Dedicated to the Title

My new mantra.

I've come to understand myself, the way I want to live and most of all - what I need in order to be happy.

Growing up in this big, new, crazy world we live in today - is work. It's a hard world, full of persecution, judgement, and naysayers.

I've come to understand what I want, what I don't need, and where & when I spend my time being most productive and when I'm most at peace and full of love and joy - and that's the direction I'm heading in.

Understanding yourself is, above all, most important. In the end, all you have is yourself. Do what makes you happy.

You'll Never Have It All Figured Out

It's hard to believe that five years ago I was gearing up to graduate high school, spend my birthday month of June traveling to Mexico and Europe - and then heading off to college on a new adventure. 

It's even harder to believe that just a year ago, I was prepping to send graduation invites and gearing up to graduate college - with not a clue where I'd be going - except for the beach the day after graduation, of course!

Sure, I had plans. If you know me, I always have a plan. We all have these dreams and infinite expectations of what life will be like after college, but you can't really - actually - know or plan what will happen.

I spent the first few post- grad months trying to relish in the time I had left with all of the freedom that comes with not having a "real" job or paying for anything. Although, much of my time was spent worrying about why I didn't have a job yet, what to say to everyone who asked "oh, so what are you doing now?" ("Umm..it's none of your business really," is what I wanted to say) and what people would think of that. 

But, my friends, let me tell you. Relish in that free time. 

Life will always work out - just how it is supposed to, because God always has a plan for you - and unless you take the path of resistance, He will show you that plan when the time is right. 

If I've learned one thing in life, it's that God allows us to work through all sorts of situations - the good, bad, troubling, exciting, happy, overwhelming and even tragic times. Because we're working on His clock and that's just life.

Just after leaving Auburn, I decided that I was going to bust my butt for the next year and half, move to NYC for the summer to do an internship and then come back to Alabama to finish school, before jumping ship and heading off to the Big Apple again to find a job. 

This was my "plan." Sounds glamorous, right?

Now, don't get my wrong, it is glamorous - and do I think about New York every other day? Yep. But our cards unfold how they're supposed to. And it doesn't mean I don't have the rest of my life to move there does it? But instead, I spent that summer doing an internship in town, that was a completely new and exciting experience in itself. I met a wonderful boy through working at a restaurant, that I'd like to think is God's doing, and he timed it perfectly! (How does He always manage to do that?) I spent my final semesters in school, working, interning and doing lots of volunteer work - where I learned so much, not only about the job, but about life, relationships, what to expect and what to aim for in my work environment in order to make me happy.

Because, at the end of the day - it's not always about what looks good on paper - it's about what makes you happy. You're the one that has to live that life day in and day out (said a wise soul- aka my mom). You might as well enjoy it, right?

Yes, I understand that sometimes we have to grind out hard work, dedication, long hours, or work in positions that aren't necessarily a dream, in order to reach our "dream" - but I'm also not one of those people who thinks it's necessary to sacrifice your happiness for a job or money - ever. 

 If it's your dream that you're chasing, you'll be happy working your way there. 

So, after three months of freedom and casually applying for jobs - that weren't exactly ideal at the time or in close proximity, but I knew I would take in a heartbeat if given the chance - I applied for a position at Indie Shopography in Florence. This came at the opportune moment. Why? Because I was planning to move off to Nashville on a whim with a friend, not knowing what the heck I was going to do - And in that same week I received an email about an opening for my current position . 

I thought, what the heck, this sounds fabulous, I'll apply. 

And I got the job! (Yay!)

Since getting my job, this past year has been one of the most exhilarating, best learning experiences of my life. I have learned so much, that I would probably never have learned at a bigger agency. I have gotten to watch a company grow from the ground up - and I've been a part of the process - soaking it all in. I am familiar with so many aspects of running a business, creating things, and I've learned so many new skills - more than I learned in my entire four years of college (Sorry about that $ parents, it's just the truth, I'm still thankful). And these things are far more valuable than what awards I have received, clubs I was in or what is written on a piece of paper.

