my 23rd year

Yesterday begun the countdown - exactly one month until my birthday! To say that 23 was a weird year for me would be a SERIOUS understatement.

It was full. Full of so much everything.

3 days before my 23rd birthday, as I was still grasping at the coattails of 22, I found out that an offer I put in on a house was accepted. After 5 long months of hunting, I had found the one!

That next weekend I did what any about-to-be-first-time-homebuyer would do, jetted off to Vegas to see my best friend! I actually won enough money playing Roulette to cover what I spent on the trip, which was probably a good thing considering the amount of cash I'd soon be shelling out on an abode.

In early November I had my first blogdate EVER with Aly, the rest of November was filled with closing on my house and beginning to tear it apart. Spent countless hours throughout November working on the house, with the help of my parents, Chris and all my other friends who joined in on the fun.

In early December I hit a wall and had my first big house related breakdown. I was stuck. Frustrated. Oh, and I discovered that I most definitely have a ghost living in my home with me. Ethel. Good 'ol Ethel. She's a good ghost though, always playing tricks.

I rounded out 2010 with a broken furnace and think I fell asleep before the ball even dropped into 2011.

(Are you wore out yet? Because we aren't even 2 months into my 23rd year?!)

The first week of January I got all moved into my house. It was suddenly becoming a home. But, as is life, when one things comes together another falls apart and Chris and I found our relationship struggling. After many hard weeks of trying to force it we came to the conclusion that maybe we are just meant to be really good friends and not lovers.

Along with all of that fun I decided to toss my name in the pot for another position at my work. It didn't work out but I was glad that I got my name out there and made some people realize I do have a lot of potential.

I think it's safe to say that in late January I truly learned how to open up and lean on others. I realized that I just couldn't do it alone... and that that was perfectly ok! That stumbling was ok.

March filled itself up with soul-searching, DIYing and just continuing to get settled in the home. It was probably good that it was a calm month. Things were about to get real crazy!

Late one Wednesday night in April I received a random phone call from my best friend telling me that her husbands best friend was offering me up a plane ticket to come out to Vegas to see them all that following weekend. Of course, I graciously accepted the offer! After getting back I had a new view on life and became a self-proclaimed "yes" girl!


A handful of days after I got back from Sin City, I set off to Negril with my momma. Our girls getaway couldn't have came at a better time. I fully soaked up a week of sun and relaxation. Of course, anyone who knows me knows I can't just sit still and ended up acquiring a Jamaican Husband and the promise of "chocolately smooth Jamaican babies" (Jamaican Hubs Chronicles: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)

May brought race cars to the circle city and with it all my racing friends came out of the woodwork - many a good night was had with everyone around! And in true "yes girl" form, I sashayed my way into Important Person status for some race happenings and ended up meeting some people who would prove to form a crucial part of my story of my 23rd year.

As May came to a close I found myself being offered another spur-of-the-moment trip on someone else's dime. I graciously accepted again, and made my way to the West Coast

After coming back to the midwest I dove headfirst into a budding relationship and spent most of June, July and August with that cute boy from the track. I was so happy at that point I even wrote about my appreciate for everyone that had cheated on me before. Oh the irony. According to the law of physics, what goes up must come down... so the end of August all hell broke loose and my true character was tested. A ruined trip to Jamaica, a stint in the hospital and a bomb being dropped.

September ushered in a season of deep thinking and more soul searching. I didn't completely break my spontaneous streak from the spring though, as I enjoyed a whole weekend with some newfound friends which was a welcomed break from reality. And now, as I round out my 23rd year I've decided to follow my heart and see where it leads me.


Twenty-three threw me into a position where I had no choice but to basically grow up. I've learned so much about myself and the girl I've become in the past 11 months. I'm strong-willed, stubborn as hell, but have a softspot deep down. I always follow my heart, even if it is poorly planned and spur of the moment. I get confused, mixed up and lost at times but I find my way. I've got a good head on my shoulders, compliments of my family and friends and randoms along the way, all of whom have had a little part in shaping the person that I am today.

It's been hard at times to share all the parts of this journey, my life, so publicly on my blog but I absolutely adore it, I love being able to look back on everything - relive the fun times, learn from the sad times and just enjoy the bond I've made along the way!