gifts!

as promised, pictures of my various birthday gifts. i'm so lucky!


classic white button down, $20, b-day gift from my momma, target.
jeans, levi's, urban outfitters, $20.


new flats :)
black studded flats, urban outfitters, $20.
leopard print flats, target, $12.


BOOTS. FINALLY. HELL YES.
riding boots, target, $50, birthday gift :)


what my parents sent me for my birthday, i love them!!

why isn't love enough?

This is basically how I look all the time: curly hair (way too lazy to straighten it), bags under my eyes, leggings, a flannel shirt (or an AA Deep V, not going to lie, I totally live in them) and an energy drink in hand. I used to be a big fan of Red Bull but as of late I've definitely been drinking more Monster...I wonder why? ;) Probably because that's all they sell on campus...probably. Anyways...

I had my first Berkeley midterm yesterday and despite the fact that I studied really hard, I don't think I did as well as I wanted to. It was a really hard exam, I thought, and it didn't help that I totally blanked the first fifteen minutes of the test. Ugh. There's nothing I can do about it now, so I'm just trying to enjoy my weekend, but it's still frustrating whenever I start to think about it.

However, the rest of yesterday was awesome! My American Studies 110 class was really interesting and got out early, and then my discussion section was cancelled, and THEN I got my birthday package in the mail from my parents! And they really outdid themselves...not only did they get me the first season of True Blood, but they bought me three books (a book of witty quotes, Rebel Without A Crew by Robert Rodriguez, and Scorsese on Scorsese by Martin Scorsese) and two documentaries on filmmaking (A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese through American Movies and Cinematographer Style). Thanks guys, you are the best :D

All I have to do this weekend is read...A LOT. So far, I've caught up on Glee, watched two episodes of True Blood, and watched Closer. Right now I'm watching part of Empire Records and in twenty minutes I'm meeting up with some friends and my roommate to go to a screening of The Hangover at Wheeler...for only $3! So much for productivity.

Also, all prospective transfer students should read this article in The Daily Bruin about the increase in difficulty transferring. I will try to do some more research on this and let you know what I find out!

twenty years!

So, birthday weekend...the weekend itself was awesome, my actual birthday, not so much.

Sarah arrived on Friday! It was so wonderful seeing here again; I hadn't seen her since I had left for Berkeley! And as much as I love video chat, it is definitely not the same as actually hanging out with my best friend. So we go back to my apartment and get dressed to go to Jupiter's Pizza for dinner. Another one of my good friends from high school, Misha, came down from San Francisco to have dinner with us, along with my roommate Haley and my good friend Mike (though he had to unfortunately leave early). Good times were definitely had, and the pizza was amazing. Definitely going back there again! After dinner, we got some gelato and took Misha back to the BART because he had to go home. The three of us ladies headed back to the apartment, where I prepared some delicious mojitos...I'd like to think it's another trait I've picked up from my dad, haha. We caught up for awhile and then went to bed.

Saturday we woke up late, because we could. It was gameday, Cal vs. USC, and we were ready to have fun! I went with Sarah, Haley, Maria (one of the other girls living in my apartment) and Maria's friends to a bunch of frats...and it was an interesting experience, to say the least. We left very, very...happy...haha. Then Sarah and I went back to the apartment to watch the game and watch Cal lose in the most ridiculous/pathetic way ever to USC. Oh well. It was fun, though! And then I went and got my nose pierced (shhh, daddy doesn't know yet) and got some coffee and went to sleep.

Yesterday, the anniversary of my day of birth, I woke up at 6 am to walk my best to the BART station...only to find that the BART doesn't run until 8am on Sundays. Public transit FAIL...so I gave her a little bit of money and she went off in a spirited~ cab. I went back to the apartment to sleep, only to wake up and go to the library. That's right...I spent my birthday in the library, studying. Oh well. That was pretty much all I did, though I did go home to eat lunch and some cookies...haha. It was an okay day, it just didn't feel like much of a birthday. I guess that's what my 21st is for, right? So close! :) I was in an odd mood all day; every little thing was getting to me, but talking to a couple of people from back home definitely made my day a lot better.

In any case, this week is going to be a little crazy...I have my first midterm and I am terrified. I'm currently applying for a second job that I am in desperate need of and I'm scared I won't get any callbacks (though it is work study, so someone should call me). I need to go to the doctor today because I pulled a muscle or popped something (I don't even know) in my leg a week ago and it still hurts, and then I'm filming another episode of the Calbear Report and then class. Honestly, I just want to lay in bed, drinking tea and listening to Bon Iver and Rilo Kiley and staring off into the fog, but I know I need to get up and be productive.

• Work, 10:00AM-12:00PM
• Lunch
• Study, 1:00PM-5:00PM
• SARAH GETS HERE ~5:00PM
• Birthday Dinner, 7:00PM

This is bound to be the best birthday weekend ever.

Best way to procrastinate? CLEANING.
You think I'm kidding, I'm sure...but seriously...it's relaxing, grants instant gratification, and you still feel productive even though you haven't gotten any reading done! Yay!

I cannot wait for this weekend...my best friend is coming up from LA, it's the Cal vs USC game (GO BEARS), and it's my 20th birthday! So very excited :)

wishlist!

Per the request of my mother, I'm posting my birthday wishlist here...it's less than a month away, and I'm going to be twenty! Yay.

I'd like the first season of True Blood on DVD...not only because I need a new series to watch, especially living without a television (*melodramatic tear here*), but it is my Media Studies professor's favorite television show...which is a great reason to watch it. Research! Right? Right.

I really love these Frye Shirley Riding Boots...but they're way out of my measly college budget. However, this is the kind of boots I'm looking for, so if you spot cheaper alternatives, let me know!

I love these Latin Rings that Marc by Marc Jacobs came out with...not only are they affordable at $3 a piece, but they're classy and interesting. AND, they make them big enough to fit people that don't have miniature hands...exciting! I had bought one but it already looks totally beat up :( Only downfall? They're only available at the MBMJ stores (but there is one on Melrose!) Actually, most anything from the MBMJ store, accessory wise, anyways, is cute, stylish, and affordable, so if you have a chance to drop by...I'm just saying, don't forget about me!

I've been looking for the perfect white button down for awhile, and this Boyfriend Oxford Shirt from the Gap seems to be what I'm looking for. I'd have to try it on, of course, but it looks sharp and professional, while at the same time it'd look cute with a pair of jeans and my converse. Speaking of which, I'm also on the hunt for the perfect blazer (ideally, thrifted)...hmm.

A nice new purse would be great too (oh, I'm sure you saw this coming, you all know me too well) but I'm pretty picky so we'll see where my hunt goes.



Overall though, the best gift you could give me would be cash. I'm a broke college student, I need to pay for everything, so why not do a mitzvah and lend a helping hand? :)

Thanks for reading!

Love,
Andrea

(P.S.-this is not to say that I expect anything from the above list; they're just ideas. And besides, the very best thing you could do is just give me a call on my birthday!)