Girls

I'm pumped for the second season of Girls. I don't know when it's coming out, but I'm pumped regardless.  About 49% of the time while I'm watching the show, I think to myself, "Yup. Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt."

Grace Potter

When it all amounts to, "Oh well."

A Year in Minnesota

A short film I filmed and edited of moments from my first year living in Minnesota, and snippets of stops home to visit friends and family in Chicago. Enjoy!  If you choose to watch, please watch in HD.

Ya don't say

{Wise words from Ralph Waldo Emerson}

My former student holding it down for the ladies

Have you seen the Hot Cheetos and Takis video? You should! It's blowing up. My former student, Jasiona, is the girl rapper in the video.  She is so talented, sweet and hard working. I absolutely loved having her in class.  She always had a positive attitude and a great energy.  She was never afraid to ask questions and she always gave her best effort.  She was in 4th grade but was in my 6th grade reading class.  I'd like to say that I gave her these rapping skills, but that would be a lie; she's just a natural!

True story: One day when we finished our reading lesson early, Jasiona taught me and the rest of the class how to dougie. It was one of the best days.  Also worth noting, Jasiona and Eric, who I mentioned in a past post as being the kid who liked to dance to Thriller, were both in my reading class... what I'm trying to say is that reading was one of the best hours of the day... learning and fun intertwined... doesn't get much better than that.

I talked to Jasiona's mom today and she informed me that Y.N. Rich Kids are performing tonight at 5:00 at the YMCA in North Minneapolis on Broadway.  If you are in the Twin Cities area, you should go! These kids are awesome. So invigorating to see young kids being positive and having fun!

I concur

Mary Kate & Kirk Wedding Video

On June 23, 2012 my beautiful cousin got married in Chicago! It twas a fun day, to say the least. I posted pictures back in June, but here is a small video I put together from some footage I collected. If you are able to, watch in HD. Enjoy!

If you really knew me... dun dun dun

I got an iPhone a few weeks ago, and I've been putzing around with it. Here are some instagram shots.

New books have arrived for my classroom! I highly recommend all of these!

A stroll through the nearby park with Mallory on a beautiful Sunday.

 Breakfast with Mallory at Grand Cafe. Delicious is an understatement. 

 Allison and Rachel being beach beauties at Lake Harriet.

 Rachel, Allison and I roof topping in Uptown.

 Sunflower heaven a few blocks from my house.

 Lake Harriet being picturesque per usual. 

 This looks like it could be straight out of the book Holes. 

A new favorite. 

In other news, isn't the title of this post so dramatic? Like it should be the name of a murder mystery or the name of a corny reality series that documents the lives of "misunderstood celebrities." Well, anyway, I'm just following suit of other bloggers' posts (aka my cousin).  It feels kind of like those chain emails I received and sent when I was in 6th grade when all of our friends would answer the same revealing questions... like... What's your favorite color? Who are your besties? What's your favorite Disney movie? 

I ate those shenanigans up as a middle schooler. Who am I kidding? I still do, hence, the following...

If you really knew me... 
You'd know that my go to food in almost any occasion is CHEESE!

If you really knew me...
You'd know that I think Enya has the voice of an angel, and that I really like to listen to instrumental music to calm me down or when I'm trying to study/write a paper.

If you really knew me...
You'd know that I have eaten many a meal in my bed while watching Friday Night Lights, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Office, and Friends.

If you really knew me....
You'd know that one time I found a Cheeto in my bed and I was never more ashamed of my college self.

If you really knew me...
You'd know that I drive super close to the wheel. Go-kart style. I don't like the feeling of my leg being straight while driving; it makes me think my foot might miss the pedal. The positive part of me driving this way is that whoever sits behind the driver's seat in my car gets tons of leg room.

If you really knew me...
You'd know that I had a deep admiration for American Girl Dolls growing up. You'd also know that my first American Girl was Addy and that she still is my favorite.

If you really knew me...
You'd know that I love having freckles and am panicking over the fact that I seem to be getting fewer and fewer every summer. WHAT IS HAPPENING?

If you really knew me... 
You'd know that fall is my favorite season. Sweatshirt weather, not sweating, pumpkin patches, orange leaves, pumpkin spice lattes... I could go on... what's not to love?

If you really knew me...
You'd know that growing up I slept with the window blinds open by my bed because I liked to look at the stars before I fell asleep. And actually, you hopefully don't know this unless you are in my immediate family, because otherwise, we got some issues to address.

Windows Are Rolled Down

Look up, childThe world is bornShoe's untiedAnd your soles are worn
Windows are rolled downSun is setting highWindows are rolled downI'm fixing to die
Corn rows have companion feelThis rocky road and this steering wheelWho do you call to ease your pain?I hope for you to get through this rain
Windows are rolled downMoon is hanging lowWindows are rolled downThink it's time for me to go, hey
Is it what you dreamed it'd be?Are you locked up in this fantasy?Oh, this miles that have torn us apartMy new found faith and my broken heart
Windows are rolled downSun is rising highWindows are rolled downFeel that wind rushing by, hey 

Windows are rolled down

Love Story

I think somewhere deep down, we all hope for a love like this. 

I feel so grateful that I stumbled upon this on my cousin's blog.

This is a video from StoryCorps. They describe the video as, 

"Danny Perasa and his wife, Annie, came to StoryCorps to recount their twenty-seven-year romance. As they remember their life together from their first date to Danny’s final days with terminal cancer, these remarkable Brooklynites personify the eloquence, grace, and poetry that can be found in the voices of everyday people when we take the time to listen."

I found this video the same day I came across these pictures. An adorable couple celebrating their 55h anniversary. 
I need a tissue for these types of things. 
{Pictures byJesse Holland Photo. Found on Style Me Pretty}

10 reasons you aren't quite an adult

This picture will NEVER fail to make me laugh. Canine and orangutan friendships are precious.

10 reasons you aren't quite an adult

1) You still sleep in a twin size bed.

2) You still don't know how to parallel park, even in spots that are pretty big.

3) You still care a teensy bit about what people think of you. You aren't quite yet at that point where you can say with nonchalance, "Haters gonna hate," and truly mean it 100%.

4) You still use the phrase, "Haters gonna hate."

5) Your mom still has to say to you, "You should know better," once in a great while.

6) You still need a little help from you dad with filing taxes. And by "little help," I really mean, "lot of help."

7) You still get overly pumped when a Backstreet Boys or N*Sync song comes on the radio.

8) You use fake accents during inopportune times.

9) You still have to make sure all doors, closets and drawers in the house are closed before you go to sleep because you are still scarred from seeing the movie Scream in 3rd grade.

10) You still scream "Mommmmma," on the phone whenever you are really excited and talk to your mom on the phone.

In other news... HAPPY BIRTHDAY to this cool dude. My brother Kevin turns 26 today! 

Spot On

This is how I feel when I want to go out but all my friends and roommates are either busy or want to stay in. 

Gif via