A Day In The Life...

The Year Of Caryn: 2012 Goals

Caryn — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:22:32 +0000

I realize I’m a little late on the goals-for-the-new-year bandwagon. Had I written this list on January 1st my list would be entirely different. A lot has happened since and I finally got around to thinking about the year ahead. I have deemed 2012 - The Year Of Caryn and I have a whole new set of goals that I hope to accomplish this year.

Goals For The Year Of Caryn:

Focus on me. Discover who Caryn is as an individual. Do some soul-searching – figure out what makes me happy and what makes me tick.
Put my needs first. Don’t do something just to please others. If it is something that I don’t want to do or that doesn’t make me happy, DON’T do it. (This is liberating!) Also note: It’s okay to be selfish sometimes.
Make time to do the things that I’ve always wanted to do but made excuses for, never thought I would have time to do or never thought the time was right.
Follow my dreams.
Get in shape - this includes running more, attending yoga and core fusion more often and completing a month of Jillian’s 30 day shred.
Find space between digital world and real world. Disconnect from constantly being connected. Turn off the cell phone and computer once in a while.
Take a photography class & learn to use a DSLR camera.
Buy that DSLR camera.
Be more proactive about reaching out to those I love. So many wonderful people have come into my life recently, don’t take them for granted.
Surround myself with those who make me happy. If someone doesn’t make me feel happy/smart/cool/pretty/nice/thin/safe to be my true self/smart enough – then take a step back and re-evaluate the friendship. I want to surround myself with people who make me feel happy and alive and appreciate me.

Blog Goals:

Stay on top of my ideas for blog content and post in a timely fashion. I have 63 drafts just waiting to be finished and published.
Personal posts are okay but add more inspiring content too. The intent of the blog is not to be a diary.
Don’t feel pressured to post if it has been a while. It is my blog and I should only post when I have content I want to share.
Create a new blog name. Please feel free to submit suggestions. Seriously.
Buy my own domain with said new blog name.
Hold more contests, interviews, giveaways etc. Be a more active blogger but still adhere to Goal 3.
Embrace all that blogging has brought into my world and continue to grow with it.
Learn CSS and improve technical skills

What are your goals for 2012?

Tagged: Blogging, Goals, Life & Love

Top 10 reasons you should sign up for #BiSC

Caryn — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:05:59 +0000

**10 Reasons I Can’t Wait For #BISC/ You Should Sign Up To Be On The Waitlist*:**

*It sold out within a week this year, but you should still put yourself on the waitlist!

1. Bloggers In Sin City is an experience of a lifetime. Seriously, no joke. You spend 4 days in Vegas with 60 of the best people on earth who you probably have a lot in common with, ya know, since we’re all bloggers and all.

2.Contrary to what is said about Vegas, “What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas” that isn’t true with this group. Not only does most everything get posted online after, the friendships I made from just one weekend last year have continued well beyond that weekend. Some of the people I met have turned out to be a few of my favorite and closest friends!

3. You could win a free trip to Vegas! No, for real. See point 4…

4. We have awesome sponsors like Caesars Entertainment, Flamingo Hotel, Skyy Vodka, Sprayology, Paper’d and I’m sure there will be more soon. Paper’d is the next IT iPhone/iPod app, I promise you. It is due to be released next month. It is the brain child of the people behind Shatterboxx, another sponsor, which automatically makes it a worthwhile product, sight unseen. Talk about talented web designers. *BONUS* Thanks to Paper’d, one lucky blogger will be going to Bloggers in Sin City FOR FREE (see I told you!)

5. The event generated 4500+ tweets and 100+ blog posts in 2011.

6. This weekend last year changed me and changed my life: Literally. Without BiSC, 2011 would have played out completely different. It forced me out of my comfort zone, taught me so much about myself and about life, and I met so many supportive & loving people. Without them, I would not have been able to make it through a recent difficult patch in my life. Honestly, they are the most supportive group of people I have ever met and my life is better today because of everyone I met at BiSC. Sappy & cheesy – but true.

7. It’s practically all-inclusive: we stay at the Flamingo Hotel in the awesome Go Rooms, we get an awesome swag bag, we enjoy a private dessert-tasting at Serendipity3 (yum, even though its death for me…), we have our own reserved area at the Flamingo Pool, we will party like rock stars at Chateau during our Mad Men Themed Lounge Party at Paris Hotel, we have tickets for Zumanity, we and feast on 2 group buffet dinners and a farewell brunch. Not to mention you meet 60 new best friends. All this is included in your registration fee, that’s pretty all-inclusive if you ask me!

