It's Been a Year Since I Graduated - Here Is What I've Learned
It’s been (almost exactly) a year since I graduated college and I feel like I’ve learned so much since then about education, the implications of having one and just some general stuff people don’t really tell you (or maybe they just didn’t know to tell you?) For some background, I graduated Arizona State University in 2018 with honors (summa cum laude) with a Bachelors of Science in Political Science, a minor in English Literature and certifications in Human Rights, Ethics, Socio-Legal Studies, International Studies, and Political Thought and Leadership.
Getting a degree for the sake of having one is a waste of time and money. With total transparency I’m currently sitting with over 5 figures of student loan debt and if I would have not been driven with plans of going to Law School I would have dropped out to work. If you’re going to school to party, to please your parents or some other BS we’ve been fed, because you don’t know what else to do - save yourself time and money. Now working in a field totally different than what was my “plan” I can tell you (for the most part) what your degree is in doesn’t matter AT. ALL. Where you get it matters even less. If you want to get a degree, be smart and save money. There are incredible programs at community colleges that are less than half the price of state or private and I promise get you (essentially) the same education.
Your plans will change and you might feel guilty/bad/failed - you shouldn’t. Up until about September of my senior year I really had every intention and plan on attending Law School. Due to burn out, finances and general BS that was going on in my life I ended up not going that direction immediately and felt like the biggest failure of human existence. With not-as-good of LSAT scores as I wanted, I reached out to a friend who was in Law School and her advice probably saved me mentally & financially. She said if you’re not sure, 1 million percent sure, do. not. do. it. I distinctly remember her comparing the price of the education to buying a house and in the middle of campus in front of the Memorial Union I decided that law wasn’t going to be my path after graduation (at least right away). I changed my plans big time but it didn’t mean I was a failure, it just meant I had a different path.
It might take you more or less time than you thought and that’s ok. I graduated early and technically could have completed everything in 3 years but took 3.5. I remember how shocked and proud people were - how smart and whatever I must have been to do it and while yes, I consider myself intelligent, I couldn’t help but think how some of the people I know just as (if not more) intelligent than I am took longer - 4, 5, some even 7 years to graduate from when they started. Granted, there were people I met in school who just dicked around and partied and didn’t give a shit about anything. These are not the people to whom I’m referring. I’m talking about the people who have life happen, programs switch things up, money happens - priorities have to change. If you’re someone who has or will take longer (or less) than 4 years - it’s truly ok. It’s not about how fast you get it done, it’s that you do the damn thing. You are worthy of whatever it is you are seeking & you better never forget that.
Going to community college to save money is worth it almost always. I’m all about being smart and essentially playing the BS systems in place to your advantage. A great example of this is community college. It is way less expensive than most college options and you get comparatively the same education you would get at public or private schools. At ASU it was really common to have people start at one of the community colleges for pre-recs and the boring courses that transferred and then do the important, exciting and specialized stuff after transferring and saving thousands. THAT hustle has and will always impress me. If you are looking at education just remember we don’t have to do this cookie cutter thing like we were told - there are ways to work a system built against all of us to our advantage and to the advantage of our communities we can go on to serve.
You might use everything you learned in school or you might not - thank god for Google. As an emerging entrepreneur I’ve really learned how you can (more or less) learn just about anything anyone has learned in college. There are free videos, webinars, resources, etc. and it takes time (and privilege) to be able to access these things but just because you didn’t learn something in school or major in it or whatever doesn’t mean you’re done for with a career or skill. As someone who has changed fields and never taken a “real” business, marketing, graphic design, photography or related course in my life I’ve learned many of the skills - self taught - and am doing just fine! On top of it all, I can still serve as a resource on politics, various geo-political debates, Constitutional law and more.
A college degree is the new GED. I remember when I was first doing college apps in High School my best friend and I would always joke about how college was just the beginning because a degree basically meant nothing by the time we got into school. Neither of us to date have gotten more than a bachelors but I think we would both still agree the weight a bachelors carries - in job opportunity, salary, lifestyle, etc. - does not carry half the weight it did even 15, 20 years ago. As someone who has worked in HR, I can say from my experience people are not typically willing to pay THAT much more for more than a college degree. If it didn’t cost so much to attain more I would understand but until there begins to be some equity in the cost of education.. well.. maybe rethink going past your bachelors unless you can get it paid for.
You might become uninteresting to your family after college but like who cares. Most recently at this years (2019) Thanksgiving I really noticed how uninterested most of my family was in what I do now. In college it’s like they were so proud and like bragged about me thinking about being a lawyer. Now that I freelance (to them this is not a “real” job) they’re not interested at all in what I’m doing unless it has to do with getting interviews at “real” jobs. If you can relate to this - I’m sorry. I feel you and I promise what you’re doing is worthy!
Running away from your talents and passions is dumb. If there is an interest, hobby, passion, etc. you keep coming back to, notice you’re missing it in your life - whatever it is - make it a priority! Even if it has to stay a hobby for a while, consider making it your job. If it is something you can make a job out of & you’re willing to put in the work I promise it will probably be worth it! There is something about people who do what they love & live & breathe their passion. Those people are typically successful, don’t get brunt out and really inspire folks to do the same. If you LOVE something but it isn’t profitable, what your parents want or something similar at least start b making it a hobby or past time - YOU deserve that. We were not made to make money and die.
Don’t chase a career - chase your purpose. Similar to my last point - don’t chase something you think is profitable or what you were told to do. Make sure what you chase is your passion. Maybe that’s helping people, creating something, mentoring someone and so on. Chase those things! Opportunities that afford you to live your passions and be with them often. I can’t tell you enough how in breaking down a career it typically comes down to titles. Titles change, mean something different everywhere and don’t always equate to having the experiences you would have hoped. Passion brings you experiences and those are what will give you fuel to keep going!
Keep your resume updated. Even if you’re super happy with what you’re doing, keep your resume updated! Add the experiences, projects, roles - everything - as you do it! Keep tracks of stats, dates, and everything in between! This will help you in the future when you are looking to make a change or just want to really see how far you’ve come and all the things you’ve done! With hard data, recommendations and even more data on deliverables being incredibly important now days on resumes this will keep you sane during your next job search or interest in a raise!
