Housing Hunting

in Rockford

Lately, my life is starting to try to get into the mode of "finality". Trying to talk little old Michael into that ring, you know... and maybe that's a bad approach. I've recently decided to let him make that decision for himself. However we have done a lot of house hunting lately, which is a promising idea. But Mike and I have always had very different tastes and finding something that meets all of our wants is... tricky...

For starters, although I love living nearby work in Kentwood, Mike is dead set on living in his good old Rockford. Okay, not a problem. Although I love that short commute, Rockford has great schools and it's got lots of great photo locations, not to mention close to downtown GR, so I'm cool with that. Price of course is an issue. And the fact that Mike still has his house makes it tricky. And then there's the loan type... if we can stay under $150,000, I think we'll make it. Also, I want a house that doesn't need a lot of work done to it. Mostly, I want to be able to move in and feel at home. Not be stuck in a construction zone for God knows how long. Little fixes and painting, no worries, but nothing too extensive, especially since that'll add to the money we have to shell out for it.

The biggest issue is that Mike wants some property so he can hunt. But there is nothing within a reasonable driving distance of work. The only one we found was too highly priced and needed a lot of work on the house. Mike's kind of not into that one anymore, but it's so tricky to find the amount of property with the right landscape for this. I don't know if he can compromise on this, and I don't really want him to. But my lease is up at the end of July...

Anyway, what I am getting at with this post is that I am hopeful. Our realtor, Scott, has eight houses he's working on getting us into at 11am on Saturday. A lot of them I picked, and there's a few Mike wanted to see. So wish us luck, maybe we'll find a DREAM HOUSE this weekend!

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day Thirty

A picture of someone you miss.

It's the end of the 30 day challenge! I got through it, even though I was a little late posting here and there. Anyway, on the last day, a serious request...

There are a lot of people I miss. A lot of family and friends I don't get to see as much as I used to. Old friendships that kind of faded out as everyone went their separate ways. I definitely miss relatives I've lost, especially my Grandpa. He got sick when I was in eighth grade, those old awkward years, and died my senior year of high school. He was a hilarious guy, and I feel like we would have been much better "friends" now that I'm older and we could have had real conversations.

But there are so many other things I miss so I'm going with this...

This is difficult because I only have digital photos available to me, everything used to be film. But Mandy Ritchie (friend from back in our UP days) had this on FB... it's a bunch of us kids on vacation (l to r: Kara, me, cousin Jeff being buried, cousin Greg, Nate, and Lance). The person I miss most (at least for the purpose of this post) is little me! The reason for this is that back when I was younger, everyone and everything I miss from back in the day was still around. Friends, family, the good times we had, all still there. Not to mention life was so much easier, more fun and carefree. I miss the fun times with my two old best friends from firth through third grade, Lindsey and Danielle. I miss going up north with my whole family. I miss playing ACEZ with Kara and Nicole every summer and all the crazy music videos I made us make. I miss HHS and my good buddies from back then (oh man... Krystal, Joe, Brian, Amanda, Alan, Cody, Martin, Eric, just to name a few), euchre all day everyday. I miss high school dances and yearbook class. I even kind of miss the Durango! I miss the family members I've lost. I miss freshman year of college and the awesome fun of KP3. I miss all the friends that left after we graduated... Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't change my life for anything, but it's nice to reminsce every now and then about how it used to be.

Thanks for reading my 30 Day Challenge! It was actually kind of fun!

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day Twenty-Nine

A picture that can always make you smile.

This is Misser (or Bart, or Broicher, or just plain old Sandy...) who was our cat from 1993 until 2009 I think. He topped out at 35 lbs at his largest. He was a mean thing, but look at him. He's just wonderful.

Kara had this photo on her facebook page. It made me smile :-)

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day Twenty-Eight

A picture of something you are afraid of.

While I defend a person's right to own or carry a weapon, it doesn't mean the things don't scare me. I had a rather unsettling dream at the age of 9 or 10 that still freaks me out to this day, and yes, it involved guns and being shot. Not to mention when I woke up and crawled into bed with my parents, I glanced toward to door and saw someone's head popping up at the end of the bed. Granted it was my dad's foot sticking out of the covers, but I was already freaked out. *shiver*

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day Twenty-Seven

A picture of you and a family member.

I suppose my dad should get in on the action. Here's one of us!

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day Twenty-Six

A picture of something that means a lot to you.

