Very few interesting things happen in Arkansas, but when you see a sign saying "Jewish Festival Next Sunday" you just go, no questions asked. Because what else do you have to do on a Sunday afternoon?

My love of Falafel started when the wonderful Lauren took our HIP group to the Marais to experience falafel alley. We sampled two different falafel stands and, personally, I liked the roasted eggplant from one but the actual falafel from the other. 

So it was decided. Sam, Clay and I quickly left church and drove to Little Rock to enjoy the likes of falafel, hummus, matzo ball soup, latkes and apple streudal. 

Besides an array of food, there was also every kind of yamaka and menorah you could imagine. And a Jewish entertainer who sang "Moses don't go smashing your idols." True story.

What made me giggle the most was the abundance of not-so-kosher Arkansas Razorback artwork. I guess even Jews enjoy a little "woo pig souie" every now and then.

{Below: People partaking in kosher food sitting beneath a pig statue. The irony is not lost on me.}

                

Moral of this story: If you ever find yourself in LR in May, check to see if the Jewish festival is taking place and make a beeline to River Market. It's definitely not something to miss out on. And if you want to find the other touristy things to do in LR, the Heifer building and the Clinton Presidential Library are only a few blocks away. And the best fried catfish tacos are across the street at The Flying Pig. You know, just in case you ever find yourself as a tourist in LR. You're welcome.

After spending six months trying to work my way through a comprehensive narrative of Paris' history, I decided that I needed to lighten up the reading material and take a pick off of Lauren Conrad's summer beach reads list. In all fairness to her list, Mindy Kaling's book and "The Paris Wife" were on there so I thought that all of the books were safe bets. I wasn't looking for a literary masterpiece, just something to keep me entertained while I try and ween myself off of binge tv watching. 

Even after reading mostly negative reviews of "Girls in White Dresses" on Amazon, I decided to download it anyways because I had heard people talking about it a lot. Let me save you the $9.99 and beg you not to buy it.

The plot centers around a group of college friends who are trying to cope with their love lives while watching all of their other friends get married and have kids. And after 5 people I know got married the other week, I thought, "Maybe I can relate to this." 

No. I vow never to be as whiny or as dependent on alcohol as these girls. I would say 80% of the book took place at one bar or another, even as several of them became new moms. {Which reminds me of the line from "Sweet Home Alabama" when Reese is all like "You brought a baby...to a bar." Hilarious.}

And then there was the schizophrenic writing style. I'm still not sure exactly who all of the main characters were because Jennifer Close kept jumping from one story line to another like the characters jumped from one desperate relationship to another. 

Anyways, you may be wondering why I took the time to make it to the end. Maybe it is some sort of innate need for closure, or maybe I was just desperate for some event to really bring all of the girls back together and unite all of their stories. But sadly, no. 

The positives about this book: you can read it in about two days. And if you need motivation to stay on the elliptical, but know everyone around will hate you for turning Bravo on, then this is the perfect gym read. It takes about zero concentration.

So the first Summer reading attempt was a bust. Up next on my list is "Z: A novel about Zelda Fitzgerald." I have high hopes for this one. If you are on the lookout for another book, you should definitely read "Tigers in Red Weather" by Liza Kaussmann. It was recommended on Elle. Actually, I'll put together my own summer reading list for you. But only of books that I've read and think are worthy of your time spent away from summer reruns. 

And apparently you can check out e-books from the Valdosta library now? This town and went all high tech while I've been gone. If this is true, I'm going to be one happy camper.

                  

the Scared is scared from Bianca Giaever on Vimeo.

Bianca asked a child what she should make her movie about, and this is what he had to say. It's the adventure of a Toby mouse and an Asa bear and will make you heart melt.

Children really do tell the best stories and sometimes I think that we just need to fire all of the writers in Hollywood and turn that field over to a Kindergarten class. Plots would never be short of twists and turns and laughs. You would never have to worry about guessing the ending five minutes into the movie {unless you Wikipedia movies like Samantha.}

Moral of this story: You don't want to go when something is closing because then you will have to wait to go back there.

Favorite quote: "The Scared is scared of things you like. So I was scared of monsters, but then I just through of pizza...and juice...and meringues...and a cookie shaped like a piano, no shaped like a keyboard."

So what will you think about when you get scared? I'll think of lattes, the smell of new book pages and swinging.

P.S. you should watch all of the credits :) PRECIOUS. Thanks to Mackenzie for introducing me to this video!

-Jess

After three years of dorm life, packing up your belongings and moving home every few months has become exhausting. By the time you have "nested" your dorm room or apartment, it is time to pack up, drive home, unpack, only to repeat the cycle again in August.

