It is crazy to think that a year ago I was on my last spring break, and was preparing to graduate from college. Now, I look back at my year, and I have achieved so much more than I could have ever thought possible.

Granted, I am not making as much money as I would like to be and I am still living at home, but none the less, I am happy, and currently that is way more than I could ever ask for.

Counting my blessings has never ever been something I did. I made fun of that whole #blessed phase, and just kind of took what was given to me, said thank you, and went on with my life. But now, when I look back, it all is kind of coming together and I truly am grateful for everything that I have and that makes me even more excited for what the future holds.

All of this reflection came right in time for Easter, which in my family, like every other holiday, is just a competition for Thanksgiving. Not only do we out do our selves with food, but we focus on gratitudes, something that forever grounds me, and brings me back to the moment, to focus on what really matters, what I want out of life, and what I am looking forward to more of.

This Easter, as we went around the table, hope for peace and family were mentioned multiple times. I, personally said I was thankful for life lessons, opportunities, and every day life. It truly is something when you step back and think about day to day life, and how instantaneous it can all change, for better or for worse.

In this moment, hours and too many plates of food later, I am thankful for laughs and loving people. I am as single as it can get, yet I feel so incredibly loved, and that has been something I have been working on for awhile, because I am a firm believer that if you don't love yourself, you won't see others' love for you. And that has been showing more and more lately, which I could not be happier about.

I hope you had an incr-egg-ible (see what I did there) Easter, and if you don't celebrate Easter, I hope you had an amazing Sunday Funday that recharged you for an even better week ahead. We are almost in April! How crazy is that?!

Multiply and Blowout

A boy told me to listen to Ed Sheeran today and literally all I've been listening to all day is Ed Sheeran and I forgot how good he is. Hence the name of this blog post. Also, happy National Kiss A Ginger Day. Relatable. Good job, boy. Just kidding he had no idea it was National Kiss A Ginger Day, but told me yesterday was National Step In A Puddle Day...

So that is what I did at work today. Well, only part. I actually worked too. And broke a nail. And almost fell on my face. Lots of fun things.

We're going to talk about boys today. And by we I mean me, and by talk about I mean I'm going to vent and then we will get back to life and more important things that matter. So I guess my first question would be how do you feel about work relationships? I have seen them work and I have seen them fail. Both either extraordinary or awful. But never in between. Please share your stories, because I am actually very interested.
Disclosure - no I am not dating someone from my work. But I am crushing on one form what was a far and now not so far. He sang to me today and I kind of lost it but I am put back together now. Then he told me his favorite days were when he had meetings because he got to see me and walk past my desk. Done. And then I said oh yeah when I'm lucky and get to see you, and he counteracted saying he was the lucky one. Done. Again.

So they talk the talk, but can they walk the walk, while keeping up with me? My thing with guys, just from what I have learned from my past relationships is this:

• It shouldn't be work. Yes relationships take effort, but it shouldn't have to feel like work or like you are forcing it. Because once it is forced it is essentially over.
• It should be organic. This stems back to the work thing, but more importantly that is mutual on both sides, and just feels right. This one is difficult because I have been one in the past to not go with the flow, but really, that is the main way to develop a good relationship. Or that's what I think, at least.
• It needs to be mutual. Feelings, effort, everything.
• Communication is everything. Self explanatory.

This all being said, and the reason this is a topic on the blog today, is that someone asked me if I was dating anyone. And I would be lying if I said no, but I would also be lying if I said yes. Does that make sense? I should add a bullet point that "it shouldn't be complicated" but it most likely will be and we don't live in a perfect world. I hate saying I have a few guys in my back pocket, but that's kind of what it is. I don't like it. I like them each for their own special reasons. But I also love being single. Struggle city in the love department here. But it's okay. We're moving forward.

Work today was a catch up day. I caught up on things I needed to do, things I needed to organize, etc. Necessary, tedious, useful, long. But no complaints, as I ended my day with a complimentary DryBar blowout.

Dream Job Turned Reality?

Happy Wednesday! Or Wednesday night, actually. I should probably start planning when these will go up, but there is something extremely calming about writing a blog post right before I go to bed. It allows me to get out all of my thoughts, and really process the day. Then again this post is going about about an hour later than normal because I got kind of carried away coloring in my adult coloring book. Which is still not rated r.

