those who can, teach

at the moment, going to grad school for my M.Ed. full time means that

my bookshelves look like this & my desktop is laden with these

It requires: 

extreme organizational skills

late nights of writing lesson plans while watching Bravo reruns

a touch of creativity

and a lot of coffee

Something tells me that with a career in education,

these things won't stop when I get my degree.

And I love it that way. 

a fall list

Fall is my favorite.  

Here are just some of the things I love about it:

and check out this pin on pinterest.  PERFECT fall bucket list!

c-dubs

I know, I know.  I've written about my brother's band before (here and here).  

But they're just so good!  

They played a concert on Friday night.  I think it was probably the 16th time I've seen them play.

This summer.

So call me a groupie, but I like to think I'm a level above that.

You know, being their unofficial official photographer and all.

memories

Its been a year since I was starting my senior year of college. 

That means its been a year since I spent a fun afternoon doing a photo shoot with these girls.

These girls that can: 

warm a heart, 

talk about theology & philosophy & politics & food & boys at 1 am...any day of the week, 

eat a cake that was baked out of coping with studying for a big exam, 

and laugh at any hour of the day, 

And right now, I find myself particularly missing them.

So, instead of doing the homework I need to be doing right now, I've instead pulled out old fabulous pictures and am reminiscing and laughing to myself about the memories that we made together.

If I'm ever so blessed as to share an apartment or house with some of my best friends ever again, I think I'll die and go to heaven.

dear future self,

Can I get real with you for a second?


These days, I've been a jumbled mess of emotion & confusion.  And I don't like it.


So here's the thing:  you need to work on that being content thing.  Maybe it's not even so much about being content as it is about being at peace and just living.  Stop overthinking everything; stop worrying.


Learn to fully appreciate where you are in life when you're in the thick of it.


And for goodness sake, stop talking.  Find the two or three people in your life who really do know you and your heart and share the details with them.  Because Lord knows, unsolicited advice really only helps to confuse you more.


On the bright side, we both know you'll come out of this splendidly.  Life gets messy sometimes, but in the end, you'll be just fine.


love,
me.

hello, fall!

On Sunday, I got an overwhelming desire to make Apple Crisp.  Maybe it was the fact that my parents had just left for a week-long cruise and I was home alone and felt like making things feel homey, maybe it was the crisp autumn air that had settled in.  Baked apples aren't my go-to dessert, but there was just something about that day that made me want warm apple crisp with vanilla ice cream melting over it.  So, I got myself some apples and put together a tray (and of course, documented it through photos.  Sort of.)

life lately via iphone

it's hat time of year again!

See what I did there? "hat time of year"? Heh, heh. 

Ok, I'm a dork. I know it, and I own it.

A few years ago, I decided I wanted to move on from just knitting scarves, or any sort of rectangular or square objects, and knit a hat. However, I was also too busy to teach myself how to knit on three needles or a circular needle, so I needed a pattern that was quick, easy, and could work with what I already knew how to do.

And so, I give you....

Go on, try it. I promise you, you can do it. It may take some playing around with needle size, yarn type, and how big to make it, but you'll get there, and at the end of it, you'll have a nice new hat that people will love and you'll be able to say..."Awe shucks, you like my hat? Thanks! I made it."

Weeps.

Last night, three friends and I headed down to South Street in Philly to see the magical muscial makings of the acoustic folk duo, the Weepies.  Their story is heartwarming (both had solo careers & were fans of one another, met at a show, started making music together, now they're married with 2 kids), and their chemistry on the stage was beautiful!  My friend Cas saw them on Thursday night up in Beantown and loved them as well.  Unfortunately, my camera was not allowed to enjoy the concert as well (it spent the evening locked in the box office), and so I have no photos to share with you all!  Lets just say it was a wonderful evening and I highly recommend seeing them if you ever get the chance!  We also ran into Steve on South Street after the show, and he took time to stop and chat with us about the show, their move from Topanga, CA to West Hollywood and how they dislike it there, and where we were from and our plans for the evening.  SO personable, humble, and down to earth.  I loved it!

Also, we had dinner at Max Brenner's on Walnut before the show.  It. Was. Delicious.  I highly recommend it!  I had the veggie burger topped with avocado and tomato and an avocado chipotle mayonnaise, which came with their chili & cocoa powder dusted waffle fries and chili aoli.  They may have been the best fries I've ever consumed.  And don't even get me started on dessert.... 

thankfulness

Today, I'm thankful for:

1.  Electricity...

after five days without it, it's nice to have it back

2.  Friends...

both nearby and far away, old and new

3.  Missing people...

as hard as it can be, I think distance can be good for relationships

4.  Education...

the ability and privilege of learning is such a blessing

5.  Lessons currently being learned...

patience, walking in faith, and trust, to name a few