Being a nomad

It is July and I continue to live out of a suitcase. I live a crazy lifestyle where I travel to compete many months out of the year, but this year has been especially hectic. Even when I have been with the team in the States training, I have not had a permanent home. With the transition from California to Pennsylvania, our team has been on the move a lot.

I started the year at home in North Carolina before I headed out to California. I went to World League 2 in Rio de Janiero, Brazil and took a quick trip back to NC before heading out to Cali again. After a short training stint I made my way to New Zealand for a 4 nation tournament. Returning to the States for a few days off and a short trip to Dallas before starting training in Cali once more. Then I headed back to NC and up to VA for the high performance National Championships. Hopped over to Ohio for the weekend, then to New Jersey for training before World League 3 in London. After WL3 I spent some more time in Ohio before heading to Lancaster, PA to get acclimated with our new city! And after one insane half a year, I came back to NC for the weekend to get grounded by my family before I go back to this crazy lifestyle that I thrive on.

In short:
NC->Cali->Rio->Cali->NZ->Cali->Dallas->Cali->NC->VA->NC->VA->NC->OH->NJ->London->
NC->OH->PA->NC->PA..... can you keep up?

I have been on a plane every single month this year (multiple times certain months) and have spent countless hours in the car or on a bus.


With all that being said, this is the most I have ever traveled and as hard as it can be at times, I am thankful everyday to have the opportunity to play the sport I love and see so many different parts of the world. BUT, I am ecstatic to be getting closer to being settled once again and having a routine and consistent practice schedule in Lancaster! The facilities at Spooky Nook are absolutely breathtaking and everyone in the area is so friendly. I know I am going to settle in nicely with the community there and I can't wait to get that journey of my life started!

In a couple weeks time, I will finally be able to unpack my suitcase for good. Well.... that is until our next trip, the Pan Am Cup in late September!! :) But I wouldn't have it any other way!

Here are a few pictures from some of my journeys this year!

 

California Dreaming...

IT WAS ALL A DREAM.....

The day has finally arrived. We have left California for good. Bittersweet doesn't even begin to explain the emotions I felt as I walked on to the plane Wednesday afternoon in sunny San Diego. After 5+ years of living, training, exploring, and loving life in SoCal, our journey to the Spooky Nook in Lancaster, PA has arrived.

As one door closes, another one opens. I would like to think that although this "chapter" in my life has come to an end, the door will never be closed to my life in San Diego. I have made so many lifelong friends that I know I am sure to return for many visits to the sunny, beach city that helped me grow into the person I am today.

There are so many things I will miss about the great city of San Diego, but mostly I will miss the most amazing people I've met. I will never be able to explain just how fortunate and thankful I am for all of the people who opened their homes and families to me over the years! But, I will do my best right now to give a few special shout outs to those that went above and beyond.

First and foremost, my family. My cousin Billy, his wife Rachel, and their daughter Makaela (and their dogs Harley and Bleu!). And more recently, my aunt Chris. One of the best parts of my time in California was being able to spend countless hours, days, weeks at your house. It was the best escape from a hard days training. Just knowing I had family right around the corner, and a home cooked meal was a few minutes away always put my mind at ease. Not to mention how much I have enjoyed watching and being a part of Makaela growing up. Somehow I made her birthday almost every year! From her 4th birthday, to her 9th, what an adventure it has been! I sure am going to miss backyard soccer games (yes, even if I was always tried after practice). I hope she can find some new competition! :) I am so thankful for all of you and I will really miss my trips to Poway!

Next, I have to thank the Gementera family. Where do I even start? You opened your home to Maren, Pfeiff, and myself after meeting us a handful of times. You welcomed us as a part of your family with open arms. Then, you opened your doors to me again these last couple weeks. I really enjoyed all of the time I spent under your roof. Laughing, relaxing, and discussing life. I will miss Gavin's sweet disposition and goofy jokes, Malia's abundance of energy (and her fashion expertise!), Danielle's stories and advice, and Glenn's love for the Lakers (even though I think I've influenced him towards CP3)! I will miss snuggle time with little Kita (even though Glenn would give me dirty looks because he thought I was going to steal her!) and loving nips from my main man Buddy! I know you will take good care of CJ, I'm sure he will continue to bring you lots of luck! And I'm sure I will get constant updates/snapchats from Malia. I will miss you all very much! Maybe plan a trip to the East Coast sometime?!

