The Bucket List, revised.

When I first wrote out my bucket list senior year of college, my goals and dreams seemed unattainable.  Some, like pursuing acting and hosting, I knew were so far out of the realm of possibility that I was too ashamed to even write them down.  The list had things like, win a pageant, write a memoir, learn to change a tire, drive cross country, see the grand canyon.  As I stretched into myself and began crossing off some of the travel and adventure goals, I added more elaborate ones, like yacht week and running a half marathon.  And somewhere around my 25th birthday, I swallowed my fear of failure and judgement and made a profound leap of confidence, writing down 'land an acting role in tv or film' and, the very far-fetched 'host a show for Travel Channel'.   Over this past year, this goal has manifested itself, and I felt overwhelmed with disbelief when I got to cross off both goals and shoot further into the stars.  My travel channel show is still on reruns, and I realized that perhaps, what I really wanted was not to just have a show on Travel Channel, but to host a travel show - where I get to

Most Memorable Travel Moment

I was plopped right on the filthy floor of the airport.  My cheeks were stained with tears, my hair was matted into a messy pony tail and I distinctly remember sulking - as spoiled-only-children do best.

We had three hours to kill, but I couldn't muster the energy to keep up a friendly banter with the dozen travel buddies I now considered family.  I was desperate not to speak of the inevitable: our semester abroad in Granada, Spain was actually over.

Since then, I've crossed off my fair share of bucket list adventures. Most of which are more "memorable" than a snapshot of me waiting in an airport.  Yet this moment stands out so distinctly in my mind as the day I realized my profound and undeniable travel-lust.

Truthfully, I didn't even want to study abroad.  I was perfectly content living in my college bubble and had no desire for deviating from my norm of plain pizza and keg beer parties. Don't get me wrong, I was always an adventurous little monster who loved to explore the outdoors, but I hadn't really ever thought of traveling abroad as attainable.  I did grow up in Halifax, MA after all - going north 40 minutes into Boston was our annual big to-do.  Alas, before I could even protest I was zipping up my two 40 lb lady bug printed suitcases and clutching my unstamped passport for dear life.

The next 5 months were a whirl wind of breathtaking adventure and mesmerizing sites.  From savoring crepes (yes plural) under the Eiffel Tower to exploring the winding streets of Marrakesh, I didn't hold back one bit.  I adapted with ease to the 'no pasa nada' lifestyle of Southern Spain - and relished in the endless tapas, siestas and heart pounding nite life. Even as I type these words, nearly 5 years later, I can still vividly remember the breathtaking sites, rhythmic sounds and welcoming smells of Granada.  Throughout my travels I kept feeling like I couldn't open my eyes wide enough.  Of course my camera was snapping photos like crazy - but I yearned to take mental images, so worried that I'd lose the magic feeling that awashed me as I strolled through Dublin or reached the final steps of the Duomo.  I was so afraid to forget the splendor of Europe, and even more terrified that each glorious day that passed brought me closer and closer to the end.  But with each passing day, my heart grew, my mind expanded and my dreams?  they erupted. 

 I was living in a perfect dream world, and so very afraid to wake up.  Yet here I was, mere hours away from waking up to the blind doldrum of my former life.  One flight got called over the loud speaker and as I grudgingly rose to hug goodbye to the few friends heading to the West coast, I had a startling and overwhelmingly blissful moment: the announcement had been in Spanish. 

And in that moment, I had the most glorious realization: no matter how similar the life I return to is, I'M different.  No matter how far removed I feel from my life in Spain, the experience has profoundly altered my perception.  Not only can I recount the splendor of the Louvre or chat about the fashion boutiques in Milan, but I can converse freely in Spanish - a language I only hoped to read proficiently in after 4 years of college study.  I have new likeminded friends spanning the United States and a few sprinkled throughout Europe. I conquered fears, learned to experience and enjoy food, and most importantly I developed a zeal for life.  

Cheesy as it sounds, I am so passionate about every single day of my life - and I attribute it whole heartedly to my travels abroad.  On the plane ride home I wrote my last journal entry not with a conclusion on my travels, but with a list of new adventures to add to my bucket list.  I have become infatuated with traveling and exploring, maybe borderline obsessed. 

