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

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!). 

Labor Day Weekend!

I love holidays. Any holiday. 

I love having an extra day off of work to do whatever I want. 

I love spending time with my sister and doing things that we love. 

Like...working out, eating, doing our hair, going to church, having lunch with friends, sleeping in (and taking naps) and laughing until we cry because our stories are that funny!

All of the above is what I did this past weekend and I loved every single moment of it all! I flew out to Arizona on Sat morning on a steal-of-a-deal nonstop flight from SBA to PHX!! I had a voucher that I used towards an already low fare so my out of pocket expenses weren't bad at all. Man oh man, I love a good deal!

So Kristen, who is working out in Orange County for a couple months, met me out in Phoenix on Saturday morning and we went rock climbing. A while back I bought a groupon (who would have guessed haha) for a day pass of rock climbing and Cold Stone Ice Cream!! I'm alllll about working out and eating..as stated above..so obviously we enjoyed ourselves.

After rock climbing and ice cream it was nap time. I haven't taken a good long nap like that in a while so you can only imagine how refreshed I felt after that one :)

Then we went out for a late happy hour with one of Kristen's friends and dancing at Sandbar. We called it a night before the crazies were let out {aka when the bar announces last call then closes for the night}, got home and passed out. Phew I was tired!

Me, Annett and Kristen: fun night out!!

Sunday morning was hair time and church. I absolutely LOVE this church that Kristen belongs to! Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church is fabulous. I'll say it again...I just Love going to church there (yes, capital "L"). After church was lunch with friends and a trip to Apache Junction!!!!!!!

Apache Junction is a town that's...well, out of town. We toured the trailer parks and called on a couple that were for sale to see how much it would cost for one of those beauty's. $28,000. Yep, that's it. Best part? It had a new solar roof, double pane windows, double wide trailer, 24x52 (I asked about square footage and was given dimensions), 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, close proximity to community center (who knew that there would be a community center) and...the best part...it was fully furnished!!!!!

As it turns out, this establishment is in a 55+ community. I'll have to get a golf cart and grow some grey hairs before making the move. 

After our trip to AJ we had dinner and wine with Sarah then girl talk. A lot of it. We drove back to Kristen's and, once again, were out like lights when our heads hit those pillows. 

Monday came and we slept in. That is a common theme that I reallllyyyy enjoyed. We got up and went to lunch at a fun cafe in town then I got a pedicure. A much needed pedicure. Then errands and frozen yogurt followed by some window shopping/browsing. We finished the night with dinner and catch up with friends. 

My time in Arizona was just what I needed to finish the summer. A nice 3-day weekend with a vacation where I actually relaxed. Sometimes I go away and don't really rest. I'm busy planning, organizing, worrying and doing as much as possible in the couple days allotted. So, this trip was heavenly. And the best part, my flight landed in Santa Barbara this morning at 9:10am and I went right to work. Made it in by 9:20am. 

Thank you, Kristen and AZ friends, for such a fun-filled weekend. I needed that :)