What I'm Thankful For This Thanksgiving

Good Day All!

I hope everyone is enjoying their week! Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner, I thought I would share some of the things that I am grateful for this Thanksgiving. These past couple years have been such an eye opening journey. I am so thankful for the many family and friends that stood by me when things were tough and uncertain. Without the consistent love and support of my family, I don't think I would be on my successful path that I am on today. Going back to school was a big choice, I knew it was the right thing for me to do so that I could continue to serve my purpose in this world. On my righteous path, I grew to understand, love and accept myself. I knew that nothing could stand in my way of my goals and dreams for what I wanted in my life. So continuing on my path, I bumped into someone unexpected, and found comfort and a great companion to grow with in life.

Each day, I felt my life had little miracles and allowing myself to see each day as precious became the norm. As I live each and everyday like this, I never take advantage, sulk less, savor small moments, and see each person I talk to as a friend. By turning my impatience into charm and friendliness at the checkout counter, I can even create kind chit chatter. See, I may be in a hurry, but you never know what is happening in another persons life, so I choose to be kind and considerate. I am thankful for my patience and good will for another human being. It doesn't matter where you live; Montanna, New York, Tokyo, or Paris, we are all connected and treat one another with good intention. I am thankful for being able to attain a degree so that I can help achieve success for future generations and be hopeful that I can inspire others to do the same in life.

I'm thankful for my warm bed, delicious food I eat to nurture my body each day, and my health. Without all this, I would not be functioning at my utmost potential. I am also thankful for my upcoming marriage and my family and additional family! This has been a great year! I have so much to be thankful for!

Holiday Gift Guide: What to Get Him

Hi Guys!

I didn't forget about you!  Sometimes you are hard to shop for. Every time I try to shop for my fiancé, I feel like I could have done better in my gifting ideas. He recently just purchased the latest and greatest XBox One for himself. I do not really know about that complicated game console. I just knew he was ecstatic when news broke out about its upcoming release date. I previously got him a game about a year back. I will never do that again. Not that I don't want to get him what he wants, I just don't want to regret it when he gets in his man cave. So that being said, I think I will purchase some things that make him look good and anything other than a video game. Here are some things for your guy that you may like.

Anything Nike.
Men enjoy getting a good workout in. Why not get him a great pair of
running shoes or the Fuel band. Workout gear is another essential. The North Face tech gloves are nice for the cold winter months. They don't have to take off their gloves to use their phone.

How about a nice fragrance for him? Tom Ford has some pretty nice ones along with Burberry Touch and Hermes. The Art of Shaving always has some great shaving kits for the man on your list. They may need it to shave their mustaches or beards off from No Shave November. Thank you!

Cuff links are another option. Bonobos is a nice men's line that my fiancé likes. Technology is a man's world. Anything Apple, Microsoft, and phone inspired will sure put a smile on his face. Ray Bans are classic sunglasses for him. These are just a few ideas to help you get started. Good luck!

http://www.thenorthface.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TNFLocaleSelectionForm?storeId=10005

http://www.ray-ban.com/usa/

http://www.kiehls.com/MEN/men,default,sc.html

Men's Fragrance:

http://www.sephora.com/fragrance-gifts-gift-value-sets-men


The Art of Shaving:

http://www.theartofshaving.com

Nike:

http://www.nike.com/us/en_us/

Apple:

http://www.apple.com


Microsoft:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/default.aspx

The North Face:

http://www.thenorthface.com/en_US/

Bonobos Link:

http://www.bonobos.com

Style and Grace: Remembering John and Jacqueline Kennedy

Hello There!

I wanted to devote this page to John and Jacqueline Kennedy. She has been one of my icons for a very long time and was such a remarkable woman. She is the epitome of style, class and grace. I don't know how she went through such a horrific tragedy in such a public spotlight. I have always been intrigued by this woman! Jackie O.  had such an off set balance with conservative wear for the presidency gatherings, but she also went boho in capris and babushkas. Even style magazine's have given a " type" of Jackie O persona in fashion. I not only applaud her exquisite taste in dress, her manners and grace are moving. I'm not putting down society today, but why must we give attention to people who don't exhibit exceptional manners and noteworthy contribution?

