Tag Archives: best friend

Turning Twenty

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A week ago today, I officially turned twenty years old. In the days leading up to my birthday, I didn’t expect to do much, nor did I feel the need to. Lucky for me, I have amazing family and friends that went out of their way to make the entire week of this year’s birthday a special one.

The day before, I got to celebrate with my dad’s side of the family. We had a delicious dinner, then cake for dessert, only after I was sung to by the restaurant attendees and workers. We encountered some difficulty when trying to light all twenty candles. With only some of the candles getting lit before we became too impatient, according to my cake I was turning fourteen. All in all, I couldn’t have asked for a better way to kickoff of the week’s festivities.

For the night of May 3rd, what was supposed to be a small gathering for dinner with my mom’s side of the family, turned into a fully decorated apartment hosting a fun-filled birthday party. After a few last minute internet searches of party themes, the perfect idea for a birthday party came to mind that I just couldn’t miss out on. I decided the only right way to celebrate turning twenty, with a birthday two days before Cinco de Mayo, is to have a Selena themed fiesta! As you may already know, I am a huge Selena fan, so the thought of getting to honor her legacy while having a my own birthday celebration made me muy…excited to turn twenty!

Later that night, I took a chance by messaging actress Noemí Gonzalez, who portrays Selena’s sister in the Selena: The Series on Netflix, in hopes that she might see my Selena party. She is my favorite actress from the series, so I was thrilled when I saw that she had responded to me with a birthday wish!

The Instagram message from @iamnoemigonzalez, the actress who portrays Selena’s sister, Suzette, in the Netflix series.

Even after my birthday, just when I thought the fun was over, I got to see my best friend for the first time in months! At the end of the week we made plans to spend quality time together. First, we ate at one of our favorite restaurants, then drove to a crafts store to buy all the necessary supplies to paint. Though we overestimated our painting abilities and this endeavor definitely didn’t go according to plan, still I can’t think of a better to way to have reunited with her. As one of my best friends, she is one person who I knew would selflessly spend a day making me feel special with a belated birthday celebration.

Like many, my birthday looked drastically different compared to last year’s. I’m glad I was able to have safe gatherings with my loved ones and I’m grateful to have reached two decades of life.

Farewell 2020

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As we bid farewell to this year, I find myself looking back at all that has happened in these last twelve months. Although 2020 certainly wasn’t perfect, I can think of multiple things about this year that are worth noting.

A year ago today, I started this blog site! On this blog I chose to write about a variety of topics that interest me, rather than stick to one specific topic. While I have a certain niche that my lifestyle blog is centered around, I have successfully written about many different topics all the way from fashion to sports. In my first ever blog post, I scribed a manifesto detailing all that I hope for in year 2020. While it’s easy to focus on the negative aspects of this past year, I thought the best way to ring in the new year would be to look back and see what, if anything, did I get correct.

I had highlighted a quote from Viktor Frankel that states “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.” I personally live by this quote. This year specifically, I have found that I had to choose how I respond emotionally to our unfortunate circumstances. Through the pandemic I have tried to remain positive and hopeful for better days ahead. I also stated that, whether good or bad, everything happens for a reason. I went on to say that even if we never know such reason, these occurrences are to shape our person. While we may never understand why something as tragic as a global pandemic would strike us this year, I do believe that the time spent in isolation did allow me an abundance of mental clarity. In any given situation, I have started asking myself “what is this trying to teach me?” I believe we’ve all been reminded to appreciate our own lives and value every moment spent with our loved ones.

The most interesting find in my first blog post was the information I learned about the meaning of number 2020. This number is said to mean that you must use wisdom in your decision making. It appears when you need tranquility in your life, especially when facing self-conflict, and tells you to live your life in peace and harmony. Throughout these grim days, besides the obvious suffering through a virus and the great losses we have endured this past year, I’m sure many have also faced internal struggles as they succumb to a sense of loneliness while in isolation. These hardships we have faced in year 2020 perhaps were to remind us to find peace within ourselves and to remain calm even when met with harsh challenges.

I personally made some positive changes in my life to close out this year. I took the mantra “new year, new me” literally and finally chopped my long locks off after years of hesitation!

Something that has remained constant in my life is my support system. I have the best family and friends who continually motivate me in my pursuance of writing.

In my first ever blog post I discussed the power of manifestation. As I did before, I want to share what I wish to manifest for myself in year 2021…

Last year I wrote that I hope to still be happy and be surrounded by positivity, love, and inspiration. In my life I regularly find myself met with love and inspiration that drives me to keep moving “Ever Onward” (see what I did there?). This past year I have received amazing support on my blog from all my closest friends and family. My ultimate goal from the start, and my hope going into this new year, has been to reach a larger following someday. I expressed that I wish to get a taste of success. I will continue to take you all on the journey called my life, through storytelling. This year I will keep working hard to achieve my goals for this site. I vow to never stop writing.

While I used to post on a weekly basis, I quickly found that this was an arduous undertaking. If you were unaware, I now post on a monthly basis. I typically upload a new blog post on the last day of every month, unless there is a particular occasion or topic I wish to write about before the end of the month so be sure to tune in each month!

As for our world as a whole, I hope in this next year we continue to heal from the hardships we have faced together throughout these last intense months.

If this was you on New Year’s Eve, counting down the seconds until the clock struck midnight, you certainly aren’t alone…

The best thing about this New Year’s Eve was getting to celebrate alongside my best friend for the seventh time in a row. Farewell to year 2020, and to year 2021, please take it easy on us!

Here’s to 2021!

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Happy New Year!