#adulthood

*WARNING: TERRIBLE IPHONE PICTURES AHEAD. READER DISCRETION ADVISED.*

I turned eighteen a little over a month ago, which apparently means that I am an adult. Scary, no? 

Anyway, June and July have kind of been a huge adjusting time for me. My parents sort of ceased parenting me after my birthday. It's really weird. I have all the freedom in the world now, but I also have to do my own dishes/laundry/cooking, pay my own way {yikes, life is expensive,} and fill my own gas tank. I know that those things don't even compare to the responsibilities that I'll have when I'm living on my own, but it's definitely been an eye opener. It's also made me appreciate how much my parents have done for me over the past eighteen years. 

All seriousness aside, my summer has been filled with many a major milestone. Feast your eyes: 

Milestone 1: I am no longer the lightest shade of foundation in the world. Or at least in Target. 

That's right folks. I've moved up from shade 001 to shade 003. Will Abby ever make it to shade 004? Only time will tell. Also, bronzer. Bronzer may tell too. 

Milestone 2: I bought a lottery ticket. 

Photographic proof.  My good friend Erica and I were feeling particularly bad one day, so we went and gambled with cute little cows.  I won a whole dollar, but I will not be turning it in to receive my money.  I'm planning on framing my only token of teenage wildness, and preserving it for posterity. 

Milestone 3: I discovered the essence of Ernest Hemingway. In Hobby Lobby. 

So apparently you can buy candles that smell like classic authors. {If you're curious, Ernest supposedly smelled like clementines and dove soap -- I was disappointed. I was expecting gunpowder or something awesome like that for the man that wrote A Farewell to Arms.}But seeing this made me wonder what other word ninja's candles would be... What would C.S. Lewis smell like? Zoo exhibits and turkish delight? What about F. Scott Fitzgerald? Sea breeze and daisies? And who knows what scents some modern day authors would possess... I mean c'mon, can you imagine Stephanie Meyers'? I can, and it's not a candle I'd want to have in my house. 

Milestone 4: I've finally learned about time management, and some other stuff. 

It's all good and fine to be busy and responsible, but I've discovered that I'm a lot more pleasant to be around when I've had some quiet time. I'm learning that even though there might be errands to run, homework to do, and meetings to attend, it's okay to set aside thirty minutes a day to relax. Working hard and doing your best is satisfying and rewarding, but sometimes it's necessary for sanity's sake to slow down some. 

I'm also kind of learning that I'm not some horribly inadequate mess up. I'm beginning to find my voice, and other cheesy things like that. I'm kind of learning to really like myself. And it's kind of really awesome feeling. 

Milestone 5: I saw a Pixar movie back to back. 

via

It was Despicable Me 2, in 3D. I regret nothing. #yayformaturity

Now where can I get myself one of those dandy chip hats? 

~ Abby

P.S. I actually wrote this at 1 in the morning, while extremely sleep deprived. I apologize in advance for any grammatical errors, hard to follow thinking, and misspelled words. Actually, I basically apologize for this entire post. 

summer rambliness + picture things

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” 
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

This summer, thus far, has been spectacular. 

I actually managed to secure a job, and test into a college level math class.  It's weird, getting up and working eight hours a day/attending night classes twice a week has been exhausting, but it's taught me to value free time.  Also, coupons for free gas/food.  Also, anything free in general.

But in between all of that has been great.  Vacation happened, as well as my studio's summer showcase.  Movie premieres, coffee dates, and sleepovers have occurred.  And I've basically lived in cutoffs/sundresses when I'm not working. 

And on a side note, my family managed to order almost $40 worth of food at Taco Bell last Sunday.  I didn't even know that was humanly possible.  #ipromisewerenotobese #bigfamilyprobs #WHATDIDWEORDER

photographic proof. it really happened people. srsly. 

On a completely unrelated note, I finally edited all of the pictures I took during vacation.  It took me about three weeks, but hey; it's the journey, not the destination.  {Or something philosophical like that.} 

Note: I am not a photographer, nor do I think I am. I just like shooting things with my cannon. *ba dum tshh*

Anywho, if things get quiet around here this summer, it's because I'm out doing things. Like reading. And sleeping. And hopefully getting a tan. {Hey, a girl can always dream.} 

~ Abby

    

of summer and cat fur

Yesterday was one of the first truly warm days of the year. To celebrate, my little sister and I went to a little small town book store; one that smells like sunshine and old books. I bought an SAT study guide, and she found a treasure trove of old Nancy Drew mysteries. The picturesque-ness of the moment was only *slightly* ruined when I opened a box of old records, and a cloud of cat fur flew out. Which subsequently caused only a *slightly* embarrassing sneezing fit, as well as our premature departure from the store. #catsareevil

To redeem the situation, we bought lemonades and found a nearby bench to sit on. We sat and smelled the freshly cut grass, counted passing pickup trucks (18,) and watched cute old couples walk their dogs. And I didn't think about my upcoming finals even once.

okay so maybe i did once but then i watched the new Catching Fire trailer to forget my troubles #yolo

How was your weekend?

~ Abby

that one weekend I had sushi

My Saturday morning started innocently enough; I woke up to a bright sunshiny room, and a not-so-sunshiny alarm. I had some dance classes and a conditioning session before them, so I hopped into my car, and zoomed off to the studio.

