My day job

I spend my days (and some early mornings and nights ☺) at Essence Digital, solving some of the world’s digital marketing challenges. Luckily I have worked on our Google client team since day one, championing cutting-edge, genuine brands and working with brilliant clients. My colleagues make the day-to-day fun and exciting. We truly operate as a family, and I love that we are a part of each others lives in and out of the office. One of the year’s highlights was a company offsite in Austin, Texas! #essenceyall

Travel

When I am not at work, I am either traveling or planning my next trip. I am incredibly blessed with so many friends all over the world to visit and adventurous travel partners to go with me!

In 2014 I took day trips to Cold Spring, New York for hiking and antiquing, Mountain Creek, New Jersey for skiing, Beacon, New York to visit Dia:Beacon Modern Art Gallery, Modena, New York for apple picking, and Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to explore Amish country.

Weekend trips included Nashville and Louisville to visit friends Rachel and Erin, Princeton, NJ, Memorial Day in Chicago with Libbi and Chelsea, Long Island for a Church women’s retreat, Ithaca, NY with Judith and Rebecca for Finger Lake’s Wine Festival, Kansas City for Courtney Perkins (now Betts) Wedding, Labor Day in Portland, Maine, Niagara Falls and Toronto, Canada with Aubrey and Daniella to see Lecrae in concert and visit Marion and Alex.

In October I went on a two week adventure to London and Oxford, England and Barcelona, Madrid and Toledo, Spain. In London I saw a few West End shows and connected with friends Anna, Sabrina, Johnny, Zeta sisters abroad and colleagues in our UK office. It was glorious to be back in London, a city I once called home! I still love this place and want to move back sometime in the future.

In Spain, I toured Barcelona solo, participating in an outstanding EatWith dinner, explored markets, the Sagrada Familia and Gaudi houses. Last stop was Madrid which included a day trip to Toledo. In Madrid, I feel in love with its charming streets and stately architecture. I was lucky to stay with a wonderful friend, Erin, who teaches in Madrid. The weather in Spain was unreal—a whole week of 75–85F and sunny. Obviously, this won’t be my last time in Spain!

Free time

While I am in New York City, I spend my free time singing with the Women’s Ensemble of the Young New Yorker’s Chorus. In March we wrote and produced a sold-out cabaret. It is fabulous to participate in a musical ensemble and connect with fellow choir geeks.

One of the best things about living in NYC is access to some of the world’s best theatre. In 2014 I saw 23 different Broadway shows (and counting!).

A few times a week I go spinning and do Pilates on the weekends. In between all this, I host my church (Trinity Grace Queens) women’s small group at my apartment and love entertaining and cooking meals for Astoria (my neighborhood) friends.

Family

My family is so important to me, and despite being far apart, we stay in close communication. Mom and my sister, Mary Grace, 17, spent some of their Spring Break in NYC, and I got to play tour guide. Our favorite experiences were visiting the Today show, taking a walking Greenwich Village foodie tour and a cooking class.

My sister Rachel, 23, graduated from University of Missouri in May and I spent the weekend in Columbia, Missouri celebrating Rachel’s many accomplishments. I am so proud of her! It is clear her legacy at Mizzou will live well past her four years of undergrad. This fall Rachel started graduate school at MU, studying Higher Education Administration and Leadership.

For the first time in over three years, I visited Jefferson City for a weekend without any agenda. It was so luxerious to be at home without anything to do other than enjoy my family’s company. Can’t wait to do it again!