March 16, 2018

The interesting part about an old blog is that you find yourself coming back to it over and over. I never got into writing or blogging to become blog famous. I never thought that was a possibility for a Missouri girl like me - I just wrote because I loved it. Last August I started #wlovekimberly and it has been an amazing, driving force in my life. I bought the domain, I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish, and I get to write about them as I plan/do them. It's pretty great! It's also not a place that I can just write about what's going on in my life and head at any given moment, and I think that's why I found myself back here in my old stomping grounds. After all, I am still KDinKC.

I won't try to catch up on everything that's happened over the past year, because that just seems crazy, but here are some of my favorite 2018 highlights [in pictures, of course]:
B and I celebrated 4 whole years of marriage, the Chiefs made the playoffs [and lost], I lost 30 pounds, Carl and Aniston both turn 3 within the next 6 weeks, and Cami is about 1.5 now. Shelby moved back to Kansas City and bought a house. Ben and I booked a trip to Europe and leave on June 6.

Work is really tough this year. Not only is this class of 8th graders quite the group, but there have been a lot of growing pains personally as I try to navigate teaching curriculum, test scores, and learning more about the people I work with. New work relationships have formed, while others have fallen apart since August. I'm not upset. I'm growing, I'm learning, and I'm figuring out what's best for me... but it's hard. I miss my old school and the community/love. I struggle with that because I loved it there and left for the "better district," and what I'm finding is that it's only better on paper. I know that I'm in a good place, I've met wonderful people, and I also know that you "can't go back," but I wonder if Cameron was where I should have stayed sometimes.

Aside from that, Ben and I are in the thick of planning our trip to Europe. We've booked most of our big transportation and are researching hotels/hoping to book lodging by the end of the month. Our schedule right now looks like this--
KC -- Toronto -- Rome 06/09
- Flight to Toronto @ 4:25p
- Flight to Rome @ 9:10p
Rome: 06/10-06/15
        - Train to Naples [day trip on 6/11]
        - Train to Florence/Piza [day trip on 6/13]
- Flight to Nice @ 1:00p on 06/15
Nice/Monaco: 06/15-06/18
- Flight to Paris @ 2:55p on 06/18
Paris: 06/18-06/23
        - Train to London [day trip on 6/20]
Paris -- Chicago -- KC 06/23
- Flight to Chicago @ 11:15a
- Flight to KC @ 3:50p

We originally had planned to stay in Naples for a couple days, but after doing some research have decided to just make that a day trip since it is only a 1 hour train ride from Rome. The reviews of a lot of the hotels were less than amazing and I've heard numerous things about dangerous areas. Instead we're going to take a day trip to explore, grab pizza, and visit Pompeii as well.

I've started making a basic packing list. We're hoping to stay in an AirBnB during our time in Nice. This way we can have a washing machine and do laundry and re-wear our clothes for the second half of the trip. The plan is to check only 1 suitcase and each have a carry-on back pack. I'll update more on that next time because I have lunch plans here in about 20 minutes!

Ciao!

30 BEFORE 30 [2017]

I posted this list in October 2014. I'm just now "re-finding" it and now I am a year and a half from turning 30. I thought I'd re-visit it and try to find motivation to keep up from now on. :)

FIT LIFE

Make self care a priorty [eating habits, skin, etc.] (in progress)
Walk/run at least one 5K per year (0/2)
Drink nothing but water for 30 days (__)
Find a medication remedy to maintain my health/skin [and sanity] (X)
Plant a vegetable/herb garden [and eat from it!] (__)

FULFILLING LIFE

Achieve inner peace with my medical condition (__)
Buy a journal and complete Keri Smith's 100 Ideas (__)
Volunteer 30 hours (__)
Pay it forward at least once a month [coffee, cards, etc.] (0/18)
Turn off Facebook for at least one month (__)

TRAVEL LIFE

Go on five mini-vacations (0/2 [Branson in June])
Visit New Orleans (__)
Take another cruise (__)
Go on a roadtrip to HOUSTON (X)
Visit a friend who lives out of state (X)

NERD LIFE
Continue my education [Doctorate, Certificate, etc.] (__)
Earn my state Special Education certification (X)
Read 50 new books (0/15)
Grow my blog [followers, dot com, etc.] (in progress - Let's Taco 'Bout It)
Complete a Project 365 (in progress)

