2013: The Best Year Yet

2013 was the best year of my life. What's even crazier is that it followed the absolute worst year of my life. How does that happen? It's pretty phenomenal when I think about it. When I think about the way life works.

Life, the Universe, God, whatever you want to call it… hands us events and circumstances when we least expect them. Some of these events shape us, some completely change our life, and some leave us never to be the same again. The events that took place last year left scars that will forever remain a part of me. They caused me to change the way I live, the way I think, the way I make decisions, and the way I am.

2013 was the year I learned to say "no" to others. To do only what was true to myself. To honor my being. To stop pretending. To stop chasing. To stop settling.

2013 was the year I learned to say "yes" to myself. To give myself the go-ahead. To encourage myself. To go after my dreams like there was no tomorrow.

I think I may always look back at 2013 in awe, pleasantly surprised by all the beautiful, new moments that found their way into my life in such a short period of time. Proof that life really does unfold naturally, organically, and perfectly the way it is meant to when you live a life in harmony with your true purpose.

San Diego was the most gorgeous setting I could have asked for during this period of self-reflection. It inspired me, lifted me, and propelled me out into the big, endless, adventurous, exciting world that was always surrounding me, just waiting to be discovered. And as this year comes to a close, I can say with confidence that my time in San Diego is not over ;)

My journey is still just getting started, despite it being the end of one year and the beginning of another. All of our years are connected. They fluidly roll like the ocean's waves, one into another and so on. And at the end, we have one vast, beautiful body of water to look out to. Each year brings in new sets of waves, new currents, new freshness. Some years are spent surfing the waves and others are spent paddling back out in preparation for a new set that will take us even further.

I'm ready. Are you?

Happy New Year! Sending love and wishes for health and happiness to you all!

Two Thousand Twelve

2012.

It has been quite a year. I remember this time last year, I was thinking of the heartbreak 2011 left me with, praying for 2012 to be a better year and a new start.

Little did I know, my mother would be taken from me not even two months later; shaking my world and breaking it in half. Just like that, it became the worst year of my life. 2012 will always be the year my mom died. But I had to learn from it. I had to let it grow me... somehow.

Here I am, looking back on the months and days of this past year and I see how much I've learned.

About life.

About love.

About moving on.

Last year, I also focused my energy on one word instead of a resolution. My word was become. All the things I wanted to do. All the things I wanted to be.

Now, here I am. About to ring in the new year in my new city - San Diego. San Di-friggin-ego. MY DREAM. I did it. And, yes, I just have to say it... I am pretty darn proud of myself. I didn't let anything get in the way. In fact, because of the hurdles that were placed in my way, I fought harder than I would have to get where I am today.

In 2012 I:

+Spent NYE in Boston

+Tried repairing broken love in Sin City... twice

+Lost my sweet Mom

+Lost my sweet Missy

+Took a new job

+Left that job

+Had too much drama at the dentist

+Conquered my fear of flying

+Visited San Diego

+Moved to San Diego

+Learned to love again

2013 really does look so fresh and new and bright. There are so many possibilities. My calendar is mainly blank with a few plans already penciled in. I'm excited to talk about what's to come in little Chelsea's life and it'll be exciting to see what happens in the new year!

As the last day of 2012 rolls on by, I wish my family and friends a very Happy New Year. May it be the best one yet :)

A New Staht in Boston – Paht Two

It’s time to wrap up the rest of my Boston re-cap. In case you missed “Paht One” be sure to check it out here! This recap is a bit picture heavy but worth it so, take a seat, relax, and stay a while :)

While walking through town we came across some prettyyy interesting sculptures, if I do say so myself!

 

If you see the below trolley while you’re in Boston, jump on it. Why, you ask?
A. It will take you to DOYLE’s. It’s said to be shown in quite a few films/shows, Mystic River being one of them.
B. The trolley driver is HILARIOUS and has THE greatest Boston accent. Here are some quotes if you don’t believe me:

“When the music stahts, that’s right… you’re dancing for the people.”
”I eat chowdah like cereal for breakfast.”

Oh, and in case you were wondering. Loud music and disco lights were a part of this adventure. If you didn’t already want to visit Boston, you should now :)

Now, it’s time to talk about chowdah. Clam chowdah to be exact. I left Boston knowing that I had eaten the best chowdah I’ve ever had.

