I'm the Kinda Girl Who…

I'M THE KINDA GIRL WHO...

Didn't know what kinda girl she really was until the past two years.

Has forming wrinkles and a deviated septum but loves herself more than when she was a youthful teen.

Listens to Incubus or Pearl Jam at work.

Enjoys doing things alone (shopping, going to the beach, gym, etc.)

Prefers to wear Vans over stilettos any day.

Believes in falling nine times and getting up ten.

Buys a planner and then hardly writes in it.

Hates making left-hand turns without a green arrow.

Thinks it's super awkward when a guy tries to push your chair in for you.

Stands up for animals.

Watches ABC Family instead of Bravo.

Quotes Dane Cook.

Enjoys the adventure of moving to new states alone. (I mean… duh.)

Is constantly learning to release her fears.

Loves cats.

Prays to St. Anthony every time she's desperately looking for something.

Is always cold.

Wants to empower other women.

Feels emotions deeply.

Misses her mom.

--
It's always interesting to make lists like these. Some facts end up being funny and just completely off-the-wall, while others are soulful, deep, and come straight from the heart. I guess I'm a mix of both of those. I'm the kind of girl who is quirky and goofy and marches to the beat of her own drum. But I'm also the kind of girl who is intuitive and deeply spiritual and always learning. I love this gift of life so much and all the beautiful souls that have been put along my path and for those I've yet to meet. 

I'm the kinda girl who has hope at hopeless times, even if it knocks the wind out of my sails (which it always seems to do.) I'm the kinda girl who wants so badly to be a mother one day and share the bond my own mother gave to me. I'm the kinda girl who is always yearning to learn more about the kinda girl I am.

Guess I'm a Cat Lady and Other Fun Facts

I couldn't pass this opportunity up. My good friend, Ashley, nominated me for this Sunshine Award and, while I don't normally participate in awards (because hey, we're all awesome bloggers) she asked some pretty good questions.

The Rules:
1. Include the award logo in your post.
2. Link to the person who nominated you
3. Answer 10 questions about yourself.
4. Nominate 10 bloggers to receive the award. Link the nominees to your post and notify them!
5. Remember rules are meant to be broken (Ash added this one!)

1. If you could be an animal, what would it be and why?

This is the easiest question anyone could ask me. A cheetah. Duh. In fact, I'm pretty confident that I was a cheetah in a past life. Like, I'm not even kidding. I channel my inner cheetah on a pretty regular basis. And people wonder why I'm a cat lady…

2. What is one thing you really want to do but likely won't get to for whatever reasons (financial, emotional, physical)?

Speaking of cats animals, I wish I could play the role of foster/rescue mom for dogs and cats! While I know I'll be rescuing again in the future, it would be so wonderful to have the time and resources to have my own little shelter going on. Sigh.

3. Beatles or Rolling Stones?
Neither? I know, I know... but if I'm going back in time listening to music, it'll probably be Guns N Roses or Tom Petty.

4.  What is the best book you've ever read and why?
This is tough. I read 99% nonfiction self development books. One of my favorites is God Never Blinks by Regina Brett. Also, Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth" was such a deep read and left me pretty mesmerized and life-changed by the end of it. Talk about gaining a new perspective on how to live! This man is a genius. I prefer this book over the one he's best-known for, by the way (The Power of Now.)

5.  If you could go back to college, what would you study?
Knowing what I know now, I'm torn. I believe education is important as well as being knowledgeable about various subjects. But I can't say all the dollar bills spent to put me through countless credit hours of business calc and chem lab semester after semester were worth it. I wish I took the time to dabble into courses that really DID interest me rather than required b/s "gen eds" as we called them. Every so often, I wish I went to an arts college to study acting :)

6.  Are you a green smoothie drinker? If not, how come you haven't jumped on the health bandwagon?
I am a green smoothie JUNKIE. I started drinking them over two years ago and thanks to the move to California where vegetables and fruit are pretty plentiful year-round, in addition to the wonderful influences of one of my closest friends (and a smarty pants regarding all things plant-based. Thanks, Ash!) I have re-adopted the straight up vegan lifestyle and can gladly say that green smoothies are my magic elixir. I have (at least one) a day. Religiously. And now my mouth is watering. Time to go drink some juice! (Today it's tomato. Mmm!)

