glory days

 (my mom made me a key-chain with both of my cats as kittens.)

 (first legal drink, Waldo Pizza dinner.) 

(a Van Helsing shot machine I made us play, view of "almost" downtown from casino.) 

(exploring the bridge because casinos where extremely odd.) 

(hat: bought from friend, sweater: forever 21, vest: thrifted, blouse: thrifted, belt: from a friend, skirt: forever 21, tights: target, socks: thrifted, loafers: thrifted, leather bag: bought from a friend.) 

   Hello readers, I am sorry I have neglected this blog over a short period of time.. I have been shoving my nose into course books and celebrating my 21st birthday (yesterday)! It is so strange to say I am now 21, being 20 seemed to continue on past a year. 20 was a year full of changes for me, but I believe 21 will be constant and more relaxed.. but more schedules (which I personally do not mind). I plan to make a list of "21 things to do before 22" in this upcoming week. 

   My birthday day was rather the same (school, nannying, lots of coffee), but the evening was grand and interesting. My family took me out to Waldo Pizza, which is a great place for a vegan and offers many options (even cashew milk Oreo ice cream!). After dinner, my boyfriend decided he wanted to take me to a casino since it was something that I could partake in now. Let's just say casinos are rather odd and loud, but it was an experience! We ended up leaving after half an hour, went to a local bar for a late evening drink, then headed home. I had a lovely, "things I wouldn't normally do" birthday.. and isn't that what birthdays are about?! 

christmas peak: the day (part 2)

   yes, the day did arrive! for my family's christmas, we always wake up early to exchange our presents with one another. my dad prepares us all soy nog lattes in the morning, and we snack on pumpkin scones and other baked goodies. after our early morning traditions, we head to my grandma and grandpa's house for more family breakfast and many cups of coffee, for myself. a few hours pass there, and we head to my granny's again to see more of the family there.

   this was a year of four christmases for me. my boyfriend and i have never went to each other's family christmases (although we live together/in a serious relationship) we did not want to have to cut times at each other's functions. i usually do not have plans in the evening on christmas, so i headed to his last family gathering of the day. it is such a wonderful feeling when you can walk into another families home and feel as welcome as ever (and even have a gift under the tree waiting for you.. they did not even know i was coming!). this christmas was full of old traditions, and with a few new ones to add to my list for the future. 

chilly-crisp creatures

(items thrifted for myself today) 

(these items came in my mailbox today! a pair of frames from firmoo, which i won a gift card to from a giveaway, and a hello kitty phone cover.) 

(finishing up some final touches on my christmas cards. sending them out tomorrow when i pick up the pictures i am including in them!) 

   even after just two days of not having a normal class schedule  i keep messing up which day it is. all of these changes are confusing me! i am becoming an avid planner; this i can tell due to my lack of daily scheduling like before. although i love breaks from school, it always seems old to me not having a full daily schedule written down in my planner. 

   after completing two of my six finals today, i took a relaxing break from all of the studying and essays that come at the end of the semester. i went thrift store shopping at a salvation army near my loft, and found a few items for my boyfriend's socking and a few other people on my list. i honestly do not see the problem with shopping second-hand for christmas. this just means you can get more for you money, and fix up the items for the gift giving! readers, what are your opinions on this?