Farewell

Sarah's Cross began in 2009 as I prepared to spend a semester in London during undergrad. It found new life as I moved cross-country to attend graduate school in Savannah, and revisited its original purpose as I returned to London in 2013 for an internship during grad school. It has been a fun journey and an excellent way to document my experiences and life lessons. I am now embarking on a new journey, and even though my 50 Weeks of Creativity challenge is still open, I have decided it's time to put this blog to rest. I am entering an archival status, where this blog will remain for the memories and projects I have shared. For anyone who joined me on my travels, thank you. It has been a fun journey, and I hope this has only been the beginning for my one wild and precious life.

50 Weeks of Creativity: Week 29

There's a first time for everything, isn't there? Well, this week marks the end of my summer camp, but with it came a first for me: painting. Camp painted a mural on a bridge in Midland, right down the street from my high school. While I spent most of the time supervising, I did lend my hand for a bit of the painting itself. I've never been much of a painter to begin with, but this was a very fun and organic project. Our final camp project was fantastic and successful, and I am incredibly proud of the kids who helped make my summer camp a success.

I'll have to start being a bit more creative as I go into my remaining 21 weeks of creativity now that camp is over, but I'm determined to finish this project.

For now: take a look at the camp mural! You can see it in person down the street from Franklin Pierce High School on 112th street in Midland, Washington. Also be sure to search for #pyartcamp on Instagram and Twitter for some close-up shots of the mural and process pictures!

This post is twenty-ninth in a series of 50 weekly posts, as part of my 50 Weeks of Creativity Challenge for 2013. To see every post and creation from the series, click here.

50 Weeks of Creativity: Week 28

I think the fact that I am running an arts camp automatically qualifies as something creative each week in July. And for this week's installment in my creativity challenge, it is in fact a task from camp: apart from the fact that I schedule and plan every activity with my associate Allie (although she gets the majority of the teaching credit!), I also participate in some of our activities.

So for week 28, I put together a special presentation on the topic of Tacoma's local art and an overview of art history in general. This was a precursor to a scavenger hunt the kids did on Thursday, which I also planned and organized with Allie. Finally, I also brought in my friend Becky to teach the kids how to do henna tattoos. While everyone practiced their body art, I decided to doodle a bit on myself.

The tally this week, then, is: a lesson on art history, planning an arts scavenger hunt, and staining my skin with pop culture references. I'd say it was a success in addition to creative!

Enjoy my henna tattoo, and be sure to check out my arts camp! We are wrapping up this week, but big things are happening (which I will of course address in next week's creativity post).

This picture may show off my Harry Potter silhouette and Deathly Hallows symbol, but on the back of my hand I also drew a David Bowie Aladdin Sane lightning bolt.

This post is twenty-seventh in a series of 50 weekly posts, as part of my 50 Weeks of Creativity Challenge for 2013. To see every post and creation from the series, click here.

50 Weeks of Creativity: Week 27

This weekend, my brother, my best friend and I drove down to Seaside, Oregon for a day trip. It's a bit of a drive for a single day, especially since we can enjoy beaches and sunshine right here in the Puget Sound. However, it's always fun to drive along the Oregon coast on US Hwy 101, plus once you're down to Seaside you may as well drive down to Tillamook and have some cheese at the best cheese factory in the world.

Along the way, I started taking pictures with my iPhone of things that I felt represented America and Americana. I started posting them on Instagram, always using the same filter and same caption: "This is America." It turned into a mini photo series, capturing my idea of America.

This week for 50 weeks of creativity, I want to share that series. This is America.

In addition to this photo project, I am still quite busy with camp! The kids are absolutely fantastic, and I would like to encourage everyone to check out the creativity happening right here in Beautiful Parkland. We are on Facebook, Twitter, and we have a website.

This post is twenty-seventh in a series of 50 weekly posts, as part of my 50 Weeks of Creativity Challenge for 2013. To see every post and creation from the series, click here.

50 Weeks of Creativity: Catching Up

Hiatus is over, and it is time to catch up...with weeks 15 through 26. Yikes, 11 weeks! Two and a half months' worth of creativity that needs catching up. Rather than recap 11 weeks that I actually can't remember super well at this point, I figured this could be a summary post featuring snippets of what I have been up to.

Most of my creative work recently has been related to my PY // Art from Parkland's Youth project. The show successfully took place at Pacific Lutheran University as planned, and was followed up with a second show at Trinity Lutheran Church. Then the project grew: a fellow PLU alumna and I applied for a Sparks Grant from the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, and we were finalists in the application process. We didn't get the grant, but we also didn't need it: community support has been very wonderful, and as a result we have been able to organize a four-weeks arts camp for local teenagers. The camp has already finished one week, and is now onto its second week this Monday. Oh, I've also graduated with my MA.

