The Perfect Prom

Prom was magical.

The perfect night spend with the perfect people. It was 80 degrees. The food was good. The dance was fun. The smiles were big.

It was perfect. All thanks to this guy. 

He's such a sweetheart

The day started at 7am. I woke up early. Really early. I couldn't sleep; I was way too excited. I joined my little brother and my dad for breakfast, and then I was out the door by 9 to help out at the dance studio selling t-shirts. I swear I live there. Anyway, 12pm was the hair appointment, which was a lot of "Let's try..." and "I don't care  for that much..." and "Yes! That's exactly what I envisioned!" after an hour and a half of back and forth and many taken out braids,  ended up with this.

Not to brag, but my hair is getting pretty long.

And I loved it! I know it's a terrible picture, but that's what I get for using a phone camera. What can I say? Then came the make up and the primping. I won't bore you with the details on that one, but here is the end result of about 2 and 1/2 hours of hogging the bathroom.

Bam - Eyes

Then came the packing, and finally, the dress and shoes. And then the date.

And man, did he look handsome.

New Favorite Picture

After pictures at my house, we went back to his parents house to get more pictures and then it was off to group pictures. It was hot. Really hot. But I wasn't complaining (ok, yes I was) because it wasn't freezing. It was nice not having to worry about forgetting a coat and it's definitely easier to smile when you're not shivering.

The Group

Then came dinner, which was really good, I thought. It was a buffet style, and the waiters released everyone by tables. They had a mini salad bar, grilled veggies, chicken with Alfredo, beef with mushrooms, garlic mashed potatoes, and a build your own pasta station. (I took a pass on the pasta, but everyone said it was really good.)

And then it was dance time, and boy did we dance. I sang along to ever song I knew, and made a complete and utter fool out of myself. But hey, that's what prom is for, right? 

At the dance there was a photo booth where it takes 4 pictures, each 5 seconds apart, and you can see yourself on a little T.V. screen. The pictures were included, and they ended up being my favorite of the night.

Mini Film Strip

Our version of Charlie's Angels

"Point your  gun at the camera!"

Awkward

Embrace the awkward

At midnight the dance came to an end, and we were proudly the last ones on the dance floor.

We then bowled three games in two hours. I officially suck at bowling.

Big Boy buffet for more food at 2 am, then Shane's mansion of a house for hot tubbing until 4:30 am and movie watching and sleeping at 5 am, just to wake up at 7 am.

Perfect night.
Perfect people.
Perfect date.
Perfect prom.

Mother's Day Meal

For Mother's Day our family friend Dave, aka master chef, grilled brisket for fajitas. While we were waiting for dinner, we made guacamole, and I ended up eating a lot of it, so I wasn't hungry by the time it came to eat our actually meal. So instead I took pictures. Makes sense.  Here are some shots. 

Pepsi never looked so good

Pico de gallo

Pure heaven? Yes.

4 Weeks and Counting

I had a count down until Summer going.

There is nothing worse than realizing that you're one week off on your count down and you actually have 4 weeks left, and not just 3.

I'm so ready to be out of school. I need another spring break, bad. People say "don't wish away your life!" Well, I wouldn't mind if the next 4 weeks just flew by. I really wouldn't. I currently don't have a life as it is.

I'm going to go insane.

There are projects I want to try and the weather is too nice to be cooped up inside all day. It's like torture. I just want to be spending my days with the people I actually care for, which, frankly, doesn't include 99% of the people I'm forced to see ever day.

I want to get out and get my camera going. I want to be biking every morning. I want to be able to stay up late one night if I'm working on something and be able to sleep in an hour or two extra. I want to wake up and make coffee and breakfast, and shower when I feel like it. I want a summer job, so I can do the fun summer things teenagers often do without having to smuggle money off my parents. I want to eat ice cream and drink frapppuccinos. I want to swim. And tan. And live off iced tea and lemonade.

So ready for Summer.

Mother's Day

This day goes out to all those moms out there. Moms, Grandmas, Aunts, Step Moms, Mothers in Law, Honorary Moms, any woman who had ever loved a child in the way that only a mother can. Your kisses have healing powers. Your food always tastes better. You find everything that’s lost. Your hugs are the warmest. Your smile is the brightest. This day is for you. Thank you.

The Begining of my Graphic Arts Career

Things are finally starting to fall in place. I was recently entered in a MITES, Michigan Industrial and Technology Education Society, competition for graphics at our school, and not only did I win 1st place in the category that my project was entered, but I won first overall. Out of every project. There were 350+ projects entered.

I like to think that it's kind of a big deal.

This is only the regional competition. My project will now go to the state level, and then hopefully national. It's exciting stuff.

I've found something that I'm good at, that I enjoy, and that is a practical career. There are so many doors opened with graphic design, it's insane.

And so that's what I plan on going into.

Kate Troxell - Graphic Designer

And photographer, of course.

I'm excited for my future. I feel like I actually have a shot of making it big and being someone now.

And I'm only 17.

Life is looking up.