Finally...

I'm back blogging. I have been thinking about this post for a couple weeks now but just haven't had the time to write. You see, I have been busy with school (which kicked my butt this quarter) but now I am done and can breathe again.

In the midst of it all, I managed a weekend away with my friend Christina to go to Joshua Tree National Park and visit friends in Palm Springs!

Canon Powershot self timer at work..works like a charm & never fails!

Christina and I went on a couple "hikes"

Peace Sign! The universal, "Hi Mom" pose

And we got to spend some time with our friends Susan and Renee in the desert! We experienced a little bit of their Desert Princess life, not a bad way of living :)

At the Clubhouse after lunch at Leon's

Group Shot: Downtown Palm Springs

We saw Marilyn Monroe's underwear ;)

Christmas:
I have purchased zero Christmas gifts thus far BUT I received one today!! Thanks to my favorite sister thinking oh-so cleverly about what to get me for Christmas, I found a little package at my doorstep this evening. And it couldn't be more perfect for me. Included in my box: Sample perfume, nail polish, face mask, super cute travel ziplock,  eye shadow and gift card to rent the runway . 

My First Birch Box. 

FABULOUS!!

Work/School:
This combo gave me a run for my money this past quarter but I survived and couldn't more happy about it. My first quarter is officially done. I am 1/3 of the way through grad school. I have a three week break, which I will soak up and savor each and every lazy day, early night in and pressing of my snooze button. 

Oh yeah, I'm praying all of my hard work pays off with straight A's. I already have one on the record (which I called my mom about with pure excitement!). 

Fantastic Four

Me and my siblings, that is. 

These three are some of my best friends. 

These are the people I can rely on when I need an ear willing to listen and open arms to hug. 

Over the years, unfortunately, life happens: Kristen went off to college, I went off to college, Kristen moved back to OC, then she moved back to AZ, we missed birthday parties and graduations. 

BUT we are as close as ever and I couldn't be more proud of my sibs!

Here are some pictures of us over the years... 

Feb 1998
Me, Kristen and Lenny at our home-style photo shoot

Dec 2006
Kristen, Lewis, Lenny and me at our Christmas  dinner

June 2010
Kristen, Lewis, me and Lenny at my college graduation ceremony

February 2012
Lenny, Lewis, me and Kristen

May 2012
Me, Lenny and Kristen

 Oh yeah, and these little brothers of mine are in the CIF Championship game at Angels Stadium Tomorrow!!! Go Spartans!!!

November 2012
Lenny, Kristen, me and Lewis after their semi-final 34-33 victory over Tustin HS

Hugs and Gratitude

1. This is so special! I used to be the person who didn't like others touching me or getting too close lol Now I look back and just laugh. That's so silly. A hug is a simple but touching, literally haha, gesture that one can give. Not to mention it takes almost no time at all. So, I'll be hugging my loved ones this Thanksgiving break, that's for sure!

2. Don't you just love this quote?! It speaks to anyone, anywhere and that's the best part. Things to remember (and I say this mostly as a reminder to myself): 

Live without regrets or "what ifs" 

When the opportunity arises, express appreciation and thankfulness

Be kind, always

Smile, you never know who's day you'll make

And to sum it all up, here's another goody...

"Live simply, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly"

I'm Back...Again

I know that you are all thinking, "Kayla, you have said this so many times!" But this time I am for real. Like for real, for real. So allow me to catch you up on my life since be the beginning of October

I hosted a "Fall Party" where we dressed in fall-like clothes, ate fall-type pinterest creations and went to the pumpkin patch. Justin and I may or may not have gotten lost in the corn maze for over an hour (thank you, high school student worker for showing us the way out!).

Spent the weekend with Pops!

We ate Randy's (nasty) donuts, got the car washed, handled tenant duties (where we state our names as Michael and Kim, long story) and went shopping at Nordstrom rack!!

Took these two SA's to a NCAA Leadership Forum in Dallas, Tx

We feasted on TONS of food

 The NCAA does a fabulous job of making sure that your every need is taken care of. I'm talking about EVERYTHING! I called and talked to a travel agent to arrange our flights, they held the forum at an awesome-over-the-top nice hotel, my room was like a penthouse, the food was never ending, and they created a "fun zone" for the students in a huge ball room (we're talking arcade machines,  ping pong tables, pool tables, tv with couches and stadium seating, basketball hoops, "just dance" and wii games, simulated driving games and more...

Filled out my ballot and checked the box for Barack Obama!!

