An article in The Toast might not be the most traditional way to send your birthday wishes, but Lizzie Lawson is an avid reader and, now, a patron of the site. I hope The Toast lives forever, bringing Lizzie all the laughter and happiness she could ever want. Sent with love from Sean. 

I sometimes feel a bit sheepish about what a good time I have of it on the Internet, being beset on almost no sides by trolls or abusers, and then I think better of it. I’m damn glad I have a good time on the Internet, and I want more women to be able to have as good I time as I do. I’m lucky, but I oughtn’t to be; I ought to be having the same experience as everybody else. Or rather, everybody else should be as relatively unfettered by garbage as I am. To that end, I’ll be talking with a handful of babes in Austin this weekend:

The internet can be a terrible place. But amidst the hate and ignorance, pioneering journalists have carved out communities that empower females and provide them with a safe space, whether they want to discuss sexual inequality or the latest ridiculous fashion trend. Women are doing important work online, and it’s time we not only acknowledge that, but celebrate it!

Join us for a lively discussion on ladies and the internet with Jennifer Romolini, Editor in Chief of Hello Giggles; Daniel Mallory Ortberg, co-creator of The Toast and author of Texts From Jane Eyre, Jazmine S. Hughes, contributing editor for The Hairpin and Taylor Trudon, editor of HuffPost Teen.

“Sounds like a big fuckin’ sleepover lovefest to me.” YOU ARE CORRECT, IT ABSOLUTELY WILL BE, I AM BRINGING MY JAMMIES AND A COPY OF THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY AND I AM NOT LEAVING TEXAS UNTIL JAZMINE AND I HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO DO THE “CAN YOU STAND THE RAIN” DANCE.

*quietly, with gathered dignity* Please consider attending, if you will be in the area.