def to_dict(self):
        """Converts this embed object into a dict."""

        # add in the raw data into the dict
        result = {
            key[1:]: getattr(self, key)
            for key in self.__slots__
            if key[0] == '_' and hasattr(self, key)
        }

        # deal with basic convenience wrappers

        try:
            colour = result.pop('colour')
        except KeyError:
            pass
        else:
            if colour:
                result['color'] = colour.value

        try:
            timestamp = result.pop('timestamp')
        except KeyError:
            pass
        else:
            if timestamp:
                result['timestamp'] = timestamp.isoformat()

        # add in the non raw attribute ones
        if self.type:
            result['type'] = self.type

        if self.description:
            result['description'] = self.description

        if self.url:
            result['url'] = self.url

        if self.title:
            result['title'] = self.title

        return result