checking things off my 30 before 30 list

I have to say, I am really proud of myself.

I have already taken care of FOUR of my goals on my 30 before 30 list! And here I was thinking I wasn't going to be able to get everything done and I've already checked off some. Look. At. That.

1. get another tattoo

Well, that didn't take long! After almost 7 years since my last tattoo (yes it's been THAT long), I finally got another one!

(Parks and Rec forever)

We say this to each other practically all the time, and it'll probably (definitely) show up in our vows in a few weeks. Took maybe 15 minutes and was pretty painless too, but I definitely have the bug and want some more very soon if possible.

Shout out to Greg at Oak City Tattoo in Raleigh for working with us!

2. be a published author

YOU GUYS. IT FINALLY HAPPENED.

In Holl & Lane magazine, for their 14th issue appropriately entitled 'The Heart', I have a published piece! 

The little girl inside of me that made books for fun in my free time and wrote any chance I got in every journal I've ever owned is doing the biggest happy dance at seeing my name in print.

Holl & Lane is a rare publication where women can share their honest stories without judgement, and I am so incredibly proud to be part of this amazing community of female contributors. This magazine is content created by women about women, and is one of the most refreshing representations of women in the media I've seen in a long time. Here you won't find tips on loosing weight so you can look better naked or lists of ways to improve yourself just to be loved by your partner; instead, Sarah and her team of creatives welcome you as you are, exactly as you are, in whatever season of life you're living in. Each issue focuses on another theme that affects women, be it mental health, matters of the heart, or the physical and metaphorical body. Within its' pages instead, you'll find stories about miscarriages and loss, abuse and recovery, love and light, the human condition and the female experience, and more. 

Holl & Lane has limited quantities of print issues, so PLEASE head over to the link above and snag yourself a copy of this fantastic publication, and read my piece featured within it, 'Unexpected Reassurance'.

3. do a 30 day challenge

For the month of August, I went 30 days without Red Bull AND beer.

As a former server and bartender, this was a little hard but mostly, I was perfectly fine. I'm used to grabbing caffeine on my way everywhere I go, and when coffee isn't nearby, I grab Red Bull like water. Since going without, I have been a lot less likely to grab it, but I still love it.

(first beer flight after 30 days)

And thanks to the 30 days without beer, I lost a few pounds and I was able to feel a bit better about myself. We of course had beer and wine at our wedding, but going without it for 30 days was a nice reset. I love trying new brews so I missed that, but honestly, I'm just not 21 anymore, so I was happy for the break.

Speaking of wedding...

4. get married to the love of my life

I can OFFICIALLY say that I am FINALLY a married lady.

I can not even describe how incredibly happy Sunday, October 22nd was for both Ashley and I. We were surrounded by our community of family and friends that are our chosen family, crying through the ceremony and laughing and dancing our asses off through the reception. From the fantastic vows to the sentimental and heartfelt speeches to my new wife's killer dance moves, Sunday was the best day ever, capping off such a phenomenal weekend. We cannot thank everyone enough for that day.

More to come later on wedding day, but for now, here's a shot from my best friend Rebekah's boyfriend Devon that he got that is my new favorite until we get our photos from Kat back...

More to come soon!

the big news...

So after months and months of not really telling a soul on social media what my plans are for the upcoming year, it's finally time. A lot of thought has gone into this, and this is going to be a really great thing for both Ashley and I. The big news is....

We are moving to North Carolina!

Ashley has been accepted into the Doctorate of Physical Therapy program at Campbell University! After working incredibly hard over the last 6 years to apply, she has finally been granted the opportunity she deserves. I cannot tell you how excited I am for her to embark on this. If ever my amazing partner had a passion, working in the physical therapy field would be it. She is perfectly suited for the job; she loves working with people, helping people, and she definitely finds purpose in the career. I am so proud of how hard she has worked to get to this point in her life, and I cannot wait to support her as she goes through this journey.

With her acceptance into Campbell, we are officially moving to the Raleigh area mid December, and then coming back down to Georgia to enjoy the holidays and finish out work before returning to North Carolina for the new year. We already have our apartment signed off on and ready to go, and now comes the difficult part.

