Springtime at the Temple

We drove to D.C. yesterday to visit the temple. We had a wonderful time being in the temple together, and the day was absolutely gorgeous. The temple grounds were abloom with tulips, cherry blossoms, and vivid color.

I love this shot. We went for a walk in the flowery trees and I took this from a hill near the visitor's center. I wish we could have stayed all day, it was lovely!

Fall in Love

I love the crispness of the air as the seasons change; my lungs feel invigorated when they breathe in the sharp, cool air that comes in October. Mingled with the smell of fallen leaves and shops that are filled with maple or apple flavors, my mouth and my nose tell me that Autumn has finally come! 

We celebrated by taking a moonlit hayride at Linvilla Orchards, just outside of Philadelphia. We were surprised to find some beautiful countryside so close to the hustle and bustle of the city!

We took a look at a few glowing jack-o-lanterns, picked out some big pumpkins, and stowed them away in the car before the ride began. Then we snuggled down into the warm hay piled in an open flatbed wagon, pulled behind a farm tractor. A brilliant full moon watched over our journey, flooding open fields with light so that we could see wild throngs of colorful flowers dancing in the dark, and then sparkling through the thick foliage of tree branches as we winded up an forested hill. Our wagon deposited us at a big bonfire where we were gifted willow sticks upon which to roast marshmallows, and glasses of fresh apple cider. The night was perfect.

And then! As we walked back to the parking lot, I heard the boom! boom! BOOM! of fireworks in the distance. From our hill, we watched a dazzling fireworks show. All my favorite things, wrapped up into one special date night with my hubby. This is the most wonderful time of year!

What's been happening

I haven't blogged in (ahem) quite some time. Let me put it this way: I fell in love with the most wonderful man and decided to marry him. I hardly had time to pop in here and announce our engagement, as things unfolded somewhat rapidly. In April we were engaged, before a week had passed we drove from North Carolina to my hometown in Utah. We planned a wedding in 10 weeks, married in the Salt Lake temple, and the next day started our journey back to the East coast. We enjoyed a bed-and-breakfast honeymoon across the country, made it to North Carolina in time for Nick's sister's wedding one week after our own (a detail we shan't dwell upon) and then drove to Philadelphia and lived in a Marriott hotel for four days before signing a lease for our apartment. So here I am, moved to a new city, in search of a new job, and blissfully happy with my new (and first and only) husband.

I've missed blogging because I'm a verbose person and I get a lot of jumbled thoughts and unnecessary worrying straightened out when I take the time to ramble up a post. I feel a sort of confidence that if I record my life, it fits more easily within a comprehensible frame and I am able to review it and see it, hold it, analyze it and make sense of the whirlwind around me. Reflection is ultimately connecting the dots and reassuring yourself of the destination of your path. I pray and I write in my journal and I talk to my friends and family on the phone and tell them my stories, but this blog gives me a place to put it down chronologically, wrapped up neat and tidy. My journals aren't neat, tidy or chronological--I just dump my brain in scribbles across the page. This blog is the place where I take the time to organize it all a bit. 

So, we're back! Now if only I can get my dang wedding photographer to get me some pictures (it's been ELEVEN weeks!!!! I'm going crazy!!!), we'll start posting some fun and important things from this summer. 

Here we go!! 

Love,

Jessica

Muddy Waters Cafe

On the way home from Boston, Nick and I stopped for brunch in the historic waterfront district of New London, Connecticut. We found the most adorable place, The Muddy Waters Cafe, and stepped inside to escape the blustery New England wind. Instant love: this cafe was my dream.

The interior was decorated with vintage couches and comfy armchairs, plenty of old movie posters framed on the walls, stacks of board games on the tables, and beautiful books for our perusal. 

We chose to cozy up in front of the fireplace. 

While we waited for our food, I played a little diddy on the baby grand in the corner. Classy. 

Amazing yogurt muffin selection, in addition to a great menu featuring homemade soups, fresh sandwiches, and all-day breakfast items.

Per.fec.tion. This toasted blueberry muffin almost made me cry, it was so delicious. Would've been tears of joy.

I had the salmon and lox. Nick ordered a fantastic roast beef and egg croissant sandwich.

Best birthday brunch! 

