Dear Daniel

*Warning: Please excuse the extreme mushyness ahead.*

;)

Dear Daniel,

I know it's only been about four months since we started dating, but I feel like I have spent some of the best moments of my life with you.

The long awkward silence when we met for the first time...but then we ended up talking for hours for the rest of the weekend.

You sending me "snow" for my birthday.

Ice skating by The Bean in Millennium Park in Chicago.

Seeing Chicago and kissing you from the top of the John Hancock Building.

You teaching me how to make latte art and the giggles that ensued.

You waiting for me and hugging me at the end of my first half marathon.

Stuffing our faces at Paula Deen's Restaurant on Valentine's Day.

Sharing my favorite coffee shop, Coffee Underground, with you.

(Coffee Underground)

Sitting in a swing by the Reedy River and talking about the future.

Watching the sunset from Caesar's Head.

Dancing with you at your cousin's wedding in Charleston.

Still getting butterflies when I look at you...

Thanks for sharing in our adventures! It's been a wonderful journey so far!

I love you.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

I want to thank you all for the birthday wishes! They really made my day!

There isn't much you can do on my birthday, but I did enjoy getting a new camera, playing in the candlelight Christmas Eve service, and eating the red velvet cupcakes my mom made for me.

See Exhibit A:

Mmmm, yes, please. I should definitely mention that she made these from scratch. Not out of a box. From scratch - icing and all.

Also over the holidays, I was nominated  for a couple of awards.

The first is a Stylish Blogger Award from both Mindy of In the Loop and Nichelle of Vintage Wanna Bee. Thanks ladies!

I'm supposed to tell you seven things about myself. Ok, here goes.

1. I really, really like chocolate milk. I, however, did not like it until recently, which is strange, considering my chocoholic tendencies. I drink it almost every night before bed, and I specifically like Publix's chocolate milk. I'm not sure if I could live in a place without a Publix. I wonder if they would ship it to me?

2. I'm a violinist, and I will be graduating on May 14th with my Masters in Violin Performance. (It's already written in my planner. I'm ready.)

3. I want to be a strings teacher, and I am hoping and praying to find a job for next year.

4. My mom and I were talking the other night, and she told me that when I was in kindergarten I said, "The only boy I like to play with is my Daddy." Sorry Daniel.

5. I'm pretty sure my first celebrity crush was Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Ha, 90s anyone?

6. One of my favorite children's books is Goodnight Moon. I was always concerned that the mouse was too close to the fire and was going to get burnt.

7. I don't have a southern accent despite living in the south for my entire life. The rest of my family does. Weird, I know.

I'm supposed to pass along the award to more lovely bloggers, so here they are:

A Hasty Life

moonbeamwishes

much love, illy

{good times never seem sew good...}

The Sweetest Petunia

The second is a Trendy Blog Award from Lulu in Los Angeles. I'm so honored!

 I also get to pass this award along: {meg's musings}Sandy a la ModeNice Girl NotesNella DesignsHiya Luv Go check out these lovely ladies' blogs!

I'm now old enough to rent a car. Yay.

Woop woop - I'm 25!

(That sounds so old!)

And yep, I was born on Christmas Eve. It's a cool story, but in reality, it kind of stinks.

Here's how it went down:

My mom went into labor sometime in the afternoon on Christmas Eve, but she insisted on my dad wrapping all the Christmas presents before they left.

Dad: Teresa, no one is going to be here to open them tomorrow.

Mom: Just wrap them!!!

Dad: Uh, ok.

(Dad - I don't speak from experience, but I think it's probably a bad idea to argue with someone labor. Just sayin'.)

They arrived at the hospital, and I was born at 11:35 p.m. I'm pretty sure I would have been born on Christmas - but my mom had a c-section - and I have a feeling the doctors were just thinking "let's get this kid out and go home for Christmas." So Christmas Eve it was. The next morning, I was brought to my mom in a stocking. Yes, I fit into a stocking. As far as I know, there is no photographic evidence of this adorable event. But here are some pictures of me throughout the years...

(I love this one of my dad and me and his Model A!)

(I was a ham!)

By the way...the birthday-at-Christmas-time is a family curse. Here's a list of family events at this time of year:

December 22: Mom's birthday

December 24: My birthday

December 25: Christmas

December 29: My sister's birthday

January 1: New Years

Whew. Good times.

Alright. Now what you've all been waiting for...the winner of my $25 shop credit giveaway is:

Gina from Hiya Luv!

Yay! Congrats!

A very Merry Christmas Eve to everyone!

25 + 25 + 25 {and a giveaway}

...equals 75. But that's not really the point of this post.

Thanks to the lovely Mandy of Mandipidy and her birthday bash giveaways, I gained quite a few new followers in the past week. I passed 25, and I now have 39!

Thanks Mandy!

Since my 25th birthday is also coming up next week, I thought those two things were reason enough for a giveaway. Don't you think so?

Symphony Rosette Headband

Awesome. Me too.

In celebration of all the other 25s going on in my life, one of you will win a $25 shop credit to Emerging Em!

Light Peach Bowtie Necklace

To enter:

Visit Emerging Em and leave a comment with your favorite item!

Extra Entries:

1. Follow my blog.

2. Become a fan of Emerging Em on Facebook.

(I'm also having a giveaway for my Facebook fans. Head on over and comment there, too.)

3. Follow me on twitter.

(Yes. I caved. I got a twitter account.)

4. Blog, tweet, or facebook about this giveaway.

Be sure to leave your email address so that I can contact you!

The giveaway will run through December 23, and I'll announce the winner on my birthday - Christmas Eve!

:)