Finally, I can't forget the families of Cremona! Although, I only got a year with all of you, I wish it never had to end! The best neighbors we could have ever asked for! I loved being greeted by all the kids and dogs each evening as we returned from a grueling Olympic year training session. All my cares left when I saw Molly and Tenley's smiling faces pushing their dolls around in their strollers! Making up new games with Jacob and throwing Ace his tennis ball never seemed to get old, no matter how tired I was! I will miss neighborhood cookouts, bouncy castles (that OD and I jumped in with the kids!), late night bonfires with s'mores, and country music listening when the power goes out. Monica, Sumner, Nichole, Steve, and Nana thank you for being so gracious to all of us, making us feel right at home in our big empty house. Can't wait to see all the Cremona kids grow up! (We are still growing up too! ;) ).

There are so many other people I could mention as well that I met along my journey and adventures in Cali, and I am grateful for all of you. I will carry these memories with me for the rest of my life. I will always look back on these last 5 years as some of the best years, where I lived and learned A LOT. I definitely grew up a lot and learned so much about myself and who I want to become. Thanks for being a big part of my journey!

SAN DIEGO. Where dreams were made and dreams came true. I will always fondly remember my time spent in Chula-juana. Although there are so many great things about the city of San Diego, the people are really what make a place so special. And to me, San Diego is one freaking special place!

What a ride.
Here's to new adventures, new friends, new family, and another great ride in PA!


One last thing.... KEEP IN TOUCH!!! You know where to find me! Cell phone, social media and/or Skype! :)

I'll leave you with a few pictures from the last few months on the West Coast...

New Year, New Resolutions

I have never been big on New Years Resolutions, because I believe if you want to change something in your life, you don't have to wait until the new year to do it! I think you can make realistic goals any time of the year. But there are certain occasions, such as New Years that causes more reflection on your life and how you are living it. First and foremost, I must say that I am thankful for another year and another opportunity to pursue my dreams.

As for resolutions, I couldn't think of anything I drastically need to change. As I listened to my brothers laundry list (big and small) of resolutions, I thought to myself, what could I resolve to do this year that I haven't in the past?

I decided that I would pick something that would be challenging, but worthwhile. I don't want something easy, or something I already do and just want to do more often (or be more consistent).

I found this idea on Pinterest, and I absolutely love it!! Every day for all of 2013 (well I'm starting a week late, but it will still work!) I am going to write down one thing that was good about that day, or one thing I am thankful for that day. I will keep all my daily notes in a big jar. Then, at the end of 2013, I will read everything I wrote to help me better reflect on the year!

I think it will be a challenge for me to find the good in every day. To constantly be reminded of what I am thankful for. And mostly, to remember to do it every day and keep them all in one place! That will take some effort with all the random places I'm sure to go! But I am very excited for this resolution and all the adventures 2013 will surely bring! Maybe, I'll share some of my notes throughout the year too!

In 2013, I also want to make more of a difference and share my experiences with others. So these are a few resolutions, which may be a bit harder to measure:
I want to volunteer more.
Take more pictures. (Some people probably think I already take a lot. But I'll be thankful down the road when I have these to remind me of good times and good people!)
I want to blog more. Yes, that means you all get to follow more of my adventures!


What is your New Years Resolution? How are you going to achieve it? What will make it difficult?

Simple lessons

During the holiday season I wanted to post some simple lessons that I have learned over the years. I was going to post these over a few day time span, but of course I was so busy with family that I didn't really have time to do that! So as 2013 begins, here are some lessons I am sharing for everyone to take with them this new year! To me, these are the most important things in life. Feel free to comment and share your stories and lessons learned, too!

1. Choose how you react to situations. Choose to be happy. 
We can't always predict what will happen to us, in fact, we rarely can. So as much as we plan ahead and think about what we would do in certain situations, things don't turn out as we've planned. Good or bad, things happen! What is most important though, is how we CHOOSE to react. It's not always easy to find a way to make the best out of a difficult situation, but it sure does make it a lot easier to deal with. The more we choose to be happy (even when we really don't want to be), the happier we will truly be.

2. Find what you are passionate about and do that.
We hear stories about family, friends, acquaintances, or maybe even ourselves, who are not happy in their job or their life. We all have different talents and yes, some pay more than others, but to truly be happy with life, I think you need to do what you are passionate about. Maybe you can't change jobs, but you do have a choice about what you do with your time outside of that. Volunteer with animals or kids. Maybe start a non-profit or get involved at a local gym. If you have something you are passionate about, it makes hard work easy. It will drive you forward every day and it won't feel like work. I am fortunate enough to have found that in field hockey, which I get to call my job.