I cannot wait for graduation so I can move into a more permanent space and make it my own. I want to be able to hang more than 10 items on my walls {although I will still probably use thumb tacks to hang frames because they work wonders as opposed to nails.}

Here are three trends that I am obsessing over: 

1. Colored exterior doors: 

1/2/3/4/5/6

While I will probably not get to change this until I have a house, I love the thought of having a front door in a bold hue instead of the staple black. I want to give people directions to my home and say "It's the one on the corner with the sea-foam door."

2. Herringbone floors

1/2/3/4

Herringbone wood floors add so much character to a space. They automatically make a room feel cozier. There is something innately classy about wood floors in a chevron pattern. In theory, I would love to rent an older apartment or warehouse conversion with original features, but when it comes to the kitchen and bathroom...we'll see. Modern conveniences might win out against charm and character.

3. White walls 

1/2/3/4/5

My first {and second, and possibly third} apartment will more than likely come with the standard white walls that cannot be painted, unless I want to make the effort to return them to their original eggshell color when I move out. When decorated right, white walls can be the perfect blank canvas and provide the right amount of modern minimalism.

What interior trends are you wanting to try out? 

I received several china tea cups and saucers

from a family friend for Christmas.

And while I have every intention of hosting

tea parties very soon, 

I thought that they were too beautiful to keep under wraps. 

So what better way to showcase them than on my vanity

along with my jewelry?

Sadly I did not have to rifle through an estate sale 

for mine, but who knows, maybe I will

want to expand my collection this summer. 

Hope you enjoy your Memorial day weekend!

I have a feeling that BBQ will be involved 

in mine at some point.

-Jess

One thing you should know and accept about me 

is that I love "reality" television. 

Nine times out of 10 my tv is turned to Bravo.

During school, I would catch up on reruns of Laguna Beach 

and The Hills while drinking my coffee before chapel.

I don't know what draws me to semi-real shows like those

or the Housewives. And don't even get me started on my 

love of The Rachel Zoe Project. {I DIE.}

Perhaps it is all of the cool shots of LA or New York? 

Maybe it's all of the brunches? {which is my favorite meal}

Or maybe it's the thrill of trying to decipher when the producers intervened 

or when moments are just pure reality gold. 

If you thought The Hills was scripted 

{which it was. case in point: Stacy the Bartender. helloooo}

then wait until you watch Made in Chelsea, the London equivalent. 

What I love most about MIC is when two cast members 

happen to "casually" bump into each other 

while walking their dogs or window shopping. 

Really? I know Chelsea is a fairly small neighborhood, but come on.

Although I know all of the situations are in limbo between true and fake, 

I would like to think that the cast are all somewhat friends in real life 

and that there are no "Stacy the Bartender" characters 

who keep popping up in random story lines.  

{The fact that I refer to characters and story lines should concern me}

No matter, I cannot wait for Tuesdays when MIC is streamed online.

And if, like me, reality television holds a special place in your heart, 

if you have fond memories growing up watching LC, Lo, Kristen, Audrina, and Spiedy

then perhaps you might want to take the summer to immerse yourself in the lives

of similar people across the pond.

Here are two videos to pique your interest even more: 

#1 {Promo Video #IMREADY} Hilarious parody of the show but spot on.

#2 {L'Americano - music video featuring several of the boys and filmed at a party on MIC.}

Hope you are enjoying your Thursday! And maybe I've talked you into adding yet another show to your queue this summer :)

-Jess

I know Stamp in My Passport took a little hiatus, 

but I've decided to bring it out of hibernation.

Not a lot has happened since February. 

Just classes, papers, Little Rock every weekend. 

You know, the usual. 

Oh, there was a week-long trip to NYC. 

And a Jewish festival at River Market.

But more about that later. 

Summer break is in full swing now.

I got home last Saturday and started my internship

two days later. Which means that my clothes did not get unpacked

until just a few days ago. 

What can I say, sometimes I enjoy living out of a suitcase.

Recap of my summer at home so far: 

1. Saw Gatsby (twice) and the soundtrack has been on repeat

2. Dad painted my room for me :) I also retired my blue feather lamp

3. I became a working girl

4. My Warby Parker home-trial arrived

Detour while driving home

  

75 1/2 Bedford St.

 d

Lamp via Target (along with everything else in my life)

Haley's graduation reception

Typical morning on my day off

And now you are officially caught up on my life.

There are also a few weekend getaways planned for this summer:

St. Simons Island

Atlanta (to see the Braves play the Cardinals)

Columbus

Talahassee

-Jess