Thankfulness

Every Thursday in November I thought it would be nice to sit down, collect my thoughts, and write down 10 things I am thankful for. I always joke about being #blessed (said out loud like "hashtag blessed") but when I look at my life, I realize how truly blessed I am.
I have the most incredible family and friends, I attend Ole Miss, am in Tri Delt, have so many things that make me happy during the day, get to travel multiple times a year, and I have Jesus by my side at all times.
Sometimes it helps to write down things, people, places, etc. that you are thankful for. It helps you remember them and you're thinking harder.
I challenge you to do this too.

1. Breakfast at Tri Delt - Coffee in the mornings with your best friends every day, you can't beat that.

2. Gilmore Girls - While this may seem silly, I am thankful for the comfort that Gilmore Girls brings me. Whether I am sad, happy, sleepy or mad, there's something about hearing the words, "Where you lead, I will follow.." that can turn any mood around.

3. Journals - I am thankful for the hands to write in my journals with. Whether it is my bible study journal, my bucket list journal, my notes or my prayers journal, I am thankful for them because they let me look back on past thoughts and dream about the future. I'm thankful for Pop's journal he kept for a year.

4. High school friendships - No matter the amount of time that has passed or the days we go without talking, once we are reunited it is like nothing has changed. I can't wait to see where life takes us all, because it has already taken us to different states.

5. Laughter - Living in the DDD house, the walls are paper thin. My favorite part about the walls being so thin is hearing my friend's laughs. They are all so unique and you can tell when someone really think something is funny, instead of a fake laugh. Many people's laughs make me laugh, and that makes my heart happy.

6. Handwritten notes - I keep handwritten notes and cards from everything. I have cards Jennifer and Marissa made me for my 8th birthday, cards from when I got my appendix out my freshman year of high school, and sweet notes from friends in college. Sometimes, maybe always, a handwritten note is the best gift you can receive.

7. Dance parties - Dance parties in the foyer after skit, dance parties in the kitchen after the Great Gatsby swap, dance parties in room 9, or dance parties on the square.

8. Snuggles - Thankfully all my friends are snuggle bunnies. After a long day, on a rainy day, or on the happiest day while watching a movie, snuggles are everywhere.

9. Airplanes - To take me to new places and to take me back home

10. All of you who read this - I'm thankful you all read this and I'm thankful for the feedback. I never have any idea where this blog will take me but all of my friends have been so supportive and kind.

Happy 21st Birthday, Kendal!

Ten reasons why Kendal deserves a great 21st birthday:

1. I really could start and finish the list right here with this one photo because it says enough:

2. Kendal has a heart to love and serve others. She is always there for her friends and has a heart for the Lord. She has influenced me in so many ways and I am so thankful to call her friend.

3. She deserves a great birthday because her mom sadly forgot to give her two L's in her name.. just kidding Kendal_

4. Her school's mascot was a Honeybear.....

5. One of my highlights of spring semester was driving to Passion with Kendal. Although we almost turned around 100 times and thought we were going to join a cult (or something along those lines) we made it through together. And the best part is that we didn't join a cult, we just became closer friends!

6. Speaking of closer friends, Kendal and I are close friends. Even though some people (Bailey, I'm talking about you) thought we weren't and told us every day "You two really should be friends, y'all would get along great." We knew our friendship was real.

7. Kendal is going to be a teacher one day. How cute?! Sorry I ditched you and switched my major, but you are going to be such a great teacher and influence so many little nuggets lives. 

8. Because this was her profile picture:

9. She's the best roomie in foreign cities - Atlanta, New York, where shall we go next??

10. I am most thankful for Kendal because of her sweet friendship and words of encouragement. She deserves the best birthday because she treats her friends like they're the best. 

I think the world of you and can't wait to celebrate you on this day!

Happy 21st Kendal, you deserve it! 

That night in NYC when Kendal got bangs

Gatsby Sensation

The Great Gatsby has made quite the comeback in the past year and taken us by storm. Everyone is wishing they lived in the roaring 20's. The soundtrack is always playing on my computer & I will never get tired of Leonardo DiCaprio saying "old sport."

Last week Tri Delt had a Great Gatsby swap with Kappa Sig at Castle Hill.  It felt like a true Jay Gatsby party. Flapper dresses, headbands with feathers, fish nets and short bob wigs filled the dance floor. Everyone looked so dapper and glamorous.

"A little party never killed nobody"

Plus it's a huge bonus that Florence sang a song in the movie 

Happy 14th Birthday, Kendall!

14 reasons Kendall deserves a great birthday:

1. She is the original squirrel girl in my life. While I have found my own niche of squirrels at Ole Miss (#blessed by you squirrels), Kendall is always my number one.

