Home Sweet Home.

Hello you.

I know what you're thinking. twice in two days? Who is this person updating the blog? Surely not Jenna. NO, GUYS. Its me, not Shirley. I just laughed at my own joke, whats happenin?

Any who, here for your viewing pleasure are some little baby tastes of the place I call home here in España, aka Sevilla. Shall we have a little lesson about Sevilla? Teacher hat is going on, hurr we go!

Sevilla is, and I am quoting wikipedia here--solid stuff, "is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain". It is the capital of a southern providence in Spain called Andalusia. About 1.5 million awesome people call Sevilla home, and I'm one of them until December. WAHOO!

Fun fact, its freaking hot here. Still mid-nineties CADA DIA. I don't think I've ever wanted comfy cozy sweater weather more than right now. Apparently mid-November is the time for that here, so I just have to give it a couple more weeks.

Its such a walking city here, and I absolutely love that. I signed up for a service that has bike stations all over the city, and I can get a bike from one station and return it to another. Its so much fun just biking around Sevilla being Spanish and stuff. [side note::I used my bell three times the other day. look out world!]

Food::Lots of fish over here. Not my favorite, but I've learned to enjoy it. The nutella for breakfast every morning helps make up for it, not going to lie. I'm also digging the eating schedule here too. Breakfast at 8, lunch at 2:30, and dinner at 10. Its different, but I like it.

Favorite part of the spanish culture right here: SIESTA. Its literally a time to veg out/nap scheduled into your day. I totes take advantage of it, and will be bringing it back to the good ole USofA with me. Don't worry guys, I'll teach you how to siesta.

I hope you enjoyed your guide to all things sevillana! kind of. Oh well, its my blog. we'll call it that.

p.s. i really like blogging. who knew?

the elephant in the room...

oh, hey!

Long time, I know. But i guess i have something to tell you. um. so..

I'm in Spain. As I have been for the past 7 weeks today, pretty much to the hour. I didn't even plan that, but I'll go with it! If I had a nickel for every time I said to myself, "I'm going to blog tonight!" during these past seven weeks, I'd still be poor because I'm using the euro here and the dollar is weak. Don't worry, guys, I'm still funny!

It seems like the past 7 weeks have gone so fast, and its really weird to think that I've been here that long. But its also strange to think that I have another 9 and a half to go. I'm learning SO MUCH about spanish (durr), myself, God, culture, relationships, and more. Its been a little cray-cray, but thats when you learn. So I've been learning.

Since its been 7 semanas [yes i will be attempting to teach you spanish] since I've been here, I have LOTS to catch you all up on. Prepare yourselves. The posts are a-comin'.

also, I LOVE YOU. and miss you. mucho.

wuh·zee

...this day was fun.

well, hello again.

So I've done it. I've updated the blog. Now before everyone thinks that this is a wimpy attempt at redeeming myself for my lack of posts, I will have you know I just spent THREE HOURS fixing the layout of the blog. Yes, THREE HOURS to have it be plain white and simple. I'm really good at blogging. I will also have you know that it is my intention to blog often (stop laughing), even if my life is super boring. JK I'M GOING TO SPAIN, IT WILL BE SO EXCITING YAYYYY!!!!

Shoot munchkins. I was going to try and make it through a whole post sounding halfway normal. I was close.

And now I am going to reward myself by going to bed.

<3 u! lol.

my favorite little lady

The many faces of my favorite four and a half year old.

I can't get enough.

Empire State of Mind

GUESS WHERE I AM. I am on a bus traveling from Boston to New York City as I am typing this! I am so technological with wifi on a bolt bus. It has been a dream of mine to go to NYC, so needless to say, I am pumped. Not only do I get to see the Big Apple, but I get to see it with mah BFF, Caroline...and some new friendsies. It will be a weekend filled with exciting adventures and so. freaking. much. fun.

what i've learned

hello from the first day of my week! it feels wonderful to ease into the week rather than be thrust into a crazy Monday.

