The Corners of Your Mouth

Guess what?! One guess...

I feel so blessed, thankful, grateful, and truly humbled that the University of Washington in Seattle has accepted me to their MSW program.  I have neither accepted nor denied either offer.  Both schools are incredible, and I am in the middle of making pro/con lists.  St. Louis is looking pretty good right now, but ideally I would LOVE to live in Seattle.  I can't say the same about St. Louis because I've never been, but we'll see come April when I go visit.  

Friday I should know something about a possible scholarship to WashU in St. Louis, and hopefully I will be awarded something.  Keep your fingers crossed for me, send prayers/good vibes my way.

I am currently sitting in Brew Ha-Ha in Baton Rouge listening to an Open Mic night.  Tomorrow I don't have to go to work (YAY!).  Instead I am attending an excellent school visit in New Orleans.  I am excited to see what a well-functioning school looks like. A school that fully supports their staff and students, and a school structure that doesn't have the issues of most schools in our rural parishes.  I will miss my kids tomorrow, but who doesn't love a four day week, right?

Life is busy, busy, and full of things to do lately.  That's a good thing, most days...I keep toying with the idea of staying in Avoyelles next year, but deep down I know that's not where my heart is leading me.  I love the kids I teach to death, and if I continue my life elsewhere I am very excited to return next year for the graduating class of 2014.  Most of the kids I taught last year and this year are graduating next May.  I already have some asking me about coming back for their graduation.  The answer is, "ABSOLUTELY!"  I will shed tears of sadness and tears of joy.

Other updates:

- I went to my first crawfish boil this past Friday(!)
- I may or may not have met someone who is worth talking to and spending time with(!!)
- I will be spending some days in Austin the week before Easter! Let me know if you'd like to meet up, more than likely I'd love to see you ;)

-

Ain't it true...

Dear University of Washington...

Dear University of Washington (Seattle),

As I sit here at 10:53 PM (CT) with no response as to whether or not you have denied or accepted me to your school of social work, the thought of moving to St. Louis is sounding extra appealing.  I am currently reading the WashU Brown School of Social Work blog and daydreaming about the possibility of living in the midwest.

I am frustrated, growing impatient, and cannot conceive how your "by February" decision turned into "sometime in February" and is quickly turning into "last day of February."  I do not mean to sound whiney or ungrateful, but please do not let me wait until March....

Signed,

- A Very Anxious and Ambitious-Possible-Husky

Cravings

I am currently craving:

The Fremont Troll in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood

• The Pacific Northwest, all of it, I want to go there in a cozy sweater and a cozy scarf, wearing my Frye boots and wrap my arms around it.
• Sitting in a pub in cold rainy weather with good company drinking a porter or a stout 
• Let's add a band that sounds like this playing in that pub
• Maybe a good night kiss that doesn't mean much, but feels good because the mood and atmosphere are just right (know what I mean?)
• A hot cup of coffee (w/cinnamon) walking down a cold rainy street all whilst window shopping among quirky boutiques

Capisce? 

What are you craving today?

What Are You Doing New Years Eve?

What are you doing New Years Eve?

I'm spending it at home with my family--a good group of them that came in from Mexico.  We are drinking, and eating barbecue, and being a big, loud, Latino family :)

I discovered this video last year and thought it was absolutely darling.  It combines three of my favorite things: 1. good music, 2. Joe Gordon-Levitt, and 3. Zooey Deschanel.  Are they not just beautiful?

A little something I discovered yesterday...I may or may not have the honor of attending Hogwarts next fall.  Check out this incredible view of the Suzzalo Library at the University of Washington:

The silent reading room at the Suzzalo Library AKA: basically Hogwarts 

If studying there is wrong, I don't want to be right :)

Happy New Years Eve y'all! 

Gratuity // Thankful Post

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am sitting here, drinking my hot cup of coffee deciding who I should declare thankfulness to.  It has been a blessed year and I think last Thanksgiving I just wanted to be at home more than anything.  I wanted to be surrounded by all things familiar and love and step away from the new life that I had established for myself in Louisiana.  It was a hard year, a year of growth, and for that I am eternally grateful.

For my profession I am thankful.  For the wonderful students I have the privilege of calling my own I am thankful.   I only hope that they have learned as much from me as I have learned from them.  For the community I have become a part of in central Louisiana.  I am thankful for being welcomed with open arms and open hearts to learn from these people and to give a piece of myself to their children.

