27 Before 28

A little over a month ago I turned 28. 

It feels pretty good so far. 

The past few years I've created a goal list to accomplish with each new year. (See 26 before 27 HERE and 25 before 26 HERE - keep in mind I was a baby back then. I'm MUCH more worldly and mature now.) 

I'll write more about all the changes I've gone through and what I've learned at some point soon, but I thought I'd share how this year's goal list shook out. 

1. Get a job in the entertainment Industry - Half Check 

Literally a week and a half after I turned 28 I got hired by Nickelodeon. I'm stoked. Since it wasn't technically within the year I won't give it full credit, but it deserves a shout out. I'm a Social Media Coordinator for 2 shows on Nick animation and my inner 10 year old is flipping out. 

2. Go kayaking - Nope

Yeah... this just .... didn't happen.

3. Read the Harry Potter series - Nope

This was a goal Jake and I made together for the year. He's read the first 5.... I haven't touched one.... 

4. Learn 'You Belong to Me' on the ukulele - Nope

As this song is a duet, this was another joint couple goal, but at least both of us dropped the ball on this one.  

5. Start doing improv - Check!

When I moved to LA, I knew that starting improv classes was something important to do. It's been a fantastic outlet, a great way to meet people, and I love learning a new skill. I'm halfway through the program at UCB where I've also started their sketch program, and I've been accepted at the Groundlings where I hope to start classes soon. This year I plan to complete UCB, start Groundlings  and try my hand in the "indie" improv scene. I don't think I'm a die-hard improv person, but I'm really enjoying it. 

6. Try to learn some Spanish - Nope

I thought with all the driving and I've done that I'd be into learning Spanish in the car, but my commutes have become reserved for long phone calls and loud music. 

7. Cut back on alcohol - ...

No comment. 

8. Make toning workouts a regular thing - Uhhhhhh

I WAS doing pop physique regularly for a while... then I just... stopped. 

9. Travel somewhere exciting - Check!

My cousin and his new wife planned a spontaneous small attendance wedding in Hawaii, where Jake and I had never been, and we jumped at the opportunity to be there for it! It was a really special weekend filled with a lot of cool adventures (hitchhiking (?!), luaus, hiking to the summit of a volcano, beach days) and so many Mai Tais I never need one again. 

10. Get an apartment with wood floors - Check! 

We totally lucked out with our tiny, perfect hillside bungalow. Wood floors, rent control and 2 parking spots - we're never leaving. 

11. Write a web series - Nah

I've filmed some videos for Hello Giggles and my friend and I have made some stuff, but no web series to speak of. 

12. Write a short play - Not at all. 

I literally don't even know why I made this a goal. 

13. Learn how to change my own oil - Check??

I haven't done it .... but I learned how. 

14. Try something new with my hair - Check! 

Not that this is a deep or meaningful goal, but I really wanted to shake up the plain brown hair, blunt bangs, everyday look (WITHOUT cutting or dying). I Started wearing it curly, which I love and am so happy I'm letting it fly free more. 

15. Get fun nail art done - Check! 

Another highly deep and meaningful goal. One of the many pros of LA is the nail art scene. Its a little way to treat myself and I love it. 

16. Complete 365 photo project - Check!

This was a really fun one. And as anyone who follows me on instagram knows, I was pretty obsessive about it. It was an important year for me to catalogue thoroughly and I'm so glad I did it. I even printed all 365 photos and put them in an album, and I love it. (So much in fact that I'm attempting it again. Follow it at #TVS28. I'm already two weeks behind. Oops.)

17 Practice Meditation - Check! 

In March I did Oprah & Deepak Chopra's 21 meditation challenge & loved it. I'm a pretty antsy person and I didn't believe I could truly focus and chill for 20 minutes a day, but I managed ok, and enjoyed it so much I tried it again in June. I don't really have that much time in my mornings any more, but I'm looking for shorter meditations and trying to apply the general mindset in my overall life. 

18. Get a hot stone massage - Nope

I got a Thai massage, I got a Swedish Massage, but no hot stones. Spa goals. 