You will be poor for a while (or a long time). In another bout of transparency I can say how I am financially right now is about as uncertain as I’ve been in my whole life. While I had a great deal of stability in my first job - after having to move & technically only consistently working part time - paying the bills has been hard. I’m not always sure how I’ll pay rent, buy groceries or do the things I feel I should be. I know I’m not alone in this but I also know (hopefully) this will someday change. While it sucks, I try to stay positive and am working on manifestations to make it into the next season of stability.
Ask for help & accept help. One thing I’ve learned getting older is that it truly takes a village and doing it all yourself is not brave or courageous. It is an undue burden that can be helped and filled with the help and support of others. Not sure how to do something? Ask for advice! Need a little help completing something? Ask for help AND accept it graciously. There is not weakness is seeking and accepting help and don’t let anyone (or yourself) make you think differently.
Take care of yourself like a “real adult” not a college student. I still am learning how to do this BUT this is SO important. Get some freaking sleep, take showers more than you think you need to, wash your face, brush your teeth AT LEAST twice a day and eat something with veggies. every. damn. day. When I was in college I ate pretty well but I drank so much and more or less ran on 3 - 5 hours of sleep for 3 years. By the end I was exhausted and was notorious for using holiday breaks to only sleep so I could “save up” for the next semester. This (for SURE) cut out some years on my life and I’m trying to be better now by (trying) to get to bed at the same-ish time & waking around the same time every day. I know there are a million jokes in college about how you can trash your body because its not [fill in the blank] until you graduate but seriously, if I could go back and cut that shit out I would.
Moving home does not make you a failure. While I haven’t had to do this (yet) I know a lot of friends who have and there is NO shame in the free rent game. In fact, I lived in a frat house for six months to help save money so - do what you gotta do! (P.S. If you are interested in hearing more on this let me know - I’ve contemplated writing on it). A lot of us grew up being told that we would go to college, get jobs and make bank and at the end of the day a lot of aspects of the global economy, geopolitical issues and more aren’t really allowing that to be a thing and all we can do is make the most of some sour lemons.
Twenty Three Lessons I Learned Before Turning Twenty Three
Earlier this year I came across Taylor Swift’s “30 Things I Learned Before Turning 30” article in Elle Magazine and I’ve had it on my mind ever since. With it being my own birthday today, I wanted to share 23 things I’ve learned before 23 in a similar fashion, and hopefully this little list of mine can hold at least half as much wisdom & inspiration with you as hers did with me!
ONE
Busy IS a decision. Growing up I certainly did all sorts of things but come high school and especially college I was always doing something. Whether that be studying for perfect grades, attending (later running) meetings, working on some new passion project, participating in events & seminars - I was (and am) almost always busy. Initially after college I though busy was a badge of honor - like being able to say “I’m just so busy” made me extra special or as amazing as I’d hoped to be. The matter of the fact here is that being busy isn’t really all that special at all and as you get older you’ll come to find most of us are. What’s important here is that your busy is fulfilling & purposeful - not just something you mention to seem whatever it is you think being busy esteems you to be. There’s no shame in being busy, but really taking time to figure out if that busy is serving you & those/what you love matters.
TWO
You ARE entitled to your sick days. I really don’t give a damn what anyone has to say about this otherwise - I’m calling BS on anyone who says you aren’t. The culture & expectation many of us were raised in to stick it out at the office or school if we’re sick (physical, mental, etc) is a bunch of Boomer/Bootstrap BS that needs! to! go! If you’ve earned sick time - take it! Use those precious hours to take care of yourself, do something exciting, etc. No one will ever be on their death bed wishing that wouldn’t have taken their EARNED time off but I can guarantee they’ll regret missing out on time that could have been spent outside the office.
THREE
Not everyone will like you. Whether it be peers, friends, co-workers, etc - not everyone will like you and this (though hard to understand at a younger age IMO) is totally ok! You - nor anyone - is meant to be for EVERYONE. Our Lord & Savior Jenna Kutcher talks about the concept of “repelling” a lot and as much as it applies to business it also should and does apply to all other aspects of our lives! Repelling means making it easier to find those & connect with those we attract. If and when you can - focus on that. That’s where all the good stuff is anyways.
FOUR
NEVER stop learning. I don’t care if you’re one of those people who swears they hate school or learning - you need to keep growing that brain of yours! That can mean learning or developing skills (graphic design, a musical instrument, hobbies, crafts, etc.), traveling, reading, writing, or really just about anything that challenges you or invites you into a new smidge of understanding yourself, this world & those you share it with. For me, I have always loved school and academics especially and when I was done college and moved into my first “real” job I struggled. My brain felt like mush & like I wasn’t doing anything meaningful with it (something I considered to be incredibly brilliant if I do say so myself) so I made a switch. I decided to learn graphic design, social media analytic analysis and more. THIS got me through some of the toughest times in that job and propelled me into what I’m doing now. NEVER. STOP. LEARNING.
FIVE
A bad day IS NOT equal to a bad life. While I haven’t talked about this much on here, I think this is one of the most important lessons I’ve learned in my whole life so here I am. A little over two years ago I survived the mass shooting in Las Vegas at the Route 91 Country Music festival alongside one of my best friends & mom. While I find no need to give you a play by play, in the moment I was calm & the true trauma of it all didn’t hit me until almost 6 months later when my dad and I got stranded on the side of the mountains in Northern California. In that moment - and many other moments of trauma, panic attacks, anxiety attacks and more - I found myself thinking I had this bad, difficult life. Carrying the burden of surviving - not making enough of myself in the memory of those who can’t - feeling stupid and silly for how I had flashbacks at the slightest loud noise. What I came to understand through a very difficult trauma is that having a bad day will never mean you have a bad life. Never.
SIX
Pick your battles. Growing up my mom said this all.the.time. and I HATED it. I don’t know it I hated it because it didn’t really work for my inquisitive, confrontational personality or if because I knew when I was older I would agree with her - but I hated it. Now that I’m older, I can tell you she was right. As much as I love arguing & debating - going one to one with people on just about anything - it’s freaking exhausting and drains energy in way you just don’t need. Plus, it can really weigh on your relationships. Learning to pick your battles helps you prioritize relationships and learn to fight for the important stuff.
SEVEN
It’s no one’s job but your own to put yourself first.I’m probably the worst about putting myself first in certain ways but I have also been in certain situations - friendships, collaborations, family experiences, and so on where I decided to put me first and it was something I had to decide to do. It sure isn’t always comfortable - in fact, it usually is awfully uncomfortable - but you’re in charge of this & that’s damn important.
