The last few years

I've been wanting to write a blog for awhile now but being the (recovering) perfectionist that I am, I've always put it off.  Why would people want to read about what I have to say?  Do I have anything valuable to share with the world?  What does a 30-year-old Iowan-turned-Seattleite who paints, loves cats, video games, movies, adventures, good food, and laughing have to say that someone else hasn't already said?

Green Lake, WA in the summer months when I first moved to Seattle in 2016.

Green Lake, WA in the summer months when I first moved to Seattle in 2016.

Gettin' my drawing on at Herkimer Coffee

Gettin' my drawing on at Herkimer Coffee

Jake Parker's "finished not perfect" mantra kept coming back and kicking my rear in gear, so here we are.  That, in combination with me turning 30 this year, displaying (and selling) my artwork publicly for the first time,

Herkimer Coffee in Phinney Ridge while they featured a few of my paintings-this was my first coffeehouse I'd ever shown my work at!

Herkimer Coffee in Phinney Ridge while they featured a few of my paintings-this was my first coffeehouse I'd ever shown my work at!

My artist's statement up in the Capitol Hill area where my art was hanging Oct-Dec of 2017.

My artist's statement up in the Capitol Hill area where my art was hanging Oct-Dec of 2017.

accepting my best friend's proposal to marry him (and his twin 8-year-old boys), making new friends in a big city where I knew less than ten people, applying for jobs, networking, interviewing, re-learning public transit,

My handsome man planned an entire trip to NYC where he proposed to me in Central Park!

My handsome man planned an entire trip to NYC where he proposed to me in Central Park!

The boys and I on our first hike together up Little Si

The boys and I on our first hike together up Little Si

interviewing, contracting for Amazon, being out of work for three months, networking, interviewing some more, getting rejected, applying for more jobs, learning new skills, doubting myself, working my butt off, accepting a full-time job at T-Mobile's corporate headquarters as an *ahem* Communication Design Manager (basically I do everything from video editing, motion graphics, illustration, graphic design, storyboarding, and anything else they need me to do on a weekly basis), commuting (yuck), listening to tons of audiobooks (yay!), paying off $15,000 worth of credit card debt and student loans, and discovering what direction I want my life to go in.  Whatever it was, I feel like I've learned so much lately and if I can potentially help anyone going through similar life experiences, then this blog will be worthwhile.  

Love carrying a travel watercolor notebook and paints with me when I can.

Love carrying a travel watercolor notebook and paints with me when I can.

I've found myself on multiple occasions pouring over other artists' blogs/vlogs for any guidance I could glean from their life experiences and I'm hoping I can give you guys the same inspiration.  I'm planning to blog monthly on what I've learned that last month and a few other thoughts that may be bouncing around in my brain that make it onto this page.  See you in January!

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