PRAISE THE LORD Y'ALL, WE MADE IT! However I'm still not convinced that 2021 isn't following in her older siblings footsteps. Lets just keep our heads down, don't touch anything, be very welcoming to her and maybe she will go easy on us. On a serious note, I want to talk about the things I experienced and learned in 2020. And since last year was full of negativity, we are keeping it positive. Lets just dive right in.
January
- Started off the year with ,my number one girl in my favorite city dancing and roaring in the 20s!
- Some of my best girl- friends, from my home hospital in Florida, came to Nashville for the first time to celebrate one of our girls 30th birthday! We danced, drank and ate our way through town like we hadn't been apart for a single day. This year I learned how important these friendships are. Even though most of my friends all live in different places, and we are all in different stages of life, keeping up with one another is so important to us. These are the friendships that matter. The ones where you pick each other up, support from a distance, love hard and travel often.
- I picked back up my guitar, pen and paper and started songwriting again. This gave me back my power to be creative, let out emotions and chase down a dream. More to come on this later in the year!
February
- Nashville and I had our first real snow day! Kierston laughed at us the entire time because it barely stuck to the ground, but for us Florida girls, it was a huge deal!
- I prioritized my mental and physical health more than ever before and fell in love with yoga. While COVID put a halt to in- person yoga classes for a while, I was lucky enough to find a home studio that supported it's members online! Shakti Yoga Studio changed my life. Other than yoga, I learned to take mental health days. Being on the go my entire life made it easy to put "lazy days" on the back burner. This past year made me realize it was crucial to my well- being ( and that of others LOL) to take a step back when I felt overwhelmed or anxious and spend the day doing things that made me feel calm, productive and have a little fun.
March
- At the beginning of March, East Nashville became the playground for an awful tornado that rocked the community. It demolished historical buildings, event centers, businesses and took so many homes. For the first time I watched a community come together, despite race, religion or political views and rebuild our city. Benefit concerts were played, donations were received, clean- up and rebuild started the very next day. It was incredible to be a part of such a coming together of our city.
- After COVID hit, Kierston and I had to get creative with our personal exercise and getting our energetic pups some playtime. Since all the dog parks temporarily closed down, we fell in love with taking our babies out to Rador Lake State Park and Centennial Park. For me, this was more than burning energy and calories, it was a peaceful time to be alone with my thoughts, talk to God, slow down and admire the little things in life like walking your dog.
April
- I launched Wandering West in April and have been growing my knowledge and love for blogging/ influencing ever since! I also joined the Create and Bloom Club. A group designed to educate bloggers, influencer's and other creative business owners on how to create and grow their brand. It has been life changing for me as I started to shift back to my creative mindset.
- A total of 25 books were read and six 500 piece puzzles were completed during quarantine. This was another way of resetting for me. Focusing and immersing myself in these stories and images was my way of escaping reality for a short while.
May
- Brands started reaching out to collaborate with my growing Instagram account and I was able to make an income from advertising for my favorite companies! Check out my " Codes" section on the main website page for discount codes for brands like: Loopy cases, Dottie Couture, The Mint Julep Boutique and more!
- Conquered a fear of water with my best friends on Memorial Day weekend. We headed out to celebrate the day on a pontoon boat and for the first time I went tubing! It only lasted approximately three minutes, but there were no tears or vomit in sight- Ill consider that a win! LOL
June
- My first trip to Knoxville- and the only travelling done in 2020- solidified my love for Tennessee and Cheerwine. I'm such a nerd when it comes to travelling. I love to find and read the historic markers around a new town and support businesses that have been around for years!
July
- Kierston and I decided apartment living wasn't cutting it anymore and we got a house! Its two- story so us, Finnlee, Dallas and Nashville are getting well acquainted with the stair-master! LOL
- I joined TikTok and the rest is history. Stop judging me.
- I learned how to use a grill for the first time! Again, stop judging me.
August
- Two of my best friends married the loves of their life. Lauren and Carter had been planning a wedding for fall of 2020 and despite a million set backs, they tied the knot in a private, romantic ceremony on a mountain side in Washington State in August. Kelsey and Caleb were a little more sneaky... Kelsey was on a work travel assignment in Hawaii and when Caleb went to visit her for Thanksgiving, he popped the question and they eloped the same week! My girls go big or go home.
- After MANY difficult days working in the PICU I finally text my Momma and said I just needed a Momma hug. Since I hadn't been able to go home since April due to COVID, Momma decided it was time to face a fear of her own: the interstate. Momma made her first solo drive to Nashville for some much needed Momma/ Daughter time.
- I spent my 27th birthday with my best friend and Dolly Parton on top of the Graduate hotel soaking up some socially- distanced sun and spent the night at my favorite restaurant on Broadway, Merchants, with my girl gang. I have to say 27 has been good to me so far!
-At the end of the month I finally bit the bullet and followed a life- long dream of songwriting and recording a song. With the help of two of the best in the business, The White Wolves (Todd Burman and Chuck Feltner) helped me write, publish and record my first single! More to come on this in early 2021!
September
- I got a Keurig- this was huge. If you don't agree, you're wrong.
October
- Just this whole month is "good". Pumpkin patches, corn fields, fall weather, Halloween.
- Celebrated Kierston transferring into her dream job by going out and finding live music for the first time in months! P.S. she's the best high risk OB nurse around!
- Waylon- my cactus- bloomed his first flower. This is any Plant Lady's dream come true!
November
- Voted for the first time in Tennessee in a political race that will impact the rest of my life.
- My baby girl turned TWO!
- Went to my first show at The Listening Room to watch some of my inspirations sing their hearts out on stage. Hannah Ellis, Emily Weisband and Priscilla Block!
- My whole family came to visit me in Nashville for the first time since I moved a year and a half ago! LOL This was an even bigger deal because neither of my parents had every been on an airplane until this trip! Checking items off the bucket list!
- Spent my Thanksgiving in the hospital with some of Tennessee's sick little turkeys, but was thankful to have a group of co-workers that make holidays special for our patients and each other.
December
- Was able to be home to celebrate Momma's 50th birthday!
- 2020 Ended. Halle-freakin-lujah.
2021- Lets do this.
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