Things I love

1. Lists
2. Schedules
3. Planning

Hi, my name is Kristen and I am a control freak. I don’t like surprises ( unless a surprise involves, flowers, chocolate, or anything David Yurman). My life is planned out to the last minute; not to mention, color coded. Until now, this has worked for me. I have never had a problem with my plan not going my way, then Graduate School happened.

My life is chaotic, filled with assignments, research, paperwork, and not to mention working full time. By the end of the day, I feel like a -10/10. Until I remind myself that life is not about having everything going your way. Sometimes you need things to not go your way in order to experience an even better situation.

Do I have a lot going on right now, yes! Do I have even more to be grateful for, yes!  Find something in every day that makes you feel a little bit better about everything that may be in front of you. Even if all I can think of being grateful for right now is sunshine and purple pants.

Best of luck friends:)

New City? Not many friends? Missing home?  I may have the answer for you, well what worked for me anyway. You aren’t going to meet anyone staying inside your apartment, you are only going to find more things to complain about….like how the water kind of smells….welcome to central Florida life. Get out of your apartment and get in touch with a community event. Clearly, people have to have a reason to like living here, otherwise they would all move somewhere else.

If you are like me, you never turn down a good farmer’s market. Fresh flowers, Lemonade and peaches the size of your face..instant mood boost.  Even if you are not a total weirdo like me, just being outside and seeing other people will make you feel less lonely. Talk to different vendors, many of them always have the best stories to tell about whatever it is they are selling.

This past weekend, I ventured out to Winter Park, Florida. Winter Park is exactly what  picture when I think of old world Florida, meaning it resembles a Spanish villa.  The community is filled with college age students, families, and older folks. I met a new friend at the Winter Park Farmer’s Market, which is every Saturday morning from 8am to 2pm. We walked through all the booths a few times, before deciding what treats to indulge in . Pro tip: don’t assume anyone takes cards, most do, but its always smart to bring cash.

Just being at a Farmer’s Market reminded me of being home in Athens and instantly made me feel more connected to a new community. So don’t get discouraged, get out there , feel some sunshine .

XOXO,

Kristen-Elizabeth

Lately, my days have started in the  early morning “rushing” and ended in late nights ” cram sessions” . Who ever said graduate school was easy , oh wait, nobody ever said that. Graduate school isn’t easy, but I have learned a lot in just the few weeks that I have been here. First, that life is hard, but it is worth it. Moving back to Florida has been a very bitter experience for me. There is not a day that goes by that I would rather be living in my little house on Mell Street. But I have realized, that I am much too young to be bitter. So much is out there, and I have so much still to see!

How am I saying goodbye to bitterness? I’m starting every day  by writing what I am grateful for, you would be surprised how much you have to be grateful for..even when you think you have nothing going for you. I will be honest with you, the first thing that I usually list is my dog..I don’t know what I would do without him.

Lists don’t work for you? Are you a visual person? Go outside, see what is on God’s green earth. Florida may be hot, humid, rainy, and filled with some of the scariest bugs on the east coast..BUT..it is also filled with palm trees, oceans, tropical flowers, sandy beaches, and the locals aren’t so hard to look at.

Maybe it isn’t a situation that has got you down, maybe its a person. Pray for them, hope that they are living the best life, and then do the same of yourself. If someone is keeping you from living from your fullest life, do whats best for your and let it go. A great friend once told me, that you should never allow anyone to rob you of your joy. It is precious and it is yours. I am learning that she is very right.

XOXO,

Kristen-Elizabeth

Its official, I have moved from my beautiful, quaint, historic cottage in Athens, Georgia. Yeah thats rights, Athens, Georgia…not Athens, Greece…which happens to be a great get away destination, Travelocity. Three weeks ago I moved to Orlando, Florida to begin graduate school.  I know what you are thinking, Orlando! That sounds like so much fun! Sea World, and Disney, and put put….Book of Morman anyone? Well, yes it does have all of those things and those things are so much fun…but its no my Athens. My small coffee shops that everyone knows your name, your locally owned restaurants with “your table”, and your kind neighbors that would do anything for you..or your dog.

The one thing that I am really sick of hearing, is “ How can you not like living in Orlando? You grew up in Florida..isn’t this home for you?”  Some thing that I have realized these last three weeks, is that you can “grow up” somewhere and its not necessarily where you are from, its just where you spent a lot of time. I did not really have a negative experience in Florida, growing up. I just didn’t know what a great experience could look like, until I moved to Athens.

Athens, became the place for me that people truly believed in me. People told me that “yes, you can do that” “ yes, you are important” “ yes, you make a difference”. Who wouldn’t want to leave a place, where people invest in them. I moved 900 miles away from my family to attend college in Athens. People asked me all the time if I missed being around my family. Of course I missed my family, but I built a new family in Athens. A family that pushed me to do things that I didn’t have the strength alone to do. Including applying to graduate school in Florida.  What? This “family” , that I love so much, wanted you to leave? No! They wanted me to follow my dream, and unfortunately I couldn’t continue following my dream in Athens. I had to come here, to Orlando. I have talked to them every single day that I have been away from them, and I know that they are not going anywhere. That without their support, their care, and their kindness I would not be the person that I am today.

So do I miss Athens? Yes, everyday! Do I like Orlando? Its okay..I am looking forward to exploring more of it and eventually loving it.

XOXO ,

Kristen-Elizabeth