Why hello there, strangers! I have to say, I believe I owe you a bit of an apology, as I’ve been a bit MIA the past 6 months. BUT – good news is, I’ve got a perfectly great reason for it!

I MOVED ACROSS THE COUNTRY. That’s right, I hopped in my trusty Jeep and road-tripped across the beautiful US of A with none other than my best friend (I also call her mom) by my side. From The Sunshine State to The Golden State, I packed my Jeep to the brim and headed West.

So, you may be wondering, why California? How did I end up there?

Funny thing is, growing up I always considered myself a home-body. Always needed my safety net around me, my best friends, family, hometown, etc., what more could someone need or want? I never had any desire to travel or explore the world. When I thought about it, it sounded terrifying, scary and down right crazy! Why would I ever want to leave this perfect place I call home?

Fast forward to Freshman year of college…the good ‘ol Illinois State was treating me great, and I was just where I needed to be. Far enough from home that I could consider myself independent, but close enough (a mere 2 hours) where I could cruise back up North whenever I needed to be back in my comfort zone. It was honestly the most ideal situation I could ask for! Then comes Spring Semester, when EVERYTHING changed. The rents fessed up that they were headed South, to Naples, FL for my dad’s job. Yes, of course, great place to vacay – but to live?! No thanks!

Long story short, being forced out of my comfort zone made me realize that there is so much more to explore in the world, and so much to see! Suddenly, I got an itch – I need to see the world. I need to see everything. I want to meet new people, do new things, etc. etc., etc. I applied for my first internship in London and got my very first dream job at Fremantle Media. I ventured across the pond with my best friend and loved every second of it. I traveled to Paris, Barcelona and Venice, and I still yearn for more.

Since the best summer of my life, I have been a new person. I honestly believe a person needs to be out on their own, put themselves outside of their comfort zone, explore new things and meet new people to ultimately discover who they really are, and who they honestly want to be. It takes all of these things to discover your true passions. You can’t honestly say that you want to live in one place for the rest of your life when you have never even given yourself the chance to experience anything different. Why settle if it’s not worth settling for? To be truly happy, you need to be able to appreciate things by learning what it’s like to not have the luxury of having them.

I’ve learned that being content is the biggest culprit. Being content is my biggest fear, if I ever get to a point in my life when I am not dreaming of something bigger and better, than it better be the day that I am 100% fulfilled with every aspect of my life.

After college, I had the fabulous opportunity to work with Hilton Hotels in the beautiful area known as Southwest Florida. While the sun always shines, miami is always within your reach, and living with your parents is a forgotten luxury, I needed more. I needed adventure. It was too routine for me, I needed to venture to a place where people go to grow, where there is a wealth of knowledge, landscapes, destinations and experiences to be had at your fingertips. Obvious choice? California.

California has always been a distinguished destination where dreams are made. It’s symbolic to the world, dreamers, and adventurers alike as the place where dreams literally do come true. No matter what you are searching for, California has always been known as a symbolic place where people come to chase their dreams, which makes it a melting pot of various different and unique individuals. Not to mention, California is the ideal place to live out my passion – event planning, public relations and marketing, which is what actually allowed me to make the move in the first place.

I will make note of one important rule for you – although I preach being a dreamer and following your heart, you most listen to your brain as well. I would never be one to make a leap without the security of an amazing opportunity waiting for me on that next lily pad. Logical dreamers are the best kind, because they stay optimistic, set the bar high, and actually think of the details that are important to get to the top of that ladder you’re building for yourself.

The past 6 months in San Diego, CA have been a whirl wind. I had the amazing opportunity to dive into the event and public relations industry head first, and learn an immense amount along the way. I have confirmed to myself that this truly is my passion, and I am exactly where I need to be. I’ve been put through immense challenges and under more stress than I ever thought possible, and grown so much along the way. I am so thankful for the experiences I have had, and opportunities I have been presented with. I recently started with a new company, in which I am obsessed with, might I say, and so blessed to be surrounded my such a fabulous team, who are truly the best and the brightest in the industry.

The moral of my (lengthy) story is this – never be afraid to dream big, and don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith. And last, but most certainly not least – ALWAYS listen to your heart, even if it takes you all the way to California. 😉