A-Z // f is for....

 

F is for.....Florida (in case you hadn't already guessed).

I've lived in Florida all my life. 

And I wouldn't have it any other way....at least for now.

 There is just so much it has to offer.

Disney World

Universal Studios
Sea World

Wet and Wild

amazing beaches

Key West

the oldest city in the US (Pensacola)

and the oldest maintained city in the US (St. Augustine)

sunshine and warmth

Miami

Ft. Lauderdale (which use to be Spring Break capital)

Daytona Beach (home of NASCAR and the current Spring Break place)

I've always lived in Florida. I feel kinda lucky in that way. 

Currently, I live in Jacksonville, known as the First Coast. 

It's the nation's largest city (area wise). 

It has tons of parks. 

It's in the heart of the Bible Belt.

Since we're a "bold city" we have a lot of different areas of town and I love that. There's the beach, artsy, downtown, country, college  ghetto, posh, old new, shopping district....

We have 7 bridges in our city. The Main Street and Dames Point are my favorites. 

The bridges are now lit up at night (and have been since we hosted to Super Bowl).

We have a football team: Jaguars.

And a AAA baseball team: The Suns.

 

It's also where my sister and her family lives.

Where my mom and stepdad now live.

Where I went to college.

And graduated college.

Where I fell in love.

Where I met the most amazing new friends in my life.

Where I became roommates with my bff and sister from another mister.

Where I bought my first home.

Where I got my first teaching job. 

Where I started my small little family (of Steven and Chloe).

Where I got my third puppy, Chloe.

Where I discovered my love of photography.

Then there is South Florida. More specifically Coral Springs and Ft. Lauderdale, which is where I grew up.
It is very multi-cultural, which is part of why I love it so much.
The beaches are awesome.
It also is home to Las Olas Boulevard.
It's a completely different atmosphere and way of life than in Jacksonville. There is no southern charm and manners to it, instead it's charm is more about the beach and upscale ways of living.

 

Growing up in South Florida was incredibly special. I feel like it gave me a life and insight that I would have otherwise never have had. 

It's where I made my first church family.

Where I met my first love and high school sweet heart.

Where I met an incredible group of friends.

Where my faith in God really grew. 

It's where I began to question church,

but then came around and starting loving it again.

It's where I met my biffle and sister from another mister. 

Home to the best house ever.

The last place my parents were together.

The last place I saw my dad.

Where I learned to drive.

Where I got my first puppy, Coco.

Where I went to school.

Where I grew up.

I will always have fond memories of this place, even if I never move back there (or want to) it's home and I love it.

And finally there's Pensacola. Where I was born and spent the earliest part of my life. 

 Where I was born. 

Where I still have family that's so close, I call them family. 

Where I visit every Thanksgiving.

Where I call home.

Home of the prettiest beach.

Home of the sandshaker- most amazing drink!!!!!

The first city of the USA (St. Augustine is the first maintained city- Pensacola was the first but then was basically blown away by a hurricane. How's that for a history lesson???)

Where I got my second puppy, Aubre.

Yup, Florida is amazing. And I love it here. 

-kel

A-Z// e is for....

E is for..... Europe.

I have this obsession with Europe. I've been twice in my life (definitely not enough!!) and I want to go back more than anything.

It all started when I was in the 4th grade. My aunt and uncle moved to England, so one summer my mom and I spent a month with them. It was perhaps one of the best times of my life. It was also when I fell in love with England. London is the most amazing city and so full of history. We also took a weekend trip to Paris, which I have to admit, I was not a huge fan of.
But England was amazing (even if I didn't enjoy high tea time).
 And I am convinces that London is one of the best cities ever!.
To make things even better, our trip was also during the Spice Girls reign of music- so that made it even more fun to tour.
This is also where my obsession with Tudor history began. (I began collecting books then and I've read sooooo many more, especially about Anne Boleyn.  And yes, The Tudors was one of my favorite shows.


Then my obsession became even stronger during my freshman year of college. When I was in high school I had heard about Prague and how gorgeous and amazing it was, so I decided at some point I would have to visit.
Skip forward a few years and I'm sitting in my freshman history course and I see a flyer about a study abroad program taking place in several countries, but the place that caught my eye??  Prague, Czech Republic. I knew then and there that I just had to go. Somehow. Granted, I was kind of poor at the time, but I wanted to go so badly that I'd find a way. And I did.

I spent two weeks traveling to 4 countries with 2 professors and about 19 other students who I barely knew. It was one of the best times of my entire life. Not only was the traveling amazing, the history incredible, but I fell in love with my classmates (well most). I have amazing memories and some of them are still my very good friends. But I digress....

Europe.

We started in Germany. Berlin to be more exact. I should probably mention that I absolutely, positively love history (part of what also intrigued me about this trip) and the fact that it is so rich in WWII and Cold War history made me giddy like a freaking little girl. It was so amazing to see all these places I had only ever read about. And while visiting places like Concentration Camps was heartbreaking (to say the least) I loved how much I learned and that I got to actually see these places. It was almost as if it become more real to me (which sounds a little bitchy, I'm sorry- I don't mean it like that). It's just that after only reading about events and places they sometimes begin to seem like just a made up place in a made up time, but coming face to face with all of this past made it a million times more real to a girl who was born 40 years and a giant ocean away from such atrocious places.

