Saturday, April 26, 2014
SPRING SCENES
Spring is the time we remember to recognize the beauty of the earth. It's everywhere, you just have to look and see.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
SOLO ADVENTURE: WASHINGTON DC
So two weekends ago I was extra spontaneous. It all started Saturday morning. I slept in, as usual, taking advantage of the much needed sleep and time away from the kiddos. So around 11 o'clock I was chilling in my bed and all of a sudden I had an idea. I wanted to drive to Washington DC. It's only four hours away, it's a beautiful day, a road trip sounds fun. That's what I was thinking when I asked my friends to come with me. After they declined... I decided I was going to go anyway. I grabbed my polaroid, keys, and a giant box of Flavor Blasted Goldfish, and I was off.
I started off in New York, drove past the gorgeous city and made my way into New Jersey. Jersey was boring, but jamming to my tunes made up for the lack of scenery. Next I crossed the Delaware River into... what do ya know, Delaware! Is that really a state? It took me two seconds until I crossed the Sesquehanna River into Maryland. Can I just take a minute and say that river is gorgeous? I will definitely be going back for further exploration in the future. Right after that I saw a sign for a lighthouse, so naturally I took the exit and began the search. It took me into the cutest little town called Havre de Grace (Grace Harbor). I've decided it needs to be the setting of Nicholas Sparks' next novel. It was that adorable. I finally found the lighthouse along with some other little treasures and moved on after about an hour. After almost having a heart attack and dropping dead from fright that I was getting pulled over (false alarm), I went through the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel. So I literally went under Baltimore. Not sketchy in the least. Then after sitting in traffic for a freaking HOUR, I finally found myself in DC! By the time I got there it was already dark, but I was determined to see some monuments or something significant. I ended up walking to the Lincoln Memorial by following middle school tour groups. Thanks for the protection kids. Then I was the awkward older girl walking around looking at things and taking selfies of herself. #soloprobs am I right? I then saw the Washington Monument and the capitol building. I love DC almost as much as Boston, and I'm sure my preference could be swayed when I visit in actual daylight. My phone (GPS) died so I was stuck for about a half hour just cruising through the city waiting for the little guy to charge. Come to find out as I'm driving home that DC has the highest crime rate in the country. I mean I'm just a young girl walking around along. Thanks for telling me before NO ONE.
Good news. I'm alive, and well I'd have to say it was probably one of the most fun things I have done since living on the coast.
Moral of the story: It's good to get away and spend time with yourself. You never know where you'll end up or what you'll see. So get out there and adventure! Go with your gut!
xoxo
always
Kylie
I started off in New York, drove past the gorgeous city and made my way into New Jersey. Jersey was boring, but jamming to my tunes made up for the lack of scenery. Next I crossed the Delaware River into... what do ya know, Delaware! Is that really a state? It took me two seconds until I crossed the Sesquehanna River into Maryland. Can I just take a minute and say that river is gorgeous? I will definitely be going back for further exploration in the future. Right after that I saw a sign for a lighthouse, so naturally I took the exit and began the search. It took me into the cutest little town called Havre de Grace (Grace Harbor). I've decided it needs to be the setting of Nicholas Sparks' next novel. It was that adorable. I finally found the lighthouse along with some other little treasures and moved on after about an hour. After almost having a heart attack and dropping dead from fright that I was getting pulled over (false alarm), I went through the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel. So I literally went under Baltimore. Not sketchy in the least. Then after sitting in traffic for a freaking HOUR, I finally found myself in DC! By the time I got there it was already dark, but I was determined to see some monuments or something significant. I ended up walking to the Lincoln Memorial by following middle school tour groups. Thanks for the protection kids. Then I was the awkward older girl walking around looking at things and taking selfies of herself. #soloprobs am I right? I then saw the Washington Monument and the capitol building. I love DC almost as much as Boston, and I'm sure my preference could be swayed when I visit in actual daylight. My phone (GPS) died so I was stuck for about a half hour just cruising through the city waiting for the little guy to charge. Come to find out as I'm driving home that DC has the highest crime rate in the country. I mean I'm just a young girl walking around along. Thanks for telling me before NO ONE.
