Starry Night: DC Monuments & Memorials by Moonlight

Honestly, what would a trip to DC be without some monumental sightseeing, y'all? We spiced things up on our recent visit by exploring the famous memorials at night and there is no doubt in my mind that it was the right decision! We tried to spend most of the day indoors at exhibits, museums, and galleries, (and maybe even a pub for beers!) partly because that's when they are open but also because it was so hot while we were there. And I mean, how cool is frolicking about your country's capital with your best friends at night?! (Uhhh, the answer is very cool!)

MLK Jr. Memorial / / / Lincoln Memorial

Although I'm always complaining that Shannon lives so far away, it was really awesome to have my own knowledgable (+ adorable!) tour guide the entire time! She and Greg seriously made sure we got to see everything we wanted and even showed us stuff I didn't know about— like the WWII Memorial— which ended up being my favorite. Except for maybe the new MLK memorial. . . Ahhhh, it's so hard to decide!

Roosevelt Memorial 

Another reason it was a great idea to go at night is because there were wayyy less people out and about. Don't get me wrong, there were still a good amount of tourists everywhere, but for an introvert like me it was really nice to walk around without bumping into people on their phones and screaming children.

 Eleanor Roosevelt / / / WWII Memorial

I have only been to DC once before and since it was on a road trip, I don't think we spent more than 12 hours there total. I was with my friends' band and we seriously got into town, biked around to the memorials, played a show, and then ate chili fries and left. It was a lot of fun to spend some more time sightseeing and actually choosing what we wanted to do instead of feeling like we had to cram a lot into a few hours.

I'm glad we got to walk around and hangout more this time, buttttt if you ever go I highly recommend seeing the city by bike, if possible. It's a lot faster and leaves your feet less sore at the end of the day. Also, biking is ten jillion times better than walking so just trust me ;-)

WWII Memorial 

I generally try to only post my "best of the best" photos here on the blog but to prove that I'm a real person, here's a picture of what the Jefferson Memorial looks like when you have your camera on the totally wrong settings:

Jefferson Memorial (kindaaaa)

Wowie, zowie— look at that swirl! I've also included a touristy photo of me + Nick at the Lincoln Memorial, a shot of my three favorite people's shoes because feelings, and an extra photo of Nick being a tourist because beard.



I think that's everything I wanted to cover in this post. . . Have you ever been to DC? What's your favorite sight? I just really love how many free things there are to do + see! I feel like I could spend a month there and not even experience it all! I hope everyone is having + continues to have a fun October. Anyone have any fun trips planned this month?! Let me know because I'm nosey and I want to live vicariously through you! -Jenna

♥ bloglovin // instagram // facebook // twitter // tumblr // rss // email ♥

Amazing Craft: Scale Model of DC Made From Paper

Since my love for all things paper runs deep, one of the best treasures I saw while visiting DC was this scale model of the city— made entirely from paper and cardboard! I love making 3D books and pop up cards and I even took a paper engineering workshop awhile back so seeing something like this in person was just so incredible to me.


You can find this 3D map in the Smithsonian Institution Building, but I think it's better known as The Castle— I'm sure you can guess why it's called that?! The beautiful architecture drew us in (along with the hope of air conditioning on that scorching day!) and Shannon and I stared in amazement at this beauty for quite sometime. They even had a separate tactile map of DC with Braille labels— so cool!


Maybe I'm the only person this obsessive about paper, or maybe I'm easily amused, or maybe I'm just really bad at Googling researching because I couldn't find any other pictures or info about this model anywhere! Well, besides this tiny blurb from the information website that simply states it exists.


I really wish I had known about the lack of information at the time. There was so much we were trying to see and do that day so I quickly snapped a few pictures and assumed I could just go home and read more about it later on the Internet. But lo and behold— that was not the case. In fact, I had such a hard time even finding any info on it that I was starting to think I had dreamed it all up! I had a total Dorothy moment— did I really fly to DC and ride a giant carousal with my best friend and see a tiny paper city?


But I had pictures to prove its magnificence! So then I thought maybe I had misremembered and it wasn't really made out of paper. Then what was it made of?! What if I told everyone the wrong story? So I did the most nerdy only thing I could think of— I email the Smithsonian to ask them for more details (I TOLD YOU— I LOVE PAPER!). They indeed confirmed that it is paper and cardboard on wood (thus proving my sanity, for now). But that, my friends, is literally all I know about this lovely map.

