jessspeaks

[jessspeaks]

While visiting friends in Wylie, Texas, I couldn't contain my excitement as I embarked on my first-ever Whataburger experience. We had just spent a day at the shooting range and were beyond ready for a late lunch.

As we received the white and orange paper bags through the drive-through window, the delicious scent of sizzling burgers filled the air. I refused to wait until we got back home. The first bite was nothing short of amazing. The juicy patty, fresh ingredients, and the special sauce came together melting in my mouth.

My friends exchanged knowing glances, their smiles affirming my newfound obsession. At that moment, I felt the pride and joy of savoring a beloved Texan tradition. Whataburger had lived up to its reputation and then some, leaving me amazed and utterly satisfied. The taste of Texas had won me over, and I couldn't believe I came home to a delivery of the 3 pack of Whataburger spicy ketchup bottles from my Texan friends.

#wylie tx #whataburger #spicy ketchup #texas #vic3400 #guns #shooting #tw gun #tw shooting

[jessspeaks]

I was counting down the days to go back to New York City with my best friend. Tonight, we were meeting up with my long-time friend for dinner. We chose Mr. Broadway, a charming kosher restaurant, as our rendezvous point. Her familiar smile and warm embrace felt like a treasure amidst the bustling city. It took the waiter several tries before we were ready to order with the catch-up, we prioritized. I ended up ordering the breaded chicken po boy, a favorite comfort food of mine.

With each bite of the perfectly crispy chicken and the blend of flavors in the po boy, the conversation flowed effortlessly. We shared stories, laughed, and reminisced about the moments that had brought us to this point.

New York City provided the perfect backdrop. In that restaurant, amidst the bustling city, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the enduring connection I had with both of my dear friends. Our shared moments over a delicious meal were a reminder of the beautiful bonds that time and distance couldn't diminish. Follow the link to learn more about Mr. Broadway’s eclectic kosher cuisine!

#food and travel #vic3400 #nyc #mr broadway #kosher delights #midtown

[jessspeaks]

It was the day after the festival was canceled. In the heart of Las Vegas, I found myself at Soul Belly restaurant, savoring the rich, soulful flavors of a delectable breakfast. Little did I know that this evening would become unforgettable.

As I relished every bite of artfully flavored pulled pork, I received a text message from the friend I was staying with. It turns out she was working the event, not needing her own ticket. She revealed quite the shocker: an extra ticket to the When We Were Young festival, the music event of a lifetime!

Within moments, I asked for my check and was on my way to the festival grounds, anticipation mounting with each step. The thought of witnessing my favorite bands and reliving cherished memories filled me with uncontainable excitement.

Las Vegas had just become the backdrop for an unexpected adventure, an afternoon of music, camaraderie, and pure exhilaration. It's amazing how a simple meal at Soul Belly had turned into an unanticipated journey that would create memories to last a lifetime. I was ready to let the music take me back to the days when we were young.

#food and travel #vic3400 #las vegas #soul belly #when we were young fest #BBQ for breakfast

[jessspeaks]

Last fourth of July, my mom and I decided to spend in Orlando, Fl. We dined at Terralina Crafted Italian in the heart of Disney Springs to celebrate. The catch of the day arrives, a perfectly grilled Mahi and plump shrimp. With each bite, the Mahi's smoky grill marks release its delicate flakiness, complemented by the shrimp's briny sweetness.

Beneath the seafood sits a crispy fried risotto cake, its golden exterior offering a delightful crunch, revealing creamy, comforting risotto within. The sun-dried tomato ver blanc sauce, rich and velvety, adds a tangy, creamy complexity to every bite, I'm in heaven.

To elevate this culinary experience, a glass of Chardonnay, perfectly chilled, complements the flavors with notes of apple and vanilla, creating a harmonious pairing.

In this moment, I'm sent to a world where every bite is a celebration of taste and texture, a journey for the senses.