And although I'm still working my butt off making dough on the weekends as a server, I can afford to live comfortably and still take the time to do my #1 - travel - work in an awesome, laid back environment at Indie Shopography and I get to do what I love!

And for that, I have to be thankful. 

So at my wise, old age of 22, I have to say - 

Take the days as you may, but live in the moment as often as possible and always, always be willing and able to take a leap of faith - always ask questions, always be honest and always be willing to learn. 

(My life - "made possible by my parents, who always, always provide for me and have literally been right by my side through every part of my life, my closest friends and wonderful boyfriend who has taught me so much about life and love.")

Pura Vida

       Windows down, music blaring, heading to highway 30A with friends...

This would have been my typical spring break trip...full of fun with friends, the gulf's fresh seafood and an impending sunburn. As fun as this all sounds, I wanted to go somewhere out of my comfort zone with new people this year for spring break so I took a trip to Costa Rica with UNA.

I've never been on an international mission trip of sorts, so I knew this was going to be eye-opening and life-changing like people have always said, but have you ever heard, "You've gotta see it to believe it," ? Well this is just the appropriate time for that phrase...you've really gotta see, gotta experience it before you'll believe it!

Although parts of Costa Rica were impoverished, devastating and sad, I was delighted to see that our presence brought such joy and hope to the community of La Carpio. 

Two twin girls, a little boy and I. I was trying to read a book to them in Spanish. 

Photo by: Bethany Pierce

All this little girl wanted to do was sit in my lap and watch a movie.

Monsarrat, a precious baby girl I got attached to at the orphanage. 

This picture was taken at the orphanage in La Fortuna. This little boy loved Kelci. 

We visited the city of La Carpio, where we visited a church that has been built and is maintained by Pastor Huberth Chavarria and locals who care about his mission.

The first day we visited was on Sunday, March 24, and we got to visit the church service that evening. It was AMAZING to see and hear all of these people rejoicing for God who live in such awful conditions. It literally brought tears to my eyes while I was trying to comprehend how they could seem so content and gracious. A church located in an impoverished part of the city, a garbage dump, filled with Nicaraguan refugees. It made me realize how truly blessed we are in America.. in our homes that have fresh, clean air, running water, floors made out of hardwood and concrete as opposed to dirt...it was unbelieveable. These people had their hands up, worshiping the same God we worship in the U.S. It was a really defining moment for me to hear these people singing to God in Spanish. One song I recognized was "How Great Is Our God?" Although none of us were able to sing along, we connected. It was an amazing night. And to top things off, a little girl who I had seen earlier in the day got up out of her pew in the church and came and sat with me and held onto my finger the entire service. We talked (in Spanish) about our clothes, nail polish...little things...but it was so cool for me. She was like...5. I noticed she was checking out everything I was wearing: Nike shorts, a plain crew neck t-shirt, heart-shaped earrings and teva sandals. I know...fancy, right!? Well it was heart wrenching when she leaned down to the floor, sat back up and tapped me, whispering, while pointing to my shoes "Muy bonita." I was thinking, "What? my old dusty sandals?" 

It's just such a different world they live in.

The next day we visited the church again. We spent the day sanding the walls of what's going to be a classroom. We ended up having time and energy to clean up the dusty place, paint all of the walls and the front of the building. The finished product just made me smile :)

Afterwards we rested and ate an awesome lunch prepared by some ladies at the church. 

We got to spend time playing with the children for a few hours as well. I got to use and improve my Spanish skills like the entire time because none of the kids spoke English... :O
We had fun watching the play football (soccer). I was actually terrified because they were running over each other and all kicking at the ball at once...a.k.a. being kids. haha We gave them books, thanks to my Uncle Mike who donated them through BookSmart, and coloring books to do a more calm activity. This was fun for me because I got to talk to some of the kids and we all taught each other our languages haha. 