EIGHT
If you have an opinion, be educated. Now more than ever it seems like just about everyone has an opinion about something or another. As someone with both educational, personal and professional experiences in government, politics, and related fields I couldn’t say how important it is to be educated and informed on what you have an opinion on. I don’t care if you’ve never read an article a day in your life or have never spoken to someone affected by what you have an opinion on - you need to. You MUST educate yourself and make sure whatever opinions you decide to put out there - online, over dinner, etc. are informed & educated ones.
NINE
You don’t have to finish just because you start. Growing up I was always told you have to finish what you start. I know to some extent this is to give a human the concept of commitment, follow through, etc. but as an adult there have been many times this mindset was incredibly toxic. Whether it was staying friends with someone for too long, staying in leadership of an organization that was mostly BS, or sticking out a program not meant for me - I killed myself because I didn’t want to quit. In reality, “quitting” ended up being the best thing I did for myself.
TEN
Be nice to your skin. I never had any skin issues growing up outside of some sports related acne in the summers from softball but as soon as I moved to Arizona & got off Birth Control my skin freaked!out! I had to totally do a 180 and give a shit about when/how/with what I took care of my skin with. You don’t have to have every million dollar product but finding what works for you through trial & error, help from a dermatologist or recos from a trusted source take this stuff seriously!
ELEVEN
Realize your shit & work on it. We all have trauma & shit we need to work on. Bad habits, childhood issues, family issues - the list goes on. While we all can acknowledge this aspect of the human experience, we also need to acknowledge how important it is to work on it. Don’t get me wrong - a lot of resources are not available to all and to even have the option to work through many of these things is a privileged- but if this a privilege you are afforded and/or can provide to others - do the most with it! Seek counseling and/or therapy & encouraging & normalizing it with those you know!
TWELVE
Relationships aren’t forever but they’re important. Having graduated college & in some ways who I was during college there have been friendships, romantic relationships, etc. that have changed a lot. Maybe we don’t talk anymore due to space - figurative or literal - but those relationships are fundamentally different than they were. At some points it’s been hard to not feel like a failure or unsure about leaving things different in the past - maybe I wasn’t trying hard enough to stay in touch, maybe this person was more important than I’ve let them be currently. Despite all the uncertainty I am sure that in coming into adulthood your relationships with everyone will change. If you don’t want them to, it’s on you to figure it out but the changes shouldn’t be a bad thing. Those college friendships were important when they were & its ok if they’re not the same now.
THIRTEEN
No one knows what they’re doing. The biggest scam of our lives is that we’re told or assume growing up that adults know everything - have all the answers, know the recipe to happiness & success. But truth is no one knows what the fuck they’re doing & we’re all just chilling on a planet going day to day hoping our educated decisions & shots in the dark make our lives ok! Don’t ever feel bad about not knowing what you’re doing - no one does.
FOURTEEN
It always has - and always will - take a village. I absolutely hate that our culture has come to expect everyone can do everything on their own. The idea of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps & self-made whatever is a load of BS. It takes a village! To learn, to grow, to love ourselves and others. In your life you will need a caregiver, a mentor, a friend, a lover - the list goes on. We were not made to do anything alone or by ourselves. Ask & seek help - offer & give help.
FIFTEEN
Not every loss is a loss. This lesson I learned a pretty painful way while in college after a stressful & emotional month or so of higher ups kicking out a ton of people from my sorority. While I’m not here to drop tea on that (maybe another time?) I can say I learned not every loss is a loss. I had a friend or two who was kicked out and it hurt at first. Like really freaking hurt. But looking back it allowed them to spend their time differently, find what they loved and do some pretty kick ass things. Additionally in that situation there were people who really needed - for one way or another - to not be apart of things and in some situations I really think it ended up benefiting the larger whole. If this explanation doesn’t work for you, think of it as closed doors sometimes bringing you to much better open ones!
SIXTEEN
If it won’t matter in five years, don’t let it matter longer than 5 minutes. I got this advice as a freshman in college from a much wiser graduating senior and it’s stuck ever since. I am someone who dwells - hard core - on all sorts of things. What ifs, whys, etc. and this really works as my mental check to have an appropriate amount of time in my head, thinking and feeling but also knowing when it’s time to move on. If you struggle with similar things I recommend implementing this as a mantra of sorts.
SEVENTEEN
Life is a whole lot of grey. Whether it’s because I’m a type 1 or just because it’s how I’ve always been wired, I really often look at life & its complexities in black and white. Very recently certain life situations, relationships and experiences have pushed me to realize there is a lot of grey in our experience as a human. While this has been terrifying its also helped me have a little more grace with myself and others - past & present - and is something I think is really important & came just in time for year 23!
EIGHTEEN
Travel, travel, travel. While I realize this is something that is not always accessible to everyone & I do hold my experiences as a privileged I can’t say enough how important it is to travel. To travel with people, by yourself, as often as possible, to places unlike your own. In college I visited over 12 different countries and in the US have traveled to over 25 states. In all of these travels I’ve learned incredibly valuable lessons, like how to put snow chains on your tires, the kindness of (most) strangers, the reality of life for all sorts of people from the wealthy to college students abroad to refugees escaping hell. I know for a fact those times traveling - the good, bad and especially the ugly - have made me a better, more knowledgeable and kinder person.
NINETEEN
Apologizing for something doesn’t take anything away from you. This one right here is from T Swizzle and damn this is some wisdom. I am a stubborn, stubborn person and apologizing to me (also highly competitive) for a lot of my life felt like some concession that hurt me. Looking back, it’s kinda dumb and immature to think that way. Ever since reading this tidbit from Taylor I’ve put it into perspective and while I don’t have hard, factual data I would venture to guess I am even more likely to apologize now than I have been my whole life. I can speak from experience this is very true and in fact, not a single apology has taken any thing from me yet.
TWENTY
Celebrate what excites you. If you’re stoked for something coming up - talk about it, make a countdown calendar, be excited! I think a lot of people believe growing up means not finding & expressing joy about what excites us and thats some sad, cold, heatless BS.
TWENTY ONE
Clothing sizes are a scam. Having worked in retail for one of the largest retail companies in the world with in house & out of house brands I can tell you sizing is bullshit and should, in no way, determine how you value yourself or others. If you wear a 12 at one store but a 8 at another and maybe a 16 somewhere else - rock it sister. Worrying about this is a waste of your time & joy.
