Happy Birthday USA!

Happy fourth to all and happy birthday to my country and home!!!

I'm super proud to be American (I always feel like we should call ourselves Statesmen though since America is actually two continents with a gaggle of countries but... I digress...) and to live in a country born of the desire for and true to so many freedoms! We've come a long way for such a "new" country and we keep moving forward. Thanks to all the men and women out there who've made us great and to those who keep us going we can be proud to celebrate our country's birth, Happy, Happy, Birthday USA!!!

If you can't tell, I'm big on the fourth, so every year I dress for it. Red, white, and blue all the way! And who doesn't love a striped shirt?

I also love a good sale so everything I'm wearing was a great value too! J.crew. striped shirt, Marshall's cardigan and skirt, Rayban sunnies, Vintage necklace, Free People headband (very appropriate today I thought), Lancôme (yes, you read it right, free with purchase natch) tote, and arm party plus rings made by me!

A sign for celebration helps of course, I made this one to use for all birthdays this year and it's blue hue, my favorite color, happens to fit the theme so well!


Now, Cue the confetti!!! It's time to celebrate!!!

Kisses,

K

(All image owned by Krista Carson, tassel garland by EverlyLane)

 

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Travel Reminiscence

Now that I'm finally getting settled back into the groove of things here at home I thought I'd share some of the photos from my crazy month long trip.

I was in a good friends wedding in Charleston, SC (remember, she's the one i told you was getting married at the Lowndes Grove Plantation) so I thought I'd start off with some charming details of the city itself.

There was beautiful iron-work all over the city.

I loved all the details built into everything.

The city was full of vibrant colors but I especially loved these teal shutters. See the little swiveling s hooks that hold them open? So cute!

There were so many cute alleyways brimming with green.

Charleston is known as the Holy City due to all of its, and may I say all of its fabulously beautiful as well, churches.

Did you know all of the "front" porches in Charleston are actually on the side of the houses there? They taxed homes based on what was facing the street so in order to pay less the citizens starting building them on the side with little courtyards and frequently a faux front (or street facing) door as well.

I loved the mint green and brass plate of this letter box by the Dockside Street Theatre.

Another beautiful church.

A super cool quote on the wall of clocks in the ghost and spirit store (ghost stories, walks, and hauntings are very popular in Charleston).

"Do not squander time for that is the stuff life is made of." Benjamin Franklin 1746

A very neat tea and spice shop. You can the brim of my jaunty fedora in the reflection of the window in this one.

Well, I hope you enjoyed these snapshots. More to follow, of the city, the wedding, and the rest of my trip.

Kisses,

K

(Images property of Krista Carson)

Inspire Me Tuesday

The Paciffic Northwest is such an inspiring place to be. It never ceases to amaze me. There are so many naturally beautiful sights and sounds to experience. This weekend I had the pleasure of sharing one such moment with my husband.

We were out on a beach overlooking downtown Seattle as a summer storm approached. The air got a little bit thicker, darker, and the swiftening sky carried an intense marine smell on its winds. Suddenly, there were waves, significant ones for the Puget Sound, and into the quiet of the encroaching storm it was as if the waves began to sing.

They sang a song I had never heard before. A song that played against the rocky shore. A song of rushing and shushing. Of hurrying and reaching into the masses of pebbles and slipping away. Of mad dashes and whooshes....

It was a beautiful sound that spoke of land and sea and the power of nature. Those of you who grew up on rocky shoals have probably heard this siren song before. But growing up on gentle sandy beaches I had never heard even the largest of hurricane waves be able to sing this unique and beautiful language. It's power crashes onto soft cushioning sand.

For those who've never heard it, I wish l could share it with you. With all of you really. I'll work on uploading a video (always more to learn).

But in he meantime I hope you find a momment that moves you. I hope it as powerful, calming, lovely, and inspiring as mine is for me. I hope it helps you to translate a moment of peace and beauty that exists even amidst life's storms. It's there, somewhere, if you take a moment to breathe, look, and listen.

Kisses,

K

(Images property of Krista Carson)

 

Chicago, Chicago

My kind of town!

I'm back Chi-town and I'm so excited to take in as much of your fabulous fun as I can before heading back to the Paciffic Northwest!

Your skyline? C'est magnifique!

Your food? È delizioso!

Friends and Family? Maravilloso!

Here's a quick taste:

The Willis Sear's tower as seen from my favorite little piece of paradise downtown... It's a tiny tree lined park full of flowers with a little wading stream (for your tired tootsies) nestled right between Frank Gehry's (awesome) amphitheater in Millennium Park and the Chicago Museum of Art.

The Hancock Tower with Water Tower Place's turrets in front.

And lastly the city viewed from the top (56th to be exact) floor of my old building right before sunset with the Hancock Building's iconic sillouette towering above the rest.

Kisses,

K

Officially A Landmark!

Chicago's own Wrigley Building finally achieved officially historic Landmark Status today!

The ground was broken back in 1920 by the chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. in order to house his corporate headquarters.

The Wrigley Building as seen from the bridge spanning the Chicago River (See the Hancock Tower hiding in the background on the right behind the blue flag?)

The gorgeous building was designed by the architectural firm of Graham, Anderson, Probst & White with the shape of Seville's Cathedral's Giralda Tower as inspiration. At the time it was the only major office building north of the Chicago River.

The much newer Trump Building towers over Wrigley but never outshines it

Congratulations Wrigley Building, you were always the most iconic Landmark in Chi-town to me!

Kisses,

K

(All images by Krista Carson and info via Wikipedia)

 

On The Road Again

Or should I say in the sky... My regular posts are interrupted due to continued trepsing about the country. I've left Florida, family, and tons of fun in the sun and I'm in the air heading to the second (my first, though!) city! I can't wait to visit with more family and friends and see the Chicago skyline! (I used to live there a few years back and my husband's from there.) I'll get to squeeze see my Husband again too! Yay! I left the poor guy in Seattle working all the way back on May 12th... :(

As always, I'll post as I'm able and will tons more to share once I get back to Seattle! Till then!

Kisses,

K

(Image owned by Krista Carson)

Inspire Me Tuesday (on Wednesday...)

I'm late, I'm late! For my Inspire me Tuesday date!

Why, you ask? Well... I've been feeling a little under the weather the past few days and prior to that I was trepsing about the Magical World of Disney with my family. There was tequila tasting, Tonga French Toast, and much merriment in general!

(Perhaps I 'll share more later? All I know is this trip is proving to be more whirlwind than a Tasmanian Devil could manage, and more fun too!)

The Wishes Fireworks (are) Spectacular in front of Cinderella's Castle

So what's the inspiration today, you ask?

Take time to enjoy those you treasure and love!

Always be in the moment!

And...

Wishes are more powerful than you could imagine!

I take every wish-purtunity I can! Hey, it never hurts!

Kisses,

K

(All images property of Krista Carson)

Memorial Day

(Fiancé killed in Iraq in February 2007)

 

 

Lest we forget to remember and honor the price of our freedom in this country I call home... Thank you to those who make freedom free, your sacrifice is one of the highest honors ever to be bestowed on one's country and fellow countrymen.

In Grattitude,

K

(Image via Themcglynn.com)