Four hours later, it was lunchtime. And some fellow dancers of mine decided that it was high time that my friend Haylee and I tried sushi. So we did. 

It was interesting.

Being the sushi virgins that we were, our waitress had to show us how to eat it. {apparently stabbing it repeatedly with chopsticks is not acceptable.} After doing so, she told us that you're supposed to eat some ginger afterwards, to "cleanse the palette." {FYI, the ginger tastes like Pledge and NyQuil. I was actually wondering if they spray it with Pledge. That would certainly explain how it cleans the taste out of your mouth.}

The actual sushi wasn't bad. Except for the eel, it was all quite good. Different, but good.

However, we decided that the deep fried chicken and soy sauce was much more agreeable to our stomachs.

Such a traumatizing experience called for some rehab,  so I had a couple of friends over for the night. We had tea, a Say Yes to the Dress marathon, and laughed hysterically for about five hours straight. But hey, it's cheaper than a psychiatrist. ;)

What's the weirdest thing you've ever tried?

~ Abby

reasons why november is a happy month v 1.2

We're scarf triplets! Also, you should probably just not look at my face here. 

Normal post halloween pumpkins? Please. Cyclopes cannibals are totally the way to go. ;)

Church, orange leaf, and Scooby Doo with your oldest and best friend > anything. 

November, I am quite fond of you indeed. Care to stay for a while?

~ Abby

a great perhaps



From my Instagram

 

 

I've lived in the same small town since I was seven years old.

 

Yes, my friends have compared it to Mayberry.

 

We have a post office, a {very} small library, a coffee shop, and a family market.

 

In my town, kids hang out at the ball diamond, or at the ice cream shoppe. About 99% of the teenagers play either softball, or baseball.

 

Everyone knows everyone and their grandpa's cousin's sister's daughter's dog.

 

Sometimes I like living here, and other times I don't. I like that I can walk anywhere that I wish, safely. I like knowing most of the kids in town, even though I don't go to school with them.

 

But sometimes, I feel kind of stuck.

 

Now don't get me wrong, the country/small communities are amazing. But going somewhere where nobody knows you -- or your past -- just holds a certain allure, doesn't it?

 

One day, I am going to travel the world. I want to go to London, Israel, Italy, and Africa. I want to sip coffee in a French cafe, and work at an orphanage in China. I want to see the beautiful earth that God has created, and experience its wonders for myself. I want to seek A Great Perhaps.

 

But for now, I'll settle for a week in Kansas.

 

Bon voyage,

 

~ Abby

 

 

 

 

                       

 

 





spring mill

On Sunday, my family went on a short road trip. Our first stop: Spring Mill State Park. It was gorgeous. The lighting, the old buildings... Everything. It also helped that there were butterflies everywhere; something that was unexpected, but definitely not unwelcome.

And is it weird that I fell in love with the windows there? Yes, the windows. They were so old and beautiful; they softened the bright sunlight perfectly, making it ideal for taking pictures.

After visiting the park, we stopped at a very high end historical hotel. It was huge, and gorgeous, and spectacular. The first words out of my mouth when we walked in were "Wow! So much fancy!" Needless to say, the hotel staff were not particularly appreciative of my eloquent comments, nor my clicking SLR, or scuffed up chucks for that matter. 

The day ended on a sweet note, with shrimp and awkward, young waiters.

Sometimes it's good to get away. :)

~ Abby



of summer

image courtesy of weheart it

I cannot wait for this summer.

I'm ready to exchange my well-worn jeans and chucks for shorts and flip flops. I long to be able to drive down the road with the windows rolled down and my sunglasses on, all the while singing along to my favorite songs. I'm duly prepared to spend my days reading, sipping lemonade, and soaking up the sunshine. {It will be such a difficult existence. ;)} 

And now, the end is in sight. I take my last two finals this week, {history and chemistry,} and then I shall be free. *Cue the hallelujah chorus*  :D

I have decided that this summer, I will enjoy every single moment; everything from those silly yet perfect moments with friends, to The-Week-of-No-Sleep. {a.k.a 4-H judging week.} At the beginning of this upcoming school year, I want to look back on this summer and be able to say that I made every moment count. I want to be able to say that I didn't let new experiences and opportunities pass me by, that I took a few chances and cherished every single God-given moment -- even the ones that might not exactly have been pleasant. I want to live life passionately.

So if things get a bit quiet around here at times, please understand it's because I am out enjoying this wonderful, beautiful life.

~ Abby

at the library

I love the library, I really do. I love the glorious smells of paper and ink, the hushed whispers of other book hunters, and the soft rustling of turning pages. I read a lot, probably too much in fact; I just enjoy getting lost in a good story. Reading provides a nice {and sometimes much needed} break from reality.

I smuggled my camera in with me on my most recent visit. I received a lot of strange looks... Apparently seeing a teenage girl tote around a huge camera in the library is unusual. {It probably didn't help that it was during school hours. Oh well.}

So. Many. Books.

Creeper shots ftw. ;)

 I left the library that day with Crossed by Alley Condie, and an SD card filled with pictures. 'Twas a good day indeed. :)

~ Abby