2013: A Look Back

With 2014 around the corner, I took some time to reflect on all the changes I went through this year: A LOT. My life has gone through so many ups-and-downs this year, and I am so excited to see what 2014 is going to throw my way. If I could sum up 2013 in one word, it would be: grow. I grew so much. This was the year I transitioned from a child to an adult, a girl to a woman, a student to a graduate. 2014, bring it on. Here's what you have to compete with:


January - Moved to Tempe
With my mom moving to Rio Rico, I needed to find a new place to live. After searching for a roommate and a place to live, I finally chose an apartment complex in Tempe with a friend of mine from high school, Frankie. I packed up all the contents in my room and moved across town on a rainy weekend. Of course, I had to juggle playing a show that night and working all weekend along with the moving process, but we finally got everything moved in and arranged in time for our housewarming game night the next weekend.

January - Started music business internship at Yucca Tap Room
I was finally beginning my last semester of college, but I needed to complete an internship before graduation. I finally decided to go with Yucca Tap Room, a music venue and bar that is literally walking distance from my new apartment. While I was interning at Yucca Tap, I booked bands to play shows, input data entry for show statistics, offered hospitality to bands on show nights, and did a lot of networking. But the bulk of my internship was spent on foot/my bike traveling around Tempe and Phoenix to distribute show flyers. I gained an understanding of the city and its culture, as well as met people along my route.

February - Ended relationship with Austin
After four long years, Austin and I decided to call it quits. We tried to make things work, but we just grew apart from the people that we were in high school when we started dating. Breaking up was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make, but it was definitely one of the best...I just didn't realize that until later.

April - Started my new tattoo
I had three small tattoos before, but now I was ready to embark on my quarter-sleeve tattoo that was custom-designed just for me. My friend, Corey, did an amazing job! Just one more session to go.

May - Left internship at Yucca Tap Room
After five months of brutal intern work, I was ready to complete my hours and get my degree. Near the end of my internship, it became apparent that I was no longer needed, so I decided not to continue my internship there past my necessary 160 hours.

May - Graduated from Mesa Community College
I DID IT!!!!!I went through four brutal years of double-majoring (eventually dropped one of my majors) and graduated from Mesa Community College. I studied my ass off and worked extra hard to make sure I graduated on time. I had to retake public speaking and accounting because I failed, and I also lost some classes because I was dropped a few times. But, eventually, I earned my good grades and blue gown and walked across the stage towards my Associates in Music Business.

May - My grandmother passed away
After a long and painful struggle, my grandmother took her last breath and entered heaven to be with The Lord. She battled liver, lung, and breast cancer all at the same time, and it was devastating to watch her in pain and not be able to help her. I am happy that she is pain-free and with God.

May - Met and began a relationship with Matt
Seriously, the highlight of my year.
I've written on my blog about Matt, and I can go on and on and on about how much better my life is with him in it. He picks me up when I'm down, supports me, goes on adventures with me, and is there to offer tough love advice when I need it. We agree (and also disagree) on music, watch Battlestar Galactica together, go to shows together, karaoke together, flip through vinyl together. It's just so nice to be able to do things together. I love him, he loves me...and that's all that matters.

June - Left Emby Alexander
I had been performing in Emby Alexander for over a year. It was fun, but when Austin and I broke up, things got weird. Things got weird fast.
I tried really hard to be professional and not let emotions get in the way of band practice and shows. But when I ignored Austin, more problems ensued. Michael and I would argue about the direction of the band. I wanted to sing more and get more involved in the band, and he didn't want that. I wanted to perform without my bandmates throwing a fit and yelling and acting like immature hooligans. So I left.
This was another hard decision. I loved performing, and some people would come up to me after shows and tell me over and over how much they loved my voice and my performance. I didn't want to leave performing, but I needed to leave this band.

