perchance to dream

I had to make this video as part of my final for a class that answers the question: "What does it mean to be an English teacher?" This is my answer...



Definitely the best final I've ever taken :)

oops

So today, the last day of my LDS Marriage and Family class, my professor mentioned something about walking through the tunnels after General Conference. Which of course lead me to wonder- why would he be in the tunnels? And why does he keep mentioning all the conversations he's had with General Authorities. I did a little research- apparently he's the second counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency. I had no idea. Wow- talk about being busy.

on stupidity

a conversation overheard on the campus of Brigham Young University near the SWKT:

guy 1: so where are you from?
guy 2: i'm from Colorado.
guy 1: oh. (laughs) I have no idea where that is.
guy 2: it's the rectangle right to the east of utah.
guy 1: oh! i'm from arizona.

true story.

the deed is done

I did it- I finally cut my hair. After months of talking about it, it's finally been done.

Before:

And after! No- I did not donate my hair- it was in awful condition because it had not been cut for a year.
Yes- I do like it. In fact, I love it! It's totally liberating to cut so much off and I love the ease of short hair.

Next step- bangs.

i heart

I love my school- and this is just one of the many reasons:




Happy Harry Potter 7 release day! (ps- It's amazing!)

latest obsession

This song is my newest obsession. I love Carrie Underwood and I LOVE Chronicles of Narnia and cannot wait for the latest movie to come out December 10!

to cut or not to cut?

My hair is long. As in really long. As in- longer than it has ever been in my 22 years of life. And now I am sick of it. I want it gone. I want it out of my way. I want to be able to put my backpack on without having to pull out my hair that gets stuck under the straps. I want to be able to use less shampoo and conditioner. I want to be able to blow dry it faster (or not blow dry it at all!). Basically- I want something easier. It's been a fun road- but I'm ready for this journey to come to an end. So here's what I'm thinking- let me know what you think. Katie Holmes is my muse:

As a side note- I love this dress!

Why she ever made the mistake of marrying Tom Cruise I will never know.

I'm thinking I like options 1 and 4 the best. I've had short hair before, and I think I can pull it off. But the real question is- bangs or no? I've never really had them before- and it's a giant leap of faith. But I suppose hair always does grow back.

wild things

I am completely in love with these Halloween costumes spotted at A Little Sussy. I wish I were this creative- these boys are so adorable!

a quote

i felt like a race horse in a world without racetracks.
-sylvia plath the bell jar

on smiling

This article in The New Yorker about bananas really made me smile and helped brighten my day- so I thought I'd share it. And maybe part of the reason I find it humorous is because I wholeheartedly concur.
ps- I heart The New Yorker- it's full of wonderful things!

on grammar

"As ours becomes a world made not only of words but images, sounds as well as colors, all of which are increasingly integrated into multimedia constructions, we must return to the notion of grammar as a way of thinking. Grammar goes beyond formal rules of correctness. It is a means of representing patterns of experience .... It enables human beings to build a mental picture of reality, to make sense of their experience of what goes on around them and inside them. ... What is expressed in language through the choice between different word classes and semantic structures is, in visual communication, expressed through the choice between, for instance, different uses of color, or different compositional structures" (Kress and van Leeuwen).

une petite soiree

My lovely friend Kristen Brown is getting married in November. Therefore my friend Candace (who was the real mastermind behind it all) and I decided to throw a dinner party bridal shower.
The theme- "The South of France meets Southern Romance".
Menu:
Starters- bread and butter, and a delicious summer salad of spinach, peaches and Gouda (compliments of Taryn!)
Entree- Butternut squash and parsnip soup and petite chicken pot pies
Dessert- Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding (amazing!)

It was so fun to put everything together and I think everyone had a really great time (including me!)

the table

i made caramel apples!
Candace put love quotes on the table.
the gift table- complete with an embroidered sign for Kristen and Will (done by Candace!)
the awesome crown Candace made Kristen
both future brides- Taryn and Kristen
the AMAZING dessert!

Congratulation Kristen! I love you girl!

things i love today

Today is the first day of autumn. I love that word- autumn. It's so beautiful and distinctive. It makes me want to take a drive through the canyons and see the beautiful colors and crunch leaves under my feet as I take in the beauty and wonder that surrounds me. It makes me want to watch You've Got Mail with my mom and my sister and then quote it throughout the week that follows. I love this time of year and I am grateful it is finally upon us.