TWENTY TWO
Listen to Podcasts. I really did not get the appeal of podcasts until this year because I thought they were something stuffy adults did but honestly they’re awesome and really help you remember that out there is someone who loves what you love, can answer the questions you’re dying to have answered and teaches you something new! My personal favorites are Lore, Goal Digger & My Favorite Murder.
TWENTY THREE
Just GO FOR IT. I mean - make a plan, get the education & details - but freaking do it! This year I decided in July I wanted to really start taking blogging, content creating & learning all I can about social media seriously. I sat down for about a week straight every night making the plans - how I’d finance things, how I’d launch, what I’d do, etc. - and come later on in the summer I made it happen. I started trying to put as much as I could into what I did and did things super out of my comfort zone. I still have so much to learn, accomplish and do but at the end of it, I know I’m happier having done the damn thing & failed or messed up a time or two than to still be wondering what if.
23 Things I've Learned Before Turning 23
Earlier this year I came across Taylor Swift’s “30 Things I Learned Before Turning 30” article in Elle Magazine and I’ve had it on my mind ever since. With it being my own birthday today, I wanted to share 23 things I’ve learned before 23 in a similar fashion, and hopefully this little list of mine can hold at least half as much wisdom & inspiration with you as hers did with me!
Busy IS a decision. Growing up I certainly did all sorts of things but come high school and especially college I was always doing something. Whether that be studying for perfect grades, attending (later running) meetings, working on some new passion project, participating in events & seminars - I was (and am) almost always busy. Initially after college I though busy was a badge of honor - like being able to say “I’m just so busy” made me extra special or as amazing as I’d hoped to be. The matter of the fact here is that being busy isn’t really all that special at all and as you get older you’ll come to find most of us are. What’s important here is that your busy is fulfilling & purposeful - not just something you mention to seem whatever it is you think being busy esteems you to be. There’s no shame in being busy, but really taking time to figure out if that busy is serving you & those/what you love matters.
You ARE entitled to your sick days. I really don’t give a damn what anyone has to say about this otherwise - I’m calling BS on anyone who says you aren’t. The culture & expectation many of us were raised in to stick it out at the office or school if we’re sick (physical, mental, etc) is a bunch of Boomer/Bootstrap BS that needs! to! go! If you’ve earned sick time - take it! Use those precious hours to take care of yourself, do something exciting, etc. No one will ever be on their death bed wishing that wouldn’t have taken their EARNED time off but I can guarantee they’ll regret missing out on time that could have been spent outside the office.
Not everyone will like you. Whether it be peers, friends, co-workers, etc - not everyone will like you and this (though hard to understand at a younger age IMO) is totally ok! You - nor anyone - is meant to be for EVERYONE. Our Lord & Savior Jenna Kutcher talks about the concept of “repelling” a lot and as much as it applies to business it also should and does apply to all other aspects of our lives! Repelling means making it easier to find those & connect with those we attract. If and when you can - focus on that. That’s where all the good stuff is anyways.
NEVER stop learning. I don’t care if you’re one of those people who swears they hate school or learning - you need to keep growing that brain of yours! That can mean learning or developing skills (graphic design, a musical instrument, hobbies, crafts, etc.), traveling, reading, writing, or really just about anything that challenges you or invites you into a new smidge of understanding yourself, this world & those you share it with. For me, I have always loved school and academics especially and when I was done college and moved into my first “real” job I struggled. My brain felt like mush & like I wasn’t doing anything meaningful with it (something I considered to be incredibly brilliant if I do say so myself) so I made a switch. I decided to learn graphic design, social media analytic analysis and more. THIS got me through some of the toughest times in that job and propelled me into what I’m doing now. NEVER. STOP. LEARNING.
A bad day IS NOT equal to a bad life. While I haven’t talked about this much on here, I think this is one of the most important lessons I’ve learned in my whole life so here I am. A little over two years ago I survived the mass shooting in Las Vegas at the Route 91 Country Music festival alongside one of my best friends & mom. While I find no need to give you a play by play, in the moment I was calm & the true trauma of it all didn’t hit me until almost 6 months later when my dad and I got stranded on the side of the mountains in Northern California. In that moment - and many other moments of trauma, panic attacks, anxiety attacks and more - I found myself thinking I had this bad, difficult life. Carrying the burden of surviving - not making enough of myself in the memory of those who can’t - feeling stupid and silly for how I had flashbacks at the slightest loud noise. What I came to understand through a very difficult trauma is that having a bad day will never mean you have a bad life. Never.
Pick your battles. Growing up my mom said this all.the.time. and I HATED it. I don’t know it I hated it because it didn’t really work for my inquisitive, confrontational personality or if because I knew when I was older I would agree with her - but I hated it. Now that I’m older, I can tell you she was right. As much as I love arguing & debating - going one to one with people on just about anything - it’s freaking exhausting and drains energy in way you just don’t need. Plus, it can really weigh on your relationships. Learning to pick your battles helps you prioritize relationships and learn to fight for the important stuff.
It’s no one’s job but your own to put yourself first.I’m probably the worst about putting myself first in certain ways but I have also been in certain situations - friendships, collaborations, family experiences, and so on where I decided to put me first and it was something I had to decide to do. It sure isn’t always comfortable - in fact, it usually is awfully uncomfortable - but you’re in charge of this & that’s damn important.
If you have an opinion, be educated. Now more than ever it seems like just about everyone has an opinion about something or another. As someone with both educational, personal and professional experiences in government, politics, and related fields I couldn’t say how important it is to be educated and informed on what you have an opinion on. I don’t care if you’ve never read an article a day in your life or have never spoken to someone affected by what you have an opinion on - you need to. You MUST educate yourself and make sure whatever opinions you decide to put out there - online, over dinner, etc. are informed & educated ones.
You don’t have to finish just because you start. Growing up I was always told you have to finish what you start. I know to some extent this is to give a human the concept of commitment, follow through, etc. but as an adult there have been many times this mindset was incredibly toxic. Whether it was staying friends with someone for too long, staying in leadership of an organization that was mostly BS, or sticking out a program not meant for me - I killed myself because I didn’t want to quit. In reality, “quitting” ended up being the best thing I did for myself.
Be nice to your skin. I never had any skin issues growing up outside of some sports related acne in the summers from softball but as soon as I moved to Arizona & got off Birth Control my skin freaked!out! I had to totally do a 180 and give a shit about when/how/with what I took care of my skin with. You don’t have to have every million dollar product but finding what works for you through trial & error, help from a dermatologist or recos from a trusted source take this stuff seriously!
