TO JUSTIFY THIS PURCHASE...

(and these selfies) I told myself, "You only go to Paris once!"

A little bit of DC Lovin'

Good morning friends! I've been rushing around all morning, packing and what not. Of course, the term packing is used very loosely, it mainly involves me trying on a bunch of outfits, hating all of them and then ending with every clothing article I own in piles on the floor. Clearly, I have this process down to a science!

Anyway, we went to DC just after Christmas! Dad has a knack of informing us we are traveling with VERYYY late notice. I seriously think we had two days warning on this trip, which was pretty good!

▲▲ Botanical Gardens! We felt right at home in the humidity! Although, what is up with these pics? Geeze kryn, get your act together.

▲▲ I would probably air on the artist side of things, but when I go an museum I always feel like I'm betraying my kind. I really hate art, apparently! I seriously think there was one piece in the whole museum that I actually thought was beautiful. The rest? To many naked ladies and fat babies for my taste.

▲▲ Mount Vernon was so pretty, I wanted to cry. Old George (we are on a first name basis now, thanks to the great level of our affection for him) was a good, good man. Plus There's a little something about colonial charm that is just heavenly.

▲▲ Ah, yes, I promise I do own more than one outfit! But I am getting sick of seeing my one and only coat in SOOO many photos. But Alas, the downside to living in the sweat state.

Thanks peeps! And DC too, because you are real cute.

IT'S FUNNY BEING A KRYN.

Today was one of those days where EVERYTHING went weird. Like not wrong, just weird. It started with me being in a really nice dream (medieval hunger games/people with golden wings and hotels with nice carpet!) and then WAKING UP. That's the worst. Then at drama my stomach was growling SO loud, so I rushed to get my lunch only to find out I messed up my order and got a salad. And please, can we all just take a moment to mourn for the sadness that is lettuce mixed with shredded veggies and dressing? Because really. Then I spilled salad dressing all over my dress and was chanting about taquitos in art, per my art teachers suggestion.

Like I said,weird. And so, to top those, here are the deets....

-"I'm sweating. I'm Freezing. I'M GONNA DIE!!" #dramaproblems.

-Trying to get into the wrong car. Twice, in the same day. 

- Asking KJ "Do you emit wifi?" (I think he took it as a compliment!)

-Running around Emily's neighborhood wearing a bathrobe and pretending to be a wizard. (I prefer to be called "The Whiz.")

-trying to prove the fact that I'm not mentally insane.

-Getting too wrapped up in staring at the Washington Monument and walking right into a pole (a midget pole! it was only up to my torso!) Sadly this was while it was raining so I got water all over my pants and looked like I had no self control as far as bladders are involved.

-A friend thinking the puppies names were "Soapy and Bubbles." Which honestly I am a little embarrassed/ashamed I didn't think of that myself because really!

- doing the hokey pokey at three in the morning because obviously there was nothing better to do.



If you have a little sanity to spare, please send it my way. 

A LITTLE MUFFIN WITH A CASE OF THE MONDAYS.

Because you deserve your week to start out with a fluffy puppy.


You can thank me later!

THE JUAN I LOVE (and more!)

Sorry to be bugging you with photos of tropical paradise again, but 2014 kind of got in the way of my blue skies photo spamming, so here we are again! This time to talk about San Juan. Let me be your imaginary travel agent for a moment (It's my favorite role to play.) and advise you on what to do, where to go...etc. 

In other words, let me boss you around! Like I said, it's my specialty.

 ▲▲ Make sure you head to Del Morro (or excuse me Fort San Felipe del Morro,whatever. ) on your trip! We spent the morning there and there are lots of nooks and crannies to get lost in and killer ocean views from the roof. However, as we found out the roof is HIGHLY DANGEROUS so don't go there. What's the saying, do as I say not as I do? Something like that.

▲▲ After you are evicted from the roof (because with those views you'll want to move in.) wander through cat land to colorful Old San Juan. Obviously I am having way to much fun with the JUAN YOU LOVE pun, but you will love it. Pink houses, I was in heaven.

▲▲ Actually my favorite part was driving through the jungle-ly mountains. (mostly because there was AC.) My dad is king of finding random gems and we drove up this windy road and had a grand time (listening to mariachi band music no less!) Puerto Rico has no shortage of beautiful and interesting sights..!

