50 ways to enjoy autumn

I've compiled my list for autumn:

1. in the spirit of going back to school, I'm going to learn something

2. close my eyes and breathe in the fall air in the morning

3. always carry tissues- because it's that season

4. Sunday = baking day

5. go to the farmer's market before they are gone for the season

6. watch purple violets and wish I was Selma Blair

7. exercise everyday

8. continue to learn the guitar

9. buy a bike

10. attend many concerts

11. make an apple pie from scratch

12. also make pecan pie, pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie & cherry pie

13. make soups!

14. have afternoon tea

15. look for an internship

16. actually learn a new language

17. buy/wear/love tights, scarves, hats & boots

18. go to the movies

19. go bowling

20. fly a kite

21. make/drink cider, hot milled cider

22. watch scary movies on halloween

23. put candy corn on my teeth like a vampire

24. listen to more music- new & old

25. get addicted to a new television show

26. apply to grad schools

27. cure my fear of commitment... on anything

28. watch the sun rise and set on the same day

29. buy/chew clove gum

30. read while completely enveloped in blankets

31. go to the Little Farmer or Apple Holler

32. pick apples and/or pumpkins

33. eat more fresh foods

34. attend BK's wedding

35. take photographs of autumn- because for 4 years I never really experienced fall and last year I never truly appreciated it

36. go out and be a doer

37. enjoy the outdoors before winter comes

38. travel to Washington D.C. and experience that feeling of being "home"

39. bundle up and open the windows at night to experience a crisp fall morning in bed

40. finish sorting family genealogy

41. journal/sketch more

42. learn a new hobby

43. make more lists

44. purge things I don't need

45. loose weight

46. buy new office supplies

47. frame photos of mine

48. re-imagine my life and set life goals

49. get out of neutral

50. let go and let flow

dancing in september

I am absolutely stoked about fall!!! There's so much possibility in the air that is turning a dreary forecast into bright sunny days and changing leaves of hope. Yeah okay, I know that sounds lame but I couldn't be more excited about what's to come in the next few months.

First off, I had my interview this morning and I'm going to be a docent for the Milwaukee Art Museum. I have to take classes and attend lectures but I'm just excited to be doing something. Other things going on this fall? I get to travel to Atlanta for a wedding and see friends I haven't seen in over a year. And then travel to D.C. and visit Catholic U and see if I want to apply to their graduate program. I've always wanted to go back to D.C. and this seems like the perfect opportunity.

So while I'm excited about all the new exciting adventures I will be diving into I also have to remember to stay grounded and not get my hopes up. Oh and still make a list of things to do for the next 3 months. It's going to be awesome!

and so it ends....

Today was the last day of August and tomorrow marks the unofficial begin of fall. And while the weather here in Wisconsin makes it feel like fall, I am not ready to begin this cycle again. Over the past few days I have had some things on my mind that have started me thinking that this whole unemployment/no school/limbo world I'm living is soon to end. Come morning I will be getting up early and getting ready to go to an interview. And while it isn't an interview for a job in a firm it is something that will keep me busy. I'll be interviewing for a docent position at the art museum and I couldn't be more excited.

Along with this I've decided to ask firms if they are willing to give me an unpaid internship. It's not a paying gig like I would like but I desperately need experience; even if it's an internship and even if it's unpaid. And while I do all of this I've realized that fall can hold some amazing possibilities for me.

So while the summer has ended, I have high hopes for this coming fall and when tomorrow comes I will post a new list of things to do in fall. And now it's time to do my final check of my summer list and see what I have accomplished.

✓1. enjoy a good rain storm

✓2. watch the sun rise and set on the same day

✓ 3. peruse vintage & independent shops

4. go to the farmers market saturday mornings

✓5. blow bubbles off my balcony

✓ 6. take more photos

✓7. contemplate life under the stars; actually I contemplated life under a meteor shower!

8. find an abandoned country road, get out of the car and dance

✓ 9. exercise everyday

✓ 10. read

✓ 11. watch more films

✓ 12. stay up late with friends

✓ 13. buy and wear more dresses

14. more drive-in movies @ Miller Park

✓ 15. learn to play the guitar

16. make my "apartment" my "home"---- I'm getting really really close!

✓ 17. write letters to friends

18. get a job----- an interview tomorrow.

✓ 19. wear bright lipstick

20. buy a cute vintage bike with a wicker basket

✓ 21. observe people at Alterra

✓22. get a summer glow, partially.

23. learn to play the cello

✓24. girl's night---- unofficially, I've spent a lot of time with my girls

✓25. sleepovers

26. jazz in the park---- to accomplish in september

✓27. pitchfork music festival... scratch that now it's Lollapalooza

✓ 28. summerfest

✓29. state fair

✓30. use my polaroids

✓31. visit the new modern wing of the chicago art museum

32. visit northern wisconsin and see the goats on the roof

33. go bowling

34. fly a kite

✓35. work on my thesis idea

✓ 36. enjoy my birthday

✓37. study anthropology

✓38. make an apple pie from scratch---- made a hell of a lot of cookies for friends

39. do more diy projects

✓ 40. enjoy a new piece of art every wednesday at the milwaukee art museum

✓ 41. green my thumb

✓ 42. reduce my footprint

43. find my groove

44. do something good

✓ 45. eat more fresh foods

46. make sun tea

47. go sailing

✓48. drink coffee and read the paper on the balcony in the early morning---- I read the paper on the balcony with afternoon tea

49. learn to speak a new language

✓ 50. day dream

I've done 34 of the 50 listed. I wish I could have done more but there's only so many days in the summer and I've done so much more than what's on this list that I feel I have taken advantage of perhaps my last summer without a care in the world.

