i don't know about you, but i'm feeling twenty two

homecoming

in high school it was a week filled with 

wearing pajamas to school,

a Friday night dance 

and picking out the perfect twin day outfit.

in college it was a week filled with 

campaigning, float building,

 tailgating, talent shows and

picking out the perfect fraternity to go with.

post-graduation its merely a weekend filled with

 reunions, tailgating, and acting like youre 22 again.

in the wake of my newest theme song "22" by the great t.swift;

i have decided to fully embrace the post-graduation ritual this year. 

For the first time since graduation,

i will be returning to Myrtle Beach to celebrate Coastal's homecoming. 

 Who do they play? no idea. 

What time is the game? not a clue. 

Will they win? couldn't care less.

All I care to know is that my closest college girlfriends will be in town

 (minus a select few). 

Its the only time since graduation that our

re-union is not based around the celebration of a union.

 I am thrilled beyond belief to see all of them.

 we won't have to act like ladies during a church ceremony,

or responsible adults around the bride&groom's parents.

lets be honest:

we don't actually do this, but we probably should.

people are starting to judge.

We will spend a Friday in the Inlet,

a saturday at Ale House

 a saturday night at our old stomping grounds-- Broadway

and a sunday morning saying "what the hell happened"

and a very somber "see ya next time".

So i took a half day from work,

i packed up all of my stuff,

and 3 of us will be making the drive from ATL to MYB today.

There's something very calming about knowing I will see my mom in just a few short hours

I'll be sure to get the very best night's sleep tonight in her house.

and i'll get to love on my pups for 3 whole days.

plus, im getting ombre hair :)

middle school.

its no secret that i want to go back to my younger years, like asap. 

id travel back in time to my senior year of HS faster than you can say "Go Swampcats!"

(yes, that was my mascot. yes, that is a made up animal. yes, we are super proud of it.)

i'd relive graduation, moving to college, rush and sorority life and not think twice about it.

maybe thats why i've become an advisor for a local chapter of my sorority.

(maybe thats why the girls all hate me for being super involved with their chapter)



yes, this is actually me. in middle school.

but the one place i wouldn't go back to is middle school.

 not in a million years, or for a million dollars.

(ok, maybe for a million dollars)

my lovely friend/coworker/big sister/etc sent me a devotional this morning (read here)

sometimes i am too busy to look at them, and then sometimes i feel compelled.

today was one of those compelling days, and boy am i glad that i did.

my favorite quote was this:

"you can take the girl out of middle school, but you can't take the middle school out of some girls"

boy oh boy could that not be more true!

on a daily basis i struggle with mean girls. girls that love drama,

girls that love to put you down,

and especially girls who love to make your life a living hell.

(side note: these girls are all grown, married, adult aged women).

if i deal with them, i know everyone else does too.

the only problem is, i dont really deal with them.

i usually let them bitch and bully until im so fed up with the pettiness that i blow up.

which isnt very practical (at least i recognize it, right?)

so today, im going to make a pact with myself.

when someone starts getting all 7th gradeish on me im going to tell them "im rubber your glue".

kidding.

im going to tell them that they have acne and frizzy hair.

kidding again.

but i AM going to tell them that they cant be mean to me.

and yes, i know that sounds childish.

i dont care.

 because you are not my mom.

and i can do whatever i want.

HOORAY!

today is a fabulous day. 

despite the crummy weather that is giving me a big dose of "seasonal depression"

forget the fact that its only thursday and that means another day of work tomorrow

nevermind that i woke up late and had no time to eat breakfast

it is still a fabulous day.

Why?

Because i woke up to this tweet:

"@billrancic The "Duke" has landed! Edward Duke Rancic was welcomed into the world last night at 7lbs 4oz. G & I feel blessed beyond words...We did it!"

I don't know about yall, but I am obsessed.

I love that the 2 of them finally have a baby to call their own

and they might just be the cutest hollywood couple ever.

But there is not just 1 reason that today is a great day.

It is also the start of College Football Season!

My favorite season of the year.

Even though the calendar (or the weather man!) doesn't agree-

everyone in the SEC knows that it is officially fall.

Break out your boots, gameday dresses and best tailgate food.

practice your rooster call, your U-S-C chant, and your GOOOO COCKS!

brush up on your shotgunning skills and your corn hole toss

and let the games begin!

Please join me in saying a prayer to the Big Man that

Spurrier and his boys can pull out a winning season. I have faith!

