Goodbye LA...Hello Dallas.

(Musical accompaniment for this post: A Fine Frenzy – Now Is The Start). 

This very big news has been trickling out for a few days now, but in case you haven't heard... I AM MOVING TO DALLAS.  

(gasp.)

This HUGE life change is definitely bittersweet as I am sad to leave my beloved Los Angeles and all my wonderful friends here after 5.5 crazy, fun-filled, better-than-I-ever-imagined-they-would-be years. There is nowhere else in the world I wanted to be right after college, so much so that I took the plunge and drove myself out here even when my job offer I had lined up in the spring of my senior year fell through. I knew I had to give it a try... I wouldn't be satisfied anywhere else.  A few weeks later I had a new job at The Academy, and I was more in love with LA than ever. But even then in the height of my Los Angeles love, I knew that this city was absolutely perfect for me at that time, but eventually I would want to move closer to my home. I didn't know exactly when that would happen or what that would look like... but here it is! 

I will be joining an exciting new digital agency called Socialized Monkey as a Senior Digital Marketing Manager (heyooo). This small start-up will be a 100% different environment/experience than my time at the Academy and Warner Bros., and I'm excited for that! I'm also excited to be in Dallas just in time for OU/Texas (for the first time since 2007), and to be able to drive up to Norman for any game day for that matter.  I'm excited to be a 3 hour drive from my brother in Oklahoma City, a 4 hour drive from my parents in Houston, and just a 2.5 hour drive from my sweet grandparents in Louisiana. I'm excited for a slightly slower pace. I'm excited for a change. For a new start. 

For the most part, I am feeling a great sense of peace about this crazy huge move, but the sadness/emo-ness has been creeping in too.  I will miss my incredible friends out here... some of the best friends I've ever had in my life. I will my miss my church- my favorite church I've ever attended. I will miss my awesome neighborhood, Los Feliz. I will miss the perfect weather, the beautiful beaches. I will miss the opportunities to unexpectedly share a table at your neighborhood Thai restaurant with Michael Cera, work out next to Victoria Beckham or Zac Efron, and accidentally photobomb Meryl Streep. ;) 

Who knows... Dallas might not be the best fit for me.  I might be back in LA in a year. Or I might move to Austin or Chicago or Italy next. But I know if I didn't take this opportunity and try it out, I would absolutely regret it. So, ready or not... Dallas here I come. 

(LA friends... I will miss you a lot, a lot. You have less than 3 weeks to hang out with me. Let's make it count... and also please come to my going away party 9/15. Invites coming shortly). 

(Dallas friends... let's please hang out when I get there! I don't know Dallas very well at all and I need you to show me the ropes). 

xoxo, 

Annie.