Realize your shit & work on it. We all have trauma & shit we need to work on. Bad habits, childhood issues, family issues - the list goes on. While we all can acknowledge this aspect of the human experience, we also need to acknowledge how important it is to work on it. Don’t get me wrong - a lot of resources are not available to all and to even have the option to work through many of these things is a privileged- but if this a privilege you are afforded and/or can provide to others - do the most with it! Seek counseling and/or therapy & encouraging & normalizing it with those you know!
Relationships aren’t forever but they’re important. Having graduated college & in some ways who I was during college there have been friendships, romantic relationships, etc. that have changed a lot. Maybe we don’t talk anymore due to space - figurative or literal - but those relationships are fundamentally different than they were. At some points it’s been hard to not feel like a failure or unsure about leaving things different in the past - maybe I wasn’t trying hard enough to stay in touch, maybe this person was more important than I’ve let them be currently. Despite all the uncertainty I am sure that in coming into adulthood your relationships with everyone will change. If you don’t want them to, it’s on you to figure it out but the changes shouldn’t be a bad thing. Those college friendships were important when they were & its ok if they’re not the same now.
No one knows what they’re doing. The biggest scam of our lives is that we’re told or assume growing up that adults know everything - have all the answers, know the recipe to happiness & success. But truth is no one knows what the fuck they’re doing & we’re all just chilling on a planet going day to day hoping our educated decisions & shots in the dark make our lives ok! Don’t ever feel bad about not knowing what you’re doing - no one does.
It always has - and always will - take a village. I absolutely hate that our culture has come to expect everyone can do everything on their own. The idea of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps & self-made whatever is a load of BS. It takes a village! To learn, to grow, to love ourselves and others. In your life you will need a caregiver, a mentor, a friend, a lover - the list goes on. We were not made to do anything alone or by ourselves. Ask & seek help - offer & give help.
Not every loss is a loss. This lesson I learned a pretty painful way while in college after a stressful & emotional month or so of higher ups kicking out a ton of people from my sorority. While I’m not here to drop tea on that (maybe another time?) I can say I learned not every loss is a loss. I had a friend or two who was kicked out and it hurt at first. Like really freaking hurt. But looking back it allowed them to spend their time differently, find what they loved and do some pretty kick ass things. Additionally in that situation there were people who really needed - for one way or another - to not be apart of things and in some situations I really think it ended up benefiting the larger whole. If this explanation doesn’t work for you, think of it as closed doors sometimes bringing you to much better open ones!
If it won’t matter in five years, don’t let it matter longer than 5 minutes. I got this advice as a freshman in college from a much wiser graduating senior and it’s stuck ever since. I am someone who dwells - hard core - on all sorts of things. What ifs, whys, etc. and this really works as my mental check to have an appropriate amount of time in my head, thinking and feeling but also knowing when it’s time to move on. If you struggle with similar things I recommend implementing this as a mantra of sorts.
Life is a whole lot of grey. Whether it’s because I’m a type 1 or just because it’s how I’ve always been wired, I really often look at life & its complexities in black and white. Very recently certain life situations, relationships and experiences have pushed me to realize there is a lot of grey in our experience as a human. While this has been terrifying its also helped me have a little more grace with myself and others - past & present - and is something I think is really important & came just in time for year 23!
Travel, travel, travel. While I realize this is something that is not always accessible to everyone & I do hold my experiences as a privileged I can’t say enough how important it is to travel. To travel with people, by yourself, as often as possible, to places unlike your own. In college I visited over 12 different countries and in the US have traveled to over 25 states. In all of these travels I’ve learned incredibly valuable lessons, like how to put snow chains on your tires, the kindness of (most) strangers, the reality of life for all sorts of people from the wealthy to college students abroad to refugees escaping hell. I know for a fact those times traveling - the good, bad and especially the ugly - have made me a better, more knowledgeable and kinder person.
Apologizing for something doesn’t take anything away from you. This one right here is from T Swizzle and damn this is some wisdom. I am a stubborn, stubborn person and apologizing to me (also highly competitive) for a lot of my life felt like some concession that hurt me. Looking back, it’s kinda dumb and immature to think that way. Ever since reading this tidbit from Taylor I’ve put it into perspective and while I don’t have hard, factual data I would venture to guess I am even more likely to apologize now than I have been my whole life. I can speak from experience this is very true and in fact, not a single apology has taken any thing from me yet.
Celebrate what excites you. If you’re stoked for something coming up - talk about it, make a countdown calendar, be excited! I think a lot of people believe growing up means not finding & expressing joy about what excites us and thats some sad, cold, heatless BS.
Clothing sizes are a scam. Having worked in retail for one of the largest retail companies in the world with in house & out of house brands I can tell you sizing is bullshit and should, in no way, determine how you value yourself or others. If you wear a 12 at one store but a 8 at another and maybe a 16 somewhere else - rock it sister. Worrying about this is a waste of your time & joy.
Listen to Podcasts. I really did not get the appeal of podcasts until this year because I thought they were something stuffy adults did but honestly they’re awesome and really help you remember that out there is someone who loves what you love, can answer the questions you’re dying to have answered and teaches you something new! My personal favorites are Lore, Goal Digger & My Favorite Murder.
Just GO FOR IT. I mean - make a plan, get the education & details - but freaking do it! This year I decided in July I wanted to really start taking blogging, content creating & learning all I can about social media seriously. I sat down for about a week straight every night making the plans - how I’d finance things, how I’d launch, what I’d do, etc. - and come later on in the summer I made it happen. I started trying to put as much as I could into what I did and did things super out of my comfort zone. I still have so much to learn, accomplish and do but at the end of it, I know I’m happier having done the damn thing & failed or messed up a time or two than to still be wondering what if.
Holiday Playlist 2019
The most wonderful time of the year calls for the most wonderful playlist of cheerful & seasonal tunes! Sharing my favorites with you! (full disclosure: I will never make a playlist, mixtape or burned CD as good as my Dad)
The Ultimate Holiday Movie List for Binge Watching in Your Cozy Pants
It’s the most wonderful time of the year for cozy PJ’s, hot chocolate & binge watching all the Holiday movies! I’ve rounded up a list of my very favorites, classics & some new flixs streaming!
Did I miss any? Let me know in the comments your favorites so we can festively binge together!
