i'm doomed

(i will never be a morning person)

No Untold Stories

Maya Angelou said, 

"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you"

Don't we all have those stories that we're too embarrassed or too afraid to share? Sometimes those can stay for days and then be gone, but sometimes they can stay for years. It's quite a big risk to trust someone enough to be gentle with your story so sometimes we keep it inside on purpose. Other times we don't think anyone will understand.

Tell your story, the people in your world want to know. If they didn't, they wouldn't belong to your world.

xoxo

We Like Free

Last Saturday we went to the Smithsonian Museum of American History which is totally my favorite out of all of the Smithsonians (shhhh, don't tell the other ones). 

I have yet to do a thorough walk through and again on Saturday there wasn't time for that so we just looked at a couple exhibits before moving on.

The Old Glory exhibit chokes me up every time. It is quite sobering and reverent, definitely something that everyone should see.

This statue of George Washington cracks me up every time. I think if he had been alive when this was made he would have been horrified.

The First Ladies dress exhibit is fabulous! Jackie Kennedy's is easily my favorite. I feel like it could be worn today and would make it on all the best dressed lists. Donating the dresses is such a neat tradition.

A Dumbo from Disneyland

A Michael Jackson hat - sob! We miss him.....

Playing the "drums"

Saturday was National Free Museum Day. All the national museums in DC are free, but this one is not a government museum. It is normally around $25 but we got free admission! It was quite interesting, I especially liked the exhibits about medieval crime and punishment, and the one on serial killers.

Megan and me in the line-up. I'm innocent!

My dad taught us a song about Lizzie Borden when we were little:

"Lizzie Borden took an ax

Gave her father 40 whacks

When she saw what she had done

She gave her mother 41"

........

Dad, that's awful! Why did you teach us that?!?! (i love it...)

And a completely gratuitous picture of my girl, Devon.

I lurve this girl

Lisa Frank Fun

Do you remember Lisa Frank stuff? It seems like I had a Lisa Frank trapper keeper with coordinating folders for 4 years straight in elementary school. I know I'm not alone in this because all the girls in my class did.

What is better than brightly colored leopards riding unicorns who are prancing in a field? The answer to that is nothing. There is nothing better than that. Do we know if she's still around making seizure inducing school supplies?

You totally had Lisa Frank stuff, didn't you? The boys had lame trapper keepers with Nolan Ryan on the cover but us ladies knew what was up. Always have, always will. 

For the Better

pinned

Saw this on Pinterest today and basically had one of those movie moments when all the times in my life where this was applicable flashed before my eyes and the room spun around and my hair looked awesome in the mini wind storm. Yep, that basically just happened.

I'm thinking of the ways I've had to adjust my life when my plans haven't worked out, when the guy who is perfect for me couldn't possibly care less, when disappointment threatens to erect a tower around my heart, when I have time and time again made the decision to be happy and change for the better. There is so much in life that we cannot change and there are then only two ways to deal with that - let it change us for the bad or for the better.

It's a battle though. One worth fighting, that is for sure.

Some of us actually heard something along these lines on Saturday night, find it here

"put it back!"

Megan - you rock  my world. I am SO glad you live here now and show me awesome videos like this!

Eight Words

New Kids On The Block CRUISE June 7th!!!!

best birthday present I could ever give myself....

any of my girls want to go?

One thing you have to give up is attaching importance to what people see in you.

-Jeanne Moreau

Have an AMAZING weekend!

This is What I Do

pinterest

I am an American Sign Language interpreter and I absolutely love my job. I get to be there for the best and worst moments of people's lives, but I'm mostly there for the in between.

This week I had several jobs that were on the "worst" end of the scale. Interpreting heartbreak is never easy and never fun, but hurt is a part of everyone's experience. In school I was taught to remain professional and to keep it together at all cost. I'm still human and I still feel, even though I'm supposed to remain as neutral as possible.

I have learned that I need to be me so if I need to cry, I will.

I cried this week. A few times.

But holy cow - I love this job

and then there were two.....

