Your first relationship will seem like the most important thing in the world at the time, but deep down you'll know it's not love. And although it may leave you breathless, you'll be right. He'll kiss you for the first time in a burning building, as hundreds of strangers silently stare; and then again in the comfort of your own home, on a particularly sunny day in June. Expect it to be both a little awkward and actually pretty sweet, as far as first kisses go.

But after three months of confusing signals and empty promises, you'll realize that what you have is nothing more than a summer fling. Sensational and short-lived. As soon as August sneaks up on you, his feelings will change. Try not to take it personally. High school is messy and unforgiving, and you're both doing the best you can. Thirty minutes' worth of tears and a few hours of girl talk later, a new chapter in your life will begin. Cherish the good memories and appreciate the summer for what it was: a learning experience. A chance to grow. Every disappointment can teach you something, if you let it.

The next few years will be an entirely different story. Healthy distractions will make dating almost impossible, and you'll one day look back and thank God for that. Use this time to get to know yourself, cultivate friendships, work hard, make memories. Soak up every second of fun at your fingertips and forget about the rest. The newfound freedom and lack of responsibility of this particular age is one of those things you won't want to breeze through too quickly. It may be difficult for a hopeless romantic like yourself, but try not to search for that spark you felt before. Your friends should be the center of your world right now, and Lord knows there's no need to rush into anything else. 

Truth is, a whole six years will go by before you even begin to understand what falling in love really feels like. And that's okay. Six years is but a blink.

It will start with a jump. Thirty feet up in the air, only water and a few scattered rocks below. Before you know it, you'll be standing on the edge and trying to remain calm, while all of your surroundings count down from three. Every muscle in your body will freeze for just an instant, uncertain of the signal your brain's trying to send. But your heart will know what you have to do, despite the paralyzing fear. The second you let go, time will stop—as he watches you fly—until the cold sheet of water collides with your warm skin, shocking your senses like nothing you've ever felt.

The jump, the fall, the collide—whatever you want to call it—is liberating. Especially because you won't feel ready for it. But to have someone who cares just as much as you do, who chooses to dive into the thick of things holding your hand... Well, frankly, that's worth everything. So fight for it. The tiny spark you feel for the second time in your life will catch fire rather quickly and set your heart ablaze.

In only six months, he'll know you almost as well as anyone: flaws, quirks, dreams, fears, and all. And you'll discover that he's not the man you once thought he was, the man you once admired from a distance. In fact, he's so much more. It might seem unsettling, this unique closeness you share. It may scare you at first. Don't let it. There is no room for blind adoration this time, only the purest form of acceptance and appreciation. He will challenge you to chase your dreams, face your fears, and embrace your imperfections. You'll learn to speak your mind, but more importantly, to listen with your heart. And the whole experience will teach you that happiness and heartbreak feel completely different when they are selfless. It's a mess of things, you'll see, but it (and he) will be absolutely worth the wait.

You might not be ready for love right now, but you're no longer a child. From here on out, you will be told numerous times by people much wiser than yourself that love is not a fairytale or a flame. It's hard work, they'll say. It's making sacrifices and reaching a compromise and finding comfort in the ordinary. And they'll be perfectly right. Relationships are complicated. They take effort and copious amounts of trust in order to thrive. But when it comes to falling in love, I'm here to tell you that there's nothing wrong with holding out for the fairytale. Wait for the spark, pray for the dream. And believe with all you have that what's to come is better than any "happily ever after" you've read about in books or even could have imagined yourself.

It's wonderful. It's intense. It's real.

Photo by Caleb Frith.

Do you ever go about your day fully aware that you're in the mood for a certain type of weather? Tired days pair well with rain. Or company, perhaps? When I need to vent, I know who to call. When I'm feeling social and fun, on the other hand, another friend comes to mind. Food choice is also a common thing determined by mood. Every day around noon, I hear one of my coworkers ask her buddy what's she's "in the mood for." Of course, anyone would immediately realize that she's wondering what to grab for lunch... whether it be pasta, sushi, or a hamburger. You get the picture. With so many options out there, moods can be pretty darn helpful.

