Before she gets to saying goodbye...

My goodness, Cambria has been on the ball with updating! She's putting me to shame!
So, how about a list?
Here goes!

Top 10 Things Jessica Adores.

1. When friends become like family...


The girls...Kileen, Caitlin, Cambria, and I...
We become more and more like sisters each day! Oh, the joys of living together! The support and love from these ladies is unbelievable and I can't wait to know them in 60 years... :)
Note: I could never put up pictures of all my lovely friends... Perhaps someday I will post a collage of them. Seriously though, I love getting to know people one on one and having "intentional" conversations with them....I love my frieeennnnds!!

2. Theater Arts.
According to my parents, I was born dramatically...and the rest is history. I have never known a time without theater...and I don't plan to. There is something so wonderful and special about the whole process of putting together a show, that is very near and dear to my heart. I love musicals for their dance numbers, singing, cheese ball factor, and their happy endings...Past musical credits include: Oklahoma (2x), Footloose (2x), West Side Story, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream coat, Seussical, Grease, Bye Bye Birdie, to name a few...
As much as I enjoy musicals, I also adore a good straight play... Was recently in the one acts, Fools and The Camberley Triangle....
The first picture is from the musical Oklahoma that I performed in last summer...gotta love that hat and dress, right?
The second is from the one act, Fools.






3. Antique books and luggage
I love, love, love, walking around antique shops and finding old and interesting things. I always get caught up in the stories that these old items have to tell, so much better than anything from IKEA or Target!




4. Grand ave

This is one of my favorite hang out spots... It's this avenue downtown that has a ton of adorable old houses, shops, cafes, restaurants, etc, etc. It's a prime people watching spot because it attracts everybody and anybody...not to mention the interesting fashion one will encounter!
One day, I will have an apartment and be able to ride a darling bike (with a basket!) up and down and thoroughly enjoy life... :)


5. beautiful things in nature (sunsets,stars,lakes,trees)
pretttty self explanatory.



I could sit outside, by a lake, or watching a sunset, or stargazing, or underneath a tree...for hours. I am in awe of my Creator and His beauty! I could go on, and on, and on... but, I will refrain. :)

6. Children
I want to be an elementary school teacher when I grow up...it kinda comes with the job. :)
I love how sweet, innocent, curious, loving, mischievous, adventurous, and darling children are...mmm. So great. :)
Oh, and also...I love swinging.


7.swing dancing


You've heard me go on and on about this before...I love swing dancing. Well, really any kind of dancing, but swing dancing in particular. The couple dance clubs we have in the area are so much fun! One place in particular has live jazz music, an awesome venue, and it makes one feel as though they have hopped in a time machine and ended up in the Roaring 20s. I love it... :)

8. music
Yup. I love it. My iTunes has the craziest variety and I am constantly on the lookout for new stuff... :)


9.Trying out new coffee shops.
Kileen and I both work for Caribou Coffee and one day we decided we were really of sick of going to hang out at the same place we worked.Lucky for us we live in an area that is STOCK full of coffee shops. Hidden gems just waiting for us to stumble upon them. So, we created an extensive and ongoing list of new shops for us to try out, and once we tried one out, we log it in a journal along with a critique, and decide whether it is worth a repeat visit. We started this last year and have had a blast so far! I have a feeling we will be doing this for a looong time...which makes it even more fun! :)


10. Thrifting!
I know, I know...EVERYONE loves thrifting these days! Or, so it seems. Yet, I still enjoy finding that "perfect condition" Banana Republic skirt hidden in a pile of less than desirable clothing... or what have you. It's the thrill of finding something so great, for such a small price! It's addicting!

Anyways... whew! That was fun! Thanks again Jen!

First Day of School...Farewell, Freedom

Soooooooooo...I'm currently in a state of complete syllabi shock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had only three of my five courses today and I already feel like I have a full load. How in the name of my darling Betsy am I ever going to manage a thesis class and exegetical Bible course on top of these three??? Not to mention family, friends, boyfriend, and job...I fear for my life. Well, that may be an exaggeration. But in all seriousness, I'm just a wee bit frightened I'll misplace my sanity somewhere along the line ;)

On the up side, all my classes are fabulous...with all my favourite professors and all my favourite subjects! I'm taking a class that explores worldviews/philosophies and how they relate to your life...and a class on Ancient Near-Eastern history...and a poetry writing course (first ever!). Not to mention writing my thesis paper and digging into the book of Matthew...all of which are quite intriguing to this literary/historical/philosophical mind <3

Anywho...we should also get a few weeks of good outfit pics before winter hits. Since our school used to be a Catholic boys' school and monastery, the architecture and landscaping is impeccable!!! Sooooo prepare for a round of delightful background :)

<3 Cambria

Last Day of Freedom Before Last Year of School

AUGUST SKY

like orange marmalade
tonight’s sunset spreads across the sky

as the sun,
like a pool of melting butter
rich and oily warm
oozes toward the crusty brown edge of the horizon,

and the slender candied clouds,
like flecks of orange peel
with sugared edges, catch the last daylight

before the deep blue tongue of darkness
licks
the last sticky sweetness away, not leaving even a taste.

Great Day on the Great Lake

Ah yes, endless blue water stretching before you and the sun glinting softly off the smooth red pebbles under your feet...as you listen to the crashing of waves barely superseded by the cries of seagulls...and feel a cool, wet breeze that laps across your face with each wave that strikes the shore :)

I had a wonderful day on the Great Lake Superior! Not to mention enjoyed some incredible food :) The only thing I was missing was some ACCESSORIES because I made the mistake of packing them for school already...all at the bottom of a box. But I made up for that by buying a teeny (think 1/2") purple glass elephant with teensier glass tusks! Sooooo cute, but unfortunately difficult to capture with a camera. So just enjoy the scenic pics and outfit...

<3 Cambria

Alas and Alack...tis my Final Friday!

Yes, it's the final Friday of my summer...mixed feelings as the day dwindles to an end...mostly, I'm focusing on the number of excellent things which will happen over the next four months of school.

1) My 21st birthday is coming up next month!!!
2) My darling Drayton Wesley has a birthday in October and I bought him the cutest black cardigan!
3) The two of us will be celebrating our 18th "monthiversary" in November.
4) I may be flying to Atlanta to present a paper at an archaeological symposium.
5) Christmas break will be here before I know it :)

Plus, some of the best things in life happen at school. I get to live with three wonderful, beautiful ladies and spend time learning and laughing with my friends :) I just might appear onstage for another theatre production around Christmas and/or April. And even on an everyday level, I ADORE classes and homework (as long as it's not tests) and being a TA. Let me just tell you, history majors are ridiculously amazing! It makes me happy just thinking about hob-nobbing with the best of them :)

On the other hand, I'm made quite sad by the quality of today's shots :P Sorry, folks...better soon!
<3 Cambria

Cloudy with a Chance of Chambray

So today it is rather grey and gloomy outside (as evidenced by this picture my sister took!)...and I decided to add some delight to the day by throwing on bright stripes, flirty ruffles, sunny peep toes, and my favourite vintage belt :) I'm not a huge fan of having my hair pulled back--but didn't feel like doing much with it this morning before I rushed out the door! Believe it or not, this chambray shirt is from an Alabama Wal-Mart (gasp of horror) I stopped at when I was on vacation...I have a great fear of Wal-Mart and avoid purchasing anything there...but when I saw this $5 beauty of an 80s button up? Well, I just couldn't resist. Now I wear it almost daily!!! Sooooo soft and soooo cute as a replacement for my typical cardigan :)

Anywho, hope your days are involving more sunshine and butterflies than mine...love <3
Cambria