c u r r e n t l y . . .

I've loved doing these 'currently' posts. Not only is it something for people to get caught up on, it's something that I can look back on to see what I was doing and what was going on at that time. I looked back on a few of them recently and at times, it's been like, "Oh wow. Who is this person?" and it's just been a crazy thing to look at. Seriously though, I love it.

Making : Essential oil concoctions. I recently signed up for Young Living and am LOVING the benefits from the oils and using more natural products around my home. I'm kind of obsessed now. Let me know if you want to become obsessed too!

Cooking : Sauteed veggies! Soooo many sauteed veggies! Mushroom, peppers, and zucchini sauteed in coconut oil with some thyme, sage, pepper, and onion powder. Mmm!

Eating : Lots and lots of kiwi and blueberries. I recently started the FODMAP diet due to my tummy issues and so far, it seems to be working. These two fruits are some on 'the good list' that I love.

Drinking : More water. Since starting my massage job, all they serve is water. Hy-Vee serves so many other drinks that it's easy to choose something other than water.

Reading : Lots and lots of posts about essential oils. I'm still so new to them and just want to learn all the things!

Watching : Once Upon a Time and Inside Out is on repeat. Thanks to me, of course.

Wanting : More oils. There's just about a million (not really, but almost) different oils and cleaners that I want to try but don't have moneys. You should see the list I have on stuff I want to order. It's kind of ridiculous.

Playing : The game 2048. I. Love. It. So. Much. If you don't want to get addicted, I highly recommend not playing it.

Wishing : For another puppy. I have been looking at chiweenie pictures, waiting for the time to be right so I can get another furbaby.

Enjoying : Life. So many wonderful things have happened since I last posted. I bought a new car which I love. I honestly don't think I'll ever get another vehicle besides a Kia ever again. I graduated college with an Associates degree in Massage Therapy (woop woop!) and have a big girl job at Massage Envy. I'm saving up to buy my own house in my hometown. Things are just going very well!

Waiting : For all my stuff that I ordered to come in. I feel like I'm constantly waiting on oils or crystals to come in. I recently ordered Pocahontas and am so stoked for it to get here. Come on, postal service!

Trying : To not be such a procrastinator. Or so flaky. I know I am. I know my faults. I acknowledge them.

Needing : To do more yoga. I've seriously been slackin'.

Smelling : Bath and Bodyworks aromatherapy scent 'Stress Relief Eucalyptus Tea.' I don't think I could ever tire of that scent.

Feeling : Content. There's things that I wish would hurry up and happen or things I wish I could change, but I'm content knowing that everything will happen when it needs to and that everything is in God's hands. His plan is more important than mine.

Thinking : That I need to stop being such a night owl and start being more of a morning person.

Knowing : That I'm right where I want to be.

-Kristina

Graduation is near!

This is something that I am so incredibly excited for : GRADUATION. I have constantly been in school since my parents first enrolled me in Kindergarten, so that fact that graduation is creeping up is something I am overjoyed about.

December 18th of this year is when I finally graduate and become a Licensed Massage Therapist and can start working to become a Certified Pre-Natal and Labor Doula. Words cannot explain how excited I am to open my business and start doing even more good in this world.

These are things I have long since dreamed of dating back to when I was that little kid in Kindergarten. Helping and comforting people is what I love to do and I'm so happy that my dream is finally becoming a reality.

People. Stuff like this is possible. Hard work truly does pay off when you let it.

Sincerely,

            Kristina

The End Goal for My Career

This is something that I've been thinking about for a long time and is something that I've changed my mind about probably a million times. When I was little the answers went along the lines of doctor and veterinarian and back then, I really wasn't far off from what it is now.

I always knew that I wanted to go into health care of some kind whether it be people or animals. I have jumped from profession to profession, college to college before I actually figured out what I really wanted to do. My majors went from Nursing to Occupational Therapy to Undecided to finally landing on Massage Therapy. Funny thing is, that isn't my end goal. My dream profession would be... Wait for it...

Massage Therapy, Doula, and a Midwife.

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With Massage Therapy, the profession is build your own schedule. It's something that I love to do because I know it helps people. It's something that I can work with and can open doors to being a Doula and Midwife.

With being a Doula, I've known for years that this is something that I want to do. I love pregnancy. I love pregnant people. I love the birthing process. I know that this is something that I'm going to be in love with and enjoy doing for the rest of my life. I can't wait to dive in to get my certification.

