Hey you! It’s been awhile since we caught up, and a lot has happened, so I thought I’d pop in to say hello and let you know what I’ve been up to lately.
I’m currently sitting here in my near-empty apartment, waiting for the movers to come and whisk me and my many boxes away to Los Angeles. I’ve moved six times in the last five years and probably between 25-30 times over the span of my entire life. Even though I do it more often than most people, it’s still an interesting dance to pack up everything that means something to you into a cardboard box, and label it with words like, “kitchen” or “office,” as if its contents could really be defined by one-word nouns. “The first bowl I successfully made in my pottery class” or “the mug I use everyday for my morning coffee and have grown sentimentally attached to” would ring more true than “dishes,” but I guess that’s the beauty of packing yourself into boxes. Only you will know the meaning and value of their contents, like an inside joke you have with yourself. 🙂
Normally, I pack everything up myself, so it was a nice change having Paul there to help me. Paul is the type of person who actually looks forward to helping people with things like moving. Recently he said to me, unprompted, “I’m going to come over this weekend so we can pack everything together.” He’s the best. 🙂
I’m looking forward to moving. I feel like the area and apartment I’m moving to will suit me better than almost anywhere I’ve lived before. I’m also gaining this renewed sense of enthusiasm and motivation toward my work and life. I have a lot of lofty, I-can’t-yet-touch-them-but-I-can-feel-them dreams and I think LA will be the place I make them happen.
On that note, does anyone else feel addicted to working? Sometimes, when I take a day off, I feel antsy because I’d rather be at my desk. I definitely wasn’t always like this and don’t want you thinking I’m humble-bragging about being an overachiever. Trust me, in previous jobs I was out the door the second my shift was over. But now, I crave working. I’m glad I’ve found a career I love, but it does scare me sometimes to think that I am, in many ways, “addicted” to my job.
Speaking of work, I felt a little overwhelmed the past few months, but have brought in a bit more help in order to soothe things and grow our community — specifically, five contributors and an online business manager. Man, they have helped a TON! It’s also really neat to see my little TNC team grow and I’m grateful to work with such talented women.
Random side note, but does anyone else hate having long fingernails? I just had to get up and cut them in the middle of writing this because they were driving me bananas.
Other random side note…I’ve been thinking of creating a YouTube channel or podcast with business and blogging tips. I like the idea of a YouTube channel because it feels more personal. What do you think? Would you be into one of them?
So finally, to end this accidental stream-of-consciousness post, here are a few reasons I’m excited to move…
- Wood floors! I kind of can’t wait to not have carpet everywhere I look. Not only do they look a whole lot nicer, but my dog, Monja, sheds enough to create an entirely new animal. It’s everywhere. And carpet has this lovely way of hiding it until you notice a chunk of fur stuck to your foot. Or clothes. Or anywhere, really. Monja also likes sleeping on cooler surfaces, so I think he’s going to be pretty stoked. Last night, we were hanging out in my (carpeted) room and he laid on top of a plastic storage box lid because it was probably the coolest place to sleep. It was really pathetic to watch haha. Also, adorable. Poor guy. He’s going to have a whole lot more places to sleep in our new digs.
- Walking to stuff! My current neighborhood is pretty suburban. I can’t walk anywhere. I’m excited for my new area because there are a lot of restaurants and boutiques right around the corner.
- More nature! The street I’m moving to has lots of trees and grass, and Griffith Park is right around the corner, too. I’m excited to get outside more and I think Monja will be happy, too. 🙂
- Decorating! I’ve put a really sloppy amount of effort into decorating previous apartments, probably because they always felt like transient homes. I’m hoping to add more “me” to this place and have already been planning some new decor. I’m excited!
What have you been up to lately?
p.s. My Blogging, Business, and Life Goals for 2015
Walking to stuff! I think that just makes or breaks a neighborhood! I used to be able to walk everywhere in a neighborhood that I loved and I miss it sooo much. When buying the house we currently live in, I looked up the “Walk Score” online of every house. You can plug in an address and it will tell you the walkability of a neighbor. Walkability was a household term for a while there. 🙂 Seriously fun to look at. Enjoy your walkable neighborhood!
