Happy New Me!

Happy New Me

It has been quite some time since I posted to my personal adventure blog. So much has changed and I have experienced so much. I almost feel like I need to write a few posts just to play catch up. I just may. 

I want to start by saying I am in between two states. I call both Ohio and Georgia home. I have spent equal parts of the last year in both states, traveling back and forth, month to month. I met a wonderful person who has changed my life so much and she is part the catalyst for this back and forth life. 

I am working on a lot of changes in my life, while trying to to enjoy my life to the fullest. I expect that 2020 will be the craziest and most productive year of all. I am looking forward to picking up where I left off and sharing these changes and newest adventures in both homes and beyond with you.

Happy New Year!

Be Blessed! Be Free! Be Adventurous!

Kris,

Summer 2016

The summer was full of first experiences, mixed in with some familiar ones. I traveled near and far. I explored new territory. I partied like I was 21 again and payed for it for a month after. I didn't do a Spring/Summer to do list but I promised myself I would say yes to whatever people asked me to do that was logically and financially reasonable. While I am thinking about the plans for my Fall/Winter season, I thought I would highlight some of my favorite moments from my Spring/Summer 2016 seasons.

Comfest  2016

10. I planted the best garden yet.

I have been gardening for years but this year I worked harder than ever to create my dream garden. Too bad that I get bored with it after a while, but I tried to keep it weeded, well up until August this year. This has been the best yielding garden because I am still harvesting lettuce, tomatoes, green beans and beets. 

1. Beets by Kris 2. Heirloom tomatoes 3. My hand painted garden markers 4.Lettuce variety

9. I Visited Wylie the Walleye.

Sometimes you have to drive a couple hours away to eat a great fish sandwich. This was my second year visiting the Port Clinton Walleye Festival. I literally went for the sandwich and left, but the sandwich is so great that the trip deserved to be mentioned.

Dancing with Wylie the Walleye at the Walleye Festival in Port Clinton.

 

8. I Enjoyed Some Dirty Dancing.

After all of the back and fourth with the Janet Jackson Concert, is she or isn't she, I returned my tickets and used my credit toward two tickets to see Dirty Dancing the Musical on Broadway when they came to Columbus. I took the only other person who I thought would appreciate it, my sister. We were obsessed with the movie as kids. The show was pretty great!

Play Bill from Dirty Dancing

 
7.  I Got Trapped in the Room with a Zombie Again & then Again.

Even though I already did the first Trapped in the Room with a Zombie a few years ago, I did it again as a planned group event for my friend's birthday. Then I treated my sister to Trapped in a Room with a Zombie Part 2 (Still Hungry) a couple months later. Even though you know the zombies aren't real, it's such an adrenaline rush.

Still Hungry with my little sister

 
6. I faced my fear of power tools.

This summer I began making my own beads out of wood scrap from my friend's wood shop. I have used power tools several times but have always been a little anxious about it, fearing I would hurt myself. I am now very comfortable using a drill and hand sanders. I have created some of the best jewelry pieces I have ever made. I am now working on getting comfortable with the saws.

Necklace created with vintage and handmade beads.

5. I checked off another Columbus Food Adventure Tour.

I  have been obsessed with this company's food tours and food tours in general. Earlier this spring I crossed the Grandview Walking Tour off my list. I enjoyed it as I have the other tour itineraries, that Columbus Food Adventure's offers. 

Berries with balsamic and cream from the Oilerie. Columbus Food Adventures Grandview Walking Tour

4. I spent a day in Toledo.

I spent a day during the July 4, weekend in Toledo exploring the city. My trip included a few hours at the Toledo Zoo, a Hungarian hotdog from Tony Packo's original location, a flight of brews from Maumee Bay Brewing Co. and some smores at Maumee Bay State Park. It was one of the best Ohio day trips I have taken.

Toledo Zoo Aviary

3. I introduced my jewelry at Comfest.

We have been trying to get into this festival on and off for a few years. This year we were selected and we met so many cool people and made a few new contacts. Most important, we had a great time and sold some of our labors of love.

Our Global Gal Collection at Comfest

2.  I went on an Ohio Adventure and made new friends.

 I have always wanted to participate in a group event with others who love to explore Ohio. 
My sister and I had the pleasure of joining a meet up planned by My Ohio Adventure, 7Thirty8Apparel and The Campfire Experience. We hiked Slate Run trails, we explored Slate Run Historical Farm, checked out Rockmill Historical Park and ended the day drinking some brews at Rockmill Brewery. 
 

Rockmill Historical Park, Grist mill and bridge

1. I Partied in Brooklyn!

I try to take a trip out of the state at least once a year. This year I went to Brooklyn in celebration of my friend Christina's birthday. I won't get into it because I just recently posted about it here but it was the best event of my summer. I enjoyed spending time away from Ohio with my best friend. It was also great to meet so many creative, business minded people. I love the city almost as much as I love home.