Amazing. Union Oyster House did not let me down. It was thick, full of yummy potatoes, and had just the right amount of flavor. I tried lobster bisque at Quincy Market a couple days later  and it just did not suffice. Go to Union Oyster House and order a bowl or two of their clam chowdah. Also, please ask for it just like that - “chowdah.”

Another site we stumbled upon was this fascinating and touching Holocaust Memorial. There was mist everywhere and quotes were etched into the glass.
 
 




 

Upon walking from the Financial District to ohhh, Copley Square {aka a LONG way}, we stumbled upon yet another surprise – ice sculptures.

This ice sculpture had everything from a school of fish to a bikini to a lobster frozen inside. Maybe I’ll take up ice sculpting.

Then, it was time for New Year’s Eve. We went to a quaint, little place right on the water. The guy to girl ratio had to be 75/25. Crazy. But, don’t think it was necessarily a good thing.
I had to politely decline not one but two guys on their offers to dance. The second guy didn’t stand a chance. When a guy is slurring his words so badly that I have to ask him FOUR times what he said, he then proceeds to make fun of me for drinking Diet Coke, and STILL doesn’t leave me alone when I have to ask him to please leave, something is wrong.

That aside, I had a great New Year’s Eve and welcomed 2012 with a new outlook.

 

Okay, okay and since I talked about my New Year’s outfit in a prior post, here’s what the whole sha-bang looked like:

The next day, we headed over to our favorite little place, Quincy Market for a bite to eat before heading off to Harvard.

That’s right. We ventured over to the little town of Cambridge and became Harvard students for the day. Except, not really because school was not in sesh. Sad. It would have made the trip that much better because, to be honest, Harvard was a bit of a disappointment. Much smaller than I expected. The buildings were still gorgeous, nonetheless.

I’m not sure what was better – Occupy Harvard…

Or walking by a dorm window and seeing some sort of crazy algebraic equations/functions/I’m not even sure what language scribbled onto the window shade.

Oh, Harvard.

And that’s pretty much where the picture-taking ended. We headed over to the Harvard bookstore and then took the subway back to our side of town. We finished the trip with a visit to the movies where we saw one of the best movies I have probably ever seen – We Bought a Zoo. I’m almost positive when I say that this movie brought the entire theatre to tears at certain points. Tears of joy and maybe a few tears of sadness. It was a touching, funny, inspiring movie that I recommend you all to go and see. Now! :)

All in all, Boston is a great city. I feel like I always learn something new in each city I visit. Boston sure taught me a thing or two – about this country and about myself. Among all the hustle and bustle and Boston accents, I feel like this city is one where you can feel right at home :)

The New Year’s Eve Reveal

I’ve been mentioning New Year’s Eve every so often for the past month or so. I knew this year I wanted NYE to be memorable. {Okay, so I always want NYE to be memorable – this girl LOVES holidays!} But, given the way my 2011 went, I knew I wanted to ring in the New Year in some special way. So, this year…

I’m going to BOSTON!

I’ve never been and have always decided to go. Here’s how I reached the decision that Massachusetts would be the destination this year:

Whitney: So, I’m thinking I might go to Boston for New Year’s. Want to come?
Me: Hmmm… OKAY!

Easy as pie. But, if you’re like me and want to travel the world, deciding to go to a new place when someone suggests it, is quite simple. So, Whitney, her sister, and I are flying up to Boston tomorrow morning! I’m hoping to return next week with pictures similar to these:

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I also plan on indulging in all types of Bostonian things:

Boston Cream Pie

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A delicious bowl or two… or three of Clam “Chowdah”

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And perhaps I’ll run into one of my favorite basketball players {minus the entire Utah Jazz lineup}, Rajon Rondo!

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Other than pictures, I’ll probably pick up a few things during my stay to bring home as a memory, such as:

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A Boston Terrier

I’m thinking a Mark Wahlberg-esque Boston accent could be a nice thing to bring back too. Eh?

So, Boston bloggers – what places should we absolutely plan to visit? Food, fun, attractions. You name it. We already have a few things up our sleeves!

I’m super excited to visit this new city. In case you missed my little “Welcome” blurb on the top right, I LIVE for the
way it feels to travel to a new place! The newness, adventure, and intrigue of a new city just makes me feel alive :) I have a good feeling about Boston. Maybe I won’t come back to DC?