preserving memories

[Written in 2015 - published in 2021]

Hey y'all. It's me... aka the worst blogger of all time. I'm sitting down at a coffee shop in my college town right now, settling into the weekend after a crazy week of work, assignments, and sitting through a four hour and fifteen minute class. I have about a thousand things on my to-do list (literature reviews, certification exams and presentations, oh my!), but all I can think about it writing this blog post. That's good, right? I haven't had the motivation to write anything beyond research papers and discussion board posts since I started graduate school.

Don't get me wrong; I think about things I could blog about all of the time: a new recipe I've tried (looottss of those), those weekend trips taken with my favorite travel partner (my gorgeous guy), or all of the things that my beautiful city has to offer (free concerts, wild parks, trendy restaurants; the list goes on). I've started multiple blog posts, but I always end up exiting out of my browser before they are complete. I think it is because I was still trying to keep up the persona of a "travel blogger." But guys, it was a little exhausting, and I certainly am no travel expert. I loved being able to write my version of city guides, but really... who was benefiting from them? I have so many wonderful memories from my travels that were completely skipped over for a restaurant review or a perfect list of all of the sites we visited and things we saw.

Forty years from now, when I look back at my time abroad and all of the exciting travels beyond that year and a half, I don't want my written memories to consist of that [slightly boring] trip to the museum. I want them to reflect the weird, funny moments that occurred; the people I met and the conversations held. The important, fleeting memories.

Like that time I flew to Switzerland with a group of girls and became best friends with a Swiss flight attendant. We ended up sharing two pots of cheese fondue with her at her favorite fondue restaurant in Geneva the next day. Or the grandpa we met at a farmer's market on the same trip who ended up walking us around the city; showing us all of his favorite sites... and hitting on my married friend a bit. Or how about that time that I spent four whole hours holed up in a bathroom on what I imagine was the rockiest ferry ride of all time in between Santorini and Athens? SO glamorous, right?! Or how about the time that my friend and I were adopted by the Irish when we were out in Galway? After they gave us their recommendations for their favorite bar down the way, we parted ways and ended up dancing to a live version of American Girl by Tom Petty. Christina and I were the only two people out on that dance floor during the song, and we loved every single second of it. Or what about the time I met my boyfriend's humongous Colombian family and spent a week with them in Medellin over Christmas? I was asked to read from a religious book (in SPANISH) on Christmas Eve, as is tradition in their family for all of the kids to take turns. Talk about equal parts terrifying and comforting.

These are the memories I want to preserve; the stories I want to bring to this blog. I'm feeling my passion to write begin to ignite again. Hopefully I can keep it up.

I hope that you all are well. I've missed your blogs and interactions with you, to my wonderful readers. Talk to y'all soon!

xx, Jen

{recipe} oven roasted fajita quinoa bowls

Sometimes you just really need some fajitas. Am I right, or am I right? You especially feel the need for fajitas in your body right this second when it is chilly and pouring and you're *stuck in the house because you  definitely don't feel like getting wet and cold even though you really need to run some errands*. Just me? 

I got the idea to make oven roasted fajitas on Pinterest (duh), and the cravings began. I decided to make a fajita bowl because I didn't have any corn tortillas, and there was that whole not wanting to get wet thing going on, so you know I was not about to run out to Publix or Trader Joes for that. I thought to myself, "I love burrito bowls! Why not make a fajita bowl?" And the quinoa fajita bowl with roasted corn and a jalapeno lime cilantro Greek yogurt crema was born. Ohhh I'm getting hungry again just thinking about it!

Click through for the recipe!

five months gone

How exactly do you start writing blog posts again after completely disappearing for over five months? I had such high hopes for my blog for the fall semester. After all, I still had (have?) a ton of travel post catching up to do - and I was moving to a new (old) city, with new things to explore and do. But then the reality of grad school hit me square in the face. Between all of the hours I spent in kindergarten classrooms (LOVE), assignments that needed to be completed, and the pages of research papers I had to read (not so much on the loving department), I had zero time to sit down and tend to my blog. I couldn't even really sit down to read other blogs! It didn't bother me much for a while, because I was still getting used to the idea of grad school. But then I realized that something was literally missing from my life. Totally dramatic, but if you are reading this post I know you understand me! So here is to 2015. A year to balance work with play. A year to get fit and stay healthy. A year to explore and conquer. Let's hope I can stay #StrongInTheSpring. Until next time, friends. 

{life} loving lately

Lately I'm loving....

All of the time I have been able to spend with this wonderful, sweet, thoughtful man.

The new mascara I am using lately. Holy amazeballs, this stuff is good.

The new color of revlon nail polish I picked up at Target the other day. I love Essie and OPI as much as the next girl, but I love the price tag of this similarly high quality nail polish more than the others!

Dining at The Refinery in Seminole Heights. A unique menu that changes daily and a whole lotta delicious craft beer options. What more could you ask for?

Total Wine because I can find a wine I tried in Portgual and my favorite Spanish red in the same aisle. Yes.

All of the back to school shopping I get to do again! Say hello to my gorgeous new bookbag / hiking pack.

In a similar vein, I cannot wait to say hellllo to some gorgeous new gameday dresses! This one is perfection.

I'm also really excited to move up to Tallahassee and get to know the city like I never did in undergrad. This means that I will definitely be checking out the Farmers' Market, Railroad Square artwork, and Tallahassee Trails much more this time around.

And finally...

{credit}

I saw this quote at the perfect time last week. Invest in people who invest in you. Sounds so simple doesn't it? It's important to remember this at this extremely transitional period of life. Let go of the negative energy in your life and focus on the people who, and things that, make you feel energized and happy. Namasate.

What are you loving lately?

xx, Jen