Me in front of our AirBnB in Crown Heights Brooklyn

Until Next Time,

Be blessed! Be free! Be adventurous!
Kris,

2015 In the Rear View

I feel like this year has flown by so rapidly! As I get older, it seems like New Years Eve and birthdays come back to back, hardly giving me time to rest in between. The saying is that " time flies when you are having fun." So, I guess I must be enjoying my life. Well, I can certainly say I have had a good year but it has also had it's not so great moments. For quite some time now, I have tried to keep a positive attitude and go with the flow when ever possible. This year I didn't get to do everything I wanted to do but I did a lot. I am ever so grateful for the great things I got to experience but also for the chaos because it turned into opportunities to bond with my family and friends.

In 2015 I made my first snowman who was actually a snow-woman. She was fabulous! I treated my guy to a Tesla concert in Troy, Ohio. It was my first Tesla concert and our first time in Troy. The city of Troy is beautiful, by the way. I saw Chris Brown, Trey Songz and Tyga in concert with my sister. I started a list of 101 Cool Places & Things in Ohio. I saw the legend,Stevie Wonder,in concert and was surprised by his special guest India Arie. I saw White Snake & Scorpions in concert. I got to hang out with my nephew all summer for the second year.  I took my nephew to his first concert to see Fall Out Boy and Wiz Khalifa where I blushed and cringed at the sight of large blow up joints being thrown around. I grew great tasting vegetables and fruits in my garden and my parents garden. My family took a trip to Orlando and introduced my nephew to Disney World. I saw my grandpa Robinson who I hadn't seen in ten years also while I was in Florida. My sister and I started a sister trip tradition. We spent a weekend in the Cincinnati area where we checked off four places on my to do list: Loveland Castle, Newport Aquarium, Jungle Jim's International Market & Findlay Market on a tour with Cincinnati Food Tours.  I took a meditation class to introduce the art of meditation into my daily life. To end the year I did my second list of residential holiday light displays and it became the most viewed blog post of any of the ChristinaKristin blogs in three days. Yay!

left to right: Frostine the Snow-woman, Tesla concert, Wiz Khalifa, My veggies, Epcot, Disney, Newport on the Levee with my sister, Findlay Market in Over the Rhine & Columbus KTC Buddhist Center

It has been an amazing year, full of love and color and hope. I can't wait to see what 2016 has in store for me, other than a trip to the dentist next week. Lol. I look forward to spending more time with my friends home and away. I look forward to more travel and more learning. I look forward to really living my life and learning to be more independent.

What were your 2015 highlights?

Another Year, Another Chance

 

Friday I celebrated my 34th birthday. Like most people I used the day for reflection and an excuse to overeat and  party with friends. Well, really that was my weekend. I didn't do any crazy partying but I drank and ate like a queen per my girlfriend Gayima's suggestion. I smiled a lot, I counted my blessings and I took note of those who were around for my day and weekend. 

I remember the things I cared about in my twenties. I loved to go to the club and sometimes I drank until I was sick. I planned my outfits days, sometimes weeks, in advance and I went to all of the big parties. Now, in my mid-thirties I love a low key situation. Partying to me means visiting a winery, brewery or having dinner and being loud with friends. In my thirties I have started traditions like taking a food tour on or around my birthday. This was the fourth birthday that I've taken a food tour with Columbus Food Adventures. Food tours have become one of my favorite activities. I wish twenty year old me discovered food tours long ago. I wish twenty year old me discovered many things before now. I wish I discovered travel so that I would not feel like I was playing catch up now. There are many things I would do differently knowing the things I know now.

 There are also just as many things that I am glad I did. I am glad I went off to Los Angles after high school to go to FIDM even if I only stayed a year.  I can say I lived on the West Coast. I was on the show Change of Heart, where I fell in love with Venice Beach and Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles. I got my first and only tattoo on that date at a parlor on Venice Beach. I saw a lot of movies before they came out those days participating in test audiences. I shopped Rodeo Drive and Melrose Ave. I met amazing people and some that I wanted to strangle. 

I am glad I took a year off then transferred to The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. Everything happens for a reason because I got to spend time with my dad before his untimely death. We went to concerts together, traveled and had arguments. I feel blessed to have been able to argue with my dad just as much as the fun. I would trade so many things to have an  argument with my dad again. 

I am glad that in my late twenties and early thirties, I really started to explore Ohio. My local travels have really opened my eyes to the world. Local travel has created a thirst in me to explore the world. So my hopes are to make that happen while in my thirties. As long as I have another day, week or year, I plan to live my life exploring, learning and sharing. Each day or year is another chance to do something inspiring. Each minute, day or year I am blessed with another chance to work on being happy.