Good news. I'm alive, and well I'd have to say it was probably one of the most fun things I have done since living on the coast.
Moral of the story: It's good to get away and spend time with yourself. You never know where you'll end up or what you'll see. So get out there and adventure! Go with your gut!
xoxo
always
Kylie
Monday, February 10, 2014
V DAY PLAYLIST
The trick to an extra lovey Valentine's day all lies in the music that is played. There is a difference between music that makes you feel love and music that makes you want to go eat a gallon of ice cream and watch PS I Love You because you are forever alone. These songs will pull on those tender little heart strings of yours and make for a truly great day of love. I promise!
Click here to listen.
Just remember Valentine's day isn't all about you. It's about you showing your love for other people. Not how many roses and boxes of chocolates you get. This year, share the love and you'll feel great.
xoxo
Kylie
Click here to listen.
Just remember Valentine's day isn't all about you. It's about you showing your love for other people. Not how many roses and boxes of chocolates you get. This year, share the love and you'll feel great.
xoxo
Kylie
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE
Remember my last post about the luckiest day ever thanks to the m&m omen? The m&m omen strikes again. It all started Friday night..
After a marvelous dinner of pizza and wings, topped off with a hot fudge and Reese's sundae, we drove into the city around midnight to begin our adventure. My friends convinced me to park in a spot that was much too close to a fire hydrant, then we went to begin our wait. What were we waiting for in the middle of the night? To try to get tickets to Saturday Night Live. Was it actually going to happen? Probably not, but we were more than willing to sit on a curb for seven hours in the 25 degree weather through the night to get a stand by ticket. The stand by ticket only gave you a "maybe you'll get in if a lot of people don't show up that already have tickets". We're fighters though. We were going to give it all we had to see Melissa McCarthy host with Imagine Dragons as the performance. So we waited. The McDonald's down the street was the most welcoming thing in the world when we were suffering of hypothermia or our bladders were going to burst. At seven in the morning they finally came out and started giving out tickets. Emotions were running high after a cold night with no sleep. We just wanted the dang tickets. Now. So naturally we were the last in the huge line to get them but we also saw the actor Terry Crews. That was cool. Stumbling (of frozen feet and sleep deprivation) back to the car around 8, lo and behold there is a ticket on my windshield. $115 dollars thank you very much. For parking too close to the fire hydrant! Take that friends who told me otherwise. You all suck.
You're probably thinking "what is lucky about any of that?" and the answer is nothing. The luck started later that night. After a drunken stupor of a day, we were catching a train back into the city to go stand in line. Waiting at the extra busy train station (thank you Super Bowl), my peripheral vision just happened to catch a little something in the vending machine. What was it? A bag of freaking pretzel m&m's!!! Guys this omen is a real thing. I'm telling you. Sarah and I kind of freaked when we saw it, because we knew we were going to get into SNL because of it. So we ran to Rockafeller and into NBC studios to wait in line. We had to show our tickets and ID and guess who lost their ID? That's right, this girl right here. I wanted to cry. I had nothing on me to prove my age and I was trying everything I could. Then one of the girls said just show me your Facebook profile. So I got on and thank the heavens above we had the same birthday and she thought it was cool so they let me in! I just had to keep on the down low. I guess I just blew that by posting it on the internet. We waited in the line and watched as the actual ticket holders went into the studio. I was about peeing my pants. I was so hopeful but honestly didn't think we would get in. They called a group from our line and let them in. Then they called us. We saw Quest Love from Jimmy Fallon walk by. They said it wasn't a guarantee until we were in a seat. We went through security and up the elevator.. Still not in for sure. Down the hall... then we were in the studio. In the very last seats. All of us. I died.