Holiday Decor Tour & Links
Sharing our apartment decor for the holidays! We have a mix of some old & new and I’ve linked as much as possible! I’ve also been rounding up some of my favorite holiday decor inspiration on Pinterest here!
Christmas Tree & TV Area
Couch & Cozy Area
Bar Cart
Kitchen & Entry
Cyber Monday Shopping & Gift Guides
It’s somehow December but the Cyber Monday deals are going strong! I’m sharing with you WHERE to shop with details on their deals below! Just remember- I’m sharing with you IN CASE you want to shop - not because I believe you HAVE to shop! Do what’s best for you, and if that includes shopping at least you’re getting deals & saving dolla dolla bills!
A Cara Collective Winter Bucket list
While the weather may be getting especially chilly it only means winter activities are in full swing with the Holidays! Here are a few of the things I want to do this Winter!
What’s on YOUR Winter Bucketlist? Let me know in the comments! Be sure to save these to your Pinterest boards for later!
November 2019 Playlist
Sharing specifically our Friendsgiving Playlist considering we were creating & listening all November long!
Shop Small - Online Retailers You Need to Know About
This sweet shop was created & is run by an even sweeter woman! From the cutest pom earrings to her brand new line of tees (my fave featured above). Everything from the shop is hand made with lots of love & while you’re at it, be sure to follow along with her on Instagram @whatevalola & her personal @natlovesthat !
Another boss brand by a boss womxn! The Fem Em is a female empowered brand currently offering amazing tees, apparel, pins and more! The owner, Kristen Bousquet, is also in the works of creating courses for other to learn more about all the things! While you’re at it, be sure to give both the biz & creator a follow on IG!
Eeep- I can not say enough about this creator! Her work is amazing and I adore when she pops into Phoenix Flea! We’ve purchased a print and many stickers and I can’t recommend her work enough! From THE most fun Alphabet prints like those pictured above to stickers, cards full of puppies and much more PLEASE consider this joy-filling art!
If you give any damns about whats going on in our world you’ll probably love Green Box Shop. Specializing in apparel for all humans their graphic tees are well known for spilling the tea & raising awareness for what matters most! I’ve featured some of my favorites but there are loads of others - seriously if I could buy them all I would!
Alternative Black Friday Plans with Keeping Nature Wild
Not so sure about going Black Friday shopping & wanting to do some extra good outside? Give Impact Friday a go! Whether you can join Keep Nature Wild at the Lake Pleasant Clean Up in Arizona or want to do your own clean up where ever you find yourself - this alternative to the consumer holiday is fun & gets you outside to do important work!
How To Participate with KNW
Sign Up for the Lake Pleasant Impact Friday Clean Up Here
How to Participate
Get friends & family to get outside together to pick up trash, litter & the like
Grab a bag (or more) to put all the trash you find
Submit your Impact Form here (this helps KNW track how many pounds of trash their community picks up yearly!)
Share photos of your impact with #impactfriday & encourage others to join you!
Black Friday Shopping Guide
With a million and one shopping guides for Black Friday I’m doing things a little different by sharing (honestly) what I’m looking at this shopping holiday & what Cody and I are looking to do in addition to the shopping!
One - THE Landyn Target PJs
If you follow Landyn you already know these are the go-to jammies of the season! Better yet, they’ll be on sale for Black Friday! These are a potential “fun” buy for myself!
Two - Tile’s
If you’re like me always losing your shit, then you probably (like me) know its about time to pick these up. They’re on sale for Black Friday at Target for $12 and I think I’ll be getting one for my keys and another for my wallet. Maybe 2020 will be the year I kinda keep my brain together?
Three - Mini Fridge
This is a pretty good price for something I’ve been excited about for a while! I’ve wanted to snag a mini for our bathroom for my makeup products and skincare items! I’ve been told it really does help with shelf life & obviously can change the experience you have with the product. For example, I already love keeping my Pink Wreath roller in the fridge for a super chilly & awakening feeling in the morning!
Four - Crosley Turntable
I have - since I can remember - always wanted a record player! While I don’t have too many records now I know with this buy - only $30 - I’ll start thrifting my way up into a collection sooner than later. There are a few places with deals on these or similar brands. The difference here is the availability of colors and sizes!
Five - Glassware Set
Going into the New Year we really are working to use less and save more - including staying away from plastics, non-recyclable materials and more we want to opt for some nice but inexpensive glassware we can use for leftovers, cooking and for taking lunch on the go!
Six - Honest Beauty Mascara
Similar to my goals for using less is to slowly invest in and incorporate clean beauty products into my routine. With glowing reviews for this life changing mascara I had to give it a go! I will likely be ordering online but if I can hunt it down in store (something I’ve done unsuccessfully four times) I will get it then!
Seven - Burt’s Bees Liquid Foundation
Like the mascara I’m looking to go fully clean with my foundation! This one has had incredible reviews so I’m really looking forward to purchasing! I will be buying alongside some other products from Ulta!
Eight - Kopari Deodorant
Not the most glamorous but in line with some clean beauty & home goals includes making the switch to aluminum free & natural deodorant. I will report back on how all that goes - but trust me, I’m going to try!
I’ve linked everything below but if you’re looking to shop through the app, I’ve also added everything from the guide to the LikeToKnowIt App!
The Gift Guide to Helping Someone Smash Their New Years Resolutions & Life Goals
The Holidays are typically a time of gifting and no matter what your style of gifting is, I can guarantee you want it to matter to the person or people you’re giving it to! For me, I’ve always thought some of the best gifts are those that enable us to be better - whether that be in line with a long time goal, New Years resolution or something in between. This year, I wanted to round up a few gifts (to give or receive) that can help someone smash their goals or realize their passions!
One - Rosetta Stone/ DuoLingo
If you or someone if your life has been meaning to learn a new language - or even brush up on one they learned in high school - this is the perfect gift to get them on their way! Learning language is a pretty common resolution for folxs this time of year and is perfect to help create connections across language, build skills & be a better human!
Two - ClassPass
I offer this suggestion with a caveat - DO NOT, under ANY circumstance offer this gift to someone who you are doing so out of “concern for their health” or thinking they need to “lose/gain/modify” their bodies. This is a gift for someone who loves sports - has been dying to learn a new athletic skill like Yoga or Barre - or who wants to try a little bit of everything while they get moving or those who travel often and like trying out local studios. ClassPass is seriously so fun and every single person I know using it has nothing but amazing things to say about it!
