever been in our adult lives!)
-Feeling satisfied and full after meals for several hours (No need for snacking)
-No longer fearing a future with heart disease, cancer, or one of the many syndrome x diseases caused by eating foods that weren't meant for our systems
-Clearer skin
-Improved strength at the gym
-Improved allergies (Jake hasn't renewed his allergy rx in 6 months! he used to need it every day!)
-Better sleep
-Improved & easier to control blood sugars (for my type 1 diabetes)
The official name is the Paleo Diet. Dr. Loren Cordain describes it best on his website as:
"The Paleo Diet is a way of eating in the modern age that best mimics diets of our hunter-gatherer ancestors - combinations of lean meats, seafood, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. By eating the foods that we are genetically adapted to eat, followers of the Paleo Diet are naturally lean, have acne-free skin, improved athletic performance, and are experiencing relief from numerous metabolic-related and autoimmune diseases.
If you are ready to be lean and healthy, then look around and subscribe to our newsletter. Learn how to lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, arthritis, acne, gastrointestinal disease, autoimmune diseases, and more. On this website, and in our books and newsletter, you'll learn the latest science and practical scientific tips that will lead to optimum health and performance. This truly is the world's healthiest diet."
I am posting this article today because I know so many people come out of the holidays full of eggnog and holiday cookies, ready to get into shape. Resolutions are set, yet so many don't even know how to properly achieve them. Try this yourself and see how you feel!
Recommended Reading & Websites:
-The Paleo Diet by Dr. Loren Cordain
-The Everyday Paleo Blog
-Robb Wolf's Blog
-The Diabetes Solution by Dr. Bernstein (any diabetics out there MUST read this!)
Happy Eating!
Jake and I have been eating super-healthy for almost a year now, and feeling really, really great. Life-changing great. Our health has improved so much.
Some people think we're nuts, as what we're eating is definitely not society's "norm" and it wasn't easy for us to find the information we did. So I'm putting it here to share with you. Take it or leave it. But, I'm hoping you'll take it!
Where to begin?
My food journey, like everyone's, started as kid, I avoided vegetables like the plague. My mom served veggies with every dinner, but bless their souls, she and my dad never forced me to eat them. I knew Popeye ate his Spinach, but I never understood the reason people at things like cooked spinach that looked soooo soggy... and steamed broccoli that smelled so.... green.
I grew up surrounded by Italians with a divine love for homemade pastas (and the marinara always from scratch), garlic breadsticks, and homemade pizzas with a thin yet chewy crust.
I would start my days with a bowl or two of cereal... anything from Cheerios to Frosted Flakes... pancakes or scones or eggs and bacon on the weekends, lunches of grilled cheese, cheese and crackers and, of course, pb & j... I loved fruit and enjoyed yogurt, so later in life I thought those were the healthy choices that would keep my body healthy. I averaged a size 4, and while I often felt tired, I worked out and never thought I was out of shape or terribly unhealthy. I ate this way until I was 29. Until 9 months ago, in fact.
Last holiday season, Jake and I didn't feel like we were at our best. We tried to eat healthier by incorporating whole grains, more fruit, and some veggies (Jake was better than me at this) into our diet. But again, no science behind our methods, just what we had thought was right from the good 'ol USDA.
As we started researching new gyms and workout programs, Jake also began searching for more information on nutrition. Both of us ready for a change, we bought a few books and began reading. We were amazed at what we were learning, and decided to give things a try.
We now eat a diet that consists of:
-lean meats & seafood
-healthy fats
-non-starchy vegetables and fruits
What don't we eat? Grains, cereals, rice, processed meats, unhealthy fats, sugar, and dairy.
We went through a bit of grain/sugar withdrawl when we first started it (I literally saw cupcakes dancing in front of me one day), but once we made it past the first few weeks we saw and felt some amazing things start to happen.
The changes we've seen? All positive!
-Increased energy (I joke that I've been awakened from a lifelong grain-induced coma)
-Becoming more lean (We're both the smallest we've ever been in our adult lives!)
-Feeling satisfied and full after meals for several hours (No need for snacking)
-No longer fearing a future with heart disease, cancer, or one of the many syndrome x diseases caused by eating foods that weren't meant for our systems
-Clearer skin
-Improved strength at the gym
-Improved allergies (Jake hasn't renewed his allergy rx in 6 months! he used to need it every day!)
-Better sleep
-Improved & easier to control blood sugars (for my type 1 diabetes)
The official name is the Paleo Diet. Dr. Loren Cordain describes it best on his website as:
"The Paleo Diet is a way of eating in the modern age that best mimics diets of our hunter-gatherer ancestors - combinations of lean meats, seafood, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. By eating the foods that we are genetically adapted to eat, followers of the Paleo Diet are naturally lean, have acne-free skin, improved athletic performance, and are experiencing relief from numerous metabolic-related and autoimmune diseases.