Quite often, in a similar way, I crave places. A quiet bookstore in Oxford on a cold and windy morning. Amidst the calm waves of Orange Beach in the early afternoon heat. Off the side of a cliff in Monarch, overlooking a springtime evening sunset. The famous City of Lights at midnight. Each day, I'm in the mood for a different place. Some of them, I've never even been before. Today, for whatever reason, I craved the crowded loneliness of Los Angeles at dawn.

1 || Today marks the first day of spring! All I can say is, FI-NA-LLY. The sun has been sorely missed, and I'm officially sick of cloudy weather. (Also, did you know it's the International Day of Happiness? So make sure to celebrate by doing something that makes you happy!)

2 || I have had the same recurring dream since I was fifteen: I'm backstage of my high school theater, in the middle of a production. Full costume, hair, and makeup. The real deal. I can hear my fellow cast members make it halfway through a funny scene, followed by the laughter of a giant crowd. I feel those familiar nerves start to make their way from my toes and fingertips into the pit of my stomach, and the rush of adrenaline comes on fast as it dawns on me that my cue's approaching. Actors and techies alike rush by me to get to their places, but all I can do is stand there. It's then that I have the most terrifying realization: I've never rehearsed this play. I don't know my lines, I don't even know my character's name. Faced with a crippling dread of failure, I prepare myself for the worse. But I never make it to the stage before the dream ends. A dream decoder might argue that it symbolizes intense stress or worry in a specific area of my life. But I'm willing to bet it's simply a psychological remnant of my theatre days, an ingrained fear of unpreparedness that my subconscious can't seem to shake. Eight years of stage acting will do that to a girl.

3 || Sometimes, all it takes to turn an ordinary day extraordinary is a bit of red lipstick. Or great dinner conversation. An Italian accent. Expensive wine helps, too. Joy can be found in the most ordinary of moments.

Verily allowed us to paint a picture that wasn’t overly precious or perfect, offering slightly gloomy and disheveled vignettes that reflect a lady interested more in her own thoughts and surroundings than her appearance. | The Weaver House

This wistful Emily Dickinson inspired photo shoot was put together last summer by talented twin sisters Hannah and Kelty of The Weaver House, a photography and design company based in Portland, Oregon. It was featured in Verily Magazine's first print issue, as well on as VSCO's creative blog. I'm about 6 months late in sharing my love for these gorgeous photos, but with the unfortunate news that Verily will no longer produce a print magazine having been recently announced, I thought a look back at their beginning in print might be appropriate. Such a beautiful beginning (as well as middle and end) it was.

My top three favorite looks on the red carpet last night go to...

1 || I have a ridiculous sweet tooth. As in, I'm never not in the mood for dessert. My biggest weakness is chocolate, of the dark variety. And I love the simplicity of a good s'more. I'm also addicted to coffee (but don't tell my boyfriend that). Not the caffeine in coffee, but the very ritual of coffee. Every morning, a cup of Joe warm in my hands. Add cream, hold the sugar. (I love my sweets, but coffee is not one of them. Coffee with dessert, however? Perfection.) On most afternoons, around 3pm, I crave a cappuccino rich with foam. A splash of soy milk complements the rich bitterness of the espresso. But give me strong espresso.

2 || In another life, I'd want to be either a ballerina or a cultural anthropologist. Two completely different professions, both utterly inspiring. I danced for 8 years when I was younger, but I didn't have the discipline to keep it up through high school. Still to this day, there's nothing quite so beautiful to me as a girl who can move to music with perfect grace. I took two anthropology courses in college, both of which I either loved or hated, depending on the day. The study of mankind is like an endless maze, exhausting yet fascinating, but I can't think of a more worthwhile subject.

3 || I sometimes (secretly) wish computers didn't exist. I wish I didn't feel the need to check my phone 20 million times a day, or to take my laptop with me when I travel. I wish I spent more time reading actual books than blogs and less time scrolling through Pinterest than flipping pages of magazines. I wish Facebook stalking wasn't a way to "get to know" someone or email an excuse to pass up pen and paper. I wish libraries weren't en route to becoming obsolete as a result of the flowing stream of information that is only a click away. And I wish our generation could be satisfied simply enjoying life's moments without experiencing the nagging urge to document them for the world to see. I secretly wish all of these things, but you'd never know it. I rarely unplug, and I'm guilty of documenting almost everything. But what if computers didn't exist? Somehow, I think life might be fuller.