Birthday Road Trip

I had an audition in Boston on my birthday this year. At first, I was a little bummed that I wouldn't be able to celebrate at home. Then I thought, Hey, I get to sing and act on my birthday, two things I love! This will be great! 

How to take full advantage of traveling on your birthday? Make it a cool East Coast road trip with your lovely someone! 11 hours each way, and we only fell more in love. 

We spent the hours googling the history of the great cities we were driving through, reading Ender's Game, and conversing in goofy voices. We actually got lost in Yonkers on the way through New York and we stopped in Connecticut to have sandwiches near a snow drift. When we reached Boston, I used a Wendy's bathroom to change my clothes and put some makeup on. Don't worry, it's cool. 

After a great audition, Nick took me downtown for birthday dinner at an Ethiopian restaurant called Addis Red Sea.

My phone died while we were waiting for our table (er...basket? You sit around a cool basket/table that doubles as a big plate for the whole group) so I don't have pictures of the great decor inside. This place was hopping, so there was a fairly long wait. It was worth every minute!

Ethiopian cuisine has plenty of vegan choices, as well as spicy chicken and pork entrees. Our meal had a lot of tumeric and cumin spices, every dish was delectable. The food is served on a platter of thin, slightly spongy pancake-like flatbread called injera. You also use this flatbread to scoop up each bite, as traditionally Ethiopian food isn't served with utensils. This made this meal incredibly fun. Need a date idea? Check!

Before we were seated, we studied the eclectic groups seated near the front door. The food smelled fantastic, but people weren't eating everything they were served. They only took dainty little bites and never even tore into the injera that lay beneath the food. We were starving by the time we were seated (in the more private and less-bustly basement) and served our order. We demolished that meal! We ate the entire platter, including all the injera; we used the last bit to wipe up every last drop of the yummy sauces left behind. We were stuffed, and super happy.

Best thing: turns out there is an Ethiopian restaurant here in Chapel Hill! Can't wait to try it!

My Valentine

I was surprised with a real-life candle-lit dinner this Valentine's. 

Nick guided me into the room while I covered my eyes. When I opened them, I found the table laden with candles, flowers, a homemade Valentine card and poem, and a picture frame holding a shot of the two of us. 

Nick made a yummy meat and cheese lasagna, coupled with a spicy Asian salad. 

So fun to be dating a romantic. 

**update: Those heart-shaped Valentine balloons are STILL floating a month and a half later. Proof it's true love. 

Five Guys

Nick introduced me to Five Guys. It was a giant, delicious burger.

And yummy i-can-tell-this-was-a-potato-just-a-short-time-ago french fries.  

Nothing like going for a burger run in the middle of the night!

Meeting My Family

My Nicholas flew to Utah to spend a week with my family during the Christmas holiday. We had a BLAST.

So much fun, in fact, that I failed to catch a single moment on my camera. Wuh, wuh...

These photos are from just before the holiday, in the car (of course, somehow the only time I remember to take pictures when we're together is when we're driving somewhere).

Nick flew in on the Sunday after Christmas Day. We went to Nana's house for a delicious dinner and apple pie for dessert. Then we wandered around Temple Square and looked at the lights before driving up the mountain to my dad's house in Kamas. 

We went out to eat at some of my favorite spots that week. Dad also made homemade breakfast and/or dinner several times. It was a food fest, for sure. 

We also played cards, went on a snowshoeing hike, visited the Salt Lake Temple, watched Les Miserables at the theater, and hopped around town meeting my friends and family for good conversations--everyone wanted to see the handsome guy I had been writing home about. 

He was such a gentleman and charmed both Nana and my mother the instant they met him. Nana grabbed his arm and exclaimed--really, she let out a whoop--"Oh! He's soooo handsome! You are so adorable!" I think I had to pry her fingers off of him. My mom just kept gushing during her long stories, interrupting whatever narrative she was telling with things like, "Oh, you two are so cute. I'm just so happy for you." Plenty of embarrassing references to marriage and "Let me know when you get engaged," from everyone I introduced him to. Alas, that is part of the fun of having the guy you're dating come home for Christmas, right? His visit was the best gift; I loved showing him around my hometown and playing with him in the snow. 

Here's to the New Year!