I currently am trying to find a new position in NC, since my position in Atlanta stays at the corporate office only here. I am looking at this at the new opportunity for us both to start anew and on a fresh blank page, so I am solely looking into my field of publishing, editing, and writing for a new career move. I have a couple of leads towards some great things, just hoping for one big opportunity to pan out for me, so stay tuned for that. I'm hopeful and optimistic, even if secretly I'm scared shitless at the idea of not quite having the job I desire when we move. Having any job would make me feel much more comfortable, but being offered a position with a company that fuels my creative desires and plays on my passions for publishing? That's the dream.

Ever since I was a little girl, the publishing process has fascinated me. I was the kid reading more books than I required to in school, absorbing them the way a starved individual does with seeing food for the first time. In high school, I worked on the staff for our literary magazine as a senior editor, putting together layouts, designing documents, and editing our manuscript. I always told myself if I could find a job that let me do that, I would be happy for the rest of my days. It's that kind of career I so desperately am searching for. Not only would something like that make me feel like I am valued and I have a purpose, but I get to be creative and actually utilize the degree I spent so long obtaining and working towards. It would validate every section of my heart that all of that hard work was not in vain, and that in fact, I could really have a career that makes getting up for work everyday a pleasure and a joy. I want that for myself, for my family, and for my future. I don't want to settle for anything less than, but it's hard.

Thankfully, I have some solid contacts with a few places in the area that I am maintaining communication with in hopes I can reach my goal. It's not without it's frustrations, of course. I think the hardest part of job searching is the feeling that me on paper does not accurately reflect me in person and I hate feeling judged before I get a chance or opportunity to show who I really am to someone. Sometimes I just want to scream, "I can do anything if you just give me the chance!" I'm hoping soon I will have some good news in that area.

Otherwise, we are pressing forward the best way we can. I am continuing my search in hopes of that magical someone to take a chance and give me the opportunity I deserve, and we are looking into furnishing an apartment all over again. There is still lots to come, and lots to decide, but hopefully, things will settle down into something wonderful before too long. This move does not come without its' challenges for sure, but I am positive we will weather whatever storm comes our way.

hey there

hi universe, I'm Nikki.

I'm starting this blog as a way for me to not only document my life, but to share my experiences and my writing. I've gone back and forth about this for a while now, contemplating whether to blog or not, and as I've thought about it more often, I've decided this is the best way to really express myself. I will make the best effort to be as 'frank' as possible, showing my life with as much honest detail as I can, without sacrificing my own privacy at the same time. I hope you're up for it.

To start, here is a little about myself. I'm 27 years old and I live outside of Atlanta, for now. I am engaged to a wonderful woman named Ashley who makes me laugh every single day. I graduated with my Bachelor's in Writing and Publication from a university here in my state just this past May, and I'm still looking for the right writing job. I'm currently trying to get as much editing and writing experience as possible, as that is where my passion lives. I work in an office in Atlanta for now, and while it's not in my field exactly, it gives me the opportunity to have the time needed to write and live. I studied abroad two years ago in London, a trip that changed my life and made me fall madly in love with the city. Since then, I've spent as much time as I can trying to travel, write, and live authentically the best way possible. I have a vast love affair for craft beers and cheese, in fact, I almost called my blog for the love of cheese, but decided against it since I'm not a food blog. I come from a loud and large family, mostly filled with headstrong women. I'm a dreamer with a penchant for grand plans and I'm hoping that I'm finally turning the corner on a lot of these. I'm very outspoken, and I'm not afraid to express my opinion when asked. I'm as human as the next person, and sometimes I fuck up, it hasn't always been an easy road, but it's a road worth traveling for sure.

Currently, I am on the precipice of a new journey soon. Ashley is waiting to hear back about graduate school and it's a change that will either take us out of state and to a brand new place to call home or further encourage us to lay our roots here in Atlanta. For me, this means a new opportunity to really get into what makes me happy: writing.

Growing up, I was the kid reading Harry Potter novels under the covers with a flashlight until the wee hours of the morning. I've been hooked ever since. Since childhood, I have spent as much free time as possible reading and writing anything and everything I can, from poetry to non-fiction to fictious blurbs about exaggerated lives. To this day, I have half-full journals and half-finished blogs strewn all over my bookshelf and my social media pages, and I'm hoping to make this something completely different.

For now, that's all I've got, but trust me, this is just the beginning.