ArtPrize

source

I must say, Grand Rapids feels most alive in the fall. Hands down.

 

Just when everything else in nature is preparing to hibernate for the long, snowy months ahead, ArtPrize comes along and BAM!, suddenly you have something to occupy your evenings that doesn't involve Netflix and Two Minute Mug Brownies. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.)

 

Part arts festival, part social experiment--this international contest is decided solely by public vote. (source)

 

Over a thousand artists from around the world fill downtown GR and the surrounding neighborhoods with art. Massive amounts of art. It's amazing, really. ArtPrize is unique in the sense that there are really no parameters set on the definition of art. Sure, you have your standard gorgeous paintings and blown glass sculptures, but there are also pieces on a much larger scale.

 

Like The Nessie Project from 2009.

 

 

 

Or Steampig from 2010.

 

 

Anything goes. Paintings. Music. Performance art. Photography. A giant table and chairs on a bridge.

 

And it really sparks conversation. At the height of the competition, it's all anyone can talk about. Normally a fairly quiet city, GR is flooded with hundreds of thousands of people during ArtPrize. I love the sense of community and pride that is felt so strongly over the course of the competition. The energy is palpable.

 

ArtPrize officially begins this Wednesday and runs through early October, although much of the art remains for much longer. I know what my evenings will be consisting of for the next few weeks.

 

 

I am so proud to call this place my home.

between the bookends (vol. I)

Welcome to the very first installment of Between the Bookends here at life is (grand)! Reading has been a lifelong passion of mine. I'm excited to share my thoughts on a few books, for whatever it's worth. Let me know what you think. I'm always open to recommendations; if you've read anything awesome lately, send it my way!

Now, without further ado...

Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin

This novel chronicles the life of the real-life Alice in Wonderland, Alice Liddell. Little is known about her personal life and her odd relationship with the eccentric Charles Dodgson. History would come to know Mr. Dodgson as Lewis Carroll, author of the Alice stories and nonsensical poetry. Alice I Have Been fills in the gaps that history has long forgotten, and provides an interesting perspective to the story we've all grown up with.

The Alice stories have long been a favorite of mine, probably because I've always felt a certain kinship with Alice and her daydreaming ways. While I loved the concept of this book, I wasn't crazy about the writing itself.

 
Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman 

This gothic-like novel tells the story of Jane Hudson, who is a Latin teacher at Heart Lake Academy, a girls boarding school in upstate New York. Herself a graduate of Heart Lake, Jane accepts a teaching position at her alma mater after separating from her husband. However, she is wary of returning; she is haunted by the deaths of her friends who committed suicide in their senior year. From the moment Jane sets foot back at Heart Lake, the events of her senior year begin to replay themselves with the current generation of students.

This was one of my favorite books in high school, and I came back to it this summer for an easy read. While I must admit that I didn't love it as much this time around as I did when I was 16, it is still a great read with an original and captivating story.

Catch Me If You Can by Frank Abagnale, Jr. with Stan Redding

The basis for the movie starring Leonardo DiCapprio and Tom Hanks, this memoir-esque story recounts the exploits of conman Frank Abagnale, Jr. In a span of just a few years, Frank impersonated an airline pilot, doctor, lawyer, and college professor--all before the age of 21. He made thousands of dollars (quite the killing at the time) by writing phony checks and conning a variety of sources. Told completely by Frank himself, Catch Me If You Can truly makes the reader wonder if this story is the honest truth...or just another con.

This was a very interesting read. Frank is an arrogant a**hole, but he knows it, which somehow makes you not totally hate him.

What have you read recently? I'm in the mood for a book that will blow me away.

All images courtesy of Barnes & Noble.

godzilla

I found this via Etsy last week, and I just can't stop laughing...

 

source

According to the Etsy page, this guy was created for an art show in Brooklyn. The theme? "Rebuilding after disaster." Classic.

This has to be the funniest thing I've seen since this.

God, I have a weird sense of humor.

september goals

I love making goals for each month, and this summer I really got out of the habit. Blame it on the wedding and unemployment, or getting lost in Hogwarts, or maybe just my lack of initiative. Regardless of the fact that I graduated college last year, I still look at fall as a new beginning, a time to start fresh...and this is exactly what I'm intending to do. So, without further ado, here's what I hope to accomplish this month! (...that is already nearly half over. Yikes!)

**Complete my first 5k.

**Send out wedding gift thank yous.

**Clean and organize our entire apartment following post-wedding insanity.

**Create at least one of the craft ideas I have swimming around in my head.

**Get back in the swing of regular blog features, including a series centering around ArtPrize.

Near Aral Beach in Empire, MI
Fall 2008

I'm really looking forward to fall this year. Although this season is usually tainted for me because it preludes the inevitable massive Michigan snowfall, I'm determined to enjoy it to its absolute fullest this year. Pumpkin spice lattes, ArtPrize, Sam Adams Octoberfest, and a birthday trip to Mackinac Island...I'm ready to fall for fall.

oh, honey...



source





Have you ever had a harebrained idea that you just couldn't shake? An idea that every time it crossed your mind your stomach did flipflops and your mind raced with possibility? Something so random, yet so right, yet also so crazy?

 

I think I'm having a quarter-life crisis.

