2017 - The Building Year

Scrolling through my Instagram feed yesterday, I stumbled upon one of my favorite end-of-year traditions—#2017thebestnine. Naturally, I had to join the fun and check out my top nine posts.
The collage made me stop and reflect on just how much has happened this past year.

year in reviwer

Why the “Building Year”?

As I mentioned in my IG post, I made a huge leap: I left my full-time, comfy corporate job to pursue freelance writing full-time.

Let me tell you—it’s freaking scary.

There’s no regular paycheck, no HR department to chase down when payment is delayed. Some clients are consistent, others pay after projects are complete, and a few… well, let’s just say they test my patience.

But somehow, I’ve managed to keep my head above water. And that, my friends, is a win.

One major lesson I learned: Pitching for new work is just as important as doing the work. I also realized that my energy needs to go toward growing Val’s Bytes. Writing is my passion, but this blog is my heart.

The building years

My Everlasting Wanderlust

I’ll say it again—I LOVE to travel. The Comedian and I went to Italy and Greece this past year, and it was beyond anything I imagined. The blue waters of Santorini? Unreal. The tomatoes in Sicily? Life-changing.

I told him we only scratched the surface. But… I did promise to give him a six-month break from my travel obsession. (We’ll see how long that lasts.)

the building year

Growth for Val’s Bytes

It’s amazing what happens when you pray with purpose and take action.

This year, I:

• Launched the Love Bits & Bytes podcast

• Earned my matchmaker certification

• Hosted on Throwback Vibez, an online radio station

• Took on new clients and wrote like crazy

Behind the scenes, I’m working on:

• A brand new Val’s Bytes website

• My first ebook—a curated collection of my favorite blogs

• Building out Fox Hunt Digital, a new marketing services brand with a stellar team

I’m also investing in me. There’s so much wisdom in the world—books, courses, tools—that help you grow emotionally and spiritually. If you want recommendations, hit me up. Seriously.

the building year

What’s to Come

In 2018, you’ll start to see everything I’ve been working on come to life. More love coaching, more dating content, more connection.

I sincerely believe our gifts are meant to be shared. Mine? Helping people love themselves deeply so they can attract real, healthy love.

If you're thinking about going freelance or starting something new, let’s talk. I’m here to help you build.

Final Thoughts

Was 2017 hard? Absolutely. But I don’t regret much—except maybe the BBQ that settled permanently on my waistline. 😅

Still, I survived. I grew. I believed in myself. And I built.

If you hate your situation, make a plan to save yourself. Because no one’s coming to rescue you.
You’ve got to be your own hero.

Here’s to a year of courage, clarity, and creation.

See you next year!
—Val 💛

the building year

2016 - Year in Review: Creating the Life I Envisioned

I'd like to think this “Year in Review” idea becomes an annual tradition. I love reflecting on the past 12 months—the triumphs, the trials, and the unexpected turns that helped shape who I am today.

This year began in a good place. I was in full-blown wedding planning mode, excited to marry The Comedian. There were so many hopes and dreams swirling around: building a life together, staying creative, and reigniting my passion for writing.

At the beginning of the year, I was working a job I liked—mainly because of the people. But as the months dragged on, the grind wore me down. Working 8 AM to 6 or 7 PM, often outdoors in a construction-heavy environment, took a toll on my energy and spirit. I started losing myself. My blog, which once gave me so much life, sat dormant. Even trying to lose weight for the big day became emotionally taxing.

I remember lying in bed with The Comedian after one of our long, honest conversations about chasing our dreams. He gently called out that I was losing my spark. And he was right—I was in a rut. That night, I made a promise: by the end of the year, I would quit my job and pursue freelance writing full-time.

And I did.

Thanks to a few Craigslist posts (yes, really), I connected with some amazing clients who gave me the opportunity—and the confidence—to step away from my 9-to-5. I haven’t looked back. I’ve spent the holiday season in meetings, brainstorming, and planning for more clients. And Val’s Bytes? She’s back, baby. Look out for a fresh podcast format in 2017.

