senior pictures



I can't believe four years have passed {some eigth years}! I am so very blessed and thankful to have had such strong friendships over my college years. Although we're all going our separate ways {NYC, grad school at UA/UT, Nashville, Germany, marriage, etc . . . } I know these friendships will continue forever and ever. I can't wait to see what God has in store for all of us! Thanks Schmitty for taking these, we'll treasure them forever!

*We're missing a few girls . . . that's just an excuse for a get together very soon!

and another one's engaged!

My best friend Kelsey is ENGAGED! She's the second of our friends to get a ring on it and I am so excited for her and Chad! Let the planning begin!

sweet summer time

It's officially summer for me! Four years of college are behind me . . . just classes for a month and a half and an internship in New York City with Karen Kane stand in the way between me and a diploma in my hand! Not that I want to speed up the next seven months, but let's be honest, I can't wait to see what God has in store in the next chapter in my life! This summer I have hopes for lots of fun, sun-kissed skin, and lots of laughter and time with family and friends. I've composed a {an in progress}} list of things I want to do/am doing over the next three months.

- Family vacation in St. Thomas
- Bar crawl in Birmingham
- Museum of Art in Birmingham
- Road trip to Nashville/Dallas
- Braves game
- Summer romance
- Drink more water
- Engagment party for Jessica
- 4th of July cookout
- Stay up for 24 hours
- Start a fitness routine
- Shop at a farmer's market
- Read more books {any suggestions, last summer I read every Nicholas Sparks novel}
- Float down a river

loft party

Thursday night my roommates and I hosted a graduation party for our friends that became Alabama alumni over the weekend. It was a blast and certainly bittersweet! I can't wait to see how God uses each and every one of them in this next chapter of their lives! It has been truly a blessing to know each of them for the past 4+ years and how they have molded me into the lady I am today! I love each and every one of you and you better stay in touch and come back to visit in the fall!

the graduates
front row: cromwell + meredith + kari + mallory + cati
second row" schmitty + john david + mary ellen {wanna-be graduate} + jordan + marcus + jared + chase

roommates
jordan + meredith + julie

best friends
julie + sarah

old + new friends
john david + julie + alan

best friends
john david + julie

truths

Weekend Roundup

What a weekend! It was definitely fun and relaxing. I was off from work {which was a much needed break}! This weekend was spent with friends and family since it was the last one before everyone graduates!

Friday we went to see Ryan Kinder {went to high school with him} and Trotline play. It was chill and I was probably the oldest one in the bar, but it was worth it to support Ryan and it was also a benefit concert for the 4.27.2011 Tornado Relief Fund.

roomies: jordan + me

best friends: john david + me

best friends: kelsey + kari + me

Saturday afternoon was spent at Hurricane Creek! It was a beautiful day to spend outside and a nice break from studying {okay, Facebook and Pinterest}. Found out that there are some really different people in Tuscaloosa {aka rednecks}. I've never seen so many drunk old men and ladies wearing bikinis that shouldn't. Besides that, it was a fun day with new and old friends. That evening, we hosted a cookout at the loft. Much thanks to Shaw for grilling for us, it was delicious!

rope swing!

yummy watermelon

walking through a jungle, ha!

jordan on a slack line . . . harder than it looks

hurricane creek - definitely some interesting people

beautiful sky

jordan + me + sarah + john david

Sunday I went home for the day to celebrate my sisters engagement! It was fun to spend the day with just the five of us and to hear the story and start some planning! AND the greatest news of the day, I'm officially the maid of honor!!!!! Super stoked and can't wait to plan/host showers and of course the bachelorette party!

me + jessica

j + j

After 5, almost 6 very long years, my sister is finally ENGAGED to Jesse! I am so happy for them both and literally couldn't believe it when I got the phone call yesterday! I believe at some point in our conversation I threatened her that if she were lying to me I would no longer claim to be her sister. Cheers to getting married big sister and let the planning begin, wooohooo!

happy birthday to you

Happy Birthday to one of my best friends, Sarah!

We celebrated her birthday this weekend and had a blast! Here's one of the few pictures taken with Kari, myself, and Sarah! So thankful for you and our friendship for the past 4 years and many more to come! Love you bunches!

adventures

Well, it's official. I love the New York. It's definitely a totally different lifestyle and culture than here in the south, but that is what makes it so intriguing. Not that I'm going to live there forever, but 3 months this fall is going to be incredible {I can feel it in my bones}! I took a few snap shots throughout the week, each one holds a story so I'll try my best to tell them short and sweet.

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First up on the left was on Wednesday where I was circling upper Manhattan searching for the Pucci office. I turned the corner and saw this surprisingly neat waterfall area! On the right was on my first venture out in the city Monday morning. A beautiful day to sit in Union Square Park and people watch!

Oh the Chelsea Market, I can't explain my love for this place! It was the only area I went back to multiple times. It's a neat little shopping area in Chelsea, obviously, but it's right across the street from Tod's office. The Chelsea Market is full of eating places {some sit down restaurants, but mostly free stands}, little specialty shops, and a random Anthropologie {which by the way, their spring set up is so pretty}! The first time I walked in a man was playing Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah, which was very cool entertainment!

The food in New York is just as different as the people. I obviously like sandwiches if you can't tell by the photo below, but the coolest one has to be from Bar Suzette's located in the Chelsea Market {who would've guessed?!} Anyway, you pick out which kind of crepe filling you want and they prepare it right in front of you. All the fixings are folded into a crepe and handed to you in a cone-like paper holder. Cool right? And definitely delicious!

Here's a snap shot of 3 of the offices that I visited. The one on the far left is Tory Burch, upper right is Tod's, and lower right is Michael Kors.

The city that truly never sleeps. Well, that's it! It was a wonderfully exhausting week and I can't wait to share with you all where I end up! Prayers are still welcome that I find the right home for me!

the city

What a whirl-wind of a week! I'm heading back to the south as I type and I can't wait to tell you all about my time in the city Monday! This time around, I got to experience the city on my own, which was definitely overwhelming at first. I made some new discoveries and had the opportunity to meet some incredibley talented people {more on that Monday}! Thank you all so much for your prayers, well wishes, and tons of messages concerning my interviews! No matter where I end up, I know it will be an amazing learning experience! Here are a few snap shots to get you through the weekend!

And if that doesn't excite you, take some time and read about falling in love.

birthday celebration

I had a BLAST last week celebrating yet another year. I have a feeling 22 will not be a let down! One thing I learned last week is how wonderful my friends are. I can't thank God enough for blessing me with such an incredible group. I am so lucky for these friends that have been placed in my life {those new and old, and for the ones not pictured}.

Let the countdown begin!

Spring Break 5 days

Leave for NYC 6 days

JM Concert 51 days

happy birthday to me!

Turning 22 today seems quite uneventful, but it is indeed!

So many wonderful things are happening this year in my life, and I'll let you in on a few . . . planning a trip this summer with best friends {out of the U.S.!}, moving to the city for my internship, and graduation this winter!

See?! Life is going so great right now and there is no better way than to celebrate it with sweet family and friends! So have an amazing day and eat a slice of fruit pizza {sweet roommates made this for me last night}!

2012

Fortunately I got to ring in the new year with some great people. Here are a few snap shots from the night . . .
Hope your 2012 started out a blast like mine . . . because I have a feeling it will be a great year!