SNL definitely has the title of coolest experience in New York thus far. It was so cool to go to the rehearsal rather than the live one because it was about 2 1/2 hours long and had so many more sketches and funny things. It was Seth Meyers last time on the show before he takes over for Jimmy Fallon on Late Night so he was just laughing and being hilarious. Then on weekend update they are saying goodbye to him and who comes out on stage as a surprise? Amy Poehler, Andy Samberg, and Stefan (Bill Hader)!! I teared up a little I was freaking out so much! Then Imagine Dragons performed and Kendrick Lamar just happened to appear on stage. It was magical. At the end of the show when they were signing off, we stood up and cheered and Amy and Andy pointed up at us and were laughing and copying us. I'm positive they loved us. It was such a funny show and I couldn't have asked for a better experience.
I love city adventures!
xoxo
Kylie
After a marvelous dinner of pizza and wings, topped off with a hot fudge and Reese's sundae, we drove into the city around midnight to begin our adventure. My friends convinced me to park in a spot that was much too close to a fire hydrant, then we went to begin our wait. What were we waiting for in the middle of the night? To try to get tickets to Saturday Night Live. Was it actually going to happen? Probably not, but we were more than willing to sit on a curb for seven hours in the 25 degree weather through the night to get a stand by ticket. The stand by ticket only gave you a "maybe you'll get in if a lot of people don't show up that already have tickets". We're fighters though. We were going to give it all we had to see Melissa McCarthy host with Imagine Dragons as the performance. So we waited. The McDonald's down the street was the most welcoming thing in the world when we were suffering of hypothermia or our bladders were going to burst. At seven in the morning they finally came out and started giving out tickets. Emotions were running high after a cold night with no sleep. We just wanted the dang tickets. Now. So naturally we were the last in the huge line to get them but we also saw the actor Terry Crews. That was cool. Stumbling (of frozen feet and sleep deprivation) back to the car around 8, lo and behold there is a ticket on my windshield. $115 dollars thank you very much. For parking too close to the fire hydrant! Take that friends who told me otherwise. You all suck.
You're probably thinking "what is lucky about any of that?" and the answer is nothing. The luck started later that night. After a drunken stupor of a day, we were catching a train back into the city to go stand in line. Waiting at the extra busy train station (thank you Super Bowl), my peripheral vision just happened to catch a little something in the vending machine. What was it? A bag of freaking pretzel m&m's!!! Guys this omen is a real thing. I'm telling you. Sarah and I kind of freaked when we saw it, because we knew we were going to get into SNL because of it. So we ran to Rockafeller and into NBC studios to wait in line. We had to show our tickets and ID and guess who lost their ID? That's right, this girl right here. I wanted to cry. I had nothing on me to prove my age and I was trying everything I could. Then one of the girls said just show me your Facebook profile. So I got on and thank the heavens above we had the same birthday and she thought it was cool so they let me in! I just had to keep on the down low. I guess I just blew that by posting it on the internet. We waited in the line and watched as the actual ticket holders went into the studio. I was about peeing my pants. I was so hopeful but honestly didn't think we would get in. They called a group from our line and let them in. Then they called us. We saw Quest Love from Jimmy Fallon walk by. They said it wasn't a guarantee until we were in a seat. We went through security and up the elevator.. Still not in for sure. Down the hall... then we were in the studio. In the very last seats. All of us. I died.
SNL definitely has the title of coolest experience in New York thus far. It was so cool to go to the rehearsal rather than the live one because it was about 2 1/2 hours long and had so many more sketches and funny things. It was Seth Meyers last time on the show before he takes over for Jimmy Fallon on Late Night so he was just laughing and being hilarious. Then on weekend update they are saying goodbye to him and who comes out on stage as a surprise? Amy Poehler, Andy Samberg, and Stefan (Bill Hader)!! I teared up a little I was freaking out so much! Then Imagine Dragons performed and Kendrick Lamar just happened to appear on stage. It was magical. At the end of the show when they were signing off, we stood up and cheered and Amy and Andy pointed up at us and were laughing and copying us. I'm positive they loved us. It was such a funny show and I couldn't have asked for a better experience.
