5 Things that make me feel like an adult...

Thinking about how long it's been since I walked through the more-than-double doors of my high school always sends me for a trip. But lately, some things have really "hit home" in making me feel like an adult... and they're things I hope everyone experiences, no matter how different the timing is...

1. Cooking Thanksgiving
This year my parents decided to make the 7 hour trek to come visit me and I agreed to provide the food. The week before, I scoured allrecipes.com looking for the perfect dishes that I could turn in to my 'classics.' Days before, I went grocery shopping. Seems like an easy feat, but I actually had to google some of the vegetables my newfound classics called for. Hours before I ran around my house cleaning and ensuring that each piece of furniture was perfectly aligned. My dinner came out lovely, but I couldn't help but realize I was an 'adult' who had just had her parents come to her apartment to do 'Thanksgiving at my place!'.

2. My brother being accepted to college
I love my little brother more than anything in the world. At nearly 3 years a part, we've had our share of 'downs' (i.e. beating the crap out of each other) but had more 'ups' once we were both in high school (me, a cool senior, him, a new-meat freshman). When I went away to school, 'Buddy' (my childhood nickname for him) grew up. He's now over 6ft, has a man voice that still shocks me on the phone, and has a girlfriend that I love who he's a hopeless romantic for. I told him years ago that he'll always be about 8 years old to me, but seeing that he's making me so proud and growing up in to such a respectable man makes me feel old. And like I'll probably be the mother who can't let go.

3. Finishing My Resume
That's right, I'm half-way through my third year at FSU and I just finished my resume. It was a daunting task that I wasn't ready to face. But now I need an internship (paid) this summer and I can no longer let it sit on the back burner. I've always been someone who's "overinvolved" and "does too much," so I expected my resume to be long... but seeing the past written on paper really gives you a sense of time... and age.

4. Getting Rid of MORE Piercings
When I was younger, I wanted to be a little bit of a badass. When I was only a couple months old my parents got my ears pierced. When I was 12, I got my first cartlidge piercing. When I was 16, I got my belly button, which has been long gone due to crappy jewlery and sensitive skin. Somewhere since the beginning, I ended up with 10 individual holes in my ears, 3 in each lobe, 3 cartlidge and 1 tragus. When we were 17, Grace and I went to Europe after our senior year of highschool... I got my lip pierced, she got her first tatt. Later that summer, at midnight when I turned 18 I got my septum pierced. Both of those have sense gone, although I sometimes yearn for them back and recently contemplated a 'cute' nose stud. Recently, I've had trouble holding on to earrings (and been to poor to replace them), and as such have made a change. I now keep a modest cartlidge piercing on each ear, my second holes always have studs in them, and when I remember, I try to put something in my first holes. Getting rid of them, without any pleading from my parents, has made me feel less flashy but more adult.

5. Getting a 'Style'
In high school I was known for tank top and jeans. When I graduated, and lost weight, I knew this had to change. I have finally began to adopt a 'style,' so far that my friends see pieces (not colored wife-beaters) and know I'll love them. Today, I'm wearing a black long sleeve tucked into a high waisted forever-21 flower skirt, hot pink tights and black flats. It took a lot for me to confidently walk out of the house (I know I look damn cute, but I also feel a little silly sometimes) but taking chances with my clothing has created a better sense of 'identity'... something every grown-up needs.