Hydrangea Heaven

I spent all morning in biology learning about plants, specifically angiosperms aka FLOWERS. Back in Savannah in the summer, the hydrangeas were in full bloom and the absolute most beautiful thing ever. Learning about the intricate plant cells and tissue isn't exactly the most exciting thing but wow, I'm a sucker for a good monocot! Look how pretty they are.

Happy afternoon in Highland Village

Do you ever just go somewhere and feel COMPLETELY out of place? Normally that feeling for me is reserved specially for the gym, I'm always a fish out of water where workouts are involved. That being said, I experienced that feeling in a totally new setting while in Dallas. Located right near SMU, Highland Park Village is brimming with designer shops, couture grocery stores and parking lots that resemble those of an Audi dealership. Normally I love to slide my way in to an expensive area, pretending (even if it's just for a moment) that my reality of college student isn't true and that I can actually afford all the $8 latte's my heart desires.

Unfortunately, that isn't the case.

And also unfortunately, I couldn't even find a way to feel like I fit in at Highland Park. 

Too many Nike swooshes on ladies dressed to the nines in athleisure. Too many judge mental looks....so what if my bag is from old navy! Sorry I got a better deal than you! Too many overpriced gluten free, refined sugar free, dairy free desserts. It was all just a little too much for me.

We took our cupcakes and ran to the nearest park, and while it was still in the Highland Park vicinity, it proved to be much more peaceful and felt a lot less pressured to put on a perfect facade. I can only pretend to be rich for so long! 

Like, 5 minutes. My bank account doesn't allow for much more than that. 

The power of Pink

The idea of couples leaving love notes strewn about the house, hidden in cupboards and under pillows, has always been extremely idyllic to me. You thought you were just pouring cereal...till a handwritten love note landed on top of the Lucky Charms as well.

(maybe I'm just buying the wrong brand of cereal?)

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that there are little love notes for me strewn all over my house and my town and in every detail of life. In sunsets, in flowers, in Vespas and clothing, God's little love letter to me is everywhere.

One day I was in Atlanta and it was just, one of those days. I don't even have to go into detail, You know how it is. As Hannah Montana once put it, "Everybody has those days." I needed encouragement, a hug (and some chocolate), and to know that everything would be okay.

(And then a little more chocolate, for good measure.)

My mom and I happened to be driving through the city on the way to visit family. It had been a stressful trip but we stopped at a trendy place in ATL to have lunch and feel like our lives were slightly put together (it sort of worked!) We ordered a burger to split and an latte to share, and by share I mean I shared one sip, and then went and sat down.

And then the burger came out. And when I saw it, I started crying.

Now, don't deny the fact that you too get teary eyed over a beautiful burger but this one was extra special. Instead of the classic American fixings, this burger was topped with an undeniably pink homemade beet thousand island sauce. In retrospect it kind of looked like a Krabby Patty but at the time, all I could see was the fuchsia hued sauce....
and the goodness of God.

Maybe you see God's glory in goodness in an beloved animal, or in the face of a person you adore or a beautiful sunset. Whatever it is, I know I'm not the only one. God speaks to us all in a million ways. And one way He continues to encourage me is through my favorite color, pink.

I love pink. I always have and I'm equally convinced that I always will. Over the years,  my love of pink has certainly grown just as I have. And while it sounds cheesy to say, I know its more than that. When I see pink, I see God's goodness. I see His love, His creativity, His generosity in sharing glimpses of His unlimited creativity with us - I feel all of that when I lay eyes on a vivid fuchsia or soft shade of salmon.

God didn't have to give me that pink burger to show me he loved me. He could have just given me a plain burger or an undercooked one or the restaurant could have been closed- and His love for me would have been the same.

But He did. Because He Loves us. And furthermore, He loves to bless us. In little, unique, individual ways. He doesn't have to do anything for us really, but He loves us. He loves enough that He sent His only son to die and take the punishment for our sins. He loves us enough to forgive us daily. He loves us enough to prepare a place in Heaven for us.

And He even loves us enough to give us a pink burger on a bad day. Just to show that He cares, about everything.

No matter what it is that makes you stop, smile and remember God's goodness, I hope that whenever you see it, whether it be a vibrant sunset or the quadruple chins of a baby, I hope you're reminded of how fiercely God loves you, and how much He loves to bless you.

And I hope that one day you get to try the infamous pink burger. Who knows, maybe you'll burst into tears too?

ATL A-BLOOM

"Let patience have 

her perfect work. 

You have to make it 

through 

winter and spring 

to get to summer."

M&M

Sorry to all my other cousins, but I think these two cuties are my new favorites

I'm the second youngest cousin on my mom's side. Karoline, my cousin, is just two years younger than me. We were "the little girls" for the longest time. But thankfully we grew up and we have some pretty great replacements. My aunt and uncle adopted Maris and Marion in the same year, with the girls being 1 year apart. It's crazy, chaotic and yet the sweetest thing ever. Adoption is amazing and I'm so thankful we have these cuties in our family forever.

I actually hadn't met the girls until just a couple months ago (December to be exact!) Which is crazy, considering how obsessed I am with them now. When we visited them over spring break, I new it was time for some photos (new camera? new cousins? perfect.)

