Whoa life

I'm now realizing this 30 day challenge might have to happen in increments of 5 days at a time. I just don't have the time to get on here and upload a photo a day. You might say to yourself, "But Erin you're unemployed..", as I often say to myself when ever I'm feeling good about myself (keeps the ego in check), "you have all the time in the world". Surprisingly, I'm busy. Crazyness.

Day 2: My outfit of the day

Photograph what I was wearing for the day. More of these self photographs...c'mon. Not my favorite thing. Thus my forced smile. This was the day it was 95 degrees and I was crabby everywhere I went. Usually, I tolerate the heat very well. I don't know what my deal was. Anyway, the outfit's theme was to wear as little clothes as possible without being too hot. A thin tank top from either urban outfitters or forever twenty-one...I don't remember. It is a grey owl with a rainbow over it with breezy grey cotton shorts. My long horse hair didn't stay down for very long. It was far too hot for that.

Day 3: Clouds

The clouds on day three were lame. Not the clouds above. This photo was taken a month or so ago at 9pm! I will certainly miss that about the summer. I figured I could swap this photo of the clouds outside my apartment  instead of showing you the true uneventful clouds of day three.

Day 4: Something Green

I thought of maybe doing some sort of environmentally green photo but yesterday, which was an amazing fall day, my husband wore his favorite green hoodie. And he is my favorite. 

30 Day Photo Challenge

On pinterest.com, my new obsession/affair, I came across a thirty day photo challenge list. I found this challenge to be purposeful because a) my husband bought me an expensive camera that I need to use more and b) its a list and I love lists...

Day 1

A portrait:

I might have taken 60 pictures of myself. Everyone of them feeling like a 14 year old girl trying spice up her myspace profile. It is kind of awkward and then you start seeing all the flaws in yourself. You notice one eye is bigger than the other, or that botox would help the bags under your eyes, or that your face is rounder than you'd like. Or perhaps you understand why people mistake you for being from Greece....its the nose. Taking a million pictures of yourself is humbling. Yet, doing it I could see pictures of myself as a little kid showing through the new photos. I never really saw that before. I always have had the opinion that I look nothing like I did when I was 7 or 5. Lo and behold I do. You also begin to see what you'll look like in 10 years or in 20. You'll also wonder what some photo editor from hollywood would do to your pictures.

It was an odd experience. I don't think I cared for it.

Summer Reading

If you're from Westpark, like I am, you remember Book Club at the Westpark Library. Maybe Book Club was everywhere, but we did these mini book reports to the same librarian for years in order to get Indians tickets! I wish there was adult book club rewards...

This summer is the first summer since I graduated from high school over six years a go that I have been able to read for fun. I forgot how hopelessly I become a part of the stories. Depending on how good the book is, it takes me a few days to process that the book is over and it didn't really happen. That is really sad. I probably shouldn't admit that.

The three books that have consumed me and kept me up til 2am turning pages are: The Help, Water for Elephants, and Redeeming Love. These books all captivated my heart and had me cheering aloud.

The Help: If you've been paying attention to previews, magazines, and talk shows you've probably heard of this one. The movie stars Emma Stone, Octavia Spencer, and Viola Davis. It is a look at the unspoken behavior and civil rights issues regarding black women working as maids for white women in southern Mississippi. One women tries to help tell the stories of the maids and begins an unlikely sisterhood that initiates "changing times" in their city. There is drama, there is scandal, and everything else that makes a good book. I literally was cheering out loud and had to explain my to my husband the story because I was so excited. The book and the movie (which is due to come out this Wednesday) have had rave reviews. I read some articles that angry black women had written complaining that a the women who wrote the book, who are white, still can't comprehend the truths about the matter. All while that might be true, she did a commendable job and wrote a beautiful story that I think if any race was angry with the book they might have issues all together. Some people complained that black women didn't need the white women's help at all with telling their story. They said it would have happened with or without them. Maybe, but maybe those white people deserve a pat on the back for being brave and standing up. For standing alongside their friends because they believed the right things no matter what society deemed appropriate. Anyway, it was a great book and I recommend it to everyone and I am very excited to see the film.

