Outfit details: top: Revolve // skirt: similar here and here // sunglasses: Quay Australia // heels: Jessica Simpson (so comfy!) // cable bracelets: David Yurman in pink, green, and pearl // necklace: this was my great grandmother’s but I found a similar one here

22!!! 

I low key cannot get over the fact that my 21st year is over and I am well on my way into my 20’s!!!  There are honestly so many things, people, moments, etc. that I have to be thankful for and what better day to talk about them!

In my 21st year of life I drank champagne underneath the Eiffel Tower while it sparkled at midnight, took challenging and interesting courses in the major I created, danced the night away in a sequin ball gown at my junior Ring Dance, swam with wild sting rays in Antigua, helicoptered to the highest glacier in Europe, and continued to fall more in love with all of the wonderful, amazing people in my life. But of course it wasn’t all glitter and champagne– I cried over getting lost (pretty much everywhere), struggled to adapt back to normal college life after being abroad, worked really hard to land my dream internship, and felt angst about not being able to get it all done perfectly so that everything met my high expectations.

 I guess that’s the thing about your 21st year– yes, you finally get to buy shirts that say “Yes way, rosé,” but all of a sudden you are handed all of these responsibilities and adjustment periods and expectations and you’re left trying to figure out a way to balance it all and still have time to read the news, perfect a Skype interview, and get your bi-weekly gel manicure (hey, girl has to multitask). Even though I’ve now lived a full year of being 21, I definitely haven’t managed to figure it all out and maintain my ideal balance.

BUT,  I can say this. Looking back, the best times were always the ones when I was most present and truly living in the moment. Whether it be in prayer or on the dance floor (again, you live many lives as a 21-year-old), my favorite memories actually don’t involve my starred emails or my beloved planner (gasp). Instead, they were those late night pepperoni pizza orders, random drives with my sweet boyfriend, and decorating my girlfriends with craft glitter from my Glitter Box. They were swimming in the ocean in May, having coffee on the porch with my mom, and going somewhere new and realizing how much I instantly already loved it.

That’s the thing about the big 21st year–  it’s all laughter and anxiety and growing up and learning how to be the best version of yourself. It prepares you for 22. And every crazy, magical year after that. So that when that day comes and you’re holding 22 *heavy* peonies in a feather top and a sequin skirt, you can feel like you earned it.   ha.

22, I am so excited for you!!