7.  Let's get deep: do you believe in the big g-o-d?

Breaking the rules because I can and skipping the first two parts of this question that she asked :) I most definitely will say, as I'm sure it's been pretty apparent, that I do believe in a Divine Presence. My spirituality has continued becoming more and more important to me as I've grown, which makes sense, because it's my spirituality that has grown me. I believe that The Universe has a plan and has my back. And being able to surrender to the outcome of The Universe has brought me to where I am today. It is through that letting go, that trust, that I've found bliss and learned to live in the moment :) Mmm, good stuff right there.

8.  Now that that's over, what's your favorite color? season? food? music? sport?

Color: Turquoise, teal, jade. If you know me, this is extremely obvious.

Season: East Coast - Fall. West Coast - Winter (and Spring) All these years, I thought I was a Summer girl, simply because I love the beach so much. Moving to San Diego (THE beach!) made me appreciate all of the other seasons even more. Having the beach down the road year-round means I could enjoy it in the Springtime before all the out-of-towners took over after Memorial Day.

Food: See #6 :) My other favorite foods are carrots with hummus and tomato juice! Mmmm!

Music: Indie/Alternative! Some current favorites are Atlas Genius, HAIM, Two Door Cinema Club, Foster the People, AWOLNATION. I could go on and on... Fellow indie music lovers, give me some good ones in the comments below!

Sport: Dance is obviously my personal sport of choice. If we're talking favorite sport to watch... that would be baseball. I really can't believe that's my answer because years ago, I thought baseball was THE most boring sport to watch. Now that I'm a Nationals fan, baseball games are my favorite. Before that, it was NBA for a couple years and then all College Football (Go Vols!) since I was in middle school.

9.  Have you ever felt like you were legitimately crazy?

Uh, yeah. Flashback to my high school/college days. Woof. My life was an emotional rollercoaster and I had no idea how to get off of it. But you know what rocks about looking back on your "crazy" days? Seeing how far you've come. Seeing the changes you consistently make today to continue moving forward, onward, and upward. And just letting all the haters hate ;)

10.  If there could only be ONE kind of house pet for the rest of eternity, and YOU had the power to choose, which would it be: cat or dog?

Seriously? How do I decide? Since I am currently a cat mom, I have to side with the cats right now. Yep. Fully embracing the cat lady side of me right about meow.

And now I nominate YOU. Yep, go on. Answer some questions. I'll even give you some:

1. What do you fear? I don't mean spiders or mayonnaise or heights. I mean what do you really, deeply fear?
2. How do you define love?
3. What's the greatest restaurant you have ever been to? Tell me a little about it.
4. As a child, what did you tell people when they asked you, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
5. What is your greatest passion in life?
6. If you had to move to a country other than where you live now, where would you move?
7. If you could go back and re-live one day, which day would it be and would you do anything differently?
8. Something someone told you that you have always remembered.
9. Do you prefer a vacation of just relaxing or a vacation filled with activities?
10. What is your favorite holiday and why? :)

My San Diego Story: A Montage

A couple days ago, as I started packing up my place in San Diego, and saying my sad goodbyes, I started looking back on the months and months worth of pictures I had taken during my journey in Southern California. I wanted to document the joy, lessons, friendship and everlasting memories that this wonderful beach city has brought into my life. Join me while I look back :)

Song: "I Lived" by OneRepublic

Thank you, San Diego and Southern California for the most memorable journey.

I lived :)

Follow me on Instagram [@chelseasunset] to see my journey cross country as it unfolds, starting today!

On Being the One Percent - INFJ

Last week, I mentioned how it wasn't until the past year or so that I finally found out who I really am as a woman. Yep, it took me that long to fully accept and embrace my true self instead of always trying to fit into the box that society, or my mom, or my friends, or peers tried to put me in. I never felt like I fit into that box but it wasn't until now that I realized it's really okay. I had taken the Myers-Briggs profile questionnaire more times than I can count through high school and college and honestly, I can't remember what I "was" back then but I can almost guarantee that it started with an "E." Why? Because I figured all normal people were extroverted. I was cheerful, full of energy, and loved performing in front of people, so I had to be extroverted, right? Wrong. But it wasn't until 2011 that I found out I was really, truly, no questions asked an:

