she may be young but she only likes old things

This picture makes me laugh every time I see it. Which is often, considering it's my new phone background. This week I have been hanging out with my fave azn babies, Mace (pictured above) and Bo (pictured third). They are only the most adorable, hilarious and sweetest little babies I know. Mace is 3 and Bo is 10 months. One of my favorite things is when babies remember you after a long period of time. Mace still remembers something I told him from when I babysat over Christmas. It seriously warms my heart and makes me smile so much. They're the best.

Mace and me swimming on an alligator^ This little kid is so fearless in the water, I love it.

Baby Bo tired from playing^ Bo is such a sweet, sweet baby. He hardly ever cries and he is always smiling. My favorite is when he gives you kisses, which is really him opening his mouth against your face. I love babies.

When I'm not playing with babies, I'm reading. So far I've read three new books since finishing Harry Potter. Last night I finished This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I really liked it. I love books that take place during university years and prep school, because I am so fascinated by east coast prep school life. My favorite part of the book was the dialogue between the protagonist, Amory Blaine and the love of his life, Rosalind. It was a sad sort of love story, but the way the characters spoke to one another was so pretty. Here is my favorite quote:

"You know I'm old in some ways- in others- well, I'm just a little girl. I like sunshine and pretty things and cheerfulness- and I dread responsiblity. I don't want to think about pots and kitchens and brooms. I want to worry whether my legs will get slick and brown when I swim in the summer."

This sums me up in 4 sentences.

Summer is coming to a close. Kind of. I'm weirdly excited to go back to school? I guess that's what happens when you do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for 2 months. Things to look forward to in August:

1) Last family beach trip

2) BON IVER AUGUST 3

3) Boston to see Jadyn!!!

4) Nick Jonas August 13

5) Back 2 Provo August 27 :)

music is my boyfriend

Does Spotify count as social media because you can see your friends' playlists? Spotify rules. I joined today and in a matter of 3 hours (spread out, not straight through I swear) I have accumulated a total of 1814 songs. It's too easy. You seriously click and drag songs. No wait time. Playlists at your fingertips and you can access it from any computer. It's the answer to my prayers since my hard drive crash. My only complaint is that a few very crucial favorite artists of mine cannot be found, or only one of their albums is available. I'm sure it will only be a matter of time until this problem is fixed though. I love this thing. I wish I could figure out how to invite you, but I have yet to. I joined using this site. If you're obsessive about your iTunes, this app (what do I call it?) is perfect. Seriously, I still can't get over how fast and simple it is. Ok, I'm done raving and going to get 8,000 more songs. BYE.

crafty smoke that made us choke

All I want right now is a dress with cut-out shoulders and any kind of panini sandwich as long as it has avocado.

And a job.

betsey johnson ss11

I dedicate this post to my friend and Betsey enthusiast, Camille Greenan :)

Camille recently asked me whatever happened to my fashion posts on here. If you have been reading, you will know that I recently experienced a tragic hard drive crash and lost everything on my computer, including my carefully archived fashion folders which included my favorite looks from every season going back to almost 2007. I don't know what that says about me and my life, but I'll let you judge me.

Anyway. So Camille requested a Betsey post a very long time ago. Now I will admit, I am not a Betsey fan myself. Don't get me wrong, I have seen some dresses and accessories that I love, but most of the time, I don't find Betsey to suit my style. However, Camille is incredibly quirky, girly and goofy, which traits exemplify the Betsey Johnson line. Ok, so going from left to right:

1) I love maxi dresses. I think they're so chic and carefree and so comfortable. I shy away from them because I'm only 5', but I really would wear them more often if I had the right pair of wedges and a great seamstress. I love the chiffon-y look of this dress and the fluttery sleeves. Perfect for summer nights when it gets a little bit chilly, but not really. (<-- in regards to it not actually being that cold).

2) Ok, so is it weird that I have always wanted a skeleton shirt/sweatshirt of some kind? Maybe it's my fascination of all things related to the human body and anatomy, but it's always been a secret clothing lust of mine. I've never been able to find something suitable for me though. I like this little leotard thing, but the heart is inaccurately placed.

3) I used to be a ballerina, so naturally I find all things tulle and tutu-like attractive. I like the color of this. It reminds me of a little kid's ballet costume and cotton candy.

