First Post — finally!

Hey guys,

Happy Tuesday and Happy 2021! After starting this blog months ago, I thought I should actually log on and figure out how to post– so here’s to my first attempt, haha

Mostly life updates to share, pics to come:

• Packed up my belongings in Dallas, hugged my friends goodbye, and drove my little Elantra 14 hours up to Denver on 10/4. Ruby and I spent the night at a nice little hotel downtown that I found a deal for online, and she was– as you could expect– freaking out. Haha. Luckily after some sleep, we were able to get my keys to my new apartment and started getting moved in. **PRO TIP** for anyone who has plans to long distance move anytime soon though, do NOT use a pro mover. Hire movers to put your shit on a truck and take it off the truck, but drive it yourself lol. I’ll save you the details as to why I say that… but we’re finally all settled in and things are good!
• Dad and Jenny got married (woohoo) in late October, and I got to go home and celebrate with Dad, Jenny, Taylor, Cooper, and my new step-siblings, Ben and Kate. It was a beautiful, intimate elopement ceremony in the mountains of North Carolina! The leaves were literally the most beautiful I’d ever seen them, granted maybe everything good is a little more beautiful after the year we all had… regardless, thankful I got to be with them to celebrate this special milestone and make memories during a year(s) of such sad things!
• While I was home for the wedding…. I was the one tasked with bringing Cooper to and from Clemson, so I flew into Greenville-Spartanburg and rented a car. One happenstance lead to another, and I ended up meeting this great guy who is finishing up his 5th year at Clemson and majored in the same degree as I did. We kept in touch after that weekend, facetimed, etc.– I saw him while I was home for Thanksgiving, and we both decided things were too good between us to set aside for better timing, so he asked me out and now I have a boyfriend! Haha. Yes, he does have plans to move to Colorado upon graduation later this year assuming he can find a job. My new aunt Kristen texted me and said “you live in Menver for one month and find a boyfriend in Clemson, SC?!” — and that, my friends, is just how timing works I suppose. Jake (his name) came to visit me in Denver on the 31st and just left today, and we had the best time. Can’t wait to tell y’all more about him one day, maybe.
• I’ve had about 90 days to explore Denver and the surrounding areas, and let me tell you– I didn’t know how great a place could be for Lauren until I got here. Don’t get me wrong; Durham will always be home and my love for it is immense, but Denver is my jam and I can’t get over what an overwhelmingly positive environment it is in contrast to past cities I’ve lived in. It makes me want to be a better person and take better care of myself, and also makes me feel a ting of shame if I don’t go outside and enjoy nature and earth. Super hippy dippy sounding, I know, but I really, really love it. #LaurenCampaignsForAllHerFriends&FamilyToMoveToColorado2021 has started and is in full effect, so be prepared for lots of photos!
• Work is going well— First 5 months in (can’t believe it went so fast), finally feel like I kinda know what I’m doing so I’m feeling competent. Had some good successes in Nov/Dec so looking forward to seeing them through in quarter 1 and start to feel like I’m making an impact and really having some fun.
• Personally, I don’t know if I’ve ever been better. The last few years have come with their own sets of challenges for us as individuals but also as communities of people, and like a lot of people, I think 2020 really made me take several, good, hard looks at myself and my life. While it wasn’t easy (and will continue to be not-easy, as we can all guess) I’m finally back in a place where I am happy, actively looking for the positives, putting myself first, taking care of my mental health and my relationship with myself, and some other stuff I’m sure. I haven’t been the best about being in touch with the people I love, but I like to think it’s because I’ve been trying to worry more about myself… in a good way. 🙂 Working on that in 2021.

Peace & Happy New Year to all of you! Until next time, my love,

Lauren