During my less than 48 hours in Utah/Idaho I was able to see these gorgeous ladies. They are SO busy but they willingly gave up their Saturday to spend the entire day with me. I am such a lucky girl in the friend department! I absolutely adore them and miss them more than I can say. 

We had so.much.fun.

My mom hung out with us for a large portion of the day and she got a crash course in our amazingness. Needless to say - they won her over. Rosie is a fan!

Hey girls - remember that odd woman at Sub Zero? 

Homegirl needed less children and a stamp in her passport.

It was kind of fun to show them around Logan a bit, but really we could have sat in my parent's basement all day and been completely content

They can be a little bit dramatic.

Them, not me. Ever.

Our waiter at IHOP fell in love with me, talked ballet with Becca, and posed like a Greek god for Ashley. Yeah....he got a big tip. He put his phone number on my receipt! So awesome. I didn't do anything with it, but it was a sweet gesture. I should probably text him because I invited him to Christmas.

We just laughed and ate too much until the wee hours of the morning. Seriously, they rolled back into the Valley at 4am. 

Ashley and Becca - thank you SO much for being two of the best things in my life. You are true friends and are basically better than me at everything. Next time, you're coming to me! DC or bust!

Trip By Numbers

Flights: 15
Passport stamps: 9
Croissants/baguettes consumed: 6
Rented bikes that tried to kill me: 1
Dishes of Muslim noodles: 3
Amount of times breath literally taken away: 5
Hostels: 7
Times almost killed by taxi:1
In flight meals: 8
Pages journaled: 82
Total miles flown: 22, 576
Modes of transportation: 6
New babies snuggled: 1
Pictures taken: 2,218

......yep

pinned

Yeah....this is my typically my immediate reaction.

My follow up action is to then forward said text to Devon and ask how I should reply and "does this mean he likes me?"

a.w.k.w.a.r.d.

before and after beauty

sorry about all the videos lately! how unoriginal - i had absolutely nothing to do with any of these, yet they are taking up a LOT of wall space. but this one is really, really great.......

i may have teared up....may have

"I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint - and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you."

- Oprah Winfrey

Sustainability

As I have stated before, I am a pescatarian - or as my friends say, a presbyterian. They're funny....? Anyway, I don't hate on or preach to people who choose to eat meat because I made the decision that was best for me. So this video is about as preachy as I will ever get about meat consumption.

I like this video because it is not about vegetarianism, it's about responsible sustainability and caring for our Earth. We have done so much damage to the land in the name of cheap meat. There are so many options now for grass fed, cage free, hormone/steroid free meat.

Don't you love that Chipotle did this? Maybe just I do. Who cares - I love it!

too much fun

stuff like this is the only reason i wish i could play an instrument or sing. so instead, i provide it via the good ole' bliggity blog. 

she's so cool

No Rain in Spain

Britta and I said our goodbyes in Lisbon and I traveled to Barcelona by myself for two and a half days. Best. Decision. Ever. 

I spent those days wearing the tread off my shoes by wandering around the city. Every street I marveled, every alley was exciting (although commonplace to them), my Spanish still stinks, but I loved every second. I feel like if you want a peek at my heart - go to Spain. A little dramatic, I know, but it was love at first sight. I will be going back!

View from my hostel

The best! Everyday, and soooooo worth it.

My justification was that I walked a lot.

Casa de Batllo - I will be doing a separate post about the designer Antoni Gaudi because I went to two of his buildings and they deserve their own. (and then soon after that I'll be done with trip postings, I promise)

A girl, a bird, in a plaza. Ain't no thang!

Just one of those streets. Nothing to see. Everything to see.

adore

Someone lives there. I want to live there.

I went to a farmers market. Of course I took a picture of candy, wouldn't you?

Just some hotel. Too cool.

Christopher Colombus statute

"America is.........that way!"

This is for Devon, she'll know why

(six European dudes dipping their feet into the water!)

La Rambla in Barcelona. A huge pedestrian street with performers, artists, vendors, etc. I rambled quite a bit

You know when you're on the metro, you get to your stop and you come up to ground level and see this? I do.