Now- a list of other things I love:

How to Make Your Day Instantly Better via Marta Writes

The beautiful illustrations in The Imaginary Garden (which I just bought for $4!)

New blog discoveries- here, here, here and here

pretty hair

pretty girl (i love her hair and outfit)


awesome map wall

recapturing beauty

picture via

Stephanie Nielson (aka Nie Nie) is coming to BYU to speak on September 30th at 7:00 in the Wilk. She's kicking off the BYU Women's Services "Recapturing Beauty" campaign. And I am so excited! I saw her in the Bookstore the other day, but didn't have the courage to go and say hello. I'm thrilled to have the chance to hear her speak about finding true beauty and to learn from her experiences. Plus- I think that this campaign is a brilliant idea, and I am happy to be part of a school that has such wonderful events. Anyone care to join me?

a little reminder

So, I found out where I'll be doing my practicum/student teaching- Mt. Nebo Junior High in Payson. I'll be working with 8th graders! And I am thrilled. People think that's weird, but I quite like that age and I think we'll have a lot of fun together.
Sometimes, as I'm taking all my education classes and being bombarded with information on how to be a good and effective teacher I lose sight of the point. And sometimes I have a slight panic attack because I forget the purpose of what I am doing and why it even matters.
But then I remember. And then I feel unstoppable and noble even (is it wrong to say that about myself?) because I know that what I am going to do can make a difference. For a homework assignment I had to read the state core/objectives for Language Arts for 8th grade. And as I read them I was struck by a few that really reiterated to me why I decided to major in English, and why I decided to teach it! These are the ones that hit home the hardest:

3. Demonstrate Understanding of the Nature of Language
a. Understand that language enhances and identifies human beings as meaning makers.
b. Understand that language is the vehicle for constructing knowledge, acquiring skills, and
developing habits of mind.
c. Understand that language captures and records human aspirations and imagination.
d. Understand that language is continuously evolving as a reflection of human evolution.
e. Understand that language acquisition is not a matter of refining skills, but of increasing
confidence, insight, and discernment.
f. Understand that language conveys the depth of human experience, evoking both emotion
and reason.

Amen! That is really about all I can say to that.



I LOVE The Dead Poet's Society and especially when Robin Williams is explaining why studying English is important- "We don't study poetry because it's cute; we study poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion." Ah! I love it. I am so excited to be a teacher. And I am so excited to be able to teach students to have a greater appreciation and understanding of literature and writing and how it can influence their lives for the better.

i'm right, you're wrong

My brother Marshall and I have gotten into an argument on at least two separate occasions regarding books written in first person. He read The Hunger Games and said it took him aback a little because he hadn't read a book written in first person before. I thought that was ridiculous because there are plenty of books written in first person- he disagreed and thought it was rare and during our last argument he challenged me to name one other book written in first person. Of course I know that lots of other books are written in first person- but I couldn't think of any on the spot. So behold- a list of well known (and widely read) books that are written in first person. Just for you Marshall (even though you probably will never read this):

Catcher in the Rye
The Great Gatsby
Grapes of Wrath
Jane Eyre
Twilight (and all the others in the series)
Frankenstein
The Outsiders
Wuthering Heights
As I Lay Dying
Great Expectations
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The Bell Jar
Virginia Woolfe
A Clockwork Orange
To Kill a Mockingbird (this is my favorite book, and yet under pressure I couldn't remember that Scout is the narrator)

ta-da! I've only read about 2/3 of these- so I'm trusting the internet as my source on the rest. But I just wanted to prove it to the world (aka the three people who read my blog) that I was right- there are plenty of books written in first person.

it's a cruel world

I just had to pay $130 to register to take a test (November 13th is the big day- if you're curious). Is that not the sickest thing you have ever heard? Sure- it is what determines if I'm fit to be an educator, and my entire future rides on this test. But $130?! Wow- just wow.

that is all

an introduction

Meet my current crushShe & Him. They're brilliant. Zooey Deschanel is my idol- she is darling. I want to dress just like her. I saw them in concert on Thursday in SLC (for free!) at the Twilight Concert Series. The music was great. The smoking, the beer drinking and the b.o- not so much.