19. Make the perfect beach picnic - Check!

Screw top or canned wine, Bag of peanuts, pre-sliced cheese and crackers, inner peas. 

20. Hike up to the Hollywood sign - Check! 

As an LA newbie, I wanted to make this happen. My best girl and I created a hiking club that lasted exactly 2 weeks before we decided it was too hot. BUT week 2 we accomplished the Hollywood sign. It was pretty cool. 

21. Spend less meaningless time on the Internet - Not at all. 

I went in the total opposite direction and got a job that's all about the internet. 

22. Find a podcast I love - Check!

Serial! Mystery Show! Reply All! Death, Sex & Money! WTF! New Yorker Fiction! This American Life! I went from someone who never listens to podcasts to loving them. Perfect for long drives and project time. 

23. Better Skin Care - Nope
I am terrible about my nightly skin care routine. I always take my makeup off, but that next step of washing my face and putting on night cream is still inconsistent. 

24. Write pilot  - Check! 

My writing partner (best friend) and I have completed a pilot we're pretty proud of. We've gotten some good feedback from people we respect and are working on the next draft to start submitting, along with several spec scripts. 

25. Be more positive - ?!

This year has been incredibly challenging at points. I've been really broke, really lonely, really scared, and struggled in a lot of new ways. And while I think I've stayed fairly positive through most of it, there have definitely been spells of defeatism in me that were new feelings and hard to wrestle with. Positivity and enthusiasm are choices, and that can be really hard on days when you don't even want to get out of bed. This is a goal I want to just maintain as a permanent thing to strive for in my life. 

26. Watch Seinfeld  - Nope

Much like Harry Potter - I just can't get into it. 

27. Write a spec script - Check! 

See 24. I didn't think I'd have so much fun writing in other people's voices, but it ended up being a blast. Writing a script for a show I love was challenging and exciting, and a great exercise. To any and all writing agents reading this - Yes, I am seeking representation. 

So that was my year. I love having these goal lists to check in on throughout the year, even if a lot of them change and I wonder why I ever thought I needed to do something. (But I'd still like to kayak.) 

26 Before 27

Last year I wrote about 25 goals I wanted to accomplish by 26, and I had so much fun doing it and sharing them with you guys. I made good on more than half of them, and I really liked having a decent sized list of both major and little goals. 
I decided to to it again for this year and up the ante with an extra goal for the additional year. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, and I thought I'd share my list and experiences with you guys! 

Here's what the goals were and how I did: 

1. Move to LA: CHECK!!!

JUST under the wire, I moved to Los Angeles the day before my 27th birthday. I am absolutely loving it here, and I cannot wait to see what the next year will bring! 

2. Get better with Camera: Check 

This goal was so much fun and a lot more fulfilling than I anticipated. I invested in a new lens (with some help... thank you mommy!) and I took an E-Course called "Mastering Your DSLR" through A Beautiful Mess. Photography becomes a bigger part of my life all around, as I also completed the 100 Happy Days instagram photography challenge and am half way through my own goal of one picture a day for a year. Nailed it. 

3. Monetize Blog: Half Check 

I've made 11 dollars. So technically I have monetized. I'm learning that the business side of blogging is not my strong point. 

4. Ride bikes more: Nope.

Our bikes remained virtually unridden all year and then we sold them. 

5. Get a new Bed: Half-Check

Since we knew we were moving to LA and selling a massive portion of our possessions including all of our furniture, we held off and are getting a new one here. But we did get an air mattress... that counts, right? 

6. Stop interrupting & answering for people: Hopefully. 

You would have to ask the people around me if I've gotten better about this overly chatty habit. I know for a fact that I am more consciously listening to people which feels so good, and I definitely feel I'm getting more out of conversations. This is a long-term practice. 

7. Try Stand-Up Comedy: Check Check Check!!!

I did standup for the first time in November and have done it a ton since. I did NOT expect to become so interested in it, but I have. Despite some difficulties and tribulations, this has made a huge impact on me and my interests for the future. I love it. (You can read more and see a recent set here.)