 Has society fallen so low as to give money and attention to people who are rude, egotistical and only care about themselves? I hope as a society we can see the true role models and weed out the bad. I hope reality television becomes a fad and we don't hold these people on high pedestals for doing nothing for society but profiting for themselves.  Hey, I'm all for a capitalistic economy, but contribute  to some worthy cause for our nation! I'm not trying to be tasteless or tacky in my words by putting down others, I just don't see people as being exceptional or remembered for their generous deeds. Let's remember the class acts and repeat those great people in history! So today, in remembrance of John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie, for serving our society and trying to make America a better place. Salute!

Inspired by Kristen: Holiday Gift Guide: What to Get The Lovely Ladies

Inspired by Kristen: Holiday Gift Guide: What to Get The Lovely Ladies: Hello There! Next on my idea board would be the ladies in your family. This female can be your sister, girlfriend, cousin, or whoever is...

Holiday Gift Guide: What to Get The Lovely Ladies

Hello There!

Next on my idea board would be the ladies in your family. This female can be your sister, girlfriend, cousin, or whoever is in the demographic of 16-30. There, I made my point. Here are some ideas that I loved and are on my wish list this holiday season. Laura Mercier makes the best fragrances and candles this time of year! The body lotions and bubble baths are to die for:) I like the Ambre Vanilla, Creme Brûlée  and Creme De Pistache. Yum!  Another fragrance that is super up and coming is the Bond Number 9 fragrances. These perfumes have their own little story and are named after the Burroughs and hot spots in New York City. So many to choose from!

Why not buy a nice pair of  Frye boots for her? They are well crafted and she will wear them for years to come. Lauderee Paris makes the cutest little macaroons to eat while sipping hot tea. Hunter Boots are great for the slush filled streets come January and February. Come to think of it, year round use!  A traditional Burberry scarf would come in handy each Fall and Winter season.  If those ideas aren't for her, a gift certificate to a spa or a nice dinner works just as nice. I hope some of my ideas inspired you on your gifting adventures. Don't get too crazy out there!

Laduree Link:

http://www.laduree.com/en/maisons/monde-details

Bond No 9 Link:


http://www.bondno9.com

Burberry:

http://www.burberry.com



Hunter Boots:

http://usa.hunter-boot.com


Laura Mercier Link:

http://www.lauramercier.com/store/home.jsp

Frye Boots Link:
http://www.thefryecompany.com/womens-boots

Word of the Day: Perseverance

Hello All!

Today, I just wanted to talk about the term Perseverance. We're using that word a great deal in my  3rd grade classroom. This term has been used throughout my life and along my path. Every time I hit a door that wouldn't open right away, I kept the courage inside myself to keep trudging along. I had so many ideas and goals I saw for myself. I just couldn't exactly pinpoint what my purpose was right away. I wanted to try any and every opportunity.  I used to be so frustrated with myself because I knew I was talented and creative, I just didn't feel like I was aligned completely.

For instance, I love design and art. My dream job in my early 20's was to work at The Merchandise Mart in a grand showroom like Holly Hunt or Waterworks Design firm. I dreamt I was in some magical Marketing position working around top interior designers showcasing the newest materials and most coveted designs. In reality, I worked as an intern at The Merchandise Mart, working completely for free only to receive a measly certificate. I was sadly turned down by any dream job. At the end of my wishful internship, I thought networking my way around the office would help me a bit. I met with the CEO of Merchandise Mart Properties, telling me that the economic downturn of 2008 caused a major freeze in hiring anyone for a long sustained period of time. I felt defeated, and walked home in disappointment. But, I never did give up. While in Chicago, I tried and tried to "make" my career happen.

As I looked back, I don't feel like a fool or regret any of my choices. I want to pat myself on the back and give myself a gold star. I took an unpaid job and used my networking skills to market my abilities and meet with many busy executives.  During that difficult time, I never gave up on myself. I never blamed anyone or sulked. I moved on.

Yes, that door didn't open for me, but others did. As I looked back, all those  experiences made me, Kristen.  I remember my persistence in that time period in my life. That made me strong. So, I didn't fail, I persevered. To me, that shows my strong character. Sometimes doors aren't  meant to be opened in our lives. We have to turn around and look for the door that's right for each one of us. If you haven't found what your looking for, keep knocking until you find the right one for you.

Stay strong!

The Holidays are Almost Here: Gift Ideas for Tots!

Hello Everyone!

