Charmed Life

It’s amazing what time with a loved one can really do to your soul. I have been missing my family so so much, especially after realizing my time at home within the last year has added up to less than 3 weeks. It was perfect timing for a little visit. My lovely sister, Jaclyn, and her boyfriend, Jeff, came to visit me this last weekend. It was Jeff’s first time in SLO and Jaclyn’s first since I had turned 21, so it was obvious that 21 fun was necessary. First stop, wine tasting. To say I love wine tasting is a complete understatement. But hey, do you blame me? I do live in Central Coast wine country so it’s completely acceptable.

The beautiful and quaint Wolff Winery with my sister and best friend.

Sipping my favorite Merlot from Tolosa winery.

I can never get over just how beautiful the vineyards are in this city. I have been to Napa and was obviously impressed, but for such a small and unfamiliar setting like Edna Valley, the wineries are truly divine. The employees are genuine and share such great knowledge. And the wine, well it never fails to be incredible. I do think I have a new favorite. The Merlot at Tolosa…..YUM. I convinced Jeff and Jaclyn that this is the bottle to buy, and I like to think they agreed! It’s such a great activity to socialize and experience such great tastes in beautiful settings. I’m so very lucky to have this available to me just a few minutes away.

Our weekends continued with delicious food, a trip downtown to the bars, and the most amazing brewery tour at Firestone Walker brewery. I can’t believe this was my first experience, but I am so glad I spent it with two beer fanatics who appreciate the tastes and industry. After a private tour from a fraternity friend, we tasted a variety of different blends and had a gourmet bite to eat at the brewery’s own restaurant, The Taproom.

Tasting with my favorite couple.

Delicious turkey sandwich at The Taproom.

It was the perfect way to spend a long weekend. My sister is more like my other half, I feel complete when she is around. Her positive energy and true excitement for life is inspiring and something I wish to accomplish throughout my own life. She has this ability to take away all of my anxiety and worries just because I know she is around. I miss her already, and this mini vaca only makes me want to be at home for the holidays even more. I can’t wait to see my family and spend much-needed time like this away from my realities, just with the people I love most.

xx

There’s always room for improving.

So, lately I have been seriously planning my future – job hunting, literally having dreams about career world, and deciding where to live. I may not stay where I am prior to graduation, but for right now, it seems like this overwhelming and horrifyingly daunting chapter is somewhat of a permanent change. Yikes. I guess it’s partly due my tendency to plan everything, but I am really hoping to have a job in a great location that I believe will make me the happiest possible, hence my stress.

I realized that growing up causes a lot of changes – looks, interests, fears, everything really. Especially after living in New York and experiencing a complex culture that is so different from what I have been used to, I have really noticed personal changes in my own thoughts. I don’t know if it’s my awesome, new job in which I am surrounded by entrepreneurial geniuses each day, or if I’m trying to channel that indescribable feeling that New York provided me with each and every day, but there’s definitely been a change. I think more, I’m more realistic and I have realized what exactly is important to me and my well-being. On that note, I like where I am today and want to continue in this direction. So, I have made a mental list of how to do just that:

1. Read The Social Wave (a book my boss wrote on social media business) each night before bed.
2. Only allow myself to be on either the compute OR the TV, no more of both!
3. Take the time to read the magazines I so desperately look forward to.
4. Put myself out into the business world – LinkdIn, emails, resume fine-tuning, anything!
5. Allow myself to really enjoy SLO because who knows when you will very be back prior to graduation.
6. Don’t get down  on the little things because it could always be worse.
7. Stress relief is a must – light a candle, go for a walk, work it out!, watch a movie
8. Take the time to cook a good meal and enjoy a great show.
9. Make the time for your closest friends and enjoy every minute of it.
10. Take a break every once and a while.

I’m hoping to take this list into consideration as my life will be drastically changing across the next 9 months. I have no idea where I will be or what I will be doing, but it’s safe to say I have a handle on who I am. But, there is always room for improving that for the better!

xo