24 days and counting!

So on December 13th, I will be taking a magical trip to my favorite city in all of the United States....

-........drum roll please..........-

NEW ORLEANS

New Orleans is always somewhere I have absolutely adored. For the past four years, I have managed to wiggle myself onto a fraternity formal for a weekend of raging with the best, binge eating amazing authentic food, cursing and loving cobblestone streets, petting police horses when I shouldn't, admiring architecture, immersing myself in the art, music and overall culture that is Nola, but most importantly a weekend of just all around fun. 

I told myself after my first 20 minutes of ever being there that I would live there for at least one year of my life. Center in the french quarter- and no not because it's so close to Bourbon Street, but because I had fallen in instantaneous love with the history, music, people, food and scenery. Yes, even dirty Bourbon Street was a beautiful sight to me.

One of my absolute favorite things I have ever done (which was under extremely awkward and uncomfortable circumstances, ironically, due to who I was with) was take a historical tour in style. It was my birthday that day (just to make the day even better) and we started our morning off with a gorgeous horse drawn carriage tour of the french quarter. I was mesmerized by  our guide, an elderly African American man with the most gorgeous Cajun accent I've ever heard. He knew EVERYTHING- and I'm sure what you're thinking is "so does every other carriage tour guide in the city, it's their job", BUT the way he told his stories with such knowledge and wisdom left me in awe. Granted, I am a major history buff and drool at the thought of imaging how this amazing city all came to be, but the experience was just perfect. 

I will absolutely be recreating this moment for myself when I go back in December. Maybe sans the horse drawn carriage, but hey.. I love horses and I am a princess in my own mind so why not. 

I've already started planning the wardrobe for that weekend, which is rather unusual for me since I'm not a planner when it comes to trips... procrastination is a serious disease. Anyway, I am so excited for the cold weather (fingers crossed!) and I can't wait to go to a nice dinner Saturday night that I can dress up for. I'm thinking Drago's, the restaurant in the Hilton hotel near the Mississippi River. I was there just last fall for a fraternity's "formal dinner" and it was pretty amazing food and a fun atmosphere, but we will see where we end up. I've gotten good suggestions else where.

Anyway, I'm sure I'll be blogging more about Nola as it soon approaches, but for now...

ONLY 24 DAYS LEFT.

(my cute app on my phone to serve as a great reminder)

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiim back!

Well, I guess I haven't blogged in some time. I randomly keep getting asked if I stopped blogging or when I'll be posting again, so now is better than ever! I guess life gets in the way of taking the time to actually blog, but this is a really good thing for me to write down everything. I've been following everyone's blogs still and finally have been re-inspired! 

This week is Florida State's homecoming week! This week brings back fond and stressful memories, as I served as a Homecoming chair for my sorority a few years ago. It's a lot of work and time and management, but all worth it in the end. I'm beyond excited to be reunited with the 4 out of the 5 of us from college this weekend to celebrate all the wonderful festivities. The parade, Pow Wow, the actual game, and hopefully a boozey brunch of some sort will be order...or a trip to cracker barrel, whichever. So many fun things so little time! I wish we all lived in the same town still, but as it has it, that was not in the plans for us. At least I will be getting some wonderful girl time in with my beautiful besties. 

Next up.. I've been doing a lot of shopping lately. Morgan and I went to Orlando last week (she won free tickets to Universal and Islands of Adventures) so of course we did a ton of outlet shopping. I scored a TON of cute stuff for work, so I'm beyond excited to start building my professional wardrobe even more!

Of course a new boutique has opened in town so I've been keeping up with the trendy items too.. hehe

Check out Reef Boutique in College Town! 

They have tons of cute items, one of my purchases was this snakeskin top.. I actually wore it to work (versatile!) and it was a hit!

In other news. Meet Kyle.

This photo was taken as I paused from crying on the Ferris Wheel at the North Florida Fair on Veterans Day. I underestimated the height to say the least and the ability to be blown by wind... 

I am finally learning to cook! AND I'm putting eating smarter back on my priority list. I'm not perfect and I'm okay with eating something delish but not so great for you every now and then.. but the McDonalds cravings a couple times of week have got to end. I've been testing out different methods of cooking, as I'm much more of a baker than anything.. This is what I managed to whip up last night!

More to come now that I'm back in the swing of things! 

Off to a veeeeeeeeery cold kickball game tonight, but hey! This is the weather I've been dying for!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thursday

Love,

K

It's October 3rd.

You can't start off this day without a "Mean Girls" reference...

But really... It's October 3rd. 

When did that happen?!

Time really is flying.

This is my favorite month ever. seriously. This month is all about being together. 