2. She's the coolest 14 year old I know. Whether she is doing a round-off backhandspring tuck in a cheer routine or if she is walking around Downtown Franklin in a Lollapalooza shirt, she is way cooler than me. We went to an Ellie Goulding concert together this summer together too.

3. Kendall is one of the funniest people I know. She can do the Kristin Wiig "Gilly" voice and the Target Lady. 

4. You name a song, she knows all the words. It's a little unreal how quickly she can pick up on things like that.

5. She sends me selfies like this:

6. Next year she will be in high school (I'm old) and I can't wait for her to be a Centennial Cougar. All Cougars deserve great birthdays because we are obviously the best school in Franklin.

7. Kendall is so caring and sweet. She is such a great friend to everyone and an even better sister. If she knows anyone is upset, she wants to fix it immediately. 

8. In my eyes she will always be 7.. It was strange for me to type that you're turning 14. When Kendall was younger I like our age difference, then during the awkward stages of my life I didn't like it, and now I appreciate this age difference so much. It's so cool watching this little squirrel girl grow up and I am so thankful to have her as my sister & best friend.

9. Kendall is going to be an Ole Miss Rebel and a DDD dolphin

10. She is beautiful and makes the boys holla!

11. Kendall calls me "Dadoo" and I have probably only heard her call me Chandler a few times in my life.

12. She's way more talented than I ever was at cheerleading

13. Even though when we were younger I would steal all the good Barbie clothes and furniture for my Barbie family, she would still play with me. I guess that's where being the older sisters has it's perks -- the best Barbie accessories and houses

14. She's truly the best little sister I could ever ask for. With her big heart and even bigger smile, I miss her every day being away at school. I love you Kendall and am so glad you were able to spend your birthday weekend here in Oxford with me!

Here's to 14 years of having my best friend 

by my side and so many more!

Happy 21st Anna Claire!

10 reasons Anna Claire deserves a great birthday:

1. She is going to be a princess one day. I'm thinking the greatest prospect is the new baby prince, Prince George (maybe 4 months old)

2. Anna Claire is one of the smartest people I know. I think she could graduate tomorrow if she wanted too and her best friend is a calculator.

3. She's from Nashville, so that deserves a great birthday in itself, but what's really special about Anna Claire is that she was an Ensworth Tiger. Every day I wish I was an Ensworth Tiger and went to school at Hogwarts like they do.

4. Her love for Cowboy is almost as much as my love for Stanley

5. Anna Claire loves One Direction (almost too much) & if she doesn't marry the Prince, she will marry Louis

6. Her British accent is on point

7. Anna Claire loves a good SnapChat and I am always screenshotting them.. sorry

8. Every week she wears business casual to class. It's awkward because the rest of us are just like "What's new on Netflix this week?" We can't wait to see you blossom as an accountant wearing strictly J. Crew

9. She can dance like a pro but refusing to acknowledge it. You gon' rock this club, you gon' go all night.. while wearing white high top converse 

10. Anna Claire is one of the sweetest & funniest people I know. I am honored to be a "laid" with her and the others. It's funny how when you come to college you become friends with people who lived only 30 minutes away from you all of your life, but you didn't cross paths until now. So thankful you're in my life AC, love you! 

Happy Birthday, you deserved it!

Big Lights Will Inspire You

Before I sat down to write this blog post I thought to myself, "Only pick your absolute favorite pictures. No one wants a long list of them." Well, seeing as I have no self control and picked over 50 photos to share with you, that didn't happen like planned. If you compare it though to the 600 I have in my iPhoto library, I'd say I did pretty well.

Ginny, Frances, Kendal, Ann Marie, Susanna, me

Upon arriving to LaGuardia, we were picked up in a limo. Not a bad day when you're riding through the streets of New York with your best friends in a limo that's blaring "The Way You Look Tonight." If that wasn't a sign that I am where I belong, then I'm not sure what is.
**future husband take notes**

Ginny, Susanna, me, Frances

Making a quick stop at Serena Vander Woodsen's house 

The New York Palace

Seeing the ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center was unreal. We've all seen so many photos of this so to actually lay my eyes on it was awesome. We saw the NBC news rooms in the back and of course spotted the Free People store on the opposite side.

Ann Marie, Susanna, Frances, Ginny, me, Kendal

The obsession with Gossip Girl was brought to a whole new level in New York. We found all the hot spots where scenes were filmed, where the characters lived, and even ate what the characters ate (pistachio macarons, call me Blair). Thursday night we went to The Empire Hotel where Chuck Bass lived. "Remain cool" is what everyone kept saying but when our waitress told us that she had met him before we lost it.

"One Chuck Bass, please."

Ann Marie, me + Ginny

We went to dinner after The Empire Hotel at Quality Meats. There we split so many great meals and even saw Mariah Carey. She was eating in a private room upstairs but conveniently she walked up the stairs right by our table. We all thought she looked famous, but were unsure if it truly was Mariah Carey until she became a diva walking up the stairs and looking around for people to recognize her.

