Out of the Teen Years!

Sorry this post is a month later. Things got crazy and I had shoots and started back in school and...ok, ok, I'll stop making excuses, because this post should not have been put on the back burner! I turned 20! And let me tell you, it was one of my best birthdays yet. 

My birth was on January 2, 1991 in Bountiful, UT. I was born to a lovely mother, Debra Mangum, and was one of the luckiest kids alive to have her. 20 years later, she still makes me feel special and my birthday was perfect. We ate at one of my favorite places, Samurai 21, and then went back home to open presents. I had a couple close friends over, and we ate yummy ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins. It had peppermint ice cream inside...my favorite ice cream flavor. I can only eat it around the holidays though, or else I would get sick of it I'm sure... since it's such an interesting flavor and all. 

 My mom is pretty awesome when it comes to parties.

 Love her so much! :)

So. Real Quick. My boyfriend, Carson, is amazing. He's so thoughtful of me and loves to surprise me. Those surprises come in many forms, whether that being him remembering little details that make me "me" or saying the right thing at the right moment when I need it, loving me when I least deserve it, and also when he gives me gifts. For my 20th birthday, he sent me a 580 ex II Canon Flash. With it, he attached a note saying, 

"I had to beat your family and friends all put together ;) I love you!! Here's to the start of a wonderful relationship. And here's enough compensation to make sure it doesn't end."

Carson also is very competitive and thinks he has to get me the best gift. He's silly. Just having him in my life is one of the best gifts :)

 Kent is so sweet. He bought this with his own money that he earns (which was a whole week's worth of work to earn enough money to buy this for me). It's one of my favorite chocolate bars :) Thanks Kent!

 Can't forget Converse! Brown slims and another pair that is purple!

 Tiffany and Makayla holding Millie and Maggie

 My cake was perfection.

 Makayla, Kiersten, Me, Tiffany

 

We played a game of Sorry, in which case, I was the final and last loser of that game. Sad.

 My amazing family :) Kent, Mom, Millie, Me, Carl, Maggie. Thanks for a great day!

The next day, my good friend Ciera decided she would do 20 birthday surprises for me! She wasn't able to be here for my birthday, so we celebrated on Monday the 3rd. Here are the surprises:

#1 An e-mail from Ciera telling me 15 reasons why I'm so great!
#2 A blog post dedicated to me. You can find it here.
#3 Lunch at Judds
#4 A book by one of our favorite authors
#5 Cupcakes at 25 Main
#6 Movie at Ciera's house
#7 Back scratch during movie (I like how this is it's own surprise)
#8 CD of happy songs
#9 Twix candy bar
#10 Roses/note from her missionary (which was adorable)
#11 Dinner at Iggy's with the girls
#12 Sour Patch Kids
#13 Games
#14 Card from a few of my friends w/$1 bills inside
#15 Hot Chocolate at Starbucks!
#16 Starbucks gift card
#17 Dr. Pepper
#18 Movie with friends
#19 New PJs
#20 Chocolates and hot chocolate on my pillow when I came home

Ciera is such an amazing, thoughtful friend. I had such an amazing time that day and was so glad that the girls joined us at the end of it. I have some of the greatest friends and they truly make me feel appreciated and loved. Thanks for an unforgettable birthday!