22

2 weeks ago i turned 22. i really don't feel any different but i guess i do in a kind of anticipatory way. like i don't feel different yet but i know i will because i have so many big adult things happening this year. does that make sense? either way i'm excited and i spent my birthday listening to taylor swift and getting psyched. cat asked me how being 22 felt and i said happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time. t-swizzle knows what she's talking about. i feel like 22 has to be a good year for me because i love the song and also double peace signs is like my signature move.

i felt very loved on my birthday. in my experience, birthdays at byu have always been a reminder of what great friends i have. my parents sent me the best birthday package (ryan gosling journal and thin mints, i'm talking to you) (thx mom) and also cute boots which i am very excited about, and my sisters gave me really great, thoughtful gifts as well. my co-workers gave me the awesome handmade card pictured above (everyone knows me so well because exhibit b of ryan gosling). liz took me out for some sweater-buying and cupcake-eating and all my friends and i went to thai village for some pad thai and apple pie (they brought a costco apple pie into the restaurant lolz). it was so much fun and i am grateful for all of the wonderful friends i have here in provo. they make life pretty great.

thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes! i think 22's gonna be a good one.

birthday girl

i just realized that i had written this draft the other day for my sister's birthday but then forgotten to publish it.. oops! happy belated birthday, liz!

thanks for always being an example to me and mostly for putting up with me and my nonsense. i've loved getting to spend these past two years at BYU with you and i don't know what i will do when you graduate! i love you and your idiosyncrasies, your increased stress level in my presence, your acknowledged snobbishness, and your passion for the things you love. i love hearing you talk about design and italian. i love discussing life philosophies with you. i love running into you on campus and going to the library just to talk to you. i love that you love one direction. i love when you walk over to my apartment at 11 pm to bring me cookies. thanks for being here for me. it's meant a lot. have the happiest birthday—you deserve it.

love you tons,

em

birthday girl

happy birthday to my favorite little sister!

lauren, i miss you a whole lot. thanks for being an example to me and for always reminding me how to be a good friend. i like your style, your sense of self, your passion for learning new things, and how perfectly you always understand me. i love skyping with you and your weird cat, watching audrey movies together, and even working at rarec with you. (just kidding about rarec, but my summer was fifty times better when you were working there with me!) i miss sitting in your room just to talk and trying to convince you to let me raid your closet. thanks for putting up with me when i'm crazy (even though you do roll your eyes a whole lot) and for always supporting me. i can't wait for you to come visit in march, and i can't wait to spend this summer with you! i hope your day today is magical and filled with all of your favorite things.

love you tons,

em

twenty

in honor of my birthday today,

20 things to do before i turn 21

1. read the book of mormon

2. vote for president

3. master the art of wearing lipstick

4. take a day trip to washington dc

5. try a new recipe every other week

6. dye my hair

7. watch every major audrey movie

8. fill up a sketchbook

9. learn how to french braid and perfect my fishtail braiding

10. read more books, especially the classics

11. go to the sundance film festival

12. learn how to sew

13. save money for a study abroad or internship

14. watch more foreign films

15. refine my wardrobe to better fit my style

16. go to a concert

17. watch downton abbey

18. take more photographs

19. read a general conference talk every week

20. develop a new talent

photo cred

miscellany

it's rainy and freezing this week in provo. i was so excited yesterday when i got a package from my mom and opened it to find a pair of yellow rain boots! perfect timing and i love them. also i think rainy days call for rainy day music and i've been listening to these two songs over and over. i'm so obsessed with adele right now. really though, i love her. this cover of hers gives me chills.

monday was my dearest cousin/roomie catherine's birthday! she's officially 20 now,

and of course she had to have a harry potter cake. ugly but delicious.

happy thursday!
i'm sipping hot chocolate while i watch modern family on hulu. #bliss

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LIZ!

my older sister/best friend turned 21 today!

she's really great.

seriously though, she is.

sweet sixteen

wishing the happiest of birthdays to my beautiful baby sister lauren, who turns sixteen years old today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAUREN! i hope it's the best.

you deserve it.

nineteen.

yesterday i turned nineteen years old.

in honor of my birthday, i have made a list of nineteen goals that i want to accomplish before i turn twenty. and here it is.

1. practice cooking

2. read the book of mormon again

3. try sushi

4. learn to sew

5. take computer art classes

6. go to tucanos

7. vote!

8. buy harem pants

9. get a new job

10. read jane eyre

11. change my major

12. make a music video

13. get straight-across bangs

14. audition for divine comedy

15. learn more about photography

16. reread the entire harry potter series

17. buy a really great pair of high heels

18. travel somewhere i've never been

19. fill up a sketchbook

here's to a great year!