We drove to the city of La Fortuna located a few hours away from where we had been staying in San Jose. The drive and the volcanos were gorgggg! We took a day to visit an orphanage in La Fortuna where children had been placed that were either abandoned by their mothers or were taken from their mother because of some type of abuse, addiction and neglect. All of the children were 10 years old or younger. I spent most of the day playing with them, particularly the babies. Monsarrat was a little girl, probably under one year old, who had been there. I wanted to adopt her right then and there! She was the best baby...didn't cry and just wanted to be loved. I basically carried her around for hours, walked her around to look at different things or to play ball. We were originally going to clean and repaint the sidewalks and surroundings outside, but it rained :( We decided to go ahead and clean the pavement and walls outside that had moss growing on them, but we got SOAKED from the rainshowers...but it was ok...we would've gotten dirty and hot otherwise! 

The orphanage had the most impact on me because I got so attached to Monsarrat. These children were so so sweet and you could really tell they just wanted attention...someone to sit with them or look at them...play with them. It was so sad when we left; Monsarrat, along with all of the other children, ran outside waving at us. I am really glad we got to go spend time with them, though.

I'm really glad I got the chance to go on this trip with UNA through AB because it was my first time out of the country for a trip like this. It was seeing Costa Rica from a different side than of just a tourist. It made me think past that and on to what I can do to help. It's really easy to get discouraged too, though. A few times on the trip I found myself thinking "I'm not doing much to help them in comparison to how many people are hurting and poor here," but I was constantly given reminders of why I was there when the refugees and orphans showed so much appreciation for us being there.

I feel truly blessed but a little saddened that not everyone gets equal opportunity in this world. By fate, some of us grow up in better conditions than others. I think that's why it's our responsibility to do as much as we can to help others that are less fortunate. I love having the memories of the children's smiling faces when we arrived, or how they all scurried to and ravaged through the books we brought...when I saw a little boy walking down the side of the road alone with only his books in hand as we left La Carpio. These are the most precious memories I'll hold. 

I've got Spring fever

Hey everyone!

 I've been super busy with life, but my 30 day challenge was a success! I felt better than ever when it was over. 

I plan to give an update soon. I want to put a post about my trip to Costa Rica. 

School will be over in less than two weeks so I will have a lot more time to update my blog about cool things and such :) Thanks for reading.

xoxo-- Kris

Breaking Bad

Habits: And 30 days to breaking a bad habit

Almost every day for the past six months or so, I've indulged in some sweet treat. As good as it may taste, I assume that it can't be good for my body's appearance or my health. But in what ways are sweets actually effecting my health?

I did a little research:

 You may get a sugar high and high-calorie intake from sweets, but they rarely provide any nutrition, according to Women's Health article, "Curb Your Sweet Tooth." 

A 2005 study led by psychology professor Bart Hoebel Ph.d., revealed that eating sugar releases the neurotransmitters that activate the brain's pleasure receptors. Addictive drugs also activate these same neurotransmitters, called opioids. 

Sugar can also cause tooth decay. The longer sugar sits on your teeth, the more susceptible you are to tooth decay and cavities. For more information on tooth health and good sweets versus bad sweets for your teeth, visit knowyourteeth.com.

You're probably thinking, "I've heard these things a million times," but the fact is that your body relies on you completely. It can only function as well as you treat it. Next time you think about drinking a soda or eating a sweet, ask yourself "Is this helping my body reach its full potential? Is this going to give me optimum health and appearance?" If not, don't put your body through it. 