This year included two weddings—one of them being my own—and no baby showers (thank God). But the biggest blessing of all was marrying someone who believes in me, even when I doubt myself.

Of course, not everything was sunshine. My hometown of Orlando experienced unspeakable heartbreak with the Pulse Nightclub shooting. We lost icons like Prince. And I faced the emotional exhaustion of a job that no longer fit the person I was becoming.

But through all of that, I’m grateful. Because those shifts—both internal and external—led me closer to the life I’ve always envisioned. As we head into a new year, I want to leave you with this:

✨ Create your own destiny.

As a challenge, I want you to make a vision board (I'll share mine below). Visualize what you want. Pray for it. Meditate on it. Keep your thoughts positive and focused. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle says:

“See if you can catch yourself complaining… To complain is always nonacceptance of what is… When you speak out, you are in your power.”

A goal without a plan is just a dream. So let’s stop just dreaming. Let’s do something about it. Reflect, plan, believe, and act.

Happy New Year. May it bring everything you're brave enough to imagine.

Year in Review, vision board

In My Head

I’m starting to get used to this non-scheduled style of blogging. I only seem to write when inspiration squeezes into a rare free moment in my overbooked life. Sigh. But hey, I created this life, so I keep on truckin’.

Lately, I’ve noticed these sudden waves of emotion hitting me—like clockwork—every month. It’s like I can feel everything more deeply, more urgently, and I honestly don’t know what to do with it. I get irritated quickly. I need space. And yet, people rush in, trying to fix me or make it better. But the truth is, nothing is really wrong. There’s just this amplified version of myself that I have to ride out until the volume turns down again.

I remember reading The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, where he talks about how women, during this time, aren’t quite themselves. That struck a chord. Because in those moments, I don’t feel like myself. I want to be present. I want to find peace. But sometimes my emotions are on a rollercoaster I didn’t agree to ride. And the worst part? I don’t realize I’m reacting until the moment’s already passed.

Most of the time, I talk myself off the ledge silently—in my head. I guess that’s where the phrase comes from. Being “in your head.” It’s a place I know well. Maybe it’s the side effect of having a creative mind. We drift into our thoughts, our dreams, our storylines, and forget that reality is happening all around us.

That’s probably why I’ve never been good at taking pictures. I’m so in the moment—in my head—that I forget to capture it. There are so many beautiful memories from college I wish I had photos of. But nope, no snapshots. Just fragments in my mind. Luckily, the Comedian is a picture person. Problem solved.

So I guess what I’m trying to say is—pause. Take a breath. Get out of your head. See the moment for what it is. I'm mostly writing this as a reminder to myself, honestly. Blogging has always been my therapy, my grounding cord, my gentle nudge to grow. And growth starts with awareness.

The Secret to Staying Positive (Even When Life Gets Messy)

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I recently watched The Secret, the movie based on the book of the same name. If you haven’t seen or read it, I highly recommend it. As someone who tries to live with a positive mindset (keyword tries), I found it really uplifting.

The main theme centers around the law of attraction—the idea that positive thoughts attract positive outcomes. I know to some it might sound like woo-woo, hippie BS, but honestly? I believe there’s something to it. And since watching it, some pretty unexpected things have happened. I won’t go into detail (trying to protect a few identities here 😅), but let’s just say—I was shocked, confused, and strangely… hopeful?

What I’ve taken away is this: all we have is the present, and what we do now shapes what’s to come. I’ve had my fair share of chaos and curveballs in life, but I don’t want to let those moments define me. I’d rather keep laughing—even when life doesn’t go the way I planned.

Truthfully, I never thought I’d be almost 30 with no ring on my finger or kids in tow, but maybe that’s just not what’s meant for me right now. And that’s okay.

So yeah, this post might be a little out of character from my usual rants and dating escapades, but sometimes inspiration hits. Positive vibes really do make a difference—not just in how you see the world, but in how the world sees you.