8. I look forward to this weekend all year round.

9. I now have friends all over the country!

10. We call ourselves BiSC-uits because we bonded THAT much last year. BiSC-uits For Life, yo!

So if you aren’t already signed up, what are you waiting for? Go on, put yourself on that waitlist! Oh, and make sure you’re following @sincitymeetup on Twitter and the official #BiSC hashtag.

See you in Vegas!

Tagged: Blogging, Vegas

Protected: Saying Goodbye

Caryn — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:21:47 +0000

This post is password protected. You must visit the website and enter the password to continue reading.

Tagged: breakups, emotions, fiance, goodbyes, heartbreak, honesty, inner voice, Life & Love, loneliness, pain, personal, Relationships, time heals everything

Happy 1st Birthday Blog!

Caryn — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:15:27 +0000

Dear Blog,

Happy Birthday! Today you are a year old. I seriously cannot get over how fast this year flew by.

Last January, I decided a change was needed in my life and you were born. I felt something was missing and that I needed to do something for myself . I felt inspired to write again. I had no idea just how much you would change my life and how you would fill that void. It started with Blogger, then I joined Twitter and then you became a big girl and we moved to WordPress. After much rebellion, I joined Twitter because I was told it was a great tool for bloggers spread the word and to communicate. It was then through Twitter that I heard about and signed up for Bloggers in Sin City only a few weeks into our relationship . There I met 50+ wonderful and spirited new blogger friends, many of whom share a lot of similar interests and who continue to inspire and support me. I learned to push myself out of my comfort zone and had the weekend of my life. Because of that unforgettable weekend in Vegas, I chose to attend the 20SB Summit in August and saw these girls over Labor Day weekend. I also attended a Chicago Blogger/Twitter meetup and met some more awesome internet pals. Without you I never would have visited Richmond, VA or Philly. Together, we documented milestones and events throughout the year.

You, my blog, have brought people into my life that have shown me what it is like to have friends who make me feel good about myself, who love me, support me, and are even willing to fly across the country to cheer me up. You have given me comfort and sanity and introduced me to so many new experiences. You provided me with an outlet to express myself and ability to find my voice. I have friends all over the country now. I had no idea when I started all this that it would be more than just another URL on the internet, that people would actually read what I have to say, and that some of my best friends in the world would be fellow bloggers.

Even for all that you have given me, there were still times I neglected you and didn’t write as often as I wanted to or didn’t have time to follow through on post ideas. I’m sorry, I’ll be better this year. Thank you for everything and everyone that you have brought into my life. This year has been extremely special and memorable, because of you. Happy Birthday!

Love, Caryn

If all of this happened in just one year, I can’t wait to see what happens in round 2! Happy birthday blog, cheers to another year.

Here is a Blog Baby Book of some (not all) of the posts and experiences from our first year together!

Tagged: Birthday, Blogging, Friends, Happiness, Vegas

A look back at 2011

Caryn — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:31:51 +0000

I feel like it should only be September, but no, here we are days away from another new year.

Another new beginning. I want to look back on 2011 and remember all that has happened. This is the time of year we tend to reflect on things we did right and things we want to change, things we want to remember and even those things we want to do different next year.

2011 was:

2011 was a year of The Blog, love, change, new friends, learning and traveling. Back in January, I decided I missed writing and that I needed a change; thus this blog was born. So much happened for me this year because of this blog.

In May, I attended Bloggers in Sin City, even though I had only started blogging a couple of weeks before. I met 50+ wonderful people, so many of whom have inspired and touched my life in more ways than I ever dreamed possible. When I signed up, I had no idea just how much of an impact that one weekend would have on me. It wasn’t just a weekend getaway, it was a weekend that literally changed how the rest of the year would play out. Had I not gone to BiSC in May, I would not have attended the 20SB Summit in August; I would not have had a friend come stay with me for the weekend; I would not have seen these girls over Labor Day weekend; I would not have gone to Philly & Richmond to visit Tara and Terra, and lastly, I would not have BiSC to look forward to each year. On a personal level, BiSC taught me that blogging is more than a hobby and that bloggers are some of the most down to earth, genuine people around. One person in particular has really left a footprint on my heart. She reminded me that friends are supposed to make you laugh, feel good about yourself, happy and feel alive. Without BiSC I would not have met Terra, who is practically my twin, one of my best friends, and now my bridesmaid! That’s a lot of impact on a year all because of one weekend. Every decision we make has a domino effect on what is to come and opens new doors. I thank goodness everyday that BiSC is one door that I opened.

