On our last day in Miami my mom convinced us to accompany her to the Miami Metro Zoo, because none of us had been to the zoo in a pretty long time. You all know what I was most excited about right? It's been on my Day Zero List since day one and involves my favorite animal of all time. We were going to FEED GIRAFFES !!! You can pretty much get me to do anything if you promise giraffe time.

All three of us realized pretty early on that while we think animals are really cool, zoos make us a little sad. So many animals are caged and look bored or annoyed with all of the attention. Plus, huge groups of screaming kids isn't really our thing. But we tried to enjoy it for what it was.

This monkey was anything but bored. He found a frog to play with and proceeded to flip it and throw it all over the place. He'd then climb up into a tree just so that he could swoop down and grab the frog and drop it again. It was the strangest thing!

And obviously, the highlight of my day was the giraffe feeding! We payed a few dollars for bowls full of cabbage and these beautiful tall creatures came right over to us to eat.

After getting caught in a downpour and seeking refuge in the gift shop I found what might be this year's halloween costume!

It looks believable doesn't it? I think I captured the hunger, but none of the grace. :)

We also fond an animal that resembles Wayne... the Wild Ass!

And he found a friend in the giftshop as well. :)

While the zoo is certainly not a place that we will frequent, the day was fun. We ended up walking miles and miles, spending quality time with my mama, dancing in the rain, and making some new animal friends.

♥ Jessa

Right now Wayne and I are on vacation. Sweet, glorious, well earned vacation. This vacation will last for 3 full weeks and we're just about right smack dab in the middle of it. One full week in Miami with my family and friends, one week in Colorado with Wayne's family, one weekend in Portland, then one full week in Forrest Grove before I officially begin work.

As this summer progresses I have a few goals, which I'll eventually outline here so that someone can hold me accountable. One of those goals is to update Riotous Living every single Tuesday, at the very least. No matter how many other posts we've written, or what is going on, I will make time to post here every Tuesday. This won't be much of a memory for me if I'm not updating regularly, will it? What that means is that you can know exactly when to check on us for new information and pictures. :)

During our week in Miami we did a whole bunch of fun things. My wonderful friend Sabrina treated me to a spa day at a super swanky hotel/spa called The Standard , we ate at some of our favorite restaurants: Dogma Grill Soyka, and Scalina , went to the zoo, and had a glorious kickback to my high school years with a good old fashioned craft night.

My amazing friend/tattoo artist/soulmate Kristyn brought some Tijuana Flats ceiling tiles that her students in Art Club had almost finished but not quite. We added the finishing touches and painted some.

That's her. I also brought a craft I've been meaning to try that has been pinned to my pinterest for forever. Melty crayon art!!!

I'm definitely going to try this again for my own house (Krystall got to keep these as her hostess gift) and will post some more photos and detailed instructions when I do, but it's pretty simple. Basically you hot glue the crayons that you want to the top of a canvas and blow dry them until they get hot and melty. I also added a little lady holding an umbrella and made sure the crayon dripped around the umbrella like rain.

Thanks to my wonderful and amazing friends who I don't see nearly often enough we had a hugely successful and incredibly fun night, where the boys played video games and talked a bunch of crap and the girls crafted and talked a bunch of crap. :) Even though South Florida has never been a place I saw myself calling a forever home, you make it so easy to fall back into our relationships and to feel comfortable. I love you!

♥ Jessa

P.S. The next post will have pictures of me FEEDING A GIRAFFE!!!!! ZOMG!! (I'm really excited, can you tell?)

The academic year has officially ended. My schoolwork is done, my students have left the building, and I just have a few projects to wrap up and some training to do before I myself leave town. So I guess now is the time for what Student Affairs people do best... Reflection.

Yesterday the student organization that I advise, the Soul Sisters, had their end of the year event at Ginnie Springs. This amazing group of men and women make me so proud on a daily basis to be a part of this organization. Just by being around each other they become better, by recognizing and modeling each other's good traits and by challenging each other. They think I'm the only one that challenges them but it's not true.

This past year at Santa Fe College has taught me so many things. I've had to make decisions about my own professional boundaries. I've had to learn about things I've never even heard of. And I've been humbled, often times by the Soul Sisters, as they share their stories and hearts with me. They are so gracious and grateful, teaching me to say thank you more often than I say you're welcome.

I'm eternally grateful that my predecessor, Samantha, passed down this organization to me. I have learned so many lessons while advising this club, lessons I wouldn't have learned otherwise. And more than anything, had so much FUN with this club... laughing, crying, discussing both important and silly things, tossing water bottles, balloon races, golf cart rides, volleyball games. We have all given each other something really great; time, energy, love, and SOUL. (And an Advisor of the Year nod- thanks for that! :))

I can't wait to see what next year brings as an advisor and friend.

End cheesiness.

♥ Jessa

While I am incredibly excited to move to Oregon for the summer and embark on this great new adventure, I am also incredibly sad to be leaving behind this beautiful house full of beautiful people that I love. Here are some pictures from our recent family Easter. We ate delicious foods and drank mimosas and napped and my beautiful lady roommates modeled some things for my etsy shop.

The gorgeous vintages clothes Elaine and Rachel are modeling are available at the Riotous Living Etsy shop if you're interested.

♥ Jessa