Going to pumpkin patches together, baking together, trick or treating together, enjoying football games together, taking walks in the chilly weather together... I think you get the picture

Not to mention, warm colors are my favorite.

 

Since I was sick this past weekend and early this week (and I'm still working on getting back to being 100%), I was inspired to decorate my little front porch area! My apartment complex is having a contest too, so a little competition is right up my alley. 

I found almost everything at Michael's Craft Store (It's pretty dangerous when I go in there, I just want everything in sight). I had a monogram laying around, so I added it to my pumpkin (which is plastic here) so I can use it year after year! I always prefer the "Harvest" or "Autumn" themes to "Halloween", so I tried to reflect that when choosing what to decorate with and the color scheme.  

[TIP: Order monograms off Ebay! They are usually far less expensive than ordering a monogram sticker from a store in town, and don't take very long to arrive! My best friend E'lise taught me that!]

I am so excited for all the upcoming plans I have this month to do such fun Fall activities! Sometimes, I wish I were still in Virginia and could go to the actual pumpkin farm to pick out a pumpkin, but the patch in town will have to do! And its a great place for some photo ops!

Today is not just October 3rd, but "Paint the Town Pink" in Tallahassee in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month! My office chose to participate (which I was thrilled about!) and my adult kickball team is participating too! Our first kickball game is tonight, and there is a contest among the teams for who has the better pink costumes... Trust me, not sure these people will know what hit them when Morgan and I show up. 

[Lets also say a prayer that I don't injury myself or others tonight with my lack of athletic abilities.]

Breast Cancer is something that has certainly affected my life, and it's hard to come across someone that hasn't been affected in some way. My mom lost her best friend, Susan, to breast cancer (that she beat several times, but her last time it had spread throughout her body) when I was a freshman in high school. It's incredibly difficult to watch someone fight through a battle such as breast cancer, as I had a first hand glimpse into what it was like to go through treatment after treatment. Then to have to cope in the after math of losing someone so special in so many peoples lives, as we were extremely close with her entire family; husband, daughters, extended family (Ted, her husband is my Dad's best friend). 

I know Susan is watching over all of us now, and her family, to keep up safe and happy. I am so lucky to have met such an amazing woman and I will always take the time to celebrate her beautiful life, and spread awareness of Breast Cancer.

My Godmother, Debbie, another of my mom's life-long best friends, is a survivor to breast cancer! My mom and Aunt Debbie (She's essentially my aunt therefore deserves the title) are participating in Women's Only Run 5k and Walk (click to see their event on Facebook) this weekend in Greensboro, North Carolina where Debbie lives. I think it's so awesome that my mom is traveling up to celebrate Debbie's cancer-free life, support the cause and also get some much needed girls time in with one of her very best friends. I hope that after years go by, several moves to different states, kids are born and grow up (and are godmothers for each other kids) that I still have a life-long bond with a friend, just like theirs. 

I hope everyone else is celebrating lives of the beautiful women that have survived Breast Cancer!

Love,

K

sweaters, vests, and duck boots oh my!

So last night, when I got home from the long day I had I wanted to do some mindless pinning on Pinterest- recipes, clothes, the casual entire wedding (I don't even believe in marriage but I can't help myself sometimes- the dresses, the cakes, the fun gifts to give the bridal party really get me), cute puppies, funny eCards...Ladies, you know the deal. 

 These past couple of days have been so rainy and my apartment seemed to have dropped 10 degrees without actually moving from it's set 75, which has led me to have the worst Fall Fever I've had in a couple years. Not to mention, on my way back to work from lunch yesterday, I came across this little flock of Canada Geese that has already flown down for the winter...taking their sweet ass time crossing the road... But it was totally fine. I was in awe of how gorgeous they are, and really miss living in Virginia when we could look outside to find our entire yard covered in these beautiful creatures.

Oh memory lane... Anyyyyyyyway.

Since I did go on a pinning rampage last night (sorry to all my followers), I found some really adorable things! My mentality last night seemed to be:

EVERYTHING COLD WEATHER CLOTHES.

MUST. PIN. ALL. THINGS. COLD. WEATHER. RELATED.

I have never in my life been a "plaid person", but since last fall/winter I've had my eye out for the perfect plaid button down. I used to despise "plaid people" (like they're their own breed of human or something), as I want to avoid looking like a hill billy or a grunge rocker at all costs, but I think when done right (such as the one featured above), it can look very preppy and put together. I tend to like jewel tones- deep reds, navy's, emerald/hunter greens versus bright colors and black (the hated "plaid people" favorites). 