If you are ready to be lean and healthy, then look around and subscribe to our newsletter. Learn how to lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, arthritis, acne, gastrointestinal disease, autoimmune diseases, and more. On this website, and in our books and newsletter, you'll learn the latest science and practical scientific tips that will lead to optimum health and performance. This truly is the world's healthiest diet."
I am posting this article today because I know so many people come out of the holidays full of eggnog and holiday cookies, ready to get into shape. Resolutions are set, yet so many don't even know how to properly achieve them. Try this yourself and see how you feel!
Recommended Reading & Websites:
-The Paleo Diet by Dr. Loren Cordain
-The Everyday Paleo Blog
-Robb Wolf's Blog
-The Diabetes Solution by Dr. Bernstein (any diabetics out there MUST read this!)
Happy Eating!
Every year I get super excited about the holiday season. I love updating my holiday music playlist, getting out the decorations, drinking hot, frothy cappuccinos from red cups, and cozying up to my handsome husband while watching Christmas movies.
But I must admit, I have always viewed New Year's Eve as a giant bunch of hoopla. The expectation to don a party hat, get all gussied up, wear glittery eyeshadow, stiletto heels and stay up past midnight to celebrate the shift of a year is something I left back in college. Well, maybe a couple years out of college...
And while I understand the symbolism of closing out the old and starting with the new, these days I find myself getting excited for birthdays of our nephews and niece, girlfriends announcing their first pregnancies, my parents 40th wedding anniversary, our wedding anniversaries, my sister and aunt running half-marathons, booking a new couple for their wedding... you know, things of significance... things that matter!
So, forgive me for packing away my cocktail dress and glittery eyeshadow and shying away from the big party invites, and mini-vacations planned for this New Year's Eve. We rang in the new year with a few good friends this year and it was perfect. Great company, tasty food, fun card games (even if I only learned how to play them halfway through), and the neighbors even had a fantastic fireworks display. I'd say it was just about perfect.
THANK YOU to all of our 2009 friends-as-clients, for making this a year of growth. You trusted me with my creative vision. You've built my confidence. My love for doing what I do just keeps snowballing larger and larger.
I am greeting 2010 with giddy anticipation. We have some seriously fantastic weddings lined up, and I can't wait to see what other couples we will book. I know that the clients that select us are also a reflection of us, and the matches just get better and better all the time. Who knew photography would be such a great way to make new friends!
And if you want to keep in the loop with me for 2010, be sure to
find me on facebook
follow me on twitter
join my mailing list
I'll try to keep you entertained :)
But I must admit, I have always viewed New Year's Eve as a giant bunch of hoopla. The expectation to don a party hat, get all gussied up, wear glittery eyeshadow, stiletto heels and stay up past midnight to celebrate the shift of a year is something I left back in college. Well, maybe a couple years out of college...
And while I understand the symbolism of closing out the old and starting with the new, these days I find myself getting excited for birthdays of our nephews and niece, girlfriends announcing their first pregnancies, my parents 40th wedding anniversary, our wedding anniversaries, my sister and aunt running half-marathons, booking a new couple for their wedding... you know, things of significance... things that matter!
So, forgive me for packing away my cocktail dress and glittery eyeshadow and shying away from the big party invites, and mini-vacations planned for this New Year's Eve. We rang in the new year with a few good friends this year and it was perfect. Great company, tasty food, fun card games (even if I only learned how to play them halfway through), and the neighbors even had a fantastic fireworks display. I'd say it was just about perfect.
THANK YOU to all of our 2009 friends-as-clients, for making this a year of growth. You trusted me with my creative vision. You've built my confidence. My love for doing what I do just keeps snowballing larger and larger.
I am greeting 2010 with giddy anticipation. We have some seriously fantastic weddings lined up, and I can't wait to see what other couples we will book. I know that the clients that select us are also a reflection of us, and the matches just get better and better all the time. Who knew photography would be such a great way to make new friends!
And if you want to keep in the loop with me for 2010, be sure to
find me on facebook
follow me on twitter
join my mailing list
I'll try to keep you entertained :)
Rori Bonnell Steckler:
Joey, I cannot agree with you more. You said it perfectly. Heres to another great year.
(01.01.10 @ 08:55 PM)
Anonymous:
you arent nesting are you??????? ;-)
(01.01.10 @ 11:16 PM)
Joey Nicole:
Thanks for the love Rori! And to clarify this here (even though we already did on facebook) - no, I am not nesting! Not pregnant!
(01.02.10 @ 02:33 PM)