I like bullet points. I like lists. I figure if this blog is going to be a reflection of me, I should include some of these

• I am the klutziest person alive. Today I experienced for the first time actually falling on my face. I have scratches to prove it. I can't decide whether I am proud or embarrassed.
• A good salad makes me insanely happy. Give me some crispy lettuce, croutons, and chicken, and I will be grinning all night long. I know this because I had a stupid grin on my face at dinner. The salad was the. freaking. best.
• I absolutely adore my roommates! We giggle and chuckle and snort and love. Every night is a joy and I absolutely cannot get enough of them. We had a pretty solid photoshoot today for a new scarf in my etsy shop, and it turned into a roommate lovin' shoot.

♥

today I am...

crocheting.

School was canceled. Work was canceled. My 14 hour day was gone. I got to sleep in, organize, be with friends, open my etsy shop, and relax. My friends, its been a good day.

long lost photos

long time, no see!

Finally, I have time to update ivehadtime. my wit never fails.

I have spent the last 24 hours in solitude, with both of the roomies are gone. Cake has been eaten, magazines have been read, nails have been painted, and most importantly, photos have been edited! I have a beautiful (or gorgeous, if you prefer that term) BFF, and we have lots of fun taking pictures. These ones are from Christmas break when it was bitter cold, but the love of our friendship left us warm. I am so cheesy, can you tell I am from Wisconsin??

I threw in some pictures of my niece and nephew for good measure.

It Is Well.

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,

a very present hep in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear though the

earth gives way,

though the mountains be moved to

the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam,

though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

There is a river whose streams make glad

the city of God,

the holy habitation of the Most High.

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;

God will help her when morning dawns.

The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;

he utters his voice, the earth melts.

The LORD of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress

Come, behold the works of the LORD,

how he was brought desolations on the earth.

He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;

he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

he burns the chariots with fire.

"Be still, and know that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!"

The LORD of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

-------------------------------------------

"It Is Well With My Soul"

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,

It is well, with my soul,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,

The sky, not the grave, is our goal;

Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!

Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

Even so, it is well with my soul.

Lazy Sunday

This weekend was a jolly time of slip'n'sliding, helping Meg pack, and relaxing. I got to play with Carly's cousin's Canon Rebel and I CANNOT WAIT for Christmas...hopefully I'll have my own. :)

She's gone. Megan is goooonneeeeeee. College has taken her away from mua. gah. Thank goodness she's got her blog to get me my fix of my Toyota.

Weekend Quotes::

"Sometimes we pretend to be dum, but we're really smart."

"We got a wok pan." "Don't you just put tapes in it? " "No Megan, not a walkman."

the Talking Tomcat application is the funniest game ever created for the iPhone. I've spent a few hours on it in the past couple days. lolz

also, i love my new ring. Caro might say i'm obsessed...she might be right...

my friends and i are creative. Who knew post-its could hold so many memories?

this is the most random post of all time. I'm now going to return to my afternoon of watching glee and playing sims.

paging Fluscious...

HELLO MAH FRIENDS!!!!

My bestie best friend and myself scooted over to the twin cities for the weekend to see the Dead Sea Scrolls and some special little friends. I had the joy of waking up at 5 a.m., and when we got to the cities we slipped and slid with my nieces and nephew, and i'm pretty sure we enjoyed it more than them. we have another slip and slide date for tomorrow.

TAYLOR SWIFT ON SNL IS FUNNAYYYY *in parentheses (lalala).

The Science Museum of Minnesota holds some fantastic memories, and we had fun exploring the body exhibit (yay sneezing girl), viewing the Dead Sea Scrolls, and pretending to be newscasters. THEN when we were dawdling in the basement looking at our arm hairs with a microscope, we were ushered into a back hall due to tornados (FUN!). Carly believed we were in a movie scenario, where a group of people are in a crisis, and must depend on each other to solve it. I believe in our movie there would be cannibals involved. All ended well, and we got home to chill with my sister. Good day, grand night.

So if i bored you with my life story, lo siento. Hopefully the pictures will help. If you can't tell, I love the sky. OBSESSED with the sky.

also, my God is beautiful (see sky pictures).

listening to::

Daydreams//Breanne Düren

Such Great Heights//Iron & Wine

Gracie//Ben Folds