Happy Birthday Month to meeeeeee! Yes, I am one of those obnoxious people that talks about my own birthday alll the time. I celebrate not only my birthday itself, but my birthday month as well! In all fairness, I have to. If I'm not my own biggest advocate for my birthday it gets overlooked. It's not my fault I was born the day after Christmas, but I was and therefore we all have to deal with the birthday celebration consequences. 
So in the spirit of my birthday, I've decided to celebrate forgiveness, giving everyone a clean slate and happiness.  
Letting things go isn't easy, it takes a lot of work actually and it's not a one time thing. In order to really let something go, you have to make it a habit. You have to consciously decide everyday that you're moving forward and that carrying any baggage or negativity or grudges is just holding you back. And happiness is completely a choice. There is always something to be grumpy about, but there's always something to be happy about too. So why not choose to be happy as much as we can. And why not do things that make us happy. So many people are so stuck on the way things are supposed to be or the life they have planned out for themselves and the future that they picture- that in the process of trying to fulfill that life they see for themselves, they stop doing things that make them happy and just do things because they think they are supposed to. I'm not one of those people and  I don't ever want to be. I want to do what makes me happy and when it stops making me happy, I want to do something else. We've only got one life, you can't go back someday once you realize you wasted so much time not doing the things you really wanted to, so why not do them the first time around! Also, why not stop complaining and start smiling. Cheesy, but true! Being happy and forgiving and getting along with people and making the best of every situation is better than holding on to things that bother you. So therefore, this month- my birthday month is dedicated to everyone getting a clean slate (including me) and to choosing happiness. I choose to be happy and to love as many people as I can for exactly who they are and to be open to all new experiences that happen to me. Life is a game made for everyone and love is the prize.

I lovvvvvve quotes (my favorite Pinterest activity). So here are a few that go with my clean slate- happiness theme.. #wordporn  

"People aren't against you, they are for themselves"        

"Happiness is a mood and it's a condition. It's not a destination. It's like being tired or hungry. It's not permanent. It comes and goes and that's ok. And I feel like if people thought of it that way, they'd find happiness a lot more often."

And I will leave you with one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite bands... Happy December <3

                        

As I get older I've started to realize the importance of having positive people in my life. I like to be around people who are happy, or at least are trying to be. People that are ambitious and open minded. People that are positive and always try to look for the good in things. People that you can have a conversation with about thoughts and ideas and life, instead of other people. I fully believe that you get the energy that you put out to Universe. Positive attracts positive. I'm at a point in my life where I no longer want to put my energy into friendships and relationships that feel negative just for the sake of being friends with someone that you feel like you should be friends with. Sometimes you've just got to let it go and be you. Do you. Do what makes you happy and keep the people in your life that make you happy and that make you feel good.

It's funny how friendships can change, sometimes you're closer with some people and sometimes you're closer with others. But there's always those certain people that you just know are your people. Your friends no matter what. The people who make you feel good. The people that you know no matter how long it is between times that you talk, it doesn't change a thing.

I had a much needed awesome weekend with one of these awesome friends! From the Country House in Staten Island, a tour of every angle of the Verrazano bridge (and every other bridge surrounding the city), quick drive through NYC, a chance to make a new friend, staying up all night doing nothing.... to my first ever IMAX movie the next day! Dave is an awesome friend and a positive person to be around! I'm so happy he's become one of my best friends. Can't wait to do it again soon!

Learning is awesome! It sounds so childish to say, but it really is. I think as we get older too many people stop trying to learn new things. But not me! I want to learn as much as I can.... I took guitar lessons when I was 10 for a few months and was really good. But I hated practicing and complained to my dad about it a lot and one day he called my instructor and told him I quit. And that was that. But over the years I've always still wanted to play. My brand new guitar that my parents bought me when I was 10 collected dust in the attic until a couple weeks ago. I got it out and brought it to VA and have been practicing everyday since. My brother and sister in law also bought me an AWESOME guitar last year for my Birthday- I broke a string on it trying to teach myself how to tune it so I need to get that fixed :-). So annnnnnnyway. I have two really cool acoustic guitars and I'm going to teach myself how to play. So far I've got the first four string downs and a couple chords. I can even play Yankee Doodle and Ode to Joy by heart. BOOM! Soon enough I'll be playing T Swift and ZBB :-) ..... and someday writing my own songs...

It's crazy how much life can change in a year. Thinking back to last year and the year before and the year before that- what I was doing then and what I'm doing now....

Well I've moved a lot in the past couple years and I'm getting ready to move again in a little over a month. I started today because I felt like it was time for me to start cleaning some stuff out, throwing some stuff away and donating other things. Every time I've moved, I've used it as a chance to declutter and cleanse myself of unwanted baggage. I think most people have way too much stufffff (and things).. lol. Walking Dead reference (my favorite show ever at the moment)

This next move is big for me and the one after that will be even bigger. I moved to VA about a year ago from Syracuse, NY. It's been an adventure for sure. I quit my job in NY and moved here without one. I moved in with my best friend and her boyfriend and then moved out about 5 months later with my best friend into an apartment in Manassas, VA. Lol and the only things I love about Manassas are being a 5 minute drive from Jiffy Lube Live and Swirlies!..Well my best friend is moving to Boston and I'm staying here for now. It's going to be crazy because she's really the only person down here I hang out with and I'm definitely not in love with Virginia. But I think this is going to be really good for me. I'm going to spend the next year working hard and saving money and enjoying VA as much as I can...until my next adventure...

Life is a runaway train, you can't wait to jump on <3 ..

So this is a new blog and today is a new day. The past few months have been a game changer for me. As hard as it's been, I've faced a couple of my biggest fears kinda all at once and it was the best thing I could've ever done for myself. I'm strong and brave and kind and I see only awesome things in my future. It's not going to be easy, but easy is boring anyway.