INFJ

Introverted | Intuition | Feeling | Judging

Without fail, every time I take that questionnaire, I get the same results now that I fully know, understand, and embrace who I am and how I act, feel, plan, etc. I had no idea the questionnaire for this Blogtember prompt [you can take it here] was one that yielded Myers-Briggs type results. So, when I saw those four letters, "INFJ" I smiled to myself :)

I am introverted in that I enjoy spending time alone. Don't get me wrong, I love get-togethers and having fun but it always gets to a certain point where I feel myself quickly becoming drained. Am I anti-social? No. Am I reserved until you get to know me? Yes. And you better watch out once you get to know me because I am quite the goof ball! I just value my "me" time to re-charge and when I'm with others, I prefer a smaller group of people whom I trust.

I am intuitive in that I am deeply led by my strong insight into people and situations. Since a young age, I've had a pretty spot-on, extremely strong intuition and instinct. If you ever heard my story about what I jokingly predicted in first grade, you might be a bit freaked out. I think maybe my sixth sense just runs in the family :) 

I am feeling in that everything I do is usually through emotion. I recently read this about INFJ's: "We do not sympathize. We do not empathize. We literally feel exactly what you feel. Even if you are trying to hide it or don’t express your feelings, somehow we still know." Additionally, I make many decisions based off of how something makes me feel. I tend to take things personally. I feel my way through life.

And I am judging in that I prefer to have closure, whether it's a conversation, a project at work, or plans for the weekend... I like to have things figured out and completed ahead of time. That is how I best move forward in situations. I believe that there is (almost always) a right way and a wrong way to do things and I prefer the right way :)

As I read here, "INFJs, making up an estimated 1% of all people, are the most rare type. They are introspective, caring, sensitive, gentle and complex people that strive for peace and derive satisfaction from helping others. INFJs are highly intuitive, empathetic and dedicated listeners. These traits tend to act as a "tell me what's wrong" sign on their forehead, hence the nicknames Confidant, Counselor or Empath. INFJs are intensely private and deeply committed to their beliefs."

Fun Fact: Fellow INFJs are two of my favorite people - Adam Sandler and Oprah!

That's me, in a nutshell. Which makes me even more excited to write about something important that my future holds. One day, my friends. One day :)

Where I Come From

Alexandria, Virginia. The city I was born in. The city I frequented on hot, muggy Summer nights and crisp, chilly Winter evenings. It's the city (one of them) I went to school in and the city where much of my mom's side of the family is rooted and also buried in. In August, when I went home, it had been the longest since I had seen this town that borders Washington, D.C. and sits right on the Potomac River.

I fell in love with it all over again. The cobblestone streets, the rich history in every brick building you walk past, the stories that have been passed on to me about my ancestors. In the twenty-some years I lived in Northern Virginia, it changed and transformed every year. Trees were knocked down, government buildings were put up in their place, houses built one on top of the other. But I knew, for the most part, I could go to Old Town, Alexandria or into the Nation's Capitol and I'd see the sights I knew I could always count on.

I come from a mother born in the same town as I, and a father born at the Jersey Shore. My family, with our imperfections and all, come from a place of love and the belief to always do what is right.

I come from a neighborhood where we'd play outside until the sun went down and the lightning bugs came out.

I come from a home on a hill flooded with sunlight, surrounded by trees centuries and centuries old.

But most importantly to me, after all these years is that I come from a family with wonderful memories. Through all of life's ups and downs, its celebrations and losses, I have beautiful pictures to look back on, stories to laugh about, mementos in my childhood home that remind me that where I come from... it makes me who I am today. And for that, I am forever grateful.

This is the first entry of mine in the Blogtember series, hosted by Jenni. I hope you'll stop by again throughout the month of September :)

On Finding My Purpose

Life. It's short, it's precious. It's full of twists and turns and detours that we never saw coming. But I just can't say it enough - those detours are what brought me where I am today and for that, I am so grateful.

Through the pain that comes with burying the relationship I once thought would last forever and the pain that comes with letting go of my mother's hand as she slipped into the next life, I truly found myself. At a time of loss, grief, and heartbreak, I am often still surprised I didn't fall to rock bottom. Instead of breaking down, I chose to break upward into enlightenment. I see the events that took place in those 13 months as a gift.