Maybe I missed a brochure? Maybe I missed a plaque? Maybe I should've gotten a tour guide? Maybe there is more info and I'm just an incompetent jerk? I don't even know who made this thing?! I definitely should've taken more pictures. But I'm still amazed by it and I couldn't not share it! Soooooo basically 1. Never assume you can just go home and read about things on the internet and 2. If you have any info about this cool thing then pass it along my way ;-)


Have you been to DC? Have you seen this tiny paper wonderland?! If you ever get the chance you should definitely see it— it's just so neat!

♥ bloglovin // instagram // facebook // twitter // tumblr // rss // email ♥

Medusa of the Sea

Do I even have to type anything for this post or can we all just agree that jellyfish are the most amazing + beautiful creatures and then simply sit in silence + look at these photos?! Okay, great— we're on the same page!




I could just watch them float around for hours— they are so dreamy and rhythmic! I feel like this bottom photo looks eerily like a nebula. . . Imagine all the little jellyfish galaxies floating in the sea! Le sigh— my inner hopeless romantic is showing! I mean, I know our universe doesn't really lie inside that jellyfish but it's still fun to think of things like that (hello— Men In Black, anyone?!). They are just so ridiculously magical to me!


So that's the last of my photos from the little cabin trip we took recently! I had so much trouble narrowing down the jellyfish pictures so I just went ahead and dedicated an entire post to them since they were some of the best I took that day. (You can see part one of the Aquarium of the Smokies pictures here or go here to catch up on the whole trip!)

I hope you are all having a great weekend— I'm gonna try to work on some projects and maybe try not to pee my pants while we finish the last couple of season two American Horror Story episodes! Anyone else keeping up with it?! IT'S SO TERRIFYING I CAN'T WAIT TO FINISH IT ALL AND HAVE MY LIFE BACK. Okay, bye! <3 jenna

♥ bloglovin // instagram // facebook // twitter // tumblr // rss // email ♥

Head in the Clouds

Would you believe that I never flew in a plane until I was 22 years old? I mean, I guess if you grew up poor like me then it's totally relatable— flying is a pretty huge luxury/privilege. You just jet set off and in a few hours you're squeezing your best friend tight! I recently flew for the second time in my life to DC (and boy were my arms tired! ughghgh, you can unfollow me for that one) for no reason other than I had a week off work and an extreme case of the I-MISS-YOUS (cause that's totally a real thing).

Flying is always a surreal experience for me. I don't get nervous or scared or worried, I just act like a six year old who's lived under a rock their entire life. It kind of just feels fake to me— like it's a movie set or a theme park ride. Nick has flown a lot (and hates it) so obviously he offered me the window seat (which I was too giddy about) and laughed at me for being so excited about the sunset flight we got to experience. Seriously though— a sunset from above on the way to visit my favorite person on the planet?! SIGN ME UP.

This cotton candy wonderland was just way too dreamy! We even watched Bob's Burgers in flight on Nick's tablet so that was kind of the cherry on top. Oh, except for when we landed and Shannon just handed us slices of the best vegan pizza I've had to date. We had a great time frolicking about for days and visiting all the monuments, museums, and restaurants that DC has to offer. I have lots of great pictures I can't wait to share with you! So much food and inspiration in that city. I mean, don't get me wrong— I am a country gal through and through. But it was nice to have so much culture readily available.


Since I've been back it seems like there is never enough time in the day! Between work, computer issues, friends visiting, blogger meet ups, and generally just trying to feed myself on a daily basis I got a little ~overwhelmed with life, you could say. I was brimming with ideas for this here blog of mine but I took some time off from both blog reading and writing to kind of collect my thoughts. I have so many ideas going around and I really wanted to step back and make sure I know where I want to go with this site. I also wanted to insure that the things I write + share here aren't being affected by the things everyone else is doing with their blogs.

So I've pretty much literally just had my head in the clouds for the last month. I've been dreaming, talking to friends, thinking about what I want out of life, what makes me happiest, and formulating a plan to get there. Part of what started it all was the recent custom book that a friend commissioned me to make. Creating the exact item that someone wanted (+being paid for it) has made me a little stir crazy with the desire to really start my own business. And that's when I kind of dropped off the face of planet while trying to figure what moves I should make next.

But I think I know now. And I can't wait to share it all with you so I hope you'll stay tuned!

