Dear 2017,

oh. my goodness. where do i start?

I remember exactly a year ago today - my heart felt like it weight a trillion tons, and like someone was holding my head underwater and that life was moving on and i was standing still.

I was so unhappy, and heartbroken. I didn't know how to love myself, but even worse - i didn't care enough to.

and then you changed.

I was seconds away from losing everything and everyone who i love, and who loves me and you changed.

You taught me how to put down my pride and how to admit when I've been defeated. and I found such beauty in great loss.

I found myself loving myself, and who i was, and all the people i knew wouldn't lead me astray. i found myself surrounded by all the same heartwarming faces I ached for, for what felt like too long.

I found myself laughing and hoping and loving, and loving, and loving some more.

I remember exactly a year ago today, but i don't remember how it feels. I don't recognize the sad girl who didn't find love or hope around her. and I'm so thankful for all the healing and growth you've taught me.

You bent and twisted and tried to break me and I came out stronger, and happier, and more hopeful than ever.

You went the complete opposite of how I expected/hoped/dreamed and I couldn't be more thankful for it.

It's been a wild bittersweet ride, 2017. I couldn't have dreamed you up any better, even if I tried.

Thanks for the memories, xo -
Me.

Gratitude	---
1	Today I am thankful for the start of a brand new, sweet month! And Christmas time!
2	Today I am thankful that I ACTUALLY woke up early again, for once - and for Saturday's!
3	Today I am thankful for Sunday off of work, FINALLY!!!
4	Today I am crazy grateful for the start of a new week and my last monday @ Nordstrom!
5	Today I am thankful for overcast days and Taco Bell!
6	Today I am super thankful for an exciting new job! And a super cool new office!
7	Today I am super thankful for a super early morning and windy, chilly days!
8	Today I am thankful for my SECOND to last day at Nordstrom!
9	Today I am thankful for the LAST involuntiary Saturday work day for a long time!
10	Today I am thankful for Sunday mornings and a day to relax before work tomorrow!
11	Today I am super thankful for a fun and nice first day of my new job!!!
12	Today I am thankful that I work for an AMAZING company who really cares about their employees!
13	Today I am so thankful for the middle of the week! And for getting into a good routine!
14	Today I am so thankful for early mornings and chilly winter days!
15	Today I am thankful for FRIDAY! And getting to look forward to a whole weekend.
16	Today I am thankful for having my first weekend off of work! And for goodwill sales.
17	Today I am thankful for rainy mornings and sweet sunday morning music!
18	Today I am thankful for the start of weet TWO! And one more week until christmas!
19	Today I am thankful for another sweet day with sweet coworkers!
20	Today I am thankful for HUMP DAY!
21	Today I am so thankful for more christmas shopping and the christmas spirit!
22	Today I am so thankful for sweet coworkers and taking long naps!
23	Today I am thankful that I got out of bed and had SOME peace and quiet to relax!
24	Today I am thankful for a super sweet Christmas eve!!!!
25	Today I am thankful for CHRISTMAS! And long naps, lol.
26	Today I am thankful for after Christmas sales! And one last, fun, day of training!
27	Today I am so thankful for more learning and growing at work!
28	Today I am thankful for more learning and super friendly coworkers.
29	Today I am thankful for spending time with my cutie coworkers! And making friends!
30	Today I am thankful for a productive Saturday of cleaning and relaxing!
31	Today I am thankful for the last day of the year and brunch with cute friends!

Real or fake tree?
- Real. Through and through.

Have you ever kissed anyone under mistletoe?
- Never! But the month is still young ;)

Any christmas traditions? What are they?
- My family always buys a brand new ornament that has all our names on it every year!

What’s your best idea of a christmas dinner?
- Lots of cozy and comforting types of food and desserts and surrounded by family!

Do you spend christmas with friends or family?
- Family.

What’s your opinion on white christmases?
- I WISH i was lucky enough to experience one!

Do you still believe in Santa?
- Yes.

What’s your favourite thing about christmas?
- All of it. The entire thing. There's nothing not to love.

What do you do the day after christmas?
- Relax and wish it was still christmas.

What’s your favourite christmas memory?
- I think the general feeling surrounding christmas is my favorite. I think about it all year long, haha.

What’s the best present you’ve received?
- Hard to say.

What’s the best present you’ve given?
- I'm not sure, haha.

Have you ever been away from home during christmas?
- Not yet :(

Do you own a christmas sweater?
- Tons.

Does your house get covered in fairy lights?
- YES! Haha, year round too.

An angel or star at the top of your tree?
- Star.

Do you listen to christmas songs?
- 24/7.

Do you write christmas cards?
- No, but I really want to!

How long is your christmas break?
- I'm no longer in school so I don't have one ;(

What’s your favourite candy cane?
- Plain ol' peppermint!

Worst present you’ve received?
- NONE!

Do you watch christmas movies?
- Not as many as I'd like, but yes!

What are you hoping to get this christmas?
- Lots and lots of love.

Do you wake up early on christmas day?
- Yes!

What do you put on your tree?
- Usually just ornaments! Nothing too fancy or crazy.

What’s your funniest christmas story?
- I'm not sure I have one? Lol.

Tell a christmas joke.
- What do you say to Santa when he's taking attendance at school? Present.

Do you get advent calendars?
- I TRY TO! But the options here are limited! :(

Do you own a santa hat?
- Duh.

What’s a tradition you would like to start?
- There's a TON I want to start when I start having children of my own! But I think just getting into the spirit a lot more, and a lot sooner!

Hi everyone!!! So as of December 10th I have officially had my braces for a full 6 months!

I think that the first 2-3 months of having braces consisted of the the MOST change so far, so I figured 6 months was a pretty good time period to get a gauge on the pros/cons of having braces (pre-rubber bands of course, lol).

Hi guys! I'm back with the LAST monthly goals list for the year of 2017! Thank you so much if you've kept up with all my monthly goal lists! I'll be back with more next year ;)



It is so easy to get carried away with the holiday season and to throw your budget right out the window, but I need to keep it under control, haha.


I want to get my savings schedule down PAT for 2018 because there's so much I want/need to do with my money! Plus, it never hurts to be extraaaa prepared with a savings account an savings PLAN for a new year!


I think I let the holiday's take over my mind for the last two months of the year that when New Years comes around I feel SO unprepared and I don't get to ring in the new year the way I'd REALLY like to. So I think taking a moment, or many moments, to reflect on what I've done this year and what I'd like to get out of next year will really help me bring in that 2018 new year mindset.




For WHATEVER reason, my family takes like 3 months to put away all the christmas and holiday decor. So from the last week of december until about MARCH we have all the storage boxes scattered around the house with the mindset that we'll get to it eventually and it drives me absolutely insane. So taking a morning/afternoon to get that task out of the way before the year ends is going to feel so good!