I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane!

I'm off to sunny Mexico!
Have a great week everyone and Happy Halloween!

XO

Love this quote:

"Happiness is one of the choices many of us forget we can CHOOSE"

Simply Inspiring

I have an addiction… Kelle Hampton’s Blog. 

I came across her Blog a while ago and love love love her.  She is an incredible writer, photographer, mother and woman.  Every time I read one of her entries I feel inspired and like I want to be a better person. The way she writes is sometimes heart breakingly (I know not a real word but it fits) honest but it’s the truth.  The truth is sometimes hard but it really does set you free. Kelle’s Blog empowers me to speak the truth, be myself and if people don’t like it…well whatever! 

Some days she has me laughing out loud, some days she has me in tears and everyday she has me inspired.  Once reading her Blog you can’t help wishing she was your friend.

I’m absolutely sure Kelle won’t be reading this but just in case…Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I can’t begin to explain my gratitude for you; you really have made an impact on my life.

XO

K

Officially a Graduate!

I have said it before, and I will say it again…I have an amazing family.

I was blown away on Saturday night when I arrived at my mom’s for what I thought was a family dinner to find almost all the people I care about it one room to celebrate my graduation.  What a shock!

I am missing my convocation next week because I will be basking in the Mexican sun for my cousins wedding. When I learned I would be missing this major milestone I was upset.  The truth is, I never thought I would get this far, never thought I could do it and certainly never thought I would have a degree. Therefore the cap and gown were kind of important memories and therefore important pictures.  After much deliberation with my family, I decided going to Mexico was more important and I would take pictures with my degree in my sweats when it arrived in the mail.

Well this girl got pictures, and lots of them! Pictures with her cap, gown, degree, family, friends, the Dean and yes, even her dog. My mom threw a fabulous surprise party Saturday night and what graduation party would be complete without her own personal convocation ceremony? My amazing mentor arranged for the Dean of the Faculty of Communications to come to the party, dressed in his formal graduation attire. He brought with him a cap and gown (for me!) and presented me with my degree in front of everyone.  He did an amazing job, made me feel so special and I am officially a graduate.

My mentor and I’m not mentioning his name because it wouldn’t be appropriate without his consent, is one of the most wonderful people I have ever met.  He is the reason why I made the decision to go back to school, without his support and encouragement who knows where I would be.  He and his lovely wife are the busiest people I know, and not only did they take time to come celebrate with me,  they pulled a lot of strings on Saturday night and helped create memories that I will never forget. I get emotional thinking about Saturday and I can’t believe it.  I was shocked, surprised and touched and other than when Dave proposed, I think it was the best surprise of my life!

I feel on top of the world today! I am so grateful for all the wonderful people I have in my life who were there to celebrate my success! Thank you. Thank you to my mom, who is also one of my very best friends, you mean so much to me and I am so touched by all your hard work, thought, and secret keeping skills.

Have a great week everyone!

XO

K

Book Worm

My love for reading is never going away. It makes me happy, inspires me and provides me with an escape from reality. Reading is great no matter where you are but there are a few places in particular that make it that much better… the beach and the bath. I have a bath almost every night where I can get away from it all, relax and enjoy whatever it is I might be reading.

Ahh but the beach, the sound of the waves, the heat of the sun and the smell of the ocean (or sometimes the lake) really make me happy.  Maybe one day I will move closer to these delights but for now I visit as often as possible.  In just over a week I am heading to sunny hot Mexico for my cousins wedding and I cannot freaking wait. Fun in the sun with my amazing family, beverages, and my cousin’s wedding but I am most excited to sit in a lounge chair, sip a cold beverage and read a great book.  I visit the book store on a regular basis to see what might be “vacation worthy.”  I enjoy a typical easy beach read as much as the next guy, but I think this time I’m looking for something more.

