Looking for Adventure

I found this article via Facebook and had to share...

Date a Girl Who Travels...

I don't post this as any personal ad or self declaration WHATSOEVER, but solely as a reminder to everyone- Explore the world we have set out before us! What is it if we stay in one spot and experience the same schedule day after day?

When I went to Canada and Alaska, I met some of the most interesting people in a no-name coffee shop reading Kierkegaard, I tasted the freshest native foods, appreciated the snow--and glacier water--on my tongue like never before...

Traveling to places outside of our homes opens the doors to so many possibilities and endless encounters with deeper perspectives we ever thought imaginable. We may not be able to take trips every month or every year, but when the opportunity arises, make sure you travel somewhere that will broaden your horizon. 

((Can you tell this girl is getting antsy for another adventure...? But to where...))

(Santorini, Greece)

(Mykonos, Greece)

(Cliffs of Ireland)

(Barcelona, Spain)- Get my Spanish tongue a-talkin'!

Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.
Miriam Beard

New Apartment, Saving Spring Break, and Still Gluten Free!

It seems that with the ever-churning wheels of adult-hood, this girl has been going full throttle since day one of work. I thought about what it would be like to pull the emergency brake and stop for a few days to breathe... and then responsibilities kicked me out of this daze and back into the drivers seat 

0 to 60...

This past weekend, I road tripped to Charleston (for the first time!) to celebrate my roommate's last "Fling before the Ring." I met amazing ladies, ate some delicious food, and got into too many adventures... wait... is there such a thing? I think not...

Yes, that is my roomie and I... 

and yes, those are lady mustaches we are sporting out in public...

But with all good times come an end and we found our way back to the real world this week full of work, bills, and cleaning. Unfortunately, my roommate came down with a silly sickness and we have been wishing her a quick recovery...

On the other side, I have been feverishly searching for my new home here in Charlotte, and thanks to some quick thinking and a nice lady in the front office of the apartment complex... I have found my new bachelor-ette pad. 

How I'll decorate it, I do not know. I'm about as clueless as a turtle in an airplane about what to do to put an entire apartment together. Kitchen appliances, bathroom extras, living room furniture-OH MY!

 All I can say is Thank Goodness for Pinterest! 

How I'll incorporate different elements such as seen above... beats me. But once the furniture moves and space is reserved... I'll figure it out. If you have any input for this new apartment dweller, please share!

Also... while I am out of college and far from a standard "Spring Break", I will be packing my bags for a long weekend trip down south for some sunshine coming up in the next week! 

 

Who said I'm too old for spring break? Oh no, not I, says the girl on the fly! 

 

XOXO

Bucket List Item #39- Run a Full Marathon

Twenty Six point two miles. When you write it out, it doesn't look as scary. But put in numerals, the 26.2 mile trek has intimidated me since my first 5k, occurring when I was only fourteen years old.

Running cross country in high school up through my freshman year at college, I always tucked the idea of running the golden shrine of all running races into my back pocket to be forgotten. The coup-de-grady of all running races... if you will. But since quitting track in college due to a back injury, I have been asked over and over if I would go on to finally finish the fierce challenge. 

After a handful of flat out "no's", laughing in their faces, and eye rolls, I knew I couldn't ignore #39 on my bucket list any longer. 

Yes, it finally happened... I conquered my first full marathon. And not just any marathon... but the Disney Full! 

The weekend began with my arrival on Friday night to spend a day in New Smyrna with my parents and grandparents. Saturday followed with an amazing breakfast down on the marina, a walk through the farmers market, then a drive to Orlando to pick up my pre-race packet and carbo load.

Sunday morning came too early- a 3:30am wake up call and we were off to the starting line. Fireworks, a gun shot, and a pair of black ears later- we were off.

And a near four hours later... I crawled across that finish line to meet my incredible parents who picked me up off my tired feet and hugged me until any remaining lung function I had was completely depleted. Needless to say- even though the training process spanned from July to January and my feet underwent multiple injuries... It was worth everything and more!

 

 

Thanks Mickey! You made this some-what painful race into something magical and completely unforgettable! #39... You've officially been crossed off the bucket list!

California- The Last Hoorah!