I will also say that Berlin has an amazing city life- I felt like I was constantly going. And their food (and beer was absolutely AMAZING).

We also toured Krakow, Poland, which was amazing. We were there the same time as the Pope, so alcohol was prohibited and it was also insanely packed everywhere, including at Auschwitz (where he was giving a speech).

But it was still a good trip and the food was absolutely incredible. I really looked forward to the food here the most since my step-dad is Polish and has cooked Polish food for us before. It definitely didn't let me down.

Then there was Prague, Czech Republic. The place that had made me sign up for this trip. The city that I had been almost dying to see for several years. The hotel we stayed at was in the middle of the ghetto and since it was incredible sketchy (both the part of town and hotel) I cried the entire first hour of being there. Then, to make things worse, everytime we visited the main part of the city men tried to make us enter their strip clubs or by hard drugs. I may be prude, but that is not my idea of a good time on vacation (or in general). Can you tell that even after 7 years I'm still bitter about this city???

But Budapest, Hungary was pretty awesome and kind of made up for the loss (kind of). It was also the last city we went to. It started off rocky though, since apparently the city is split in two: Buda and Pest (and they are divided by a river). Which doesn't help when you need to be on the other side of the river to get correct currency, but no way of getting there.  But that's besides the point.

(Buda on one side and Pest on the other).

I feel like I've only visited the smallest percent of Europe and already my love for the continent is astounding. But it's taught me so much, shown me so much, and introduced me to so much. I have so many memories for my trips and I've met so many amazing people from these places as well.

Now I just need to get back there!!!!!!
-kel

26 before 27

 I love making lists anyway, but these birthday lists are my absolute favorite. Although, sadly I've been pretty bad about achieving them all. I think from last years I may have only fully completed 8 and almost completed another 5 or so. I really do loathe the fact that I haven't had one year where I've reached every single goal, but maybe this is the year!!! (One can dream).

So my 26 before 27 list:
photograph a family (new family)
make my own postcard
visit a new state
walk rim to rim at the Grand Canyon
get in shape for said trip
repurpose at least 3 things
teach Chloe new tricks
photobomb a photo
finish my 25 restaurant list (a halfway goal from last year)
fill/finish an art journal (another not completed item from last year)
go on a girls trip
take really good self portraits (and I hope to use the tripod Steven got me for my bday to help!!)
lose about 10 pounds
do vlogs
pay off debt
write a book
host a game night
go camping
get better at writing friends and pen pals
create a new tradition
write a kickass maid of honor speech
bike more
go on a trip with just Steven
start a photography blog
make homemade popsicles
do at least 5 acts of random kindness


Well, there you have it folks. 
Have you created one of these? If so, please share!! I love reading other people's lists!

 PS:

Last year's 25 before 26.

My 24 before 25 (and 23 before 24).

my amazingly awesome birthday weekend

 Today is my 26th birthday. A rather insignificant number if you ask me, but I'm hoping this year is anything but. 

It's been an amazing weekend and birthday. I feel so truly blessed to have such great parents, friends, coworkers and of course boyfriend. They made this weekend complete.

So did the rainbow sprinkled custard, a new restaurant, sangria, a new donut shop, my favorite coffee place, the dancing, the singing, caching up with friends, birthday cake, birthday cupcakes, a relaxing afternoon with my parents, breakfast at my favorite local spot, and a relaxing night with my handsome boyfriend. 

The good life.

 

 

a very full weekend

This weekend is almost over sadly. But it was a good (and full one). I spent it catching up with family, sleeping in, dinners out, breakfast at our favorite spot, working, reading, a bridal shower for a very wonderful friend, a book club dinner (my first time meeting the group too), almost camping, and spending quality time with Steven and Chloe. I'm not really ready for Monday to come though..... I still have so much to do. I hate that feeling!!!!

xoxo
kelxa

playlist// volume 1

I decided to start a new feature here. So every once and awhile (because saying once every week is too much to commit to) I'll post some music that I'm currently loving.
So please, please, please, if you have any recommendations (because I love listening to new tunes) leave them in the comments!!!

xoxoxo
kel

FCAT--one more day!!!

And this video seriously has made my week!!!

blog lovin'

Why  yes I am on blog lovin'.
If you've never visited me there, come on by.
You can find me here:
 Follow my blog with Bloglovin

link love

I absolutely love this etsy shop!!

This photographer is amazing AND she does work in Jacksonville. I especially love this styled photoshoot! 

Quote coloring pages (and kid friendly!!) I'm already working on one myself, hehe

Love, love, love this song!! I can't stop listening to it!

10 awesome nightstands. I'm pretty inspired now....

Amazing ideas.

Absolutely gorgeous places. They don't even look real.

I think I'm in love with all of these rings.
And they have some really cute sale items right now too!

This is just hysterical!! And I can totally see one of my students saying the same thing LOL

Stripes + florals...I'm really loving this look. Now I just need some florals!

11 things to do with empty wine bottles- I need to start collecting again!!

 I'm not entirely sure how accurate this is, but these photos of celebrities will make you think of some of them in a completely different light.

Tons of random facts- awesome for trivia nights.