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Amy and I went off to have a photo adventure yesterday and it turned out to be so magical. We intended to spend the evening at sunflower fields, but it was way too muddy to even get close. Luckily, Amy spotted a mint wall from the freeway. The sketchy looking set of buildings turned out to be not so sketch at all! It was a used car place or something. Lots of super pretty walls :)
I took some tips from Elsie’s elements tutorial while editing these. Check out the blog post at A Beautiful Mess!
So this is what a quarter life crisis feels like, huh? Thanks for the encouraging comments on my last post about my following my heart. It’s hard to get past what is practical and will pay rent and delve into what I am passionate about. My job search has been disappointing. I miss my tiny college where connections and opportunities were abounding! I usually feel okay about being unemployed for the summer…but then people ask what I’m doing with my life and I have to hear about how important it is to make lots and lots o’ money.
I’m not looking to be a starving artist by any means. I just have a different definition of success ;)
(end of rambles)
My main point is to share that something wonderful came out of my soul searching time in the woods last weekend. I bought a new camera!! Not in the woods of course, but you know what I mean. I have been planning to invest in a Canon 7d for quite some time. My mom encouraged me to purchase it now (instead of at the end of summer) because…why not? If I know what I love to do, I should go for it.
To celebrate, I went on a photo adventure with Amy. We waited until the evening, so that the light was golden. I’ll share the photos tomorrow :)
Easier said than done. In the warm summer season while I’m happy and unemployed (hopefully not for long), I find myself with a lot of time on my hands. One second I am crocheting the day away, talking about bluegrass festivals with my family, and watching the Parent Trap on the Hallmark station. The next second, I’m 100% inspired to do something really, really big and important. And then I’m researching art and design m.f.a. programs online, feeling discouraged when I find out that my psych degree doesn’t exactly fit their requirements. But I could go to that school in San Francisco. Or the one in Portland. And so, my mind continues racing and I search the internet using my phone until it dies.
This weekend, my mom and I spontaneously took a trip up to my aunt and uncle’s beautiful land. When we stay here, we sleep in a big cottage. It’s a dream come true. Like the kind with the slanted wooden ceiling that everyone would totally repin on Pinterest. I love it. So far, I have crocheted some wonderful slouchy beanies (I finally found a pattern that I love! I’m so happy about it!). I have also done a lot of reading. But right now I have one thing on my mind: Dream Job.
I don’t know what it means… It’s a phrase I use so often to describe what I want to do in life and yet, it has no specifics, really. I just want to make beautiful things. To work somewhere meaningful with great people. To keep learning. The question, “Are you going to grad school?” or “What’s next?!” echos in my mind. And I need to just block it out. Maybe I’ll go for my m.a. or m.f.a. someday, but right now I have many opportunities to learn! Starting with e-courses.
Earlier this year when I was still an impulsive spender, I purchased a few e-courses from A Beautiful Mess. No regrets, of course :) Dream Job. Blog Love. And DIY Dress Up. Each course includes a bunch of information on the things I want to do in life. What a perfect way to spend part of my weekend up here in the woods.
BubbyAndBean on Etsy
So, that’s what following my heart looks like right now. Putting action to my hopes and dreams, instead of just sitting around looking up grad programs that I’m not really going to apply to. Time to start filling notebooks!
So much for not being the festive red, white, and blue type! Looks like I changed my mind this year…
I spent my fourth of July laying in the sun, reading, and hanging out with my mom. We went to my grandma’s house where all I wanted to do was crochet! So, I did. Nothing fancy, but still a good time :)
What did you do to celebrate?
This weekend, I am camping with my friends & people from our church (most of whom I am just meeting). It’s been fun!
We snuck away for a few hours this morning to watch our great friends Oliver and Celine get married in France!!! So exciting. It was so beautiful. Wish we could’ve been watching it in France, but Starbucks was alright, too. I can’t wait to save up and visit them :)
My instagrams don’t always depict my real life. This week was full of errands that made me feel like such a grown up (DMV…again? Post office. What the.). Here are a few gems of some peaceful moments I experienced.
1. These midcentury kitchen items are my favorite. Yes, I bought them thinking I might sell them. But now I am just attached :)
2. Oh, grapefruit. My favorite food, flavor, everything.
3. Blog date with my dear friend Alyssa! She has a food blog that will be launching soon. This blog date is actually taking place right now :)
4. And geez. My best friend Sara is just a natural born model. I sold this headband right away, and I’m so so excited about it!
Happy Friday, friends!