Since the day I whipped the dust off my butt and the tears from my eyes to embrace my departing friends, I have always looked forward to the departures terminal in airports.  I turn my cell phone off, and use the time to reflect on where I have been, where I am going, and who I am.  There's something refreshing about parting ways with one destination and heading on to the next. With each goodbye hug I take something beautiful from my past and bring it into the excitement of the future.  And for this, and the overwhelming desire to see every inch of this mysterious world we inhabit, I feel blessed. 

Besos y amor,

Chelsea 

Bonjour 2013! I'm finally ready for you!

So  my 2013 resolutions are off to a slow, not a bad, start.


In my defense, this past week has been hectic. I moved into a new place in West Hollywood. And by moved in I mean I brought all my clothes and kitchenware into a completely empty apartment.  Since then, I have purchased a bed frame and a living room set, but the place is far from homey.   Nonetheless, this is a big important new beginning for my 2013.

Work is off to a feverish, but fabulous start.  With pilots flowing steadily into the breakdowns, my theatrical board is becoming a well oiled machine in no time.

I'm a cozy 12 pounds heavier than I want to be, and while I am munching on a spanakopita at 9 am (whole wheat?), I feel confident that once I'm settled into my new routine I'll get back on the fast track to stick skinny.  (I can't wait to get rid of these strange lumps forming on my chest btw.)


So without further adieu, here is my 2013 resolutions:

1. Kill it at work.  Network and scrap my way to the top.  My talent deserves it.  As does my wallet.

2. Stop letting myself go at 25.  Reinvest in some white strips, two a days at the gym, eat raw, and for god sakes throw away this hideous hair clip I use every day out of laziness.  Soon I'll be in high waist levis and letting my roots grow out to (gasp) brunette (ok less blonde, lets get real). but really, what's happening to me!  And another thing, why do i think its ok to eat cookies and chocolates everyday?  Enough is enough!

3. Express my creative side more.  Write more, heck maybe even bust out a pilot.  Paint more, bake more, take more photos, read more, hop into another scene study class.

4. Show the people in my life how important they are to me. Especially my mom. But I guess that boyfriend of mine could use a little more lovin' too. Alright fine, everyone could use a few more hugs from me I suppose.

2013 is going to be my year, I can feel it.

The Bucket List

After two days of binge eating and wine guzzling between sobs of pity and bitterness, i have decided to refocus my energy.

My new goal is to get through my ever growing bucket list. A lot has been crossed off, like Europe, spending a new years in NY, gamble in Vegas, publish a book, etc. - so I feel good.  Confident that I will get through this list, the whole thing, sooner or later.

1. Grad School and eventual phd
2. Keep painting
3. ski vail
4. Greece!
5. learn to drive stick
6. learn to change a tire
7. write a travel/food blog (does this count?)
8. write memoir/short stories
9. never lose ability to speak spanish
10. Try for Miss America/Miss USA (wah)
11. Get good at piano again
12. Meet Jenny (my penpal ive had since 4th grade, duh)
13. Run a marathon (orrr half)
14. Go skydiving
15. Go scuba diving
16. Cross Country road trip 
17. Learn to cook
18. Take acting classes
19. See South America - Machu Picchu, Amazon & Angel Falls.  okay and hike the Inca trail!
20. form a knowledgeable opinion in politics
21. See Niagra Falls
22. Go to Mercedes Benz Fashion Week
23. Learn to sail
24. Hike the Grand Canyon
25. Visit the Taj Mahal
26. Go Surfing
27. Yacht Week, go ahead youtube it
28. Learn basic photography & basic photoshop
29. Asia: Tokyo, Great Wall, Thailand
30. Hot air balloon ride
31. Land a speaking role on a tv series or full budget movie
32. Grow an herb garden
33. Buy a home
34. Publish a book (well it was a research study, but it counts!)
35. Surfing
36. Get my pilates or yoga teacher certification
37. Kentucky Derby
38. Washington DC
39. Go to EDC and/or Ultra (both!)
40. Go to Coachella
41. White water rafting down the Colorado River & Rodeo rapids, the rapid my dad named!
42. See the Northern lights
43. See the pyramids
44. Africa safari - hike Kilmanjaro
45. Great barrier reef
46. French Quarter- New Orleans
47. Write a pilot
48. And a screenplay
49. Host a show on the Travel Channel!
50. Get my real estate license
51. Be on a billboard
52. Do stand up comedy
53. Win an oscar
54. See Hawaii
55. And Alaska

Painting

boo ya bucket list.  Keep painting, check.