I'm sick.

Burning-up-with-fever-excrutiating-sore-throat-stuffy-head-runny-nose-lay-in-bed-all-day sick. I've passed the last two days in bed and on the couch which has forced me to spend a great deal of time thinking about all the things I'd rather be doing:

1. Riding my new bike (it's similar to this one)
2. Eating a skinny chicken+rice+black bean+sauteed onion & pepper+salsa+chipotle sour cream burrito from Flying Burrito Co.

3. Shoe shopping for short booties and tall slouchy boots (since my old ones have practically deteriorated)

4. Baking cupcakes

5. Antique store/flea market shopping for furniture

Today I did four out of the five, and honestly I don't feel even the tiniest bit better.

But I did score some great slouchy boots, booties, and a dress. And last night I made some delicious French vanilla cupcakes. No one ate them, of course, because who wants to eat sick girl cupcakes?

But maybe that was my plan all along.

Excuse the poor icing job. They look really sad.

i'd just like to say that...

i am thankful for my family. for supporting me in all of my last minute decisions. for giving me financial help when i need it (which is a lot, trust me). for putting up with my weirdness, mood swings, and last minute crazy ideas.

i am thankful for the university of arkansas. the fact that they accepted me and helped me work things out just days before classes started is unbelievable.

i am thankful for missouri state university for all the memories, fun, and my best friend ashley.

i am thankful for knowing exactly what i want to do with my life. it eliminates so much stress, and believe me, i do not need anymore of that.

i am thankful for the beautiful weather. fall's on its way, folks! it's been perfect for riding my new bike.

i am thankful for the interesting people i have met and have grown to love.

i am thankful for my new car. it has cruise control and a working heater, both of which my old car didn't have. hooray!

i am thankful for my hilarious, beautiful, smart, sassy friends. every single one of them. and the unforgettable memories of them that i hold so close to my heart.

i am thankful for the silly things. like sweet tea/hot tea/coffee, my iphone, crunchy peanut butter on honey wheat bagels, tea parties, front yard camping "trips." the list goes on.

i am thankful for the numerous amazing memories that this summer brought. stay tuned for many of them in picture form.

and, i am thankful for this blog. i know i neglect it too often, but i promise i'm working on that!

happy 4th of july!

My favorite thing about Independence Day is that my family celebrates it literally for days. The weekend long celebration started last night and will continue going strong until Sunday.

I made yummy patriotic cupcakes for a picnic.

We bought a ridiculous amount of fireworks which I could not get to fit into one picture. I wish I would've taken one of all the debris from last night's 2,500 dollars' worth...

I hope you all have a happy and safe 4th! The rest of mine better include a hot dog, more fireworks, and a long afternoon at the pool.

you are so sweet, dancing to that beat

Have you guys listened to Far, Regina Spektor's new album?
I already love it.
I can't say that I have a favorite song yet.
If you have heard it, what's your favorite?
Oh, Regina, how I have loved you since high school.
Thank you for giving me something new to listen to.

11:11

Do you lovelies make wishes at 11:11?

I do every time I catch it,

But now that I've read its Wikipedia article,

I'm a bit creeped out.

{Photo via weheartit}

?!

What is this? I was baffled when I saw this photo from Australia Fashion Week on Nylon.

the bahamas

Just as I expected, my spring break getaway to the Bahamas with my best friend Adriene, her older sister Lauren, and their mother Lori was exactly what I needed to cure the month-long funk I was in.

The four of us had so much fun exploring the Atlantis Resort and the city of Nassau. The weather was far from beautiful most days, but the one or two days of sunshine we did have made it worthwhile.

I wish I could write out all the stories of the things Adriene and I did during our short stay in the Bahamas, but I don't think I could find the appropriate words to convey just how much fun we had.

This gorgeous bar off the casino became "our spot," and it's certainly where we spent the majority of our time, talking, laughing, and scheming.

After flying back to the States, I spent two blissful days in Alabama hanging out with Adriene and our other friends who I hadn't seen since last summer. It was so nice to catch up with them before heading back home for a few days to visit with family and friends. I returned with scalded, sunburnt skin, funny souvenirs, and a bad cold that I can't seem to shake (I blame it on the eight dirty airplanes I spent several hours in over one week).