♥ bloglovin // instagram // facebook // twitter // tumblr // rss // email ♥

Swingin' On the Dock of the Lake

Y'all— I have a confession to make: I'm kind of powerless when it comes to ridiculous vintage floral swimsuits. I know it looks like I'm just wearing a tacky tank top here but I totally pulled a Liz Lemon and wore my one piece bathing suit as a top instead of getting properly dressed (okay, okay, I know she wore hers for underpants but c'mon, close enough?!). SO OOPS. But really I've done it before and honestly what's the point of wearing clothes in the summer when you're near a body of water anyway?




All these photos are from the cabin trip I've been talking about. I seriously want to live in a little country cabin so badly! I want slow days filled with good food, fun conversation, and an incredible view. I want piles of fresh grown veggies on my plate, zesty limes in my margarita, watermelon so juicy you can't eat it inside, and local eggs in my french toast casserole. I want to swing on a dock that overlooks a beautiful lake and come inside to a giant jacuzzi tub that's big enough for two. . . I mean, IS THIS SO MUCH TO ASK?!!



Seriously though— dream weekend. It combined pretty much all of my favorite things. Oh, AND I learned how to play Rummy sooooo who wants to take on the champ? Also, don't judge me for posting that tequila sign. 1) It's hilarious and 2) we whipped up homemade margaritas so it's totally appropriate. I guess if I'm never able to afford a lakeside cabin of my own I should be pretty content to just reap the benefits of a friend's parents owning a cabin, amirite?


So that's my idea of a mini-vacation. The only thing I'm kind of sad about is that I didn't get to photograph this entire swimsuit in all it's glory (the woes of living in the moment!). It's got this neat ice skater skirt that I also tucked into my shorts that generally looks pretty awesome. It's actually very similar to this one, for those curious. Maybe one day I'll get the chance to show it off!


(Until that day you can have this photo of what my hair actually looks like when I do nothing and some frumpy looking shorts!)


Have any of you had a completely relaxing + responsibility-free weekend recently? I sure hope so! Honestly, I can't remember the last time before this weekend that I felt so stress free. . . Just something about being near water and good friends that brings out the best in me! Have a great rest of the week!

♥ bloglovin // facebook // twitter // tumblr // rss // email ♥

Aquarium of the Smokies (complete with snugglin' penguins, y'all!)

While we were on our little cabin getaway we visited the Ripley's Aquarium in east Tennessee [cue Little Mermaid Music]. Full disclosure: this was actually my second time at the Gatlinburg aquarium— I went once before back when I attended the local arts & crafts school there. So I already knew that it was awesome + we had free passes so I was not going to miss out on the jellyfish or the opportunity to practice my undersea photography skills.

top: lionfish / left: leafy sea dragon / right: weedy sea dragon

Here are some pacific sea horses. I have mixed feelings about sharing this picture because they were beautiful in person buuuuuut I only realized after the photos were on my computer that some of these guys appear to be. . . slightly less than alive? But what do I know about seahorses, anyway?

left: coral reef ft. regal blue tang / right: awesome iguana with his little tongue hanging out! 

How cool is this poison dart frog? He was in the rainforest section of the aquarium.

left: penguin trying to stay awake / right: cuddling penguins— are you kidding me?

top: green sea turtle / middle: Nick in the underwater tunnel appearing to have no fun at all. . . but for some reason I love this photo of him— probably because the glasses strap? also, BEARD, c'mon! ;-) / bottom: school of fish (with one particularly angry looking fella . . . he's probably got somewhere real important to be!)

So there you have it! Final thoughts: 

-Taking pictures of tiny, fast moving creatures in dark, watery exhibits is very difficult! I managed to get some good shots BUT just keep in mind that I took 200+ pictures while there and this is all I'm sharing. Granted, I'm no photographer— just a blogger trying to get to know my camera a little better. (I'm pretty excited about the amount I've learned already and hopefully one day I can look back at these and realize how far I've come blah blah blah moving on. . . )

-In all honesty, I have mixed feelings about aquariums. . . The animal lover in me is really skeptical of the use of creatures for entertainment and questions the necessity of places like this. . . But the science + knowledge lover in me is amazed by the beauty in the world and the info I got to learn while I was there. Also the part of me that loves free stuff was like "WOO HOO" so there's that. So yeah, sorry if that's a ~total buzz kill~ but that's just the kind of stuff I think about so if anyone else here wants to talk about their feelings in the comments then go for it haha

-I'm not sure why I got all nerdy and posted the names of everything I photographed. . . guess my freak flag is showing sooooo I'm just gonna go now! I hope you have a great week—mine is filled with tons of driving and grilled food eating =]

♥ bloglovin // facebook // twitter // tumblr // rss // email ♥