With being a Midwife, this is the last thing I'll go to school for. I know for sure that I want to do the other two, but this one is sort of my pipe dream if I have the proper funds to do. Everything about pregnancy and birth from being a doula would apply here. I love everything to do with it.

I know that all of these things go hand in hand and I'm so happy they do. I love all aspects about all of these things. Health care and holistic professions is what I now know that I have to and want to do. Although I'm still in the beginning stages of my career path, I'm excited as to where I'm going to end up.

If you have any tips for me on any of these things, be sure to leave a comment below!


Kristina.

C U R R E N T L Y . . .

Hello again! I hope you all are having a wonderful year so far. I don't want to jinx it, but this Midwest weather is slowly becoming wonderful. Come on, Spring! Come here! Come here! Come here!

This month was a weird one for me. I'm slowly starting to become happier and realizing the most wonderful things that life has to offer. Given how I've looked at and experienced the past few years, this feeling and revelation is different and new and I'm welcoming every bit of it. In this new light, these are the things I am currently experiencing.

Making : life improvements. I'm starting to change my way of thinking about everything and being more positive and more happy. This time I'm trying to improve my ways of thinking, it's working and I'm liking it.

Wanting : my room at home, but for a weird reason. Back home, my room is in the basement. I've been wanting to do more exercise that has to do with cardio and jumping and whatnot, but I don't want to disturb my neighbors downstairs.

Needing : to find a new church. Mine went through some major pastor changes and the new one are changing the way that it's always been done. I'm more of an old fashioned church service type of person and I don't like where the pastors are taking the church. Words cannot explain how sad this makes me.

Thinking : about graduation from college. It's so close, yet so far away.

Feeling : Peaceful and happy. The new outlook that I have mentioned many times is helping with the anxiety and depression. I haven't felt like this in years.

Smelling : flower scented candles. I am more than ready for Spring to be here.

Cooking : Baby bella mushrooms. My favorite thing to fix into everything that I make.

Drinking : Cherry Coke Zero. I can't seem to kick the soda and I am obsessed with this stuff.

Reading : Better Homes and Gardens magazine. It's like a paper Pinterest. I can't stop.

Giggling : at the cute little old people and children who come into work. they make my heart happy.

Wishing : for rain. Bring on the rain.

Enjoying : my pets. Addie and Quinny are so cute. Hedge and Puppy have been eating dinner at the exact same time every night for over two weeks.

Wasting: time. The end of my school quarter is coming up and I have a million things to do. I don't know where to start

Waiting : rather impatiently to move home. I just want to be in my home at my work with my friends. I need stability for a little while.

Liking : crafting. I don't have much time to do it, but enjoy it when I have time.

Loving : worshiping and praying. I think becoming closer to God is making my shift for a happier and healthier life a lot easier. Loving me some Jesus!

Knowing : that I get to go home this weekend makes my day all that much better.

What are you currently up to?

Have a blessed day!

              Kristina

C U R R E N T L Y . . .

Here's to starting off the new year! Sorry I've been absent. Being a working person in college with other obligations gets the best of a person from time to time. But anywho. I've been seeing these " Currently " posts going around and absolutely love them, so here I am posting one myself. I will try to get one up at the beginning of each month, but I obviously can't make any promises with those curveballs life has been throwin'..

Making : goals and hopefully this year, I'll be better at sticking to them. I like to say I'll do things, but then other stuff comes up, attention is shifted, and the original goals go on the back burner for a little while. It's something I'm trying to improve on.

Wanting : to move home. I haven't really made a post on how living in Sioux Falls is going, but it's not going the way I hoped it would.

Needing : to buy groceries. My apartment has like, almost no food. I'm living off spaghetti and Pibb Xtra at the moment.

Thinking : about the future. I'm trying to figure out where I want to live and what I want to do after I graduate in about a year. My brain is on overload.

Feeling : Frantic, yet calm. There is so much going on in my life right now that my mind is like the energiser bunny, but I've also been doing yoga almost everyday to try to level out everything and it has seriously been helping when I need it to.

Smelling : Target's Autumn Harvest candle. It's my absolute favorite for the fall and winter time and stock up when it goes on sale. This candle needs to stay in my life.

