Today my husband and I drove to one of our favorite breakfast spots and picked a random table to down at. A few minutes later, an old man sat down at the table directly next to ours. He was eating alone and reading the newspaper but he kept glancing at Kris and I. After we finished our breakfast, Kris went to the front of the restaurant to pay for our food and I smiled at him. The old man caught my smile, glanced at my wedding ring and asked, "How long have you been married? I'm only asking because you look really happy."
I answered him and we chatted while I waited for Kris. When he came back, the old man added him to the conversation. Before we knew it, we were whisked into a beautiful conversation about love, miracles, faith, happiness and the joys of having a family. Talking to this man was so easy and we could tell by the look in his eyes and the smile on his face that he really appreciated that we took the time to talk to him.
He told us about many intimate, important aspects of his life, like the death of his son, the death of both of his wives and what he was passionate about. In return, we told him stories about our lives that we thought would make him smile. As we told him about our lives, the smile never left his face.
By the time that the conversation was over and it was time to leave, he thanked us for talking to him, thanked my husband for his service and said, "God bless you both." He walked away from that conversation with tears in the corner of his eyes and a huge smile lighting up his face.
It felt like he really needed to have that conversation and was grateful to have the chance to have it with people that were willing to listen. It felt so incredibly good to know that my husband and I had given him that happiness.
By just taking an hour of our time to talk to him, we made him feel good, which made us feel even better. This spontaneous conversation made me realize just how good it feels to make someone else happy, even if that person is a stranger. So as we walked out of that restaurant, Kris and I couldn't help but feel blessed to know that we were a part of that and we felt so incredibly lucky to have met him. It just goes to show that something as simple as talking to someone else can make a difference and that it's truly the little things in life that matter. We went into the restaurant for breakfast and left with a blessing and happiness that we couldn't have anticipated.
-Chelsea
Friday, November 11, 2016
Saturday, October 15, 2016
My First Pole Dancing Competition
One week ago, my friends and I packed up our cars and made our way down to Connecticut to compete in the 2016 Northeast Pole Championships. For most of us, it was our first competition and we couldn't have been more nervous or excited.
I'd never done anything like this in my entire life. I grew up playing sports like football and soccer, games that needed a full team. But with this routine, I'd be competing all by myself. I competed on Sunday, while almost all of my friends competed on Saturday. I must admit that I was a little jealous of them. I was so nervous and my nerves seemed to grow by the minute. Part of me just wanted to get the routine over with while the other part of me wanted to savor every possible second of the experience.
I was even more nervous because there were many more people in my category as there were in my friends' categories. So I tried telling myself that since there wasn't a great chance that I'd win, that I should just try to take the pressure off of myself and enjoy my performance. But then I felt bad because I didn't want to go into the competition thinking that I wasn't going to win. So I reminded myself that it didn't matter if I won or lost. What mattered is that I spent months working incredibly hard on this routine and that I was doing something that was completely out of my comfort zone. I've loved pole dancing from the second that I started doing it but having the courage to actually compete was something that I never actually thought that I'd attain. Even now, a week later, I'm still a little surprised that I actually did it. Sometimes it feels like a dream.
I was so afraid that I was going to fall on stage or mess us drastically but I didn't. Sure, the routine wasn't perfect. I had a few small hiccups but nothing really even noticeable to anyone but me and my instructor. I am incredibly proud of myself for even competing, even though I didn't win or place. I know that I left my heart and soul on that stage and that I did the best that I possibly could have.
I'm also really glad that I went just because it was a really amazing, fun road trip with some great memories and even better friends. I'll never forget them and all of the laughs, wine and good times that we shared together. I know that when I'm older I'll look back on this experience and feel really lucky that I got to do what I loved to do with some really fantastic people. I'm so glad that we all pushed ourselves and grew together.
And I can't wait to compete again.