"It is often the trials we go through that make us the person we need to be in order to live our dreams."
- Mastin Kipp

The dark nights escalate the process. They allow us to see the true reality; life for what it really is. In those moments, we have to choose whether to grow or go. Experiencing tragedy in life showed me the importance of living a full, loving, positive, enriching life that honors my true self.

I fully believe in being a dreamer and a doer. Be in tune with your dreams and work hard to accomplish them. However, I wanted more than just to live a life of my dreams. I wanted to live according to my soul's calling. My purpose. My dharma. I quieted the outside noise of life and focused inward. I turned to reading, writing, listening, taking notes, prayer, meditation, breathing. And I was guided. The Universe guided me and before I knew it, miracles and synchronicities were all around me. Yet, "Action is the bridge between dreams and reality." We must act.

Yesterday was a big day for me, although not many people knew it. It was the day I officially made the next step and took action toward my purpose. It is really happening. It is. I can't believe it but I am already one step closer to the best years of my life. The years where I am living my purpose. There's no backing out now :)

In the next couple months, as the time grows closer, I will be ready to openly write about this new chapter of my life. It's one of the most important chapters to me. One that I feel so absolutely sure of. So connected to. So passionate about. For now, I can only imagine what you all are guessing ;)

My Fourth Worst Trait

Today, I was supposed to write about my 3 worst traits. This post was important to me as someone who likes to assess myself and my growth and what I need to improve on. However, right now, I sit here with the carpal tunnel in my left wrist worsening by the minute. My brain is fried for the day. I am spent. I want to be able to reflect and find the right words to express what this post was intended to be.

I just know I am unable to do that right now. So, here is a negative trait about me that sums up the first three. I hope this holds you over until my brain gets some time to recharge and I can write about the others.

4. I put myself on the back burner - I got everything done for everyone else yesterday [almost, didn't have time to submit every design for work #1] But instead of coming home an hour and a half later than anticipated from work #2 and sitting down to enjoy some falafel I was looking forward to and working on some orders for work #3, I started preparing a salad, only to be dragged away, back to my computer by a mass group text that was started about my work #1 designs, realizing a half an hour later that a) it was 9:00pm and I still hadn't eaten and b) I left the fridge open. That whole time.

Now, here I am at 1:30 in the morning, trying to bust out this blog post that I was really looking forward to taking the time to write, and stressing about the fact that I had zero time today to put toward work #3, which again, I was really looking forward to. When this happens one day, fine. Two days, I get it. But then you realize an entire week goes by of constantly putting yourself and YOUR priorities on the back burner. It drags you down. I literally feel how it affects my self esteem.

Because I put myself on the back burner, the things that matter most to me get little to no time or thought which, in the end, makes me not proud of my work or myself. Stella, my cat, has an echocardiogram that was supposed to have been booked nearly two months ago. My June 20th deadline for the most important project thus far in my personal business [which I haven't even had time to write about] has yet to be worked on! Take a lesson from me, friends. Take care of yourself first. Because if you aren't okay, you'll soon see that everything else in your life won't be okay either.

I'm out of words. This is the worst blog post I've probably ever pieced together. Today's one of those days when I just need a mom hug...

Visit again later for my top three worst traits. Oh, yeah. I know you're excited.

Blog Posts From My Past

Yesterday's post on what I'm currently struggling with didn't make it up on the blog. I'm still struggling with it but it will be posted in the near future. Today, I am sharing five of my personal favorites from my own blog archive. I've been blogging since the Summer of 2011 but realized that most of my favorite posts are from the past year.

I hope you enjoy going back and re-reading some of my favorites, each for a different reason.

Saying Yes
A post from February of this year about saying "yes" in life and doing things you wouldn't normally do because, most of the time, you end up with a wonderful experience. This post is a wonderful reminder to always open myself up to new things and the beauty that will come from them.

New Dreams and New Places
I wrote this after my first month living in San Diego. I touched on the difficult time of year and the sacrifices I had to make to be right where I belong. It's a good post for me to go back and read on the tougher days here, far away from family and security and certainty. I'm livin' on the edge now and this is why.

I've Waited So Long To Say This
The announcement I had waited so many years to say - that I'd finally be moving to San Diego :) It's so very refreshing to read this post now that I've been here for 5 months. It re-ignites the light and hope and excitement that I always had when thinking about moving here.

