Changes.

Lots of things have been happening in my life. And I don't mean the typical roller coaster of ups and downs that I typically experience in any given month. But I realize I haven't documented any of this and I'm not quite sure why, to be honest. Maybe I've been busy or just haven't thought about it? There's no real reason, it just is what it is. But I'm here now and I have the urge to let the old fingers flow so let's talk about the last couple months, shall we?

First of all, January was kind of the same bust it usually is. Blah, blah, blah, I hate winter, yadda yadda yadda, I had to drop $1,000 on my car, shmee shmee shmee. It actually was much better than previous January's have been, though. If you've been around long enough, you've probably heard me at LEAST once refer to the epic (and inevitable) "January 2nd Meltdown" I face each year. You know, the one where I've just come off another New Years Eve spent on the couch with my mom watching Grey's Anatomy DVD's and then reevaluate every single one of my past life decisions that have led me to this point. It's really unnecessary, but again happens every year. January 2nd. Without fail.

This year, I braced myself for it, knowing full well it was coming. But it didn't come. New Year's eve was the most fun I've probably ever spent ringing in a new year and January 2nd came and left without a single tear or a single "WHAT AM I DOING WITH MY LIFE" thought. And I didn't even notice (in a good way). It actually felt great when I realized mid-January that I skipped over that annual event, and I think I know why it didn't happen: I'm happy. For once, the bleak mid-winter has not brought me down into a cold, freezing hole of dramatic reflection, and thank the lord. For once I got to enjoy January without the fear of spending the first half of the year bored and cold and sad. Vegas, you've already won me over for 2013.

And it helped that I had a LOT to look forward to in January. For starters, I was getting ready to finally move out of my parents house. Look people, this was a really big deal for me. I realize that pretty much everyone (except the really, really lucky few) have to move back in with their parents after college. I was fine with it. I like my parents and I'm kind of a homebody, so I was fine. But after a while I got a little self-conscious telling people I still lived with mommy and daddy. Not that anyone ever made me feel that way or called me out on it, but I was just so ready to start being independent and take the next big step forward in my life, and that all started with moving out.

So come February 1st, that's exactly what I did. I moved to Downtown Las Vegas with a friend and co-worker, Leah. We live about a 10 minute walk from work, right in the heart of Downtown. We get to be where the action is and no longer have to drive the dreaded 15 minute commute back to Summerlin on Friday nights when all we want to do is have a drink after a long week at work. Score.

We owe a huge thanks to both of our parents and our co-workers (and new Downtown neighbors) Julie & TJ for helping us get moved in. With their help, the process was expedited and we were in our new place in no time. And now, here we are, enjoying every second of our chic new living space (that actually turned out to be more spacious than we were anticipating). It's been a perfect fit so far and both Leah and I are thrilled to be settled into our Downtown digs.

Shortly after moving we took a little (working) trip to LA (again, if you know me at all you know I love me some la la land - 8 trips last year, what what??) to see Ellie Goulding perform at the Palladium. I got to spend some time with Cory and see one of my favorite artists live which was pretty amazing. Working from LA was a little bit more stressful than I anticipated though - sadly, my true colors were exposed while stuck in a horrendous wifi situation and everyone around me saw the rage that ensues when I don't have working internet. Oops. Trying to just own it as a Chelsea-flaw, but shit, I need to work on my anger sometimes (another story for another blog post).

Anyways, I'm happily back in Vegas now, skipped over Valentine's Day again, and have a terrible cold at the moment, but life is good. I'm happy and taking care of business. This year is already bringing about so many awesome opportunities in all different areas of my life and I couldn't be more excited to just live in the moment and enjoy things as they happen. Life's good.

New Year's Resolutions

I don't like people who get all snarky about how New Year's Resolutions are bullshit. I personally love the idea of starting anew. Yes, it's true that each and every day is an opportunity to start over or change the way you operate, but beginning a new year is different. A year signifies the turning of time in our life and it's good to take that chunk of time and box it up, look back on the changes you've made, and look forward to how you want the next big measurable chunk of time to look. And I'm actually really good at sticking to my resolutions each year because I've realized that it's much more do-able when you're realistic with yourself. I'm not going to set resolutions for going to the gym twice a day because I know myself well enough to know I know there's no way in hell I'll be doing that. Instead, I set goals that I KNOW I can/will do if I actually make the decision to do them.