-Chelsea
I'd never done anything like this in my entire life. I grew up playing sports like football and soccer, games that needed a full team. But with this routine, I'd be competing all by myself. I competed on Sunday, while almost all of my friends competed on Saturday. I must admit that I was a little jealous of them. I was so nervous and my nerves seemed to grow by the minute. Part of me just wanted to get the routine over with while the other part of me wanted to savor every possible second of the experience.
Category: Dramatic, Level 2
Song: Daylight by Maroon 5
I was even more nervous because there were many more people in my category as there were in my friends' categories. So I tried telling myself that since there wasn't a great chance that I'd win, that I should just try to take the pressure off of myself and enjoy my performance. But then I felt bad because I didn't want to go into the competition thinking that I wasn't going to win. So I reminded myself that it didn't matter if I won or lost. What mattered is that I spent months working incredibly hard on this routine and that I was doing something that was completely out of my comfort zone. I've loved pole dancing from the second that I started doing it but having the courage to actually compete was something that I never actually thought that I'd attain. Even now, a week later, I'm still a little surprised that I actually did it. Sometimes it feels like a dream.
I was so afraid that I was going to fall on stage or mess us drastically but I didn't. Sure, the routine wasn't perfect. I had a few small hiccups but nothing really even noticeable to anyone but me and my instructor. I am incredibly proud of myself for even competing, even though I didn't win or place. I know that I left my heart and soul on that stage and that I did the best that I possibly could have.
I'm also really glad that I went just because it was a really amazing, fun road trip with some great memories and even better friends. I'll never forget them and all of the laughs, wine and good times that we shared together. I know that when I'm older I'll look back on this experience and feel really lucky that I got to do what I loved to do with some really fantastic people. I'm so glad that we all pushed ourselves and grew together.
And I can't wait to compete again.
-Chelsea
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Exploring the North Country!
Being someone that was raised in South Florida, I didn't grow up around waterfalls. I saw a few on some of my family vacations but that was about it. Kris and I have lived up North for over two years now and we've been told that there are over sixty waterfalls within a 4 hour radius of our house. We've seen a few over the past few years but over the past few weeks, I've decided to see as many of them as I possibly can. I know that we won't live up here forever, so I want to take advantage of all of the beauty and wonder that this place has to offer. So Kris and I have made a concerted effort to see more waterfalls lately and I'm so glad that we did. They are truly some of the most beautiful places that I've ever seen and these photos do not do them justice.
This is one of my absolute favorite photos of Kris.
These are just a few of my favorite photos! I hope that you've enjoyed them!
-Chelsea
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Why I'm a Pole Dancer
Recently, I've taken up and become addicted to a new hobby: pole dancing. This is something that I've always wanted to do but has always been outside of my comfort zone. I never thought that I'd actually get around to doing it. I had a friend that was taking lessons and I was always so jealous of every pole dancing picture that she posted on Facebook. But even still, I always found a way to talk myself out of going to lessons with her.
Then, one day, she sent me a message and asked me to come to a class with her. I was both nervous and excited, but mostly nervous. After my first class, I was hooked and after my fourth class, I decided that I wanted to compete. Before I knew it, I'd absolutely fallen in love with pole dancing.
But even though I loved it so much, for the first few weeks that I went to class, I hardly talked about it. Only a select few people knew that I was doing it. I knew that there was a stigma that surrounded pole dancing and that it tended to be associated with stripping. I didn't want to listen to people make ignorant comments or judge me based on something that I loved. But after a while, I realized that if I hid it, it might look like I was embarrassed about it, even though I wasn't. And more importantly, I realized that I didn't care what other people thought because I knew the truth and that was all that mattered.
So I finally decided to tell people. Once I did, there were a few general reactions that I received. "Oh, you're a pole dancer? I bet your husband loves that", "I can't believe that you're a stripper. I never would've pictured you doing that", etc. They were the same reactions that I'd wanted to avoid. Thankfully, however, there were some people that were, and still are, very supportive of my pole dancing endeavors. And for that, I'm extremely grateful.
