Notable Moments of 2013

Last January, in the midst of a very stable life phase, I wrote that my overall goal for 2013 was to "trust my gut and follow my heart."

One part of that was to "take one very big risk sometime this year." ha. ha. ha. ha. ha. Nailed it! Seriously, 2013 was a year of change. The big kind of change. And a year of being brave. The big kind of brave. I trusted the stitches right out of my heart and gut.

I feel like 2013 is one of those years I'll look back at for the rest of my life and know that it was pivotal and life-changing. I love the feeling of knowing I just turned my life on its head, survived it, and now I'm on the cusp of the rest of my entire life. I'll write about my 2014 goals tomorrow, but for today...

Let's celebrate the big moments of 2013!

Fulfilled a long-time dream and opened a vintage clothing shop on etsy.

Went gluten free and held strong for the entire year.

Turned 26.

Went to Denver for the first time.

Helped Camille launch the AZ Blogger Meetup.

Made amazing new AZ blog friends because of said meetups.

Sent my children's book to a publisher.

Still haven't given up on getting that book published :)

Sold vintage merchandise at my first tradeshow.
Drove 3 hours to a little Jimmy Eat World concert.

Went to Disneyland with three of my blogging besties.

Got all kinds of close with said blog friends.

Attended the Elevate Conference.

Consequently, started infusing large doses of vulnerability into my blog.

Consequently, figured out exactly what it is that I love about blogging :)

Quit my job.

Moved out of my condo.

Moved in with my parents for a month.
Married off one of my very best friends.
Meaning, bridesmaid round 13. (Ever closer to movie status.)

Moved to northern California.

Went to Six Flags for the 4th of July with my baby sister.

Became an aunt for the 5th time.

Survived unemployment/freelance writing/weird odd jobs for 6 months.

Started my temp job with Ralph Lauren.

Received a BlogHer 2013 Voice of the Year blogging award.

Ran a Ragnar Relay in Napa Valley.

Guest blogged for Queen Latifah.

Spent mucho time exploring northern California.

Fell full-on-crazy-in-love with northern California.

...I'm exhausted just reading that list, and I'm sure I'm still missing a thing or two. Let's be real, the most overall important thing I did in 2013 all goes back to that original resolution: I trusted my gut and followed my crazy little heart, even when it wasn't easy (at all, sometimes) and scared me (a lot, sometimes) and made me want to hide under the covers and not come out (that happened, sometimes).

Dear 2013, thanks for helping me find my brave.

“It was at this point that Bilbo stopped. Going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did. The tremendous things that happened afterward were as nothing compared to it. He fought the real battle in the tunnel alone, before he ever saw the vast danger that lay in wait.” J.R.R. Tolkien