Happy New Year 2019 + a Life Update!

Happy New Year!

It's been a minute since I last updated, and there are many reasons for that! So many things have shifted in the past six months that I just didn't find the time to update, nor was I really motivated to. I kind of hit a wall of exhaustion, and just had no desire to get stressed out while already having a full-time job. Just being honest! I love writing and I love sharing my healthy living journey, but I want to enjoy doing so and not have it feel like a burden. Social media specifically starts to stress me out very easily, so, I usually go all in for a bit and then have to take a step back for quite a while. Social anxiety on and offline IS real!

Quick timeline from the past six months:

June - A pipe burst in my home, which lead to the discovery of an old leak and mold in our walls. We had to live in a hotel for a week and didn't have a functioning downstairs (including kitchen) for a month. I have asthma and this made breathing for me very difficult and left me physically exhausted. I'm pretty sure I'm still having issues because of this!

September - Start of Fall semester classes and a trip to Austin to visit my bestie!

October - Took a vacation to NYC for the first time which was so much fun! I also started a new job as pastry chef at The Lodge at Torrey Pines! After working at another hotel for 6.5 years, I decided to go back to where it all began for me in a pastry kitchen, but as pastry chef this time! This is the main reason why I have not been posting on my blog or really as often on social media. Being a manager has been a shift for me, including working many 11+ hour days. It has been extremely rewarding so far, and, I have such a great team! However, when I get home, literally the last thing I want to do is stare at a screen for hours on end. It's really been a struggle for balance in the last few months, and I'm still working on that!

Holidays were crazy busy at work!

NYE - I got engaged! My now fiancé proposed to me on the morning of NYE before I went to work. I thought we were meeting his grandfather for the first time, only to walk into this beautiful setting that he created for us!

So, that's just the shortened version, but SO many big events have been happening that I just needed to take the time and experience it all.

2019 is going to be a big year and I'm very excited to see where it takes me. This January marks the year anniversary of my fiancé's sobriety, which, I am SO proud of him for! I also get to celebrate my best friend getting married this April as her Maid of Honor, and, I also turn the big 3-0 this year! My last semester of schooling was cut in half, so, I've still got one more class to finish to receive my Diploma in Holistic Health Practice, but, my goal is to finish that over the summer semester. I also have some more personal projects in the works, which will hopefully mean shifting from Peppermint and Spinach to more exciting ventures SOON!

My biggest lesson thus far is to know when to slow down and have balance. I struggle with not over-doing it, always striving to do the most and best that I can. I tend to reach a level of exhaustion and just shut off. SO, as I'm trying to promote a holistic lifestyle, I myself need to practice what I preach!

On that note, cheers to a happy, healthy, productive, and exciting 2019!

What are your goals for 2019? Comment below!