Back to blogging!

Hi- I am sorry for the missed month on my blog. Life got get busy and overwhelming- and then coming back to a task I have put off made it seem much more overwhelming and daunting than it really was.

I started this blog with the intention of writing it like a public journal. I don’t overthink when I write in my own journal (well sometimes haha) so for my blog, I will try to stop overthinking it so much. I want to write consistently, not perfectly.

So even if its a short post I’ll make sure to have one out each week. :)

Anyway with that said- a lot happened since my last post!

I have moved out of D.C., went to Richmond, VA for 3 weeks, and now I’m back to my hometown of Jacksonville, Florida before I gear up for my next big move..

Aruba!

I am so so excited!

I just bought a one way ticket down so it’s getting real. I’m not fully sure where I’m headed after- but starting October 21st I will be a glassblowing assistant at a studio on the island.

It is such a cool, amazing job. I will be assisting the owner in demonstrations, hands on workshops, and helping with his work. There is a gallery and a restaurant at the shop as well.

Also each week I get two hours to make my own work, which is amazing. I feel so lucky that life will be a vacation doing what I love for a few months (as of now) but I’m sure I’ll love island life and try to extend!

I’ll put a link to the studio here and some pictures below

I’m looking forward to be able to swim in crystal clear blue water, ride a bike around the island, cook, explore, snorkel, practice yoga on the beach, and really so much more. I can’t wait!

I think it’ll be really good for my career, artistry, worldly education- and most importantly- my soul!

Part of me has always wanted to live on an island, and I think that comes from my mom growing up in the Florida Keys. I love that life is just a little slower, because it feels a little sweeter. So I couldn’t feel luckier to have this experience in a place like Aruba.

I am really sad to leave my partner, John, and our dog, Sookie, back in the states while I go down.

John is so supportive I am really grateful for him continuously encouraging me to follow my dreams. It’s so hard to leave them for a few months at a time- but we made it through two months last year so we can do three months this year!

Also he’ll be in Miami so luckily only a three hour flight away.

But I have always dreamed about traveling as an artist- and what a great opportunity I couldn’t let pass by. I’m so grateful he not only understands that but wants it for me too.

I had to include some pictures of our little family above- they are too cute.

If I were to extend and stay longer we would definitely figure out how to get him and Sookie down there.

It seems pretty difficult traveling with a dog to and from a foreign country- for longer periods of time. They make some dogs quarantine alone for a week and I do not think Sookie would handle that well.

But if anyone has any advice on bringing dogs in and out of the country I would love to hear! Or any Aruba reccomendations are so appreciated.

I’ll be back on schedule with my Wednesday blog posts this week. I have some more cities to write about from my road trip and also a little overview of my life post college and how I found this job in the works!

Feel free to leave in the comments anything else you’d like me to write about.

Thanks for reading!

Xoxo,

Grace