But one of the most popular questions that I get asked is why I pole dance. And the answer is quite simple: It's brought me nothing but happiness. Pole dancing has taught me how to be stronger, more flexible and more brave than I've ever been in my life. It's pushed my limits and gotten me to do things that I never thought that I could. It's thrown me out of my comfort zone and gotten me to try new things. It brought me into this wonderful community full of the most supportive, encouraging and delightful people, people that I never would've met otherwise. When anyone in our class succeeds, everyone is genuinely happy for that person. We go out and do things together outside of class and always have a wonderful time together. So I'm not only doing something that I love, I'm doing it while surrounded by amazing company.
There's also one more significant benefit to pole dancing, one that I never saw coming. I've always had anxiety issues but over the last few years, they've gotten more difficult to deal with. Ever since I've started pole dancing, my anxiety levels have decreased significantly. And that's because I have an outlet, a place to put all of my nervous energy. An escape from my daily life. For an hour an a half a few times a week, nothing else exists and I forget my problems. It's been extremely therapeutic for me. Pole dancing has allowed me to become a more positive and confident person. I feel empowered. I feel strong. I feel better.
I look forward to every class and to learning just what else I'm capable of. I'm learning to do things that I never thought were possible, all while having a good time with wonderful people. I've only been doing this for a few months and I'm amazed at my progress. It makes me wonder how much better I'll be in just a few more months. I've undergone amazing transformations within myself, both inside and out. I'm proud of myself for even trying something new, let alone continuing with it and competing. I'm so glad that my friend asked me to come with her. The only regret that I have is not starting sooner.
So if you have something that you've always wanted to do, do it. It might turn out better than you've ever imagined. It certainly did for me.
-Chelsea
Then, one day, she sent me a message and asked me to come to a class with her. I was both nervous and excited, but mostly nervous. After my first class, I was hooked and after my fourth class, I decided that I wanted to compete. Before I knew it, I'd absolutely fallen in love with pole dancing.
But even though I loved it so much, for the first few weeks that I went to class, I hardly talked about it. Only a select few people knew that I was doing it. I knew that there was a stigma that surrounded pole dancing and that it tended to be associated with stripping. I didn't want to listen to people make ignorant comments or judge me based on something that I loved. But after a while, I realized that if I hid it, it might look like I was embarrassed about it, even though I wasn't. And more importantly, I realized that I didn't care what other people thought because I knew the truth and that was all that mattered.
So I finally decided to tell people. Once I did, there were a few general reactions that I received. "Oh, you're a pole dancer? I bet your husband loves that", "I can't believe that you're a stripper. I never would've pictured you doing that", etc. They were the same reactions that I'd wanted to avoid. Thankfully, however, there were some people that were, and still are, very supportive of my pole dancing endeavors. And for that, I'm extremely grateful.
But one of the most popular questions that I get asked is why I pole dance. And the answer is quite simple: It's brought me nothing but happiness. Pole dancing has taught me how to be stronger, more flexible and more brave than I've ever been in my life. It's pushed my limits and gotten me to do things that I never thought that I could. It's thrown me out of my comfort zone and gotten me to try new things. It brought me into this wonderful community full of the most supportive, encouraging and delightful people, people that I never would've met otherwise. When anyone in our class succeeds, everyone is genuinely happy for that person. We go out and do things together outside of class and always have a wonderful time together. So I'm not only doing something that I love, I'm doing it while surrounded by amazing company.
This move needs some practice but I'm still
incredibly proud of myself for coming this far.
There's also one more significant benefit to pole dancing, one that I never saw coming. I've always had anxiety issues but over the last few years, they've gotten more difficult to deal with. Ever since I've started pole dancing, my anxiety levels have decreased significantly. And that's because I have an outlet, a place to put all of my nervous energy. An escape from my daily life. For an hour an a half a few times a week, nothing else exists and I forget my problems. It's been extremely therapeutic for me. Pole dancing has allowed me to become a more positive and confident person. I feel empowered. I feel strong. I feel better.
