Chicago!

What says Chicago better than yummy cheesecake?? Kim and I are currently trying to blog like mad-women (we only have 20 minutes free) and upload pictures for you guys to see! We stopped at a cheese-cake place and treated ourselves to the last "American Meal". So, our next stop is Warsaw! It's a nine hour flight, so wish us luck! The flight to Chicago went great. It was fun being able to sit and talk to the people around me. The woman on my right was flying for business and we got to talking about life decisions. The man on my right was flying home from a interview, wish him all the luck in the world! Hope he gets the job. And I hope I can switch my seat from a middle one to a window one on this upcoming flight! Wish me luck!

Kim and I very excited in DIA!

White Chocolate Raspberry and Sea-Salted Caramel Cheesecake!

Sorry, you can't pack your chainsaw on the plane. Bummer, I know.

Go Now

This is one of the final moments I have before I go. It is the last moment I have to catch my breath and contemplate the chances that lay before me. It's surreal to think that in less than 12 hours I am going to be on a plane heading for half-way around the world. And this isn't just a visit, this is for 10 months of my life. I know that is only a second in the grand scheme of things, but it has become such a reality that I can't help but go breathless for a moment. I have no idea what this journey is going to become. It's an exciting and overwhelming dive into the world. I can't believe that this moment I have been working for over a year now has finally come. Tomorrow, a dream is coming true.

I want to make it clear to all my friends and family a few goals and aspirations that I have for this trip, just to make sure that I carry it with me always.

I want this to become a journey marked with love. I want it to be a time where I discover what it looks like to love the world, love it's people, and love myself in it. I want to see the cultures we create with each other. I want to experience trust towards people I don't know and show trust to those who do not know me. I want it to be a time where I try to live a life more intentional and thoughtful. I want to see beauty and be bold. I want to take a moment to reach beyond a comfort zone I have created in the bubble of a previous life and go beyond myself. I want to see art and learn new things. I know this is the chance of a lifetime. I want to embrace every single second and devour it.

My heart is pounding because all I have left to do now is go. I'm afraid, I'm sad, but I am also excited beyond all I have ever known. The next time you will hear from me, I will be in Lithuania!

Well. This is Actually Happening

A few things to get caught up on....

Curious about my trip to Mexico? Just DYING to know the details on this supposed "Life Changing" experience I had? Well...here's a video that my friends Mike Kimball and Chris Schmidt produced to advertise for the class in the coming year. All of the scenes you see, I was there!! It's pretty cool. I'm interviewed as well, but that part is dumb. Skip it.

http://vimeo.com/27879850

I technically have a journal documenting everyday (with pictures!) and I have an immense amount of laziness, so try this link. Hopefully it works for you on Google docs:

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.3&thid=131af82dc934945e&mt=application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document&url=https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui%3D2%26ik%3Da910ca6d52%26view%3Datt%26th%3D131af82dc934945e%26attid%3D0.3%26disp%3Dsafe%26realattid%3Df_gr52d4i03%26zw&sig=AHIEtbQMU78RFhTSRttuaGfgqXEh-roOwg

I know ridiculous. If I could just cut and paste the journal on, I would, trust me.

Now for other Lithuanian talk. So I leave in only FIVE days. You know, no big deal. I'm not concerned (Maddie and Nick that was for you!).

But seriously. It's surreal, I really cannot believe that in the number of fingers on my one hand I will be moving to another country. I feel a lot of things. Prepared, unprepared, excited, scared, uncomfortable, adventurous, bold...the list could go on. And no matter what, I think I am always going to feel like I am forgetting something. But I've decided to embrace it and be bold. I'm not going to hold back. These days are days of a once in a lifetime thing. I'm going to take my love and let it guide me through a daring and grand adventure. I'm going to take my love and shower the world with it, it is my dream come true.

I can only dive feet first and hold my breath and hope for the best. I have to remember what makes me a worthwhile person. I have to remember what makes me beautiful. I have to remember the origins of my love.

I have only a few things left to do, a tattoo may be one of those things. Going away party on Sunday! Glenmere park, 2 pm! Be there to wish me off!

Mexico!

Just got back from Mexico! I have so much to tell you about I don't even know where to begin. So I'll just make it short and sweet, Mexico was everything I could have asked for. I am so blessed to say that I got to see Mexico as it really is. I got to meet true Mexican people, hear their voices, get close to their hearts. I got to hold their children, dance with them, laugh with them, learn with them. It was rich in culture, alive in history, sticky with heat, spicy in flavor, bright in color, and warm in family. I am going to go back one day, take my brother and nephew snorkeling (they would love it so so much!), take Arri to the Indian Mexican fushion restuarant, and go back to Yuncu to see all my friends. I already miss it so much. Pictures to come soon!

Day 2

Painting Day! It was sad to see my green room go, but it won't be the last one. I'm also moving onto bigger more exciting things! This is just the start!

Project 365!

I think I am going to have a pretty interesting year coming up. So on this day, July 2nd 2011 I have decided to start my project 365!

Here's the first photo:

I am standing with Phil Hansen who is an amazing artist doing contemporary/performance art! I LOVE HIM SO MUCH! We got to talk a little bit (he and I have the same shocking moment!) and contributed to his work. My sentence is on Van Gogh's ear! It was such an amazing day! And Phil is such a nice guy! Please check out his work!

Sicilia has arrived!

Well it finally has come! My camera is here!! It's a headache and a half to try to figure out how to take remotely decent pictures (I really suck), but we'll get there. She's beautiful! I've decided to do a project 365 in photography. I figure I'm going to have a pretty interesting year so might as well try to document it pretty consistently. I am SO excited! Once I upload the software onto my computer I'll post some photos I've taken so far. Life has been so crazy busy I haven't had time to do anything! I'm scrabbling to get everything together for Mexico. I can not believe I will be in a different country in a little more than two weeks!

So on top of working 40 hours a week, I have to try to find time to pack up my room, house-sit for a friend in Denver (who has two of the FATTEST cats I have ever seen, pictures to come) and do the actual work for the Leadership class. Also, I am by far too social and can't say no to anyone. This translates to me staying out every night until at least 11 and then dragging my butt back to Denver and passing out the second I stumble into the door. The alarm goes off at 6:00 am and if I am lucky I don't sleep through it and head out the door to go back to Greeley. It's been nuts!

BUT, recently I've been going through a rather unhealthy binge on etsy bying things for "traveling" (that's how I justifying buying a $30 address book). I'm avoiding that site like the plague, because I know the second I get on it I will end up buying another journal or cute bag for $80. Ugh. Stop buying shit Sarah Hanselin. Seriosuly! But since I have bought some of the stuff already, wanna see?? It's travel related (some of it), I promise.

Here's the camera bag I bought. Yeah, clearly you know why I am in trouble at Etsy



Here's my new planner for the year...hope it gets here fast I need it bad!



I can't show you a picture of my address book because she took the item down, but it's green and blue and kinda awesome.

And a pointless passport cover. Don't judge me. I had the hardest time deciding which one I should get! FINALLY concluded on this one...it only took 18 years.



And if you are really interested in the meaningless purchases I am making in my life (bless those of you who have continued reading this), know that I also purchased two books I hope to read before Lithuania: "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller and "In Search of Respect: Selling Crack in El Barrio" by Philippe Bourgois. I've had both of these highly recommended and considered to be life changing. I'll let you know how they are! Well that is all! Love you all and hope to post pictures soon!