3 more letters to the name!

Well, folks. 

I have officially completed my masters degree! 

MSW (Masters of Social Work, for those of you who are wondering :) ) has been added to the name and I can finally breatheeeee. 

and chill. lots of chilling shall now commence -- I am currently watching the movie how to be single and cuddling with smoosha, so I think I'm pretty good at it (and yes, I'm officially admitting to the crazy cat lady lifestyle for the next 2 weeks. It's a good one). 

So what's next you ask? 

I say goodbye to Fort Collins this week and sobbbbb. and THEN I leave for Malawi in 13 days and get to see SHANNON in 15! I. can't. wait. to see that woman. and from there, EUROPE! 

Adulting can come eventually, right? right.

Follow along on Instagram and/or Snapchat, if you wish (@hklaugh for both)!

Thank you all for the love and support so many of you have given me this past year. Couldn't have done it so "smoothly" without you! true, true story there. thankyouthankyou.

Here's some pictures from the day and from all the weekend celebrations!

 ^^^ our 4th & 5th grade teacher! So grateful to still have a great relationship with her!

guys. I'm officially a grad student.

can someone please tell me how that happened?!

It snuck up on me and now day one of class is already over!

I really don't feel like I'm 'grown-up' enough to be a grad student and I definitely am not in school mode yet...all I've been doing lately is trying to soak up free time and fun things before school consumes me. 

And good thing...because the first 15 minutes of class today were spent talking to us about how difficult this summer/year will be, how much we'll most likely cry and want to quit...and how in the first six weeks is when people drop out because it's so dang hard. 

wahoooo! 

in all seriousness, I would definitely expect a 2 year master's program crammed into 3 semesters to be really effing hard. now is the perfect time for me to focus on this and I really am excited it has begun! 

bring itttt. 

here's what I've been up too the past month! hoping I can still fit in some pet snuggles and friend time into my schedule from here on out. ;) 

happy tuesday to you!

Farewell, Shannon.

A lifelong best friend of mine is officially moving to Africa tomorrow to join the peace corps! I still can't believe it, even though it's here and we have said our goodbyes, given our hugs and cried the first of probably many tears (especially on this end, hello all of the emotions ever).

I am so proud of Shannon for following her dreams, she has wanted this since we were little tots in elementary school. Shannon is such an inspiring person in my life, always has been. She has been by my side through all of lifes' stuff, big and small, and I've relied on her for just about everything. 

It was only right that we all had one last celebration for her. My friend Courtney and I put together what turned out to be a wonderful party on Friday night, celebrating all of the holiday's Shannon will miss in 2015. It was a room full of great people, delicious food (desserts for days, never a problem) and a whole lotta love for you know who. 

Then, on Sunday my family went to a goodbye brunch for her and spent the morning loving on her and her wonderful, supportive family. It was a special weekend saying goodbye 20+ times and giving hugs at every possible opportunity. Anyone who knows Shannon knows how special she is. I'm so grateful to have gotten the opportunity to focus just on her this past week and to have spent as much time as possible with her. I feel like I won the lottery with this friendship of ours.  

here are some pictures from the weekend. enjoy!

"woah 23 already?! it's like my birthday was just here!" ;)

 ^^ says 'best wishes' in Shannon's new language, Chichewa! looks pretty easy to learn... 

Miss you so much already, Shannon. Can't wait to follow along with your adventures and come visit you IN AFRICA next year. You are so brave and strong and the best possible role model I could ask for. I want to be just like you when I grow up. :)

love you the mostest.