remember when?

dear friend,

remember when we went mini-golfing and I beat you, but you wouldn't admit it to anyone because you hate to lose? remember when we took a trip to san francisco, and we made you our designated driver? remember when alisa drove on the way back and almost killed us all? remember when we went to Stan's and you lied to me about breaking up with your girlfriend, and a week later she dumped you? remember when we went to the haunted house and i hid behind you the entire time because the scary man wouldn't leave me alone? remember when you dated my sister? remember when i bought you a byu shirt for your birthday because i refused to let you sit by me at sporting events without it? remember when we went to a jazz game and the only thing i really cared about was kyle korver and you got really annoyed? remember when we went to your cabin and went canoeing? or when jason got attacked by the humming bird, and then he tried to ride a motorcycle and failed miserably? remember when we decided to pick some names off the angel tree and all the kids wanted were bratz dolls? remember when you tried to convince me to sell you my killers ticket when i'd been waiting for 3 months to go to the concert? remember when you dated one of my best friends? remember when we used to have movie nights every weekend? remember when we played basketball in your pool? remember when neither of us wanted to go to jeff's reception alone so we agreed to go together, but then you ditched me and left me alone to talk to that weird man at our table? remember when we all went to boondocks? remember when jamie and i crashed your apartment last year because we were homeless- and you made us breakfast?

i do. and now you're married. and i think your wife is really nice. but it's kinda weird because you're my first really good guy friend to get married. and i'm kinda sad that we won't be able to hang out anymore. but congratulations- and i really hope you two are very happy.

love,
jenny

letters

dear weather,
today you are perfect. absolutely perfect. i wish you would stay this way- sun shining, a few puffy clouds lingering in the sky and a slight coolness in the air.

dear future roommates,
please be nice. and clean. but i'd take nice over clean. and i'd take normal over both of them.

dear parents of incoming freshman,
please stop calling me and telling me your child's life story- it's irrelevant. just ask me your question and let me give you an answer. a ten minute phone call is unnecessary.

dear summer,
why are you almost over?! i've so enjoyed you- and i've taken advantage of you. if you promise to last a little bit longer i promise it won't happen again.

dear friends,
please stop getting married. it's no fun being single when you don't have friends to play with.

dear roger federer,
i hope you win the us open- i'll be cheering for you. and if possible, could you please play nadal in the final? i think that would be amazing.

dear byu football,
please hurry and make up your mind. are you going independent or staying in the MWC? i don't really care- just please choose.

love,
jenny lynn

boquets of sharpened pencils

I've been procrastinating this post for about a month. I initially wanted to write about back to school with the onset of August. But now it's nearly September and school begins one week from today. My last real semester of college. My last semester of classes. My last real semester on BYU campus. I'm rather sad. Yet at the same time I'm itching to move on and do my student teaching and graduate. But I love BYU. I am so glad that I chose to come to school here!

So here's a little overview of my BYU education/experience to date:
Favorite professors: Matt Holland, Dennis Cutchins, Deborah Dean
Favorite class(es): American Heritage (Holland) and Literature & Film (Cutchins)
Least favorite class: French!
Number of roommates: 32
Number of apartments: 5
Number of jobs: 3- Candy counter, Writing Fellow, American Heritage Secretary

happy friday

After a week of blog stalking/internet surfing- here's a list of things I love.

The above picture makes me want to get married in NYC via this blog

Dying to travel to France and stay here

This scratch map is genius!

Did you know Zupas has a blog? Full of delicious menu ideas!

Love this NYT article about happiness v materialism

These pictures of America circa 1939-1941 are amazing

What You Don't See- brilliant article.

Dying for these two swimsuits

These clutches via Kate Spade are genius (and expensive!)

How to get out of a rut via Marta

pearls are a girls best friend

I've never really been a fan of wedding rings. Well- that's not entirely true. I just think they're a complete waste of money- especially since you're usually poor when you first get married. Why waste needed money on a ring that just sits on your finger? Plus I kinda don't really like diamonds. Weird huh? Therefore I've always just wanted a plain band. Something that shows I'm married but that's cheap. Until- I saw this beauty. Isn't in gorgeous? I love the pearl- it's unique which I love and simple.