12 days...

I have been able to check off 5 more things from my summer list and with 12 days left I am confident I will be able to check off more. Here's the 5 I've done so far:

7. contemplate life under the stars (and a meteor shower)

27. Lollapalooza

29. State Fair

30. use my polaroids

31. visit the new modern wing at the chicago art museum

Before the end of the summer I'm going to do:

1. enjoy a good rain storm

2. watch the sun rise and set on the same day

4. go to the farmer's market on Saturday morning

5. blow bubbles off my balcony

16. make my "apartment" my "home"

24. girl's night

25. sleepover

35. work on my thesis idea

37. study anthropology

38. make an apple pie from scratch

39. do more diy projects

48. drink coffee and read the paper on the balcony in the early morning

And some good news! Perhaps number 18 (get a job) will be accomplished come September 1st. I have an interview schedule to be a docent at the Milwaukee Art Museum. It's not exactly what I want but it is a job and I desperately need one!

state fair

Ah, the Wisconsin State Fair. I think I prefer county fairs though. Especially the ones in Maryland. This was just too much fried artery clogging food and barn animals, a lot of barn animals. Okay, the bunnies weren't horrible. They were actually adorable. But with the hot weather and uninspiring atmosphere it was not the type of fair that I loved as a kid.

curiosities

Another Wednesday at the art museum and a couple new exhibits that we discovered. A whole exhibit about curiosities through the centuries and the other a collection of prints from the 80s that is both disturbing and yet still probes curiosity.

not a robot, but a ghost

Andrew Bird on concert is perhaps one of the most entertaining concerts I've ever attended. He's a classically trained violinist who whistles and sings and plays both violin and guitar in a style that is completely his own. He's dynamic and intoxicating while his drummer plays both drums and piano and he, himself, does all I mentioned above AND records and loops his recordings live. Truly amazing.

the modern wing...

Chicago through the lens of a polaroid land camera. Even the new modern wing looks like something from the 60s with this camera. One of the hottest humid days was still splendid with the absolute beauty and charm of Chicago.

(500) days...

Yesterday I went and finally saw (500) days of summer... a film that I have been waiting to come out and then waiting to go see. As films go this was probably one of my favorites. I don't care for movies that have a "happy" ending, I always enjoy the ones that have a realistic ending because let's face it, life doesn't always have the fairy tale ending that most romantic comedies have.

And of course I fell for this movie because the soundtrack consisted of some of my all time favorite songs and bands (including Regina Spektor's "Us"). Then the set design and costumes were to die for which brings me to my reason for posting.

In Joseph Gordon-Levitt's apartment, the wall behind his bed is c huge chalkboard (thank you chalkboard paint!). And throughout most of the movie you see the same wall with his headboard drawn on and different boxes, images, etc all over the place. Then during the film he takes it all down and puts up something new.

I am a huge commitment-phobe when it comes to "big" decisions like what headboard do I want for the next 5 or 10 years and so this seemed the perfect solution! I could draw my headboard on and change it whenever I felt like it. Genius!

So much of this film I can identify with and so much I want in my own life. I would recommend this to anyone to go see. And don't think it's a love story. Their disclaimer (in both the poster and the photo above) states: "This is not a love story. This is a story about love."

an august spell...

August is finally here and while the summer is dwindling down my calender seems to be filled more than other months. And with this last month of summer it also brings a sadness that the youthful season is moving on to a changing one. Change is just around the corner whether we like it or not. My sister is starting grad school, her husband has finished his Masters and will be thrust into the real world without a parachute and his sister is starting her OT program. It seems the only one who isn't changing is me. Still no job (14 months and counting), still confused, still unsure. Maybe I will figure it all out this month.... maybe I will figure it out in the next season.

So! with that said, I've decided to look at my summer list and see how far I've come. Let's take a look:

1. enjoy a good rain storm

2. watch the sun rise and set on the same day

✓ 3. peruse vintage & independent shops

4. go to the farmers market saturday mornings

5. blow bubbles off my balcony

✓ 6. take more photos

7. contemplate life under the stars

8. find an abandoned country road, get out of the car and dance

✓ 9. exercise everyday

✓ 10. read

✓ 11. watch more films

✓ 12. stay up late with friends

✓ 13. buy and wear more dresses

14. more drive-in movies @ Miller Park

✓ 15. learn to play the guitar

16. make my "apartment" my "home"

✓ 17. write letters to friends

18. get a job

✓ 19. wear bright lipstick

20. buy a cute vintage bike with a wicker basket

✓ 21. observe people at Alterra

22. get a summer glow

23. learn to play the cello

24. girl's night

25. sleepovers

26. jazz in the park

27. pitchfork music festival... scratch that now it's Lollapalooza

✓ 28. summerfest

29. state fair

30. use my polaroids

31. visit the new modern wing of the chicago art museum

32. visit northern wisconsin and see the goats on the roof

33. go bowling

34. fly a kite

35. work on my thesis idea

✓ 36. enjoy my birthday

37. study anthropology

38. make an apple pie from scratch

39. do more diy projects

✓ 40. enjoy a new piece of art every wednesday at the milwaukee art museum

✓ 41. green my thumb

✓ 42. reduce my footprint

43. find my groove

44. do something good

✓ 45. eat more fresh foods

46. make sun tea

47. go sailing

48. drink coffee and read the paper on the balcony in the early morning

49. learn to speak a new language

✓ 50. day dream

32 more to check off... 29 more days of August. I think it an be done!