sj + a trip to austin (but mostly sj)

for those of you who don't know, i was born and (partially) raised in austin.

and austin in my favorite place in the world.

i went to austin for spring break, and nick, my mama, stepdad and stepsister went too!

we ate great food, had a beautiful engagement party for my mama and brian, went to some march madness games, and got to see some of my family. 

and now we can add yet another reason for me to love austin:

sara-jane.

sara-jane and i have known each other for quite a while now, but meeting her was more than i could have ever imagined.

the first day we met, my family went to watch some basketball and let me spend the entire day with sj.

so i waited on a park bench for her to come pick me up, looking around frantically (and inwardly freaking out when she said "i'm in an xterra" because my idiot brain went "JUST LIKE LOGAN ECHOLLS, IT'S A SIGN")

and we SCREAMED when we saw each other, and an instant calm settled over me. (apparently i've become a person who is now comforted by screaming.)

i say this about everyone, but sj really is my soulmate.

i laughed harder than i ever have in my LIFE, so much so that i literally felt sick when we left each other.

sara-jane is smart, and witty, and beautiful, and just like me except better.

(and i was lucky enough to see her again on our trip (but it still wasn't enough))

i know i am a broken record, and i say this all the time, but i am truly so grateful for the people i have met through this little corner of the internet.

i love you, sj. and i miss you more every day.

(WHAT DID I WRITE THIS FOR? TO MAKE ME SAD?) 

remember me?

hi.

it's been a while.

how are you?

i'm well.

here's what been new with me.

1. one of my sweet friends maggie had a 7 hour layover in denver, so i got to spend the day with her! she is a living doll you guys, so adorable and sweet and my soulmate.

2. i got some of the BEST valentines in the mail (many of them lizzie bennet diaries themed) and they made my day.

3. i went and saw beautiful creatures by myself on valentine's day (NO SHAME) and you guys...i'm not entirely ready to talk about it yet, but...i think i hated it. i don't think anyone who made that film even read the book. i don't know y'all. have you seen it? what did you think?

4. i have now reinstated the pinned back bangs that haven't been seen since i was a senior in high school four years ago. grow bangs grow!

5. paige and i (and nick and jessica!) went and saw ed sheeran! this was the second time paige and i saw him, because as some of you may remember, we went to a private show of his in december! both shows were TOTALLY different and TOTALLY amazing. i mean it, i think ed sheeran is one of the greatest musicians of our time.

6. nick and i didn't get to see each other on valentine's day, so we celebrated the day before, and let me just tell you guys this. he said "no gifts" so i made him a cheesy card and that was that. he took me out to dinner, and when we got back to his house, i walked into his room and two presents and a card were sitting on his bed. and i was like "excuse u." so i open the card and IT'S A TFiOS CARD. IT HAS THE TWO CLOUDS AND "OKAY? OKAY." ON IT. SO I'M CRYING BEFORE I EVEN READ THE DANG CARD. but then i read what he wrote and cried more. he got me celeste and jesse forever (and taped our names over theirs) and a new dvd player because mine was broken. this boy, i tell ya.

in other, non-pictured news:

-me and several of my dearest friends (we now refer to ourselves as the LBD support group) did a lizzie bennet diaries inspired google+ hangout on the 200th anniversary of pride and prejudice and made it on the official LBD tumblr. it was a pretty big night for us. (laura spencer said we win LIFE!)

-i'm still obsessed with the lizzie bennet diaries. can you tell? (do you watch it?)

-i'm. SO. excited for the oscars. the oscars are my THING, you guys. every year i see every movie and set aside an entire day to focus on it. this year nick and i will be going to the kress cinema with paige for their oscars event, where you dress up and they have food and drinks and broadcast the awards show on their big screen! i am thrilled. (my money's on argo to win. it was the best movie i saw in 2012.)

-i recently fell in love with squaresville, which you should watch.

i hope you guys are having a great week! 

glasses, y'all

this picture was actually an accident but it looked better than all the dumb serious ones i took, so.

folks, forgive my absence.

i have been sick since CHRISTMAS EVE, and finally went to the doctor where they took one look at me, said "are you sure it's not the plague?" and sent me home with antibiotics.

so i'm on finally on the mend.

BUT today we're going to talk about glasses.

i have worn glasses since the 3rd grade.

i have the eyes of a 95 year old woman (they have deemed me technically legally blind.)

even my CONTACTS are a little too weak for these decrepit eyes.

so naturally, when i wear glasses, even the condensed lenses, they stick out from the frames about an inch on each side.

and i stick to contacts.

a couple weeks ago however, i was contacted by firmoo about ordering my own pair of glasses.

and y'all they have some great frames.

so i ordered a pair with a weaker prescription than my eyes require, and paired with my contacts they are fabulous.

plus, they're cute.

firmoo is cool because unlike other glasses companies, they have this really cool program where you can pick out a free pair of glasses, and all you have to pay is the shipping (check it out.)

they do prescription lenses and clear lenses as well, in case you are one of those fortunate people who has adequate vision.

my glasses came in this really protective case, along with a carrying case, a cleaning cloth, AND an eye repair kit to fix anything i need, so i'm basically like an optometrist now. 

thanks, firmoo! 

hi, 2013!

2012, you did well.

you brought me many good trips.

arizona in march, with marci, lauren and kate, where we ate and cried and watched the hunger games 3 times. it was the best weekend of my life.

went to arizona again in june with nick, where we hung out with ted and lauren, saw the grand canyon, and met up with sweet laney.

went on a cruise in october with mama for my birthday.

you brought me many good books.

(you can read more about that here.)

brought me lots of great movies.

gave me a new addition to the family when my mama got engaged, to the one of the greatest people i've ever known.

(christmas with nick, my mother and her fiancee, and my new sister!)

and 2012 brought me closer to my best friend and love of my life.

2012 started out rough for me, but i had good friends and the love of my family that turned it all around. it ended up being one of the best years of my life.

i can't wait to see what 2013 has in store.