Playing with matches

My friends and I played with "Morning Glories" and long exposure settings. Here's what we came up with.

Happy fourth of July all my fellow Americans. Hope you had a fun, safe holiday, and celebrated the birth of our great nation with the mass consumption of hot dogs, and the brilliant glow of fireworks.

-Jess

National Park

So my goal of blogging once a week hasn't really been going that great. But I have been crossing somethings off of my summer to do list. For example, visting a national park. This weekend I went to Moab and visited Arches National Park. It was so fun!! Here are some photos of the trip:

Mmm. S'mores. One of the best aspects of camping.

Delicate arch at sunrise. So beautiful and peaceful. Landscape Arch in Devil's Garden. Under one of the "o's" at Double O arch.

I had so much fun going to Moab. It was so beautiful in such a rugged way. We met people from Japan and this man from the Check Republic, who couldn't have been younger than eighty, hiking around the park. I loved spending a weekend admist such unique natural creations.

Summer To Do List

So I am a list maker. I have a theory that if you write something down then it is not floating around in your head. Your thoughts are documented. It is said that the weakest ink is better than the strongest memory. I believe that. And so lists scatter my purse, cubicle, and room. I was thinking about all the things I wanted to do this summer and I decided to make a list of them. Here goes:

Go to one local restaurant a week
Buy one vintage inspired outfit I will love
Make a terrarium
Fram Cam's print
Learn Spanish
Join a soccer or kickball team
Write a song
Go star gazing
Go park exploring
Learn how to do something new
Visit an art gallery
Go on a photo shoot
Read a book in a park
Go to at least one movie at the Capitol
Watch: Breakfast at Tiffanies', Casablanca, and Roman Holiday
Buy ingredients and cook something new
Buy one piece of local art to decorate house
Go to at least two concerts
Follow the World Cup
Run in a Road Race
Write a poem
Blog at least once a week
Fall in love with a new artist, musician, author, and photographer
Go hiking at least four times
Visit a national park
Go on a bike ride
Volunteer at IRC
Meet someone new

I will be attempting to achieve all of these this summer. If you would like to join me any or all of these activities feel free to give me a call. Let summer begin!!!

Video (again)

Jess and Lucia: "Go analog baby, you're so post-modern you're diving face forward into an antiquated past. It's digusting, its offensive, don't stick your nose up at me"

Europe Part 2

It was long time coming, but without further ado, here is my second half of my trip to Europe.

This was yummy pizza that we ate. It was huge. I got eggplant in mine.
Beautiful Venice!!

My mom and I on Piazza San Marco.

We went to Murano looking for glass blowers and we couldn't find any. But we found a kind shop-keeper who allowed us to go out back and see the masters at work. It was a great experience and I learned alot about a unique art.

This was my favorite island Burano. It is where the lace-makers dwell. It was so picturesque with laundry hanging and bright, multi-colored houses.

Sunset in Venice.

On the grand canal.

Gelato everywhere. I was in love.

The Rialto Bridge and me. At dinner this Italian man harassed us until we bought a rose from him. Scott bought one for all of the girls.

View on the Grand canal .

On the waterfront.

Venice. I felt like I was just walking around in a dream. It is one of the most beautiful places I have been to. It is so romantic, and charming. I loved traveling everywhere by boat. They have a whole system there very similar to our bus system but instead one travels by boat. I loved eating gelato and hot chocolate as thick as pudding. I loved the art of the architecture and the bright pink buildings. I loved the girls on the water bus who were laughing at me because I kept dozing off on the long boat ride. I don't think they knew that they lived in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Maybe they did. I loved people watching on the public transportation. It is the same as here but a little different. I blushed when I caught a strangers eye, just like I do here. I loved the constant sound of water lapping against the stone of the buildings. I loved the old buildings: churches dedicated to saints to stop the black-death, palaces for the powerful rulers of Venice, the towers with the triangle tops. I loved the way light danced on the canal water at night. Venice.

Beatles Rock Band

So I love the beatles. They make great music.

And I love Rock Band. The joys of pretending you are in a band.

And I love French people. They eat snails.

But. Do you know what I love most!??!?

The combination of all three. Awhile back I went over to my friend Jeremy's house. Jeremy is from France. He also happens to own Beatles Rock Band. Lucia (my roomate), Jeremy and I pretended we were in a band. It was hard core. Lucia and I switched off playing the guitar and the drums and Jeremy was our lead singer. You have not lived until you hear all of the Beatles songs in a French accent.

"Let's come togezer right now, ovair meee."

