favorite places?

I am nine credits away from graduating (cue confetti) and rather than apply for graduate school immediately, I am looking into other opportunities overseas (more on where I'll be headed will have to wait for another post).  So, I'm writing statements on why I want to teach English, why I'd like to travel, and how my upbringing has shaped who I am today.

But while I'm busy writing, I'd like to hear from you (and please don't be shy)!  If you were to pick five countries (or cities) to visit, what would they be? And if you feel like it, why'd you pick these places?

(one of my most favorite cities, philadelphia)

i cannot cook.

Those of you who know me well probably know that I am not a domestic goddess by any stretch of the imagination. Sure I can boil a pot of noodles and make a mean spaghetti sauce or construct a pb&j sandwich, but pies? cakes? main dishes? steaming veggies? No way; cooking has never been my forte.  After years of dealing with various health ailments, I finally discovered that I have a gluten and dairy allergy (I have previously messed around with food to see if it'd help with my energy levels).  Let's just say these allergies have me in the kitchen for more than ten minutes a day. I have to measure things (did you know that almond flour is expensive?!) and substitute different ingredients.  It's like learning how to ride a bicycle with training wheels and then jumping to a unicycle. Not an easy task.

Today's challenge?  Peach and blackberry cobbler, courtesy of Roost Blog (and if you suffer from a combination of allergies like I do, check her blog out. It's GREAT.  Most blogs are focused to dairy or gluten allergies, but not both.)

Oh hello there, blog.

Okay, so before you all think school has come on over and killed me already...please know that I am alive and well.  And I'm still taking photos. In fact, I'm offering a schweet dealio!  If you live within thirty miles of me, you are eligible for this deal.  I live halfway between Ann Arbor and Detroit (which are both in the absolutely lovely state of Michigan).  For fifty dollars you get a thirty minute shoot with thirty photos. This deal is only valid thru October 11, 2011, so get on it folks!  (This shoot does not apply to graduating seniors or engagement photos.)  I know I have readers here in the metro-Detroit area, so shoot me an email!

Also, since school has started, I clearly don't have nearly as much time to update.  So, feel free to follow me on twitter!

And soon, I will get busy and share some images. For now though, you can enjoy this senior teaser!

The beginning of the end.

Four years ago, I embarked on this thing called college.  I had no idea what it really was.  Heck, I could barely understand the difference between a bachelors, masters or a doctorate!  Originally, I was supposed to be in music school and aside from a few english and math classes, I expected to live with my flute and piano for the duration of my undergraduate degree.  Cough, sputter, choke. That's obviously not what happened; God clearly had other ideas for my life.

For starters, college has taught me that life doesn't always go as planned.

I didn't graduate when I should have. I should have been done this past spring, but my diploma will read 2012. I've just been telling people that I love school that much.

Graduation day aside, when I DO receive my diploma in April, I will be a "sociologist". What's a sociologist? I will commit an academic sin and quote wikipedia:

"It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop and refine a body of knowledge about human social activity."

Didn't get that? As a sociologist, half of it's blabber to me as well, so don't worry.  Essentially, when I walk across the stage at convocation, I'll be a sociologist who is certified in observing people (aka: creepin'), conducting interviews (qualitative sociologists, holla!), surveying the masses (quantitative sociologists, I don't know how you can stand this stuff) and then some. I'll be educated, or something like that. A far cry from music school, no?

But ya know education-schmeducation aside, I've learned some other random, yet valuable, lessons:

Professors make mistakes.
You will forget to submit an assignment (and you will survive).
Class gets canceled every great once in a while.
Three jobs sometimes suck your spare time.
Somehow, you find time for extra curricular activities (like literally running yourself dead by participating in cross-country).
Sometimes you transfer to another school.
You don't receive the grade you thought you deserved.
Your major changes once or twice (or three, four and five times).

The doors I once was scared of are now familiar (I really hate the squeaky doors).  That intimidating professor?  Yeah, she's writing my letter of recommendation.  The borderline psycho professor I swore I'd never see again?  Um yeah, about that. She's my boss now. Those unfamiliar faces?  We're friends.  And today marks the beginning of the end of all that.  I didn't expect to encounter any of it, but it happened and now it's going to end soon.  And it's bittersweet.  College wasn't so scary after all.

elaina {birthday shots}

My youngest sister, Elaina, is turning eight in a few weeks!