▲▲ The square inch of beach we visited was probably the least impressive sight of our trip. And while I've heard that of gorgeous Puerto Rican beaches, the one we went to (an adventure in itself just getting there!) looked exactly like what we have here, so I was not too impressed. Better Luck next time PR!

Okay kids, that's all from sunny Puerto Rico. It was certainly good to go a different country (so to speak) and hopefully was good preparation for any other South American countries we travel too!

Here's to a grand 2014.

 

I think for once in my life I won't be joining in the chorus of "I can't believe it's 2014!" Because I can and I've been wanting it to be next year since forever (at least February). I began the year with all kinds of grand plans but all those changed (Thank goodness, since they were probably really lame anyway.) I couldnt quite put what I was feeling into words, and someone I follow on instagram said it what I was thinking, only so much better.

2013 is done, conquered no less.! But  not without the help of a lot of tissues, puppy snuggles and sleepless nights. I am learning how to be fearless, be free and also, me.

Boy, did that sound cheesy or what?

anyway! here are my goals for the year! Last year I did a list and that was fun and dandy, but this year I wanted them to be a bit more streamlined and simple. Thanks to my bestie Pinterest I found this fresh and invigorating idea...here ya go!

A BOOK TO READ////  This one is funny, since normally I don't read. But actually I've begun to read! Which is pretty incredible considering I have not picked up a book out of my own free will in years. But I would kind of like to migrate from fluff books to something of substance. So Pride and Prejudice it is. That counts, right?

A NEW SKILL TO LEARN//// One day I decided I wanted to play the ukulele, and I've pretty much been obsessing over it ever since. But I have found that it's hard to learn to play a uke without actually HAVING a uke, so this one might be tough. We shall see!

A PERSON TO BE MORE LIKE//// I think the best version of me I can possibly be. Because sometimes She (me!) acts like a monster and it's kind of embarrassing. But the REAL me is caring and kind and thoughtful and fun and I just need to be those more often.

A GOOD DEED TO DO//// send care packages! I know know several people who deserve a little love, and I hope to give them just that.

A PLACE TO VISIT /////  Oh, so many! But if possible, Peru and (wait for it..) Paris. Shocked ya there, didn't I?

A BAD HABIT TO BREAK///// Well it's kind of hard to pick, so I'm just gonna do a simple one. It's easy to skip bible study when really IT'S SO CRUCIAL. This year, stop skipping the good stuff girl! God's the only one who has brought me this far and the only way I can make it any further.

A LETTER TO WRITE//// in  2014 my goal is still the same, 100 letters. To friends, loved ones and maybe strangers. And me!

SOMETHING TO DO BETTER AT////Again, I'm being kinda generic, but my art! Art (photography, writing, blogging, painting, music and soap carving) are all things I love. Improve my lettering, learn to draw, be artistic and BE PROUD. oomp.

Ready or not, 2014 is HERE! And I'm ready to have a grand year.

What about you friend? What goals are you working toward this year? Let's make this year a good one.

Goodbye and Good Riddance!

I find can find no better year recap idea, so to the lists we go! Three things I am thankful/grateful for/still confused about...

TRAVEL: Seriously guys,I love it so much. This year we have been so blessed and been able to travel all over (Portland, DC twice, NYC twice, Virginia twice, Chicago, Boston, Maine, Puerto Rico.) I know that this one is so cliche, but whatever, I'm cliche so I guess its okay.

GROWING UP: I felt like I aged a million years in 365 days. Of course, I'm still rocking the braces so from the outside you can't really tell. But I've been through a lot this year, and I feel like it's given me a different view of the world. Not necessarily better, just more realistic.

GRACE FILLED- This year was full of grace. I needed so much, and who am I kidding? I still do! The amount of grace I have been given this year is incredible, and in turn, I feel as if I am learning to give grace more freely, to myself and the people around me. Maybe I'm crazy! Either way, I need grace. LOTS of it.

(i lied, 4 things.)

GIVING THINGS A SHOT: Trying new things has NEVER been my forte, but I've gotten a bit more familiar with it this year. Between Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis and Drama I've had a whole slew of new experiences. And maybe I'm better at small things, like talking to someone new or carrying a conversation.

Anyway, there is that! 2013 was interesting, to say the least. And seriously, does anyone enjoy reading these posts other than me and my mother? Probably not. That being said, more recap posts to come! I know, you love me.