Happy birthday to me!

It’s my birthday! I’m officially 20 years old. 🙂 Despite having the first day of fall classes today and having my first day back at work at the campus bookstore, I’ve had a really great birthday. Here are some of the highlights of my day:

• Getting coffee with my friend Seth before going to my first class. You’ve gotta have coffee to start any day off good, right?
• Having my co-worker Anne make me a dessert she called “chocolate delight.” It was SO yummy!
• Going out to eat Indian food with my dad and my best friend Malia. Definitely a successful birthday dinner since Indian food is my favorite.
• Watching Grey’s Anatomy with Malia. I’ve missed our cuddle time. 🙂 I’m so glad that the semester has started back so we can resume watching movies and tv shows and reading in bed. Ha!
• And finally, having a perfect and wonderful phone conversation with my best friend Skidmore.
• And to top it all off, I’m ending the night by curling up in bed with my current read: Dark Places by Gillian Flynn (which is AMAZING so far!)

It’s been such a perfect birthday. 🙂

Monday’s Musings.

Another Monday has rolled around, but I don’t get the regular dread that comes with the beginning a new week or school because it’s summer vacation for me. Woohoo! Therefore, since I don’t have class to go to, here’s how I’m spending my Monday.

• Reading The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver. I started it on Friday, and even though I haven’t gotten much reading done since I’ve been spending time with my friend, Malia, in Asheville, it’s a really great read so far. I’ve heard from numerous people how great of a writer Barbara Kingsolver is, so I figured since it’s summer and I’ve got time to pleasure read, I’d give her a shot. So far, I’m hooked!
• Passing time with Pandora. For those of you who don’t know, Pandora Radio is free online radio station where you can create your own stations by searching for an artist or a song and then Pandora will play other artists/songs that are similar to what you searched. It’s a really great concept, and there are only short commercials every so often, so it’s mostly music. It’s a great thing to have playing when you’re doing other things, but if you love music like me, you can just sit and listen.
• Dreaming of Ireland. This is pretty much a constant these days. According to the countdown I have on my computer, I leave for Ireland in 43 days. It truly feels unreal. I am so, so excited, and I can’t wait to have the experience of a lifetime. Granted, I’m pretty nervous since I’ll be studying at NUI Galway with API (Academic Programs International), and I don’t know anyone else who is going. However, I make friends pretty easily, so I’m sure I’ll be fine once I’m there and all settled in.
• Going out to dinner for Malia’s birthday. It’s my best friend, Malia’s, birthday today. Sadly, Malia is babysitting for most of the day so I’m not spending time with her now. However, later tonight Malia, Becca, Rabia, Ivy, and I are going out to dinner for Malia’s birthday. I’m not sure where we are going out to dinner, but the great thing about Asheville is there are so many restaurants to choose from, and they’re all really yummy, so it’ll be a great night either way!

How are you spending your Monday?

Funfetti Cupcakes + Snow.

Today is my friend Nichole’s birthday. We became friends when we both transferred to UNC Asheville this past semester. Anyway, I came up yesterday to Banner Elk, NC in order to spend her birthday with her. Since I didn’t know what to get Nichole for her birthday, I ended up making her funfetti cupcakes, which have already been a hit! As well as celebrating Nichole’s birthday today, I also woke up to snow. I’m originally from SC, and we don’t get snow that often, so waking up to 6 inches of snow was quite a treat. I haven’t been out to play in it yet since Nichole’s family and friends are coming over to eat soon for her birthday. But once the eating is over, I don’t doubt that we’ll be out in the snow! Making a snowman and a snow angel and snowballs. Ah, sounds so great! However, it is currently 16 degrees outside (bur bur burrrr), so I’m revealing in the heat inside as of now.

Anyway, I better go celebrate with Nichole and enjoy the snow some more! Tomorrow I’ll post some of the best snow pictures that I end up taking today, so stay tuned. 🙂