REAL LIFE

Become a mother (X [Nessie])
Get caught up on all my scrapbooking (__)
Go fishing for the first time as an adult (X)
Put together a cookbook of my favorite/mastered recipes (__)
Buy a house (X)
Send 20 handwritten notes/cards to family or friends (0/10)
Tour a local winery (__)
Have an EPIC 30th birthday party (__)
Learn to drive a manual car (__)
Host a holiday meal (X)

2017 thus far

Keeping up with this blog hasn't been something I've focused on lately, just because I've been limiting my openness to the world while I struggle through some things. Today, though, I sat down and I realized that if I don't at least update every once in a while, I won't have my commentary on the events later when I want to look back. I don't share this blog with anyone anymore, it's just for me, but I think it's something I'd like to do anyway.

2017 has been a challenge so far. I did well on my weight-loss journey until about a month ago. I meal planned, prepped, and dropped 15 pounds in 2 months. Since then, I can admit, I've become a little lazy. Working out is hard. Eating well is hard. I'm trying to jump on the band wagon again, because I've officially gained 2 pounds back and it's not sitting well with me.

  

The Chiefs made the playoffs again this year. With records finishing the way they did, the Chiefs ended up earning a first round BYE week and a home game for the second week. They ended up falling short at the last moments of the game, but it was a great experience and I got to see some good friends in the process.

  

February brought some fun things like having my phone featured on the KMBC9 NEWS website, celebrating 4 years since shaving my head, and the third installment of the Red Queen series coming out.

  

At the end of February, I took a long weekend and went to Houston, TX with my friend Shelby to continue my search of the perfect taco, visit NASA, and try Texas BBQ. It was a fun weekend, and it allowed me to really reflect on my life and what I'm doing personally and professionally.

  

Jumping forward a couple weeks, I had an entire week off from school for Spring Break. In addition to starting a new medicine, and relaxing around the house, I took a day trip to my favorite place [Columbia, MO] to eat/visit campus/hike Devil's Ice Box, celebrated St. Patrick's Day in Westport, and celebrated both my dad's 70th birthday and my goddaughter's 2nd.

 

  

I also was able to watch my girl Katie tie the knot recently. We met when we both got jobs in Cameron, MO and have kept in touch since both leaving last year. I miss this crew/seeing them daily.

  

Last, but not least, I went on a ride around the Robinson farm in their tractor. What an experience...

Wrapping 2016

   

 

I spent a better part of my snow day yesterday trying to upload all the photos I took over Christmas break to share with you. I made a number of beautiful memories with friends, old and new. With that said, I also didn't think you guys would want to look at 100 pictures and read about random Christmas parties that you weren't there for. So instead, I chose my favorites and we'll tackle something else.

We went back to school on Wednesday (yup, we had ONE day of class and then a snow day), and on their first day back, I had students fill out a "BEST YEAR" paper. This included a reflection of sorts on 2016, and then gave them them opportunity to make some goals for the coming calendar year. Because I was asking the kids to do this, I figured I would too so I could share my goals with them as they worked. It has been really fun to read through their goals, and to be honest, it really made me sit down and think about what mine could be!

One of the things I noted on my "BEST YEAR" paper was that I was looking forward to spending more effort on my overall health. As most who know me well already know, this isn't a new goal for 2017, as I've been trying to make this a priority for the last couple months. (It is amazing what looking at some recent formal photos of yourself will do). For Christmas, my mom/Santa was the bomb and bought me a Planet Fitness black membership. It comes with a lot of perks - massages, going to any branch of gym, tanning, etc. My goal is to go 3-4 times a week, and I'm tracking my workouts with both the FitBit app and the PF app. Additionally, water intake has been a major growth opportunity for me on this journey. I've been really trying to drink more, but it's been hard!! Knowing I'm a visual person (and I may have dropped a hint or 12), my best friend Shelby bought me this awesome water bottle that has times on it so you can pace your consumption throughout the day to hit your 64oz! Both my mom and Shelby bought me Crystal Light because they know how I feel about water! HAHA!

  

Overall, I would say that I definitely feel better physically now that I'm eating better, drinking water, and trying to stay active. When I started this after Thanksgiving, my first BIG goal was to lose 15lbs. I hit 12 this week, and I'm very excited. Considering the holidays are a time of indulgence, I'm so happy that I continued losing, even though I was having a cookie here and there, lol. I would like to lose these last 3lbs toward this goal in the next few weeks. After that, we'll set a new goal, not sure if that will be weight-centered or strength-centered though.