Life has been busy, which is why this blog has fallen on the wayside. It's difficult to keep a personal journey blog running when focusing on other aspects of life! But here I am, back to complete this journey before closing the blog down. Thanks for your patience.

I have been updating and organizing my online portfolio, via Behance.

I have been maintaining the website for PY // Art from Parkland's Youth, as well as running the Facebook page and taking pictures of exhibitions and camp!

Of course, I graduated, which I posted all over my Instagram feed (along with other fun stuff).

Finally, I've been baking. I had a craving for cupcakes the other day, so I came up with some delicious orangecicle cupcakes. I'll post the recipe later this week, but for now: a picture of my handiwork.

Once again, sorry for the long hiatus. I'm back, and we'll finish out the remaining 24 weeks of creativity on time. Promise.

Delayed Updates

Okay, okay, my apologies. For the past three weeks, I have kept thinking and reminding myself that I needed to update, but I simply didn't feel like it. I had things to share: I was certainly creating items for the 50 weeks challenge as I worked on my final project for my master's degree. I just did not want to take the time or energy to post. Even this update is simply for the purpose of acknowledging my lack of motivation, and to promise that I will come back to it soon.

I'm off to Savannah this weekend for my graduation. It's been busy recently, as I finished my projects and put on my art exhibition. I'm planning a camp now and applying for jobs. It's difficult to find the motivation to continue updating a mostly-ignored blog. But I gave myself a goal, something to work towards each week. And so, once this brief hiatus is over, I promise to catch up on that goal and come back to regular updates.

After the 50 Weeks challenge has been completed, I believe I will retire this blog. It's time to open a new chapter of life: this blog was started in 2009, in preparation for my first semester in London during my undergrad. It has continued through other adventures, including graduate school across the country and my recent internship once again in London. However, as I graduate this Saturday with my MA, I will begin looking for work. My life will become more routine and less adventurous, and a personal blog will lose what appeal it has currently. So the final adventure on Sarah's Cross is to complete the 50 Weeks of Creativity, and then we will close this chapter.

50 Weeks of Creativity: Week 14

It's been a very busy week, as I have been adjusting to being home (finally), catching up on homework, and finalizing everything for my art exhibition this coming weekend. I don't have much to update on, but I do have a video for the exhibition to share for this week's creativity contribution.

During my junior year of undergrad, I produced my own student television station. My brother helped me put it all together, and so earlier this week we took some old footage, edited it, and created a promotional video for my fundraising portion of my final project.

This post is fourteenth in a series of 50 weekly posts, as part of my 50 Weeks of Creativity Challenge for 2013. To see every post and creation from the series, click here.

50 Weeks of Creativity: Week 13

This week's creativity includes some fun creations! I kicked the week off in DC, where I was extremely busy -- but not too busy to take some photographs of the capital and the blooming cherry blossoms. But most importantly, I also took pictures of my friend Alana and her son Jordan wandering around the Smithsonian, which was fun to do.

When I got home from DC (back to the right Washington), I returned to work on my final project, the PY // Art from Parkland's Youth art show. I designed a flyer for the show, which I will be distributing at the high schools, around campus, and hopefully among local businesses in the coming weeks. I'd like to strongly encourage my readers of this blog to please visit pyartshow.com to learn more about this unique project, and to consider supporting the show as well.

Most of my work in the coming weeks will most likely relate to the art show, as that is one of my final two courses left in my MA degree from SCAD (yay). I'll start branching out into other creative endeavors over the summer.

PY // Art from Parkland's Youth

Washington DC Capital Building

Capital through the cherry blossoms

Photographing toddlers is hard.

Jordan and Alana "finding Nemo".

Sunset in DC

This post is thirteenth in a series of 50 weekly posts, as part of my 50 Weeks of Creativity Challenge for 2013. To see every post and creation from the series, click here.

50 Weeks of Creativity: Weeks 10, 11 and 12

My apologies for the delayed posts! I have been extraordinarily busy. I finished my internship with Fast Web Media, spent Easter weekend in Belgium visiting my good friend Aurelie and helping her move into her new house with her boyfriend Bastien. Then I returned to London where I said my goodbyes, and finally I came home -- where I promptly got sick, and spent three days getting caught up before leaving for Washington, DC for Arts Advocacy Day where I lobbied with Washington State Representatives about the arts. Anyway, I am back now, and will promptly get caught up!

