The Real Deal

As you all are reading this, it is my 23rd birthday!  This year has been absolutely crazy and definitely not what I expected to come from it, but I've loved everything about it and wouldn't change anything (except maybe the global pandemic part...).  I always love to reflect on the past year and see how I've changed.  Each year I feel like I'm growing more and more into myself and I genuinely really like who I'm becoming.  So here are just a few things that I've learned in the past year, and I can't wait to see what 23 will bring! MAN PLANS, GOD LAUGHS //  I've really learned the truth of this in the past year.  I did not see myself taking an unpaid internship after graduating from college.  But that internship opened so many doors for me.  It gave me incredible experience, taught me what I wanted in the future, introduced me to one of my best friends, and gives me great volunteering opportunities.  I also took my first adult job at the...

My birthday is my favorite day of the year, and I always love to have myself a day every single year.  But, since this year was my 21st birthday, we had to make it even more special.  My two room mates from school came down to St. Louis to spend my birthday with me and some of my friends from home, and we had a blast all weekend! Friday night is when they came into town, so we just hung out in my pool, and had a relaxing night.  On Saturday though, I had a touristy day planned since they had never been to St. Louis before.  Two of my best friends from home, Robert and Logan, came with us this day since they both knew my room mates and to make the day even more fun. Our first stop was the St. Louis Zoo.  Our zoo was voted the best in the country, and is completely free to get in!  It was wicked  hot this day, so we only stayed for a few hours.  We saw some great animals and had a blast, but our favorite part was getting a mixture of a piña cola...

This past weekend, I (finally) turned 21.  I am so excited for it to finally be my birthday, but also can not believe that I am already 21!  Throughout the years, I have definitely had some ups and downs, so here are just 21 things that I have learned in my 21 years of life. 1. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.  Being you is more important than whatever anyone else could ever have to say about you. 2. It's not possible to have it all together all the time. 3. You're going to make mistakes.  It's inevitable.  Just roll with it. 4. Don't deny yourself the ice cream, or the cookie, or whatever sweet thing you want.  Odds are it won't make you any fatter the next day. 5. Cherish your family.  They may get on your nerves, but they're the most important people in your life. 6. Someone who is your best friend could turn around and stab you in the back.  It happens.  But only let them do it once.  Because once...