It's April 27th and I'm sitting in my college's cafe, looking back at the previous blog posts I have written after my birthday for the past four years. 19 I think was my favorite to look back on. The friends I had sitting around the table, the outfit I wore (cringe), and the general memories were just wild to see again.
I can literally remember my 19th birthday like it was yesterday, eating Yum Yum (my favorite Thai Food place before it had to go betray me) and then getting Magnolia Bakery while my friends screamed the happy birthday song to me in the middle of Rockefeller Plaza.
Then of course there was 20 which I believe was also at a Thai Food restaurant but must not have been as meaningful because the blog post mostly talked about how scared I was to turn 20... oh if only you knew 19-year-old Sam, if only you knew.
Last year really feels like yesterday and of course I went to a Thai Food restaurant because I'm nothing if not consistent. 21 was a really interesting year for me. I lost some friendships while others got stronger. I experienced loss as well as pure happiness. I laughed, cried, yelled, danced... I had a great 21st year.
As 22 (my favorite number since I was about 11) rolls in the day was really really great. Did I do anything really out of the ordinary? Nope. But I danced and laughed and sat at a table with some of the people who wanted to share my day with me. What more could I ask for in the end? And with less than three weeks of school left I don't know what 22 really has in store for me. Who knows who will be sitting round the table with me on my 23rd?
I told my friend yesterday that I didn't like birthday's because I always end up crying. She asked why and I told her it was because it was too nostalgic. What has my life accumulated to after 22 years? What was 2 year old Sam thinking on her birthday or 10 year old Sam? What did I want for my life at those moments that has changed to what I want from life now?
There is so much to be grateful for and I really came here to say that if this year is anything like yesterday... I am a very lucky 22 year old.

Well you guys we are coming into the final stretch! Less than thirty days until I will be walking across that stage at graduation... and man am I flipping out. I have been having some very interesting emotions surrounding it all. At certain moments I'll be happy, giddy, elated. But at other times I'm terrified, comatose, and just downright sad. My best friend from California came out and visited me last weekend and it was just incredible. We spent hours roaming around the city and I couldn't help but think that the next time I come to visit New York I will be a tourist. Four years has given me enough time to really feel like I have a grasp on this electric city and once I go back... who knows when I'll return?
I have a habit of convincing myself I don't like a place when I know that I'll be having to say goodbye. Throughout this entire year I've told people I didn't like the city anymore. It was too cold, too dirty, too crowded, etc. And for the most part those things hold some truth to them. But I was forgetting all the things I fell in love with four years ago. It's cold because there's seasons (something I had never experienced before), it's dirty because it's alive, it's crowded because it's an epicenter of life. All of these reasons that I had said out loud time and time again were all just a coping mechanism. The truth is I'm extremely sad my time here is running short.

Welp we are coming in the home bend here as finals week begins next monday! I have to say I'm surprisingly the most relaxed I've ever been coming into finals week so hopefully that's a good sign. I am so so ready to be home though. We recently decorated the apartment (shown on Snapchat: samantha_wiggs) and it's going to be sad to leave all the little decorations behind when we go home for the holidays! But, we decided to throw a christmas party this Saturday as a sort of bon voyage to all our friends before finals week and a good excuse to stop studying for a few hours.
I went through Forever 21, H&M, and Nordstrom to find some holiday outfits that I thought would look great for parties or even for New Years Eve, which is only a few short weeks away!! (YIKES 2016!)
So here we are:

Forever 21

I thought this was a gorgeous cut for a Forever 21 dress. It looks beautiful and would be great for a fancier event (or an event that you want to show off your vavavoom to that special someone)

H&M
49.99 Sequined Silver Dress
This simpler, sequin-ey piece looks like it would be a great dress for someone going to a dance party or a night out with the girls. I am really so not a sequin person but for some reason this time of year always makes me think twice...

Nordstrom - TopShop
Gigi Embellished Body-Con Dress
The print work on this dress is just gorgeous if you look at it up close. I feel this is the perfect balance of being sophisticated but still relaxed. The color is great as well; nude colors really do work all year long.

LOL
So when looking at Forever 21's website I came across this little number in the holiday outfit section and almost burst. Watch out Grandma and Grandpa Sam is back from University.


Well I hope this inspires you to go out and find the perfect holiday dress! Let me know what some of your favorite stores to shop in are and I'll check them out!
Love always xoxo Sam

First of all I want to start out by saying that I did not do the makeup for these looks! That credit goes to my amazing friend Aaron Plantz (@aaronplantz on IG and I'm serious guys check him out he's unbelievable). We really collaborate a lot on the looks we do and I provide the clothing etc etc. So without further ado here are some special Halloween inspired makeup looks for you all!