I love city adventures!
xoxo
Kylie
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
LUCKY M&M OMEN
Saturday started with the m&m omen. It was a good one too. Casually waiting for the train to arrive, I noticed not one, but TWO packages of m&m's just waiting for us in the vending machine. This was the start of a very lucky day.
We get on the train and head into the city. Our plan was to go find some Ramen restaurant in Hell's Kitchen that we had found on Google. It had great reviews so why not try it out? It had been really rainy, but once we got into the city it was beautiful weather. Just a little drizzle and fog that made the tops of the buildings fade. It was beautiful and not too cold a walk at all as we made our way to the restaurant. On the way we happened to stumble upon the Palace Hotel. Come on Gossip Girl fans.. Home of the one and only Serena Van Der Woodsen! We definitely stopped to have a fan girl freak out and take a picture, then we were on our way once again.
The place was called Totto Ramen. From the outside, it's a sketchy little hole in the wall. Even when you first walk in you don't really know what to expect. We knew it had to be good though because there was quite the crowd waiting to pile in. The wait was going to be long and we had five people in our group. There were probably only twenty five seats max in the whole place. So we put our name down, had to split up, and got ready to wait. Just then, a lady's group of four didn't show up so we got to take their place practically right after we had sat down to wait. Pretty freaking lucky I'd say. My first impression was okay this is the coolest place. All of the people that worked there were so cool and outgoing and running around trying to squeeze through to give people their food. It also smelled delicious. There were giant pots of ramen noodles cooking giving off the greatest smells. It was very Kung Fu Panda. I ordered the Totto Spicy Ramen with chicken. Guys.. it was incredible. I would eat there every day if I could! It came out in a big bowl with a spoon and chopsticks. There were the noodles, broth, pieces of chicken, seaweed, some onions, and a little bit of spice drizzled on top. I was absolutely in heaven. If you like a little spice, this was the perfect amount, and the chicken was some of the best I've ever had. It was just plain chicken and I was dying over it! I'm not lying when I say this place is incredible. It was only around $10 too. Not too shabby if you ask me.
After soaking up the warmth and deliciousness of our ramen, we went back out into the rain and decided we would really put our luck to the test. We were going to try to win the lottery to get front row tickets to Wicked on Broadway. We got there and put our names in. I don't know why, but we all knew that at least one of us was going to win. It was the m&m omen, I'm telling you! Even though there were a billion people there and they only call out like ten names we just knew it would be us. The guy starts calling the names and what do you know, the second to last name that's called is Chase! The odds were ever in our favor that day. Since Nate, Sarah, and Corinne had all won the lottery before and seen it, they let me and Chase go because we hadn't before. I love having nice friends.
Before the show started we went to fill our dessert stomachs at the cutest little place called Amy's Bread. Nate had raved about it and told us about their to die for monkey cake. Now I'm not a cake fan in the least, but we each got something different and decided to try a bit of each. We got monkey cake, carrot cake, vanilla with mocha frosting, lemon, and I got a peanut butter cookie. Surprisingly, the cookie was my least favorite. The monkey cake was all it was said to be and more. It was delicious. It is a lot like banana bread, but with pineapple, pecans, and cream cheese frosting. Basically heaven in a cake. The others were so good too! They were all so rich and moist. My mouth is watering just thinking about them now. If you're in the city and you have a sweet tooth, hit this place up ASAP.
Chase and I made our way back to the Gershwin Theatre to go see Wicked. I was freaking out because I was so excited. We sat down in our front row seats, practically in the middle. I was dying. Then it started. Guys. I can't tell you enough how amazing it was. Every member of the cast was so incredibly talented. Call me a boob, but I teared up multiple times just because it was so incredible.
