Amor Fe Esperanza

I've mentioned the documentary that JJ has been working on since the beginning of my blog. And after a lot of hard work and sleepless nights, the documentary is finished!! 

This coming Saturday is the premier. He will be showing the film to donors, family, and close friends. I feel really blessed that I've had a front row seat at the story that JJ is telling and the creative process which he has poured over these last two years. One small part of the premier this weekend will be selling some artwork. 100% of the proceeds will go to the school AFE (Amor Fe Esperenza.) 

In the last couple months I've started to dabble a bit with photography and am actually going to sell some stationary of the pictures that I took while I spent a week with JJ in Honduras this fall. It has been really fun to create and actually very therapeutic. 

Above is a little taste of my creations. Excited for what's in store. 

Flight & Suspension

Earlier this year I posted about a photo competition that my good friends from college started, River to Well. 100% of the proceeds go to building wells in under privileged countries in Africa.

Tonight begins the first of three showings. 

First they'll stop in Lawrence, KS then head to Denver and on to Minneapolis. 

I'm excited to share that yours truly got two honorable mentions! Both pictures were taking on my travels to the great state of California this summer. 

"Suspension"

"Flight" 

The rest of the winners can be seen here. 

Worth checking it out! 

All Things Go, All Things Go

I fell in love again

All things go, all things go

Drove to Chicago

All things know, all things know

- Sufjan Stevens "Chicago"

I got the chance to spend the day in the beautiful city of Chicago with Kate and Lisa last Sunday. 

What a perfect day. Here are some snapshots.

Photographs & Memories

I've officially been home from Honduras for five days. 
I'm still in the process of unpacking and reflecting my time there but thought I'd share some pictures. 
I think they probably captured my experience better than any words ever could.

JJ handing out photographs to students at AFE.

Students in class at AFE.

AFE.

Playground time.

Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

This is mommy Lucci, who JJ lived with for three months, and her daughter Marielle.

Buen Samaritan neighborhood.

Honduran kids are beautiful.

Cutest cat I've ever seen.

Sweet sweet Angie.

This is my favorite picture of the whole trip.
Sweet Angie and JJ, two people I love a lot.

Things I Learned...

... Last week in Honduras!

1. Honduran children have my heart. When JJ returned from Honduras last year with a ton of footage and pictures I didn't really notice anything specific about the children but my goodness, when you are with them in person they are just magnetic. They've got so much to offer.
2. Being in a country where you don't speak the language is difficult. Really difficult. Silly me took French until my junior year of college. I thought that could potentially be helpful with my Spanish but gosh was I wrong. Example: with in Spanish is con, with in French is avec. That's a little bit how my mind felt last week. Every time someone would speak to me in Spanish my mind went from English to French. Here's a promise that next time I go, I'll know a little bit more than gracias and adios. 
3. It's good to be out of your comfort zone. Not only was not speaking the language a barrier but I just didn't know very much about Honduran culture. I journaled a lot while I was there and noticed that I kept on writing the word lost. And I don't think that was a bad place for me to be this week. It made me realize my own humanity and my need for Jesus even more. Grateful to be pushed to places that challenge me. 
4. I remembered how much I love to read. When you don't have phone or internet really for a week, there's so much time to read! While I was in Honduras I was able to read 4 books. C.S. Lewis' "A Grief Observed," Lauren Winner's "Mudhouse Sabbath" and "Real Sex," and "Half the Sky" by Nicolas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn. I recommend all of them. They all are so different but all have something rich to offer.
5. People are doing incredible things with not very much. The school that JJ filmed has an incredible story. AFE (Amor, Fe, Esperzana) started because a Honduran man saw that education was the only way to get kids out of the cycle of poverty and working in the local trash dump. This vision has now turned into a full blown school with about 130 students. 130 kids that would be working in a trash dump that are now able to graduate from high school. You cannot help but be moved when you're standing at AFE.
6. I am incredibly blessed. It was a strange feeling going to bed last night after a hot shower with my cell phone plugged and my cat curled up next to me. I'm really lucky and have so much to be thankful for. I hope and pray that my time in Honduras wasn't something that I can look back on fondly but that it's a time that changes how I view my life. How often I am unappreciative of the fact that I'm able to type on this very computer. How embarrassing. I'm really really blessed. 