For the education I have received, and that I hope to continue to receive every day.  I never stop learning, and everyone I meet teaches me something valuable.  Even you. 

Thank you to my supportive and loving family, for caring about me, encouraging me to pursue my dreams and trusting my instincts...even when they're crazy and involve possibly moving to the Pacific Northwest.

To my friends, new and old. Those I may speak to every day, and those I may speak to once a week.  Those who think I forget about them...I don't.  Those who have come into my life, out, and back in. Those who I never thought would touch my heart after high school.

Love you, Sarah

I'm thankful for Molly Denim Lupo and her loving parents

"Miss you Auntie Laura" 

To all of you, I sincerely thank you.

Update:

My University of Washington School of Social Work application is officially submitted! Now comes the wait. Come February I should hear a response.  I think about this every day and even had dreams about it the other day.  Sometimes you just know in your heart you're supposed to be somewhere.  I knew I was meant to do Teach For America.  I knew I was called to work for a greater cause much larger than myself, and when I stepped off that plane last Labor Day holiday in Seattle I knew that the next chapter in my life would begin there.

Send me positive vibes! 

J-J-Jaded

Greetings from the beautiful and very chilly Pacific Northwest y'all.  I was told that my southern accent is revealed every now and then, who doesn't love a southern belle though, right?  Scratch that, I don't necessarily consider myself to be a southern belle.

I have spent a blessed time here with my dear friend Lisa.  We spent our Friday in Seattle meeting up with Teach For America with the UW-School of Social Work office of graduate admissions. Thank you, Lisa for putting up with my crazy adult-post-TFA meetings, you're a doll.  We had a great time going to a couple of consignment shops and making fun of how tiny the clothes are at American Apparel.  Can you believe some of the sizes wouldn't even fit an Olsen twin?!

On my mind lately (and I promise it's not the lack of sun out here in the state of Washington) is the word jaded.  Jaded in regard to romance I think we could say.  Let me just clarify and say that romance persé has definitely not been on my mind, but rather my indifference to it.  I would like to think that most people who are not in steady relationships whether married or unmarried have thoughts about romance.  Usually daydreaming about the romance you want in your life, of your ideal partner, your future partner, your soul mate (or whatever your choice of jargon is).  At least this was always the case for me.

Instead of these thoughts coming to me, I hit a wall when I consciously attempt to force myself to daydream about happily ever afters.  Today I named that wall: J-A-D-E-D.


jaded [ˈdʒeɪdɪd]

adj

1. exhausted or dissipated

2. satiated

jadedly  adv

jadedness  n

HA! Remember, that wonderful song?  Casting Aerosmith aside, I think I'm just jaded with the possibility of romance in my future.  That sounds awful, does it not?  I am definitely crazy about romance and love and all the roses and rainbows that come with it.  It's more of a feeling of too good to be true at this moment in time.  That's not quite right either, and it makes me sound cynical, which is also incorrect.  Now, I'm just contradicting myself.

Not very bright side of me? Except I do feel optimistic, it's just that my heart is just not as enthusiastic as my mind is.  They'll catch up with each other, don't worry ;)

Stay tuned for an update on the beer page as we tour some microbreweries in Seattle today! I made a friend who happens to appreciate a good craft beer, an important quality in my book!

Fun at Urban Outfitters

Really hoping to be a Husky next fall! 

In love with how apparent fall is in this state

So enamored

Crashing into a pile of leaves, check! 

Apothecary Bars are my new favorite thing

Experiencing the shops at the U

There are indoor trampoline parks for adults! 

Toe touching! 

Never grow up!

Delayed post // Delayed flight

My goodness it's been too long. I'm blogging from the airport. I am awaiting a delayed flight to Seattle. I cannot wait to be in the beautiful Pacific Northwest again.

I didn't abandon y'all because I don't want to blog anymore. Absolutely not. I have been dying to blog and keep everyone posted on the happenings of my small town life. You see, our house has been having loads of trouble with our Internet. It has caused one too many problems and our company that shall remain nameless told us the earliest day they could come out and address our issue was November second. Yea. I know. Our Internet has been faulty for two solid months and the earliest they can address the problem is first week of November? I kid you not.

On a much happier note the day has finally come. I am returning to Seattle and this time with a mission: to envision my future there. I have a meeting with the graduate school of admissions at the UW School of Social Work as well as a meeeting with the Executive Director of Teach For America for the Seattle region.