More of what 2011 was (in no particular order):

While Mr. Fiancé and I moved in together in November ’10, it wasn’t until January ’11 that we had our own place together. I can’t believe it has already been over a year.
Mr. Fiancé and I got engaged! We have made signifcant progress in the wedding planning process and I can’t wait to marry my best friend in 2012!
Mr. Fiancé’s brother graduated college in May. The first time I ever met him, he was graduating high school and now he is a college graduate. Its been great to watch him grow up. Gosh, time sure has flown by.
I joined Twitter and Pinterest in the early months of 2011. I was a Twitter doubter at first but I actually use it more than Facebook now. And Pinterest- I LOVE that site! I get great ideas for ideas for the wedding, house decorations, recipes and DIY ideas that I wish I could take credit for.
Mr. Fiancé and I gave up meat for a whole month.
My sorority daughter lived with us for almost 2 months.
Mr. Fiancé and I went on a cruise with his family.
My dad turned 60 and my mom had hip surgery.
After four solid years as a media buyer, I took the jump from TV & Radio to digital search media at my new job, in September.
My sister met AND got engaged to her future husband.
Mr Fiancé and I took each other on very unique dates: a pairing food & wine class, a shootin’ & drinkin‘ date where we shot pistols & AK47′s, and he took me on a surprise weekend getaway.
We traveled to: Florida, Houston (twice), Lake Geneva, Indiana, Caribbean/Mexican Cruise, Memphis, Nashville, Philadelphia, D.C., (Richmond) Virginia and Vegas.

Most popular posts (of 2011):

Some of My Favorite Posts of 2011:

2011 in the news:

Steve Jobs – founder of Apple passed away.
Apple released the iPhone 4s with Siri- a voice activated artificial intelligent personal assistant.
The Royal Wedding- Prince William married Kate Middleton on April 29.
Amanda Knox was found not guilty after being held in an Italian jail for 4 years accused of murdering her study abroad roommate.
The trail of Casey Anthony gripped the nation and people were outraged to find she was acquitted of murdering her 2-year-old daughter Caylee.
After dosing Michael Jackson with Propfol, his doctor Conrad Murray, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was accused of trying to sell President Obama’s vacant Senate seat. He was found guilty of 17 charges of corruption (including wire fraud, attempted extortion, and conspiracy to solicit bribes), and was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Cake pops and cupcakes are the hottest craze.
Popular games are Angry Birds & Words with Friends on iPads and mobile phones.
2011 marked the 10 year anniversary of 9/11.
Occupy Wall Street protesters fill the streets of cities “we are the 99%.” People used to look up to others who worked hard, now people are envious of what others have.
Arnold Schwarzenegger secretly fathered a son, 14 years old, with his longtime housekeeper and divorced.
More than 15,800 people died and entire communities were washed away in Japan when a 9.0 magnitude earthquake followed by a tsunami destroyed coastal towns on March 11. Survivors were told to evacuate due to the nuclear power plant cooling systems that had failed.
President Obama pulled the soldiers out of Iraq and declared the 1o year war over.
New York legalized same-sex marriage.
Longtime daytime soaps like All my Children and One Life To Live were cancelled from TV.
After 25 years in Chicago, Oprah picked up and moved California and to start the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) on cable and shut the doors on her famed and loved daytime talk show.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt 2 was released completing 10 years of movies – earning $381,390,219 according to People Magazine.
According to iTunes the most popular songs: Rolling in the Deep(Adele), Grenade (Bruno Mars), Firework (Katy Perry), Forget You (Cee Lo Green), Moves like Jagger (Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera).

What else happened in the news that I am forgetting? When you look back on 2011 years from now, what do you want news event do you want to remember? Please share!

This year has flown by, and I cannot believe 2012 is creeping around the corner. 2011 has had its ups and downs, celebrations and struggles. I have come to find more about who I am, who I want to surround myself with and who I want to be. Each day, I have fallen more in love with my best friend. I have an exciting year ahead and I cannot wait to marry my best friend. Technology continues to advance and everyone is completely dependent on it. People’s patience continues to decline as everything is expected to be instantaneous and immediate.

To my readers: Thank you. I have more readers than I ever dreamed (which even ONE is more than I ever expected, honestly) who subscribe to this blog and am constantly amazed that people continue to read and support me. Thank you for your loyalty and for sticking around to watch this blog and myself grow.

May 2012 bring you all much health and happiness and be just as you want it to be. Here is to another year!

So much love,
Caryn