Cooking : Healthier food. I've been wanting to be healthier for a while now and so far this year, I've been doing pretty good. Woo hoo!

Drinking : Lots of water, both regular and infused. This goes with that healthy thing I was talking about.

Reading : books for school. This quarter, I'm taking the most classes I have ever taken in the history of being in college. Reading too much for school burns me out for free reading.

Giggling : at Addie. That dog is just about the funniest little thing. She keeps my spirits up.

Wishing : for spring. Oh, how I love the springtime.

Enjoying : the quiet of my apartment. I'm moving back home with my family in March and with my siblings, Lord knows I won't get this much quiet till I move out again.

Wasting: way too much time watching CSI: Miami on Netflix.

Waiting : to do my homework. I have specific times to do it and don't like to do it any other time. My down time is very important.

Liking : Green peppers. I n e v e r liked them when I was younger but a few months ago, I tried them in a stir-fry dish my mom made and now I can't get enough of them.

Loving : Better Homes and Gardens magazine. That magazine is like the paper Pinterest for home decor and recipes. How could you not love it?

Knowing : that 2015 will be a pretty big year. I get to move home (which I'm obviously happy about), me and my family are finally going an a big family vacation which will result in my very first airplane ride, and my estimated graduation date is December. Be awaiting those posts, my friends.

What are you currently up to this year? I love to know how you guys are doing!

              Kristina

#Blogtober14 Day 18 // Share a Secret...

This prompt is super hard. I tend to be a pretty open person, so coming up with a secret is really hard. Without further adieu, here is my b i g secret!

I'm thinking about launching some kind of homemade product. Details aren't for sure and I'm not even certain if I want to do it or not..

I'd love any sort of feedback on what to do or if you have your own products or business!

Tomorrow's prompt: What Makes You Happy

Much love,

        Kristina

Blogtober14 // If I Won the Lottery...

Oh my goodness! It's finally October! October is easily my favorite month out of the year. I don't like the cold, but I simply love watch the season change from summer to fall. It's so beautiful.

So I decided a while ago that I was going to find a link-up for October and write a blog post every single day since I don't like doing the typical "30 day blah-dee-blah" stuff. This month, the link-up comes from Taylor Grace Wolfe and HeleneInBetween.

The first prompt is "If I Won the Lottery..."

Since I work in a gas station, getting asked what I'd do with the winnings is something I'd get asked on a regular basis. One customer told me a story about how he put his numbers in 15 minutes after the drawing and wouldn't you know it, his numbers got drawn. Just his luck, right? But anyway it got my thinking. What would I do if I won the lottery?

The first thing I'd do is pay off all of my student loans. That is my biggest concern now and would still be my biggest concern when I won the lottery. Knowing that I wouldn't have to worry about them would be a huge relief.

Secondly, I'd buy myself a new car, a Ford Fusion to be exact, and a smallish-sized house that I can fix up and call my own. These things may sound lame to some people, but even thinking about someday being debt-free and financially stable gives me such a sound mind.

And lastly, I'd go on vacation; One place with my family and then travel Europe with my best friend. Travelling is something I hardly get to do at all anymore and I have so many things that I want to see and experience: London, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Australia. The list goes on and on.

What would you spend your lotto winnings on? A vacation? A house? Maybe even investing? Let me know below! I'm so curious to read your answers!

Here is the list of daily prompts!

Much love,
        Kristina

Bucket List: Part 3 of 9

Here is yet another portion of my bucket list. Having a bucket list and completing stuff on it is completely do-able. These whole whopping 9 pages so far is proof. It can be done! The bold ones are completed!

51. Feed a giraffe
52. Meet someone from the Harry Potter cast
53. Get married
54. Have a baby
55. Get my belly button pierced
56. Make out with someone with Pop Rocks in my mouth
57. Stay at a Bed & Breakfast
58. Get all the tattoos I've always wanted
59. Finish a tube of chapstick
60. Try Chicago Style Pizza in Chicago
61. Get a white ink tattoo
62. Celebrate Mardi Gras in New Orleans
63. Watch the full sunset
64. Not be single on Valentine's Day
65. Ride the London Eye
66. Visit Toronto, Ontario, Canada
67. Jump fully clothed into a pool/body of water
68. Tie dye a shirt
69. Sleep in an underwater hotel
70. Conquer my fear of heights
71. Learn how to play cello
72. Explore a rain forest
73. Learn fluent sign language
74. Pet a giraffe
75. Touch a sting/manta ray