Is your heart exploding because, same! I'm so thankful that the Lord brought them into our family. They're a handful, of course, but a constant reminder of God's love and grace. Redemption is such a beautiful thing...also a blurry thing because these two would not sit still for photos. Thankfully they're stuck with me for life, they'll get the hang of this modeling thing soon.

Maris Laura and Marion Carol, welcome to the family! 

(and all the photoshoots that being related to me entails...;))

CHARMING CHARLESTON

Charleston has been on my list for so long! But even longer than that was my list of things to do in Charleston...which ironically we did not cross anything off of it. I guess that just means we will have to go back? 

I think that sounds about right!

And if you want to know the real reason I didn't cross much off the list, i'll tell you if you promise not to turn me in. My all time favorite fashion blogger just moved to Charleston. I don't really read any blogs anymore, except Gal Meets Glam. I read it literally just as religiously as I do my bible, and I have everyday for the past 4 years. I practically grew up with Julia! (we are on a first name basis, she just doesn't know it yet.)

Anyway, my mom and I are really good at finding things (of little importance) and we found Julias house, which happens to be on a historic homes walking tour so it actually isn't hard to find. So we parked a couple blocks away and walked by and JULIA. WAS. ON. THE. PORCH. Taking blog photos no less! My 12 year old heart died and went to heaven and so did my 19 year old heart as well.

I didn't take any photos or try and talk to them because, despite what this post suggests, I am not a creepy stalker. I'm just a deeply connected to Julia and her wardrobe and her penchant for pretty dresses. And now, I've seen her in person! Between Julia and tripping on Jen Gotch, I think I can die happily now.

Or at least not have a panic attack overtime I see someone who I follow on instagram IRL?

Hopefully our next trip to Charleston will involve actually crossing things off the to-do/see list but for now, I'm fairly content with everything that happened. And in case you were curious, Julia lives in a pink house.

No wonder I love her. 

Such is life, Such is FRE2

I really should be studying for my French 2 final right now...but instead I'm posting about the Paris Market in Savanah! That's the same thing right? And since we are here and I'm avoiding my homework like the plague, let's chat about French 2. Grab yourself a café au lait, we might be here awhile.

I've wanted to take French since the dawn of time (or really, ever since my mom started saying  Ne touchez pas to us when we were kids.) French 1 was fine and dandy and FRE2 has been anything but that. Which honestly, isn't a huge deal. A perfect grade isn't necessary for my degree and at the end of the day, its fine. 

But at the same time, it's not. Because eight year old Kryn wanted to learn French, just like her mom. And twelve year old Kryn was obsessed with everything Parisian. When sixteen year old Kryn went to Paris, it was if the stars had truly aligned. And when seventeen year old Kryn lived in Paris for a month (!!!), French felt like my destiny.

So you can imagine that when I'm sitting in room 220 at the community college and confusing the passé compose conjugations of etre, it feels like I'm letting each of them down just a little bit. 

But you know what they say,  "c'est la vie" (and FRE2)

Isn't this place just the cutest? And while it didn't inspire me to study my verbs or vocabulary list, it did remind me why I love Paris, and France and French food in general. Even though FRE2 wasn't exactly the whimsical experience I had envisioned since I was a little girl, it's been a good learning experience. 

And if I ever go back to France one day, at least I'll know how to ask where the bathrooms are. It's the important stuff kids.

While our trip to the Paris Market might have been more successful than my midterm, I still have hope that a.) I'll pass b.) I'll go back to France and actually use said French one day and 3.) that someone will invent gluten free croissants.

But in the mean time, back to the flash cards I go.
Like I said before,
C'EST LA VIE.

(PARIS POSTS ANYONE? First time at Laduree. Proof that the Paris Market is legit. Day at Versailles and the First day of Summer in Paris.)

Spring sunshine in Savannah

Maybe it's just me, but I hadn't really thought much about Savannah before. I went with Lisa a couple years ago and it was fun, but I didn't really think it was a destination. Like sure if you're driving through and need to stop for lunch, stop there! But a whole trip?

Well, I was wrong!

Turns out Savannah in the spring is extra beautiful...so pretty in fact that we stopped back by on our way home from ATL. The trees are AMAZING and huge and also make it shady enough that it doesn't feel like a million degrees. We stopped in a little park and took some photos. It was so peaceful and other than the students late to SCAD that were rushing through, it was very relaxing!

And did I mention not a million degrees? That was by far the best part.

DALLAS ARBORETUM

If you like flowers, this is the post for you! If you don't...well I'll pray for you. And in the meantime, close this post (or actually, this whole blog?) because flowers are what it's all about. 

(like literally, look at the name of this blog?)

Story time: two years ago we went to Amsterdam in June. Which was fun! But I was sad because the Keukenhof Tulip festival was just 3 months before. And then last year we went to Seattle...but this time 3 months early for the seattle tulip festival. It's not to say that I've lost sleep over missing these flower festivals but at the same time, I was bummed!

When I saw a picture of the Dallas Arbortoreum on instagram and I happened to be IN Dallas at the same time,  I knew we had to go! It looked like a mini- Keukenhof, but everyone spoke english! And honestly, it was beautiful. SO MANY FLOWERS. And TULIPS. And every flora and fauna your heart could ever dream of.

(in case you were wondering, YES. This is all my childhood dreams/architecture projects come true.)

It wasn't Keukenhof or Seattle, but I think Dallas did pretty well huh? Heck, anywhere with a field of flowers is a win in my book!