new location

long time, no see, right?

sorry i fell off the charts.  but i'm back on.  for asthetic reasons, i've relocated to wordpress.  you can follow me over here: lesliejaneblog.wordpress.com.

see ya over there!

lately

now that i'm single and trying to move on from S, i've had some deep, get-to-know-myself moments.  here's what i learned:

- i can be happy without S, and i am.
- i have no idea how to flirt.  seriously.  i don't know how to just go up to a guy and flirt with him.  i can only flirt if it flows naturally.  i have no control.
- i am an awesome person.  and the next guy i date is going to actually deserve me.
- i'm going to go after quality rather than quantity.  cause no matter how much i hate being single, i think i hate break ups even more.
- i need to be more open with friends.  i've had friends ask me if i want to get set up with guys, and instead of being like, "yeah, he seems cool,"  i always say: "idk, do whatever."  stupid answer.  yes, i want to get set up with him!
- i don't need to be mad or angry or hate S.  he didn't want to date me, so he's dating someone else.  i don't want to date him, so it's all good.

the death of blogging?

so, dear readers, as you might've been able to tell, i've stopped blogging- or at least i've been really lazy about it.  if you want to see what i'm into these days, you really should check out my pinterest.  that's my new thing.  or my twitter.

great quote

cherish your solitude. take trains by yourself
to places you have never been. sleep out alone
under the stars. learn how to drive a stick shift.
go so far away that you stop being afraid of not
coming back. say no when you don't want to do
something. say yes if your instincts are strong, even
if everyone around you disagrees. decide whether
you want to be liked or admired. decide if fitting in
is more important than finding out what you're doing here.
believe in kissing.


even ensler

little gems from professor swensen

while studying for my modern art final, i keep coming across the funniest little quotes from my professor.  here are a few of my favorite:

[while discussing duchamp's fountain] "why do we always come back to this... plumbing!?"

"who wants to listen to marie osmond perform this?"

"if [an art work] creates a big stink, buy it, folks."

"just talking about pavlov [as in pavlov's dog], how many of you are getting a good build up of saliva? i am, and i wonder what that says about my psychology."

[after saying he's not going to let us out early] "i can see you're all pained, and that's the perfect time to turn the knife."

while discussing nazi art, he called me liesel.

"there's no sexier way to start off class than to talk about fascism."

"there's nothing more mexican than [a really long name.]"

"not a bad day dumpster diving."

"but cows don't have rows of teets, megan."

"he didn't die of a tragic, sad way.  he died of cancer... wait..."

yeah, that's good ol' art history for ya.

somedays..

i just feel hot.  today is one of those days.  i don't normally do this, but i decided to take a picture of myself in my elongating mirror- just to emphasize how gorgeous i feel. here's my look, and here are some equally beautiful sunflowers that ahlin brought me last week.

"first day of spring" noah & the whale

It's the first day of spring
And my life is starting over again
The trees grow, the river flows
And its water will wash away my sins
For I do believe that everyone has one chance
To F&*k up their lives
But like a cut down tree, I will rise again
And I'll be bigger and stronger than ever before

For I'm still here hoping that one day you may come back
For I'm still here hoping that one day you may come back

There's a hope in every new seed
And every flower that grows upon the earth
And though I love you, and you know that
Well I no longer know what that's worth
But I'll come back to you in a year or so
And I'll rebuild, be ready to become
Oh the person, you believed in
Oh the person, that you used to love

For I'm still here hoping that one day you may come back
For I'm still here hoping that one day you may come back 

Mother

I love my mother.  She is the greatest thing in my life.  I have no idea what I would do or where I would be if she was not the amazing lady that she is.  I love her sense of wonder and the way she enjoys discovering new things.  I loved being home when she'd take us all around London, showing us things that she loves.  I love how she shows us her love for us and for the Lord.  Her testimony is so strong, and just by talking with her, I can see that.  I love her sense of hard work and service.  I know these are things that I can incorporate into my own life.  I love that she is so focused and driven.  When she has a goal, she follows through.  She always does her morning exercise and stretches.  She always does her scripture study.  She is truly an amazing woman.  She is the inspiration for me when I think about being a mother.

So, thank you mom.  Thank you for everything.

xxx

boy and i broke up.  i'm kinda crushed.  but this song is helping.

london trip [aka katherine and trey's engagement pics]

last week i went to london.  it was a blast.  i went mainly to see my family and hang out with them, but i also went to take katherine and trey's engagement pics.  just in case you haven't seen them on my facebook, here are a few of my favorites:

i also created their save the date.  and i'm really proud of it.  so here it is:

happy easter!

