Florence highlights part I

Mid laughter fit... this was our second course.  After we just finished eating a huge plate of pasta... what do they

Me and Angel in front of Michelangelo's tomb at the church of Santa Croce

NO PHOTO NO FLASH!

watercolors

I have been itching for months now to break out my watercolors.  I've really wanted to try doing portraits and fashion illustrations in watercolor.  This is my first attempt at painting people.  Obviously I need more practice, but I'm really happy with how it turned out!  I'm really excited to keep practicing.

Can you guess who this is?.. If not, I won't be offended.  Like I said; I need practice!  :)

a little lesson in Italian

My dad speaks Spanish fluently, and I took 3 years of it in high school...so I grew up pronouncing any language that wasn't English the way I would pronounce Spanish..  When I went to Italy, I was pronouncing things so completely wrong.  It was very sad.

Well, happy news!  I learned a thing or two when I was abroad. (amazing.)  Here's a little lesson in pronouncing things the correct way!

c or cc: ch sound  fettuccine fet-tuh-chee-nee.  Cipro cheap-row
ch: k sound Michele mi-kay-lay
sc: sh sound. uscita (which means exit)  oo-shee-tuh
gn: ñ sound.  lasagna luh-zah-nyuh.  spagna spah-nyuh

other tricky words:

gnocchi: nyoh-key
cinque: cheen-kway

and one of my favorite words:
gelato!  jell-ah-toe

enjoy your Sunday

This is an excerpt taken from a post written by sweet Hilary.  She's currently serving an LDS mission in Ecuador.  I was reading her blog earlier this week and found this post again... oh my gosh, totally made my day.  Thought I'd share it here.  Mostly for my posterity and for when I print out my blog at the end of this month!.. Hooray!
 
I thought I would dedicate a post to two girls who have really taught me to go for my dreams (cheesy, yes, but I just feel the need to thank them).
First, Erin Spencer.
Erin has been someone I've looked up to since as far back as when I was 15. (The first time I ever saw her, she and her sister Anna were playing a violin for people right outside the doors of the seminary building. Most were confused, but those who could grasp their spontaneous sense of humor laughed along.) Once I started working at T.A. Erin and I became close friends. Erin is someone I go to for advice on everything- from my pageant skit to my lesson in church. She is one girl I've always wanted to be more like and better friends with.
Erin is good example to me of doing everything you can to accomplish your goals and dreams. She's always been in tune with the spirit and followed what she felt was best for her. She has many opportunities open up to her because she has taken every step she could to get to where she wants to be.
And whenever I tell her how awesome she is, she always reciprocates. It's cool to know she thinks I can be awesome too.

I am so grateful for friends like Hilary.  I think she is amazing in every way possible and know that she will do wonders in Ecuador.  I'm thankful she shared this on her blog!  It's always really nice to hear nice things about yourself I think.  Anyway.  Enjoy your Sunday! 

Rome: highlights part II

note the traffic light telling me when it's okay to cross..

Devin and I

Rome: highlights part I

the bones church... yikes!  Go here to learn more about that...

Augustus of Prima Porta

"Guys, he's looking at me......"

Megan, Kylie, me, Chelsie and Brooke.. and Devin

Practicing my sculpture face.

View from the Vatican museum

The Laocoon.  Beautiful. 

the Labyrinth on the way to the Sistine Ceiling

School of Athens by Raphael

One of the many secret pictures of the Sistine Ceiling.

Inside the Sistine with The Last Judgement behind me.

the famous Vatican museum staircase!  Way cool

I'm sorry.  but trying to post all these pictures is too much.... After all, I did take three memory cards full of pictures!  Yikes!  So if you want to see all the pictures you'll just have to call me and come over for an Italy picture party!  I'll just be doing highlights of the different cities we visited rather than details of every day.  Y'welcome

bucket list item: visit all 50 states

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

38 down

12 to go