A few weeks ago, I purchased this AMAZING J.Crew Quilted Vest (sold out, but other colors found here) from the Destin J.Crew Outlets. I can.not.wait for it to get cold enough for me to wear this- this also might be my literal favorite color. If you've never noticed, Creams, tans, whites, chocolates aka neutral monochromatic are my favorite go-to color schemes to wear. They go with everything!

XOXO, Gossip Girl

xoxo

Gossip Girl

A common signature for a show I have never in my life seen. (I know, I know... what?!)

SO.

this leads me to....... gossip.

It hurts, we all do it. So why? 

What possesses humans to do just that? 

I'm guilty of it- I've gossiped more times than I'm willing to admit (hello, born and raised in the SOUTH)

But still- boggles my mind why people, including myself, do this. 

We never react well to discovering others have gossiped about us- we are offended, hurt, and feel betrayed.

 So why inflict that on another person and continue the cycle? 

I'm an overly honest person, I speak my mind constantly which does get me in trouble more often than not (filter Kaleigh... Remember the filter) but I can at least always own that I have no fear of speaking MY truth.  

Hm.

Disagreements and arguments are always really uncomfortable for me- I am a feisty little girl, but when it comes down to my core, it eats me up. I guess I've softened in my old age. If I typically feel as though someone is not living up to my expectations, has really let me down, crossed me, or I am aware that I have upset them...

I talk to them. 

[what a concept right?]

They might not want to hear it, or they might not be receptive to it. 

But at least I can get right with myself that I attempted to reach a place of peace, or at the very least have freed my ugly inner thoughts. 

I wish more people could have that same courage, you really have nothing to lose- just anxiety from thinking negative thoughts or anxiety of being overhead/caught.

This sounds like I'm preaching to others, and I'm the last person that needs to be saying anything about what others should be doing. 

I want to be as transparent as possible and this is advice to myself. 

I really want to make a conscious effort in my life to tone down the gossiping. It's only a matter of time (hours, minutes, seconds) until I'm presented with an opportunity to partake in gossiping, but in light of my journey to happiness, I want to make a wholehearted effort to treat others as they wish to be treated. 

And no one wants to be gossiped about. 

Just the thoughts of the day. 

Today is Friday (praise the Lord), and the end to a flop of a week. 

Professional life- see ya for a few days. 

I need a break from you.

I'm looking forward to a night of fun and laughter tonight at Downtown Get Down with people that make me really happy.

I'm looking forward to being reunited with my best friend, Caitlin (who is making the trip from Jacksonville with her new man friend that I am beyond excited to meet), on Saturday. Also excited for another game day full of tailgating fun and victory.

I'm looking forward to Sunday to get back to a place of "zen" that has seemed to have been lost on this week.

I hope yalls weekends are just as fabulous. 

Love, 

K

Way Out West- Tallahassee

LUKE BRYAN FARM TOUR IS COMING UP.

October 11th, 2013 

22 days...to be exact.

I've already purchased my dress for this years farm tour. It's so adorable! It couldn't be more "Kaleigh Farmer"- a peachy pink color, white crochet detailing, and a figure flattering tie-waist.

You can find it at this adorable boutique in town, Way Out West.

I could not believe I hadn't been in there before last week!

They have the cutest clothes for events/concerts like this, Game Day, or if you're just looking to spruce up your wardrobe with a southern flare. 

All the girls in the store are super helpful when it comes to finding something perfect you're looking for, from getting different sizes to suggestions.

They have a huge selection of cute cowboy boots- which I'm definitely in the market for a lighter brown/tan pair than ones I currently have. 

I will be making a stop back in sometime in the very near future.

Last week, I also purchased a garnet bubble necklace (which has been surprisingly difficult to find in town so I was ecstatic when I came across it; its the perfect shade of garnet) along with the dress I wore to the FSU vs. Nevada game. I was so thankful for how breathable the material the dress is made up of was, as it was beyond sweltering outside. 

Guess my hair is a little long and covering up the necklace, but you get the idea. Time for a cut perhaps?

They are constantly uploading photos to Facebook, tweeting, and uploading photos to Instagram of all of their latest arrivals and newest floor items! I love being kept up to date on what they're doing!

Click here to like them on Facebook,  Click here to follow them on twitter and Click here to follow them on Instagram

Phillip Lim, you escape me

Today is a new day!

I woke up in a spectacular mood! 

So sometimes I really do think the Big Man hears you when you need him to listen.

Carpe Diem, right?

After work yesterday, Morgan and I went to Target to check out the Phillip Lim Launch... EVERYTHING was sold out or picked over! I couldn't believe it because their merchandise had only arrived Sunday night! I was very torn over this handbag, but that shade of taupe/grey just isn't quite my style. 

Now had the plum or black been available it would be permanently attached to my arm today.