I thought this one would be hard but actually, it isn't. Something (although techincally it is things) that means a lot to me are my eyes. And it's not because they are just SO BEAUTIFUL (hehe, I'm being sarcastic, but I do think they are one of my better features I guess!) I am a visual person (can you believe it?) and that's pretty much how I make my living, seeing things. I don't know what I would do without these babies. I have 20/20 vision still at this point, and I hope to take good care of them long into my life so they can keep me able to do what I love! Better eat some carrots for lunch today...

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day Twenty-Five

A picture of your favorite day.

Phew! Almost done with the challenge. And surprisingly, I think I am only one day off of where I originally should have been. Impressive! Anyway, on to another tricky entry...

There are tons of days that I like. If you are being nebulous, I like my birthday usually, or Christmas. If you want to talk about days of the week, man, I'm pretty partial to Fridays for a lot of reasons. Or if you want to be difficult, you could ask what day in your life has been your favorite. I could never pick that, partially because I probably didn't take photos of that day, or because I just have so many to choose from.

SO, I will pick one from a couple years ago. My friend from college, Allison, married her high school (even middle school if memory serves) sweetheart. Her wedding was in Hudsonville in July. Even though I totally didn't think he'd agree to it, I asked my new "fling", Mike, to go with me and he said he would go! Not only was it an awesome time hanging out with some of the girls, but Mike and I danced the night away (sort of anyway ;). Not to mention, when the music had to stop at midnight, NO ONE was ready to go home! It was a blast!

Also, I figured I should include a photo of the people who got married, Jeff and Allison Rae. Strangely enough, my favorite photographer (who I just can't stop mentioning, apparently) was their photographer. That's how I first heard of Summer Jean Photography!

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day Twenty-Four

A picture of something you wish you could change.

Okay, I'll go ahead and say it. I wish I could change my chest. Yeah it does wonders for that hourglass figure. But man, wouldn't I would give to be a "C".

Please excuse the Halloween costume... Not the best shot of 'em but there they are. Couldn't miss them. And forget running, unless you want a black eye ;) They aren't easy to flatter. Shirts never fit right. And all the cute outfits that look great on smaller women make me look like a hoochie! Okay okay, I'm done! Hehe.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day Twenty-Three

A picture of your favorite book.

You know, I hate it when someone asks "what is your favorite band?" or "movie?" or "book?" because it's so hard to pick just one. Sometimes what you like best is determined by your mood. For instance, I could NEVER pick a favorite song, because on somedays, all I want to listen to is the upbeat pop music, and on others, those sad, slow songs are my thing...

As for books. I've read SO MANY that it's really hard to pin it down. I like a lot of Stephen King, I really enjoy the Harry Potter series, and currently I am reading the Jim Butcher series, The Dresden Files (which I got into thanks to my buddy, Judy). I have shelves of books and I am always looking for more. Bought a few yesterday, in fact.

Okay, so I'm dragging this out, so I'll go ahead and just pick one of my all time favorites...

It's long, a thick and juicy novel. I read it first in 6th grade for Accelerated Reading and every couple of years since college started I will get into it again. It's pretty timeless, I suppose, and even though Scarlette is a bitch, it's fun to read about her! Oh, and the movie doesn't do it justice, they left out a lot of key parts!!!

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day Twenty-Two

A photo of something you wish you were better at.

I could REALLY be redundant and AGAIN mention photography, because I will NEVER be as good as I want to be (which means you keep striving for better and better, it's a good thing!) but instead we'll make it simple. It's so so true...

I desperately wish I could just automatically be good a cooking (and since this photo has veggies... and tomatoes, and mushrooms...) so that I could wow friends and family with my talents. Alas, the only thing I'm a pro at is pasta for one, sometimes two ;-) Working on it...

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day Twenty-One

A picture of something you wish you could forget.

Talk about difficult. There are probably tons of things I would like to forget, but honestly (and I'm not trying to be all cliche here, this is really true), all the mistakes you make are things you learn from. I don't really feel like there are a lot of things in my life that would be worth forgetting because they help you become who you are. Hey guys, I'm not any expert of life by any means, and I'm not trying to be all philisophical because I don't know anything really, but seriously, that's what I believe.

SO! Since most of my life isn't worth forgetting... I would like to forget how flat my hair is. I need some volume or to learn some tricks here. Sheesh! ;-)

This photo is of me and Jessica last summer when I went to visit her in Florida... look how FLAT my hair is! You'd think I'd have learned some skills in volumizing it by now... ugh ;-)

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day Twenty

A picture of a place you'd love to travel.