Took that bad boy to the poll and got my sticker :)

Traveled with a team that takes their shirts off when eating as to not spill on themselves

Got great seats for the Cal/Oregon football game

Good thing we left after Cal scored (for their last time in the game)! Perfect Timing!!

Many more posts are in my/your future. Partly because I like doing this as a study break and partly because I'm determined to succeed at this blogging thing.

Super Busy, Super Tired = My Life

My days this past week have been a bit cray-cray and I couldn't be more happy that tomorrow is Friday! The following is a combination of old/new pictures to illustrate my day-to-day life this past week. 

1. Wake up 

2. Go to Work

 3. Go to Class 

4. Work Some More 

5. Eat Dinner 

6&7. ..while watching Revenge

8. Bed

1. Taken after just waking up on an all night sleeper train in China

2. Taken after work one random day (just ignore the lil bro and his thin self)

3. Taken last week on the morning of my first day of graduate school

4. By this time in the day, I hardly know what emotion to feel/think and look a little something like this...

5. Dinner at my friend Esenam's house in Ghana (with her parents)

6. Cast of Revenge

7.  This show is INTENSE!! Watch it, pause it if you even have to sneeze. There's so much going on. My eyes are glued and my mind is working. Great show, none the less. 

8. Pretend sleeping at The Shorey Cabin in Montana

And then...9 hours later, my alarm goes off and I do this all over again..and again..and again...

One More...

"For every minute you are angry, you lose 60 seconds of happiness!"

This fancy, yet oh-so simple quote comes from a friend via facebook! I like love this one because you can replace "angry" with any emotion (bitter, mad, hostile, etc...). I absolutely LOVE this quote because it is SOOO true! I adore my family, friends and, well, life itself! I have the ability to create my own destiny, so that's what I'm doing. If there is something that you want to accomplish, do it. Find the things that make you happy and get so involved in them that time passes without you knowing it. If there is a goal that you want to reach (whether it be weight loss or earning a master's degree), find supporters, mentors and a team of folks to rally behind you. Don't forget about Jesus! He has the power to feed the hungry, supply clothes for the naked and a way of making us feel comforted and loved each and every second of the day.

So, "Don't worry, by happy!"

Have a great weekend! When life gets you down, find something (or someone) to help you pick it back up.


P.S. While I'm here and thinking about what makes me happy, I will post some song lyrics for you all to read. You should also listen to the song here!! The whole song is awe-inspiring and can be a tear jerker. I know that I have had some jam sessions in my car to this song. It was also my warm-up song when I was competing in college. I knew that I was there for a purpose. I had worked hard. I trusted my coach. Perhaps I had a stumbling block here and there, but I wasn't going to let that override the determination and God given gift that I have as an athlete. There was definitely something inside of me telling me to keep pressing on, and I'm glad that I did!

Keep the dream alive don't let it die 

If something deep inside keeps inspiring you to try, don't stop 

And never give up, don't ever give up on you 

Don't give up 

Every victory comes in time, work today to change tomorrow 

It gets easier, who’s to say that you can’t fly 

Every step you take you get, closer to your destination 

You can feel it now, don’t you know you're almost there? 

To fulfill divine purpose, you gotta answer when you're called 

So don't be afraid to face the world against all odds

Major Relief ;)

For the past month I have been planning for an event at work. The event was today and it went as well as well can go! Planning a breakfast, 4 presentations at different locations around campus and a bbq lunch for 600 people isn't easy. I am relieved beyond belief and can now switch gears...to thinking about how I start GRAD SCHOOL TOMORROW!!!

Anyways, as I sit here browsing the internet/facebook, I stumbled upon a couple quotes that are fun and motivating, to me :) Here they are!

"Dream of life until life becomes a dream"

Whether you write it down or scream it from the rooftops. We create our own destiny. Dreams can come true!

"Name it and Claim it!"

We use this phrase in my family and I love it because I it can apply to anything in life (goals, relationships, finances, etc). If having your name on a hollywood star will signify "you've made it," then I'm all about it. Go after something, name it (the goal) and claim it (as though you've already conquered/achieved it).

"Another Day, Another A"

My roommate in college taught me this one, and it's a true gem! I'm trying to be like this little guy right here, with some A's on my academic record at the end of the quarter. Wish me luck...I've been out of the classroom for over a year now!

I love school. I love preparing a school bag. I love bringing a lunch (or dinner b/c I'm taking evening classes). I love sitting in class with my friends. I love learning. 

I will most likely want to take back each of these phrases at least a handful of times over the next 9 months. But hey, at the end of it all..I'll have a master's degree!!!