July - Started Mixtape Mandi
After leaving Emby, I was going to more shows and listening to more albums and meeting more people involved in music. I wanted to create an outlet for all my music stuff, without flooding my feed on my personal Facebook/Intstagram. So I created a music account called "Mixtape Mandi" where I can talk about all my favorite music without bugging my friends who could care less.
After that was born, I started collaborating ideas with other networks. I work with Radio Adventure Club to produce podcast episodes every Friday. I work with The Spec Blog to produce album reviews and artist interviews. I work with AZ Music Matters to produce album reviews and concert calendars.
I'm excited to see what will happen for Mixtape Mandi in the future and all the people I have yet to meet.

November - Started working at Danny Zelisko Presents
After six months of graduating and not having a job that fits my degree (which is pretty good, if you ask me) I finally got a job in music business. Currently, I am a part-time office assistant for Danny Zelisko Presents, a music promotion company here in Phoenix that specializes in national touring shows. Even though I am an office assistant, I am learning so much about the business just through all the paperwork I handle. I do tons of emailing, filing, copying, scanning, shredding...and which each document, the ladies in the office have been really helpful with explaining how important each document is to each show. My goal is to be hired full-time soon, but, with everything in life, you gotta work to get the things you want in life. So, that's what I'm gonna do.

 

 

December - Baby sister was born

It's crazy to think that I would become a big sister again at the age of 23, but it happened! Just two days after my birthday, Madeline Elizabeth Kimes was born on December 28 at 12:17am. I cannot wait to watch this beauty grow and show her all kinds of awesome music. My dad and stepmom sure do make a great team and a cute baby.



2014 New Year's Resolutions

HEALTH:
 - Do you work the next morning? What time? Go to bed ten hours before you have to clock in to work. Sometimes when you don't get enough sleep, you get cranky. And you stay up late blogging or hanging out at Lux or at a show, when you really don't need to. In bed, lights out, and phone away ten hours before your daily grind begins.
 - Since you don't work most evenings, those might be good times for you to go to the gym you signed up for then forgot about. Even if you don't make it to the gym, you can still do some workouts at home.
 - It might be a good idea to only save alcoholic beverages for the weekend. You really don't need that vodka-cranberry on a Monday evening after a "long day at the office" or because "Matt's having a beer, I should drink too". Drink water, or coffee, but let your hair down and unwind on the weekends with your cocktail.
 - I'm not saying you're fat, but you've put on some extra, uhm...love. And we all know you can't stick to a diet for more than a day without getting cranky and demanding pizza. So, just be aware of what you eat and make healthy decisions: upgrade to a salad instead of fries, try the burger without a bun, eat more greens, etc.
 - Remember when you were in high school and you took that one yoga class and you really liked it? Remember when you stopped doing yoga and life got hard? Sign up for a yoga class and attend at least once a week, to get your crazy and busy schedule and plans out of your head for just one hour.
 - When was the last time you got a checkup for your eyes, ears, teeth, spine, lady parts, etc.? Schedule a doctor's appointment during January to see all your doctors to check up on your body and make sure everything's running the way it should be. Go back whenever they advise you to.
 - Your parents got you a really sick bike two Christmases ago. You should ride your bike every Sunday. Get some fresh air and ride it to the coffee shop, to the record store, to check the mail. Just get some exercise and let the wind hit your face and wake you up from your blogging slumber. Plus, you got that sweet phone mount for your bike so you don't have shove your phone in your pocket. Use it for map, music, or texting while you ride.