So without further ado, here's my list of resolutions for 2013, based on what I learned about myself in 2012:

• Stop being so awkward all the time and instead, work on being more assertive and taking more initiative
• Keep in touch better with Lindsey at least 2x a month (and spend next NYE with her!)
• Go visit Sara and Drew in New York
• Discover a new level of respect for myself by learning to say "no"
• Learn to recognize negativity in my life early on and get rid of it

Last year's resolutions were all about moving on. I told myself I was going to find a job I like, start dating again and take chances, say yes more often, and really immerse myself this new chapter of my life. Guess what? I did ALL of those.

This year, my resolutions are more about doing what's RIGHT for me, not what I THINK I should be doing. If saying yes feels wrong sometimes, then I need to learn how to say no. If something or someone is adding negativity into my life, I need it removed. It's really that simple. Taking my lessons from 2012 with me and using them to make 2013 an even better year.

Cheers to you and yours. I hope your best year is right ahead.

2012.

Since I already did my big year-end post on the one-year anniversary of graduating college, I thought I'd switch up my annual year in review blog by doing a recap of my top 10 best moments of 2012. Although this year was very challenging, emotional, and full of changes, I did have QUITE a big year with lots of pretty incredible moments as well. Here's to bidding this year a big PEACE OUT and welcoming what's sure to be an awesome 2013.

10. Turning 23.

I wasn't expecting my 23rd birthday to be anything special. It's not a big milestone in life, so I didn't have high expectations. Plus it was right smack dab in the middle of an unfortunate first half of the year, so I really could have skipped it all together. But it turned out to be WONDERFUL. Spent at Lake Mead with my god-sisters floating on the lake and drinking beers, followed by fondue at the Melting Pot with my family. Oh, and did I mention it was also the day I got offered a job at Digital Royalty? Talk about exceeding my wildest expectations. A non-milestone turned monumental day in my year.

9. Golden Gate Bridge

Growing up in Southern California is always something I've been proud of. I love SoCal and I hope to move back there again at some point in my life. But somehow I lived there for 12 years and never managed to make it all the way up to Northern California - until this year when my sister moved to San Jose. I got the opportunity to help her out by driving her car from Vegas to LA and then all the way up the coast of California. It was amazing getting to watch the sunrise over the ocean as I made my way up north. And then after getting to San Jose, we drove even further to see one of California's monuments and something I've never seen in person - The Golden Gate Bridge. It was only for a short time, but something I'll definitely never forget. The entire experience.

8. Obama Re-blog.

On Halloween I dressed up as Rosie the Riveter. It was actually the first time I "spoke out" about my political views during this election cycle because I was trying not to get too emotionally invested Ala 2008. But I decided to rock a "Women For Obama" pin with my costume and voila - the Obama campaign saw my picture on Tumblr and re-blogged it for the world to see. It got over 2700 notes in 3 hours and I had friends and family calling me from all over the country screaming with excitement that they saw it. I was super proud and excited that my tiny little political statement was actually making a bigger impact than I intended. Definitely one of the most exciting days of the year. Oh yeah, and then Obama got re-elected soooo I'm pretty sure that pin was good luck.

7. Goffstein Wedding

Love was in the air this summer as my God-sister, Courtney married the love of her life, Shane. It was a beautiful wedding and a huge milestone for Court. I'm so glad I got to be there for it, and she made a GORGEOUS bride.

6. Paso Robles

Before Courtney & Shane tied the knot, we took a girls weekend trip to Paso Robles for wine tasting. Sounds mellow, right? Wrong. There was tons of wine, cheese, wigs, an all-day limo, naked hot-tubing, bright purple teeth, and possibly even some passing out at the Vineyards. Hey, us single ladies had to help Courtney celebrate her departure from the singles club and her entrance into married life SOMEHOW. I think we managed pretty darn well - and luckily Paso Robles is still standing.

5. Josiah Leming

Meeting Josiah Leming was on my bucket list. I've loved his music so much for so long so when he came to Vegas this summer, Connor and I made it our business to be there. Turns out, it was a super intimate show with less than 20 people in the audience (lucky for us!). We found him after his set and got to talk to him for a while which was a complete dream come true for both of us. He is SUCH a cool guy and it made me love him even more.

4. Disneyland

My happy place. I don't remember when I started this tradition with Cory, but whenever it was long ago, it's become a defining characteristic of US. We are Disney. Does that make sense? Anyways, After a several-year-long dry spell, I got to go TWICE in 2012. The first time was pretty much like a therapy session that helped me through a broken heart and put some much needed perspective back in my life. I came away from that trip feeling refreshed and ready to take on the rest of the year. The second trip? Purely about being with Cory, having fun, and experiencing Disneyland (for my first time ever) around Halloween. Complete and total awesomeness.