8. Film Short: Nope

I wrote a script for a short film last year that I still very much want to film. However, a majority of the plot revolves around music, and the work and money to get the proper licensing was too big a mountain for me to focus on over this past year. Work in progress. 

9. Read at least 2 books a month: Check! 

I have been inhaling books this year, and although I may not have reached exactly 24 since last september, I know I'm somewhere close. Plus, The Goldfinch was so long I'm counting it for two. 

10. Be a better correspondent: Perpetual Work in Progress

I am always trying to be better about sending cards and calling my grandmother, and I really tried to make it a priority this year. But as always, it remains a work in progress. 

11. Girls weekend with Ellie: Check 

A recurring theme I noticed through this year's list of goals was to fuel more energy into my relationships, and I'm so happy that I did, especially this goal. In December, my bestie Ellie and I met up in La Jolla to spend the weekend together. We saw our favorite musical, wore jeweled foam tiaras around the city, ate delicious food, drank mimosas, and had an all around blast. Plans are in the making for it to be an annual event. 

12. Write a book: HA!

I see now that this was overly ambitious and crazy. I did not write (or start) a book. 

13. Build websites for Jake & Me: Not Yet

This is one is one that I definitely need to do now that we're out in La La Land "pursuing the dream." It's something I should've done, but there's so many components to it I just never mustered up the energy. No time better than the present! 

14. Cook Fish: Check!

It may not have turned out very well, but I cooked filets of salmon all by myself! 

15. Attend a blog conference: No. 

With all our other trips and adventures this year, a Blog Conference was not in the cards and I'm ok with that. I've got some bigger and new blog plans in my future, and I think it will be better to go to an event like that down the road. 

16. Get Carrie nameplate necklace: Check! 

As you may know, I adore Sex and the City. I also love a ton of other ladies who rock a nameplate (*COUGH*JENNYLEWIS*COUGH). I had one a while back but it broke in half and I've been depressed since, so I treated myself and got a beautiful new one that I wear literally every day. Yay. 

17. Private Goal:

Some things you need to keep to yourself, but it was good for me to work on this one. 

18. Carry a notebook: Check!

After I got my iPhone, I realized that I had stopped carrying notebooks around, and it made me so sad. My first step was buying an awesome Moleskin day planner and a series of thinner notebooks. The habit has stuck! I now can't leave the house without one and to quote Neil Diamond - it feels so good so good. 

19. Get Acupuncture: Almost

I literally had an appointment in August, but cancelled it because I got too busy. This year. 

20. Fit into my original Chip & Peppers Jeans: HA HA!

This one was almost as ludicrous as writing a book. Did I lose enough weight to fit into the jeans I bought when I was 18 and consuming a meager 1200 calories a day? No. Absolutely not. But I did complete a 50 day running challenge and gain some confidence about wearing shorts. Win. 

21. Tone down gossip: Peaks & Valleys

I don't think of myself as a huge gossip, but some day's I'm certainly better about it than others. I'm trying to really be good about it in my new city and start fresh with a less judgmental attitude. 

22. Have articles published by 2 new sources: Meh

Kinda lost steam on this one. For now happy to be here and working on my new project (I promise to talk about it soon!)

23. Run a 10K: Half-Check-That's-Actually-Cheating.

I did not run a 10K. But I ran at least two 5K's, so I'm putting them together. 

24. Make more Webisodes: Check!

My focus definitely turned more towards video making this year, and I am loving it. I've actually started writing a web series that I hope to film this year and have fallen more in love with writing for screen and editing. Check out all the videos HERE! 

25. Conquer fishtail braid: Check! 

Booked it. 

See my excitement HERE. 

26. Be More Adventurous: Check

This year was filled with a lot more courage on my part and trying new things. Our Coachella Adventure was life-changing, I got some new tattoos, this move to Hollywood has shaken up my entire life, and in general I feel I've been bolder and braver. It's definitely something that takes a little more self pep-talks, but this is a habit I want to keep fueling and learning from. 

Thanks for letting me share these with you. 

Setting goals both big and small is something that really helps motivate me, and having a platform to share the process with is wonderful. 