Three - AncestryDNA
As someone super interested in my own family history - half of which was such a mystery due to hush-hush mindsets & family passing young - this has been one of the best gifts I’ve ever been given. Previous to taking my DNA test I had done lots of research into my family tree and got back almost 10 generations to Russia so was super excited to have all the things confirmed - like how Russian and German we are! Well, I actually found out we are only a small percentage Russian but predominantly Irish, French and English! I think for someone interested in learning more about who they are, where they come from- this is a wonderful gift! That being said, this does have the ability to bring up some tricky things if a family hasn’t been honest so be prepared for that!
Four - AirBnB or Travel Gift Cards/Certificates
Got a jet setter? A loved one soon to be studying abroad or super interested on hitting the open road? Gift cards to flights, Airbnb or hotels are a surefire way to support them in all their travels this coming year! I specifically love using AirBnB for travel since it lets me meet locals, get tips on local place, activities & events and helps support families (typically) in producing some side income!
Five - The Financial Gym / Financial Coaching Membership
One of the most common resolutions or goals for people young and old is to save money or at least be better educated on money! The Financial Gym and other financial coaching programs help people learn more about money - how to save it, how to pay off debts, small but important tidbits to give you the confidence only financial security can! Again, this is not something to just get someone - I think anyone can see how rude that could be!
Six - Green Chef, Hello Fresh, etc.
Maybe you or someone in your life is interested in changing things up - learning how to cook or even interested in going vegetarian, vegan or something else! These at-home meal subscription boxes are perfect for either human and are a seriously fun way to try new things at home! Plus, most subscriptions like this typically offer deals like a certain percentage off or even a select dollar amount off making them a particularly affordable and fun gift!
Seven - SkillShare Membership
Whatever the skill, interest or hobby - SkillShare has it! From learning about photography, crafting, history, writing - anything. If you or someone in your life has been itching to find a new hobby or delve into more of their current one, you can gift them something to keep their interest & passion going long past the holiday season! Some personal favorites of mine include social media and photography centered classes or even their calligraphy lessons!
A Cara Collective & Family Thanksgiving Recipes
This time of year is full of so many of my favorite things - traditions, events, weather - but my favorite might be the food. We get out the recipe books & cards, hit the grocery and spend time together making bites and meals that remind us of family & when shared with those we love makes them even more special! This year, I’m sharing some of my very favorites. Most of these recipes come straight out of the family cook book -passed from friends who became family & generation to generation.
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
Ingredients
2 cups crushed pretzels
¾ cup margine - melted
3 Tablespoons sugar
8 oz cream cheese
8 oz cool whip
1 cup sugar
I large box strawberry jello
2 cups boiling water
20 oz frozen strawberry
15 oz can crushed pineapple - drained
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Mix ingredients for crust (pretzels, melted butter and sugar) and press into 9x13 pan
Bake in oven for 7 minutes
While baking mix cool whip, cream cheese and sugar together and spread onto crust in dish once out of oven
Let cool whip layer chill in fridge until set
Mix jello, strawberry and pineapple together, then, pour over cool whip layer and chill until set
Tips:
strawberry can be substituted for other fruit - just be sure to change jello flavor as well to be the same or compliment!
best if made the night before serving!
Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients
8 oz can cream of mushroom
1 cup Chicken stock
2 Tablespoons chopped onion
2 Tablespoons butter
3 Tablespoons flour
⅓ cup white wine
2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper
2 can french style green beans
¼ cup bread crumbs and/or french fried onions (add 1 cup+ to taste or preference)
2 Tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375
Saute onions for five minutes
Blend in flour, cream of mushroom, chicken stock and wine
Cook, stirring all the time until the mixture boils and thickens
Add cheese, salt and pepper
Combine this with drained green beans in buttered casserole dish
Mix crumbs with butter and onions and sprinkle over top
Bake 375 for 25 minutes
Tips:
you can replace the chicken broth with about any other broth! I use vegetable personally!
Making this the night before serving (minus bread crumbs and/or french fried onions) is THE best!
Cheesy Breads
Ingredients
1 pound butter
1 teaspoon tabasco
1.5 teaspoons worchestire sauce
1.5 teaspoon dill weed
4 - 5 oz kraft old english cheese
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon bean monde seasoning
5 loafs Safeway english breads
Instructions
Soften butter and cheese to room temperature before starting
Take out various cookie sheets and cover in wax paper (tip: be sure you have freezer space to put these on! Organize before!)
Once soft, put in large mixing bowl and beat until fluffy then, add rest of ingredients (tabasco, worchesture, dill weed, onion powder, and bean monde.
Once combined, take bread out of bags and remove crusts - these can be set aside to make home made croutons!
Once crusts are removed, tale 3 slices at a time and put spread on them - Put spread on bottom slice, then add second slice on top - add spread and add third slice.
Cut 3-slice stacks into four little squares (tip: be sure to cut 3 slices at a time so they all fit when assembled)
Take each little stack and butter all four sides and the top - DO NOT butter the bottom (this side will be on the wax paper and if buttered it will stick.
Place on wax paper and once a sheet is full, place in freezer
Once set, put in plastic bags and do not thaw when you go to bake later on
In baking, take directly from bag to cookie sheet then oven
Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes
Tip
These are intended to be made in bulk (70-80 at a time) and are great to stock up before entertaining
These last in the freezer for a few months (but honestly won’t last because YUM)
Cream Corn
Ingredients
2 packages frozen kernel corn
8 oz whipping cream
1 teaspoon salt
Pinch of white or cayenne pepper
2 Tablespoons melted butter
8 oz homogenized milk
6 teaspoon sugar
2 Tablespoons flour
Instructions
Place all frozen corn in 9x13 dish
Combine cream, milk, salt sugar and pepper on stove - bring to boil and simmer for 5 minutes
Add butter and flour mixture then pour over corn and mix
Refrigerate over night
Bake at 350 until bubbling for about 25 minutes
Tips
This dish is SO good and really is best when made a day or two before serving
Corn Souffle
Ingredients
1 16 oz can whole kernel corn - drained
1 16 oz can cream style corn
8 oz sour cream or plain nonfat yogurt
1 box jiffy corn muffin mix
1 stick of margarine, melted
2 lightly beaten eggs
Instructions
Spray 3 quart souffle dish with nonfat cooking spray
Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl and pour into dish
Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes or until golden brown
Serve warm
Tips
you don’t HAVE to make it in a souffle dish BUT be sure whatever you make it in, you use non-stick spray!
it does serve 6 -8 but this is also the perfect side to cook most any time!
for a kick, you can add green chiles!