I am hopeful and cannot wait to make some connections with some incredible people. Send good thoughts my way. Also, part one of my application is complete. Part two is coming and I need to ask for my recomendations.

Have you ever looked through your phone pictures wondering what others might say about your life based solely on the kinds of pictures on your phone? These are thoughts I have while I await to be boarded.

I will leave you with my recent phone pictures to say what you need to say about ny life. Feel free to share in the comments section.

Catch y'all in the Pacific.

Pumpkin Pie blizzards are the best part about October

German Festival in Louisiana

Historical Cemetery in Natchez

This is almost my whole family in Louisiana

Historical Antebellum homes in Natchez

Tick Tock

I took another step towards my future today.  I made a phone call to University of Seattle's School of Social Work graduate admissions.  I have officially scheduled a visit with the school...EEK! I was also given permission by a professor to sit in on a class.  It makes everything seem more real now that I have officially talked to someone.  According to admissions their application will be coming out by the end of the month.  I am so excited to apply for the early deadline in December, and also incredibly nervous.

My to-do list starts with updating and perfecting my resume and also starting my essays as soon as possible.  If the deadline is early December, that means that I only have about two and half months to complete my application.  The clock is ticking, my friends.

Shrimp Primavera in a Greek Yogurt/White Wine Sauce is what's for dinner tonight.  

Dub Steppin' to my future

Let's begin with something semi-impulsive I did like...yesterday...

Seattle bound next month! 

Yes. I cannot get enough of the Pacific Northwest and Seattle is on my mind.  I have a couple of things on my list for this visit in late October:

1. Spontaneity

2. Roof climbing 

3. Official visit with graduate admissions at U-Dub (moral support, Lisa?)

4. Zero Dead Nazis

Questions on my mind:

1. Can I handle the lack of sun for the fall/winter season?

2. Can I handle the misty rainy days year round?

3. Will the above affect my mood?

4. Am I being overly pre-cautious?

I really hate to think so far ahead about this U-Dub graduate program, but I am truly floored by this opportunity.  It kills me trying to wrap my brain around it and I'm just simply going to go with it.  I'm excited, but I'm extremely nervous about the application process.  The school is highly selective and more than 25 percent enter the school with a deep commitment to service.  Although I do feel qualified and the mission statement resonates with what I care about, I want this to be evident in my interactions with admissions and in my application.  I promise that I spent about 15 minutes before going to bed each night thinking about getting into U-Dub and where a Masters in Social Work degree can take me.  I also miss learning in the classroom setting, but also doing hands-on service.  Okay, so I am working for social justice every day, but still...JUST SEND ME GOOD VIBES, ALRIGHT?!

On a different note, the girls and I wined and dined on the town Saturday evening.  The evening weather was perfect.  It was crisp outside and I could smell the start of fall.  We got dressed up and walked to the best restaurant in town.  Yes, we walked in our heels and felt beautiful.  

That porch will soon be filled with pumpkins and halloween decor

What I Wore Saturday: Dress - Marshalls
Necklace - Strut in Austin, Texas
Shoes - Nine West
Bag - Antonio Melani 

"Cheers to the Freaking Weekend" 

The eight beautiful corps members that reside across the street from one another in rural central Louisiana 

We had some Bacon Wrapped Dates stuffed with Brie  

The Baked Oyster Trio

Barbecued Shrimp in a heavenly sauce I would gladly bathe in ;)

My beautiful roommate and birthday girl!  

And lastly, if you need an indoor workout, never underestimate the power of Michael Jackson: The Experience. 

Just prepping for Thriller 

Don't doubt it for a minute...

Stars Aligned//Salmon//Seattle

Before you read, do yourself a favor and let us feel the nostalgia of the 90's with this classic:

I think my life was just made complete.  Can I tell y'all why?!

Wait, wait, wait...let me SHOW y'all

Look at the bottom right hand corner.

and this...

NUMBER THREE!!! 

Obviously the stars have aligned and this is almost too good to be true, but I am way too excited about this graduate program that sounds perfect for me.  Can it be any more of a coincidence that it, A. doesn't require a GRE, B. is in Seattle, and C. is top-ranked?!!  

I am trying not to get myself too psyched, but it's official that my application for graduate school begins NOW.  I am calling my career counselor from college and focusing on this so that I can make the December early deadline.  May have to take a human biology course next semester, but SO WHAT?!!! Seattle is becoming a bigger and better possibility for my future.  Oh, Pacific Northwest I just have the best feeling about you.  