Ann Marie leaned over to me and said, "I know it's her because of that video you showed me!"

You're going to want to watch this.

Outside of The Empire Hotel was Lincoln Center which hosts New York Fashion Week

Friday morning stroll through Central Park

Our childhood dream came true - we dined at The Plaza with Eloise

I had the Central Park Pancakes which were delicious and they had magical syrup. The waiter saw us gawking over the Eloise menus so he gave each one of us our own copy.

Two divas being divas

Susanna + I

The Eloise store at the bottom of The Plaza was a dream come true.

"Charge it, please"

Ann Marie, Susanna, Kendal, Frances, 

me, Ginny

Susanna + Chan take Central Park

"We looked at our kingdom, we were finally here" -- Fresh Prince of Bel Air

Fresh Princess of New York, it has a good ring to it, right?

Ann Marie + I

Another dream come true, shopping at Bergdorf Goodman's.. Yes, I look like a total tourist but I had to take this photo and reminisce on "Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's"

Dylan's Candy Bar

me + Frances

My love for macarons will never end. 

A permanent smile was placed on my face for four days 

Celine Dion, right? ;)

On the steps of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Top of The Empire State Building

"Big lights will inspire you"

Saturday was full of Teen Vogue Fashion University, the day was finally here!
During this seminar I learned to never give up. If I want an internship at some largely famous company, work until I get it. Everyone on the panel was so encouraging and they offered great advice. The whole weekend was so inspiring and really uplifting. 

The panel that began the weekend on Saturday morning was incredible. It was Amy Astley, the Editor in Chief at Teen Vogue, 

I ended up here on my lunch break. Next time I'm in New York I will make it a priority to see a musical and I wouldn't mind it if it was Matilda because we had the same wallpaper in our rooms.

One of my favorite speakers of the weekend was Jessie Randall of Loeffler Randall shoes and handbags. She was so sweet and you could tell that she really cared about her customers. A handwritten note is sent to each person that buys a pair of shoes or a handbag and she is always hosting meet and greets in stores like Saks on Fifth Avenue.

After her presentation was over I went to the back of the room where her PR person was and got to talk to her and get her email address. I would love to intern with them!

My last seminar of the day was with Neil Blumenthal of Warby Parker. I had heard of his glasses before from a friend. Sitting front row right in front of him and the accessory director Sheena of Teen Vogue was really interesting & I loved being able to be close. 

Warby Parker sells their glasses + frames for $95 total. You can go online and have them send you 5 pairs of glasses that you think you would like, wear them around your house for a few days, and then if you decide that you do like a pair, you can send all 5 back plus your prescription and they will then send you the glasses of your choice + your prescription in them.

Sheena Smith, Accessories Director at Teen Vogue

The Blogger panel for all students was right up my alley. Amy Astley hosted the panel with the Into the Gloss founders and The Coveteurs founders. 

Into the Gloss and The Coveteur are both very popular fashion & beauty blogs. Emily Weiss, of Into the Gloss, was a Teen Vogue intern and it was inspiring to hear her stories and how she made it into the blogging world.

me, Ann Marie + Susanna

After my seminars and the rest of my friends returning from a day of shopping in Soho, we hopped in a cab to go to dinner at The Hurricane Club. The one hour wait was totally worth it because I had the best sushi I had ever eaten and the atmosphere was so fabulous. 

Kendal's 21st birthday is October 29th but why not celebrate a little early in NYC?!

Ginny + me

After dinner we headed to The Standard Beer Garden which almost every person we talked to recommended. 

Obviously I hide my emotions very well....

Saturday diva night. It's pretty strange and awesome to think that three years ago we were complete strangers and now we are traveling together + living together. Always thankful for my partner in crime!

Nothing but the best

New York, you've won me

If I could wear this outfit every day, I would.

Sunday morning well spent with Phyllis Posnick, the Fashion Editor at Vogue.

It was surreal to hear her speak and to know that she works with the incredible line up at Vogue, like Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington. 

We did it!

My favorite thing about New York was walking everywhere. We started in the Upper East Side at Laudree, found our way through Central Park, then ended up a little bit into the Upper West Side. We stumbled upon Magnolia Bakery, Intermix, Wink, Kate Spade, Pookie & Sebastian, and more.

It really can't be much better, fall in New York with your best friends. I am so thankful for this opportunity and so grateful. It was surreal walking the streets of New York when I have been dreaming of this forever. Getting accepted to Teen Vogue's Fashion University was humbling and I couldn't even have dreamt of that. 

New York, you were good to me. This is not goodbye, it is an I'll see you soon!

Now to start planning and praying about my future, my summer plans + where I'll end up.

Here is the link to my post on HelloPerfect.com
Teen Vogue Fashion University -- Hello Perfect