#food and travel #vic3400 #disney springs #terralina crafted italian #catch of the day #grilled mahi and shrimp #fried risotto cake #sun-dried tomato ver blanc

[jessspeaks]

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the breathtaking Biltmore Estate, I couldn't help but feel a profound sense of awe as the day had been a journey through an opulent history. Strolling through the manicured gardens, I marveled at the timeless beauty of the estate's architecture and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. But the day's most poignant moment came as I stood outside the charming Biltmore Dairy Bar. The nostalgia of this iconic spot, nestled on the estate, transported me to a simpler time, you can learn more about its rich and creamy history in the link provided. I ordered a scoop of their decadent ice cream, savoring each lap. It was a taste of both history and pure indulgence. The combination of that memorable ice cream and the splendor of the Biltmore Estate's beauty filled me with a renewed sense of inspiration. The world is full of history, creativity, and the sweetness of simple pleasures. It reminded me that every day, no matter how grand or modest, can be a source of inspiration, a reminder to savor life's delicious moments.

#food and travel #the Biltmore estate #biltmore dairy bar #vic3400 #blue ridge mountains #asheville

[jessspeaks]

When most people wake up in the morning, before they even reach over to check their phone, the first thing they do is stretch their arms and legs until they feel their stiff limbs wake up too. For Broward College alumni Liana McCrea, waking up to her chronic illness is like something out of a horror movie.

“Every day it feels like a cattle prod in my shoulder and razor blades in my back, which affect my movement and basic self-agency. Brain fog and ADD affect my concentration and cognitive ability,” explains McCrea, who first experienced paralysis on April 10, 2019.

#crps #crpsawareness #FND #cybersecurity #Gullah Geechee Nation #disabled doesn't mean unable #black is beautiful #lets talk about it #the observer #student journalism #broward college #accessibility #college life

[jessspeaks]

For the last two years fashion shows have been almost exclusively virtual events. In the fashion and entertainment industry the show must always go on. Designers, models, and other members of the industry have made many sacrifices and have had to adapt to strict COVID-19 policies to keep the beast of fashion fed.

This year, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Department of Health issued strict guidelines welcoming back New York Fashion Week (NYFW) for the Spring and Summer season for 2022, also referred to as SS22. According to governer.ny.gov all vendors must keep guest counts at or below 50 people and operate at 50 percent of the maximum capacity approved for the venue; social distancing must be observed by all participants, as well as temperature checks before entry. Anyone involved in NYFW must also keep to travel advisories, as well as regular diagnostic testing and screening showing negative COVID-19 results. Finally, face coverings must be worn at all times during events.

#nyfwss22 #stada #house of aama #chelsea grays #collina strada #tom ford #ss2022 #the observer #fashion trends #COVID 19 #new york fashion week #broward college #jounarlism #college life

[jessspeaks]

For five years Canadian metalcore band has been slowly releasing enchanting and haunting singles carving the path to their debut album Eternal Blue. Due to COVID-19, this album took nearly two years to produce, with the recording being put on hold more often than not. Spiritbox frontwoman Courtney Laplante worked closely with her husband and guitarist Mike Singer to find creative instrumentals that pair with the ethereal lyrics throughout the album. The songs were all written with the premise of flowing from one side of a vinyl to the other.

#spiritbox #metalcore #courtney laplante #mike singer #eternal blue #holy roller #hurt you #the observer #student journalism #music #constance #broward college

[jessspeaks]

In this fast-paced society, we are expected to sleep 8 hours a day. Work, or go to class for another 8 hours, and add in time to commute to and from work and/or school.  We are supposed to walk 10,000 steps every day, meditate, buy fresh food, and cook it in a timely manner so it doesn’t waste. We must make time to shower and tidy up our living space, and still somehow find time to have some sort of social life, and this was all before a global pandemic.

