stumbling through the good parts

today marks the first day of my very own photography apprenticeship that i am doing this summer.  here's what this looks like.  my work graciously allowed me to flex-out my work week into 4 days.  (read: 10-11 hour days, 4 days a week).  in doing this, i'm able to take time this summer and use it towards getting my feet on the ground and running with all of my photography needs.  i've had a lonnnnng list of things that have needed to fall into place since Making Things Happen 2013  intensive that i attended in march.  while it's taken me a while, i'm so thankful for where i'm at right now and where i am going.  since last march, i've been able to get work approval for 1 day flexed.  with the help of friends and family and months and months of saving, i was finally able to purchase my first, very own iMac for photo-editing and blogging.  i'm ecstatic! from here on out, i've created a syllabus for reading some recommended literature....

this weekend was tulip festival.  it's a beautiful time of year and we were so lucky to be able to walk around and enjoy the weather yesterday. the sun was shining and there was delicious fair type foods of all sorts.  it was hard not to stop and try everything.  the music was good and the flowers even better.  thanks for a great sunday, albany.

so, WE'RE MOVING! still within the confines of albany, but... moving nonetheless. the specs of the new digs is 3 bedrooms, hardwood floors, a balcony patio and a fireplace in my ROOM. some of the best parts? i get an office! (although, i and p keep calling it my craft room. apparently we'll be running a basket weaving shop right from the comfort of our home.) there are three or so more exciting aspects of the move.  1. we get to move in with our good friend peter. pete's great. he loves fresh foods, is quick witted and i get to add another person to the "morning person" team.  2. WE GET TO GET A DOG. it's such a dream to actually find a NICE place that will actually allow us to own a dog. i didn't think such a place existed in Albany.  3. it's in a really nice neighborhood. it's down by a different part of downtown Albany that opens up so many more local places for us to frequent. you can expect for instagrams from places like mcgeary's, the vi...

j and i got a chance to get away to the white mountains of new hampshire this weekend for our first outdoor climbing trip of the season!  we couldn't have asked for a better weekend for it.  the weather was perfect and there was just the right amount of crowds where we met some new people but weren't waiting in line for the next climb.  it feel so good to spend so much time in the sunshine.  i'm already excited for our next trip!  i was able to take a few snaps in-between climbs and through the course of the weekend.  hopefully, we'll be able to make the trip back sometime soon!

i love birthdays.  and i mean that in the sense of celebration. i enjoy so much to love and celebrate others. i am so thankful for all the birthday love i got this weekend from family and friends near and far. i got to do so much of what i love with the people i love the most. so thank you, thank you, thank you.  

I'm sure many people have heard or done this themselves. It's very much a bucket list, but I really hate calling it that for reasons I can't understand. However, I never thought much of age, but now that everyone seems to be so kindly reminding me that I'm that much closer to being 30, I thought this would at least be a nicer way to usher in the big 3-0 in a couple of years. That, or have a panic attack that I didn't come anywhere near accomplishing what I wanted to. Nonetheless, here's the list that I've compiled for the next two years.  I'd love for any help or company in accomplishing all of these! 30-Before-30: 1. Photograph my first wedding 2. Take a cooking class 3. Run a half-marathon 4. Skydive 5. Develop my own brand 6. Explore Costa Rica 7. Take a calligraphy class 8. Complete a Triatholon 9. Own a dog 10. Sell something handmade on Etsy or Pinterest 11. Take a foreign language class 12. Hike part of the Appalachian Trail 13. Pa...

There's been a couple of things that I've been working on around the apartment. It can be difficult to try and move somewhere and take care of all the little things at once. It's definitely more of a gradual process. Some of these projects I've done myself and others have been great finds through Pinterest, HomeGoods and West Elm.  Here's a peak into our little space!