3. Digital Royalty

Getting hired at Digital Royalty was definitely one of the TOP highlights of my year. I am SO incredibly lucky to have landed this gig in July with the absolute best team of Renegades imaginable. I get to do what I love every single day surrounded by super supportive people who make me happy to be at work on Monday mornings (and every other morning as well). Like I've said before, I'm so glad the universe placed me here, it's definitely where I'm meant to be at this point in my life.

2. Yosemite

My family trip to Yosemite in August was one for the books. I love my family so, SO much and get-togethers with the entire extended clan are few and far between these days, so it was just wonderful to have everyone there at one of our favorite places on earth, spending some much needed time in the fresh air. I also got to cross "hike the panorama trail as an adult" off my bucket list. Biggest physical challenge of the year for sure, but so worth it. 8.5 miles of treacherous hiking really taught me a lot about what I'm capable of in my life, and also helped me clear my head about some personal things going on in my world at that time. It was a trip I will not be forgetting anytime soon and I wish we could do a vacation like that every year.

1. Coldplay

Duh, this was obviously my number one incredible moment of 2012. I haven't stopped talking about it since! Last Christmas my brother and I bought tickets to see Coldplay in Seattle and I anxiously counted down the days until I flew up there and we got to see our favorite band EVER live. And the concert was the most incredible production I've ever seen. Not even exaggerating, it was life-changing. I still can't put it into words. I wish I could re-live that night every day forever.

[Notable mention: Signing a lease at the Juhl with Leah (we move in February 1st!), Cory's 23rd birthday extravaganza in Vegas, and Muhammad Ali's birthday party.]

Cheers to at LEAST 10 incredible moments in 2013 for all of us. Looking so forward to sending this year off and seeing what this next year brings my way. 

2012? Over it.

Resolutions.

Farewell, 2010. A much better year than 2009
and a year that ends with hope and many promises for the next.

At the end of each year, everyone makes resolutions, most of which go unkept . The idea of becoming a “new person” or starting over at the beginning of the year seems like such a great idea at the time, but it usually doesn’t last past January. This year, for me, I don’t want to change who I am as a person, or start anew, I just want to make a few changes in my life and focus on myself. I want to be a better version of myself.

I’m beginning to realize that I have exactly one year left of college before I graduate and move into the “real world.” Have I spent the last 3 ½ years living this experience to the fullest? Have I put myself out there and experienced new life-changing things that play a part in shaping who I am? I don’t think so. Not that I haven’t had some really important experiences or challenges that have changed me, but I don’t think I have taken a ton of risks or had as many experiences as everyone portrays college as holding. Sure, my journey has been anything but traditional with a year as a student-athlete and a transfer of schools, but I didn’t study abroad, I didn’t join a sorority or any interesting clubs or have a job or make millions of new friends that I’ll always keep in contact with (and that’s not to say I haven’t met some really great people that will always be my friends, either). I just feel like I may have taken more time than the average college student to come out of my shell and make it count. So part one of my New Year’s resolution is about taking chances. I want to say yes to more things, put myself out there, meet people, go places, and enjoy my last year of school. At this time next year, I’ll be going through some intense changes and probably wishing I had another year to postpone the inevitable, but if I start to open myself up now my hope is that I’ll be open to so many incredible possibilities for the future.

Part two of my New Year’s resolution is to write more. Writing is the one thing I can lean on for everything. It gets me through everything and makes me feel creative. But I want to expand my writing. I want to find things that inspire me and use them to write in more ways, through more mediums. I want to build up my blog while still writing for myself. I want to share more and get better and make it a bigger part of my daily life.

Part three is about happiness. I want to find a level of happiness that I haven’t known in a long time. I want to feel better about myself and put my worth at a higher level. I want to get back into working out so I can feel healthier and have a sense of accomplishment every day. I want to be a more positive person and not let negativity get the best of me. I want to stop being passive about things and stand up for myself more. I want to be more honest with myself about things and be more honest with others. I want to do things that make me happy and to find comfort in being out of my element while learning to be ok with change.

Most of all, I want to use my last year of college to grow as a person. I want to take risks, do things I haven’t done, write more, find happiness, and prepare myself for the changes ahead. I’m going to make these things a priority in my life this year by reminding myself every day. I’m not going to let myself stray because now is the time. Now is the time to be the best version of myself before I leave this chapter of my life behind and start an entirely new journey somewhere else.

So, I welcome 2011 with open arms
and hope to make it one of the best and most memorable years of my life this far.

Happy New Year.