Happy to be Alive, Because: Vacations & Mechanical Bulls.

1. I've been on vacation all week and it has been incredible. No responsibilities and lots of free time...perfection. 

2. Just about every day this week has been a pool day. I now have a tan that teenage me would have had the first week of summer, but adult me is pretty proud of it.

3. I rode a mechanical bull. 

Sorry for the bad picture, but really...when's the last time you saw a mechanical bull somewhere with good lighting?

At the beginning of this year I decided that one thing I didn't like about myself was that I was too timid. So this year I've been trying to say yes as much as possible and stop letting "no" be my first reaction to everything. So on Wednesday night I rode a mechanical bull while wearing a dress. And it was fantastic. 

4. Even though I'm super sad that we have to go back to the real world on Monday, I can't help but think about how lucky I am to live with someone every day who I would want to spend a week of vacation with. This next week may include a lot more work and a lot less pool, but it'll still include coffee in the morning with my very best friend. And that's pretty great. 

5. My parents and little brother are coming over today! I can't wait for them to see why I love where I live so freakin' much.

Happy Friday! Cheers to vacations and to real life, too. 

What made you happy to be alive this week?

Bravery in 2014.

I've never chosen one single word for a year before, but the thought of doing so really inspired me this year.  After writing out all of my resolutions, I chose the word brave.  [with hustle and create as a close second and third.]

I want this year to be a year of action.  A year of taking risks and not being afraid to fail.  A year of becoming exactly who I want to be, regardless of what anyone else may think.  A year of making every day count, full of experiencing life and taking big chances.  A year of making things happen.  A year of celebrating more and worrying less.

A year of being brave.

It takes bravery to make things happen. 

It takes bravery to be yourself. 

It takes bravery to decide where you want to be in life, and then do everything you can to get there. 

It takes bravery to live fiercely and without regret. 

I am planning on doing every one of those things this year, so brave seemed like a good word to choose.  That, and brave is not a word I would have ever used to describe myself in the past.  And I want to change that.

2014 is going to be good because I'm deciding to make it good.  And to bravely take on everything that comes my way this year.  Because I don't want to be sitting in the same spot on January 1st, 2015 thinking of all the things I missed out of because I was too afraid of __________.

So that's 2014 summed up in three words for me.  What about you?  What does 2014 look like for you? 

Happy first Friday of the New Year!  Cheers to making it count. 

all sources for images can be found here.