I am so excited to make a list for the coming year and see what more I learn and experience.

Bring it, 27. 

25 Before 26

OMG you guys!

September is TOMORROW!

And you know what THAT means?!

My Birthday is on Tuesday!!!

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

I've always been someone who takes birthdays very seriously. 
In everything from cake to party dresses to balloons, birthdays are a big deal.
I also really like to use my birthdays as a time for contemplation, self-reflection, and goal-setting.
Last year after I turned 25, I made a list of 25 Things to do before 26. 
Very few of them were very hardcore or serious (I've also got NY resolutions, a bucket list and life goals...), but it was lots of little things I wanted to accomplish within the year. Some were silly and simple, some were career-oriented, and some were just stuff I wanted.

Here's what they were and how I did:

1. Read a classic: Nope.

I read a lot of fantastic books this year (Hello, The Fault in our Stars!), but didn't accomplish reading a full-fledged classic. On the docket for this year are Anna Karenina and The Sun Also Rises, so we'll see if I can make it happen this time around.

2. Write a pilot: Half-Check

A pilot is supposed to be roughly 30 pages, and I've written the first 15 of one. I've also outlined other parts of the season and some episode outlines, BUT I still haven't actually finished the pilot itself. But I'll give myself half-credit. 

3. Get a tattoo: Check!

I love tattoos and have been wanting another one for a while, but nothing has felt super right. I have a small white heart on my ankle that I LOVE, and I finally said fuck it - I want another one. Most people think it's pretty weird to have something so subtle and don't see the point of it, especially 2 of them, but it's my body and I absolutely love them.

4. Learn to bridge shuffle cards: Nope

Not even close. 

5. Try indoor rock climbing: Check!

I got this one in just under the wire, about 3 weeks ago! Jake and I went on a double date with good friends of ours to an indoor rock climbing place in town and I had SOO much fun! I got a little scared once I reached the top, and it is definitely challenging, but I had a blast and plan on going back for sure!

6. Update Blog/transfer to Wordpress: Half-Check

I had been hearing really wonderful things about Wordpress, and a lot of Wordpress sites look fantastic. I got an account and started using it, I even transferred all my articles over to it! But then I ended up taking an e-course that taught me a lot more about Blogger, and I decided to stay here because I love it (and it's a lot easier to use!). And now Wordpress is starting to charge annual fees! I'm proud of myself for starting to learn new software, kind of learning to work with code, and for making the decision that was best for me. 

7. Go to Tubac: Nope

This was a weird one, but I LOVE mini trips and visiting places in the southwest and I've heard wonderful things about Tubac. And it's so close! I really want to go still, but just didn't make it this year. 

8. Get double piercings: Check!

I've gotten really into earrings over the last year, and while we were in London I almost drunkenly got them double pierced in Notting Hill! But alas, the tattoo parlor was closed until 6 and we had theatre tickets! C'est la vie! But! When I got back a girlfriend of mine went with me and we both got them pierced! I finally can swap them out with different pairs now and I'm having a lot of fun with it!

9. Dye hair pink: Check!

It has been so much fun having this chunk of pink in my hair this year! I can show it off or totally hide it, and I love it both ways! I'm so glad I did it! 

10. Get in shape: Half-Check

This was a pretty broad, vague goal. I plan on setting a more specific fitness goal for the coming year. I haven't really gotten "in shape" per se, but I've started taking fitness more seriously. Since I turned 25 I've had 2 bouts of getting really into exercise - running in the fall which before I'd never been able to do consistently, and I've spent this whole summer doing Zumba 3 times a week. Unfortunately I've been balancing that out with a lot of treats and pints of beer, so I don't think there's been a super noticeable change. But I'm giving myself a half-check for taking my physical fitness a lot more seriously. 

11. Learn smiths songs on ukulele: Nope

Despite actually becoming a member of a monthly ukulele club with people from work (which has been way fun), my instrumental skills remain super sub-par. 

