Asia in the Summertime

I like LOVE adventure and find that traveling is my happy place. I feel at peace on an airplane and relish in the quiet time that I have all to myself. This summer I hit a milestone: 20 countries!

Here’s how it began- Back in February I had applied for a teaching opportunity in China through a program at UT. I was accepted in April, flights were booked in May and I left the country in June. When thinking of traveling to China, I knew that I had to capitalize on the opportunity and decided to visit Thailand as well. Then, as though it couldn’t get any better, I was able to book a flight with a long layover in Japan!

My accommodations in each country were great...I ate well and my money went far. I found Japan to be quaint and clean, the people of Thailand were a bit straightforward but friendly once a business deal had been made, and China was (once again) a delight.

After taking a trip, one of my favorite things to do is look back at pictures and videos. For this trip, I made a quick video that sums up my month of travel in under 5 minutes. 

While on the plane for 15 hours from Shanghai to Detroit I started this video recap and love how it turned out. Pictures are coming, I promise!  

The song is called, Colorful World by CeCe Winans

With so much turmoil in the world and hate crimes being committed against Black men, this song has brought me comfort. The Lord knows just what we need and reminds us that He is near, always.

Listen to the lyrics. They're perfect for this video. And a wonderful reminder that "it's a colorful world, a beautiful world that we live in."

Quick Recap, 2015

First of all…..drumroll, please…I'm Back!

The hiatus was too long and, especially as of late, I have longed for a space to clear my head and share the joyous moments of life (and those really tricky and hard ones too). 

With yet ANOTHER 365 days gone with the wind, here are some of the highlights from 2015. 

FEBRUARY  SNOW DAYS.
FOUR.POINT.FIVE of them to be exact. Hallelujah!!

FEBRUARY
When it's too cold for snow…you get ice.
And more snow days. 
#CanIGetAnAmen?!

MARCH  
Roommates reunited.
Milkshakes for old times sake.  

MAY
Swinging from ropes in Costa Rica.
Living that #PuraVida life. 

JULY
Traveling with these two is nothing but headaches and belly laughs.
And I wouldn't have it any other way.

 JULY
Seeing my grandpa and his siblings makes my heart SO happy.
They bicker and talk trash to each other...and love so, so hard!  

SEPTEMBER
And water gushed through my kitchen to…
everywhere else in my place.
#LongNightOfCleanup

SEPTEMBER
It even managed to leak through the exterior door/wall and made puddles outside.
Those water molecules won that round. But I got the victory!
SIX days later when it was finally dry.

OCTOBER
Same costume, 10 years in a row.
Still haven't repeated the same combo of clothes.
#winning!

OCTOBER
OC to Rocky Top. Kristen visited over her fall break!
#SisterSister

NOVEMBER
My birthday brunch.
Didn't even know I knew more than 10 people in Knoxville.
(Pleasantly) Surprised myself. 

DECEMBER
Surprised my family & flew home to watch Lewis' last H.S. football game.
 Winning the State Championship made the rain wayyyyy more tolerable!

Plus, Christmas in California with family and friends is never a bad thing. May the joy of the Lord be with you throughout 2016!

Peace and Blessings, 

Xx Kayla

A Year in Review

This is one of my favorite parts about January…when I think back about the past year and how good it was to me and for me. 

I am blessed beyond measure and I am thankful each and every day that I have a loving family, supportive friends, and live in a free country with the ability to travel the world. 

So with that, I will leave you with my favorite picture from each month in 2013. 

