I Need Your Help Recipe Contest!

Email me your favorite French recipe and help me score extra credit in French Class. The winner gets their recipe and their story about it published on my blog.

Bonjour Mes Amies,

Here's the scoop. Madame Honorine has announced that this April in French class we are going to to have a La Cuisine Française class. Each student is required to bring some form of french food that day. The whole class gets to chow on this huge buffet of food and then we vote for our favorite dish. And Voila, the winner gets extra credit towards their semester grade.

This is where you come in. I am sponsoring a recipe contest because; A) I don't have many french recipes, B) I am feeling a bit competitive and C) I can be a bit of an overachiever so I crave that extra credit. If I pick your recipe I will post it and your story on my blog. Sorry, I can't offer any cash prizes at the moment. But, just think, you will be a published foodie. How cool is that.

The only rules are: A) It has to be French Food. B) It can't be that complicated (remember who's making it). C) You have to submit a small paragraph about why you like this recipe and/or the story behind it. D) I will need your name and the state or country you live in. Pretty easy, huh. Email your recipe/story to jill@jillikae.com. The deadline is February 14, 2011. ( I picked that date because it's so easy to remember)

Woo Hoo! I am so excited. I just can't wait to read all of the great entries I will be receiving. By the way just to let you know I am a recipe junkie, I believe I have inherited that from my mom.

A big THANK YOU to all of my fans out there. It wouldn't be as fun if you weren't a part of my blog life.

Bon Appétit,

Jill

Do More—By William Arthur Ward

Do more than belong: participate.
Do more than care: help.
Do more than believe: practice.
Do more than be fair: be kind.
Do more than forgive: forget.
Do more than dream: work.

Confessions of a School Supply Junkie

I am going back to school. I have decided to take a French class at the community college. This is a sort of experiment to see if I still have what it takes to be a serious student. And, it is also because I am trés serious about speaking the language. But most importantly, I now have an excuse to buy school supplies. Yea!

The most exciting part about going back to school for me, is buying the school supplies. I have this strange addiction to office products which I think is somehow linked to my addiction to craft items, Hobby Lobby and kitchen gadgets. I love going to the office supply store and buying notebooks, paper, pens and folders. I love the idea of starting out so organized and with such good intentions. I feel empowered like I can conquer anything.

I think my favorite school supply has always been the folder/notebook. I always look for the coolest ones with pictures or images. Ever since I was in kindergarten I had to have kittens or flowers somewhere on my supplies. I remember the great sticker frenzy of the late 70's. Or was it the early 80's? Everyone was selling them and I was buying them. I especially loved the ones that said "Property of Jill". I felt so special. Mostly, because back in the day it was almost impossible to find my name on anything. So when I did, I bought it. I still run across those stickers whenever I pull out my old photo albums. I think I probably put that sticker on just about everything I wanted to call my own. This includes and is not limited to, my bed and other bedroom furniture, all of my games, books, knick knacks and probably even my stuffed animals.

I think maybe the stickers are what started this crafty gadgety addiction problem. I know it wasn't going back to school that did it. I always hated school when I was young, but I loved getting the supplies. Remember when we got to buy those big fat pencils and crayons? And how about when we were old enough to learn cursive and we could start using a pen. Now that's what 'm talking about. Pens, the assortment is endless. Look at all of the varieties of Sharpies they make these days. They even come in all sizes. I know because I have bought them. I love pens so much that I even buy the pink flamingo feather ones while I am standing in line at Walgreens, knowing they put them there just for me. Le Stylo! (The only French I remember from high school)

This weekend I get to go and buy supplies. I can hardly wait. I already know what I want to get. A notebook with some sort of French cover, college ruled paper, decorator dividers and a new pen to match. I am going to be the only overaged, French geek in the class and I can't wait.

A bientôt mes amis,

Jill

School Supply Geek Extraordinaire

"Find out who you are and do it on purpose."—Dolly Parton

As I was reading a blog this morning I ran across this quote and I had to stop and read it a couple more times. Then I realized that I don't know the answer to the question, "who am I?"

I am told this is a good thing, not knowing. It leaves us open to making choices and starting our new journey. It's the sign of the beginning of something new. So here I sit with a plethora of choices and I am still asking the question, "who am I?"

I decided, since 2011 is here maybe I should take inventory of what makes me who I am. So here's my answer: I am Jill. I am an emotional basket case some of the time and a happy go lucky person the other part of the time. I am a free spirit, I like to do things my own way. I am selfish and selfless. I am narcissistic and compassionate. I am a dreamer and a creator. I am an artist and a writer. I am a wife and a lover. I am a mother to my furry kids. I am a best friend and a sister. But most important, I am me. There is no one else out there that is exactly like me. And just knowing this makes me realize that I am not perfect, I am merely a human being perfect in all of my imperfections.

I must see the perfection in the imperfection. Who I am at this very moment is perfect. Because without all of these quirks I wouldn't be "Jill", I would be someone else completely.

Dolly is right. Do some homework and figure out the things that make you tick. Explore your quirks and idiosyncrasies. Make a list and be true to yourself. What you will find out is that, what you think are your flaws, fallibilities and shortcomings are really the perfection that is you. Dedicating your life to purpose is easy when you realize you have been doing it all along.

This has been an eye opening experience for me. I highly recommend it as a great way to start 2011. Forget the empty promises and goals. Really sit down and have a chat with yourself. Take the time to really get to know yourself and then celebrate the perfection that is you.

Have a happy, prosperous and perfect 2011,

Jill

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"To dream big dreams and to let others know is the magic of life. You are magical and beautiful and full of loving and great joys in life. You are wonderful just the way you are and will be in the future.

There is no where to go, you are already where you are supposed to be at all times. As much as you can, relax and enjoy, then I say you already have the spirit of the things you desire. Finally, when you let things be, it lets you be. So let the promises BE and they will let you BE."

—aPeter Stewart