Happy Birthday Paige!

Today is my baby sister Paige's 17th birthday!

Wish I could be there to celebrate with you, girlfran.

You are truly one of the most beautiful people I know,

and I wish you all the happiness in the world during your 17th year!

this year, i am thankful for.....

my health & happiness

berkeley

cupcakes, pies, and muffins, oh my!

getting an education

all the fun memories from this year

my dear friends, without whom i would lack those memories

my family, who is all huddled together this thanksgiving, stuffing our faces with turkey and sweets and remembering what's important in life

Happy Thanksgiving!

May your day be warm, reflective, and full.

happy birthday mom!

today is my beautiful mother's birthday.

i wish my internet connection were stronger at home so that i could post some pictures.

but those will have to wait until i'm back in berkeley!

the most special part of today is remembering my grandpa.

he used to send my aunt and my mom flowers on their birthdays every year,

and today my uncle and my dad both sent my mom flowers in my grandpa's honor.

grieving never gets better, but it gets easier everyday that goes by

especially when you have people you love around you.

happy birthday mom!

i am so glad to be home sharing it with you.

my heart breaks for berkeley

berkeley is a place that has grown to take up a huge place in my heart.

the culture, the history, the intellect--

everything is so vastly rich and wonderful that i am frequently and massively humbled to be an admittedly insignificant part of such a place.

lately, though, berkeley has been hurting in a big way.

extreme budget cuts and fee increases have left campus in a state of turmoil.

students are outraged, and i know in my heart that the administration is doing everything they can to fix things, but they're not doing anything quickly enough.

occupy cal has drawn national attention.

protests have interrupted classes, spirit rallies, and just generally everyday life.

to make matters worse, last tuesday there was a shooting at the business school.

a student brandished a gun and got shot by the cops. he died.

on friday night, as my friends and i were driving to the movie theater to see breaking dawn, we smelled fire. on our way home (3 hours later) we saw a huge fire raging on telegraph (which, if you are unfamiliar with berkeley, is the main thoroughfare).

we soon learned that not only had our favorite restaurant and favorite bar been destroyed, but so had the 39 apartments above the businesses. 70 students are homeless, all of their worldly belongings destroyed, 3 weeks before final exams.

i cannot even begin to imagine.

so, this week, i am going to be especially thankful for my health, happiness, and home.

and i will be even more thankful for my experiences in berkeley these past 3 and a half years.

i ask for your prayers for a place that has truly become my home.

pray for berkeley!

image via

two weeks until thanksgiving!

thanksgiving might just be my favorite holiday.

the food, the family, the feeling.

i can't believe it's only two weeks away!

i'm going home next monday

and i can't wait

because home means hugs from my doggy

and being silly with my sisters

and baking

baking

baking.

here are a few recipes i cannot wait to try

(all via pinterest)

oatmeal banana peanut butter muffins

double pumpkin bundt cake

pesto tomato avocado grilled cheese

chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake

about to be betty crocker up in here

can't wait!

what happens in vegas...

winds up on the blog.

vegas really is the best place on earth.

it's like disneyland for adults

so much to see and do

never a dull moment.

since i turned 21

i've been to sin city twice.

once for my own birthday

and just a few weeks ago for jasmine's.

love life. love vegas. love my friends.

instaweekend

this was the perfect fall weekend

complete with rain, boots, football, and scarves.

saturday was gameday, and my bears killed. happy faces all around.

on saturday night we celebrated my friend taylor's 22nd (look how happy she looks!) ;)

and on sunday my sorority hosted our founder's day luncheon.

sigma kappa is 137 years old this year!

i gave a little speech, we had a candle lighting ceremony, and we celebrated with our sisters from sacramento state and chico state.

me and my little! i'm wearing: dress and top Nordstrom; tights Walgreens; suede skirt Sway in Berkeley; wedges Jeffrey Campbell; red lipstick Bare Escentuals in strength

i was calling my ponytail "hangover chic" because i was indeed hungover.

very satisfying weekend, and now to catch up on school.

happy monday!

Happy November!

Seriously cannot believe November is here already!

It seems like just yesterday that I was making my list of new year's resolutions.

And now I only have two more months to stick to them!

November will be such a fun month.

My sorority has an invite Thursday

so I will be dressed up as a bride and dancing the night away in San Francisco.

This Saturday is GAMEDAY, so once again I'll be dancing my life away in SF watching my Bears (hopefully) roll on to victory.

In two weeks we have our date party

and then it's Thanksgiving week! Once of my very favorite weeks of the year.

On that Monday, Paige and I are seeing Katy Perry in concert

(you. make. me. feel like i'm livin' a teenage dream)

and then I will be venturing home to dear ol' Hollister for the first time since August

to celebrate my mama's birthday and Turkey Day.

November is rounded out by Paige's 17th birthday.

Can't believe how old she is already!

This month also means real fall weather

and scarves and boots and layers.

mmmm. November, I think we'll get along quite nicely!