{January- Hit the course (mainly, the driving range) and started golfing}

{February- Checked an item off of my "things to do in 2013" list and became a Be The Match donor!}

{March- Spring Break Road Trip with Katie from SAS. Below: Grand Canyon}

{April- I studied a lot and entered the 21st century. Bye-bye Blackberry, hello iPhone}

{May- Studied, wrote, and passed my comprehensive exam for grad school}

{June- Gevirtz Graduate School of Education Graduate -- Woohoo Commencement!}

{July- Spent the last couple weeks living with this one. There really is something special about being roommates}

{August- Reunion in Florida with SAS friends. A day at Walt Disney World :) }

 {September- Jean visited me in SB and we made my headboard. Two minds are better than one}

{October- Gave the gift of life! Donated Blood and it felt oh-so good}

 {November- Cross-Country Road Trip with Kelly. Below: Cadillac Ranch in Texas}

{December- SAS Reunion in Nashville for NYE! We shared 5 days/4 nights of relaxed fun and ongoing excitement}

My prayer is that in January of 2015 I will look back on this year and know that I accomplished new things, explored the world a little bit more, was loving and caring to all I encountered, and grew spiritually, personally, and professionally, but not physically (wider, that is).

Thank you, 2013, for being so good!

Road Trip 2013

My dearest Semester at Sea friend, Kelly, came out to California to work for a couple of months (Sept-Nov). While preparing for her return to Florida, we came up with the grand idea that I would drive back with her! So clever we are. It was pretty simple to us. Pack our stuff, get in the car, and drive until we got there. 

We planned where we would lay our heads at night but that's about it.

I also wanted to learn how to use iMovie. And with an iPhone, it couldn't be that hard to film everything. So this was the perfect project. Short enough that I could make this video in a couple days. But long enough that I could practice using just about every feature and perfect (ha!) my technique as well. 

Everyone needs a video like this to look at when they're 80. I know we'll never forget those 10 hour days in the car. Thank goodness for cell phones, bluetooth, yelp, and unlimited song choices. 

We never got bored, didn't eat junk food...just enjoyed each other and made conversation. This trip is one for the books. 

It's a little lengthy but when I'm 80, I'll have 15 minutes to spare. Guaranteed. 

We had a ball, to say the least. I have a sneaky suspicion that another trip like this is in our future. Who knows, we might be the type to take trips like this to escape our roles as wife and mother. But that would require each of us to find a husband, first. 

#instagram

Someone told me recently that I needed to get a twitter and instagram account. I am not one for all of the social media stuff but thought that I would add one at a time. After all, it is the 21st century and we are only becoming more tech savvy as time goes on. 

So here it goes. I'm on instagram. KLAGALE. follow me. I'd love that :)

2 grams down, a lifetime to go... 

#firstgram #travel #sbbound

The tallest is off to college tomorrow.
#soproud #goodluck

And on that note, I will elaborate on my second gram. 

Lenny is on his way to college, right now! The little Lenny that used to be a bit chunky, loves meat, hates vegatables/fruit, and enjoys time on the couch will attend South Dakota State University starting...today! He is taking summer school classes to get ahead and work out in the athletics department. Why? Because he's going to play football, 

Can't wait to see him out there on the field in blue and gold (and in South Dakota in the fall, spring, and summer). 

That's it for now. 

March in Review

Well folks, it's official...the Canon PowerShot SD 750 Digital ELPH 7.1 Mega Pixels is going to heaven. As you will see in the pictures below, the PowerShot must have fallen for the 1435748329548 time and now adds an ink blot to all pictures. Not cool. The Powershot has been with me since AT LEAST 2006. Such a great camera that I would recommend to anyone. The Powershot has been to South Africa, traveled the world on Semester at Sea and been on my impromptu/planned vacation excursions around the US. 

We've had an awesome 7+ years and I'm almost positive that no camera will be as faithful to me as the Powershot.

In case you forgot...this is the PowerShot looking fab as usual.

Now on to March. I had the opportunity to travel. One of my favorites things in life, so I jumped on it and took off. I flew to Vegas then traveled with a friend from Semester at Sea (Katie) to see the Hoover Dam, spend two days sightseeing near/at the Grand Canyon, spend two days near Sedona, then 5 days in Phoenix with my sister and a weekend in SoCal for fam time and an Easter brunch. 