As we move into 2017, I'm looking forward to a lot of things. One of which is working to be more consistently update this blog - both for you and for myself. :)

XXO,

Kimberly

Here's to you, 2017

With the end of a calendar year comes the innate desire to reflect on the events passed. I've said this a a handful of times this year, but 2016 wasn't my best. Actually, the past year has been my hardest, ugliest yet. Many put-up-or-shut-up moments have taken place in the last 365 days. Many tears, many fights, many situations where there has been nobody around to pull me from my dark place but me. With that said, I have grown immensely in the past year as well. Some of my most important relationships have crumbled, while others have been fortified with gold many times over. People who I love have passed away, while other beautiful humans have been born. Pieces of my childhood have changed or ended, while accomplishments as an adult have been more rewarding than I could ever imagine. I have struggled in 2016, but I rise from the ashes at the promise of a great new year.

 

 

Thank you to each and every person who has shown me love or concern this year. I know that my depression can be a lot to handle (it definitely is for me), but your compassion and understanding are the most I could ever want or deserve. Your hugs (even though I hate them), answered text messages when I just need a friend, understanding when I don't communicate for weeks on end, and support as I reach to accomplish my goals despite it all are everything.

I usually end my "New Year" posts with my resolutions. (Do people actually keep these?) This year I'll do the same, but I'm going to keep it simple.
- Drink more water
- Eat more sandwiches
- Travel as much as possible
- Use the beauty filter less
- Turn my social media notifications off on my phone
- Love more

Happy New Year to you and yours,
Kimberly

5 Sleeps 'Til Christmas

It's hard to believe that 2016 is almost over. While a part of me can't believe it has gone so fast and wants time to slow down, a larger part of me knows that this year held a lot of heartache and is ready for a fresh start. With only five sleeps until Christmas (and one of the biggest Chiefs games of the year), excitement is high, but responsibilities are getting in the way of all the fun!! Here's a glimpse of the past week or so of life:

Trying to get in the Christmas spirit is easy when you visit my mom's house, get sweet gifts from students, or find your favorite childhood holiday treat at Target. :) We also had one of the coldest Chiefs games in history this past Sunday. While the weather (and the multiple layers) didn't lend themselves well to photo opportunities, we had a good time. Unfortunately, the Chiefs lost, which throws our playoff picture for a loop, but I'm still confident we will be in the post season!

  

  

The next few weeks are busy between the holidays, friends' birthdays, out-of-town friends coming home for Christmas, and Chiefs games. I'll be lucky if I make it out alive - HAHA!

I'm hoping to get back into some better posts here soon. Maybe when I have the time off from school! Only one more day!

We Made It!

This post may be boring for some, but being an educator is a huge part of who I am... so, we're going to go here anyway. As the holidays roll around, it's a balancing act between having fun at school and pulling teeth to get the students to focus. I'm pulling out stops like an "Advent Calendar" for my homeroom that we use to count down school days left until break, giving them candy each day when we pull the number down. I've been really blessed this year to receive cute gifts from a number of students varying from cookies, to candy, to Sonic Drinks, to decor. Middle school is so hard, but can be so rewarding.

Coming with this "new outlook" game plan I've got going on, not only have I been trying to eat better, be more active, etc., but I've been trying to put a little more effort into me as well. This has meant putting a little more time into how I look, spending time with friends, volunteering to help with various community causes, etc. I've also had a lot of fun shopping and wrapping some sweet gifts for my "marigolds" at PKMS.

   

Another really exciting thing that happened this week was PKMS' Show choir having their very first performance on Monday night. I volunteer my time with SC, really to hang out with Loriana (our choir director) and get to know kids that I don't have in class. I feel like helping out gives me a reach that I wouldn't have otherwise.

Their show this year is called "On Broadway" and it's the story of a high school graduate moving to New York to try to make it on Broadway, using songs from famous musicals. The kids did such a great job, we so cute, and they totally surprised me a with a poinsettia and a signed card. Truly the best, and I am so thankful to be a part of it.

  

I will have a bit more coming your way over the weekend/next week. The semester is wrapping up, and the Chiefs can clinch the playoffs!!

XXO.