Goodbye LA

This is a happy post- an excited, and optimistic one.

After great consideration and many conversations with my loved ones, I have decided to leave California. I know it sounds sad, but it is a change I am excited about. After Thanksgiving, I am packing up my car and driving across the country, back to Florida. But going home isn't because I have been defeated, or failed in my plans. I'm moving back to Tallahassee so I have the space, freedom and means to plan my next great adventure!

If you know me, you've probably observed that when I decide what I want, I do everything in my power to make it happen. Last year I decided I was going to move to Los Angeles after graduation, so I did. By working all year to get an internship out here and plan my move; and with the help and support of my parents, we made it happen. I signed a 6 month lease and decided to trust that God would help me make it work.

Los Angeles has been fun and exciting; and I have been incredibly lucky that I was able to build a group of friends to lean on out here, after moving to a strange city by myself. I've been to concerts on the Santa Monica pier and at the famous Greek Amphitheater, watched the surfers in Malibu, got my hair cut on the sidewalk in Venice, and got pierced for the hell of it by a celebrity piercer in Melrose. The past six months have given me memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. However, I quickly realized after moving here that Los Angeles was a temporary home for me. It's fun and exciting, but it's expensive and superficial. I didn't plan to leave so soon, but looking back the six month lease worked out perfectly. Trusting God always proves to be the right choice.

Since I was a freshman in college, my parents have encouraged me to travel around Europe after school. But, I felt that choosing childlike wander over starting my career would be irresponsible. My parents moved to Germany after my graduation, and ever since visiting them in September, I couldn't help but feel that I was missing out on a great opportunity and an adventure of a lifetime. If I'm being honest, if it hadn't been for Sweetie still being in LA, I wouldn't have gotten on the plane to come back. I've been wanting so badly to move to Europe, but could only think about how irresponsible leaving my job would be. And in the past month, life started to move fast and my stress level went through the roof. My boyfriend was looking for a job in LA and we were trying to find an apartment together that was both safe, affordable and not an hour long commute. Without knowing where he would work, we were both extremely stressed and all I could think about was how this was not falling into place.

Then, I received a blessing in disguise. The company I worked at was letting me go due to restructuring. I probably sound insane to the average person. "Why would this be a blessing??"
But with this happening in lieu of my lease coming to an end, I think this is God telling me that it's okay to chase my dreams. The universe is unveiling a path, making it okay for me to go, and assuring me that I'm not giving anything up or running away.


Don't cry for me, California...
I'll send you all postcards from Europe. ;)

Ten Sweet Years

Ten years ago today I begged my mom to "just let me look" at the dogs in the SPCA, and while 12 year-old me was enamored by a Labrador puppy, my mom found a scruffy-looking Schnauzer, with hair that looked like wild oats. Unlike the other dogs, she laid in her cage on the bottom rack, quiet, depressed, and  without hope of being adopted. Her hair shed in handfuls due to stress and depression, and she looked up with eyes that cried out for help.

I think it's obvious we didn't leave empty handed.

(And thankfully so.) 

After signing the papers, my mom learned that this sad dog was scheduled to be euthanized due to a need for space and a lack of interest in her. We can all thank Chelie's bleeding heart!

We started to call her Sweetie until we could decide on a name, but we soon realized that this nickname fit her perfectly and she could not go by anything else. She was gentile and playful, licking our legs, and running around the house with excitement whenever we walked through the front door.

In ten years, this silly dog has taught me so much about the kind of person I want to be. I used to hope that if I was a dog, I would be like Sweetie, and I honestly believe she's made me a better human. Having Sweetie has taught me to always be a loyal friend, and to love unconditionally. Every morning, I thank Jesus that Sweetie is alive. She keeps me company when I'm lonely, and she loves me every second of the day. She makes every day brighter and better. 

When I walk through my front door, my heart runs around the house.

I am so grateful for my Sweet Girl. She is cheerful, loving, patient, friendly, sassy, and silly. She is the gift that keeps on giving, and we could all learn from Sweetie. Happy 10th, Sweetums!

Splorin'

I feel pretty lucky to live in a city where every corner you turn opens a curtain into a different culture. Living in Koreatown, I sometimes literally feel as if I am visiting another country. I can't read any of the signs, people actually dress like baby dolls, and there are hardly any restaurants that don't contain pho or kimchi. But please do not be mistaken!! I am LOVING every minute of my neighborhood. The people are friendly, the boba is on point and I have easy access to Korean beauty products. It's exciting and it's different, and it is whole new taste of reality to digest!

I'm very lucky that my friend, Mia, recently moved to LA too. Mia and I went to Florida State together and worked on a campus fashion magazine, where we met. When I dreamed of moving to Los Angeles, I never thought about the fact that moving alone to a new city is incredibly lonely, but luckily I've had Mia to galavant with and familiarize ourselves in Tinsel Town! Each weekend that I've been here, we've picked a new area to explore. We pretty much just eat and walk around the streets, but it's been so exciting and interesting to see how distinct the different areas of Los Angeles are! I also think it helps to feel like I am apart of this city, and not a visitor.

Here are some pictures from the last few weekends! We also visited Venice a few weeks ago, but sadly didn't take any pictures, except for some succulents. I'm also adding a few pictures I've taken since I've been here.

I got pretty lucky today, as we happened to stumble across multiple pink locations!!! (my fave!)

Don't judge me when I post these pictures on Instagram after you've already seen them.