Also, I called my mom and I think she can accept this.  She sounded happy and excited for me.  I need to prepare her psychologically for this possibility.  Prayers, prayers, and many prayers for this opportunity please.  

On a different note, my dear sweet Lisa posted the first photographs from our shoot this past weekend.  She did an INCREDIBLE job, go take a look and leave her a comment.  Seriously hiring this girl for my wedding one day.  I cannot wait until the film shots come in.  

Final thoughts: 

• I made some Salmon in a bag for my roommates tonight
• Easiest and most delicious way I've cooked salmon
• Thank you, Pinterest for the idea
• Check out the play by play below...

Fresh lemon slices, salmon, drizzle of EVOO, Earth Balance, Salt & Peppah, and topped with Cilantro! 

All wrapped in a bag made of foil

Ready to go into the oven at 350 degrees for 25 mins 

Turning out like this :)

Paired with Basmati Cilantro rice like this...

And a class of wine to celebrate!

Home//An Unfamiliar Road

Sometimes an unfamiliar road can feel like home.

I want to move to the Pacific Northwest.  I never thought I'd be saying those words.  It's something that I never imagined.  I always knew that I wanted to visit and in my heart I knew I would fall in love with all that it had to offer, but to move there?!  I realize I'm too close to my family and love the comfort of all that is southern.  I also know a part of me is missing something unwritten that will transcribe with a move across the country.  I feel as thought I have had pieces to the puzzle all along, but it wasn't until this weekend that I saw how they fit.  

I am so thankful, more than ever to be where I am in my life right now.  The past year has been one of many changes and one thing I distinctly remember feeling in my last relationship was this...

My then boyfriend told me to follow wherever he was (location-wise) and insinuated at the thought that if I loved him I would go where he went after my commitment with Teach For America(TFA).  It's funny how those thoughts and feelings were interpreted to me.  It felt like the clock in my early twenties was ticking and post-TFA I had to be where he was (because that's what I knew he wanted) and if I loved him I would do so.  <-- It makes me sick to even write that, but if you find yourself unable to relate to that sentence perhaps you haven't experienced that kind of love.  When you do, I promise you'll understand.  Before I was able to finish my commitment with Teach For America, my going where he went did not seem to be good enough.  I remember feeling my heart break a little at the thought of not being able to choose a graduate school or take an opportunity based on what I had always imagined for myself.  If that sounds selfish consider this: it is important when two people who love each other grow, understand, and support each other through our process of becoming.  In order to love ourselves we must allow ourselves to become, and in order to love others we must love ourselves.  While being together is important, I think it is necessary to support what the other wants, allowing you to nurture them, the relationship, and they themselves better.  This may mean being together in the same city, or together (and not forever) but apart.

An evening sunset behind Mount Rainier

A part of me has wanted to apply to graduate schools and other opportunities out of the south, and just go somewhere unexpected.  Washington state is exactly that--unexpected.  I knew within about ten minutes of arriving to Seattle (err...maybe it was as I saw this beautiful sunset over Mount Rainier from the plane) that I saw myself living there. 

 If you've heard me rave about California, you may be thinking I am acting on instinct, but I can safely say that I like it at least three times better than I did California.  A great part of it has to do with what I felt in Washington.  The Seattle/Tacoma area felt completely laid back, beautiful, with perfect summer weather, and there was this lack of materialism that I didn't feel in California.   All I know right now is my mind thinks about moving to Seattle all the time.  It's on my mind, I'm making plans, and we will see where those thoughts take me.

Now for some nostalgia, here are some snapshots from my extended Labor Day weekend in Seattle with my wonderful friend and host Lisa.  Expect some links to some amazing shots she took to come very soon.

New friends by a campfire

Remember 10 Things I Hate About You? Recognize this shot?

Stadium High School in Tacoma, Washington

Amazing lunch at Row House in the Lake Union district of Seattle

Shooting with Lisa at University of Puget Sound 

Pit stop in Port Townsend while cruising the Olympic Peninsula 

French Press coffee & change

Beautiful Lisa & I 

A reflection of Harmony

Basically in Canada as I overlook the Dungeness Spit 

The most beautiful sunset I have ever experienced

I will leave you with a little something the beautiful Lisa left me with.  Sadly we never got to hear it on our last adventure yesternight, but it is perfect.