I think I'm about a day behind here but that's okay... Anyway, to continue, I would LOVE to make it all the way over to New Zealand someday. My great dislike of flying notwithstanding, I want to see the amazing sites in person that I've only seen on film thus far. The mountains, the valleys, the ocean, it's beautiful. This photo is of the Bay of Islands of New Zealand.

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day Nineteen

A picture and a letter.

So I wasn't sure what kind of letter they were thinking, so I just decided to run with it. Although this is kind of difficult for me to do... I am going to post a letter, and then a picture I didn't think I'd share with anyone. I suppose that not that many people read this blog so maybe it would be safe to do it... anyway I had them taken in January and it felt awesome!

DEAR ME
Remember this shot? You weren't in any sort of great shape or at the best weight you've ever been. You weren't eating only two veggies a day, and you STILL looked and felt amazing. How about whenever you are feeling down and depressed about not having the perfect hair or clothes or body, you think about how beautiful you looked in this photo and remember that it's not necessarily about how you look but how you FEEL about yourself. Feel pretty!
*JENNA*

Photo by Summer Jean Photography

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day Eighteen

A picture of your biggest insecurity.

I hate to fail. I'm terrified to find out that my abilities are inadequate, or to leave someone disappointed in my efforts. I think it's a big downfall for this to be your insecurity, because it causes me to not strive to take that risk, to be better than I am if there's a chance that it will blow up in my face. I have a few others, but I think this one is the root of me. For instance, I am so nervous about my photography business. Although it is doing pretty well for as long as I've been at it, I always worry "What if things don't go the way I want them to? What if this client isn't happy with their photos?". I want SO MUCH to be a success and to be able to support myself someday through my photography, but there's always that nagging little insecurity in the back of my mind, asking what if I do something wrong??? I don't really know how to show this in a photograph... but this kind of sums it up (thank you internet photo search!).

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day Seventeen

A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.

This is Michael Hoekstra. I guess he's my boyfriend ;-). He tends to take up a lot of my time, so it would be fair to say he's had a pretty damn big impact on my life, for the past three years. Although we have our trouble, I love him and spending time together (except at the casino, he's mean when he loses money!). He's a good cuddler. Don't tell him I told you that...

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day Sixteen

A picture of someone who inspires you.

This is my grandma, Wanda. She is an amazing person. She has gotten through a ton in her life, losing a son when he was 18 years old, taking care of a husband for five years before he passed away, watching all her siblings go before her (her last surviving sister is not doing so well right now... love you Aunt Blanche!), and yet she has this amazing, unshakeable faith that if I have half of someday, I'll feel complete. Her entire family loves her TONS and I just can't imagine my life without this great ol' grandma!

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day Fifteen

A picture of something you want to do before you die.

Always a tricky thing to choose... it's very tricky to choose a bucket list sort of item as this is asking for. There isn't anything terribly daring I'd like to do (like skydiving... because I already did that!), and I hate to just pick a place I'd like to go because I think that comes up in a couple days...

Other things are hard to do a photo of... since they haven't happened yet (getting married, having kidlets, etc.), I could put a pic of any old person up here and call it good but it wouldn't feel authentic. So I went with this!

There are a lot of photographers in GR that I look up to. I'm still a "baby" in the industry, and although I am making steps to improve and grow, I've still got a ways to go. The above photo is one by one of my favorite photographers, Summer Osborn (she's the one that did the photo of me from my first post, remember?). Something I would like to do before I die would have to be acheive a level of skill and ability, talent and clientele that takes my photography business and dreams to a level or great success. I don't want to be famous and I don't need to be rich, but I want to have that confidence that my work is top notch, like Summer's here!

Oh, and just for the record, since this IS a wedding photo, I would like to get married too ;)

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day Fourteen

A person you couldn't imagine your life without.

It's really nice to have a sister. I miss mine, we don't live close by each other anymore. I still like her ;)

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day Thirteen

A picture of your favorite band or artist.

At the risk of looking silly... ahhh, who cares anymore? I admit it, I like the Backstreet Boys. I was a fan back in middle school and high school, and though I wouldn't admit it, for a good couple of years, their posters were symmetrically and strategically placed around my bedroom. I don't think I would go so far as to say they are my favorite anymore (see below) but I couldn't resist putting them (with the New Kids) up since I'm going to see them in May. Yay.

I very much love Chris Daughtry (his second album is one of my favorites of all time!)...

Jimmy Eat World (they are amazing live!)...

...and Train (all their stuff is impressive to me)!

Honorable mention (because there are just so many...) Sara Bareilles, Lifehouse, and Anberlin.