Fall in Pictures

Wondering what's been happening in Alex's world recently? You came to the right place! Here's late summer and early Fall, in pictures, of course. I have done a lot of things "for the first time" since I last posted, and I wanted to share some of those exciting moments!

Back to school Luau with some friends

Found international fruit at Ingles! Got myself a dragonfruit!

No. 14 - Own a family recipe book. 

My beautiful new room, lovely and organized

Heart-shaped muffins!

Coffee Underground for the first time!

Had some friends over to the terrace for dinner. 

Knitted half-fingered gloves for a new-old friend!

Learned how to make hot and cold Chai Lattes!

Started to feel like an English teacher for real!

Saw Tenth Avenue North in Concert!

I love ladybugs!

Got cool shots of some "wildlife"

First time on a real hammock today... in my life!!

No. 26 - Vote absentee.
Received my absentee ballot in the mail today!

I figured it was time to make note that I had completed number 14, which is "compile a family recipe book." Last semester, a lovely friend gave the recipe book in the picture above for my birthday. I thanked her profusely, but I wasn't going to call it my "family" recipe book until I had "family" recipes in it. Now, I have my mom's Ham Delights and broccoli salad, my grandma's Taco Soup, and even my great-great-aunt's macaroni pie from scratch.

The only thing I'm missing is my grandma's "lard biscuits," but since both mom and grandma are on a diet right now, I've hesitated to ask for the directions. There is no written recipe. My grandma made those biscuits for years and years, until my grandpa died six years ago. I'm hoping one day I'll be able to write down that recipe and save it for future generations.

Also worth noting is that I'm well on my way to completing number 26: vote both absentee and in person. I got my absentee ballot today, and I'm looking forward to (and somewhat nervous about) voting in my first election, and a presidential election at that! I hope to do some research concerning this process and share some of what I've learned.

Thanks for walking with me on this journey to thirty and the rest of my life! I've shared recently on my personal blog about what I'm learning about God; check it out!

Happy "Firsts..."

-- First time at Coffee Underground

-- First time knitting gloves

-- First time making (learning to make) Chai Lattes

(First time falling in love with hot tea!)

-- First time seeing Tenth Avenue North in concert

-- First time on a real hammock

-- First time preparing to vote in the presidential election

Back from Asia!

The ladies of my team with our Lao friends.

I'm back, safe and sound, from an amazing trip to Asia. I stepped outside of my comfort zone and did the thing I thought I could not do. Believe me when I say that our God is a God of impossible things. I learned how to love on twenty Asian teenagers, plan and prepare three weeks of English camp, pray for the impossible, and trust God with each moment.


I was able to knock two countries off of goal number 6 and challenge myself beyond what I thought I was capable of. I rode the Hong Kong public transit system (MTR, minibuses, and double-decker buses) for the first time. I ate duck larp, fermented fish, tamarind, dragon fruit, longan, pomegrante, and duck for the first time. And I discovered how much I really love teaching!

My class!

My team at the beach on Lantau.

If you'd like to read more, click here to go to my LosingMyself blog.

How to Pack for Five Weeks in Asia

In case you haven't heard, I'm going to Asia for five weeks! I board my first plane in t minus 76 hours. Oh yes. Here are some random tips for packing for a five week trip!

You can find these tiny green towels at REI.com

1. Buy a towel that is literally shorter than your eight-year-old cousin and several inches too small to wrap all the way around you. But it absorbs eight times its weight!

2. Don't pack your iPod cord or phone charger 4 days early thinking that you're "ahead of the game." You will need them before you leave.

3. Bring interchangable clothes, especially bottoms. For the three weeks of English teaching I'll be doing, I have khaki capris, khaki shorts, black pants, and a black skirt. And a dress just for fun (not pictured).

4. Pack all that random stuff you brought too much of in plastic Zip-Loc or Hefty bags. For example, place small items in snack-size bags, then put a few of those into a quart bag, and a few of those into a gallon bag. Pack multiple items into a two gallon bag. Yes, they sell those in the store. I'm still wondering why we have those at my house.

Don't forget the stickers for your students!
Can you tell I'm bringing stuff for teaching about Valentine's Day?

5. Below Left. Roll your clothes. It's easy, keeps most of the wrinkles out, and you can see everything at one time. Try not to wad your clothes, because they will definitely end up that way after two or more flights.

6. Above Right. Limit the amount of shoes you bring. You'll need something to wear to teach in and something to play in. Yes, four shoes is "limiting it" for me. I can't believe I have so many shoes!

7. Knit your own travel accessories! The passport holder in shown in blue/brown and the pattern can be found here. The navy money wallet is my own "homemade" pattern. See it here.











8. Travel Sizes. Of Everything. "There are stores in Asia!"

9. Bring notes and momentos from friends who love you and are praying for you! Below.

10. Make sure you have something to do on the 15 hour airplane ride!

I MADE THIS FOR YOU!

...Okay, maybe not. I made it for me. But I made it! I wrote up my own pattern, which I submitted to a knit pattern database called Ravelry, and I even sewed on a zipper by myself. It's a mini clutch wallet, perfect for holding my foreign currency when I go to Asia this summer!

By the way, I can't believe I'm going to Asia in literally a week and a day. What?!? It is unbelievable, and it fulfills most of goal number 6. More information to come!

*The title is a reference to JulianSmith.tv, which I enjoy but cannot endorse on this blog. 
*The link above is to my newest blog, dedicated to creativity and crafts, called One Creative Outlet, scheduled to go live in August.