The picture is from this engagement session by Matt Clayton. (Love his work!)

on repeat

i swoon

via

Lately I've been thinking about the future- what my life will be like (since it's turned out nothing like I had previously envisioned), where I will live, what I'll be doing, what my house will look like etc.

If I get married and decide to have a reception I want it to be just like this. Fun- relaxed- and light! And I want the bride's dress. Beautiful, elegant and simple.

One thing I have to have in my home- at some point in time- is a library (or book shelves) full of beautiful books of different sizes, languages and colors. And I am simply loving this one. (And pretty much all of these and these)

I am dying to travel here (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants anybody?)

If I have kids I'd want a nursery just like this- I love the Red Balloon movie poster.

And have grown up parties like these (scroll down to the bottom)

And throw my daughter parties like this.

Anything is possible. Right?

a lovely surprise

my friend kirsten works at the lost and found on campus. yesterday i received the most wonderful phone call from her. i all began three months ago ....
i was walking across campus by the JFSB/HBLL quad running some errands for work. i looked down and lo and behold there was a $10 bill on the ground. i stooped down to pick it up and looked around to see if someone nearby may have lost it. no one was around so i made a quick stop at the lost and found office to turn it in and they said to leave my name and number in case no one claimed it. three months later (!) the money totally forgotten i receive a phone call from the lovely kirsten informing me that the money was never claimed and therefore it's mine! how awesome is that? free money?! i'll take it! i've actually already spent all but $1 already- i went to dinner with some friends- $7, got photos developed- $1 (+ some change), bought a bagel- $1. free money? priceless. seriously- it totally made my day. although now that i think about it i kind of feel bad because that means someone out there is out $10 and that's a bummer for them. but i guess i'll count my blessings :)

ew

pictures via

It makes me sad to see good looking people- in nice outfits no less- with a cigarette between their lips. It just ruins everything. It's so bizarre to me that people are still smoking these days. What are they thinking?

on creativity

I am not a particularly creative person. It's just not really in my nature. And because of this I've never had a real desire to push the envelope and see how far my meager skills could take me. And yet, for my class this term (History of Creativity) they are requiring me to do just that- push the envelope. I have project that is worth 30% of my grade (!) due on Wednesday. We have to incorporate some aspect of what we've discussed this term and do so kind of creative project. Are you thinking that sounds vague? Me too. Therefore I have been left to wander aimlessly to try to dig into the depths of my creativity pool and find something to pull out and use. Being an English major- I decided to try my hand at poetry. I thought I would write a few different poems reflecting different styles of poets through time, while incorporating some modernity or some element from another poet. I thought of Wordsworth, Shakespeare and Whitman as my models. I think I kind of got the Wordsworth down- nature, beauty, romantic. Check. And now I am stuck on Shakespeare. Can I just say that man was a genius? Have you ever tried to write a sonnet? Oh my goodness- so hard. I don't even know where to begin! Between the rhyme scheme, iambic pentameter and the amount of syllables per line- I am back to wandering around in a haze of confusion. Whitman should be much easier- free verse and writing through observation about the average American. My next step is to take one picture representing each stanza of the poem I've written. I have this beautiful, romantic image in my head of how everything will all turn out- and I think I need to accept the fact that it will be nothing like what I envision. I'm an amateur photographer, and an even greater amateur (oxymoron?) poet. This is my first true attempt at poetry in my life. So wish me luck as I venture out on a limb and attempt my hand at the first truly creative feat (ie- something totally outside my comfort zone with the purpose of being intellectually and aesthetically pleasing).

birthday boy

This kid turns 17 today. CRAZY! They grow up so fast I tell ya. This boy (man?) is such a rock star. He's going to be Senior Class President this year (which he likes to remind us of occasionally) and he's on the football and track team and in the choir. What a well rounded kid! I didn't used to like hanging out with him- he's 5 years younger than I am and just seemed kind of annoying. But all these years later I've realized he's actually pretty cool. And now I quite enjoy hanging out with him. He's actually quite funny. So Babs- happy birthday kid! I love you!

