twenty.

I'm not a birthday person. I'm kind of obnoxious about it too. Wish me a happy twentieth and you'll most likely be treated to a rant about how I haven't done anything in the last two decades or (even worse) how birthdays are overrated and if you're friends with someone you shouldn't need a date on the calendar to tell you to celebrate them. Cherish your friends everyday and all that jazz. I should really be more gracious about that.

Twenty, though. That sounds so removed from me. I'm not this twenty year old. Twenty year olds have apartments and cool jobs and pay bills and live in cities. I'm not there yet. I live in a dorm room. I'm on a meal plan. I don't have a job during the year. Heck, I don't even have a car. The only thing that makes me "independent" is the fact that I'm not physically living under my parents' roof. But I'm still wholly dependent on them in most other ways. I haven't done enough to be twenty. Twenty year olds have done stuff. Important stuff.

Its like how when you were little, high school students seemed so, so cool. And then when you got there, it never felt as cool or exciting as you were sure it would be. Twenty has this connotation of sophistication and independence and energy that I might never live up to.

Believe it or not, my friends still want to be friends with me after having their ears bent out of shape with this constant whinging refrain of mine. And they very sweetly brought me flowers, something I love getting but have few excuses to do so. 

So thank you for everyone who helped celebrate. Thank you especially to the bouquet-bearing Mary, CJ, Harry, Kristi, and Maggie. 

anatomy of a costume

Alternately titled, what I did with my Thursday morning. As you all probably know, tonight is the motion picture event we've been waiting for--the U.S. midnight premiere of the last Harry Potter movie (unless you're super lucky and are currently in New Zealand cough *megan* cough and already saw it). And if you didn't know that, or are not a Rowling fan, just stop reading now. Because otherwise you will think I'm very strange.

As its the last movie, we're going all out and dressing up. I have decided to be Luna Lovegood because she's such a fun character and gives you lots of great costume options.

                  

Unfortunately, I do not have the time or patience to make a lion hat. But here is what I did do. 

My costume philosophy for established characters is somewhat akin to method acting. Yes, try and find whatever the book or movies had them wearing, but its perfectly acceptable to add something if it fits the character.

 Start with classic Ravenclaw uniform: black skirt, white button down, grey sweater, blue/silver tie:

Now, add a bunch of oddly patterned and assorted thing like scarves, knee socks, sneakers, giant purses. bonus points for wearing items in a fashion they were not intended for and/or not matching.

Next, add Luna-ish accesories. Lots of necklaces with pendants, that sort of thing.

The things the books mentioned were: necklaces made out of butterbeer corks, earrings made of radishes, copies of her father's magazine The Quibbler, and Spectrospecs.

For the final touches: Hair should be worn down and wavy, make it look as long as possible. If you want, stick flowers or something in it. Paint your nails an unusual color. Look spacey. 

Finished product:

And not to brag or anything, but I also turned my little brother into Professor Lupin and my sister into Hermione Granger. 

Also, a very merry happy birthday to my wonderful sister, who is officially of wizarding age today.

Birthday morning coffee cake.

Luna Lovegood inspired playlist:
I'm Not Calling You A Liar--Florence + the Machine
Eet--Regina Spektor
Possibility--Lykke Li
Starry Eyed--Ellie Goulding
Boy Lilikoi--Jonsi
Generator (Second Floor)--Freelance Whales
If You Can't Sleep--She & Him

h a p p y f a t h e r ' s d a y

here's to my dad. to the brilliant, incredibly driven, hardworking father who raised me to be the person I am today. Who spent countless hours playing my favorite games.

Who taught me to love reading and made up silly stories for bathtime. Who tried to teach us "farm life" even out in the suburbs.

Who worked very long hours but never made us feel like he didn't care. Who always had time to explain something to his not-very-tech-savvy daughter. Who passed down his love of music. Who made us stick to very strict itineraries on family vacations but always let us stop for ice cream.

 happy father's day, dad. thanks for everything.