Since spring of 2020 we have had to reevaluate our priorities as so many of us have lost our jobs, and other means of access to necessities like staying fed, let alone well fed.  At this time, Broward College issued a Student Climate Survey where 28 percent of the limited number of students able to take the survey reported that they were affected by food insecurity.  

#seahawk marketplace #broward college #the observer #student journalism #journalism #food scarcity #covid 19 #food drive #broward county #florence welch

[jessspeaks]

At Broward College (BC) as a part of the efforts made to monitor and put the lid on COVID-19 positive cases, research was conducted showing many states and higher education institutions have created vaccine incentive programs.

According to Tashika President, District Director of Emergency Management, “the on-site COVID testing, and vaccine site will run through Oct. 20, and students will have until Oct. 23 to submit their vaccine information to qualify for the vaccine incentive.”

President said so far 560 students have been approved for the $250 vaccine incentive.

The idea of an incentive program aims to “increase education about the vaccination benefits and encourage vaccination, and so the Vaccine Incentive Program (VIP) was conceived.

#covid 19 #vaccine incentive program #mask up #get vaccinated #student journalism #college life #the observer #broward college #florida #public health #fall semester

[jessspeaks]

Recall the days of building a pillow or blanket fort. Placing a couple dining room chairs perfectly apart making a good foundation for the blanket or bed sheet roof and playing board games with friends or family for hours. Now imagine doing this on a much larger scale and having family dinner together in this fortress, this is the premise of the 7-day Jewish holiday Sukkot, but of course it’s not that simple. Sukkot is the plural of the Hebrew term Sukkah, which is a kind of temporary booth built for the holiday that celebrates fall harvest and the mending of relationships. 

One of my favorite types of foods have always been soups, and this Autumn Minestrone is a great meal to enjoy under the Sukkah or in any non-Jewish setting. It’s a robust soup that takes about an hour to prepare, half hour to prep, and half hour to cook, maybe less depending on your knife skills.

#sukkah #jewish food #food #minestrone #vegetarian #autumn recipes #recipes #soup #student journalism #journalism #the observer #broward college #comfort food #sukkot #vegan

[jessspeaks]

In the highly competitive world of fashion internships, the experience you can gain from working for a fashion company is instrumental in your developing portfolio. I applied for several positions on LinkedIn completely shooting in the dark. I never thought in a million years I would hear back from one of the first interning programs I applied for with the start-up company MNTN Co.

#internships #remote internship #student life #broward college #mntn co #sustainable fashion #the observer #COVID19 #student journalism

[jessspeaks]

In this article I breakdown how Broward College is handling inviting students back to campuses this fall semester.  The Director of Student Life gives me valuable insight as to how the department plans to continue holding events to engage with students both on campus and remotely.

#student writer #college life #the observe #broward college #student life #COVID 19 #covid 19 effects on college #back on campus #welcome back #broward county #CDC guidelines #mask up #journalism

[jessspeaks]

Arriving at the end of summer, 2021, is it too soon for music events? In this article I cover how the music industry has been coping with a global pandemic and sit down with music South Florida music producer DJ Juno and learn a bit more about movements on social media platforms like YouTube where music producers have been able to share their music to honor the music industry’s touring season.

#student writer #college life #journalism #tchami #destructo #mija #elysian events #dj juno #the observer #music during the pandemic #ultra music festival #my chemical romance

[jessspeaks]

In this short film directed by Javier Fassier I speak on themes of gratitude, immigration, and the quality of this film’s cinematography.

#student writer #student newspaper #the observer #journalism #17 anos juntos #javier fesser #Películas Pendelton #Claro García #Fugaz Award #film review #broward college

[jessspeaks]

Slow Fashion

#my work #my writing #student writer #portfolio #the observer #student newspaper #fast fashion #slow fashion #sustainable fashion #miiriya #poshmark #forever21 #fashion nova #zara #madewell #urban outfitters

[jessspeaks]

College Speech Event

#mt work #my writing #student writer #portfolio #impromptu speech #jessspeaks #the Observer #student newspaper