Water for Elephants: I know this was a movie.  I never saw it. I thought it looked overly girly and I'd have to do some sucking up to my hubby to make him take me to it. Otherwise, it just seemed like a solid redbox rental. Turns out this awesome love story had me intertwined in the pages. Its a love story about a veterinarian who loses everything only to actually run away with the circus only to fall in love with a married women and develop a loving relationship with an elephant that no one else can understand. I kept picturing Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon in my mind in the roles because I knew they starred in the movie. I think that added to the greatness. So now I must wait for the dvd out, which I can't find a release date for....so if anyone knows anything about that let me know!

Redeeming Love: This book is over 450 pages and I read it in three days. My mom and friend had been telling me for years to read this book. I now know why. It is an amazing story about a girl that was sold in to sex slavery and grew to become a renown prostitute only to be rescued by a man who wants to marry her because God told him to and pursues her heart with unconditional love. Its a story of redemption that can be compared to Christ's love for us. It is incredible and I could not put it down.

I encourage book club to all!! I'll try to update soon with my next three books!

lemons and sunshine: Hocking Hills Mini Getaway

lemons and sunshine: Hocking Hills Mini Getaway: "This past week my husband and I spent two days in Hocking Hills, Ohio. What a glorious time! I totally underestimated Ohio. My mother had be..."

Hocking Hills Mini Getaway

This past week my husband and I spent two days in Hocking Hills, Ohio. What a glorious time! I totally underestimated Ohio. My mother had been there last year and kinda gave me the rundown, but what I saw for myself surpassed any words of promise. I could not wrap my head around the vastness of God's creation. I felt so small next to these gigantic caves and cliffs. It reminded me of these Robert Duncanson paintings I studied over the summer. We went with my husbands parents and two brothers, and stayed in this charming cabin that had the most fabulous bed I've ever slept on. Although, I could have been in love with it just because it was so different from the rock I sleep on now. My husband's poor hard laboring back requires firmness.(Save me sleep number bed! ) The hiking in the muggy woods was actually quite nice. I enjoyed burning all that energy only to end up in some sort of corner of heaven. My mom bought me these cute hiking boots for Christmas and I boldly wore them accepting all blistering consequences just to feel like a real hiker. I crack myself up. I would have loved to stay there longer. I would love to return in the fall. I guess it is just something to put on my to do list then :)

Those little white specs in the caves are people...that is how big this is!

Ugh..The Corporate World

I've seriously been on the computer searching for a career/promising job for over two hours. I think what I am primarily frustrated at is that I have no clue as to what I'm doing. I mean, I know how to search for jobs...I just don't know what exactly I am looking for. When I started college in 2005 ( a whopping six years ago) I was going so my dad would quit nagging me about being someone without a college degree. I think I tried three majors before I arrived at Fine Arts: Painting. Since I could hold a crayon I have been doing artsy things, and by the time I transferred to Cleveland state in 2007 I decided that if I was going to pay for college myself I might as well love being there, and the only way to love school is to be participating in the arts. Come to find out, I took way more psychology and sociology classes than I did art classes but somehow still came out with a paper that says I studied art as my major. People always ask me, in a very condescending way mind you, "So, uh...what do you see yourself doing with a degree like that?" I'd always answer with "I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there." It seemed like a safe answer from further pestering, but an answer that I was totally believing as truth too.

I hate job searching, I hate being new at a job, and worst of all I hate not having a concrete plan when it comes to my finances. I could be good at a plethora of things. I know it! I just feel like employers are so judgmental when it comes to resumes. Hello..I was a dog walker, a nanny,  a customer service representative for a summer, a waitress, and a bar tender. These are all jobs that were flexible around attending school full time! None of these are promising careers. So I have to start from square one.

So, I actually went to the library and got out books on job hunting as a college grad, job interviewing, and pursuing my dream job. Which I still don't know what that is. A dream job to me is something that I make a surprising amount of money doing something that doesn't feel like work.