Renegade Art Festival

Last weekend I met my friend Melissa in Chicago for the Renegade Art Festival. It is set up on Division street in this super cool and trendy area called Wicker Park. (Yes I know you just thought of Josh Hartnett and this movie.) Even without the festival it's a fun place to be.

Here are some snapshots of our day. I loved everything. 

Loved the sunshine, the artists, the company, and the first chance to wear my frye boots. What a gift.

This went on for blocks. City blocks.

Just strollin' selling some ice cream. 

In San Francisco, my mom started taking pictures of signs. Surprise, I now take pictures of signs.
Melissa and I ended up eating at this restaurant. Let's just say, mixed reviews. Great outside tables, poor service. 

I loved the name of this. And of course, taking another picture of a sign. 

My dear friend Melissa. Perfect person to spend the day with.

Things I Learned...

... This weekend.

1. Some people are jerks. I flew to Malibu, CA to visit JJ for the weekend while he was out filming some videos for Pepperdine University. On my flight out there, someone stole my cell phone. Like we tracked it on my iCloud and I watched my phone travel around Inglewood, CA for an hour and a half stolen. I have returned back to Chicago sans iPhone. I'm embarrassed how much it has bugged me.
2. Surprises really are the best. One of my favorite bands for a long time has been Fun. I fell in love with them (well the lead singer Nate) back when they were The Format. On Friday night JJ surprised me and got us tickets to see Fun. at the Wiltern in LA! I had absolutely no idea they were even in town. And I loved it. Every moment.
3. My feet are always happiest in the sand. My feet got to meet the Pacific Ocean on Saturday. I hope this is just the beginning to a lovely relationship.
4. I'm a midwest girl. As JJ and I were driving around Southern California (which is absolutely gorgeous) I couldn't help but be reminded why I love the midwest. I guess I like green grass and neighborhoods more than I realized.
5. Penny from LOST is just as pretty in real life as she is on the show. Sunday morning we went to Marmalade Cafe in Malibu (I got a delicious mushroom, spinach, goat cheese fritatta - that was for you Gwen) and in walks Penny. I almost died. First and only celebrity spotting and my gosh, well worth it.  

River to Well

I often feel like I start every post of mine like so... "my friend _______ is so talented." And here's the thing, it's true. So much of my life has been blessed by the talents of people around me.

So here it goes again, my friend Ken is so talented. A handful of years ago he went on a trip to Africa with a couple of his friends. When he was there he was struck by the lack of clean water in so many communities. Once Ken got home he decided he wanted to do something about it. He took one of his passions, photography, and used that as a medium to get clean water to folks halfway across the globe.

With the help of a handful of friends, he started River to Well. River to Well is a photo competition that uses 100% of its proceeds to build wells in Africa.  

It is wonderful.

If you love photography or even if you don't love photography. Take some time to check out their website and see what they're about. The competition is in full swing until September 30th. 

River to Well

  

Pink Lipstick & Sea Lions

Sweater: F21. Blouse: F21. Pants: JCrew. Shoes: Nine West (Nordstrom Rack.)
Earrings: JCrew. Braclet: H&M. Belt: H&M. Sunglasses: Target. 

I've never been a huge make up girl, so the thought of lipstick always scared me. But let me tell you, when I was in San Francisco, I fell in love with lipstick. I know, it seems a bit dramatic but it really does add a whole new element to a simple outfit. Who knows how long this will last for me but for now I'm going to run with it. Pink lipstick with everything. 

For the second half of my week in San Fran, my parents and my best friend from high school Gwen joined me. One day we were the ultimate tourists. We road a trolley car to Fisherman's Warf, saw sea lions on Pier 39, ate sour dough bread, wandered Ghirardelli square, and took a bay boat tour. My camera was an extension of my arm. 

Here are some tourist pictures. Take a bay boat tour, you won't be disappointed. 

My mom and me on the boat.

San Francisco skyline. 

My love Gwen.

And of course, the Golden Gate Bridge.

Come on, love these buddies.

From Where I Stand

 

 

I know some people don't like feet but I think feet pictures are awesome (can you tell?) 

They each tell a different story.

Instagram is the best place to follow the #fromwhereIstand thread.

Check it out!