Over the last couple of years, Coachella has been quite the scene for music lovers and fashionistas. It's a place where people feel like they can truly express themselves and get away for a weekend. Every year after seeing two whole weeks of epic Instagram posts, I would tell myself that I had to make it for next year. And finally, it happened. This last weekend I got the chance to experience Coachella for the first time, and I did it with 12 of my bestfriends.

When we bought our tickets, we also bought a campsite. I mean, it was our first Coachella and were we really going to fully experience it if we didn't camp? The camp grounds are massive, and it is hot. But the adventure you take on for 72 hours is so worth it. We were stuck in a 10 x 30 ft box that we got to completely transform into our home. You could bring whatever you wanted, decorate however you liked, and sleep however/wherever you want. Seriously, the guy in the spot next to us was sleeping on an air mattress on the top of his Jeep and I think he thoroughly enjoyed it. More than I enjoyed sleeping in the home-made bed in the back of the car. One downside to camping: it is dusty and dirty outside, and everything gets dirty. Being first time Coachella campers, we were not prepared for everything to at one point get wet, or lost. But hey, there is a first time for everything! All weekend we wore little clothing, played games, and just talked for hours each day before the festival gates opened. What was really special about camping though, was the memories made with my friends. You bond with your friends on a completely different level, and it is incredible the growth I have made in my friendships from this trip. You also get to meet some of the coolest people from all over the world, and the party really never has to end, even if the festival does. Another downside: getting ready and dressed in a car, when you're surrounded by hundreds of people, is hard to do. Especially when it's 100 degrees outside and you only brought a little makeup mirror to prop up on the seat next to you. But I did realize something in doing that. Nobody really cares how dressed up or down, for the lack of better terms, you get. We are all there for the music and that's exactly the say it should be.

Then there is the actual festival itself. There is really only one word to describe it: Wow. Upon entering, we were all a little overwhelmed. It was exciting: the views, the art, the rad outfits everyone was wearing. But it was also intimidating: all the people and all the noise. If you're not someone who generally goes to music festivals and is used to being shoved and waiting in long lines for everything you do, I suggest you don't do Coachella. This is one of the biggest festivals and it is crowded. Unless you don't mind pushing your way through a crowd of hundreds of people to get a good spot, you will be stuck in the back. Or you have to get there hours before your favorite bands go on - but be prepared to sweat. A lot. Another thing we weren't prepared for was how much there was to do and how many cool performers there are to see. If you're a true fan of music, you'll want to wander around to each stage and see everyone. But the festival grounds are massive and it takes some time to maneuver between the crowds. And if you're like me, you'll go with a big group and either have to sacrifice splitting up or missing out on some of the acts you want to see. But it's okay if you miss out or wander off on your own, because there is so much art just laid out around the fields. By the third and final day of the show, I was honestly sad that it was over just because of how breathtaking the view was. And the people! The people, no matter what festival or show you're at, are always some of the best people you will meet. There is nothing quite like a group of individuals who just want to lose themselves to some pretty awesome music.

There is obviously only one thing that really makes Coachella what it is and that's the music. No matter what you're into, or what set you find yourself wandering to, you won't be let down. The energy inside every tent is something I will never forget. I got to spend 3 nights closing out the Sahara tent with 12 of my best friends, smiling harder than ever. I danced like no one was watching (because really, no one was- they were too busy dancing themselves)! And then there's the DoLab, one of my favorite stages of all time. To put it in different terms, I want one in my backyard and I think I was literally born for it. If you've never heard of or got to experience the DoLab at the few festivals it's set up at, you need to immediately open up a new tab on your search engine and discover the beauty for yourself. All weekend, I found myself returning set after set to the DoLab to dance. Whether I knew who was performing or not, it was always a guaranteed good time and definitely the biggest highlight of my weekend.

Now that i'm home and unpacked, I am truly sad that this weekend has come to an end. There is nothing more special than experiencing a music festival (especially one as big as Coachella) with your best friends. I highly encourage you to do so, even if it means going broke by splurging on the trip. Do it and I promise you won't regret it.

I'll see ya next year, Coachella 2018.