I am so thankful for my Savior.  on this day, i remember the things he did for me- how he died and suffered for me.

what a great friend and brother!

happy easter.

x

some pictures from this week

karakoke 

nail polish

sweet potato fries and grilled cheese sandwich

blessings.

so, i was having a really rotten, no good past few days.  school is so close to being over, i think it's mostly just end of the semester stress... and the cold [it was basically snowing on friday!]

but i have been so blessed this week.  here's how:

. like i said, semester almost over

. an awesome, selfless boyfriend who let's me rant, complain, etc. and knows the tease : sympathize ratio perfectly. he also just holds me and lets me be.  remember that scene in waitress (around 1:20)? yeah, that's how it was for me, these past couple of days.

. family who lets me rant and complain [especially my mother, who just had a birthday!]

. essie nail polish.  this is by far the brightest color i've had since i was like 14... but i like it.  it makes me happy (thanks to boy for helping me pick it out)- also their top coat "no chip" works really well. just sayin.

. m&ms

. running/ pilates: these endorphins were definitely needed

. my awesome classmates who listened to me rant

. pandora: well picked songs, as always [new amsterdams, nicole reynolds, angus & julia stone, etc.]

. Mosiah 15

. rain boots

. sweet potato fries and burgers; pizza and lemonade

. divine comedy

i want to go to there.

Iceland from Ken Grunberg on Vimeo.

i found it here.

general conference weekend

so, it's general conference time, again.  i love it.  this general conference was really good.  a lot about family, marriage, and serving.  it was the church welfare's 75th anniversary, and it was neat to hear so many people address what the church does for the world.  my boy had tickets for the conference center for saturday afternoon and sunday morning sessions.  so, we went to those.  then, he dropped me off at katherine and joe's to watch sunday evening.  katherine made some delicious corn and leek filled peppers, with couscous and homemade cornbread [she's such a chef.]

you can read the entire conference here, and these are some of my personal favorites: elder cook, president eyring, president monson [saturday afternoon especially], elder scott [always], elder holland [always- and especially if you are a non-member trying to understand what general conference is exactly]

sunday evening we went to my grandparents house for a little family home evening [boy drove up to meet us for that.]  it was great talking about the importance of family while being surrounded by family.

this week's recap:
- i found what my internship is exactly.  i am a co-curator of a warhol and murakami exhibit coming out sometime in august.  i helped choose the pieces for that on friday. [so cool!]
- weather was awesome all week, until sunday [when it snowed]
- i am awesome at "just dance" [the wii dancing game]; i am only so-so at the kinnekt dancing game
- i made a quiche [so good] and chocolate and m&m cookies  [see pictures below]
- three more weeks of school [but only two more weeks of classes]

festival of colors! [sans photos] and new resolutions

i ended up going to festival of colors yesterday.  there's a huge krishna temple in spanish fork, and every year they have a color throwing to celebrate holi... a krishna holiday [i think]. i don't much about the holiday, all i know is you dress in all white, get scented/colored chalk, and throw it on people. it was way fun.  i went with boy, his siblings, and a couple of friends from my old ward.  there were some hilarious times- mostly between us and children [yes, seven or under].

sorry i don't have any pictures, yet.  there all on boy's camera.  but there were some good ones. trust me.

last night i went emergency grocery shopping with boy for the things he needs today: cereal, frozen pizza and pringles. [wow. such a guy.] it made me remember how sad it is to not be able to cook.  so, i decided today that i am going to have a sunday dinner, every sunday, where i make something for reals. so far, i have compiled recipes for mediterranean risotto, my aunt's yummy pasta salad, sausage, chard and lemon lasagna, gruyere and parmesan souffle, backed rigatoni with tiny meatballs, quiche lorraine and chicken tortilla soup. sounds delicious right? i also want to bake desserts that i have never tried- pies, cakes, fudge, chocolate dipped cookies.

so here's to a colorful weekend and a delicious future!

new travel destination

one day, i will go to LESLIEVILLE, TORONTO, CANADA.

i will take my picture in front of here:

best weekend ever!

i ran my half-marathon [13.1 miles!] it only took my 02:13:48.  if i didn't have to go to the bathroom, then it would've only taken 02:10:48.  stupid bladder.  but i felt so good! [today, not so much]

here's jen and i at the finish line.. an hour after our finish.

also, i heard back from my internship!  i got it! you are reading the words of BYU MOA's new contemporary curator's intern.  that's right.

goals accomplished.

growing up

i had my first real interview today.  i had a job in high school, but for that interview, it went something like this:

Jim: Are you a good worker?
Me: yes.
Jim: Jen, can you vouch for her?
Jen: yes.
Jim: Good, you get the job.

easy, yes.

well, my interview today was a little more intense.  there were five interviewers and just little ol' me.  they asked me questions like: what do you hope to get out of this experience?  and what will you bring to the internship? [my least favorite question after "what do you do for fun?")

i'll hear back by mid-week next week.

cross your fingers!

life changing

my younger brother (john) shared this with me.  and i fell in love.  it's so beautiful.  listen and let it change the way to view life.

and you might need some tissues.