Edinburgh

Here are some more pics from the trip- I'm starting to get the images more organized so I can edit them, so I'll be randomly posting these as I get through them. This is the St. Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland

Matt & Sayward Wedding Pics

Pesto

If you know me well, you would know that I love pesto. Not just I like to eat it every now and then, more like I make a huge pot of it once or twice a week and live off the leftovers the rest of the time. When Todd and I were in Italy, I wanted to take a huge detour aka "side trip" to the Cinque Terre, where I had the most amazing pesto of my entire life during my study abroad. Sadly, Todd and I didn't make it there, but I came home with a new resolve to learn how to make my own delicious pesto sauce from scratch. Last weekend I made my first attempt with my brand new mortar and pestle. It was a lot harder than I thought, but today was testing day, and it actually turned out pretty delicious! I even bought sparkling cider to drink for the big occasion (I know, I got a little excited) so here is my first and hopefully not my last, attempt to be a great cook...

PS- I know the coloring on the picture looks weird, please focus on the delicious food instead ;-)

Notting Hill

Today I finally picked up my first developed roll of film from our trip. I'm doing it one at a time for now, but hopefully I can pick up the pace and get a few more developed soon. I was really nervous about what would actually turn out, but I'm happy to say I had some great shots, so here are a few of my favorite from Notting Hill and Prague...

Matt & Sayward Bridals

Back to the Books

Well, now that I'm home form our trip, it's time to start off my summer the way I spend all my summers... reading. Lately however, I've struggled finding books that I've really been able to get into. I love finding books that I absolutely can't put down, so I end up spending all night and any free minute reading, just to find out what happens. Those are a rare find, and I've had quite a dry spell! In that time though, I have began a lot of books, and failed to finish them. I have made it my goal that this summer will be my time to finish up all those books I've been struggling with, with a few in between. Just so I can be held accountable, here is the big list I have of what I need to finish:

1. Great Tales from English History: A Treasury of True Stories-The Extraordinary People Who Made Britain Great by Robert Lacey

2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

3. The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston

4. Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling by Ross King

5. Talking to Tesla by Alex Bigney (This was written by one of my professors, and was partially used as a course text, but I feel obligated to read it now that I know the author...right?)

6. Shakespeare on Love by William Shakespeare

7. The First Idea: How Symbols, Language, And Intelligence Evolved from Our Primate Ancestors to Modern Humans by Stanley Greenspan

8. Select Essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson (an amazing 1904 edition I picked up in Hawick, Scotland ;-))

I will say right now, that I know I will most likely never make it through all these books (number 7 especially is a heavy read!) But I think that now that I have the goal, I'll be more likely to finish them. I also need to few great reads to throw in there, so if anyone has read anything good lately let me know! I'm anxiously awaiting the release of Mockingjay (Hunger Games Series). Happy reading!

My Favorite Picture

Well I guess I saved the best of the trip pics for last, because I would have to say this picture from our last stop in Rome has to be one of my favorites. We were walking on the street that leads out of St. Peters Square in Vatican City when a huge gang of scooters came down the street. I have never seen so many driving at once, and all the riders were cheering and waving. It was so fun, and I can't believe I caught this shot- my panning abilities are non-existent, so needless to say, I was pretty excited. No way I could have captured this with the Mamiya, so it was good that I brought so many cameras! (Thank you Todd for carrying them around for me!)

I can't even begin to describe how wonderful this trip was for both Todd and I. By the time we reached Rome we were both ready to be home, but now that I'm back, I want to start planning our next adventure! I am truly grateful for the opportunity we had to go and see so many amazing places and things, and it was exactly what I've been needing at this point in my life.