23.

I turn 23 today.

I've decided this is a strange birthday.  Up until now, birthdays have been pretty exciting.  Even 22 was exciting because I was able to jam out to the song "22" for days.
23 is a little less thrilling, but still exciting nonetheless.  Another year older is another year older.  I'm very thankful for what 22 brought me -- graduation & the start graduate school, continuing the job that I love, a much needed week at the beach, running 3 half marathons and 1 marathon, and many more blessings. I am excited to see what 23 has in store!   Yesterday I celebrated my birthday early with the 4th graders who surprised me with "pinkalicious" cupcakes and handmade cards. They were unbelievably awesome. Such a fun surprise (or as much of a surprise as 19 squirrely 9/10 year olds can keep)!   Today I'm going to have lunch with my mom and Steven's mom, go home and finish my last assignment of the semester, turn it in and then party with my pets. Birthday dinner this evening! Unfortunately Steven will celebrate with me from afar. Can you believe I haven't physically shared my birthday with him since I turned 18!? Gotta love that LDR.
To celebrate my 23rd birthday, I am making 23 goals for December: 1. Blog more. Today is my last day of classes for the semester! 2. Write a thank you note. 3. Bake cookies. 4. Wrap my presents. 5. Save my babysitting money in a jar for Austin. Leaving the 21st! 6. Take more naps. 7. Embrace my free time & read a book for fun. 8. Catch up on Ellen. 9. Make handmade gift tags. 10. Plan a craft night with Sara. 11. Help out a friend in need. 12. Bake a holiday treat for "my kids". 13. Have a Santa Clause movie marathon. I have the boxed set, so I'm ready. 14. Pack smart for Texas. 15. Cuddle with my dog & cat at every possible moment. 16. Go on a run. 17. Rearrange my room. 18. Order my textbooks for spring. 19. Complete a cross stitch. 20. Surprise Steven. 21. Go to church for advent. 22. Cut back on soda. 23. Hop back on She Reads Truth.

Obviously I am embracing all of my new free time with this list. I have off until the 6th of January. We'll see what I can do :)

Happy December, friends!

Sunday Social: 5's!

Switching things up this Sunday to share a bit more about myself with Sunday Social! Thanks to Ashley & Neely for hosting this linkup every week.    
1. 5 songs you'll listen to the rest of your life 1. Spice Up Your Life - Spice Girls 2. Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show 3. Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-A-Lot 4. Crash Into Me - Dave Matthews Band 5. Bless The Broken Road - Rascal Flatts

2. 5 things on your bucket list 1. Travel to another country 2. Run a full marathon 3. Visit something/somewhere significant in every U.S. state 4. Have my picture taken with a celebrity 5. Take a ballpark tour

3. 5 celebs you'd like to hang out with for the day 1. Miranda Lambert 2. Reese Witherspoon 3. Jimmy Fallon 4. Paula Deen 5. Sandra Bullock

4. 5 things you always carry in your purse 1. Wallet 2. Planner 3. Pens 4. Hand Sanitizer 5. Snack bar

5. 5 books on your reading list 1. The Best of Me - Nicholas Sparks 2. Divergent - Veronica Roth 3. Firefly Lane - Kristin Hannah 4. First Year Teacher: Wit and Wisdom from Teachers Who've Been There - Randy Howe 5. The Light Between Oceans - M.L. Steadman

6. Last 5 photos on your phone

Lazy!

Birthday cookie with pb icing!

Yummmmmmmm!

How cute are there vanilla bean cupcakes!?

Received my Erin Condren notepads in the mail!

Happy Sunday!

what i learned last night...

1. I am terrible at Econ.

Borderline embarrassing...I don't know why I think summer classes are going to be fun.
2. Emily is terrible at making decisions.

I was sooooooo Team Sean. Now I am heartbroken, but Team Jef all the way.I wanted Sean & Jef in the finale and then I wouldn't have cared who won!I just do not like Arie anymore - sorryyyyy. They are way too physical...that does NOT equal love. Plus when they kiss, he is super intense and kind of awkward. Anyone agree?I just could not imagine telling Sean goodbye after he wrote that note to Rickie and finally told her he loved her.TEAM JEF WITH ONE F!
3. Michelob Ultra Lime Cactus is the bomb.com.

Nom nom nommm. That's allllll I have to say about that.
4. The Home Run Derby is almost as enjoyable as The Bachelorette.

Yes, Bachelorette started up at 8:00 but I couldn't help watching some of the HRD. I know the players get to have their own person throw them the balls, but it's still so impressive to see so many home runs being hit! I would have loved to be one of the little kids in the outfield...or really in any outfield seat! Prince Fielder and Jose Bautista made it to the final round - Fielder took the crown with 12 home runs.I love his hair flip. Too funny.Afterwards I also watched some of the All-Star and Celebrity softball game which was a hoot. My favorite was Eric Stonestreet (Cam from Modern Family) who said he had never played softball or baseball in his life. He was funny to watch!

Today we finally got some rain! And the high was only 79! Am I dreaming?Loving this cool down...Happy Tuesday!