3. Tell the ones you love and care about how you feel every single chance you get.
In the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy in Newtown, CT, we cannot be reminded of this more. Life is unpredictable. We never imagine bad things happening to us or the ones we love, but sometimes they do. At the least, we can let our love be known. If not for the chance we may never see them again, but to really build that relationship and bond between people. The more we love each other and let each other know, the better we feel about each other and ourselves, and the more we can help one another when times get hard. It may seems silly at times, but you really never know when you might be able to see someone again.

4. Know what is best for you. You know yourself best, follow your heart and your mind.
Be yourself and trust in who you are. Don't try to be like anyone else. We are all original and we should embrace that. As much as we want to "fit in" and "be liked", others will like you best when you are yourself. We come to many crossroads in life, trust yourself to know what is best for you. Don't rely on others to make your life decisions. Your mind will make sense of it all, but your heart will lead you to where you truly want to be.

5. Giving truly is better than receiving.
This is often highlighted during the holiday season, which is fantastic. BUT, I think it is something we should seek to do throughout the entire year. Find somewhere to volunteer, once a week, once a month, whenever you have time. Giving doesn't always mean money and gifts, time and energy can often be more than enough. As we are all very different, passionate about different things, skilled in different areas, I ask you to just give what you can. If you can give money, that's great. If you can give time, even better. Best of all, give energy, bring life and excitement with you, and give that to others!

6. Be thankful. Be humble.
This sort of encompasses all the other lessons. Be thankful for all that you have, all that you've been given, and all the opportunities that have yet to come. Be thankful for the people in your life. The ones you love, and the ones who love you. Be thankful for those who are no longer in your life, for they have taught you something and helped shape you into who you are today. Be thankful for your health and your life. You can be thankful for the material things you own, but in all honesty, if you were to lose all of those things today, you would still have much more to be thankful for. The intangible things are what really make life important. And be humble. No one can achieve success on their own. Many people, from family, friends, educators, mentors, competitors, to even complete strangers, have played a part in getting you to where you are today.

7. Be happy. Be kind. Be generous. Be loyal. Be compassionate. Be giving. Be you. Most of all, be thankful.


If we take these things to heart, not only will be happy, we will be surrounded by love, passion, and thanks. We will not only be making our own lives better, but we'll be making the world around us a better place too. So as you reflect on the holidays and the year that has passed, find the good things to take forward with you. Look into the new year, remembering the good, but resolving to make it better. All of these are simple things, yet they make a world of difference.

