sweet girlfriends at my gatsby-themed thirtieth back in november. So... this is 30. My birthday was about five weeks ago, and this year is dwindling to a close in a matter of hours... so what better time to highlight three decades of living, memories, mistakes? Of worries and agonizing loss and big surprises and timeless stories. It's really kinda hard to wrap my head around, but I'm getting...

my darling pup girl is eight today. EIGHT. sixty-four in dog years. as I scrambled her eggs this morning, she blinked wearily as she politely sat nearby, watching as the runny mess sizzled in the pan before me. I felt a pang in my heart as I hoped her drowsy blinking was just a result of the early morning hour, and not her aging little body. I'm sure I've told the story here before, but I...

//original pic via.// here's a little of what I've been listening to, as of late. rocking leon bridges on vinyl maybe a little bit too often. and naturally, missed the window to get tickets to his show at the ryman in march. george ezra and leon bridges and hozier have voices that will just haunt you in the best way possible. we saw alessia cara at ACL and she kicked so much ass. I just...

//via.// we've hit that stride: the last quarter of the year when the days dissolve at an ever-increasing pace, weekends are always full, and you've just swapped the sundresses for boots and all at once, it's Christmas eve. every year, I swear I'll savor it more--that I won't let fall melt into winter, and then just wake up in a new year--and here it is, almost November. I'm attempting to...

(thanks to Karli!) 1. Today is my last day at Vanderbilt. For all intents and purposes, higher ed is all I have known for the vast majority of my career, and to put it behind me is a lot more challenging and emotional than I originally anticipated. I have met some incredible people, had some tremendous and unparalleled opportunities and truly learned every single day. Making this decision...

What better way to round out the Summer of Non-Blogging than a playlist of everything I've been jamming to for the past three months? Go listen. And hey! Happy September!...

Talk about a hiatus. This summer has been all kinds of things: relaxing, yes. Unusually stressful, and overwhelmingly good. I feel like fall is creeping on in and I've hardly sat still for the past three months... which usually is the ideal condition for me to do me, but I think this time, my plate is pouring over on all sides. Summer officially kicked off with our extended vacay in May--a week...

//via.// I've always been obsessed with the Space Age--not the intricacies of intergalactic goings-on, per se--but the history surrounding the Space Race... the decades of exploration and excitement. And yes, like every other kid growing up in early '90s America, I begged my parents to send me to Space Camp (you can guess how that went), Apollo 13 is one of my favorite movies, and I wrote...

...coming at you live from the bustling metropolis that is Lorena, Texas!! I have been intently enjoying my extended vacation from work--we spent nearly a week in St. Thomas with friends (GO if you ever have the opportunity), and then ST headed back to Nashville for work and I skipped on over to Texas to see family and such. I was hesitant to leave work for two weeks--especially with my boss...

//via.// Three years. Three. More than 1000 days... How? This place has officially--as of today, June 1--been "home" for three years--longer than any other home base I've had since college. I made the move to Nashville for a few reasons--mostly for ST and our relationship, but largely because I was satiating a nagging itch for a change of pace. New surroundings. A fresh routine. And bit-by-bit,...

//via.// Here we go, another debaucherous season of the Bachelor franchise has eeked its skeezy way to the network! I am a huge fangirl of both Britt and Kaitlin (as you are well aware) last season, so I wasn't really peeved about the twist on this season as many seemed to be. While I don't really think the multiple guy scenario yields itself to the quality commentary that comes from a quality...

//via my insta.// My heart breaks for my hometown today. You've probably heard of the insanity that transpired in Waco yesterday. Biker gangs opened fire in a restaurant in a well frequented shopping area in what appears to have been an orchestrated plan. It sounds crazy to read out loud: biker gangs. This isn't a series on FX--this is the town I grew up in, the place my parents chose...

peachy roses and my favorite picture of my grandparents. how you doin'? summer is inching its way to Nashville and gah, I am ready for her. we are off for two weeks of vacay here in a matter of days and the timing couldn't be more golden. here's a roundup of life, as of late: reading | just finished the girl on the train. honestly, looking back, it was a little meh. while I don't think...

Favorite Things Parties are all the rage back home. I was surprised to hear from friends here in Nashville that no one had really heard of the concept--which naturally fueled my desire to host my first one. Oh, you've never heard of a Favorite Things Party either? Quite simply, you corral your BFFs, all of whom bring a snackeroo and five of their favorite under-$5 item (or whatever...

so... this past week did a pretty spectacular job of knocking me on my ass. I come to you, clad in rumpled PJ pants (ST is an eskimo and our thermostat is constantly at an arctic setting), haphazard topknot perched at the crown of my head, a freshly groomed Maiz, snugsing at my feet. It's safe to say I've done my best to spend the day relaxing, after: monday? last night of community...