to remind us where we've been // fall semester.

maps stretched out -
too many miles to count...
another pin pushed in to remind us where we've been and every mile adds up
and leaves a mark on us.
:: "west" // sleeping at last :: 

{photo credit: moriah elisabeth photography}

// bits n' pieces from "abroad"  || august - september  // 

++ i went to places i only read about in history books & the alamo in san antonio is a lot smaller than i ever imagined it to be. 

++ first latte art i've ever had was at a hipster cafe in lafayette, LA.
++ imagine roundabouts with sculpted fountains surrounded by tree-lined avenues and round windows and white trimmed shutters on chateaus and marble driveways with wrought-iron gates and brick, cobblestone walkways. i found my dream neighborhood that felt like it had come straight out of cinderella's fairytale.
++ chai latte gelato from  quaint gelateria is officially my new favorite. oh, and LOTR soundtrack + gelato go really well hand-in-hand.
++ i had a bit too much fun in front of this girl's camera {even though we did practically melt in the august humidity} and was so thankful to have actually met her in person!
++ while the roaring pacific always has my heart, florida's sugary beaches make my heart happy.

// college life || 

++ i've got to be honest and say that there were moments during my first semester that were rather disheartening {the first few weeks after my parents left were incredibly challenging}. pretty mail from my parents and my dearest friends hannah {who gathered letters from delight girls: samantha and dear emily just to name a few ;)} bethany, eve, mikailah, marcia, and care packages from my bests joanna and jw made it bearable. so thankful for faraway friends.
++ Delight has been such an incredible ministry and has introduced me to some amazing girls in my college life. for my birthday, my dear friend Taylor, Moriah, Makaela, and the sweet Kristi who are all stellar photographers, and I had a Delight girl meet-up. We drank lattes, took thousands of pictures of latte art, chased after sunbursts - the usual things that Delight girls do. it's was a dream to hang out with such classy girls, and i can't wait to do it again. more on that later. ;) 
++ my favorite hour on Mondays and Wednesday was the hour dedicated to speech. i was blessed with an incredible speech teacher and a really fun class.
++ i don't know where i would have been without my roommate sarah. we've shared some pretty unbelievable adventures thus far!
++ i went nighttime zip-lining with my collegian. 
++ the first fine arts was made very special by a fellow californian who gathered the courage to ask a complete stranger passing by the window one night. :)
++ whoever did not sign up for campus parents definitely missed out on afternoons spent in hammocks, sipping pumpkin creamed coffee, chasing sunsets on the beach, ice cream, doughnut drop-offs, and above all home cooked dinners {which after eating cafeteria food vs. organic goodness found in cali is a BIG deal}.
++ the line for tickets was well worth it as the christmas dramatic productions of "Meet Me in St. Louis" was absolutely brilliant! i admit screaming when my speech lecture teacher made a special appearance. 

++ i do have blogger girls/photographers i highly admire, and it was awesome to hang out with a fellow west coaster in the houston airport. hannah is bubbly and sweet and kind and genuine and and funny and talented and a fun-loving senior who i can't wait to catch up with this coming semester.  

>>>>--------------------------->

it amazes me how many memories one can stow away within six months. 
here's to the adventures that await for the spring semester. 
xx