I'm Moving!

Hi everyone! 

I am so excited to announce that Makena Granger is MOVING! Blogger has been so good to me over the years, but it's time to get a big-girl website. After many months of consideration/frustration I have decided to move to a Squarespace. I wanted a place where I can showcase everything: photos, blog posts, random projects. Now I finally have a platform to do it. So if you wouldn't mind, please head on over to makenagranger.com and see for yourself!

All my love, 

Makena 

NYC Winter.

These are photos from just a regular February Sunday here in NYC. Apologies for all of the winter photos lately, but there isn't much else going on here. New York is a giant Popsicle and I'm beginning to crave some summer heat. I'm going to try to update here a little more often, just posting photos of life here. If you haven't heard, I recently purchased a new (to me) camera and it is already changing my world. I am so excited to share these and more photos with you. Enjoy! 

Juno.

"Blizzards" and snow days are the perfect times to play with friends and go on some unexpected adventures. I'm thankful for these days. 

Civil Twilight

Routine.

I'm learning that routine and human interaction looks very different both in a new city and in a new stage of life. Every morning, for example, I do my best to leave my apartment at the same time, to catch the same train, to get to work at the same time. Every morning I see a Jewish school bus stop at the same apartment and honk a few times until a little Jewish boy, curls bouncing, runs out the door. I then pass the same crossing guard, typically chatting with a mother and her child on their way to school. I get into the station and people power walk to the turnstile. Usually they're trying to catch the train going the opposite direction, because that one comes a few minutes before mine. I get onto the platform and I pass a group of Chinese men standing against the same pillar, laughing and I suppose chatting about their nights. I ride the train in a crowd of people, most of whom are quiet and dreary eyed, trying to soak up the last moments of semi-solitude before the bombardment of office life. Train transfer, on to the next one. And then I'm in the station, walking toward the exit. I see the same woman, telling us all 'good morning' and passing out AM New York. I walk up the stairs smelling egg and cheese bagels from the little cart strategically placed outside. I make the walk through the wind tunnels, I cross the crosswalks, and then I'm walking through the revolving doors into my building. 

This is far from anything I've experienced in my life. Yes, I've had routines, per se, but none containing so much human interaction. I read an article a few months ago about how these sorts of commutes actually lead to a happier self. I think I scoffed at it at first. Who could possibly be happier crammed like sardines into a train with a bunch of strangers? But I think I'm beginning to see what they meant. Knowing you're not alone in this life, that people have the same routines you do is oddly comforting. It's through the people I see that I know it's another day, full of potential. 

If you're friends with me on Facebook, you already know this, but this routine is about to become all the more permanent. I've accepted a position at Edelman, full-time. This New York thing is going to be much more than a thing, it seems. Life is so very exciting. 

All the best, 

Makena 

Adventures with Friends.

How grateful I am for my friends and the adventures we share. Here's a little behind the scenes photo diary of a shoot Taylor (above) organized while I was in Raleigh over the holidays. 

Significant Moments of 2014.

It took me a while to compose this. This has been an incredible year. It's been full of change and learning. It's hard to narrow down 365 days to a mere blog post, let alone select the significant moments worth sharing. Growing up is a scary thing and this year I think I did a lot of it. I've learned that life can get pretty hard. That things just don't always work out the way I want them to. I've also learned that life can be so much better than I thought, if I just trust in His plan for me.

This year I:

Kicked off 2014 by celebrating with wonderful friends in downtown Raleigh,

Worked as photo editor for Garnet & Black for two additional issues,

Traveled to New Orleans with my Midtown family whom I miss terribly,

Took thousands of portrait photos for my graduating friends, 

I graduated from the University of South Carolina,

And celebrated the end of a chapter with my amazing family,

I explored Charleston a little more, 

I made new, wonderful friends, such as Taylor while in the Holy City,

Adventured in Asheville and the NC mountains, 

Visited Nashville,

Spent a few hours with my wonderful friend Christina in Music City,

Went to Bonnaroo with my family for the second time,

Visited New York City (before moving there),

Soaked up OBX with family, 

Took a spontaneous road trip with Suzanne to Niagara Falls, 

And Toronto, 

I MOVED to New York City. One of the biggest steps in this dream chasing journey,

HUGE thanks to my family to driving all the way up here with my belongings. Y'all are the best.

Began working for Resound Magazine (one of the best decisions of my life),

Went to the New York countryside, 

I began an internship at an incredible company, Edelman,

And made countless new friends all over the place.

I made so many beautiful memories, met inspiring people, and learned a ton. I have no resolutions for the New Year other than to keep on doing the best to make the most of my life, love other people, and seek beauty constantly. 

Stay tuned for some changes to the blog in 2015. Happy New Year!