Since it's November, I thought I would get into the holiday spirit by giving you a taste of the cutest gifts I have recently spotted. Here's some cute gifts for babies and children! If I could have been born in the 21st century, I would have been the most stylish and techy kid on the block. Since I'm a teacher, I have been in the children's book section of the bookstore for quite awhile. Let me tell you, bookstores sell much more than just an ordinary book. It's like a mini FAO Schwarz in there! I noticed so many cool innovations since I've been researching children's books. Wow, I must say, I was born at the wrong time! Gosh! There are so many great ideas out there!   The marketing  on these packages are cleverly written and in today's world, an innovator must find their niche market to sell these baby products.

One product that struck my eye was this pacifier called a Wubba Nub.  It's literally a pacifier with a plush baby animal connected to it. This pacifier helps calm a child not just sucking it, but the sensory touching of the plush animal helps relieve the child. Clever! It comes in all sorts of animal species including a giraffe, sheep, elephant, monkey and dog. Now I know what to buy for  future baby showers! It's a two for one deal! Another innovation that I found really neat was by a French manufacturer called  the Sophie giraffe. This giraffe also has baby books about Sophie the Giraffe! The child uses all there five senses for this little toy. I recently stepped into a children's store called Giggle in New York. I set aside the link for you. Remember, if these don't suit you, I've recommended great Children's Books in my past blogs. Get creative with your gift giving this year! Who is the hardest person to shop for on your list? Who needs ideas or suggestions? Please comment! Thanks!


A Few of My Favorite Sites:

FAO Schwarz Link:

http://www.fao.com/home/index.jsp


Giggle Link:

http://www.giggle.com


Wubba Nub Link:

http://www.wubbanub.com/home.html

Sophie The Giraffe Link:

http://sophiegiraffeusa.com

Trumpette Socks:


http://www.trumpette.com/socks.html

Inspired by Kristen: November Children's Book: The Dot

Inspired by Kristen: November Children's Book: The Dot: Hello There! I love this book! This book is called The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. This book. Is about a Kindergartener named Vashti. Vash...

November Children's Book: The Dot

Hello There!

I love this book! This book is called The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. This book. Is about a Kindergartener named Vashti. Vashti is seemingly frustrated one day in her art class. Her teacher just tells her to mark her paper and see where it takes her. This one dot inspires her in so many magnificent ways! This is a great book for children ages 5-9 in their self discovery phase. All children need a creative outlet to calm their mind and take brain breaks in between their academia. The Dot is a perfect story to tell before an art lesson. It takes away all the expectations and worry of trying to create and allows students to have fun! It's usually in life's unexpected circumstances that we find our true purpose and life's greatest accomplishments. You will truly find this petite book filled with mammoth life lessons for your kiddos. Love it!



Author's Link:

http://www.peterhreynolds.com/dot/

Holiday Gift Guide: Mom Would Love This!

Hello Everybody!

The holidays are almost here! I thought I would give you some inspiration about what to give each  person this Holiday Season. Since I'm going though ideas for each person in your family, I'm going to start with gifts to give your mom. I don't know about you, but whenever I think of mothers, I think of someone's who is always thinking about her home. She loves design and all the neat trinkets that are in it!  C.Wonder is this great little store I went to  based in New York City. They have the cutest lacquer boxes for the home, bowls of pretty prints, picture frames and other fun things. They also have some adorable cutting boards and bamboo inspired cheese serving knives. Restoration Hardware has soft and cozy robes, fur throws and candles. Jo Malone has great gift boxes for your mother filled with candles and fragrance too! Tom Ford Santal Blush is a soft smelling fragrance for moms everywhere. David Yurman has some beautiful bracelets and rings if you want to splurge. These are just a few of my favorite things for the holiday season.So don't get frustrated this holiday season, get inspired! What gifts did you give that your mom loved? 


C.Wonder Link:

http://www.cwonder.com

Restoration Hardware link:

http://www.restorationhardware.com

David Yurman Link:

http://www.davidyurman.com

Jo Malone Link:

http://www.jomalone.com

Style Daily: Dot, Dot, Dot... Polka Dots!

Hello Everyone,

I want to talk about a fashion statement that I recently really liked. Polka Dots! Yes, sometimes polka dots can look loud and eye popping. There is a way to wear this look in a polished classic look. A simple polka dot sweater with jeans looks ultra casual and put together. You could also switch out the jeans for a more professional look opting for a little black pencil skirt. Remember to wear your black opaque tights this winter! I recently saw a super cute lace skirt combined with the polka dot inspiration. So many choices! I am really loving mixing different fabric prints to achieve a non-uniform look. Mixed prints can be magnificent to the eye. I love observing other peoples style. We are all pieces of art on the busy streets! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder! What are some things that you find alluring this season?