Words cannot describe my delight in hearing this new take on my old favorites. If you have friends from France, make them play Beatles Rock Band. It will be an experience you will not soon forget.

-Jess

Graduate School!!

I just wanted to annouce that I am going to be in the graduating class of 2013 for the University of Utah's Occupational Therapy Program!! I am really excited for this next phase of my education! More information about the program and what exactly occupational therapy is to come. . .

What do you do on Sunday nights?

Karly and I play on my webcam..

Europe! (Part 1)

I went to Europe over fall break and I absolutely loved it. I want to be a world traveler once I make my fortune. This was my first international trip and I enjoyed experiencing how other people live, eating delicious new foods, and seeing amazing places. I traveled with my mother and Heather and Scott Gwilliam (family friends) We went to Munich -Germany, Salzburg-Austria, and Venice-Italy. Here are some pictures and thoughts:

This is the city hall in Munich. I loved the architechture.

So in a lot of the towns that we went to they have a big outdoor market. People go there each day and by their groceries for each meal. There is a store for every ingredient. You have your butcher for meat, the baker for bread and then huge stands that have all the fruit and vegetables you could ever desire. If you are in Germany, don't forget the beer! My mom and I were analyzing the economics of shoping this way and wondering how each store/stand could make a profit. We decided that each person has a relationship with who they buy their food from. I loved this concept. It seems a lot more personal then going into your big chain store to buy groceries.

One of the aspects of International travel that I had not anticipated, but really enjoyed, was the food. I loved trying new dishes and expanding my tastebud horizons. The food in Germany was my faviorite! It was superb. I think I have a genetic predisposition to love German food since some of my ancestors are from Germany. Above is a picture of the brats and sauerkraut that I enjoyed.

So when one is in Europe it is safe to assume that some castle-visiting is a mandatory aspect of any trip. When we were in Germany we were able to see the famous Neuschwanstein castle and its sister castle nearby. Apparently the Neuschwanstein castle inspired Walt Disney and he patterned Sleeping Beauty and Snow White's castle after the design.

Sister castle/amazing view.



Our next stop was Salzburg. Here I am next to the fountain Maria Von Trapp (Julie Andrews) danced around in The Sound of Music.

All the windows in many of the towns had these flower boxes. They were so beautiful! I plan to have some when I have a home of my own.

Where Mozart was born. So cool.

Me + Salzburg = Happy Fräulein

Above is a beautiful summer mannor of an old Archbishop who had a great sense of humor and jimmy-rigged all of these trick fountains on his property. Google it.

Well this is a little taste of the first part of my trip to Europe. Stay tuned for part 2.

-Jess

Music is my Boyfriend.

So I have been enjoying the single life, however, sometimes it can be a downer. But, I had a recent discovery-- I am not single! In fact I am in a really great relationship with someone whom I love a lot. That someone is music. Yes. Music is my boyfriend. So you may ask how this is possible, but I have compiled some reasons why dating music is so great.

#1. Music can't hold your hand, but it can go with you on longs walks on the beach.

#2. Music can't send you flowers, but it can lift your spirits after a lousy day.

#3. Music can't kiss you, but it can give you goosebumps.

#4. Music is malleable, there is no need to approach the relationship with the mentality "oh I can change him, or he will learn what I need" you have the say over each variable in your relationship.

#5 Music doesn't have to leave at the end of an evening, it can be with you all night long.

So in case you were wondering about my relationship status which seems to be a principle concern of many old friends, family, and any strangers I meet, please know that I am happily in a relationship with a sweet someone that I absolutely adore.

-Jess

21st Birthday

So it has been awhile since I posted because I was so embarassed by my first post. It is scary to openly share your thoughts voluntarily, especially if you are an introvert such as myself.


Anyway. . . I decided to post a more typical blog entry. This week I celebrated my 21st birthday and I had so much fun!! I had class that day until 7:00 but my sweet friends, Karly and Amber called me and told me that they wanted to take me to a late dinner. So thanks to gift certificate, we ended up going to Market Street Broiler. The food was so good!! Here are some pictures:

All us girls at dinnner.

Amber had just came back from snowboarding and didn't have any fancy dinner clothes so Karly outfitted her, including a shirt that says "I heart Uganda", where Karly served her mission.

After dinner we all went to Karly's house and they made me brownies and ice cream. I even got to blow out candles and make a wish!!

Thank you to everyone who made my birthday great this year. I had several birthday meals, which are always appreciated now that I am on my own, and many birthday calls and wishes. It was splendid!