Red Rock Canyon, California

Earlier this month, we were craving an adventure and itching to get out of town. Frankly, we didn’t have time on our side and our financial situation wasn’t working to our advantage. But to nobody’s surprise, we still found a way to do it. We hopped in the car, got on the road, and made our way to what seemed like the middle of nowhere. Somewhere between Los Angeles and Death Valley, we found our little getaway.

As we pulled off Highway 14, red rock mountains and lava covered hills greeted us. We spared no time and began exploring all of the creases, peaks, and caves that were in sight. We pushed each other outside of our comfort zones when tip-toeing across the side of the mountains and we enjoyed each others presence once we made it to the top. It was a day filled with sunshine, exploration, fear, and comfort. It was a day that will not easily be forgotten and a day that I will cherish forever. It was the perfect way to celebrate 3 years with the man I love and a perfect toast to the many years still to come. As the sun began to hide behind the mountains, and a golden haze set over the desert, we packed up and began to head home with dusty clothes, filled camera rolls, and smiles that lasted for the rest of the night.

Intentions

This year is going to be long, hard, stressful, and overwhelming. But it will also be rewarding, humbling, full of adventure, and surrounded with love. It will be emotional in good ways and emotional in bad ways, there will be people that come and people that go, and then there will be the days you want to erase and the days you want to repeat one hundred times over. I will cry from pain but I will also cry from laughter. There isn't necessarily a checklist of things I want to do or places I plan to go, but there are goals that I have set and intentions that I hope to keep. 

I want to do more loving, more giving, more exploring, and more connecting. I want to forgive more easily and laugh more often. I want to welcome, embrace, and accept the new people that come into my life. I want to push myself to new limits, but I also want to find more time to relax, decompress, and unwind. Although there are so many things I want to do more of, there are also things that I want to do less. I want to worry less, stress less, and overanalyze life less. I want to put less pressure on others and to handle my own pressures with more grace. I want to find the balance that will keep my on my feet but that will also continue to push my forward.

I want to prioritize the people in my life and make sure they know how important they are to me. I want to say 'I Love You' and for people to know that I really mean it. I want to hug more, kiss more, and spend more connecting to those who mean the world to me. I want to accept that hard goodbyes are wonderful because I have amazing people in my life that are difficult to leave. I want to truly take the time to realize how blessed I am by all of the amazing individuals I am surrounded by.

And through all the hectic chaos of life, I want to be sure to focus on me; What I want, what I need, and what makes me happy. I want to do more for others while still finding the time to do more for myself. I want to reflect on who I am becoming and how I am constantly changing. I want to acknowledge that I am growing up and becoming independent, but also that I am still totally and completely dependent on those around me. But most of all, I just want this year to be full of passion, smiles, love, grace, and joy. 

HAPPY 2015!