I only had a night in Madrid - big mistake! There are these big plazas all over the city and that's where people hang out at night.

I need more time in Madrid, my one night left me wanting SO much more!

No pictures of me in Spain, just a passport stamp. 

"i love you"

Isn't it nice to say those words? Not even necessarily in the romantic sense. I suppose it comes down to the fact that I love having love in my life. I adore my people who can say I Love You unabashedly and without pause. It never loses its sheen, it doesn't devalue the meaning if it's said often and with real intent.

For being a single lady, I am overwhelmed and overflowing with love in my life. What's wrong with that? Absolutely nothing. I hope you have love. I hope you show and speak love. I hope you make love a priority.

Oh, and I hope you have a fabulous day!

Gonna Get Churchy

I'd like to pause from trip posts for a minute to post my horoscope. I know, the title says churchy and now I'm posting my horoscope....makes no sense. 

Yesterday I picked up a page of The Examiner from the floor of the metro so I could fill out the Sudoku while metroing home. When I was done with the game I noticed the horoscope section and I looked for my sign - gemini. This is what it said:

"You will need to talk to a higher-up in order to confirm his or her priorities, which you probably need to make your own"

I love this. I never read this magazine, I very rarely pick things up from the floor of the metro, horoscopes aren't my thing, and I have Sudoku on my iPod. So why this all happened - who knows. But I was able to see a wonderful reminder that prayer is real. I don;t always know what's best for me, but I know He does.

That is all. Love you.

l.i.s.b.o.n. (photo overload)

I am head over heels in love with Lisbon! Sorry Devon, you've been replaced. We got in, looked around  and Britta quickly remarked, "Rachel, I'm going to have to request that you have a love affair while we're here". Those beautiful Portuguese men were a lovely welcome to Lisbon. And so - the love affair began.....

the view from our hostel window

up on the hill is the castle....do you see it?

we spent a LOT of time gazing at bakery windows. no joke.

gah! the gorgeous architecture! i think this was a bank or something....

day one: the monastery de jeronimos

oh heyyyyy

monastery chapel. this picture does not do an ounce of justice.

i want to post about 158 more pictures on this post - boo

monastery courtyard

after the monastery we went to a seaside monument across the street

we couldn't figure out what this was for. i think it was for explorers, thinkers, builders...maybe....

close up!

this bakery is famous. apparently they are the best place for the custard pies that Lisbon is known for. since 1837 - sounds legit

was it legit?

OH YEAH. LEGIT. i will make these, grow fat, and be very, very happy about it

this is just someone's house. no big deal. (i adore!)

a lot of the buildings were covered in tile, we only saw a couple tile patterns repeated.

this city is just gorgeous. plain and simple.

yesssssss!

graffiti and vegetarianism?!? be still my heart!

a view of the city from the castle

a typical neighborhood

we thought the disparity in the height of these doors was really funny. maybe not so much now....

we went on a day trip to a little city called Sintra

i shall live there someday

the old castle at Sintra

there's a map on his undies

(sorry momma)

next we went to this funky place - Palacio Nacional de Pena

it's only about 150 years old

this architecture was SO funky! i dug it

our last stop was Quinta de Regaleira....the coolest/funkiest property I've ever been to

i journaled that night that it was a mash-up of Alice in Wonderland, Citizen Cane, anything related to Howard Hughes, and the castle from Edward Scissorhands

oh my gosh, so cool!

the house was cool, but meh. the grounds were amazing! check the wikipedia link, please

oh, a random tower? why not?

this looks like a drained well but it's actually a subterranean tower. my absolute favorite.

looking up from the bottom

looking down from the top

my last morning (sob!) i was in the plaza across from the hostel and this guy pulled up in his little cart. those little pigeons recognize their best friend because they immediately swarmed him. he threw out their feed and went on his way. 

those pigeons couldn't be lazier. i almost stepped on more than a few.

bad picture but do you see the sign language interpreter in the lower right hand corner?!?! this was the news! again, Lisbon, I absolutely adore you

statues make good seats

ready for his first customer of the day

i want to go back right now!