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Well, it’s February. A short and bittersweet month! And in 18 days I’ll be turning 25-years-old. I’ll be the first to admit that I can be a bit dramatic when it comes to age. My boyfriend Tristan and I constantly argue over the fact I refuse to admit I’m in my mid-twenties until the day I turn 25 (it’s my coping mechanism)…well, here comes 25.

I often battle feelings of “I haven’t done enough at age (fill in the blank)” or the amount of stress when I take on too much in one year. What I’ve learned is, no matter how I’m feeling in the moment, in the grand scheme of things, every year is that much better than the year before.

Reflecting back on 24, this year is going to be hard to top. I prioritized traveling and got to visit some new places (Palm Springs, New York City and Denver, CO) and some favorite places (Los Angeles, the Oregon coast and San Francisco). I weeded out the negative/draining relationships in my life and focused on the amazing friends and family I’ve been blessed with. I celebrated a year spent with my other half and amazing boyfriend Tristan who constantly has me asking myself “how do I deserve someone like you?” I pushed myself outside of my creative box and collaborated on projects with creatives that inspire me. I poured time and effort into my blog West Coast Aesthetic and freelance business and made incredible networking connections, worked on a wide-range of collaborations/projects and gained new perspective in both the blogging and creative world.

I also grew up…a little. It's a work in progress. However, I'm working on slowing down, making more time for myself, learning how to say ‘no’ to things that don’t make me feel inspired or happy and getting better at sticking to my long-term professional and personal goals. Getting older is a bit daunting especially since you have to fully embrace “adulting” (what?) But it’s an exciting time to be alive.

What do I want to accomplish at age 25? A lot. My to-do lists and wish lists change on the daily. But if there’s one thing I’m going to work on, it’s embracing 25-years of being happy, healthy and in love with the life I’ve been living and those in it. I’m making sure that remains a priority.

Oh, and also consuming a lot of wine and cake, because that's another coping mechanism I just can't seem to shake and help prioritize.