Ohh very interesting! I just plugged in my address and my walk score is a 92! Woo! That made me a tinge more excited haha. 🙂 I love that that was one of your deciding factors!
Yes, but we ended up in the 30s…so sad. My old neighborhood was in the. 90s! Enjoy that 92!!
Melyssa – I’m reading this blog post like “wait, are we the same person but I’m just a little bit tanner?” I feel like I’ve moved a bajillion times. Probably only about 10 times in my life rather than 25, but I don’t think it’s something that gets easier. Not as far as packing least. Kudos to Paul! I’m excited for you to settle into your new place so we can see some photos.
It was so weird that you mentioned the work-a-holic thing. I literally went on Google the other day and typed “Am I a work-a-holic?” It was freaking me out because I was feeling super guilty when I relaxed instead of working. I’m like “I could be doing _______” instead of hanging out. I think a big reason for that feeling is because I work from home. So it’s like “why are you kicking back when your office is staring you in the face?”
For some reason I feel like so many people experienced burn out in February. It was really weird. I had to hire a “brand clarity” consultant to help me organize all the projects I have going on. My assistant and intern have also been super helpful. Thank God for a team! I feel like March is going to be fun, less hectic, but profitable for all of us! Cheers. 🙂 PS – I didn’t intend to leave a novel of a comment on your post. LOL.
Oh Maya, we are SO on the same wavelength, my friend! I’m glad you can relate to all of this! I think that’s a great point, that when you can SEE your office just across the room, it makes it very easy to be like, “so why aren’t you working right now?!” It’s hard to shut off that part of my brain (and a lot of the time I wonder if I even WANT to shut it off because I like it). Maybe one day when I have my own studio, I’ll be able to turn it off a bit better.
A brand clarity consultant sounds really interesting! Funny, because I’ve actually considered doing something like that recently, too. Do you think it was helpful? If so, feel free to share contact info. 😉 And I’m excited for March, too! We both have so much going on and so much to look forward to. 🙂
I haven’t moved much in my life… twice with my parents. Once when I was six, so I don’t really remember it, and then just a year ago they moved out of the house we lived in and where most of the stuff happened. Granted, I moved to college, but I stayed in the same state so I guess it doesn’t really count. Then I guess I moved when I studied in France, but that was basically whatever I could fit in my two suitcases and a backpack… but there is something exciting about living in another place and making it your own and new! I love being able to walk places. I can walk everywhere from the house I live in at school, and my parents live downtown so I can walk everywhere (even to work, which is awesome!) and in France I could walk everywhere in my town which was amazing. Anyways, yay to new adventures!!! 🙂
That’s awesome, Zoe! Walking places is so nice. 🙂
What a great idea with the YouTube channel! I always love reading your advice and blogging tips.
Good luck with moving!
Stefanie x
lovelyfashionrose.blogspot.de
WOO! Glad you like the idea, Stefanie. 🙂
Love your post! I like to change my living place too. It’s always exiting! Best wishes for you!
http://youthfulblog.blogspot.com/
Thanks so much! 🙂
That sounds so exciting- congratulations on moving to LA! Best of luck with the rest of the move!
I actually have only *ever* had long nails. Ok, not “ever” but since I was like 8 or so my nails have been long (my mom told me that if I took care of them and didn’t let them get dirty or ragged I could grow them out) so I really can’t function properly without them (a few times I’ve had several break at the same time and decided to cut them all and it was awful- couldn’t even tie my shoes properly- no joke!).
And in terms of the podcast- I would definitely be interested in that!
Ahh so interesting! I guess we like what we’re used to. 🙂 Though I’m not sure I could ever get used to that! haha. I DO remember one short phase I had in college where I had fake nails and typing on a computer was SO hard because I wasn’t used to them haha. I feel you!
Congrats on getting your new apartment! I understand what you mean by hating having long fingernails. I also feel the need to cut them quite often. Good luck with everything!
haha glad you understand! 🙂 And thank you!!