Dream Job Ideas:

If I could somehow paint like a maniac and produce wall hanging worthy crap I would totally bust my rear end trying to live as an artist. Cleveland, my sad pride and joy, is not really the market for that. I have sold one painting when I actually tried to market myself (on facebook no less). I know its possible. I feel like I'm trying to win the lottery when I plan it out though. Could I swing it into a full blown possible career making a decent respectable living? Maybe

I actually wish I would have gone the sports route. I could see myself handling a sports teams marketing, or public relations. I actually think I might make a pretty good agent. From my findings today: A) you had to pay a membership to see any sports job listings B) that's ridiculous C)I feel like I'm fighting a man's world, and those kind of girls irk me.

Non-profit is an area where I feel like my heart comes alive. I love helping people. I love knowing that my job isn't designed to benefit capitalism. I'm still confused on who pays a person working in a non profit business, yet knowing that one of the differences between a non-profit job and a profit job is where the money goes when or if something happens to the business. This one might pan out. Can I travel?

Entrepreneurial ideas run in my blood. My grandfather...was some sort of peddler...possibly illegal but that is besides the point. My dad has been trying to start his own business since I can remember...right now he is fiddling with a private investigator business and being a dog walker after he retires. I'd like to start my own floral shop...maybe a art lessons for kids. My friend Ali once came up with a gift wrapping business while she was high. Despite her marijuana use..it didn't sound like a bad plan maybe that plus gift baskets.

Reality TV show. If my grandpa hadn't passed away two years ago my family would have been a prime candidate for a tv show. He would have been the token cynical, hillbilly grandfather- whose opinion not only rarely made sense but probably wasn't true. God bless him. My brothers are both entertaining yet irresponsible. My sister is just in that stage where she thinks her life is a disney channel show. My mom is hilarious and I would bet she'd be a favorite character. Oh and my dad...he doesn't know how hilarious he is and that would be the hidden gem right there. Maybe the lure of being famous is what makes me what this...who doesn't want to be able to buy whatever, have their hair pretty all the time, and receive endorsements and free crap all the time?

Heck could someone pay me to blog?? I have about 2 followers right now, but I'm pretty sure I could craftily ramble for some cash flow.



 

Holy smokes. Its been too long. Well, in the quick time that summer has almost gone so much has happened. I friggin graduated college, I turned 24, and am still without a career.

I decided to finish my college career by enrolling three 6 week classes and one 8 week class. Mind you, these are all classes that are typically done in a 15 week frame. They don't lighten the load, they don't cut you any breaks, they just pound psychology and sociology and art down your throat until it is what you dream about. I finished. I took six years to get my bachelors degree, and that is o.k. because I did it well and I did it on my own dime. I was so thankful to my husband who let me quit my wretched serving job and just do school work for 8 weeks. I seriously woke up at 8am...went to school until 1pm, came home and did school online until 6pm, made dinner and went back to it til about 10pm. Oh, it was exhausting. I didn't feel like a person at all. I was pure robot. Sometimes I had to make myself be rebellious and go on a date night with my husband and promise myself I'd wake up at 6am to get started the next day. Anyway, I finished. I finished getting As and Bs and I couldn't be more happy to be done with college.

Since then....family parties, the fourth of July and my birthday has highlighted my summer fun, along with Josie and Noah returning from Costa Rica. I have been watching them daily until they go back to school here in Bay Village mid August. Next week, the Miranda family...all...9 of us are going to Hocking Hills to camp and hike and all sorts of goodness. I'm very excited for that! I'm hoping it not to be rainy or one of those 105 degree heat index days.

For my birthday my husband got me my dream camera. I wasn't actually sure what I wanted in a dream camera. Any pretty big nikon would do, and he got me just that. So expect better posted pictures! I now have time to do that. I now have time to paint...to read...to exercise. I have no limits. So now, as my job search continues, I plan to actually enjoy life while finding a job that doesn't feel like work. I'm determined not to sell out.