Bucket List: Part 2

This is a continuation of my bucket list. You can scroll down further to see "Part 1". Bolded stuff has been done. Hope this inspires you! :)

26. Get a Harry Potter tattoo
27. Go to London
28. Go to Germany
29. Meet Jenna Marbles
30. Visit the Titanic Wreck Site
31. Get my re-nose pierced
32. Have sex on a beach
33. Learn fluent German
34. See a Broadway show
35. Go on an ice cream date
36. Adopt a hedgehog
37. Get a bird tattoo
38. Study abroad
39. Go to Ireland
40. Visit Ground Zero
41. Watch Disney movies all day
42. Become a nurse
43. Have a paint fight
44. Have a mud fight
45. Be a surrogate for someone that needs it
46. Ride on a subway in New York City
47. Learn how to waterfall braid
48. Put a piece of gum on the "Gum Wall" in Seattle
49. Crowd surf
50. See Mumford and Sons live


















Deathly Hallows tattoo on the inside of my left ankle


















My hedgehog, Arri Jean Minerva :)














When we went to New York City, we got to see Mary Poppins and Phantom of the Opera

Bucket List

So, yet again, I've been neglecting my blog. Oops. I'm honestly trying to get better at it. Swear. But anywho. People are always like, "Oh, I wanna do this!" And then never proceed to do it. Or people on their death bed are like, "Oh, I wish I did this." I don't want to be that type of person. I actually sat down a couple of nights ago and made out my bucket list. I have a whopping 214 things and out of that 214, I've done 48. I'm on a roll so far. Tonight, I'm gonna share my bucket list. I'll be updating from time to time to show, "Hey, I'm following through!" So here's some inspiration. I'll put up 25 at a time.The bolded ones are completed. :)

1. Watch all the Harry Potter movies in one day
2. Try sushi
3. See Big Ben
4. See the Eiffel Tower
5. Kiss underwater
6. Watch "The Ball" drop from Times Square
7. Visit all 50 states
8. Take a kissing picture in a photo booth
9. Be a part of a flash mob
10. Meet Demi Lovato
11. Attend a gay wedding
12. Graduate college
13. Perform on stage
14. Volunteer at an animal shelter
15. Learn to play piano
16. Learn to play guitar
17. Go to New York
18. Go to California
19. Adopt a pit bull
20. Go to Hollywood
21. Visit Walk of Fame
22. Shop in New York
23. Go ziplining
24. Overcome depression and anxiety
25. Find and return someone's lost pet

 The view from our hotel room in Anahiem, California. Will definitely go back here.

 In New York:) I'm going back here too. Mark my words.

Backstage in the Auditorium before performing for Madrigal. Seniors! I'm lower right in the magenta dress

Graduating and such..

As of May 20, 2012, I am officially out of high school. It's the best and possibly one of the scariest things ever. Graduating high schools means a few things; I'm done with one chapter in my life, and can start another, but it also means it's time to grow up. Like Peter Pan, I don't know if i'm ready to grow up just yet. I don't know if I'm ready to leave everyone. I've gone to school with most of these kids since pre-school, and next fall, most of them will be gone. As much as I didn't agree with a lot of them, I'll miss them a lot. Don't you remember being in elementary school and think, "Gee, I can't wait till I'm all grown up!" Little did we know what we'd have to go through and how scary it would be when it actually got here. Being little, we didn't think about all the hard work, drama, happiness, pain, or awkward moments leading up to graduation day. I am guessing I speak for most when I say I'll be missing the luxury of home, at least a little. I mean come on. Not always having to pay for things, seeing your friends whenever, givin' some love to the animals, using your own shower, blah blah blah. Most people are going away for college so therefore, parents won't be easily accessible. For a select few, their parents are their best friends, so college will be extra difficult... Poor souls. Personally, college is what I need right now. Some time off to mend relationships with my family, and some time for those relationships to keep growing. Growing up and leaving is scary, but I know it's something I need to do. Graduating high school took a long time. Don't forget the people and the memories. And most importantly, do what's best for you and don't forget the important people at home. Here's to the Class of 2012! Good luck guys!

P.S. Sorry for the randomness of sentences and such of this blog. I had a lot to fit in and didn't want to write a novel.