funday quote

Because I spent my weekend in the mountains...

{that mountain is Mt. Kilimanjaro. sorry for all the Kili posts recently!}

find what you love

It should not be new news to you that the one and only Steve Jobs passed away yesterday :( at the age of 56 after a long struggle with pancreatic cancer

I have to admit, it isn't until now with an abundance articles and stories of Steve Jobs that I have a newfound love for the man and his love for creativity and specifically, typography.  I love Apple. I love those little Pixar short films. Steve Jobs, you will be greatly missed.

So, please take 15 minutes out of your busy day and watch this commencement speech at Stanford from 2005:

click here for the text of his speech

I was so tempted to just copy and paste the whole speech... but I love this quote in particular:

"Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart... Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition."

STAY HUNGRY, STAY FOOLISH

Wide as all the world, great, high, and unbelievably white in the sun.

Ernest Hemingway said of Kilimanjaro: "Wide as all the world, great, high, and unbelievably white in the sun." 

Please go check out this super cool presentation by Arcteryx of Mt. Kilimanjaro!


Some cool excerpts:
• After the Germans ceded their East African holdings to the British in World War I, Tanzania gained its independence in 1961 and the highest summit was renamed Uhuru, meaning "freedom" in Swahili.
• repeat photography shows that some glaciers have shrunk by 40 percent between 2000 and 2007.
• The Chagga were driven into hiding around Kilimanjaro several centuries ago by the warlike Masai, in turn forcing a race of pygmies over the mountain and into Kenya.  {both of our guides are from the Chagga tribe}
• In Chagga territory, the reverent sleep with their head toward the mountain and bury their dead so aligned
•lead more than 28,000 climbers up the mountain each year.
•Slowest ascent, Dr. Hans Meyer: 6 weeks; October 5, 1889
• Fastest male ascent, Bruno Brunod: 5 hours, 38 minutes and 40 seconds; 2001




Reading this whole thing made me tear up, remembering all the memories gained this summer on the mountain and Africa in general. 

take a minute

Ok so I've decided to take a minute for a little insight into my life. And I hope you do the same!
I am...

Making... granola! why? just because I love having a kitchen. It's currently still cooling, but it is one of the best batches I think I've made. I'm also working on a couple art projects. [will keep you posted.]

Listening... a lot of jazz.  My jazz class went well today. Listened to Stan Gatz do "my funny valentine." {oh and if you have a facebook, please do me a favor and like this page. My jazz professor, Steve Dancz was the composer and it is up for Grammy nomination. So please help him out!}
I've also been listening to a good bit of Bob Dylan recently... he never gets old for me.

Watching... saw Lion King 3D last weekend. Yes, I cried. As soon as it began. But tonight Katie [because she's finally home from all her travels!] and I are going to have a girls' night in and watch Bridesmaids! Can't wait!

Loving... slightly cooler weather. blowing leaves. open windows. people sitting out on the lawn. sweaters. pumpkins.

quarter life crisis

By now, you know my freak-outs and quarter life crises are pretty routine...
Katie and I are both trying to figure out our lives– move somewhere? be a mountain bum? apply for the amazing race?


but these words help me through it all:

funday quote

Sorry, I forgot to do one last weekend :(

“The free soul is rare, but you know it when you see it – basically because you feel good, very good, when you are near or with them.”

- Charles Bukowski

no kappa, no fun. know kappa, know fun.

Well, it's official. I'm a Kappa Kappa Gamma sister and no longer just a pledge! This week was "inspiration week" filled with last minute pledge activities, including Big/Little.  I <3 my BIG, Rachel!! She's awesome!

We had clues and presents throughout the week like growlers filled with jolly ranchers [see below].

KAPPA LOVE

 For big/little reveal on thursday, she had my twin and I dress as Abe Lincoln and Lady Liberty. [Rachel was a tourist.] She led us on a maze, following a string of yarn woven around the yard, through the house, and 45 minutes later, leading me to her!

my new family

And got to hang out with old friends like Laura! 

And then this morning, I was officially initiated into the sorority!