Out of the four shows on Broadway I've seen, this is my favorite. So you must go.
Remember how I said it was a lucky day? Yeah, I wasn't lying. It was such a good way to be welcomed back into the city. I missed it a lot while I was home for Christmas. Although Utah will always be my home, New York will always hold a special place in my heart.
xoxo
Kylie
We get on the train and head into the city. Our plan was to go find some Ramen restaurant in Hell's Kitchen that we had found on Google. It had great reviews so why not try it out? It had been really rainy, but once we got into the city it was beautiful weather. Just a little drizzle and fog that made the tops of the buildings fade. It was beautiful and not too cold a walk at all as we made our way to the restaurant. On the way we happened to stumble upon the Palace Hotel. Come on Gossip Girl fans.. Home of the one and only Serena Van Der Woodsen! We definitely stopped to have a fan girl freak out and take a picture, then we were on our way once again.
The place was called Totto Ramen. From the outside, it's a sketchy little hole in the wall. Even when you first walk in you don't really know what to expect. We knew it had to be good though because there was quite the crowd waiting to pile in. The wait was going to be long and we had five people in our group. There were probably only twenty five seats max in the whole place. So we put our name down, had to split up, and got ready to wait. Just then, a lady's group of four didn't show up so we got to take their place practically right after we had sat down to wait. Pretty freaking lucky I'd say. My first impression was okay this is the coolest place. All of the people that worked there were so cool and outgoing and running around trying to squeeze through to give people their food. It also smelled delicious. There were giant pots of ramen noodles cooking giving off the greatest smells. It was very Kung Fu Panda. I ordered the Totto Spicy Ramen with chicken. Guys.. it was incredible. I would eat there every day if I could! It came out in a big bowl with a spoon and chopsticks. There were the noodles, broth, pieces of chicken, seaweed, some onions, and a little bit of spice drizzled on top. I was absolutely in heaven. If you like a little spice, this was the perfect amount, and the chicken was some of the best I've ever had. It was just plain chicken and I was dying over it! I'm not lying when I say this place is incredible. It was only around $10 too. Not too shabby if you ask me.
After soaking up the warmth and deliciousness of our ramen, we went back out into the rain and decided we would really put our luck to the test. We were going to try to win the lottery to get front row tickets to Wicked on Broadway. We got there and put our names in. I don't know why, but we all knew that at least one of us was going to win. It was the m&m omen, I'm telling you! Even though there were a billion people there and they only call out like ten names we just knew it would be us. The guy starts calling the names and what do you know, the second to last name that's called is Chase! The odds were ever in our favor that day. Since Nate, Sarah, and Corinne had all won the lottery before and seen it, they let me and Chase go because we hadn't before. I love having nice friends.
Before the show started we went to fill our dessert stomachs at the cutest little place called Amy's Bread. Nate had raved about it and told us about their to die for monkey cake. Now I'm not a cake fan in the least, but we each got something different and decided to try a bit of each. We got monkey cake, carrot cake, vanilla with mocha frosting, lemon, and I got a peanut butter cookie. Surprisingly, the cookie was my least favorite. The monkey cake was all it was said to be and more. It was delicious. It is a lot like banana bread, but with pineapple, pecans, and cream cheese frosting. Basically heaven in a cake. The others were so good too! They were all so rich and moist. My mouth is watering just thinking about them now. If you're in the city and you have a sweet tooth, hit this place up ASAP.
Chase and I made our way back to the Gershwin Theatre to go see Wicked. I was freaking out because I was so excited. We sat down in our front row seats, practically in the middle. I was dying. Then it started. Guys. I can't tell you enough how amazing it was. Every member of the cast was so incredibly talented. Call me a boob, but I teared up multiple times just because it was so incredible.
Out of the four shows on Broadway I've seen, this is my favorite. So you must go.