Today was one of the best days I have had in a long time. And I'm sure that I could say that about the past two or three days, but all day today I was genuinely happy. I was also told I was being too loud and too sassy at work today, but that's why I work where I work. Because I can be myself. Speaking of work, I think that that was one of the major reasons I was so incredibly happy. I arrived a few minutes late, not that anyone said anything, because I had to go to Ralph's this morning to get ingredients for a wine milkshake. Yes, you heard me correctly. Wine. Milkshake. We also went out and got burgers in Chinatown for lunch at the "In-n-out twin" (which it is very twin-like, but more expensive... Definitely the Annie rather than the Hallie in the Parent Trap combo, butler and all.)

Today at work I finally felt accepted. My goal kind of for the year I guess, and I am definitely saying goal in the loosest of terms, is to fully accept myself. Now that encompasses all of me so my appearance, my health, my mentality, my emotions, everything. But to finally feel accepted at work is a whole other accomplishment I could have never been more happy to receive. Especially since I was not looking for it.

For those who don't really know much about me, hi, I'm Kathryn. I graduated from USF in May 2015 with a bachelor's degree in Politics and Public Relations. I was undeclared the first two years, thought I found my calling in Politics, and then realized how fun PR could be, and how it would allow me to interact with more people my speed. Politics is great and all, but it has become such a negative atmosphere and so competitive rather than just trying to do the best for the world that I decided it just wasn't doing it for me. Career wise at least. I have no regrets graduating from college with my degree. I learned so much about politics, and was able to learn different views and stances on huge political topics. That was probably my favorite part. Learning about how other people saw the world. Taking that, I then took my very little PR knowledge and tried to make sense of the two of them together. I decided I should go into campaigns. Yet, the more and more I looked into it, and felt a connection to political campaigns, the more and more I realized it wasn't really what I wanted to do. Or at least not right now. Thankfully I had several PR internships in college which allowed me to have an internship at my current job, which then turned into full time position (woot woot!).

And here I am today. Doing something I would have never in a million years considered, loving every second of it, learning things every day, and questioning why I had never thought about doing what I do, because for right now, it is pretty much my dream job. I was over the moon with excitement when they offered me full time, and today, after back to back meetings, and taking photos, and writing articles and blog posts, it all just makes sense.

Growing up, I wanted to be something different every year, but one thing stayed the same: I never wanted to wake up in the morning angry to go to work because I hated my job. No work is perfect, nothing is a "dream" job. Everything has flaws, just like everyone does. Maybe it doesn't pay as much as you need for that perfect apartment, or theres some people you just do not get along with, or you aren't challenged enough. I'm starting to learn though, that when you learn how to improve upon and work past the flaws to thoroughly enjoy the work you put out that you have achieved your dream job, or if you are still not satisfied, it probably isn't the best job for you and you should change that. ASAP. Yet, I feel that I have currently created true happiness with my job. I started my job not only for what the job was, but mainly for the experience. And the experience I have already gained hasn't only been new things to add to my resume, but are also things to add to my day to day life.

Work hard. Set yourself up for nothing but success. See yourself living your dream. I promise you, the things you really truly desire in life are probably things you don't even know exist.

Life is Funny Sometimes

Does anything ever happen in your life where you just kind of have to take a moment to laugh? It wasn't a knock knock joke, or any kind of joke, really, but you just can't help but laugh. I had a lot of those moments today.

I woke up 15 minutes before my alarm, which is personally one of my favorite ways to wake up. I had my outfit pre planned, and knew that I was going to grab breakfast and coffee at Starbucks. El Niño decided to make its grand entrance last night, so I also knew I wasn't going to do my hair, as it would just get ruined in the rain anyways. I had a plan. I was going to get to work early to possibly leave early, I packed a healthy lunch, I brought my planner, and my iPad was fully charged. I was so ready for the day. I even printed out agendas for the meeting I had at 10am for work. 

I did all of this just to realize it was pouring rain and traffic going downtown would be horrible, I dropped my Starbucks breakfast sandwich in my lap while driving, I had cat fur all over my leggings, and when I got out of my car after parking at work, I stepped into a puddle. And this was just the morning. I later realized that I had left my lunch in my car and decided to go get it because it had stopped raining, yet the second I stepped outside it started down pouring. But you know what? I did this all with a huge smile on my face. Because even writing this, I can't help but laugh! Life is funny that way... And I don't know if it was because I "woke up on the right side of the bed" this morning or if the audiobook I am currently listening to is taking a toll and putting my New Year's resolution of being more positive into play, but I love it. 