I look forward to every class and to learning just what else I'm capable of. I'm learning to do things that I never thought were possible, all while having a good time with wonderful people. I've only been doing this for a few months and I'm amazed at my progress. It makes me wonder how much better I'll be in just a few more months. I've undergone amazing transformations within myself, both inside and out. I'm proud of myself for even trying something new, let alone continuing with it and competing. I'm so glad that my friend asked me to come with her. The only regret that I have is not starting sooner.
So if you have something that you've always wanted to do, do it. It might turn out better than you've ever imagined. It certainly did for me.
-Chelsea
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Bucket List Updates
It's been a while since I've posted anything about my bucket list, so I thought that it was time for an update! I've crossed off a few things since the last time that I posted about it and I've also de-cluttered the list a bit! I hope that the next time that I post about it, I'll have more things crossed off and maybe some new things added!
(These are in no particular order, by the way!)
(These are in no particular order, by the way!)
- See a lantern festival
- Drink coffee in
Seattle - Visit Pearl Harbor
- Visit Ground Zero
Cliff dive- 6/11/2016- Celebrate my 100th birthday
- Make a wish in the Trevi Fountain
Kiss/be on a big screen5/15/2013- Go to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Run the Color Run- 6/18/2016- Snowboard/Ski
Start a blog-4/29/2013- See the Eiffel Tower
- Visit Pixar Studios
Write a letter to myself and open in 10 years6/28/13- Eat
pizza and spaghetti in Italy - Eat in one of Gordon Ramsey's restaurants
- Visit the Hershey's Chocolate Factory in Pennsylvania
- Try Chicago style pizza in Chicago
- Visit Ben&Jerry's in Vermont
- Eat at Carlo's Bakery
- Take a tour of the White House
- Be in 2 places at once
- Witness a miracle
- See a meteor shower
- Graduate college
- Go to Disneyland in California
- See a Broadway play in New York
Finish my novel-7/28/2012 at 12:15 a.m.Rescue a dog-5/28/2014Get married-5/12/2013- Go on a
Disney cruise Win a championship-November 2009 and 2011- NSPA- Run a Disney marathon
- Ride in a helicopter
Take an art class- 05/17/2016Be on T.V.-5/11/2011- WPTVGo to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween-10/16/2012Dance in the moonlight-1/25/2012Go on a road trip-12/19/2014- Scuba dive
- Swim with dolphins
- Skydive
- Learn how to play guitar
- Rock climb
- Learn to sing
- Get published
- Go on a book tour
- Write a second novel-1/29/2016
- Have kids
- Adopt a kid
- Make the NY Times Best Seller's List
White water raft- 6/11/2016- Zipline
- See the Northern Lights
Make a snow angel-11/18/2014- Learn sign language
- Go surfing
- Have a white Christmas
- Build a snowman
- Shop in N.Y.C.
- See the Statue of Liberty
- Swim in an infinity pool
- Play messy twister
- Carve my initials into a tree
- Attend a masquerade
- Have a
shaving cream fight Ride in a hot air balloon5/16/2013- Learn to embroider
- Go to Austria
I can't tell you how good it feels to cross things off of my bucket list! I can't wait for even more adventures to come!
What's on your bucket list?
-Chelsea
Monday, April 4, 2016
It's My Birthday!
April 4th is one of my favorite days of the year because... it's my birthday! Yep, today I am officially one year older! I've learned a lot in these 20+ years and I thought that now would be a good time to reflect on it!
I am...
A sister.
A daughter.
A wife.
A student.
A friend.
A writer.
An athlete.
An artist.
A caregiver.
A nanny.
Life has taken me on an incredible journey so far and I'm so excited to see where the next year takes me!
