top: thrifted // jeans: american eagle // shoes: thrifted // suspenders: my dad's // butterfly hair pin: anthropologie // bracelets: miscellaneous

As of Monday, I am an official working woman.

I've always considered myself a person that loves change, but talking is easier than doing. When it comes to actually going through with those big changes, I get terribly scared to leave my familiar comfort zone. But on Monday, I was hired at my local Gap as a sales associate, following an interview that made my insides turn to mush due to nervousness. I was scared that I wouldn't get accepted; scared that my life would change too drastically; scared about a new environment; scared about everything.

I survived, though! I start training sometime next week and then have to learn how to balance yet another thing on my plate. But don't get me wrong, I feel so blessed to call this crazy life my life. And I'm excited to get working! I can't wait to get out there and learn new things and meet new people, despite that (big) part of me that's scared and not ready to grown up. I've been living by faith and Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength."

A few more things to add to my happy list...

wearing suspenders (yay for dads with good fashion sense) | leaves that fall with every gust of wind and curl up at the edges | morning tea rituals | playing "I Knew You Were Trouble" by Taylor Swift on repeat (I probably should be more ashamed than I actually am) | and speaking of Taylor Swift, this adorably awkward video using Taylor's lyrics as pickup lines | saturday morning bike rides to the farmer's market | an autograph from James Vincent McMorrow to me, curteousy of the amazing Abbey (yes I know!!!) | that pleasantly heavy, warm feeling of an extra quilt on the bed | exciting new jobs

What are some things that are making you smile lately?

For years I've been fantasizing about visiting a pumpkin patch on a cloudy day, one with gourds and squash and pumpkins of all kinds growing on dark green vines spread thickly in all directions. They weren't on the vine, but nevertheless, yesterday's cloudy pumpkin patch visit satiated my craving, at least for now. The sweetest dogs trotted through the corn fields and walked along side us--Lilly was ready to bring one in particular home with her. And in addition to the standard orange ones, there were heirloom pumpkins ringed with the most delicate of colors and gourds striped green, yellow, and red; we ate one for dinner last night with tomato sauce, mushrooms, and bacon (it was delicious, in case you were wondering). It has been a strange fall thus far in many different ways, but a visit to the pumpkin patch can cure all sorts of autumnal blues.

Edit: Just a clarification--yes, I've definitely been to a pumpkin patch before, just not the exact one I've been dreaming about. :)

Remember when we hiked the half mile to the river in the rain and our colorful umbrellas cast candy-colored hues on our faces? Remember when we tried not to get muddy but failed miserably? Remember when I waded through dripping wet, waist-high grass and the tiny black seeds stuck stubbornly to my legs and I had to stoop to wash them them off with river water? Remember when Caleb drank one and a quarter liters of Dr. Pepper in an hour and was cracking us up with his sugar-high-induced chatter? Remember we walked across the river but the water was deeper than we thought and I was afraid of water moccasins that might be hiding in the murky depths? Remember when when darkness started to fall and the riverbank shifted from diffused, cloudy light to misty blue and I couldn't stop talking about how beautiful it was? Remember when we sat at the computer together and looked at pictures and laughed over my awkward expressions? Remember when we made lemon bars and experimented with making meringue just because? Remember when it was the last Saturday night in September and we couldn't think of a better way to spend it than with each other?

I remember. That was a good day.

photo of me by Louis

For my birthday, I got a new bike. I'd long since outgrown my old one, and still in the bicycling spirit from all our adventures in Germany, my mom and I were determined to find a new one as a birthday present. We'd given up hope that we'd find a proper one in time, but two days before my birthday I spotted the one while at a thrift store. It was from the 1970s and in almost new condition--there were a few spots of rust and some dirt, but it was nothing a good cleaning couldn't fix. We purchased the bike, and then I got to work on my new treasure the next day. After some scrubbing and polishing and some flowers on the handlebars, my baby was looking pretty spiffy. I took her out for a spin to the river with the rest of the family and it's safe to say I'm in love. Since then, we've been bicycling so much more; exploring neighborhoods and finding spots to take photographs and discovering hidden trails are the big things to do in the family these days. Here are some shots from our travels thus far...

(...and keep on reading to find out about a new little venture of mine!)
 

And now for a little announcement: You may have already seen this if you're friends with me on facebook or follow me on twitter, but I'm excited to announce I've finally officially launched as a dance photographer! I get to take pictures of dancers and ballerinas doing their thing and I'm convinced it's the best job in the world. Dance photography is a passion that has been formulated and worked on so hard during the past few months and it's so lovely to bring it all to frutition. Check out my brand spankin' new website and my snazzy new facebook page (like it maybe?). I'm so excited for this new journey and I'm so glad I have all you lovely people to share it with me. x