12. Get published on Hello Giggles: Check!

This was exciting for me because it was the first time I submitted some of my writing to an external  publication! I was so excited and proud of myself for getting something published! I am setting goals for myself to submit to other publications this coming year!

13. Go to Europe: Check!

This one was kind of cheating because I knew at the time I was going in April, but I still count it as it was a big deal and an amazing adventure! 

14. Be more patient: ???

You'd probably have to talk to the people around me to see if I've gotten any better with this one. I myself am skeptical. 

15. Ride a Jet Ski: Check

This one was also cheating a little, since I knew we were going to the Caribbean in January. However, nothing jet-ski related was originally scheduled, and it came up spontaneously. In St. Lucia, Jake's sister and I tried our hand at Jet Skiing and it was SO fun! And scary! 

16. Run a 5K in under 30min: Nope

Running is hard, yo. I came fairly close with my best time being 31:15, but still no dice. I'm looking forward to getting back into running and doing races when the weather cools down!

17. Own Vintage Typewriter: Nope

I've seen a couple really cool ones, but every time I find one I think of something more practical or useful I could do with that money, so I haven't taken the plunge. But I really want one! I adore vintage appliances and things. We collect antique cameras, and I would love to put a typewriter near them. I'll keep it on this year's list.

(This pink one was SO cool but it was 500 DOLLARS! GAH!)

18. Get conversational in Italian: Nope

Not to blow my own horn, but beep beep: I will say that I got pretty OK at speaking to the locals while we were in Italy, utilizing numbers I learned and a handful of phrases, and I always tried to address them in Italian first. HOWEVER - I got NOWHERE NEAR conversational. Next time! We're talking about visiting Paris next year, maybe I can use it as an opportunity to work on my French!

19. Do yoga & Pilates: Nope

I do actually attend the occasional Sunday morning yoga class, but it's a lot more relaxation-oriented than actual stretching or strengthening. And Pilates hasn't happened once. Oops!

20. Get New Camera: Check!

Two weeks before we left for Europe I decided to take the plunge and buy myself a nicer SLR camera, and I'm SOO glad I did! I got a Rebel T3i and I can't recommend it highly enough. I had been looking at the 60D, but after doing copious amounts of research, I realized that the two cameras are almost virtually the same except the 60D is more expensive. So I went with the rebel and I'm very happy with it. Now I'm moving on to nicer lenses and all kinds of fun stuff!

21. Get a Bar Cart/ Bar Area: Nope

We really want to incorporate a cool bar cart or bar into our kitchen, but we don't want to settle for anything less than one we really want. And bars & carts are expensive!! We decided to wait until we found the perfect one! 

22. Build turquoise collection: Check!

Living in Arizona, I'm lucky to find a ton of deals on silver and turquoise, especially at thrift and antique stores! I learned a lot about it too, learning specific jewelers, stamps, and Native American signatures! It's been so cool, and I LOVE finding new pieces! I really love Zuni and Navajo turquoise, and my collection keeps growing and growing!

23. Be more independent: Check!

Jake and I have the wonderful luxury of getting to work together. We have the amazing opportunity to be paid actors who get to fall in love on stage 5 nights a week. It's truly magical.
HOWEVER - we also live together, and have pretty much the same social circle, so sometimes we can tend to become a little too co-dependent, which can lead to bumpiness. 
So, this year I made the goal to do more things on my own and he did the same. And we've done an amazing job! We've both immersed ourselves in separate hobbies and really devoted ourselves to things we do on our own or outside of the relationship. It's been super beneficial for both of us personally and for us as a couple! Yay us!

24.Write short film: Check!

I have written a short film that I am very excited about! I have plans to film it with a group of talented friends in the near future! Stay tuned on that!

25.  Film Said Short: Half-Check

As I said, I'm planning on filming my short sometime soon and I'm super excited. Also, I made a music video, giving me some directing experience! I really really enjoyed that experience, and learned a lot, and I learned a lot doing that that I can apply to the next shoot. I'm giving myself half credit for this one too. 

Thanks for letting me share my resolutions with you! It's been an incredible year, and I'm so excited to make a list for 26! I wonder what will be on it!!!