Some Things I Believe
This post was written in September of 2012, just hours before I left for Virginia Beach. I love looking back on this post because it reminds me of where I was at that moment in my life, and breaks it down to the simple basics of who I am.

A Letter to Mom
The last post written on this blog before my mom passed away. The last real record I have of writing to my mom in the present as opposed to the past.

Blogging has been such an amazing experience. It has introduced me to some of the most wonderful women I've "met" and has allowed me to speak my heart and learn from my own life lessons. Thank you all for joining the journey!

When I Was A Beautiful Little Fool

"That's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool."

-Daisy, The Great Gatsby

That's me. Little three-year-old Chelsea.
A beautiful little fool.
I love this picture for several reasons.
I don't know why, but I've always viewed this picture as an outsider.
Like I'm just looking at a picture of a happy, little girl.

I see a sprightly, loving, cuddly brunette girl.
Soaking up the sun with a tender heart.
Finding happiness in something so simple.
With her mom just behind her, guiding her, caring for her.

I see myself as the girl before life hit.
The girl who knew how to express herself with only a few words and by dancing through the salt water.
The girl who didn't have to worry or plan or fear.
She just lived.

So, looking back, knowing that is me in the picture, it reminds me...
Reminds me that I was once a beautiful little fool.
But that even if I didn't know it at the time, I was a dreamer and a doer.
A girl who would later face reality head-on.
And that girl would become a woman who'd look back at that picture and smile.
Because, in the end,
life grew her and shaped her and built her.
She'd smile at that picture because, in the end,
I am her and she is I :)

My Ten Words

Passionate

Determined

Reliable

Cautious-but-brave

Deep

Self-motivated

Intuitive

Firecracker

Is that technically eleven?

What Do I Do?

I create.

I take pieces of something; mis-matched bits of this and uneven parts of that and put them all together to make one cohesive unit.

And that requires planning. Lots of it. Taking those mis-matched units and uneven parts and analyzing them to figure out what goes where and when and how.

Which means I have to be great with details. And I am. Often to the point of insanity. But I think that's the difference between someone who's good at doing what I do and someone who's great at doing what I do. Details matter. You have to be a little neurotic.

I have to think about all the behind-the-scenes things that no one else worries about. All the back-up plans and worst-case scenarios. I work at the times when other people play. So, why do I do it?

It all comes back to that first line. I love to create. I love to take all of those little things and find out how to put them all together for the grand production at the end. To see something come alive after hours and days and weeks and months of working on it... that makes me come alive.

I live and breathe what I do. And the funny thing is, you can look at any of the roles I play for my job, for my business, and also for my life and the above description fits perfectly.

Love what you do. Do what you love.

An Invincible Summer

This quote first spoke to me when I was just a teenager and it has remained within me ever since.

I was born in the Winter but the Summer and the salt water have always resonated with me.

I knew that no matter what the year brought, the beach was always there and it always left me feeling the same way. Peaceful. Inspired. Moved. And at home.

Then, once life hit hard after the loss of my mother, I learned how the dark times; the gut-wrenching moments and trials that are handed to us when we least expect them - they shape us and help us to see how strong we truly are. And I knew that no matter what happens, I will always have that same peace deep inside me that I felt since I was a child with my heart in the ocean and my toes in the sand. That to me, that strength, that love, that passion for life that never fades... that's my Summer.

My invincible Summer.

My Story in 250 Words

She was born in Alexandria and didn't stop crying until the water hit her skin. Dance was her passion and became her escape from the world, as did writing. She spent her childhood and teen years in the waves, on the stage, and late at night after school working on the two things she loved most - dancing and acting. Friendships came and went. Her heart was full and then it broke. But two things were certain - her love for her family and her love for the Arts.

College was the first time she tried to really find herself. This is where she learned the lesson of, "fall 9 times, get up 10." But it was after college that the lessons really hit. The journey of finding herself led her down a path of a deep religion, and a move to Utah. All within two years. However, in those two years, she rescued the most precious cat, Stella, that she could have asked for.

After that time in her life, was the biggest life lesson - the sudden loss of her mother. It changed her. It strengthened her. It showed her what life is really about. And it sure taught her about herself and what she needs in this life. She followed her dreams, started a jewelry line, and made her biggest dream come true... she moved to San Diego to live happily ever after. Her life is just beginning...

