My Story

If you'd like to know my whole life story, here you go: 

I was born and raised in South Florida. I was adopted at three months old by my wonderful parents Mary and Dale so Courtney, my older sister, could have the sibling she "so desperately" wanted. I was adopted in a closed adoption so I do not know my birth parents or my nationality. Feel free to post your guesses on that! (Update: I spit in a tube to find one of these things out! Read more on that here.)

I started an interest in all things creative at a young age, drawing my first "masterpiece" when I was 4 years old. It was a rendering of my favorite Rugrats characters. My mom still has it saved to this day. From crayons to paint, I worked my way through the basics of art. Taking art classes all my life.

In preschool, I began dancing and kept up with it all the way through high school. This helped nurture my love of music. I took guitar and piano lessons- both short lived. Unfortunately, my piano teacher reeked of cats and sharing guitar lessons with my sister didn't work out too well. I was in chorus in elementary school and for a day in middle school until I decided changing my elective every few weeks through the Wheel program was a better way to go. Shop class was totally worth it! I still love to sing but mostly alone in the shower.

When entering middle school, I finally got to attend school without having to wear a uniform. Life was great. Although as I look back at those outfits questioning what I was thinking, this is when I fell in love with fashion. I grew my style over the years, and took it upon myself to be the person that everyone I knew could go to for all things fashion: advice, styling, and more. I'm proud to say I still hold that title for many people today! 

In high school I  was very involved. I was Vice President of my senior class, Co-captain of the dance team, and a top competitor in DECA. I had a great core group of friends (who I still have 'til this day) and loved competing, putting on events, and doing things for my school with them. I was the go-to creative in my class. I designed all my class shirts and several shirts for the school as well. One of my designs was even made into a mural in the school store. I was definitely one of those kids who loved school. Although, I wasn't too fond of math. That must be my right-brain talking! 

I went off to college to the University of Central Florida. I changed my major several times- Ad/PR, Event Management, Art, Interdisciplinary Studies- before ending back on my original major: Advertising and Public Relations. I also minored in Business. Because I was busy trying to stick with a major, I didn't join many clubs most of my college years. Thankfully I discovered Her Campus my junior year and then Fashion Club my senior year. Through both clubs I got to explore creative outlets: writing and fashion. Also as a fun bonus, I got to work events (another interest of mine) as part of the clubs. I worked promotional events and a couple fashion shows, walking in College Fashion Week and styling in A Knight on the Runway.

Moving from dorm to apartment to house to house to house- Phew! I'm exhausted just typing about it!- I grew my love of interior design. Taking measurements and building little floor plans for each new move. Although exhausting, I got a not-so-secret thrill out of moving because it meant I got to decorate a new space. I owe Pinterest, HGTV, and all my interior design books a lot.  

I  worked in a restaurant throughout college. That, along with my past marketing experience through DECA and my Ad/PR major, led me to my first job out college as the Marketing Coordinator for Miller's Ale House Inc. I interned for them my last semester of college and it turned into a full-time position. I could not have asked for a better company to work for at a better time. I learned a lot during my year with the company as they went through a huge re-branding process. 

After that chapter of my life had come to a close, I picked up and moved to Texas. Austin, Texas to be exact. I transferred through my position at Anthropologie to facilitate the random relocation. In this city, that I so quickly fell in love with, I found a great job at an interior design firm. I spent two years as the Social Media and Public Relations Specialist / Project Manager for Turnstyle Design. As a side project, I started to model in and style photo shoots for a local photographer looking to grow her portfolio— which in turn started mine. As my three year anniversary of living in the self-proclaimed weird city of Austin drew near, I decided it was time to explore what else was out there.

In June of 2019, I picked up and moved to New York City. Where I’m currently living and working to figure, the ever elusive, “it” out.

There you have it. My life in a (creative focused) nut shell. If you read all that, thank you. I'd love to hear about you and your life, dreams, and aspirations.