So I’ve been light on the updates lately. Sorry about that for the few of you who read this! The past month or so has been really good… and really bad. Some things that happened:

• My beloved family dog Mac was put to sleep on my birthday. He was 14 and in a lot of pain, but it was still very hard for everyone in my family- especially my mother.
• Which is why- they got a new puppy! My mom did not think she wanted another dog so soon, but eventually she caved and they got an adorable little golden puppy named Tucker.
• I did not get the job that I wanted and was planning on. My internship with the company is over now and I’m back at it looking for work. This has been really hard on me since I feel like a failure for STILL being unemployed 4 1/2 months after moving to Austin.
• Jake and I joined a kickball team and have made a bunch of new friends. I don’t have any close girlfriends yet, but I’m getting there. I am terrible at kickball as you can imagine, but it is still really fun!

• This past week I got some sort of flu/cold and was really sick for a few days. It was really bad on Thursday- Jake’s birthday. I finally feel better and do not have a fever, but the cold is sticking around.
• This weekend we are headed home (to MD) for my roommate Danielle’s wedding! I am in the wedding and am getting very excited since weddings are always a good time, especially with friends.
• A few weeks ago we went to the Austin City Limits music festival for three long days and had an awesome time. It was gorgeous weather the first day, torrential downpours the second day, and more mud than I have ever seen the third day.
• It is starting to cool down into the 70s and and almost 60s around here, which is pretty close to fall weather for Texas, so that feels nice. But, there are no colored leaves and crisp days-yet.
• My mom visited us last weekend on her way to a conference in Dallas and I took zero pictures the whole weekend. But, despite rain we had a really great time shopping, getting our nails done, and just hanging out. Love you mommy!

I think that covers most of what has been going on the past month or so, and I’ll start putting up some pics that I took along the way. Miss you all. xoxo, clare