Go join in on the blogging fun with Jenni and link up your story!

Also, today just so happens to be my ONE YEAR Anniversary since I opened After Sunset, my jewelry store on Etsy. My designs have changed quite a bit in just this past year and I'm really loving where After Sunset is going! Exciting news to come!

To celebrate this anniversary and thank all of you who have bought a piece or two [or several!] from me, I'm offering 20% off your orders for the next week!

Enter coupon code ONEYEAR at checkout! :)

Head on over to After Sunset here! Happy Shopping!

Answering Tough Questions

I think it's important to ask ourselves  tough questions every so often. It helps us stay in tune with ourselves and our ever-evolving lives. As life continues on, things sometimes change inside of us. We live, we learn and it's so vital to stay in touch with what's inside of us. I saw these questions that Erin posted and said to myself, "Hey, you need to do this. Right now. Right when life has gotten crazy and exciting and scary all at the same time. Do it and reflect back on it one day." So, I'm doing it:

1. If you could do one thing differently in your life, what would it be?
     I would have spent even more time with my mom. I would have taken her out to lunch more often. I would have asked her more questions; about herself growing up, about raising me, about her dreams, about the lessons she learned, about her favorite memories of us together. There's so much I don't know. So much I'll never know. And if I could go back, I would just want to be with her.

2. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
     Here in San Diego. That's all I know. Life is unpredictable and I have no idea what challenges are in store for me next, but I do know to expect some. Other than that, I don't want to set my life along a timeline anymore. What happens, happens and I welcome the future with open, hopeful arms.

3. Do you honestly want kids?
     Yes, but the "when" has changed. You'd think the older I get, the sooner I'd want kids. I look forward to the day when I can be a mother, experience the blessings [and challenges] of motherhood, and pass along the things my own mom taught me. However, I believe my detours in life have brought me exactly where I'm meant to be right now - focused on growing as a woman, learning, and loving.

4. What has been the best moment of your life so far?
     I believe I've had a few "best moments" depending on where I was in my life. Meeting my favorite boy band was pretty cool when I was 12 ;) But the first full day living in San Diego was a real landmark moment for me. It signified the beginning of what I truly believe will be the most rewarding and meaningful years of my life.

5. What is your life theme song?
     Drops of Jupiter was and as I've gotten older, Gardenia by Mandy Moore. Gardenia is so, so raw and powerful and honest. It chokes me up every time, without fail. It's a song beautifully written about learning about life and learning who you are.

6. What is one thing you have yet to accomplish that you want to do before you die?
     I want to treat my dad to a long vacation to some place he's always wanted to visit. He has always been there for us, encouraged us, and done everything in his power to help us achieve our dreams and it's his turn to be the special one.

7. If you could choose one thing to be known for, what would it be?
     Inspiring people to fully embrace life and to know that when the tough moments hit hard, find the beauty in life and never let go of your deepest dreams.

8. If you could do anything you wanted right in this very moment (no consequences, no fear, etc.) what would it be?
     Surf Pipeline and then take my family to Ted's Bakery after :)

9. What has been the most challenging moment in your life?

     Watching my mom die. Hands down.

10. Summarize yourself in one word.

     Passionate

Like "Gardenia" says:

"It's been good... getting to know me more."

The First Glimpse Into My Place

Next month will mark four months since I left to start my journey in San Diego. Four months. And I have still yet to share any of my humble little abode here on the blog. I'm a very private person when it comes to my living space, hence why I love living alone. I found my place back in the Fall when I flew out here to house hunt and everything aligned perfectly for me to sign a month-to-month lease, giving me flexibility once I settled in to my new city.

Now, as many of you know, San Diego is not inexpensive. However, I was moving from Northern Virginia which again, is not expensive so I was prepared. But, c'mon, we all know I was born on the wrong coast and that I would make it out here eventually, regardless of what it cost. I knew ahead of time that I'd have to give up a lot of luxuries. Knowing that I'd initially be without a job, I said goodbye to a garage, a dishwasher, a bathtub [don't worry, I have a shower], a washer and dryer, a garbage disposal, and A/C and heat [okay, so there are obviously ways of getting around that in such a perfect climate], among other things.