BEAT VANDY!!

bubbly.

it comes as no surprise to anyone who knows me that i love champagne.

i had a reputation in college to drink my Andre straight from the bottle,

(classy, i know.)

i find that brunch isn't brunch without a mimosa,

a birthday isn't as sweet without a champagne toast

and well, a fridge isn't full unless it contains a bottle of bubbly.

It's also no surprise how much I love Kate Spade jewelry

(point blank)

maybe thats why I found this purchase absolutely necessary.

That's right, a cork and gold Kate Spade bracelet.  oh, Kate.  You had me at the product description:

we've been known to pop a cork (or two!) of our favorite bubbly

when there's a reason to celebrate around the office---birthdays, wedding engagements, fridays...

a nod to all-things festive, we've crafted this chic bangle of lightweight cork and gold-plated metal,

sure to add the perfect dose of dazzle to your summer ensembles. 

I just know that it's going to look great on my arm.

And, it's on sale. which means it looks even better to my bank account

quarter of a life

Today is the day. 

I am officially a "mid-twenty".

25 years old. 

A quarter of a century. 

Half way to 50.

Closer to 30 than I am 20.

I imagined waking up this morning feeling every bit of my age.  I thought that I'd wake up a little more tired, a little darker under the eyes, and a little more achey.  Much to my surprise, I woke up feeling great.  In fact, I feel much better than I did yesterday.  There is something about a birthday that gives you that extra jolt to wake you up.  It puts a little pep in your step. Makes your day a whole lot brighter. 

Maybe its the 10pm phone call i got from a friend.  "id wait until midnight, but i have a bedtime" (yes, we're old now.) or the midnight phone call from another.  It can't hurt that at 6 am my mom called singing to me like she has every single year for 25 years. And then, shortly after, my best friend in the entire world (whose 25th birthday was yesterday!!) called to do the same.  It could be the many,many texts i've gotten or the abundance of facebook posts.  I'd imagine that the tweets & instagram comments have something to do with it; or the anticipation of dinner and drinks with girlfriends tonight to celebrate.  But whatever it is, it's fabulous. 

I've been building 25 up to be huge.  Couldn't believe that it was quickly creeping up.  Still can't believe that I've finally reached it. I've been dreading this day for a long time.  Doesn't 25 sound so much older than 24?! But recently, after an extremely unfortunate and untimely passing of a great friend, I've come to realize that the old saying "Do not regret growing older.  It's a privilege denied to many" is oh so true. So this year I promise to love being 25. I am going to do everything that I have dreamt of doing (or at least try to!). I am going to laugh harder, smile more, cry less and enjoy every minute that I get to spend being 25.

Besides-  I have 1825 days until I am officially old. (that's thirty, for those of you not near a calculator).

Thanks to everyone who has already or will wish me Happy Birthday. 

 I appreciate it so much, and it has truly made my day.

Ps- you absolutely need to check out allgroanup.com. it is my newest obsession.  And I don't think that it was coincidence that I found it 2 hours before midnight last night.  Its already helping me with my quarter-life-crisis.

baggage

well, the time has finally come. 

to start packing, that is.

i leave for hawaii in just 2 and a half short days

and i haven't the first thing in a suitcase.

in fact, i dont even know where my suitcase is.

i dont even know if i still have a suitcase.

packing may be one of the more stressful things in life.

vacation is supposed to be relaxing.

do you know why you need to relax while on vacation?

because you are so stressed from packing for said vacation!

making sure not to forget anything.

i rack my brain over and over again. and then over again.

toothbrush, check. straightener, check. hair dryer, check.

phone charger, check. ipad, check. makeup, check.

enough clothes to last you 3 years in the off chance that your plane crashes

and you are stuck on a deserted island, check.

shoes that you won't even think about wearing, check.

now, i know there are stores in hawaii.

if i forget something i can just go pick it up at the local target.

ill probably end up shopping for a new wardrobe while there, anyway.

and only wearing the new clothes that ive bought.

but it is still the root of all of my anxiety leading up to the trip.

that, and losing my boarding pass.

aloha, lovers. xx

Whoosaaa

Anyone have any good stress relieving techniques?

I've found myself more anxious the past couple of days

 than I have in quite some time.

I am literally one big ball of nerves.

My roommate makes this "wwhhoooooossaaaa" sound.

Sounds a little ridiculous, and I'm not sure it works.

Some go for runs.

The idea of that gives me more anxiety than the anxiety itself.

Some drink. I can get down with that technique,

but I have to be a functional human being for most parts of the day;

the amount of stress I'm under would require not one but two bottles of Jose

Others shop. But I'm constantly in a state of "broke" so...next!

Until I find a more appropriate form of healing,

I will continue to medicate with my anti-anxiety drugs.