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

1 Year Gluten Free #youbetterbelieveit

A moment of silence, please...

One year ago today, in a fit of I'm-tired-of-being-sick-all-the-time frustration, I took anything containing gluten out of my shopping cart and put it back on the grocery shelves. Here's to cold turkey commitment, 365 days, a healthy bod and doing the "impossible." Because seriously, it felt impossible many-a-day for awhile there.

...also I've been craving a Krispy Kreme donut for about 12 months. I'm asking for one first thing in the next life.

If it's something you think you need to do but you're afraid to go for it, let me just say...you got this, Tigerpants.

And feel free to email anytime you need someone to encourage you. Or call you Tigerpants. I'm good for any of the above.

Related: Why I Went Gluten Free, and 10 Tips for Going Gluten Free.

And Ryan Gosling.

my 2013 resolutions

a new year means new goals!

(mostly it means accidentally writing the date incorrectly for a couple months until i get the hang of the new year, but that's another issue.)

my 2012 goal: be nicer to myself.

how'd i do? smashingly, actually. i definitely had my days where i'd get down on myself or frustrated with my mistakes or lack of bravery, lazy days, inability to clean my car, etc. but overall, i feel really comfortable with who i am and where i'm at -- messy parts and all.

and it feels really good.

[via]

my 2013 goal: trust my gut & follow my heart.

i find that when i have a tough decision that i'm hemming and hawing about, i almost always end up choosing my initial gut feeling in the end. i want to be better at immediately trusting my instincts because i do believe i have a trustworthy internal compass.

here's a few other items from my 2013 goal chart:

• NUTRITION: Don't eat gluten until my birthday in February (more on the reason soon).
• EXERCISE: Work out 2x per week (either running or a class at the gym).
• SERVICE: Keep bags of food/water in my car to give to homeless people.
• FINANCIAL: Open a shop on my blog (more on that soon too)!
• WRITING: Start writing my "fiction" mormon romance novel (trust me, i've got stories).
• SPIRITUAL: Besides church, go somewhere spiritual 1x per week (nature, the temple, etc.)
• COURAGE: Take one very big risk sometime this year (can't wait to see what this is)!
• TRAVEL: Go 3 new places outside Arizona (starts with Denver next month)!

i love my goals and can't wait to keep track of them!

and when i have a month where i keep every single monthly/weekly goal, i get a reward.

...like a massage!

what whaaaat!

what's your resolution for 2013?

maybe i will buy myself some gold star stickers