My dog Oreo

Just over two years ago, I lost one of my best friends in the whole world: my dog, Oreo. Although some just say she is an animal, a pet, a dog; to me, she was (wo)man's best friend.
From the day I first saw her in the animal shelter, we had a connection. She picked me. As soon as I walked in, she wagged her skinny black tail against the chain-link fence until it was bloody. But she didn't care. She was so happy. She knew she was going home that day. As I walked around the corner to check out all the other dogs, she literally did not take her eyes off me. She stared longingly at the space I had just departed until the moment when I returned. After doing a loop, I couldn't help but notice the moment I returned, sweet Oreo went from calm to hyper the second I stepped foot into her line of sight. My mother watched in amazement. She had dogs her whole life and had never seen anything quite like it. Without hesitation, we knew which dog was ours.
Part beagle, part black lab mix, Oreo was already a year old and had garnered the name from her black and white coloring. She was a bit of a handful that first year though. The first week home we had trouble getting her to eat anything. She was so skinny you could see her ribs. Despite our worry, she was still extremely energetic and happy. After a progression of trial and error which started with dog food, went to cereal and yogurt, we finally got her to eat some steak with gravy on top. I know, what a spoiled dog! I don't even get that for dinner! She quickly began putting some weight back on, and soon she was healthy and back on her dog food!!
She was potty trained, but that is about all she knew how to do. We had to teach her to sit and stay, and what a treat was (the latter didn't take long though!) One of my favorite memories was how as soon as she sat down, she raised her paw in hopes you would take it in your hand to shake. I'm still not sure how she learned that without learning how to sit, but it made me smile! After losing a few school books and some drapes to her boredom and chewing, and a few too many nips and bites while playing, my mom had had enough and threatened to take her back. I was at a loss, only finding comfort from my dearest Oreo. I literally sat her down and told her she had to stop or she wouldn't be my dog anymore. As she licked away my tears, I knew she understood. From that day forward, she never once bit or chewed anything besides her dog bones. She understood.
We didn't have a fenced in yard, only a run line for her in the backyard. Every once and a while we wouldn't clip her well or she would sneak out the door, off she would bolt into the woods of Pinehurst. Of course we couldn't keep up with her, so we'd hop in the car and go searching. I was mostly worried she would dart into the road and get hit by a car. Funny thing was, every time we searched, we could never find her. Without fault, she was sitting in front of the garage every time we got home, just waiting for us so she could go back in the house. She would run until she was tired... Then she would come home. She was funny like that.
She was my best friend. And she was the bestest friend you could ask for. She was always happy, always there to give you a kiss, always wanted to play, and never questioned you. She loved you no matter what. She was always happy just to have you home. She could always tell when you were upset too. She would just sit by your side, and kiss away your tears (if it came to that). She was the best shoulder to cry on. Always listening, never judging. Not much of an advice giver (lol) but that didn't mean she wouldn't make you feel better and feel loved!!
In the last couple years of her life, she lost her sight, and possibly her hearing. (My mom thought she was deaf, but I'm pretty sure she just had selective hearing because she was smart, and she knew she didn't have to do anything anymore. No one would get mad at her. She could sleep all day if she wanted to. And if I ever said the word treat, hot damn she sure came running!) Anyways, I felt bad about her not being able to see, but within a month she figured out where everything was and was still as happy as could be! She was eating heartily and wagging her tail like crazy, just like she'd always done! Although one time, she walked herself into a corner, and couldn't figure out how to get out... So she just sat there and stared at the wall. Haha, it was a little funny to see a dog staring at a wall! Don't worry, I helped her out though!
She was 15 years old when she passed in her sleep. The doc says she had a mini heart-attack. But I knew she had lived a great life and she was as happy as can be all the way until her last day. I was thankful that she was never in pain either. Unfortunately though, I was not home to say goodbye. She passed while I was in Holland playing, just a week before I got home for the holidays. It was difficult, but I was glad I didn't have to see her lifeless. My memories of her are all just the opposite. She was the most energetic, loving little girl. She loved me and she picked me.
Over the years when I moved away to college and to play with the National Team, I was not able to take her with me. I had to leave her at home. She became my moms best friend, and although she'll never admit it, my mom loved her just as much as I did. Oreo followed her around and slept next to her bed religiously. That is, until the I would return home from school or travelling with the US team. That first night, she always came to sleep in my room. My mom says the first night after I would leave, she would also find her way into my room for the night. Bless her little heart, she missed me.
It never ceases to amaze how unconditionally dogs love. People could learn a lot from these wonderful creatures. I would love to get another dog, but I know I cannot with my busy schedule of travelling and playing at the moment. So in the meantime, I just play with all my friends dogs! Hehe.
But its hard not to think about her over the holidays. She stole my heart and she will forever have a piece of it! I miss giving her extra treats on Christmas or a big new bone. Maybe Santa will put one under the tree again this year in her memory! She was and always will be my little angel. RIP.
Although I have millions more memories with dear Oreo, these are a few of my favorites. I am sharing them with the world, but mostly I just wanted to give her a little tribute that I will always remember her by.

Lessons

I will be in the Triangle (Chapel Hill/Raleigh) area for the next couple months and I will be running lessons for individuals and small groups. Contact me if you are interested!!! It should be fun!

Holiday Season

Since Thanksgiving, I've been on a holiday kick! I love this time of year and I love the fact that I can spend it at home with my family all month! Not only have I been super busy decorating (lots of DIY items!), but I've been working on my cooking/baking skills with some delicious holiday treats. Almost every evening has consisted of lighting my cinnamon apple candle, snuggled on the couch with a Christmas movie on TV. Elf has been watched 3 times already! Also, I've been so productive that pretty much all my Christmas gifts are bought and wrapped! Yes, it is only December 7th. haha... a bit ambitious, I know, but I can't help myself!!

Anyways, I wanted to get all of this done early so I have lots of time to enjoy it! But mostly so I can spend the rest of the holiday season doing what is most important. Spending time with family and giving back to the community! This weekend, I'm headed up the New Hampshire to visit my grandmother, uncle, and cousins!! I haven't seen them in a few years, so I'm super excited to see all of them!! Also, I'm planning a few trips to the children's hospital to spread some cheer with the kids! Maybe make some snowflakes and holiday treats! This is what really this time of year is all about! There is lots going on in the next few weeks, so stay tuned for all my adventures!

Christmas Trees!!

Homemade Wreath and Peppermint Tree

 

Treats at A Southern Season :)

 

Cookies I made:

AND a little hockey in the rain! :)