 

**American Dad!

Ok, I know this show is incredibly stupid, but it makes me laugh. Ok, Roger makes me laugh (no surprises there). But hey, laughter is a good thing, even if it's at the expense of a cross-dressing extraterrestial wino.

 

source

 

 **Thai food.

In recent weeks, Kyle and I have made it a tradition to get Thai for dinner on Sunday nights. It's become a way for us to wind down the weekend and relax. Erb Thai is a restaurant just a couple blocks from our house and it's seriously fantastic. My favorite is basil curry with tofu.

 

**Urban beekeeping.

Seriously. I've always had a bit of a fascination with bees, and I collect jars of various local raw honey like most people collect bottles of wine. I want a bee hive, but I'm not really into the idea of living in the country. Turns out, urban beekeeping is totally a thing! I'm not sure if this is a realistic endeavor for me right now, but I'm seriously researching it. I even splurged on this book last weekend. I would love to make my own honey! (With the help of the bees, of course.)

source

**Fashion and design daydreams.

Lately I feel like I've been in a bit of a rut with my wardrobe and house decor. I need to shake things up a bit. Rather than buying new things, I'm going to go the opposite way and purge our closets/storage room. I'm hoping having less will give me new perspective on what to do with things I already have. Repurpose and upcycle!

 

**(Pretend) Vacation planning.

Since returning from our honeymoon, I've been just dying to go on another vacation. I work near the airport, and from my office window and I can see planes taking off to their various destinations. I seriously debate about 12 times a day just hopping a jet to anywhere and calling Kyle when I get there to hop the next flight. Currently, we want to go on an Alaskan cruise, to Cancun, to every National Park, and to Paris. Hey, a girl can dream.

 

source

What are you currently loving?

wedding day redux

The day began with rain; but ended with sunshine, dancing, and an impromptu cabaret.

Looking back, everything feels like blur, but it was so wonderful. We spent every minute surrounded by our amazing families and our closest friends who have become our family. I can honestly say that was the best part of our entire day.

I spent the morning getting ready with my bridesmaids, listening to Adele, and trying to breathe. My lovely friend Sarah did an amazing job on our hair. She has been doing my hair in her kitchen sink for 4 years now; but she recently moved with her husband across the state. We miss them like crazy, and I'm so glad she was able to take care of me on my wedding day.

 The ceremony was beautiful and so us. My dad walked me down the aisle to the theme from Somewhere in Time. I was so nervous, but I just never took my eyes off of Kyle. Our dear friends and former roommates, Arielle and Darion, sang Beautiful Surprise by India Arie; then Morgan (bridesmaid and BFF) read an excerpt from the book The Princess Bride, followed by Jeff (groomsman and BFF) reading a portion of 1 Corinthians 13 (Love is patient, etc., etc.). The message and prayer given by John, the campus minister at GVSU, our alma mater, was meaningful and so personal (and short!). The ceremony ended with Arielle and Darion singing Stand by Me by Ben E. King, and the new Mr. & Mrs. walking up the aisle to the theme from Superman. (Seriously.)

Then, we had fun in downtown GR taking pictures with the lovely Wendi & Bonnie of Wendi Curtis Photography. I currently only have a handful of the literal hundreds that she took, so I'll post a few more of our favorites when we get them.

The reception was wonderful and just so much fun. We walked in to Everybody Needs Somebody to Love from The Blues Brothers (Thank you, Dan Aykroyd.) and were met with insane amounts of excitement and applause. My dad recited a poem he had written, and we listened to amazing toasts given by Matt (best man and brother) and Shannon (maid of honor and BFF). I seriously cannot say enough how great it was to be surrounded by our beautiful family and friends. We felt so much love and support on that day, and always. We're truly honored.

Kyle and I danced our first dance as husband and wife (!) to Lucky by Jason Mraz (Kyle's pick). Then, we danced with our parents to Landslide by Fleetwood Mac. Kyle also sang to me a song he wrote, just for us. (I'll see about getting that video put up.) Later on, Morgan saved the day by making sure I got to dance to some Springsteen. (Because what's a wedding without Thunder Road?) We spent the rest of the evening dancing the night away with the greatest people on earth. Oh, and eating cake. Seriously delicious red velvet cake with 4 pounds of cream cheese frosting. Yeah, awesome.

As the evening began winding down, some of our friends serenaded us. Leave it to actors--everything has to be a performance. =) Our friends and family are seriously so talented. Arielle and Darion sang a song from Wicked (guilty pleasure #484832), and Morgan sang a bit of Elton John.

We really hated to see the day end.  It was so crazy, beautiful, and slightly messy. Not everything went as planned, but in the end, it didn't even remotely matter. A group of us lingered outside of St. Cecilia's around midnight, not wanting to say the last goodbyes. Many of our friends were leaving for grad school or returning to their various lives around the state and country, so it could be a long time before we're all together again.

I'm just so freakin' grateful for our family and friends. Our parents, bridal party, family, and friends are without a doubt the most wonderful people on the whole freakin' planet. As I said to Arielle, we only invited family to the wedding. Truly, our closest friends have become our family, and family is what matters. Period.

 And that was our beautiful blur of a day. I wouldn't change a thing.

All images courtesy of Wendi Curtis Photography.