20.

20 is old.
Seriously.
I was talking to my aunt a couple nights before I turned 20,
And she started telling me how once your teenage years are gone,
You never get that carefree fun back.
Geez.
Thanks.
But then I started looking back on my teenage years,
And even though I had some hardships (like moving and tearing my ACL),
I had a lot of fun,
Made of lot of good friends and memories,
And did a lot of what I wanted to do,
Including the Study Abroad I always talked about.

(I am dying. My friends and I spent hours on that board behind me. And that M necklace was classy when I was 13.)

(7 years difference...holy cow.)

Anyways, it was sad to leave the teenage years behind.

But I had a good day.

My family got me some good clothes and a new straightener (Chi holla!)

My daddy took me to lunch.

I went to get a snow cone with ma gurl Ash.

I had a few visits from various friends,

A yummy birthday dinner,

And last but not least....A Katy Perry birthday party with my cuz, Ash, and Katy Perry herself.

Anyways, here's to being 20.

And old. 

Ideas.

Dear father and mother:

Just in case you don't have any ideas for my birthday, I thought I could help you out with some.

*All 3 season of Modern Family and both seasons of Pretty Little Liars.

*2 Disc Movie set of both Sherlock Holmes movies.

* A print of this picture by Ansel Adams framed in a nice plain black or red frame wouldn't be too shabby.

*Or this one by the great Monet in an antique frame (obviously my 2nd favorite of his since I already have my favorite)....

*And maybe this dress....

*And lastly, because I have to stay within reason....THIS.

This trip to Australia would make my life. Seriously.
Sincerely,
Your soon to be 20 year old in 10 days,
Michelle.

Minnesota.

Ever been to Minnesota?
Neither had I.
And my desire to go there was not very pressing.
Until my mother called.
She told me that the biggest mall in the world is located right outside of Minneapolis and St. Paul,
Asked if I would like to go.
And I said yes.
Cause, YOLO, right?

Let me tell you about this mall.
The Mall of America.
It's located in the city of Bloomington, MN.
The mall itself is 78 FOOTBALL FIELDS LONG.
And 5 floors of shopping across the 78 football fields.
On the top floors, they have business meetings there.
The mall is so big, they have duplicate stores on opposite sides of the mall.
Like they have a Forever 21 on the North and South side.
And.
In the middle of the mall,
There is an amusement park.
Nickelodean Universe.
There are like 15 roller coasters and a little kid area.
It is AMAZING.
Needless to say, the 30 hours I spent in Minnesota were well spent.
I highly recommend it for anyone.

Best ride of the day. Obviously it was Spongebob themed. 

Nick lived in the Lego World. He spent like 2 hours there. 

So many clothes....

Summer = halfway over.
..chelle..

2,000.

From the NYC with ma ladiezzzzz....

 (We so lucked out. The day we went into the city was 75 degrees, sunny, and there was a Prada fashion exhibit going on in the MET. Holla.)

4 dollar glasses courtesy of Canal Street.

To the STeeG is 2,000 miles.

But it's worth the mileage to take a break from the real world (working) and to go visit the fam.
And watch the brother graduate (Congrats Brad!)
And see some friends you haven't seen for two years (Welcome home Elder Polatis!)

Summer just keeps rollin' along....
..chelle..

Snapshots.

One month ago, 
I left the greatest city,
The greatest semester,
The greatest experience,
The greatest 4 months of my life. Ever.
And now,
More than anything,
I wish I could be back there.
With ma peeps.
And seeing all these places that my little iPhone has provided me snapshots of.

27 Palace Court is my second home. And always will be.

COME BACK TO ME, LONDON 2012.

Connecticut.

Hiiiiii.

I've been MIA for a while.
Sorry.
I really can't even blame it on being busy.
Because I'm not.
But I will blame it on the need to catch up on some good TV (Glee, Psych, New Girl) after not watching any of it for 4 months.

Anyways,
I live in New Canaan, Connecticut now.
Population: 20,000
35 minutes outside of NYC.
And my new housemates are my grandparents.
Ask how this switch was after living with 39 college students.
I have two friends back here. Literally. I love them so much.
If they can't do anything, I stay home and watch TV.
But I love my grandparents house. It's so great. I'll post a picture below.
And ask me if I like that there have been more rainy days here than my entire 4 months in London.
SERIOUSLY.

I work at Spruce Investments.
Haven't heard of them?
Neither had I.
Think like private funds management and risk management.
Bingo.
You've got it.
They're based in Stamford, Connecticut
Which is 20 minutes outside NYC. 
Yayyyyy.
I get paid to make people's coffee, order them food, and answer the phone.
Oh.
And open mail. 
Which takes an hour.
I'm being so serious right now.

I love it here though.
I love the East Coast.
And being so close to my favorite city on Earth.

Now, excuse me while I YouTube how to make a pot of coffee for work tomorrow.

4.0.

Cross another thing off my college bucket list.

YES.
..chelle..