The trip was a time for adventure, fun, new food, great drinks, shopping and much needed time with loved ones. I give this one 2 thumbs up! Here are some pics please ignore the black spot on my pics :( ...

1. Vegas breakfast buffet plate
2&3. Hoover Dam

Grand Canyon: A beautiful place in Arizona where the air is cool
when the wind picks up and the sun goes down.

1. Seligman, AZ Birthplace of Route 66 b/c it's the longest stretch of Route 66 still remaining
2. Just like the movie cars :)
3. Famous barbershop along Route 66
4. Williams, Az Route 66

Jerome, Az
Never would have guessed that such a place would be so magical and entertaining and historical.

Our drive home wouldn't be complete without $3.579/gallon gas and Chipotle

Family. Love them. Gotta have them.

P.S. Did you notice that some of my pics don't have the black spot??!! Well, it looks like the Canon PowerShot may have one last leg. Wouldn't that be an amazing, cost-saving, blessing! I'll investigate and let you know what's up. 

P.P.S. It's a good thing that I'm not looking for a new facebook profile picture because my options without a black spot would be limited. 

Again...

I'm spending my nights researching, writing papers and creating presentations. This is nothing new. Week 10/Dead Week/Finals Week all runs into the same mesh of "I-have-a-lot-to-do Week". But, I will get through it. 

One cup of tea at a time. 

One hour at a time. 

(One mini-nap/rest-my-eyes sesh at a time.)

One assignment at a time. 

One day at a time.

One class at a time. 

Don't you worry, there's good news. 

This will all be over and done with come next week.

Just in time for my flight to Vegas, trip to the Grand Canyon, and vacation in Arizona with the best sister on this side of heaven.

Amen to that!

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!). 

Lately..

I've been spending my nights diligently working on my computer to edit, save and organize my pictures from Semester at Sea (that amazing trip I took during the Spring of 2011). 

This is because I am making a photobook through My Publisher. It's an awesome website that comes highly recommended. And, the best  one of the best parts? It's been easy to use thus far!

Did I mention that they always have coupons and promotional deals?!?! This is the other best part :)

I'll keep working until I'm done. 

Then I'll order this fatty book. 

And let you know how it turns out! 

I can hardly wait to see all of my favorite moments from Semester at Sea in one book. 

Now, if I can only figure out why it has taken me a year and a half to get going on this project...

Sea l Mester

My dear friend Kelly and I met while sailing around the world last spring with Semester at Sea. She couldn't get enough and just had to go abroad again. So she's embarking on another trip! But this time her journey will be a bit different. Kelly is sailing with a program called seamster. She'll be working and learning how to sail (can't wait for the sailing adventures to come)!! There are 24 students and just a couple staff/crew. There is no internet while at sea so she'll be using internet cafes and bumming off free wifi anywhere she can. Join me in following her blog!


Here's to Kelly having a safe, fun and exciting next 4 months of traveling and excursions!!

Me, Kelly and our friend Rolando sleeping on the Great Wall in China!
The best way to describe it? Freezing cold, but fun..in a very unique way :)

Kelly and I at the Terracotta Warriors in Xian, China

Cooling off under a tree in Hawaii after walking on hardened lava from an active volcano

Lilly, myself, Kelly and Jamie having Singapore Slings while in Singapore 

I've logged onto skype (so she can call me when she bums that free internet) and don't plan to log off until she returns! Just in case you are wondering why I'm always on these days ;)

Have a blast, my friend! Have a blast!

About Me

I grew up in Orange County, CA but moved to Santa Barbara, CA after high school to go to college. As a student-athlete at UC Santa Barbara, I found myself busy with school, sports and life...but I loved every minute of it. 

I sailed around the world with Semester at Sea and then began working in the Athletics Department before returning to school to earn my master's degree. I'm a Gaucho through and through; enjoying life and taking it one crazy adventure at a time.

Great Wall, China

Taj Mahal, India

Pacific Ocean, Santa Barbara

Great Wall, China

Yellowstone, Wyoming

Grand Canyon, Arizona