4) I am fascinated with sailing. It's been a longtime dream of mine to learn how to sail. I figure, I own and wear enough Sperrys, I should learn how to sail so I'm not a poser. I like this little sailor outfit and if I were to ever take the slutty Halloween costume route, I would most definitely go with slutty sailor.

5) So the theme that I got out of this collection was "modes of transportation." The beginning looks were inspired by cyclists and biker chicks, I'm almost certain. Goggles and those hat skullcap things completed the looks. Then there were the random sailing looks towards the end. Another mode of transportation. Despite not being a huge Betsey fan, I would LOVE to attend a show. I feel like it really would be a performance and the models always look so happy in Betsey's shows. Plus who wouldn't want to see the designer bike down the runway?

mischief managed

Yes, it is 3:45 AM and yes, I am blogging about Harry Potter. I just finished watching Deathly Hallows Part 2 an hour or so ago. What a magical experience. No really. I remember when I got the first three Harry Potter books for Christmas. I think I was 7 when I first started reading them. My mom had told me to ask the school librarian if we had a book called Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in the library. Her patient, who was also a librarian had told her about the series. I remember I had already read half the book on Christmas day. Now it's over. There were so many odd moments that I cried during that movie- not even the super sad, emotional parts. Besides the fact that the Deathly Hallows book/movie is such a wonderful love story and message of good triumphing over evil, I was really moved by the audience. True, I wanted to throw something at the girl who was sobbing so loudly for most of the movie, but it still made me smile. Everyone that was sitting around me probably grew up with Harry Potter. They probably stayed up late reading the books, went to all the midnight premieres and many of them were dressed up as their favorite characters. J.K. Rowling not only created a world of magic and wonder, but encouraged an entire generation to pick up a book and read. I'm so happy I was a part of Harry's journey and I can't wait to share the books and movies with my children. Thank you Ms. Rowling and everyone that made Harry Potter come to life for me and my generation :)

feelin lit feelin light 2 am summer night

Oh what a week it has been! My family left for the beach Sunday evening. We went to Fenwick Island, in Delaware for the first time. I really, really liked it. Almost as much as Bethany Beach. We celebrated the 4th of July and stayed until Wednesday night. I really do love the beach. There's nothing more perfect to me than sitting in a chair in the sand reading a really fantastic book, and jumping in the water when it gets too hot.

We didn't stay as long as we normally do because Thursday night was Kid Cudi at the Mann Center in Philadelphia. That venue is great. I went one other time for MGMT, and it was even more fun on the floor. Here's Alyanna, Erin and me waiting for the concert to start.

The concert was DOPE. No seriously, it was so much fun. Kid Cudi is an incredible performer. I've never attended a hip hop concert in my life, but I had the greatest time. I will admit I felt goofy at first because I'm not even a little bit hood. But you kind of forget that and just dance. I imagine the whole thing would have been even more entertaining high, but I can assure you the surrounding air was potent enough for anyone in attendance to get a little blazed.

You may be a little bit curious as to why I am blogging at 4:18 AM. Taylor and I made a bet that the first one of us to read the entire Harry Potter series before July 15 wins a dinner with the loser dressed up as a character of their choice. I fear public humiliation, so I have spent the past 2 weeks re-reading the series. For a while, I had pretty good lead, and then all of a sudden Taylor decided to catch up. So naturally I spent my last evening starting and completing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I only finished half an hour ago. I am curious as to why I am in tears for the last 200 pages, even though this has been the 5th or 6th time reading it.

Look how much they've grown! Isn't it unreal? I am dreading/anticipating the July 15 because I feel like I'm saying goodbye to a part of my childhood, and essentially, I am. I started reading the books when I was 9 or something, because I got the first three as as Christmas present. Over the years, they have become battered and the binding has literally fallen apart and I have to read the 4th and 7th in sections. Needless to say, the Harry Potter series is a work of genius. The books and the movies (despite my disappointment with 3, 5 and 6) are masterpieces that will forever have a place in my heart.

The other day I was watching the live stream of the London premiere with my mom and we were both getting teary-eyed. Me, because it's the end of my childhood and my mother, because she's a naturally emotional person and I guess feels a special bond to the movies. But perhaps I was most touched by Emma Watson's flawless choice of gown. Oscar de la Renta. Guess who else wore Oscar? Oh you know, J.K. ROWLING. They were perfect. But seriously. Look at Emma and LOOK at that dress. There is nothing wrong with the it or the wearer. Too perfect.

July 15, please come quickly. But not too quickly because I will be an emotional wreck.