Yes to the long fingernails, an extra all caps YES for men with long fingernails. I won’t vote on the podcast or YouTube station as I’m barely keeping up with reading all of my favorite bloggers and posting my own. Whatever you decide though, I’ll look forward to popping in now and again.
Whoa whoa who, men with long fingernails?! I don’t know if I could handle that! haha!
I also love moving, I’ve probably moved about that many times in my life too! For me, its always a bittersweet feeling, I crave change and have so much excitement about moving but there are always a few moments of sadness in leaving my old life/routine/etc behind. Good luck with the move! And YES would be super interested in a youtube channel with tips and tricks!
I completely agree, Christie! I tend to like change, too, but always have those sad, nostalgic moments right before. And YAY glad you’re into the YouTube idea! 🙂
It’s so nice to see how you’re getting on. It’s like reading a completely different blog from the one I discovered when you were living in Japan. Go you!
Ha! A lot has changed, that’s for sure. 🙂
YES get amongst Youtube girl! I’d definitely watch 🙂 xxx
Sarah | More Than Adored
WOO!! Thanks for the support Sarah! I definitely think I will. 🙂 Do you have a channel?
Nope not yet. I’m focusing on my blog for now but definitely in the future 🙂 xx
I’m so excited for you! I bet you’ll love your new place, and decorating will really help you settle in!
Before last March (when I got married and moved in with my hubby), I knew every place I lived (college dorm, college apartment, transition house before marriage) was so temporary that I didn’t do much either. But once I moved into to our house, I felt so much more free to decorate and I love it!
Kristin // The Peculiar Treasure
athisfeetdaily.blogspot.com
Ahh isn’t that a great (and super motivating) feeling? I can’t wait to get settled and decorate! 🙂
After having moved about a zillion times, that comment about laughing at the labels on your things being an inside joke with yourself really rang true. You can’t just reduce things with stories into a label. Happy moving and very happy decorating!
Glad you get it, Kristin. 🙂 And thank you!
You are moving! That is a big step but I hope it goes (went) well.
I like my nails longer but they are so short so I have to grow them some. Plus I have been putting Jamberry wraps on and they look better longer.
I am all for the YouTube but I will only get to watch it when I come to Thailand where there is god internet. ha!
Also, random but, when someone else other than you writes a post do you mention that in the bog post? I’m just curious. And will you ever do a post so we can ‘meet’ the new contributors?
Hey Beka! The author’s info is always at the bottom of every post, so you can see who wrote it. 🙂 And I already did a post introducing each of the new contributors. You can read it here: https://melyssagriffin.com/2015/01/meet-tncs-new-contributors/
🙂
Good luck with your move! Just out of curiosity, why LA? My husband and I are playing around with the idea of moving up to LA one day so that he can pursue a career in film. Anyhow, I’m so excited for you and can’t wait to see your new place all cute and decorated! 🙂
Circus & Bloom
♥♥♥
Thank you Natalie! 🙂 I chose LA for a couple reasons, but mainly because I think it’s the closest big city with a creative environment to where I was (Orange County). Also because a lot of my friends live up here. 🙂
Good luck with your move! It sounds like the new area is perfect.
Thank you Elizabeth! 🙂
How exciting to move to a place where you feel your life is going new places, literally 🙂 Take lots of pics of your new place.
Thank you Bella! So sweet of you. 🙂
Really excited for you and all that’s ahead for you and Monja 🙂 I’m in my senior year of college, so I totally get having to pack my life up into boxes once every year and turning it into something so much more watered down than what it actually is! Good luck moving!
http://www.perpetuallycaroline.com
Thanks for all the love, Caroline! Glad you “get it” 🙂
YAY! It’s all happening right now for you girl. There’s definitely a renewed sense of being and purpose with moving to a new place that nothing else can quite match. I can’t wait to hear all about what you get up to in LA and what’s in store for you this year <3. And yes to Youtube channel!!
Ahh thank you for the love, Sarah-Louise! I appreciate your enthusiasm and encouragement so so much! I totally agree — moving to a new place is all kinds of inspiring. 🙂 Also, stoked that you’d be into a YouTube channel!!
