New blog, who dis?

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After years of trying (not actually trying) to be a famous writer for Cosmopolitan and dreaming of being an author, I thought to myself - "Damn girl, why not just do it for yourself?"

So, here I am. On the blog, doing it for myself.

At least it's low pressure considering the only people that know I am writing this are myself and my miniature-dachshund, who I am pretty sure only cares I exist when it's time for dinner.

But like, does anyone even read anymore? Or is it all TikTok and Snapchat with the kids these days? As a 28 year old millennial, I fear I missed the cutoff for being "young" enough for TikTok fame and using Snapchat as an actual source of communication. God forbid I want a real, in-person conversation, or to sit down with a paperback murder mystery novel. It all feels a little bit ironic after watching 90's movies and sitcoms my whole childhood, and having this idea that everyone and their mother worked for some kind of magazine. I grew up and realized those jobs only exist in New York or LA, certainly not in BFE Colorado.

I guess that is why I am here - why I am making this blog. To prove that those dreams of being a journalist as a young 90's kid are not dead, and they can in fact come to fruition - even if it's just for yourself.

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Hi, my name is Mikayla, and I was born and raised in Wellington, Colorado. Never heard of her? I am not surprised. She's a tiny little blip on the map right between Wyoming and Colorado. So yeah, not even the "cool" part of Colorado. But it still counts, okay?

The closest "big" city I live near is Denver, but frankly, I am more of a Wellington girl at heart. If I had the choice between a cityscape or a hay-field view, i'd choose the hay every freaking time. Big shoutout to my parents for raising me 45 minutes outside city limits, I guess. I hated them for it at the time, because no one ever wanted to come to my house for sleepovers, but wow, am I grateful to not have lived in the burbs of Aurora (iykyk).

I spent my entire youth education going to a small, private religious high-school, which I grew to really hate as the years went on. I love the Lord and have a relationship with God, but it wasn't about God anymore by the time I graduated. The school had turned from humble rags to stuck-up riches, and don't even get me started on the staff drama that students were constantly pulled into. College prep? More like a giant, 12 year-long, family holiday disaster. And no, not a happy family like Full House or That 70's Show. I grew up with the same people I went to pre-school with, hell, maybe even daycare. It's not as cute as you would think.

After surviving my days at "prison-high,"I found myself a Ram at Colorado State University. Because no 18 year old knows what they want to do for the rest of their life unless you happen to want to be a neurosurgeon (my dad's personal dream for me) I veered over to Front Range Community College for my sophomore year, where I discovered that marketing might be my thing. After transferring back to Colorado State University as a junior with an associate's degree, I confirmed my love for journalism, copywriting, and photography through a collection of random courses that I took throughout the remainder of my college career to get my bachelor's degree. And yay - I have a piece of paper sitting in my parent's basement in a box somewhere to prove it!

My career? Ha, you name a job, I have had it . I have stayed in the marketing field for over 5 years now, working in a variety of industries across Colorado. My passion still lies in writing and photography, as I always thought it did as a little girl watching all my favorite TV actresses get their big break as journalist (i.e., Carrie Bradshaw). This brings me to today, right now, on this blog.

Don't get me wrong - I am so, SO grateful for my career. But I cannot freely type and be creative at a corporate 9-5 job either, unless I want to be fired. I want the freedom to say how I actually feel, talk about what I actually like, say f*ck once in awhile (insert Miranda Cosgrove meme). So, here I am - using my childhood, my 28 years of Colorado-ness, my two college degrees, and my 5 years of marketing career experience - coming at you live, as The Colorado Blonde.

I am pretty sure no one knows Northern Colorado the way I do - how could they? I am a self-proclaimed expert, and that also probably makes me slightly delusional (delulu).

Anyways, I hope you enjoy the journey that I am taking you on as a new blogger in Colorado, and I look forward to connecting and sharing my life with you all.

xoxo

NOT gossip girl, but The Colorado Blonde