baby went to Amsterdam

Giant clogs! (tourist status) ^^

 The line outside the Anne Frank house! ^^

Café's are fun ^^

NUTELLA ^^

Sophie is cute ^^

Jessie too ^^

I have perfect timing ^^

Although I never wear my TOMS anymore, the store was pretty neat ^^

The best dinner decision of our lives ^^

Sophie's first coffee! (PSL) ^^

Amsterdam Starbucks! ^^

e is for Elizabeth ^^

I AMsterdam

We had quite a lovely day xx

week one

Bikes on bikes on bikes.  And my cute little bike! ^^

Painted some very Dutch items on some very Dutch (paper) clogs. ^^

My first legal beer! ^^

The spectacular view from and of Sophie's room (mine is not so glorious).^^

Some pictures from the festival! Yes, there was more than one waffle involved. ^^

Who knew The Netherlands had beaches? We biked there and it was fabulous. Until we stumbled upon the nudists....(watch the video) ^^

And finally, my home for the past week (a hotel room) had this chandelier and fab windows.  I think the theme was recyclables and I loved it. ^^

intro to my semester abroad

Below are some pictures!  I hope the video isn't too weird.  If you were wondering what's in the background, it's Ed Sheeran's new album.

















^^
There were actually windmills on the train ride over!

^^
My quaint hotel room

^^
Gas is so cheap! (But probably equivalent for Americans after the exchange rate...)

Canals are not only for Amsterdam :)

^^
In the middle of Uni.

^^
The academy building.

^^
This picture does not do the amount of bikes that are in this city justice.  (more to come)

to: all the single ladies

So I had an epiphany over the weekend and wanted to share.
I've been away from my computer so this is the first chance I have really gotten to write about it.
So here it is:
Singleness. Really. Is. A. BLESSING.

I know, I know, you've heard it before and almost too many times to bear or believe...but it's true.
Why does the world have 19 (almost 20) year old little me worrying about finding a husband as soon as possible to complete my life?
That's not the way it's going to go.
I realized that I can't keep waiting for my husband to start living my life.
I am a young, capable, intelligent, adventurous lover of life and I need to take advantage of my (sometimes selfish) desires while I can!
THINK ABOUT IT: when you do have that wonderful, special person in your life (honestly, that was without sarcasm. I can't wait to meet that man) you are not allowed to be very selfish.
But without the old ball and chain to pin you down, do what your heart desires in life! The Lord put those things there for a reason.

For example,
TRAVEL (I'm getting a slow start on this one, but it's happening soon and after that, often)
Finish school.  Or even, go to more school if you want to.
Buy some ish.  Go shopping at anthro and j.crew because you can.  You don't have to justify it if you can afford it because it's your money that you don't have to share.
Move wherever you want.  There's no better time in your life after school and when you're looking for a job or taking your next step in life.
Hang out with your friends and stay up all night (if you're into that); go on road trips, sit around and watch Netflix.  Just spend time with people that you love right now!

I'm telling you guys, singleness does not have to be this black hole of depression and fear of dying alone that society makes it out to me.
There is nothing else like being single in your 20s (listen to me, I'm not even there yet).
Now, I don't have a doubt in my mind that marriage is wonderful and fantastic and I seriously can't wait for that day to come, but for now I am going to enjoy life.
And I am not sorry about that one bit.

Happy Wednesday! xo

twenty (on) fourteen

So in two weeks I will be doing just that.
Turning twenty on the fourteenth, that is.
Birthdays sure have lost their glimmer over the years...
I don't have anything planned and if my friends don't either then that's that.
It's just that I have one of the latest birthdays of my friends so I always feel like I just turn the next age along side them.  Until I can't do something because of age limits...

However, this year I do have a wish list.
Which usually never happens.

(if you're curious or feeling generous...):

• RayBans (cats 5000 classic)
• ESV Study Bible (preferably leather)
• money for the Netherlands (I'm struggling a bit)
• Ed Sheeran's new album (X)

I've been alive for almost two decades y'all.

I feel like I'm in this in between age of everyone who is younger than me thinks I am so old and everyone who is older than me thinks I'm so young.

I am somewhere in between those opinions when I think about being 20.

Anyways, here's a baby picture.  (circa 1995 probably)

My mother is a pretty lady.

WARNING...MY BLOG IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION...I PROMISE THERE WILL BE IMPROVEMENTS.  (I just have to figure out how to work the internet).

nicknames

Hello readers!  I know I haven't posted in a while...winter took a toll on my motivation levels all around.  But it is almost summer and I am back in business. 

I was randomly inspired this morning for this blog post in particular, and thought I should get back to blogging.  There are a lot of exciting things coming up that I can write about, so get ready!

Today I come to you concerning nicknames.  You know, those silly pet names that can catch on after one person dearly comes up with one?  

Do you enjoy things like that?

Well, I know I do.  Heck, the name I go by is a nickname.  (Lizzi = Elizabeth)

I am very fond of the names people give me, even if they are to make fun.

I think I just like having someone know me enough to think they can call me something new.

Here they are, listing the ones that I can think of:

Liz

Laz

Lizzi B.

Lizzi Bean (or just Bean)

Lizard

Hearn

Hearnie (wow, that's an old one)

The Hulk (not my favorite)

Pup (pet names are great)

I'm sure there are a few that don't derive from my name (I guess the only one that stuck was the hulk), but none come to mind currently.

My favorite nickname ever is Laz, but that one is reserved for only a select few.  

Lizzi Bean is a sweet work nickname, and fitting since it's at starbucks.  I could be a coffee flavor! The Lizzi Bean, I wonder how that would taste.  Hopefully light and fresh (hehe).

Enough about me though, what are some of your favorite nicknames? Feel free to comment, and I will talk to you again soon.

xoxo