& today I am thankful for the blessings in my life.

& know that i am so very

xo-

p.s. click for guaranteed giggles: this video is amazing.

to my pops on his birthday.

 {Dad & me. 1989.}

to my Dad: 

You are a true inspiration & one of my heroes.  Your talks of encouragement when i am down never seize to boost my spirits. You've raised me educating me on some of the best lessons a girl could ever learn. our long chats while exploring the world on walks, through museums & car rides have contained some of the best moments of my life. I love you more than words could ever attempt to express & am so blessed to have a father like you.

with Love forever & always, 

Anna Banana.

Happy Birthday 

to My Wonderful Dad.

natalie update: 1.

{julia, natalie, carolyn. june 2010.}

Natalie's surgery went well! 

After four hours of surgery we were happy to hear from my sister, keeping us updated all day long with the progress. 

natalie is doing pretty good, just having a lot of pain, as expected. 

how i wish i could take her pain & make it mine.  i would in a heartbeat.

we continue to pray & hope that she will be back to her sassy self in no time! : )

Your support means the world to us, you have no idea.  

We are so blessed & send You lots of Love & thanks.

xo-

p.s. my sister Katie is keeping her blog updated as well.

update: our sweet girl, natalie.

[natalie & me. september 2009.] 

our hearts have been heavy this summer while my niece natalie has had various health issues.  

this thursday natalie will be undergoing spinal surgery performed in dallas, texas.  her brothers will stay at home, her mamma, dad, gma & gpa (my mom & pops) will be by her side, helping her heal along with the angels. i cannot be there for my goddaughter when she awakes, but my Love will be forever surrounding her. 

our hearts are anxious, but our prayers are endless.

your thoughts of hope are so very appreciated, as we have already been so gratefully affected by your kindness & Love.

thank you so much for taking a moment to rally for our sweet girl-

we are forever thankful.

xo-

blessed.

i definitely do not like being so busy.
it bums me out that school takes so much of my time. i would much rather blog my days away--le sigh.

i have been behind on my reading of your sweet blogs & regret that a lot.
please know that i will catch up for sure.

with that i just wanted to remind you all how much you all mean to me.

i know that some of you know this already, & some of you probably think this is cliche. but at the end of the day, i just want you all to know the truth:

i love you.

you have no idea how much your comments & support make me smile. everyday my heart swells with love from knowing you.

yes, you reading this.

you, you, you, you, you.

thank you.

with love-
Anna.

happy moments.

{via: audreyhepburncomplex.}

yesterday i visited jenny & julie for lunch.
i have missed them so much, it seems like we hardly ever
have time to catch up anymore. we are busy, busy girls.
many giggles were had & lots of hugs were received.

i came home & i met my cute boy and we ate yummy food.
after dinner we strolled on mass street in the warm spring-like weather
& we came upon an accordion player who was playing music from amelie.
it was wonderful.

we practiced salsa dancing after we got back from downtown
& decided to stargaze. (oh & i may have gotten beat at wii...multiple times...)

it was a happy day,
filled with many happy moments.

& i am one lucky girl.

xo-

thankful for you.

{via: flickr.}

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson.

with lots of love,
Happy Thanksgiving.
xo-

a little update.

{via: here.}

hello loves!

i just wanted to let you know that i am featured on the wonderful blog yes and yes today! i am so very excited that the brilliant sarah von invited me to post for her! & next week she is going to post here! hooray!

also, i started an internship with amazing company buttoned up! they are absolutely the nicest people in the world to work with & i'm so very thankful for the opportunity!

oh, & i just got an email from my bank letting me know that the raffle i entered in August for a free laptop...yeah, i WON!

oh my goodness! so exciting!
xo-

how wonderful!

{via: tumblr.}

i have officially started my thanksgiving break.

no work.
no school.
until next monday!

i am so very happy about this.

as for the moment, i am off to enjoy some 30Rock without worrying about any assignments, meetings, or major tasks!
xo-

cherished chats.

[part of daisy hill on the west side of campus, august 2009.]

Today after my math lecture i hopped on the bus & rode to west campus to stop by my dad's office. I made sure that his schedule was open around noon so I could come by to eat lunch with him before my next lecture at 1pm. {I've made the mistake of stopping by unexpectedly and ended up sitting outside of his office for an hour waiting for a student to finish meeting with him...& then, of course, times when other professors stop by his office for "professor-y" things.} evidently he is very popular.

I love going to my dad's office. but even more so, I love chatting with him about various things.

today we discussed my Berlin lecture & how American universities were modeled after the University of Berlin.
last week we talked typography.

and i loved every minute.

xo-

eeps! i'm so excited!!

Darlings! Guess what!!

Today i am featured on the Amazing blog "diamond in the rough"!!!
i was so excited when they emailed me asking if i was interested in contributing & being featured!! of course!! its a wonderful blog & you can check out my little post here.
& thank you to "diamond in the rough", you are so sweet.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo-

p.s. today is FRIDAY!! hooray! hooray!

You, yes you.

{via: tumblr.}

I have the best friends.

Truly. Sincerely. Honestly.

the best.
they make me giggle from silly texts they send informing me of certain moments they had experienced that day.
they encourage me when i'm feeling a wee bit under the weather.
they hold true to their word, every one of them.
they put up with my goofy antics & they go along with me when i come up with adventures.
they listen to me vent.
they give me hugs when i'm feeling low, &
they always know exactly what to say...even if its not what i "want" to hear.
they read my blog & leave me sweet comments.
they listen to me gush about my current crushes.
& they tell me about their hopes & dreams.

over the years i have had many wonderful friends.
but often, the friendships faded quickly, & "acquaintance" became a more fitting label for what we were. i have always heard that college friends are often the ones you keep for life, simply because you are more sincere in your friendships.

i love my friends.
all of You.
from Kansas to the other side of the world.

you really do make the world beautiful, loves...
& i'm so blessed to know You all.