But I've never been the one who needs granite counter tops and I had stainless steel appliances for 6 months out of my whole life and, you know what, they didn't affect my life too deeply. So, honestly, going without the things I mentioned above has been a piece of cake. I care much more about the feel of my home.

Another reason I chose this place is because it came partially furnished which made the move so much easier since I didn't have to lug half of my furniture coast to coast. So, I took the pieces that maybe I wouldn't have personally chosen, and spruced them up with some of my style. 

I had issues trying to decorate this kitchen table for a while. It is a light brown, wooden, circular table and the table I had before was black and rectangular. I played around with a few ideas and then decided I need flowers. I am a huge fan of fake flowers, my friends. I went to Michael's and walked back and forth through the flower aisles pairing colors and blooms. These flowers are some of my favorite and I love the way the sunlight floods into the peachy tones. I'm a sea glass connoisseur so I put some of those bad boys in the vase for an accent.

Lastly, I had this beautiful antique cake stand and knew I wanted to do something with it. I also had one lonely, blank frame and decided to print one of my favorite quotes and place it inside. I read that quote at least once everyday as I pass by it :)

While I won't stay in this place forever, it's been a wonderful starter as I begin my journey here. I've had to remind myself that each new piece I buy will need to work in my next place and with whatever new furniture I purchase at that time. So, it was a little tricky at first but I love it. And I can't believe it. That here I am, living in San Diego, in my own little place. Nothing can beat that. It's home. And now you have seen just a little piece of that home.

On Finding the Way to My Dreams

This is the first time in my life, that's right — the first time — that I've ever really felt like I can do whatever the heck I want. And not just whatever the heck I want, but to do what I feel I was put here to do. To do the things I'm truly passionate about. To take the time to BE me, really be me.

I know it must sound crazy. But I was the type of person who always felt restricted. Whether it was by my parents or my school or a particular timeline, I always felt like things outside of my own agenda needed to happen first. Now, don't get me wrong. I know that things are never completely going to happen according to our own agenda. Life cannot be controlled. I have certainly learned that the hard way. However, this is the one time in my life where I can create the life I want.

I am constantly grateful for the chance that I had to move to San Diego — a dream of mine for nearly a decade, ever since the minute I first set foot in this city. I'm grateful for the timing of everything in my life. The good, the bad. Because it brought me here. It allowed me to quit my job, leave everything behind, and live my life here. And while it has been the most wonderful experience I could have asked for thus far, it sure hasn't been easy.

I moved to the other side of the country without a job, without family, and without any close friends. I'm crazy, right? Right. Although I did something similar when I moved to Utah back in 2010, this time I chose to do things differently. I decided there would be no settling. Absolutely none. Life is too short to settle for anything.

Moving to San Diego has symbolized something much greater than I think most people realize. This is the start of the best years of my life. The years where I have finally found myself — what my deepest passions are, what my greatest talents are, what my biggest dreams are, what makes me "me."




Finding the way to my dreams has been beautifully difficult. There are certain attributes that I have constantly been pulled to since a young age and dreams that I have never been able to let go of. Sharing my creativity with the world has been one of those dreams and I am currently working day and night on my jewelry business, After Sunset, in hopes of sharing what I love to do with many others. Working in the surf industry has been another one of those dreams since before I can even remember.

I have been praying constantly for the right opportunity that combines my natural gifts and talents with my passions to come along here in San Diego. For the right doors to be opened. For everything to come together. Several days ago, in the midst of working on jewelry things and rubbing my exasperated blue eyes, I found a position online for a surf shop here. It was an opportunity I've waited years for, and before I knew it, I was welcomed onto the team!

I will be coordinating the marketing & events for this surf brand and I am absolutely ecstatic about this opportunity. It is something I had only dreamt of for all this time.

But I can see it now. The Universe listens. And the doors are finally starting to open up — because I haven't settled this time, no matter what the cost. And I won't settle. This is me. This is the path I have chosen. These are my blue eyes that I see my world here in San Diego through. This is my heart that constantly beats for all things real and true. These are my dreams that find their way into my life when I'm ready to fight harder than I've ever fought before.

"Part of living your destiny and not your shadow career is being able to LIVE in and with uncertainty. It's about trusting The Universe to have your back. It's about realizing you have a gift and your job is to GIVE that gift to the world. It's about doing what's right rather than what's easy." — Mastin Kipp