I’ve been putting off writing this post until the very last day of the year, mainly because so much has happened for me that I really didn’t expect. I want to reflect on this year filled with some of the highest highs and some low lows.
A year ago today, I made these 2016 goals for myself and I think it’s kind of amazing to reflect on succeeding at them. 
1. Appreciate more of the little things in life.
I’m really proud of myself for making this a priority. This year I accepted the fact that I live in a lonely city and decided to just be my own best friend. Although I have some actual amazing friends out here, I often opted to take myself to dinner, or a movie, or just go on walks alone and enjoy the weather. Ive said it before but going to the movies alone is just one of the most therapeutic things for me. I love my me-time and I honestly don’t think I’ll ever want to give that up.
2. Be less giving with my heart. Some people don’t deserve it.
This is one that I think living in LA has just automatically done for me. People move to California thinking it’s the place that makes people soft, but I think LA has the opposite effect. I think it’s really hardened me to the people I come in contact with and has taught me not to be quite as trusting. 99% of the people you meet out here are out for themselves. You have to be in a city where your success depends on your hustle.
3. Accept that some people won’t be in your life long term and learn to let them go.
Still working on this one. I still have a hard time accepting certain people have walked out of my life, and not wishing they would walk back in. Maybe this is a good quality some of the time, but my heart still hurts thinking about some of the relationships I’ve lost in the past few years.
4. Go on an adventure out of the country.
This was totally me writing about how I wanted to go to Shanghai, or back to Europe. I didn’t expect that my trip this year would be Israel! Wow am I glad that I went when I did. I met the most amazing, funny, and chill group of people on my Birthright trip. Israel is just the most amazing and beautiful country and I fell in love with it. I hope I get the chance to go back again soon, but for now I love getting to see my bus 398 family here in LA.
5. Hang out with Lana.
Well I failed this one, however I did meet her again in February so I’ll take that as a win. Maybe next year.
6. Fall in love with something.
This is probably my favorite thing about this year, and what I fell in love with was so unexpected. I took a leap of faith from my job at DC Comics this year where I was pretty unhappy, and went to a small talent PR firm where I learned about celebrity PR, and WOW I fell in love. I love getting a feature for my talent. Getting someone the cover of a magazine is kind of one of the greatest feelings. Developing a working relationship with an artist and being a part of who they are to the world. Most of all, it’s the thrill of a red carpet. Is that Lady Gaga over there? Oh gosh Nina Dobrev is next to me. There goes the cast of PLL. Oprah just spoke to me and I can’t form a response. Oh hey Chris Pratt you almost stepped on my foot. Evan Peters plz marry me. CLEARLY my lil celebrity obsessed heart has found love in this profession. Publicity is everything I dreamed of as a girl but I never knew it was something I could actually accomplish. Here I am in LA doing something I can pretty much only do in this city, soaking up every minute of it. I know the novelty of it will wear off at some point, as every publicist I know practically hates red carpets now, but for now I’m going to see where this love takes me.
I started this year out on a relatively low note. I was very unhappy with my job, so much so that I flew back to Florida to audition to go back. Most people don’t know this but at the end of February, I was re-fit in punz and ultimately not reapproved due to my weight. It was a really low moment for me and I felt pretty sorry for myself, but within a week of returning home from that trip, I had an interview for my first PR job and the rest is kind of history. I still miss Punz every day, but I’m learning to accept that part of my life being over and appreciate what I have now. I’ve struggled with my weight all year, and recently found out I have hypothyroidism, which explains a LOT. I recently started medication so fingers crossed I get my “silhouette” (ha) back in 2017. I also spent 2 days in the hospital for something called ischemic colitis, which was an episode that the doctors referred to as the equivalent of a heart attack but in my colon, probably caused by a blood clot. Obviously not one of the happy moments of my year, and I’ll probably always be paranoid that it could happen again. Minor crappy things happened as well, like my tire physically exploding as I exited the 101, losing my passport, my dog eating an entire bar of chocolate and having to get his stomach pumped, and a lot of travel fiascos that seemed worse at the time than they do now.
With that being said, this year had a lot of incredible memories. Here are some of my favorites:
Finally going to the teen choice awards
Getting to be a part of team FIYM and working the ABC Christmas parade filming in Orlando
Meeting my future husband
Baby Winslow
My 24th birthday
Sweet friends coming to visit me
Getting rehired by Disney
Unforgettable memories in Israel
My first Disney red carpet
That time I hung out with the cast of scandal and let Shonda Rhymes down by not having a tissue.
My very first red carpet as a publicist
More sweet friend visits
Birthday weekend in Palm Springs
Every moment I got to see my WIFE this year
The most amazing group on my Birthright
Best friends trip to Disney World
Being in the presence of my queen
More friend visits featuring Ronnie who I miss so much
Going to Halloween Horror Nights a total of 8 times
Kathleen Graham stealing my life đ
Finally meeting my doppelgänger
Seeing so many dear friends back in Orlando
That’s a wrap on 2016. Thank you for the wonderful memories and to all who were a part of it with me. Here’s hoping less prolific celebrities die in 2017, and that our country survives its first year being run by a reality star.
Dreamer 