BEAUTY:
 - There have been a couple times last year when you let your hair get really ratchet. I know, you didn't really have money to touch up those gorgeous red locks. So let's try this: schedule a hair appointment every 6-8 weeks. This gives your hair enough time to fade from bright red to that natural orangey-red color that people assume is real, before it goes all "Ooh, sweetie, you need your roots done."
 - You know you're pretty...now dress like it! You're a big girl at your big girl job, so let's look like a professional. No more T-shirt and jeans to the office. Dress nice, but not fancy, to work. This shows that you're not a college graduate searching for a job anymore, but you're not yet the CEO of the company. Plus, you never know who's gonna show up to the office.
 - Remember when you used to be a girly-girl? Ah...those were the days. Let's bring back those girly days and maybe try wearing a dress at least once a week. You always feel so pretty and confident when you wear dresses.
 - You started this in 2013, now let's keep it up: wash your hair every other day, between 24 and 36 hours after the previous wash. When you wash your hair too much or too close together, your red fades, your ends split, and your hair frizzes often. Allowing your hair to "get dirty" gets the natural oils into your scalp for healthier hair.
 - I know this past year has been an up-and-down battle with biting your fingernails and letting them grow out. Please, for the love of God, don't bite your fingernails! Get your nails polished every six weeks, maybe even the same day you get your hair done. Just don't bite your fingernails anymore. You're done with that.

RELATIONSHIPS:
 - You have a beautiful relationship with Matt. Everyone can see it. If it fits your guys' schedule and budget, try to go on a date with Matt once a month. Sometimes life can get busy and it's nice to take some time away from the hectic plans and just spend time together. Go to show, go to a movie, go ice-skating, do something new, try a new restaurant. Just spend some time with that handsome man of yours. You both deserve it.
 - I know it's hard to see your family. Your parents live in Rio Rico, your grandparents and sister live in Gilbert, and your dad and his baby momma live in Chandler. It's difficult to meet with them when you're trying to work and pay bills and go to events that will build your portfolio. See them as much as you can, which can differ month to month, week to week. But always: communicate with them every day. They deserve to know what's going with you, and you to know what's going on with them.
 - Your friends are important to you. You've got a lot of awesome people who care about you. Most of them you only see/talk to on Facebook now. Schedule time to see your friends. Whether it's over coffee or lunch, catch up with those who support you in all that you do.
 - Continuing that last note: remember those awesome game nights you used to host all the time and how awesome they were? Host more events that your friends can come to. Do more game nights, do more mixtape exchanges, do movie nights, do clothing swap parties, do photo shoots, do bike rides, do bible studies.
 - You have a great relationship with Nicki and her growth in the Lord. Keep it up. See Nicki every other week. You guys are both busy (like crazy busy), but you both have some spiritual growing to do, and it's better together.
 - The most important relationship to maintain: God's. Read your Bible every day. If it's not the Bible, then a spiritual guidance book, such as those written by Rob Bell or Donald Miller. You don't go to church anymore, so you need to get your spiritual fuel on your own.

HOBBIES:
 - You are 23 years old and you don't know how to cook. YOU'RE PATHETIC. I'm surprised you've been able to maintain boyfriends for as long as you can without providing delicious meals not from your own kitchen. Learn to cook. I know it scares you: what if I cut myself? What if I burn myself/ What if the food sucks? Don't worry: if you're not failing, then you're not learning. No one said you had to become a gourmet chef, just learn the basics of cooking and make a meal every now and then. You spend way too much eating out anyways. Go grocery shopping and make dinner for yourself.
 - Remember those times your parents wrote you letters? Or when Liam sent you a letter? You got so excited. Write more letters. Send mail to your friends, especially those not in Arizona anymore. There's so much excitement and personal sentiment when you write a letter. Plus, you almost embarrassed yourself at work when you couldn't figure out how to put the stamp on the envelope.
 - You started Mixtape Mandi six months ago and it's been working out really well for you. Continue doing a podcast episode every week like you have been doing, but do more Mixtape Mandi stuff: make more mixes, write more reviews, host more music events. A year from now, I want you to be earning money off of this crazy awesome idea.
 - This one's simple and you'll do it no matter what: keep listening to new music. Go to more shows, buy more albums, meet more bands.
 - This past year kinda sucked when it came to money. Let's fix this: keep a budget. Make a note of when you spend money and get money, put some money away in a savings account, and make sure you pay your bills first before you run off to the record store.
 - You love taking pictures and watching people grow through pictures, so it's time to start your own selfie project. Take a photo of yourself everyday in whatever situation you are at the time. Keep a journal of your photos and post them to your selfie project blog.