Welcome to the Jungle

So...I've been stalking blogs for quite some time now and have decided to dive head first into this weird, yet incredibly fascinating world of displaying the inner-most workings of our minds onto the internet for all to read. So, I'll start with a brief introduction and we'll go from there!

Are you ready?

My name is Jennifer. I grew up in Iowa. I love Iowa. It will always hold a special place in my heart. There is nowhere else in the world quite like it. My fondest memories are the ones that involved laying out in a grassy pasture watching the clouds float across the sky. Ah...Iowa. You also can't deny the amazing cuisine available only in Iowa. It's almost a secret, so I hesitate sharing it with you. The south has their amazing, fatty, creamy, saucy dishes and California has well "California Cuisine." New Yorkers and Chicagoans are known for their fabulous Italian fare, but nobody in the world can make fish boiled in lye or a tenderloin sandwich quite the way it's made in Iowa. Of course there are other dishes available only in Iowa, but most of the names of these dishes include curse-words (go figure), so I'll have to think of new, more creative names for them before I share them with all of you. Maybe I'll even let you all in on some of the recipes. So, that all being said, I was incredibly fortunate and am still very grateful for being raised and educated in such a beautiful state.

I moved to Colorado in 2005 after finishing school at Buena Vista University. I love Colorado. What an amazing state I chose; or maybe it chose me? Some day I'll tell you the story of my move. It's pretty funny and it involves a psychic, whom I've affectionately deemed "the Psycho." I'll probably never forget the Psycho. I wonder what happened to her? Anyway, Colorado has treated me very well and I feel like this is where I belong for the time being. Although, no matter where I find myself, I'll always call Iowa home. You know what they say..."You can take the girl out of Iowa, but you can't take the Iowa out of the girl." I'm not really sure if that's a good or bad thing, but I'll just go with it.

Most people that I know have described me as a "walking contradiction." I guess this applies in some cases, but part of the joy of being female is that we are allowed to be walking contradictions and there's nothing anybody can do about it. I take great pride in my status as a female. It is my one true passion in life to bring grace and beauty back to femininity. I won't stop until every American woman owns at least one frilly apron and has at least one good apple pie recipe. That being said, my other "one true passion" (I guess I have a lot of one true passions - insert the walking contradiction comment here, if you'd like) is to ensure that every woman knows of her beauty and worth. In my opinion (just an FYI...I won't typically insert my opinions, I'd rather discuss fact), the classic literary works of yore are the most amazing resources we have to define the worth of a woman. Ever hear of Shakespeare? He loved women. He described them beautifully. Lord Bryon...Oh man did he love women. I suggest you all read "She Walks in Beauty" pronto. Do it now. Leave my blog and come back. Anyway, literature and not so much modern literature, but the good stuff, the really good stuff celebrates all that femininity represents and I can tell you this much...it doesn't include talking like a sailor, spitting like a trucker and dressing like a homie. That may be the first time I've ever used the word homie.

So anyway, I guess I should sign off for now. I was thinking about things that could make this blog unique and I think I'm going to list five things I'm grateful for and a "Top Five" list at the end of every entry. So here goes :

Five things I'm grateful for -

1. The Gospel of Jesus Christ

2. My job - it's amazing

3. My beautiful friends and the joy that they bring me every day

4. The Atonement and the peace and love that I feel when I use it in my life

5. Education...if you don't have one, get one and USE IT!

Top Five Songs I've been jamming to lately -

1. Smile; Grant Lee Buffalo

2. Neon Tiger; The Killers

3. Boots of Spanish Leather; Nanci Griffith or Bob Dylan - they're equally amazing

4. Whiter Shade of Pale; Procol Harum

5. Make Your Own Kind of Music; Mama Cass Elliot

Stay Classy!