I have decided to do a "30 day challenge" without sweets and soda. I've mustered up some motivation, a few tips on breaking habits & healthy snack alternatives from various sources to aid me on my journey: 

On breaking a bad eating habit

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/6-steps-to-changing-bad-eating-habits

http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/weight-loss/plans/diets/break-bad-eating-habits/

http://skinnychef.com/blog/changing-bad-eating-habits

http://blog.lifestrength.com/2012/06/26/9-bad-eating-habits-and-how-to-break-them/

On healthy snack alternatives

                                       

bananas                            
asparagus                             
peanut butter

apples                             
broccoli                                  
almonds

pineapple                         
carrots                                      
edamame beans

cantaloupe                      
squash                                   
plain greek yogurt with muesli 

frozen grapes   
zucchini                                  
protein shake                       

spinach                                 
veggie or fruit smoothies

On motivation: 

       

  

                

                                              

If you'd like to join me on a "30 day challenge" of your own, you are free to take these tips along your journey, too! Let me know if you have any questions or need an extra boost of motivation...I'll try to come up with something to help! I'll be updating once a week or so to reflect on how it's going...

"What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it."

Good luck!

xoxo--Kris

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/best-workout-for-your-body-type

The cure is shopping

Today was such an interesting day..well not so much interesting, as..well...it did not go as planned, but there's a little good in each day I'd like to believe 1. I set my alarm for 8:30 -Woke up at 11:30

 2. Was headed to work out, then realized time was not on my side, so... 3. Thought "hey I'll go buy my mom's birthday present quickly before class at 2" 4. 1:30pm...Still no luck 5. SO I decided, class isn't important it'll be the only time I skip... 6. So instead I had a day full of shopping :) I finally found my mom's gift's for her birthday. I hate picking out things that I know people either won't need or don't want, so I finally found the perfect little gifts! I also did myself the favor of picking up a few new items for my beach trip.

A candle! These are so perfect. My mom loves candles and to top it off these have leopard print tops! I bought the "Beach Blonde" scent: "A crisp invigorating scent reminiscent of sand, warm suntan oil and sea mist." I know my mom will love it!

  

I noticed my mom "repinned" this quote and I also really like it...then I came across this in a Hardware store!
"The cure for anything is salt water- sweat, tears, or the sea." Isak Dinesen
This bath salt is called Restore and is so relaxing after a long day!

Behind the Glass is a local store in Auburn, AL. It has really cool, trendy clothes, shoes, accessories and other odds-and-ins...This store carries many brands, to name just a few: BCBG, Free People, French Connection, Citizens of Humanity, Ya, Velvet, Steve Madden, Lucky, Sam Edelman, and more! Some pieces are a little pricey, but I think you pay for what you buy. I visited Target after shopping at Behind the Glass and was thoroughly...unsatisfied. Don't get me wrong, I DO love Target, but the material and stitching on these pricier pieces are longer-lasting!

Lavender soap!
Did you know: Lavender works as an Aphrodisiac ?



Here's a few items I bought today-->

My mom loves coffee products and I'm interested to hear how these work! Instead of having watered down iced coffee from the melted ice, make a fresh batch of coffee and pour it into these molds to freeze! It's "coffee ice cubes." It will be sure to savor the flavor!



Nothing went quite as I had planned, but it was a much-needed, productive day of me time.
And I finally got my mom's birthday package shipped off after roaming around in the loading garage of Kroger to find the perfect box to put her gifts in!
I wish my mom a happy early birthday and a wonderful Valentine's Day, both of which fall on February 14, year 1960.

Click on the pictures in order to check out where to find these buys, Thanks! 
--xoxo Kris

Take a look into my life-->

Hey guys!

So I've been following bloggers for months now and could not seem to find the right time to create my own. Well here I am, one month into the new year of 2012 with a new schedule, a head full of ideas, and a handful of the usual......nye revolutions. I promise to confide in my blog spot in: Times of anger/frustration--Moments when my creativity sparks--To speak of my travels and share the gorgeous places I've been so blessed to visit--And to tell some funny stories

Although I'm a little behind and January is over, I found February 1 to be a perfect day to join the blogging community so here's a recap with a few random pictures of my life in 2011...

I fell in love with this city...

Looking oh so dapper--the sunset, of course!

Bought my first apartment!

Learned to grow on my own from that little thing we call heartbreak

Spent the holidays with my amazing family

And I took a plunge to the dark side!

That's ME on the left :)

xoxo