12-Months

This time last year, my life had just been decimated. It started in the spring with the break-up, followed with an unclear living situation, problems at work, Byron needing surgery, and culminated with me paying $40k in private student loan payments (goodbye savings). By the end of August I felt hollowed out. I was still standing, but it felt more like I was teetering on the rubble of what had been my life. 

It was a blurry time where I did what I needed to do to get through - I cut unnecessary expenses (including therapy and my amazing hairdresser), stuck with the roomie and long commute, worked my ass off on the job, and figured out how to pay for Byron's surgery. Each day I focused on putting one foot in front of the other and handling whatever came my way. After awhile, I moved onto each week, and then each month, until the ground started to feel steady again. 

It was a new foundation, but one that was starting to feel steady underneath my feet. I began to live my life again instead of just existing - I started this blog, I dated, I demanded more from work, and I realized how much stronger I had become. Not only did I get my confidence back, but I found my inner-strength again. It had been a long time since I had to re-build myself, but I discovered that I still could and was discovering that I was much better at it now then when I was 22.

As it turned out I wasn't just surviving, I was thriving. Heading into spring, Byron was doing well, my bank account was back to a reasonable balance, I had expanded my responsibilities at work, and I was getting ready for an amazing 3-week vacation for Peru; and that was when life threw me another curve ball. The Monday before I left for Peru I was called into my boss's office and offered a management position. It was a complete surprise and not exactly what I had been hoping for, but they pushed hard for me to take it - I was fast tracked through the process and didn't have to interview - and I had to decide before I left on Friday. After a restless night weighing the pros and cons, I accepted and got to work closing out 2.5 years of work in 4 days while also prepping for a new role. It was a crazy, long week, but followed by one of the best vacations I have ever had.

When I got back from Peru, I looked around and realized what a 180 my life had taken in the last 12-months. I've always maintained that given time everything will work out - the problem is that I have also always been impatient and haven't exactly listened to my own advice. As I looked around at all of the good things happening - new job, raise, position on the Board of my networking group, fun dates, new friends - I couldn't help but realize that it was time to take my own advice and stop worrying about what was next and just focus on what was happening now. So as I start my 32nd year on this earth, this is my resolve:  I will spend this year remembering that time will pass and me worrying about it will not make a difference, as such I am going to appreciate the now and not try and rush to the next step. Hopefully this is a good reminder to all of you to stop and smell those roses!

Lessons for Wedding Season

Wedding season is upon us. This spring/summer I have (had) three on the calendar, two were in May and one coming up in July. I had to miss the first one because of Grandma's funeral, which was a big disappointment, but was able to enjoy the second in June and am getting stoked for the July ceremony. The thing is, I love weddings - getting dressed up, food, dancing, celebrating your friends, toasts, seeing old friends and acquaintances, meeting new people, and looking to the future. So as I get ready for my last round of the season, I thought I would share a few of my lessons for surviving the wedding season!

In June I made my first trek up to NYC for M&M's wedding. After a few days hanging with L. - drinking too much wine and watching an overdose of Disney Channel Original Movies - we met up with M. and headed up to Hudson Valley for the ceremony. It was a perfect single girl trio to enjoy the wedding as we are all looking for the same thing from the wedding: booze, dancing, and celebrating. We had a blast getting up there and getting ready. When we got downstairs, we did pictures, and I turned around to discover someone in the same dress as me. Luckily, I had a back-up dress and within 5 minutes I made the full change - including shoes and accessories. Lesson #1:  Always bring a back-up dress.

After the ceremony, we zeroed in on the drinks and apps at the cocktail reception - where we got to enjoy dole whip cocktails, Disney music, and a surprise appearance by a dinosaur (yep, a dino was at the cocktail reception). Dinner was a blur of dancing, food, and wine spritzers (yes, you read that right, we got spritzers). The food was fantastic and we got second helpings and enjoyed the homemade desserts from the bride's dad.  Lesson #2:  Water down your drinks - seriously - seltzer and white wine is refreshing, keeps the hangover to a minimum, and keeps you from making an ass of yourself on the dance floor.

We piled into the van back to the hotel and changed for the after party. At the party, we drank more spritzers, gossiped, and played games. As the night wore on the group started splintering off into smaller sets, L. made friends with the front desk attendant and kept us in seltzer for the spritzer, I ended up in a deep conversation with the best man, M. sneaked off to bed, and the next thing I knew it was the wee hours of the morning. Lesson # 3: Be prepared for no sleep and lots of coffee the next morning.

It was a truly fabulous wedding and I can't wait to do it again for D&J's big dya in a few weeks - I've got my two dresses, a taste for spritzers, and 5 Hour Energy in my medicine cabinet. Hopefully, you are ready for your wedding season as well!