I believe...

...that folding a fitted sheet is a huge waste of time.

...in moderation.

...that everything happens for a reason.

...that having fun should always always always be your top priority. (see below. so much fun)

...that diet and exercise are great for the body, but even better for the mind.

...that cracking my back in bed is the best way to start my morning.

...that sometimes all you need is a really strong cocktail.

...in procrastination.

...that individuals really do have the power to change the world.

...that senior year has been and will continue to be the best year of my whole life.

some friday morning pinspiration

i could seriously pin all day.

the above come from my words to live by board.

if you're not on pinterest yet, go right now. immediately.

and prepare to spend the rest of your friday oohing and ahhing

senior citizen.

the wall of my dorm room freshman year

My first day of senior year is today! I kind of really can't believe it.

It seems like just yesterday that I was a little baby freshman, throwing up before my first class because I was so nervous. (or maybe it was all the welcome week alcy...)

And now I'm a big bad senior. Everything that happens this year is my last something.

last recruitment,

last first day of school,

last first game day.

I'm so excited for my real life to start,

but I so wish college would stick around a little longer.

reflections on happiness.

Yesterday I woke up to an email from dear ol' dad. He knows how much I swoon over a good quote, and I smiled so much when I read the following:

“A person will be just about as happy as they make up their mind to be."

-Abe Lincoln

Taking accountability for my own happiness is something I've been working on lately. I used to get so worked up over little things and never owned up to the responsibility of making things better for myself. If someone made me mad or sad, it was their fault, not mine. I never took charge of fixing my own mood.

Nowadays, I'm challenging myself to be the boss of being happy.

And it's working.

I am taking ownership of doin' me and making myself happy.

Have a very happy day

:)

laughter is the best medicine.

I found this great little map on Pinterest.

California knows how to party.

--

Click here to follow me on Pinterest.

Do you think your state is accurately represented?

Five Things Friday (or, Where the Hell I've Been Lately)

My dear blog friends,

I have been so MIA lately!

I promise to catch up (at least a little!) with what's been happening in your lives.

But today I present to you a little snippet of the amazingness that has been my life in the past three weeks!

Five Things Friday:

Why I'm Happy to be Alive

1.) I just turned 21! I spent most of the actual day recovering, but it was a wonderful day filled with family and friends and beverages. And now I can do fun things with my older friends! Yay!

2.) Went to Vegas. Fell in love. That place is seriously like adult Disneyland. More to come.

3.) Back in Berkeley for senior year! I got back yesterday and have already had SO.MUCH.FUN. For the next two weeks I'm in full-blown recruitment insanity, but despite the very long days and LOTS of time spent with my sistas, I'm looking forward to my final fall recruitment.

4.) I bought myself a very pretty bracelet! And then I bought the same one for my sister Kendall. Next year when Paige graduates I'll get her one too and they'll be sisterhood bracelets :)

5.) I'm young, able-bodied, have incredible friends and family, and am a senior at the greatest school in the world. What more could I really ask for?

So random, but it really sums up the past few weeks. I'm bummed about the best summer of my entire life ending, but am so looking forward to this coming school year! My planner might be pretty jam-packed for the next couple of weeks, but I made a deal with myself to enjoy every moment of this year. Should get back to that now!

Happy weekend!

Viva Las Vegas

I'm off to Vegas today!

48 hours of sunshine, adult beverages, and best friends.

Cannot wait!

See you Monday!

xo

just can't get enough

As I've gotten older, I've taken more and more style guidance from my mama.

I'm not quite old enough to be rockin' these flipflops yet (sorry mom),

but I do appreciate her devotion to J.Crew, Nordstrom, and Banana.

My favorite store of all now has to be Anthropologie.

I love that it so flawlessly combines older styles with younger, hip ones.

And I DIE over their home goods section.

when will i have my own apartment???

Lil' Mama and I are headed to Anthro today, so I was perusing their website in preparation.

Here are a few of my favorite things!

Adelaide Dress

Love how versatile this could be! You could wear it with sandals for a day of shopping or pair it with heels for a date night or drinks with girlfriends.

Well Spotted Blazer

No words for this one. My two favorite things combined.

Citrus Twist Necklace

I love bold necklaces! This one could liven up a plain work outfit.

Lake & Land Heels

The freakin' cutest.

Love shopping with Mama...she pays :)

21.

My mama's homemade mud pie! This was taken last year but obvi I'm having it again tonight :)

Today is my 21st birthday,

a day I have longed for for quite some time.

I love birthdays,

especially my own.

Pray for my survival today!

Happy August!

Today marks the beginning of my favorite month of the year!

Happy August, everyone!

I love August because...

I'm like that obnoxiously peppy cheerleader in Grease.

"I just love the first day of school, don't you?"

Seriously. I like the first day of school almost as much as I like Christmas.

Back to school shopping means new clothes! And shoes. And school supplies.

The organization I volunteer for always has its summer camp in the beginning of August. I'm headed there next week!

The sun is still shining, I'm rockin' tan lines and freckles on my nose, and I can still feel that hopeful feeling that is typical of summer. This year, I'm going to make sure it extends beyond August. Senior year is just going to be a 10 month long summer.

oh and the best part of August...

My birthday!

I turn the big 2-1 tomorrow. I'm as obsessed as can be with my birthday and I am so excited to begin the celebration in 17 hours and continue on for the following 24.

(That photo is Riley the party animal on my birthday last year!)

So so much to look forward to this month!

My mom and I are going shopping and getting mani/pedis today in celebration of the 21 year anniversary of her going into labor (I certainly took my sweet time coming out!)

Hope your Augusts are off to a fabulous start!