I hope you enjoyed these recipes! Be sure to save the pins to be able to come back & if you make it be sure to tag me so I can share!
A Cara Collective Denver Travel Guide - What To Do, See, Eat & Drink in Denver & Surrounding Areas
Earlier this month Cody & I had a sweet little weekend trip to Denver to celebrate his family! Luckily- between the celebrating & spending time all together - we also got to do, see, eat and drink ALL. THE. THINGS. Today, I’m sharing with you a summation of what all that entailed!
If you are interested in what I packed for our trip, check out my blog post here on just that! (P.S. I swear by the rain boots and hat)
Day ONE
We touched down around 8:30 am local time and holy guacamole was I HAPPY I brought my coat in my carry on! It was COLD - by Arizona standards - but I have to say it was so refreshing to be in that weather!
Once we picked up our rental car we headed straight into town to pick up the keys to where we were staying! Luckily Cody’s sweet cousin let us stay at his place while he was out of town - and let me tell you - if we ever move to Denver I want to live somewhere as lovely as that! It was a part of a huge renovated industrial building with tall ceilings, huge windows and the dreamiest views of city life!
Initially during out stay we had planned on heading up to Rocky Mountain National Park, but due to road closures thanks to all the snow they had had the previous week, we opted for exploring the city instead! Based on where we were located, we walked to the nearest Free MallRide pick up and headed to Union Station!
Once we got to Union Station we headed in and made a few rounds to check it out! I will say the inside of the station was much smaller than I had anticipated but it was so incredibly gorgeous! Considering all we had had to eat up to this point was airplane pretzels & coffee we popped into Terminal Bar for lunch! Unfortunately they had a kitchen fire that morning so we were out of luck on food but thankfully the bar was open so we opted for a liquid lunch.
We had THE sweetest waiter and I’m thankful still for all their recommendations! We ultimately tried three different drinks - A cidery cocktail - a tart cherry gimlet & a creamy chocolate drink! I would say the cider one was my favorite given how seasonal and yummy it was! The cherry gimlet was incredibly tart but also refreshing and Cody loved the Cherry flavor (his very favorite). Lastly, we luckily were gifted a free drink after an order mix up and while the drink was STRONG it was oddly delicious and something I think Willy Wonka would have in his factory if he decided to get into the booze business.
Once we were warmed up at Terminal, we headed out front to get some shots with Union Station (read: my blogger dreams were coming true). We had a photo bomber, a few lost tourists but ultimately we had tons of fun! From there, we headed over to the Diary Block (again - be still my blogging heart!)
After spending about 15 minutes just admiring the whole entrance, we finally started walking down the street stopping for many photos…
an art gallery or two…
and a gigantic slice of yummy pizza for lunch!
On our way to our next destination we stopped in (bakery) to check out the yummy options & opted for a few delicious sweet treats.
Walking around Downtown Denver I couldn’t help but feel comfortable and at home. The weather was crisp, the humans were kind and it was truly beautiful. It reminded me of Indianapolis but also was this brand new place I was honestly ready to start apartment hunting in… come 2021 we might just be back (for real)!
We absolutely HAD to go to Tattered Cover Book Store while we were in town. While Cody is not as into bookstores as I am, he’s a real trouper and comes anyways which I appreciate. There were so many amazing books and the feel of being there with cozy & quaint little corners and spots for reading and chatting - I felt right at home.
Once we were done here we headed back to the apartment to get ready for dinner we were having with family & afterwards called it an early night thanks to travel induced tiredness.
Day TWO
While we had every intention of waking up super early for some sunrise shots and other photography work I was doing for a few brands our bodies decided we were sleeping in so we got started a bit later in the morning. Once we were dressed and ready to go we headed to Cody’s home town of Littleton. He showed me his schools - his homes - the special places that built him. During our time in the area we headed over to one of his favorite bites - The Cow Eatery and had breakfast! The food was SO GOOD I absolutely would go back! One of the best bits was sharing their famous cinnamon rolls.
Once we were super full we kept exploring the area by heading up to Red Rocks. It was so beautiful and I absolutely want to see a show there someday! I don’t recommend, however, walking up there after a big breakfast. That and the elevation had me taking things real slow.
After spending quite a bit of time there, we headed back to the car and popped into a wonderful local coffee place, Atlas, and enjoyed seasonal drinks. This was one of those places Cody went to all the time and loved and it was so special to try something that wasn’t just local and delicious, but important to him!
With caffeine in our system we headed to Golden for the Coors Factory Tour! Golden is such a beautiful town I really wish we had more time to explore- if we head back this summer like we’re hoping to, I really would love some extra time there!
Now- some info on the Coors Tour as this is the states second most popular tourist destination. When you get there, you typically are taken by a shuttle from the parking lot to the factory. When we visited this wasn’t the case (not sure why) so just be prepared for that in case! Once we parked (without cost) we walked a few blocks to the factory.
Quick note: DO NOT BRING IN A BAG. They are very strict on this and made multiple women even with larger wallets/clutches return them to their cars or stash them in a bush. I literally brought my ID, phone and credit card and it served me well!
One thing I didn’t know - and thank god we got there when we did - was you actually have to wait in an extremely long line to get in. Because the tours go in groups of people, and only so many can be in each group, you may end up waiting hours to get in. We waited about an hour plus some to get in - which was fine - but depending on your time and what your schedule looks like this might not work for you! Once you’re in, you start the tour by purchasing tickets ($10 - some discounts available) and getting your photo taken. It’s a self guided tour so it can take as long or as short as you want - we spent maybe 45 minutes on the actual tour and the rest drinking. (Note: You DO NOT have to be 21 to take the tour, but you won’t be able to sample beers if you’re under 21! There are soda options and water for those under 21 or someone opting for the non-alcoholic option)
Once we were done with the tour (and gift shop of course) we made our way back to Denver to get ready for his family’s gathering and enjoyed the night celebrating with them!
Day THREE
With a short day to do things we decided to sleep in took it easy. We originally planned to do some exploring but opted for a relaxing day, a few photos and an early arrival to the airport! Overall, our time in Denver was so refreshing and fun! I adored it more than I really thought I would (especially the cold!) and look forward to planning our next trip!
