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!!!

3 Things

When I left work this afternoon, I told myself that there were 3 things that I needed to do before bed.

My list went a little something like this...

1. Assemble Bookshelf
I re-arranged my room about a week ago {post still to come} but needed a small shelving unit to house papers, photo albums, hats, and cool travel decor items that I've been meaning to find a space for. I found the perfect bookshelf at Target for......wait for it........$20!!!! Twenty bucks is all it took to fill my need and make me one happy gal!

                       What I was working with...                                 My new beauty!
                           [Found it for free]                                         [$20 at Target]

I haven't finished decorating the bookshelf and I still need to buy a shadowbox to hang/prop above it, but this will do for now.

2. Go for a Run
This one is simple. I need to exercise.

I have yet to complete this task. Simply because I got home and ate rice krispies cereal with sugar instead. And now I feel too gross to go on a run. I really, really need to get out and move this body of mine. Ughh I will do it today. I will do it today. I will do it today...

3. Clean my Room
Ever since I re-arranged my room, it hasn't been orderly like I am used to. I have incomplete projects laying around and that, in my mind, gives me an excuse for being lazy and not putting things away. I have a chair full of clothes that need to be ironed. I have a bed that wasn't made this morning. I have multiple pairs of shoes on the ground. I have a laundry hamper that is almost full. I have a lot going on in here.

Basically, I have yet to  clean my room {except for vacuuming the little spot that I just moved the bookshelf to}.

I'm 1 for 3 thus far. But hey, it could be worse. 

This post was my not-so-sneaky way of procrastinating. 

I must get back to working on my to-do list. 

Hopefully, I can report back tomorrow that I finished everything!

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...

Birthday Blessings

This is a woman of God, true prayer warrior and my grandma! Thank you for volunteering at my school when I was in elementary school, thank you for encouraging my adventurous spirit (watching me skydive and scheme up a plan for my Semester at Sea funds) and thank you for treating birthdays as our "special day". It really is true, your birthday is the one day each year that you get for yourself. You have taken me across the country and taught me about life. To a great role model and fun-family oriented lovely lady...

Nana,
May today bring you joy, love and laughter!

I Love You!!

Nana and I visiting Lady Liberty!

My grandparents and sister!

That's her, the birthday girl!

Family greeting me after I sailed around the world!

Wedding ready!

My grandma and Mom took the train for 36 hours to watch me compete at Nationals!

Nature walk in S-Breezy!

Fam First: Grandparents, Brothers and Cousins

Gorgeous grandparents and their children's children!