nerd alert

I am dying to see Howl. It's a movie about Allen Ginsburg. I randomly recently became rather interested in him and now I don't recall why or how. But I think James Franco will do a great job playing Ginsburg and I am very intrigued to learn more about his life and his work. Through the limited research I've done on Ginsburg I don't think he's my kind of guy- but that just kind of intrigues me more. I'm also fascinated by the fact that he was put on trial because his poem "Howl" was deemed to be vulgar and obscene. Thankfully the American justice system came through and he wasn't convicted. Regardless- I think it definitely says something about the stir he caused in America- in pop culture and in literary culture.

ps- You know you're an English nerd when you find yourself drawing comparisons between Allen Ginsburg and Walt Whitman- both in their writings, influence and lifestyle- and think it would be a fun and fascinating paper to research and write.

this is hilarious

British Beatle Mania

My first memory of anything Beatles related is a poster that my cousin Chris (or maybe David?) had hanging in his room. During the summers my family would take vacations to Utah and stay with relatives. One summer we were staying at my Aunt Heather's and in the basement was a black poster with the words "The Beatles" on it (or at least if my memory serves me correctly). My cousin Alexis informed me that they were a band her brother was really into. Flash forward to my Freshman year in college. I am fortunate enough to room with Candace Mercer- a Beatles aficionado. She got me hooked. I had a negative opinion after hearing "Piggies" but she showed me the light and thus began my love affair with George, Paul, John and Ringo. I heard that Paul McCartney was coming to Utah and I knew that there was no way I could pass up this opportunity. I immediately called Candace and told her the news (of course she already knew) and told her we had to go. Her and her hubby Dan just celebrated their one year wedding anniversary and were going to celebrate but were kind enough to let me third-wheel it with them. Thanks guys! And for Candace's reminiscence of the evening go here. I've been counting down for a while now, and Tuesday the day had finally arrived and I, Jennifer Lynn Dunn saw Sir Paul McCartney live in concert at the Rio Tinto stadium in Sandy. Honestly, Candace's post sums things up pretty well- I love her highlight list and fully concur. But... I do have a few things to say.
-It was amazing! I saw 1/4 of the Beatles! Paul was there- in person. I saw him! And it wasn't on a movie, television or computer screen. It was with my own eyes. How awesome is that? I feel like I can't really describe my emotions besides pure excitement. I just loved it. It feels kind of like a dream now that I look back on it, like I can't believe it was real. It's weird. But I'm quite looking forward to telling my children about this. Hopefully they'll think I'm cool and not just old (because let's face it- by the time I have kids it's doubtful Paul and Ringo will still be around).
-My personal highlights: Blackbird- Paul on stage alone with an acoustic guitar and a spotlight. Beautiful. Live and Let Die- fireworks went off! It was insane. The crowd was so loud. Give Peace a Chance- everyone was on their feet repeating the phrase "All we are saying is, is give peace a chance." It was crazy to see so many people swaying back and forth repeating this powerful phrase. Hey Jude- one of my all time favorite Beatles songs. The whole crowd was singing along and it was epic.
If you want to know more, just ask. I have a huge journal entry I wrote the day after and I don't quite feel like typing it all again. But just know it was one of the greatest experiences ever and I am so glad I went and I'm happy I'll have this to look back on for the rest of my life.

one year older...

Little Johnny boy turns 2 today! I can't believe how fast they grow up. I fully remember getting the phone call from my dad while I was at work that they were on the way to the hospital for the little guy to be born, and then arguing over names with my brothers. And now he's 2! And he's walking and talking (kind of) and he's a little person. It's crazy I tell you! But he is such a cutie (unless he's throwing himself on the floor in the midst of a tantrum- which is one of the reasons I'm happy I can come and go as I please). He can point out every member of our family when asked their name, his favorite words are no, juice, dad and mom (the last of which is always yelled. it's a great source of amusement). Happy birthday little guy, I sure love you.

it's on its way

I applied for a passport yesterday. It should arrive August 19. I'm excited to finally have one in my possession after all these years. I have no travel plans as of yet, but it's always good to be prepared. I technically got this for Christmas- it's just taken me 7 months to actually apply for it. Thanks mom!

thoughts on a sunny saturday afternoon

A. My BFF Jamie got her mission call! She's going to Jackson, Mississippi and she goes into the MTC September 15. I'm so excited for her. She's going to be a stellar missionary.


