a little artsy., personal things., simple joys., this is life.

What it’s All About.

So far (minus my new garage sale shoes giving my heel MAJOR blisters) my day has been going pretty well. Hopefully this is a sign for the rest of my day and into my weekend.

It all started out as I was walking to my 8am. My feet were hurting from my shoes, and I had a terrible feeling that this was going to be an omen for my Thursday. Luckily as I was crossing the street things changed. There were two campus security officers manning the crosswalk. As I was crossing the first said to me, “Hey are you ready for the art world today Miss?! It’s your campus and you get to paint it!” To which the second officer replied, “Just not the buildings!” This cracked me up, I am seriously still laughing about it. I just love running into happy and optimistic people in the morning. So many folks are grouches who walk around with their heads buried in a cup of coffee. It’s extremely nice to be greeted with a smile at seven thirty in the morning for a change.

So I went into my Design for Media class feeling great! Class went well, and to top it all off, we got out a whole hour early. That’s the point I’m at now, enjoying the chance to sit down in the library and blog because I’m for once not running in a million directions. It feels really good, and I am staying positive, only two more classes until the weekend. Sure it’ll be a busy one, but I get to see Cory, and that fact alone makes all of the work I do throughout the week worth it. A weekend of running, homework and snuggles. And isn’t snuggling with the ones we love what it’s all about anyways?

The above picture is a throwback to the summer of 2012 (which I realize wasn’t actually too terribly long ago).

<3 Kaitlyn

faith., personal things., simple joys., this is life.

The Same Level.

I had a wonderful day shopping with my mom.

For starters it was a beautiful day here in Ohio, high of seventy degrees, bright blue sky, sunshine and lots of puffy white clouds. The weather was perfect, everything was. It was one of those days that make you realize why you put up with the usually raining, overcast Ohio. It was a gem, truly a gift from God.

That aside, my mom and I had a fantastic day. We drove (got lost) on a detour in the country on the way to the mall. Neither of us got much, I only went home with two new sports bras, a green crew neck and the cutest pair of floral embroidered ankle booties (on killer sale), but we talked and laughed and just enjoyed each others company. We had a yummy Panera lunch where we coincidentally ordered the exact same meal – half a chipotle chicken panini, half a Greek salad and berry tea, ate and then went home. It was great, absolutely no bickering or annoyances. I think that this is the first time I’ve really truly felt on the same level as my mom. It was like we weren’t just having a mother-daughter day but rather a date between two best friends. I know she will always be mother, and I will always look to her and respect her in that way, but it feels like I gained something today – a new best friend. I love that. I have always been fond of our relationship, but I am absolutely in love with how’s it’s transforming into something new and a little bit different. I enjoy talking as equals, listening to advice and sharing stories. I think I may even respect her more because of it.

I love my mom.

personal things., this is life., time.

63rd Annual.

I’d like to take a moment to record a few key events from the 63rd annual Swander family reunion, that way I have something to trigger my memory when I go to tell my children of these events at the 75th annual Swander reunion.

1) This reunion was the first for both Cory and Remy the cat (aka: Aunt Jemima the pancake kitty).

2) We taught my shirtless dad how to play foursquare, he got really REALLY into it. The squares seemed much bigger in the forth grade, next year I think we’ll we will have to modify the field.

3) The “big kids” were recruited to play games, incidentally Cory knocked over the water bucket we had to fill while sliding in an attempt to save time (we were racing a bunch of little girls). Even though our team lost, he could have cared less because he was awarded with fart putty, which is still keeping him entertained.

4) Ben won a donut eating contest by eating his donut off of the concrete, once it fell from the string, without using his hands. We were all very VERY impressed.

5) My dad ran the 1st annual Swander Nationals, a Hot Wheels race he had been planning for months – Dominic won. They wrote his name on a garage sale trophy. I think that this is a really neat idea, maybe someday we’ll be writing his son or daughters name on there too.

6) Cory bid $5, outbidding my $4, and won a pack of six Hershey bars in the white elephant sale. He was also given the name “Batman” by my Aunt Wanda which was appropriate since he was wearing his Batman shirt. I promptly pointed out that this was better than “Captain” which the guys at work gave him after he accidentally drove a trailer into a pond.

All in all it was a fabulous day, one of the best reunions I can remember. It’s nice to take the time out of our hectic lives to meet up with more distant relatives every now and again. It’s fun eating food and playing games, talking and laughing. It’s even kind of fun sitting through (making fun of) the annual family business meeting. Which by the way Cory got a huge kick out of – I totally forgot to warn him about that part.

