Snapshots

Snapshots of fall & winter:

my favorite place ever, Jenis, gave out free ice cream in 12 south as a thank you for winning Best of Nashville awards. The most delicious ice cream (Brown Butter Almond Brittle & Bramble Berry Crisp were sampled & savored) coupled with a burger from Burger Up made for the greatest afternoon ever.

also...as an aside, for those near a Jeni's, or who order from Jeni's, don't miss out on the deliciousness that is their Sweet Potato & Toasted Marshmallow holiday flavor. I feel the need to defend weird ice cream flavors, but this one is so delicious, you will wonder why you ever doubted the presence of sweet potatoes in ice cream

gameday football brought down to the field by a skydiver.

school owned me this semester, and breakfast was often had at a cubicle in the library at 6am. At least I got to see pretty sunrises while I got dressed.

my amazing mom sends the best care packages to get me through studying--my favorite european chocolate treats, the best granola ever, and sweet words of encouragement.

I'm pretty obsessed with how gorgeous campus is. Fall was so beautiful that I had lunch on a bench in the above courtyard almost everyday.

speaking of gorgeous fall...I definitely abandoned the tedium that is memo editing one weekend to go run in centennial park instead. I hate that guilty feeling of leaving work behind to go do something for yourself, but sometimes its just necessary to be outside, in the sun, with fresh air, and no computer in front of you.

My new favorite running path takes me from my apartment to the pedestrian bridge in downtown Nashville. Even though the entire jog back is uphill (cue screaming calves and a mental dialogue where I have convince myself that  running is good for me), I love that bridge enough to put up with it.

Richland Park Farmers Market root vegetables were out of control delicious. Crunchy kale, jewel colored carrots, beets, and sweet potatoes...be still my heart.

My precious kitten, Chloe, helping me with my summer job applications.

One Lovely Blog

Many thanks to Avocado & Basil for the One Lovely Blog nomination!

The expectations: share seven things about yourself, nominate your favorite 15 blogs, and share the blog-love with them on their about page.

In an attempt to connect with new followers (hi there--and thanks!), here are the seven random details about my life.

1. Even though I've lived in the states for most of my life, I was born in former Yugoslavia and grew up in Germany. As such, English isn't the only language I speak, and I have family scattered all over Europe.

2. I am about to begin law school. I am slightly terrified about this.

3. I want to open a bakery one day. Even if I am going to law school.

4. I love animals and I gave up my vegetarian lifestyle 2 months ago after 10 years of no meat. Even though I'm much healthier now, I wish I could have gone on without meat forever.

5. I'm a bookworm. I love reading and I'm always on the hunt for something new to read- suggestions?

6. I spent a semester studying abroad in England at Oxford University, which was like being at Hogwarts. The things I miss the most: cobblestones, cream tea, curling up at the Bodleian while it rains outside, and English breakfast.

7. I only enjoy shopping for two things: school supplies and kitchen gadgets.

Although I'm supposed to link back to 15 other blogs, most of the blogs I read regularly aren't wordpress blogs. As such...here are all 6 of my favorite wordpress blogs. All are food blogs....typical.

*Frugal Family Foodie*

*Simple Provisions*

*Kiss My Spatula*

*17 Bites*

*Avocado & Basil*

*Love + Cupcakes*

Graduation

Slightly over a month ago, we graduated from college. Thanks to a non-traditional high school experience, it was my first time in a cap and gown with a traditional ceremony. I think the best way to adequately describe Athens for graduation day is madhouse: with thousands of graduates came thousands of family members, but the looks of pride on all the parents faces and the happy atmosphere all over town made it a fantastic day.

My family came over early for pictures, and after my parents thoroughly traumatized me with an intense photo session, we finally headed to Ted's Most Best for food and champagne.

Ted's was fantastic. The baked goat cheese quite literally rocked my world and I may or may not have eaten mine, my mom's and then secretly wished for more. My love for goat cheese (well, all cheese) knows no boundaries, and Ted's did not disappoint. And since my family is my family, our glorious lunch was followed by general silliness and a Ben & Jerry's stop.

The ceremony itself was a weird combination of bittersweet and extremely impersonal. Theres something to be said about sharing a milestone like this with several thousand peers you've never even seen before, but looking to my left and seeing my best friends next to me got me misty about the fact that we're all about to be split up. I also loved finding my family amidst the sea of people of in the bleachers-it made me feel like I was in a grade school play or concert, anxiously scanning the crowd until I saw their faces, and then waving like my life depended on it.

The ceremony was followed with fireworks, which we then followed up with a last few hours celebrating downtown.

It was a happy day, made even happier by getting to spend it with my family and my favorite people. College would have been pretty meaningless had I not had them around, and even though were all moving on to new and amazing things, I'm going to forever miss them and nights like this.