B. I am in love with Salt Lake City. On Friday evening I went up to Salt Lake for a friend's wedding reception that was located up in the Avenues. I'd never been up there before and it was gorgeous. It had a beautiful view of the Salt Lake Valley and the houses were so cute! I could totally picture myself living there and taking evening walks. Maybe one day . . . But if definitely reaffirmed my desire to live in a city.

C. I am quite sad that the US is no longer in the World Cup. But I have loved watching them play, and am now in love with Landon Donovan. I don't really like watching soccer all that much, (what kind of sport can end in a tie?!) but every 4 years I think I can get into and cheer Team USA on.

D. I've read some really interesting articles in the NYT lately and I wanted to share.
This one is about the French soccer team and their debacle.
This one is about the dismissal of General McChrystal and I thought it was a very interesting perspective and I quite liked it.
If you have some spare time you should read them.

E. I get to go see Paul in t-minus 23 days. It's going to be epic.

F. I got an A in my senior English course (495) and an A on my senior English paper. I'm quite thrilled to be honest. My paper was a comparison of Walt Whitman and Mark Twain and I specifically argued that both were feminists for their time, and I specifically looked at Whitman's "Song of Myself" and Twains The Diaries of Adam and Eve. It was a fun paper to write and research and I worked harder on that paper than any paper to date so it's nice to see my hard work pay off.

G. I'm currently reading Founding Brothers and struggling to get into it. I think it's because of the lack of a plot. I'm thinking about simultaneously reading The Hiding Place because my mother recently read it and loved it and is now making my (soon to be) 17 year old brother Parker read it.

H. Wimbledon is currently happening in London and I'm wishing I was there to watch it. Roger Federer is one of the classiest athletes and I think Murray and Roddick are cuties. It's amazing to watch the world's best tennis players- they serve the ball over 100 mph! That's insane to wrap my mind around, especially considering how awful I am at tennis. I live vicariously through others via watching sports instead of playing.

that is all for today folks!

maybe?

are these cute? or are they just tacky? i'm looking for cute, comfortable shoes for when I have to start my practicum and student teaching, and i think i kinda like these. i found them here

just call me marilyn

Lesson learned. A skirt+ a windy day= bad choice.

I have vowed to listen to the weather man- when he says it's going to be windy I should believe him. It was no fun to walk around campus all day holding my skirt down.

one year older, and wiser too

Marshall is officially 20 years old! CRAZY! The family (minus John and Angela) went to dinner at Red Robin and then to Comedy Sportz.

Joseph insisted on wearing sunglasses all night- I have no idea why.Then we went to comedy sportz! It was so funny. Joseph wouldn't make a normal face

So we took 3 pictures- hence my fake smile.

Happy birthday Bud! It was fun to spend time with the family- it was just a bummer Angela couldn't be there.

a thousand words

I thought I'd let the pictures do the talking...

We hit up Bruges in Salt Lake on Thursday for some frites and waffles

I got mine with strawberries and cream- so delicious!

Then on the way back we stopped at IKEA!

The beds look really comfy- so I got a running start...

Friday I took work off and Candace, Kristen, Jamie and I went to Gourmandise Bakery and then hit up the Gateway for some serious shopping. It was such a fun afternoon- I love these girls!

Showing off my delicious croissant pudding. We all got our desserts to go but decided we couldn't wait and ate them in the car in the parking lot!

Jamie's pastry was a masterpiece- it was called a peach and was filled with cream and peach syrup. Delicious!

On Memorial Day I went home and spent the afternoon with my family at the park playing tennis, then we went home and had a BBQ and watched The Incredibles.

Joseph is such a hoot. I just loved that kid. And Marshall and Babs are pretty cool too.

It was a completely wonderful long weekend. Filled with lots of good food, fun, friends and family. Just what a girl needs to be happy. A few other unpictured highlights- Saturday Jamie and I went and got frozen yogurt and went to the local elementary school and went swinging and read our books on the grass- perfection. Sunday was my cousin Issac's farewell so we all went up to Kaysville. It was really fun to see my Hess relatives. Issac is going to Melbourne, Australia Mandarin Chinese speaking! Monday I got my trash kicked in tennis- I think the only person I'm capable of beating is Joseph. Angela- we missed you girl. Over and out.