—–

On a side note, I used to post pictures ALL of the time and I am not sure why I’ve stopped. I don’t have any images from today, but I do have a few from Cory and I’s trip to Cosi that I had recently talked about. I figured why not share them now?

in my head., personal things., simple joys., this is life.

I Want To Remember.

I had the best day today, one of those days that makes you fall a little bit more in love with life.

Cory got off work early today which meant I got to see him at eleven thirty instead of four o’clock like usual. To celebrate this we headed into town to split a sub from Subway. He recently turned me on to there nine grain honey oat bread, which I had never tried before, and the five seventy five Italian sub. I used to be a cold cut combo on Italian herb and cheese girl, but not anymore. Anyways we got the sub and headed to the park where we spread my parents wedding gift picnic basket under a big tree. It was nice and breezy in the shade and we wanted to stay a little longer. We were thinking of what to do when Cory remembered he had five of his seven Nerf guns in the trunk of his eighty five. We set up the Off bottle and had target practice (which I somehow managed to kick his buns in), told stories, got muddy feet (I never wear shoes) and laughed. It was wonderful.

We eventually packed up our ammo and headed back to my house wear we continued our mission of beating my Crash video game. I’m terrible at video games, so when he finally got frustrated with the part we were stuck on I began to brag about the only video game I’d ever beaten – Bratz Rock Angels in the fifth grade. I put it in to show him, turns out I didn’t beat it after all, I missed an entire mission. Needless to say I’ll be hearing about that for quite some time.

My dad made chili. We ate and then my mom and Cory decided to watch Stargate. I curled up on his chest and fell asleep, he let me lay there until he had to leave.

Today was the type of day I had to record, because today was the type of day I want to remember.

in my head., personal things., simple joys., this is life., time.

This Birthday.

I had an amazing birthday weekend. I woke up on my birthday and opened presents with my family. It was pouring rain, but we went garage sale-ing and headed to Bob Evans where I got a yummy carmel mocha. On the way back we stopped at one last garage sale and found the toaster (plus a lot of other things) I needed to finish finishing/stocking my apartment.

The rain cleared and Cory and I headed into Columbus to finish moving into my apartment. We went to our Wendy’s on the way down. Once there we unpacked, went to Piada and browsed Barnes and Noble. I had a wonderful evening with the man I love, just sitting up and talking late into the night. This morning we woke up and took our time getting around before heading to Half Priced Books. He then took me to COSI. I had the best time there, we even payed the extra ten dollars to see the adventure exhibit before packing up and heading home. My tongue is still blue from the raspberry freeze I got at the gas station.

I loved this weekend – this birthday. It was much better than my last. I don’t feel different or older, I think that was my problem last year. When I turned eighteen I was trying too hard to feel a change that hadn’t occurred – adulthood. Sure I am legally an adult, whatever that means, but I’m still the same me, just in a slightly older body.

a little artsy., personal things., photography., simple joys., this is life.

A Summer Moment.

I just wanted to take the time to record my yesterday. It was wonderful. I’ve been struggling with some things lately and I can finally say that I’m in a good place once again.

Cory and I both stayed the night at a friends the night of her graduation party.

We woke up and he took me home to shower and change, next we went to his house so that he could do the same.

Then he took me into town and treated me to brunch at Bob Evans. He had a breakfast platter with eggs over easy, cubed potatoes, sausage and french toast. I had half of a turkey, bacon melt sandwich and a cup of loaded baked potato soup. We shared a bottomless carmel mocha (delicious) and he commented how whenever you go somewhere they take forever to bring you any fancy coffee refills so that you can’t drink “too much”.

We then spent the afternoon at the flee market, digging through boxes and reminiscing. He bought me the cutest beanie babe seal named Iceburg and I couldn’t wipe the smile off of my face.

After the market he took me to see Despicable Me 2. It was amazing, maybe even better than the first. I took Iceburg with me inside.

On the way home he held my hand and simply said “Now this is a ‘summer moment.'” I couldn’t have agreed anymore.

Once we were at my house he helped me set up for the shoot I’d been dreaming of for awhile (see image below).

He left and my lovely girls came to be photographed.

After the session we headed to Shantels to swim. Instead of swimming we ate hamburgers and Fritos and played Apples to Apples.

It truly was the perfect day.

To see more of my photography work check out my Facebook page here.

<3 Kaitlyn

faith., in my head., personal things., simple joys., this is life.

Being Loved.

I am loved.

