here comes the rain (again)

I have many more happy things to blog about but as dreary as these photos look, the rain was a very good and welcomed happening.  Drink up GR!  It's been so hot and we definitely needed some showers.  The clouds didn't last very long but it was so cool watching the storm roll through, I had to take some photos!

Dear Eurythmics & Beatles,

Thanks for making quotable jams.

Sincerely,

Jen

7/11

Did you go get a free slurpee from 7-Eleven last Wednesday?  I did not.  I wanted one, but July 11th is my half birthday, so I got ice cream with my roommates instead.  :]

These were taken that day.  Moo's face made me laugh.  I wonder what he was looking at? haha

insert twilight zone music

The week I realize I must always have AC.

So I don't even know where to begin because it seems so long since my last post.  All that comes to my mind when I try to recap the past couple weeks is heat.  HOT HOT HOT.  That's the only thing that seems to have made any impact on my brain as of late.  I know that's not completely true but it's been pretty traumatic here in western Michigan...  I don't believe I've actually gotten angry because of hot temperature before.  I think the highest it got was around 103??  It was the first week in July!!  It's pretty wimpy and pathetic, I'm sure, compared to other southern states/countries.  But not having air conditioning and trying to get a decent night sleep in my 95 degree bedroom, is pretty much mission impossible.  Plus watching the kitties pant was heartbreaking.

I literally couldn't take things anymore, so I finally went home to TC for the weekend.  For some reason, it seems like forever since I've been there.  And it felt soooooo good.  My parents' house looks spotless now that my sister and I don't live there anymore.  haha  My punchy colored bedroom and bathroom look like a room from a very modern, bright hotel.  Everything painted over in white or light silvery gray.  Goodbye lime, pink, and orange.  The AC was blasting to the point I could actually sleep under blankets at night.  My parents took me to lots of my favorite places.  And it was so nice to hug a fuzzy Benzi boy.  :)

opted out of the dune climb this time

rode the new bike trail instead // lots of squirrels

happy birthday america

bike break at glen haven

glen haven

fave noms

cherry fest car show // obviously the best car there

tree truck arts booth at cherry fest!

beulah beach on crystal lake

fave beulah noms

reflections

crystal lake

Thanks NoMi for cooling me off.  You were some nice weekend eye candy as well.

we made a movie!

Remember when I recapped here, and said my friends and I were helping my sister with one of her films? Yeah, I planned on posting the final product a while ago, and surprise surprise, I'm just now getting around to doing it.  So here's what I originally had to say.

- - - - -

My sister went into panic mode Sunday.  Things began to fall apart with a final project for one of her film classes.  So my friends and I decided to help out.  We are so glad we did.  It was a great excuse to get creative with something aside from work.  Plus, I have never seen Jessica in her directing role before, and she does a really great job.  Elyse was the star of the film and Collyn and I helped behind the scenes.  The film is a scifi, thus the crazy hair and makeup. It was actually pretty fun to be a part of a little collaborative creative project since school's been out. Plus the long hours of persnickety determination and a night of no sleep was like reliving the good ole days in art school.  :)

Tada! Bravo team!

On the second day of filming we decided my job was to document the process- so naturally I decided to collect shells and completely abandon my task once we got to the pond.  But I'm glad we did get background photos, I wish we did more of that the first day. And Jessica & I did give ourselves movie war paint... wish we got a better picture of that.  haha

3ish hour long hair & makeup

featherhawk // pretty sweet if i do say so myself

nature typography // two love birds

the professionals

shootin'

being artsy

film still

happy

faces

productivity

my shells

colors

favorite picture

shhhh.

It was kind of a hectic week at work.  And now it's finally Friday.  My office is empty.  So I made this.

Don't judge.

today was a good day.

...And so have been the past few days.  The weather has been so gorgeous lately you can't help but smile when you walk outside.  So here are some snapshots of what's been happening the past month.

boxes // empty #217

moo's tummy xray // catching some zzz's

productivity at it's finest while working

celebrating moms, bdays, nice weather, and new adventures

jess leaves for disney

new hair cut // moo moo's love hate relationship with the outdoors

young love // road tripping friends

new office! // notes for my officemates

quarter life crisis.

That's how I've felt lately.  My younger self wouldn't have imagined me going through some of these things, I'm sure.  Looking back,  it seemed I had things so much more pulled together.  I doubt I thought that way then!  Good grades, wonderful friends, sports that I loved, jobs that I didn't mind working at.  College and post grad life gave me a failed class, broken relationships, an unfortunate internship, impulsive purchases, huge responsibilities, financial strain, a crazy sleep schedule, a crappy eating routine, random day jobs just to pay the bills, and messing up... again and again.  And now I'm supposed to know what I want to do with my life?!  It certainly seemed like my younger self had it all planned out.  However, that's a lot to throw at someone upon graduation, or four months after no less.  And I know I'm not alone.  I wouldn't be surprised if every 20-something felt like this for a good portion of this decade.  I'm not trying to be whiney, just honest.  Life has thrown me some sour lemons over the past year I have never experienced before.  But I'm hoping this "crisis" is on it's last breath.  Don't get me wrong, I've also had incredible experiences that I would not change.  I truly have some great memories I hope never get tarnished rolling around with all those sour lemons in my head.  Anyway, things are actually beginning to look up and I'm excited for the fun adventures awaiting this summer.  These are some things that have kept me busy lately.

- Elyse, Collyn, and myself helped my sister make a film for one of her college major classes.
- I moved out of my studio apartment and moved into a historic house in Eastown, GR.
- I now have 4 roommates, and 2 kittymates... and the occasional bat, which I hope I never actually encounter.
- My things are 82.5% unpacked and where they are supposed to be.
- Moo had an expensive little stint in the hospital because he was basically stressed out about the move.
- He's now doing much better and I'm pretty sure is in love with his new kitty roomie, Bean.
- I recently finished the 1st Janet Evanovich book, One for the Money, and am now on Two for the Dough.  It's a great series and a fun read but I'm not sure I can keep this up for 16+ more?!

And... drumroll please... the biggest news so far...
- I was just offered a full time design position at the company I worked for while in school- first big girl job!  Plus, handed to me on a silver platter by the people I loved working with four short months ago.
- Therefore, I have officially put in my 2 weeks at my part time day job and am super pumped for this new opportunity!

So, once again, my excuses for neglecting the social networks lately.  Until next time!

sneeky peek of my new room