-Chelsea
- Don't judge anyone- You don't know anyone else's story or what they're going through, so don't pass judgment.
- Make yourself happy- Only you know what it takes to make you happy and what you want out of life. Life is short. So live it the way that you want to and don't worry about what anyone else thinks about it.
- Try new things- Life is about experience and making memories. Don't just stay in your comfort zone. Get out there and experience everything that life has to offer.
- Laugh as often as possible- Don't dwell on the bad things in life. Stay positive and let yourself enjoy life. Laughter is the best medicine.
- Appreciate people while they are there- People don't stay around forever and when they're gone, you'll always miss them. Make sure that you let them know how much you love and appreciate them while you can.
- Never stop trying to live your dream- If you have something that you want or want to achieve, go after it and never stop fighting for it.
- Be grateful for what you have- Always appreciate how blessed you are and never forget that.
I am...
A sister.
A daughter.
A wife.
A student.
A friend.
A writer.
An athlete.
An artist.
A caregiver.
A nanny.
Life has taken me on an incredible journey so far and I'm so excited to see where the next year takes me!
-Chelsea
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Staying in Touch
I'm a firm believer that relationships are work, whether they are romantic relationships or friendships. But I don't think that's a bad thing. In fact, I actually think the opposite. I think it's a really good thing. If you're working on a relationship, it means that you're making sure that you stay a part of that person's life. For example, ever since Kelsey moved away, we've been keeping in touch with each other. We mostly talk through text messages but there have also been phone calls as well as Face-time chats. I even went to go visit her new place in Kentucky a few months ago. (Click here to read about it). We've talked about trying to take another vacation together some time in the future as well. We're always talking and keeping each other up-to-date on what's going on in our lives. To me, that shows me just how important I am to her and vice versa. Even though we now live over 1,000 miles away from each other, we're still doing our best to maintain our friendship and make sure that it's just as strong as ever. To me, that's true friendship. We aren't letting the distance come between us.
I understand that life goes on and people get busy. It's not practical to think that I'll be in constant communication with my friends and I don't. That goes for my other friends as well. I still consider myself friends with many of the people that I left behind when I moved out of Florida. We talk when we can and meet up whenever I come down for a visit.
But it really shows me how close Kelsey and I are because we are still making that effort to be there for each other. And I know that we always will. I have no doubt that if I called her at 2 a.m. and told her that I needed her that she'd figure out a way to be there for me. And she knows that I would do the same for her in a heartbeat.
I still miss her like crazy every day and life hasn't been the same since she left. There is nobody that can ever replace her. And it feels really good to know that she's still my best friend and that she's still there for me no matter what. When people move away, most of the time they promise to keep in touch with the people that they leave behind. In my opinion, it's a rarity and a gift when they come through on those promises. I'm so appreciative that I found someone that did. I always knew that Kelsey was a special friend and that I was blessed to have her in my life. Her effort to hold onto our friendship proves that I was right.
-Chelsea
I understand that life goes on and people get busy. It's not practical to think that I'll be in constant communication with my friends and I don't. That goes for my other friends as well. I still consider myself friends with many of the people that I left behind when I moved out of Florida. We talk when we can and meet up whenever I come down for a visit.
But it really shows me how close Kelsey and I are because we are still making that effort to be there for each other. And I know that we always will. I have no doubt that if I called her at 2 a.m. and told her that I needed her that she'd figure out a way to be there for me. And she knows that I would do the same for her in a heartbeat.
I still miss her like crazy every day and life hasn't been the same since she left. There is nobody that can ever replace her. And it feels really good to know that she's still my best friend and that she's still there for me no matter what. When people move away, most of the time they promise to keep in touch with the people that they leave behind. In my opinion, it's a rarity and a gift when they come through on those promises. I'm so appreciative that I found someone that did. I always knew that Kelsey was a special friend and that I was blessed to have her in my life. Her effort to hold onto our friendship proves that I was right.
-Chelsea
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