I read quite a bit, probably a few books a month.  I belong to a book club with a group of 11 fabulous women who meet once a month to discuss the pick of the month, other literature and life in general.  We all come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences; have differing opinions which often provokes great conversations. This month’s book is The Ape House by Sara Gruen, the same author that wrote the brilliant book Water for Elephants.  I am really looking forward to this book, and hope it doesn’t let me down.

I don’t think I have a favorite book of all-time, do you?

Happy reading!

K

Picture Time!

My computer is fixed which means I can finally upload some pictures to my text heavy BLOG. YA-HOO!

Me and my Chance on a beautiful fall day!

My cousin's adorable little boy Carter-look at those eyes!

Tiffany and our hounds...except we are missing her other dog Brodie (he wouldn't sit with us)

Haha! Good times at my happy place!

It's somewhat humorous that Chance is featured in more pictures than anyone else...you know my priorities! Have a great weekend!

XO
K

Love This...

I recently came across this quote, loved it, and thought I would share.  I think it’s so true…

“The cure for anything is salt water- sweat, tears, or the sea.”- Isak DinesenXo

K

Yay For Me

The time has finally come…I have accepted a full-time communication position and I am thrilled.  The company is small, fast paced and growing. It will provide me with multiple opportunities to grow my skills and experiences. Most people would agree that the people within the organization can either make it or break it, well the people are awesome! (Keeping in mind I don’t know many of them YET!)

I will finish up at my current job at the end of the month; spend a week in Mexico soaking up the sun with my awesome family and I will ready to rock come the second week in November.  

Big changes are on the horizon which is sometimes scary and uncomfortable. Dealing with change hasn’t always been one of my strengths, but this time I’m going to embrace it and dare I say rock it!  I’m looking forward to the new chapter in my life, and can’t wait to see what that looks like.

In other news, I had a fabulous Thanksgiving weekend. We have amazing families and each dinner (don’t forget we had three) was fun and delicious. We got to spend time catching up with amazing people, and we feel lucky that we all still make the effort to get together for the holidays. Oh and remember that sweet baby I was looking forward to snuggling? He is sweeter than ever and growing up so fast.  My cousin and her husband make very cute babies!

I wanted to include some pictures but my computer is still broken, so pictures will have to follow.

XO

K

Giving Thanks…

Thanksgiving is upon us and admittedly I have been a bit negative about upcoming festivities.  Lots of family commitments which sometime feels like a lot of pressure.  We don’t want to say no to anyone, so we commit to them all and probably complain to each other a little more than we should.

This year I simply refuse to give in to the downside and instead I’m looking at the upside.  We get to see our great families, cuddle a sweet baby, spend time with loved ones, play fun games and best of all… we get to eat and drink more than most people, because we get to go to three dinners J I have been trying to prepare for the copious amount of food and wine I plan on consuming by eating healthy and being as active as possible.  I guess I will find out if it helped when I step on the scale next week…

We are truly blessed and although it will be a very busy weekend, I am feeling like one lucky girl.

Have a great weekend with your family and be sure to take some time to be thankful!

XO

Kelsey

It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood…

This is the first weekend in months that we have no plans. YES, it feels so good!  And…it happens to be gorgeous out today. The weekend has started perfectly, reading the newspaper in bed while enjoying a large cup of coffee. Chance slept intertwined at our feet grateful that he didn’t have to get up early today (I’m telling you, we are kindred spirits)!

Despite the busyness of life and the disappointment that sometimes creeps up when you’re least expecting it. I’m taking time this weekend to be consciously grateful. It’s easy to take other people’s problems on, worry about things that are out of our control…trust me I’m famous for this. The truth is we can only control what we do, how we act and re-act. I sound like a damn self help book but I try to remind myself of this once in while when life seems like too much.

Things I am grateful for at this moment…

• The sunshine
• My mom
• My plan free weekend
• The great book I’m reading! The Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

I can’t believe its October, where does time go? The sunshine is calling my name so I’m off to go for a walk.

Have a great weekend!

XO

K