Beginning my new job a week from this morning, I had all of last week (and this) to spend my down time wisely. Being that I love to travel, love my family, and love the west coast, I picked a flight and within two days, I was sitting in a jet plane heading towards the California Coast to visit my aunt for the last hoorah! In a few short statements, my trip included...

• An hour and a half aerobics session with Richard Simmons in Beverly Hills.
  Yea, Dude's crazy!
• Fireworks from my aunt's balcony in Marina Del Rey. Happy July 4th!
• Exploring the canyons around Malibu beach.
  I can confirm, even though I love the beach...
  I am DEFINITELY a mountains lady!
• Traffic jams upon traffic jams for no apparent reason.
  But I'm not complaining! I got to sight see more around the streets of LA that way!
• A 10 mile walk with my good friend Jesse (Check out his blog, he's pretty awesome)
  Oh, and we ended up on a Ferris Wheel ride on the Santa Monica pier.
  ((Adventure is Out There!))
• Morning walks to Venice Beach to stumble upon early morning surf contests
  (Hellooooo surfer boys!)
• Muscle Beach, the birthplace of physical fitness...
  and monkey humans on grown up playground equipment.
• Sunsets... Need I say more?

Best Wishes in Starspangled Tights

 A friend of my aunt wanted to surprise me for a fun night out in Beverly Hills during my trip to the west coast. And boy... was I surprised! Helloooo Richard Simmons!



Dancing to 1980's techno remixes of American songs (all on vinyl, I tell you!) I got a first hand look of Slimmons. If his outfit doesn't scream "Happy July 4th!" I don't know what will.

Have a great independence day, everyone! Until next week... stay classy you wonderful Americans, you! <3

Finally Employed and It Feels So Good!

Pop the champagne! Spray the confetti! This girl has finally been offered a ticket to ride the real world roller-coaster.

So to all of you who stuck with me through my search for a job, no matter how much I embraced failure or complained about the process, I thank you for all your support and well wishes! I am officially the newest Product Support Specialist for Premier Healthcare Alliance.

((Thanks to my  friend and future co-worker, Jordan over at Southern Hospitality! She was able to capture this snapshot of me just before my interview last week! Hope I don't look as nervous as I felt!))

I can't wait to start working for this amazing company, meet new people, and get immersed in a possible career that will be oh-so-fulfilling! But in the mean time, I am heading somewhere to enjoy my last couple weeks of acceptable laziness before pulling up my big girl panties... 

Can you guess where I'm heading for the last hoorah?:

Best wishes for a good week, east coasters! Stay cool (literally!) Is it Fall yet?

5 Things- Weekend Edition

It's Friday (As if you need reminding!)

Tomorrow morning, bright and early, I'll be leaving on a jet plane to visit....

It's a grand ol' family gathering at our home away from home. I hope to accomplish TWO things from my bucket list (I'll let you guess which ones, check back to see if you're right!) and spend time in the sun getting the sports bra tan lines to recede from visibility. That being said, I would like to take this Friday to complete another round of....

During this weekend and the following days of my vacation, I hope to...

1. Get my toes painted a pretty pink for the celebration of Spring!

2. Cross off not only one, but TWO items from my bucket list!
3. Finish my fourth book since graduation.
Another fiction book I picked up solely for enjoyment purposes.

4. Get rid of my extremely noticeable sports bra tan lines (sock lines would also be welcome to exit the building...)

5. Get a Bacon Blue Cheese Burger from my favoritest restaurant in the area. Yummmm

Happy Weekend!

XOXO MK

If you could go anywhere right now...

With a lot of different things running through my mind such as future jobs, relocation, and finding new passions (aka, cooking until my limbs fall off) I can't help but squeeze in a few wishful thoughts of a vacation!

Where would i go if I could go anywhere in March?

I'll take a train to Dublin and explore Ireland.St. Patty's day, anyone?

I loved the Northwest so much, I'd really love a tour de coast with stops in Portland....

Seattle...

A quick trip to Vancouver...

 And stop right bout time for coffee in Sitka, Alaska

Of course, somewhere tropical would also tickle my fancy. Perhaps... Bali?

Where would you like to travel if you could go ANYWHERE?