I love personal update posts! It’s so fun to see what you’re up to. And I love that us contributors are helping you out because you’ve provided such an awesome community for us to contribute to! Yay!
Aww that makes me so happy to hear, Christine! 🙂 <3
It sounds just great! Are you ready for house guests? That’ll be me and my cat!
haha Monja (my dog) might not be too happy about that…but I think he’d get used to it. 😉
Ahhh, I understand the “moving too many times to count” struggle, also. Eventually, I got to the point where I put things in boxes without labeling them because the typical ‘kitchen, living room, bedroom’ choices didn’t describe every single item I owned. Since I was the only one sorting them anyway, I figured I’d just take the extra time when I got there and figure out where everything goes then. Anyway, great post as usual, and best wishes for an easy move!
Thanks Samantha! I’m glad you get it. 🙂
I’ve always kept my nails super short. I think it sounds like fun to have pretty, long nails, but I always clip them short as soon as they start to show promise. haha.
haha I’m the same way. I also think it would be fun to have long, manicured nails, but I think they’re drive me a little insane. 😉
I just said ‘OMG’ out loud at your fingernails comment because I can’t STAND when my finger nails get long! No joke, 20 minutes ago I was thinking, ‘I wish I would have cut my nails this morning, they are driving me nuts’. I literally will stop what I’m doing because I can’t stand the way they feel when I type. (I sound a little crazy now because I’ve written an entire paragraph dedicated to long nails now, but seriously, I’m so surprised that other people out there feel that same way!) That being said, I can’t believe you’re coming out to LA, yay! I totally feel you with all of the moving, I’ve moved three times in the past three years…and I think my boyfriend and I are leaving our Downtown LA loft soon to find another place. It kinda drives me crazy, but at least I know I’m not alone (yet again) 🙂
haha! I’m glad you feel my pain with long fingernails! They are seriously the worst. >_< Sometimes I feel like I'm not being a good female because I love boyish nails. haha. Where are you moving to??
I hope your move went well! I’m looking forward to hearing about your new place. I hope your new neighborhood is just the inspiration you need to kick things up an extra notch in achieving your goals. 🙂
I love the idea of both YouTube videos or podcasts! I’m addicted to YouTube videos, so I’d definitely watch them. (I’m actually planning to look into YouTube videos soon. My goal is by June at the latest. Preferably in April–this month will be too busy–but I have a feeling that work will be incredibly busy from now till the end of the year, so if it feels too overwhelming I’ll wait until school is out at the end of May.) I also like podcasts though. I can listen to them on the bus and while I’m at work or cleaning the house. 🙂
Thank you Crystal! Finally getting settled now, so things are really looking up. 🙂 And thank you for your input on YouTube videos vs. a podcast. I’m glad you like the idea! And how neat that you’re working on starting a channel as well. What kinds of things do you plan to talk about? 🙂
I think it will be storytelling related. I’d love to do video book reviews because I think I’d be willing to dig deeper than I do in written reviews if I’m talking about it instead of writing. And I’d also like to discuss TV shows and movies and analyze them. I’m an avid re-watcher of shows/movies that I like, because I like to learn from them. (I’ve been known to take notes; it’s probably a little sad, but even though I always identify myself as a writer/novelist, I always see myself as a storyteller first and foremost, so I like to study all forms of storytelling.) I’d probably also throw in beauty posts from time to time; I like it when YouTubers do something different every once in awhile. Especially around Halloween, I’ve always thought Halloween tutorials would be fun. And I’d like to vlog. Not every day–my day to day life isn’t that interesting and it would take too much time–but whenever I do something interesting in the Cities or go on a trip, I’ve always thought it would be fun to vlog. 🙂
I feel you on the nails thing. I have woken up before and had to cut them because of that same thing. I also can’t wear nail polish as I can actually feel the WEIGHT of the polish on my fingers. I can ignore it better on my toes. LOL! 🙂
haha! That is pretty funny that you can feel the weight of the polish! I went through a phase recently where I loved wearing polish (rare for me), but waiting for it to dry is like a form of torture. I keep thinking of all the things I want to, but can’t, do. It’s the worst! haha!