I am so so sooo loved.

By my God,

my parents,

my Cory.

And it’s amazing. It’s amazing just how much we as humans are capable of loving and being loved in return.
I just finished reading three things.

The Bible.

Not the whole thing of course, just a little chunk. I try to do this each night, and it never fails to astonish me just how great God’s love for me truly is.

My mom’s letter.

My mom wrote me a letter when I was a week old, she sealed it up and gave it to me on my sixteenth birthday. The perspective it gave me was amazing, the newness of me, of what that was like, of unfathomable love.

My Cory’s letter.

Cory wrote me a letter and gave it to me on our first Valentines Day together over a year ago. We had been dating only twenty one days, it was a list of twenty one things he loved about me. They were all sweet, innocent things. Things that showed how much he listened, observed, cared. He had yet to tell me he loved me when he gave me that letter, but I knew. I knew because I loved him too. And each day, although I don’t think it could be possible, I fall a little deeper in love with him. The way he listens instead of talks, his witty comebacks, his strong arms when he holds me, the way he tucks my hair behind my ear, how I can sometimes see him studying my face – trying to read my thoughts – out of the corner of my eye.

faith., in my head., personal things., simple joys., this is life., time.

To Live the Life.

I woke up Sunday night worried about how I was going to pay for next years rent. I began to pray, talking to God until I fell asleep. That morning my boss called me offering an extra class to teach (the new Mommy and Me class). On top of that I’ve also booked a senior photo session and a possible wedding. God is good. I owe it all to him. Yes I have the initiative, but he sees it through. He is the only reason I’ve made it as far as I have. I realize that God brought me to my school, my job and my apartment, he won’t leave me without the means to live the life he’s given me. I’m not extravagant, I am just a young women who prays and goes where she feels she is being lead. I’ve given it all up to God, he leads I follow. I’m trying my hardest to completely trust in him, to not worry. If he has lead me to it he will certainly lead me through it. I know that this year is going to be much harder for me, my best friend and boyfriend were both forced to leave the city, but I’m hoping that it will all bring me closer to God. I believe that he’s doing all of this for a reason. For that I am staying positive, I’m in a good place now. I am sooo close to having my rent made for next year and for now I’ll count that as a huge win. I’m learning to take it one step at a time and put my worries in the hands of God. After all he is the only one who knows what the future holds – he’s the only one who’s ever been there.

faith., giving back., in my head., personal things., photography., this is life.

This Whole Job Thing.

I’ve had conflicted feelings about getting a “summer” job. I got one actually, at Subway, but ended up turning it down realizing I’m already working two “real” jobs that I love.

With all of my friends getting hired at different places as summer help, I can’t help but feel guilty sitting at home all day in front of photoshop. I just feel as if I’m cheating on a part of my life – a “teenage” job that I hate, like I have to pay my dues to be happy. Cory told me that I’m nuts, that most people work their whole lives to get to have a job that they love, he says the goal is to feel like you’re not working at all. I know that he’s right, that God has blessed me with not one but two wonderful, well above minimum wage, jobs that I more than look forward to each morning as I wake up. So why do I feel like this is all so wrong? Why am I embarrassed that I’m not flipping burgers at Mickey D’s? I wish I could answer this because it has had me stressed beyond belief.

I am a young business woman, starting a successful photography business at the age of fifteen. I am a determined young lady, landing a job at a well known dance studio just outside of Columbus when they weren’t even hiring. I know that my hard work has gotten me where I am, that my mature nature landed me the jobs of my dreams in my teen years. All this considered, I can’t help but feel as if I’ve cheated a little bit, that I zoomed past the “teen” job landing an “adult” job instead. Believe me, I am NOT complaining about this at all, I love that work doesn’t feel like work to me. All I am saying is that I’ve been feeling a tad bit guilty knowing I’m editing in the a.c. while my boyfriend is frying on a mower under the hot summer sun.

It’s a God thing. I have no other explanation for how I got so lucky. I know that I am responsible, determined, hard working and organized, but I also know that on my own those traits can only get me so far, the rest is in God’s hands. I’m trying to lose these feelings of uneasiness over this whole job thing. I’m done questioning. Instead I’ll send up a prayer of thanks and enjoy the opportunities I’ve been given. I believe I can do great things – make a difference in many young lives. I have been placed in two amazing positions in which I can spread my wings and soar. You can’t say that about every “summer” job. I have been blessed and I have promised myself to take full advantage of the opportunities at hand. Cory’s right, I have what most people want. Why question? Why not just enjoy?