Grateful & Blessed

Kris,

Photos from my weekend

For more photos find me on instagram @krisofohio!

Top Ten Things To Do In Disney World

Disney World is a place that everyone should experience at least once in their lives. It is after all  "The Happiest Place On Earth".  I remember spending a few days each summer with my dad and sister riding rides, taking photos with Mickey & Minnie and eating sugary concoctions. It was the highlight of the summer each year no matter how many times we'd been. Last week I had the same feeling at 33 years old. I was so excited to be exploring the world of Walt Disney again. I felt like I was a snaggle-tooth child, only this time I had an even greater appreciation for many things I never really payed attention to before. One of those things was Epcot's World Showcase. While there were some positives, there were also some negatives. The affordable family park experience that was once Walt Disney's priority, was now out of reach for many. For those able to handle the price tag, waits for ride lines are over an hour in some cases. Using the wait line apps and fast passes help but the experience is nothing like it was when I was younger. I almost felt bad for my nephew who was experiencing it the first time but then I remembered he didn't have anything to compare the experience to. To him it was still great. Seeing it through his eyes was awesome. 

If Disney is in your near future, I wanted to share a few suggestions. Even with the many changes, I will always love Disney World. You will too, if you plan ahead and keep a sense of calmness. It will be just as magical as you want it to be.  Sign up for the My Disney Experience app before you go, which offers wait line information and allows you to get advance fast passes for rides. Carry extra batteries or some kind of battery pack for your phone if you plan to use the app. Fall is the best time to go if you can.  Get park hopper passes if you can't dedicate a day at each park. Stay hydrated and wear comfortable shoes.

Top Ten Things To Do In Disney World

10. Get 'It's A Small World' stuck in your head.

This is either going to be the cutest or the most irritating part of your Disney experience. It is a ride that everyone can get on, even the elderly. The song will surely be the soundtrack of your Disney experience.

9.  Take photos in front of the Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom and Spaceship Earth at Epcot.

If you don't take photos these days, it's like the experience never happened. If you don't plan to take many photos, you have to pause long enough to at least get photographs in front of  the monuments at the park you are visiting.

8.  Try to catch the lions while they are still active on the Kilimanjaro Safari at Animal Kingdom.

If you are planning to visit Disney Animal Kingdom, early is best to get a peak at the lions before they go to sleep. Remember, lions are most active late in the evenings to early morning. If you miss the lions, there are still plenty of other animals to see on the preserve.

7.  Stay at Magic Kingdom, Epcot or Hollywood Studios long enough to catch the fireworks.

There are fireworks at all the main parks except for Animal Kingdom. They go off in order of closing time, Epcot, Hollywood Studios then Magic Kingdom. Epcot's show includes a light show.

6. Take a stroll through Downtown Disney or Disney Boardwalk.

Both of these areas offer great restaurants, free entertainment and visual stimulation. At Disney Boardwalk you can take free boat rides.

5.  Watch 'It's Tough To Be A Bug' at Animal Kingdom.

Inside this tree is a 4D bug themed show. Grab your 3D glasses and experience a cute show that covers almost all of your senses. There are smells released, liquids thrown (probably just water), and the images coming toward you through the glasses are pretty cool. I won't tell it all, it's just a must. 

4. Ride every ride with the word 'mountain' in the title at The Magic Kingdom.

Living in Ohio near the Roller Coaster Capital has changed my thoughts about coasters and rides but while in Disney, the best rides have mountain in the title. When you get to the park, hopefully early, make sure you go to one of these first because they have the longest lines. For those unfamiliar, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain (seen here).
 

3. Take a picture with your favorite Disney character.

This is a given! These are the celebrities of the parks.

2. Watch the Festival Of The Lion King at Animal Kingdom.

The costumes are amazing! So is the talent! If you have seen The Lion King Broadway Musical, you will love it. The show includes 30 minutes of the best songs from the movie and musical, amazing visual stimulation with parade floats added. If you have never seen the musical, this is the next best thing. Plus it gets you out of the Florida heat for a half hour.

1. Taste your way through the countries of Epcot.

A foodies paradise! This was the highlight of my trip but I wished I had a full day at Epcot dedicated to tasting at all of the countries. The countries I did get to visit were Mexico, Norway, China, Germany & Japan. I had to skip a few countries and purchase food items like candy to take with me. I was full by Germany, alternating between foods and adult beverages. I was also alone at Epcot. I recommend starting early and bringing a friend to share the countries fare with, so the tasting isn't all on you. 

Until Next Time!

Be blessed! Be free! Be adventurous!

Kris,