First; on Monday of week 10, I took some great photos from the plane as I flew from Berlin to London. So those photographs are my contributions for week 10. In week 11, I worked on a report for Fast Web Media and I put my findings into an infographic. And last week was week 12, where I spent some time working on branding materials for my PY // Art from Parkland's Youth project.

So here are my creative contributions, and now that I am back in Tacoma I will be back to updating regularly!

Week 10: Sunset from the airplane

The sun setting over the plane wing.

My infographic work can be found at Fast Web Media's blog, FWM Study: Multi-Screening Trends in 2013.

PY // Art from Parkland's Youth design work can be seen throughout the website I put together. Additionally, here is the logo I designed for all future promotional materials.

This post is tenth, eleventh, and twelfth in a series of 50 weekly posts, as part of my 50 Weeks of Creativity Challenge for 2013. To see every post and creation from the series, click here.

50 Weeks of Creativity: Week Nine

As promised, this week's post comes a bit late. I spent the weekend in Leipzig, without my laptop, and so was unable to update about my weekly creative explorations. I am here to go back in time with you, though! This week, I put together an infographic containing a checklist for the SEO process. First I compiled my list, and then started playing with possible design ideas before deciding to go with a lovely circle chart to represent the cyclical nature of SEO. I've since shared my infographic all over the place, and will re-share it here, now. It's gotten some positive response, which has been lovely. It's also up on my Behance portfolio.

SEO Checklist Infographic

In addition to my infographic work this week, I also took some pictures around Leipzig. I didn't bring my DSLR camera with me, so these are from my basic point and shoot, but there's still some fun ones.

Federal Capital Building, Leipzig

Statue of JS Bach outside Thomaskirke.

Thomaskirke

Nikolaikirche

Pink flamingos at the zoo

Gorilla

Finally, in closing, here is a video of the silly armadillo running around like a mad armadillo thing at the Leipzig Zoo on Sunday.

This post is ninth in a series of 50 weekly posts, as part of my 50 Weeks of Creativity Challenge for 2013. To see every post and creation from the series, click here.

50 Weeks of Creativity: Week Eight

The quarter is winding down, which means the weeks have been quite busy. But the good news is that this week is finals week, and I'm off to Leipzig this weekend to celebrate spring break! So expect a delayed 50 Weeks Post for week nine as a result.

This week, I experimented in the kitchen again, and came up with a delicious macaroni and cheese recipe thanks to a cheese find in the grocery store. I already blogged about that, so check out the link for that recipe!

The other creative contribution I have for the week was a trip to Brighton on Sunday. It was extremely cold, but I braved the cold for a bit of time on the pier taking photographs (by the sea, Mister Todd...). I also thought I'd treat myself to a delicious crepe by the sea, but the birds thought otherwise. While I was enjoying the atmosphere, I got bumped from behind. Assuming I had just been bumped into by a stranger who wasn't paying attention, I carried on. But then I realized that the crepe in my hand was gone, and I was only holding an empty cup. And suddenly screeching birds were swarming me, and it was a bit startling.

Then I realized why. My crepe was lying on the dock a few feet in front of me, and seagulls were frantically fighting over it, and I was in the midst of it all. A seagull had intentionally flown into my head and stollen my crepe from my hand. I was attacked by a nasty bird for my food. It looked a lot like this:

I hate birds, for so many reasons. I've since dubbed Sunday as The Great Crepe Caper. Well. All excitement and bird-hating aside, I did take some nice photographs.

The Royal Pavilion from the street

Approaching the pier

Brighton Pier

The last photo I captured before The Great Crepe Caper

Jubilee Arch to the Lanes

Hmmm. Well, let's end the note on a slightly more positive note, shall we? This song was in my head the entire time we were in Brighton (except maybe during the Great Crepe Caper). I sang this song once during my voice lessons in college.

This post is eighth in a series of 50 weekly posts, as part of my 50 Weeks of Creativity Challenge for 2013. To see every post and creation from the series, click here.

Lemon Apricot Pasta With Chicken and Broccoli

I decided to experiment for dinner tonight, and it was insanely delicious. I had plans to make lemon pasta for myself, and I had all the ingredients on hand. I popped over to Waitrose on my home though so I could get some chicken to go with my pasta, and while there inspiration struck. I had already decided to get some broccoli for future macaroni and cheese recipes, and thought that it would go well with my lemon chicken pasta tonight. Then I headed over to the cheese section to see what might be good on top, and discovered Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese with apricot chunks. I love apricot, and I thought that lemon and apricot sounded like a good flavor combination, so I decided to give it a go.