Remember how I said it was a lucky day? Yeah, I wasn't lying. It was such a good way to be welcomed back into the city. I missed it a lot while I was home for Christmas. Although Utah will always be my home, New York will always hold a special place in my heart.
xoxo
Kylie
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
HAPPY 2014!
HAPPY NEW YEAR BABES!
I don't know if it's all of the hype everywhere about new year's resolutions, starting the year off with a rockin' Gatsby party, or just being back in New York by myself.. but I'm feeling great about 2014.
I just know that something great is going to happen this year. Maybe it has to do with my horoscope I read via the Free People blog. But I just know that I am going to make something great happen!
At the beginning of every year I usually write down all of my goals and things that I want to accomplish throughout the year, and this year is absolutely no exception. But I'm going into this year with a new perspective and new thoughts about my goals. I want to do things that make me a better Kylie. Sounds obvious and lame but think about it. Every year we all want to do things to "better ourselves", but are we really doing it for US? Or to impress the people around us? That kind of struck me and made me rethink who I am actually accomplishing my goals for and why I want to accomplish them. I'm building a better me in 2014.
I'm going to do things just because I want to. YOLO right?
I'm going to show love to everyone I come across because only good can come of it.
I'm going to laugh my way through the hard times because, like sister Marjorie Hinckley said, crying just gives me a headache.
I'm going to bloom wherever the heck it is that I am planted.
This year, I'm going to flourish.
I am so grateful for all of the blessings of 2013 and excited to see what this year has in store for me.
xoxo
Kylie
I don't know if it's all of the hype everywhere about new year's resolutions, starting the year off with a rockin' Gatsby party, or just being back in New York by myself.. but I'm feeling great about 2014.
I just know that something great is going to happen this year. Maybe it has to do with my horoscope I read via the Free People blog. But I just know that I am going to make something great happen!
At the beginning of every year I usually write down all of my goals and things that I want to accomplish throughout the year, and this year is absolutely no exception. But I'm going into this year with a new perspective and new thoughts about my goals. I want to do things that make me a better Kylie. Sounds obvious and lame but think about it. Every year we all want to do things to "better ourselves", but are we really doing it for US? Or to impress the people around us? That kind of struck me and made me rethink who I am actually accomplishing my goals for and why I want to accomplish them. I'm building a better me in 2014.
I'm going to do things just because I want to. YOLO right?
I'm going to show love to everyone I come across because only good can come of it.
I'm going to laugh my way through the hard times because, like sister Marjorie Hinckley said, crying just gives me a headache.
I'm going to bloom wherever the heck it is that I am planted.
This year, I'm going to flourish.
xoxo
Kylie
Sunday, December 15, 2013
IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE CITY
It's Christmas time in the city and I'm loving it. This place grows more and more beautiful with each passing season, but winter time has by far been the best. People travel from all over the world just to see the GIANT Christmas tree at Rockafeller Center and all of the incredible window displays on 5th ave. I can see why. Did you know that the tree is real? It is! And it's the biggest tree I've ever seen. Other than the tree you've got Saks Fifth Ave with its story of the yeti display that has a different scene in each window and silvery trees dangling from the ceiling on the inside. Then there's Bloomingdale's with Christmas lights covering the whole building making it impossible to miss (as if it wasn't already), the classic stacked, red ornaments outside of the Radio City Music Hall, and the awesome light display glowing from the windows in Grand Central. Magical right? That's sure what it looks like from the pictures, but secretly this whole time it was ten thousand degrees below zero and the wind was whipping snow into our faces and I was almost positive that I had lost all outer extremities to frost bite. But there was a (Christmas) light at the end of the tunnel. We just popped on in to the Plaza Hotel and got a cup of hot chocolate. It was the perfect thing to help us muster up the courage to go back out into the storm and walk to five blocks to the subway. In all honesty though it was an awesome day and I am so grateful to live in this beautiful city especially around the holidays.
Happy Holidays!!
xoxo
Kylie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)