 The end result tonight was a wheat spaghetti with a light lemon cream sauce, capers, broccoli, chicken, and the apricot cheese crumbled on top. It was absolutely fantastic; just the right mix of sweet, tart, and creamy. Plus it was very filling, so I have leftovers for lunch tomorrow! A win all around.

So, here's how I made my fantastic dinner tonight!

Ingredients:
Pasta of choice (I had wheat spaghetti on hand, but I'm always a fan of angel hair when it comes to lemon sauces)
Chicken breast (I had two, so I decided to cook two as I don't have a freezer)
Broccoli
Laughing cow cheese (2 wedges for the sauce)
Wensleydale cheese with apricot (you can substitute here if you need; go with any soft, crumbly, mild cheese and chop apricot -- fresh or dried, your choice)
Lemon juice (1 tablespoon -- more or less to your own tastes)
Olive oil
Salt, pepper, garlic, and rosemary for flavor

First, get a pot of water boiling and cook the pasta normally. I like to boil water with salt and olive oil in it, personally. Meanwhile, wash and chop your broccoli (and enjoy Dana Carvey choppin' broccoli while you're at it). Then add the broccoli to your boiling water to cook it a little bit (I did this, then later added it to my cooked chicken...you can save the broccoli to cook with the chicken if you prefer, stir-fry style. Whatever flavor you want, and however you want the broccoli cooked).

Anyway, I started cooking my chicken at this point. Rinse the chicken breast(s), and cut it up into bit-size squares. Or strips, however you want to eat your chicken with your pasta. I like bite-size chicken because it cooks faster, and it's easier to eat when everything is done. Anyway, I cooked my chicken in olive oil with salt, pepper, garlic, and rosemary for flavor. Cook until the chicken is turning golden-brown and there is no pink.

Drain the pasta as normal, and set aside while you mix your sauce. The sauce is simple; pour a bit of olive oil into the pot (I eyeball, usually enough to cover the bottom of the pot), and put a wedge of Laughing Cow cheese in to melt. Add the lemon juice, and once that's nicely mixed up, put the other wedge of cheese in. Add water as necessary to help the consistency of the sauce. I wanted it to be a little more liquidy than creamy. I didn't put much water in, though. Anyway, stir it all up nicely until you have a smooth sauce. I don't have a whisk, which I'm sure would have simplified the job. A spoon worked well, though. Add the pasta back to the sauce, and stir.

Finally, add the chicken and broccoli to the pasta and mix a bit to get sauce on that. Dish a helping into a bowl or on a plate, and crumble some cheese and apricots on top. I also sprinkled a little more garlic and rosemary on top. That's it! You have an easy, healthy, filling, flavorful dinner! Bon apetit!

50 Weeks of Creativity: Week Seven

Ahhhh week seven. It's been quite the busy week! The Technology for Marketing & Advertising conference/trade show took place in London, and Fast Web Media presented weatherFIT there. I got to hang out, look at the other businesses and their services, and just have a grand old time. I did put together a Vine to promote the weatherFIT booth though, which is never quite a simple task. You have 6 seconds to put together an interesting story. Recording the video isn't particularly easy either, as you have to know exactly what you will film and for how long. But inspiration struck, and I made my 6-second sale.

I had to do some graphic design this week for my promotions class as well. It's nice when you have a graphic design degree and you're not in a design class. Expectations for your work are considerably lower, and people are impressed with what you threw together in a matter of minutes. I mean, uh, spent all week sketching out and meticulously editing. Yeah, that one. Anyway, I created a postcard for my marketing materials.

And lastly, I went on a couple of excursions this weekend and brought the camera along once again. I went back to Camden on Saturday and snapped a few shots (mostly from the bus on the way there, but a couple by the Camden Locks). Then I went out to Hampton Court Palace today, and took plenty of fun photographs all over King Henry VIII's old stomping grounds. And not once was I compelled to sing my favorite Herman's Hermits song ever:

Wait. Can we take a moment to acknowledge how adorkable that guitarist is?! If he were 50 years younger...

Anyway, good ol' Henry VIII. What a guy. He had a nice place though, so I'll give him that. I leave you now with pictures of my weekend wandering about London.

Riding the bus to Camden Town.

The Camden Locks

Hampton Court Palace

Choir boys preparing for chapel.

The Fountain Courtyard

This post is seventh in a series of 50 weekly posts, as part of my 50 Weeks of Creativity Challenge for 2013. To see every post and creation from the series, click here.