I can 110% say that I am happier now, and this past week, than I have been in months, and maybe even years. I finally feel happy with myself in most facets, and so why get upset that I stepped in a puddle? It washed my Nikes. Or why worry about dropping my breakfast sandwich? It was just the bread part anyways, who needs the extra carbs. And leaving my lunch in my car? I got more FitBit steps! 

I am slowly starting to realize that life is what you make it, and as cliche as that sounds, I truly believe it. If I wake up in the morning and say I am going to have an awful day, 9 times out of 10 I will have an awful day. What should you do instead? Buy yourself flowers and put them on your work desk. It worked for me!

I used to think I had a second date curse. I have been on several first dates, a few second dates, and it is very rare if I go on a third date. Like my last third date was with my last relationship. It was a serious curse. Key word "was."  If I continue to tell myself I have this curse, I most likely won't have a third date for awhile. Which, I would be totally okay with that seeing as I love being single, but hey, a third date here and there doesn't sound awful.

Another example: today at work I began prepping my blog post for the website tomorrow. It has to deal with a wine milkshake, so I suggested a team outing to in-n-out so that I could take photos of the wine milkshake with an in-n-out burger, because when I think of a milkshake, I think of in-n-out. So, guess what we're doing for lunch tomorrow? Going to in-n-out. Simply because I suggested it, and everyone loved the idea. (Plus, who would ever say no to in-n-out?!) 

What are some things life has thrown at you recently? Have you combatted them, or just let life walk over you?

P.s.: I got some new books today, and I am most excited for my adult coloring book! My dad asked if it was rated R...... No, father, it is just a very intricate and detailed coloring book. Thank.You.Very.Much.

Sometimes Life Isn't a Perfect Scale

Life is all about balance. Finding a balance between work and social, health and wellness with your cravings for pizza, family time, friend time and you time. The struggles with finding balance is always asking when, where, and how much.

As much as I try to maintain a balanced life, things will never be perfect. Of course, everyone's life is perfectly imperfect. Each individual is perfect in their own kind of way, no matter what that may be and with whatever flaws that makes you unique.

So, let's balance out some things right now.
Want frozen yogurt? Go to the gym, work up a sweat, and go get you some fro-yo.
Want to go on a vacation? Save up, don't go shopping for a bit, and book your flight.
Cold, but don't feel like putting on socks? Throw on some Uggs.. I won't judge you.
Watching a video that scares you? Throw on some Spongebob and question why the inside of his round pineapple is square.


Starting to plan both my work and my social life in one planner is definitely the start of some balance, or at least so I think. What do I know, it's January 4, 2016 and I tweeted about starting 2015 off on the right foot this morning. You know, I'm human, I make mistakes.

Ironic how all I have been looking forward to is making this year great, and I am already back in the past year. See? Balance. Balancing reflecting on the past with planning the future, all while focusing in the present.

Then again, life could all be like riding a hover board and you think you're great until you fall forward, turn around too fast, fall backward, or your hover board bursts into flames. Who knows anymore.

Cheerio, Life Choices

Imagine you are at the super market. You are craving Honey Nut Cheerios, the brand we all know and love because their commercials claim to lower our cholesterol. But, all of a sudden when you are reaching for this box, you realize, there are other brands that make basically the same cereal. What makes them different? Should you go for the cheaper box? The more colorful box? The classic box? How do you solidify which cereal you really want, when you know you can't open each box to try them all? There is a point to this cereal story, I promise, but you need to read on to understand...

I recently was catching up on one of the most inspirational bloggers I follow, Allison, at Because I Said So. Not only does she have an incredible sense of fashion, but I can relate to basically all of her blog posts in one way or another. Plus her motivation and continuation to keep her blog up is just incredible. 

Job hunting is not easy, and is definitely a full time job in and of itself. Having two part-time jobs, by the time I come home, I am already so tired, I just want to watch Netflix and sleep. But alas, my internship ends December 31, and I told my other part time job that I would not be returning come January.
Here and there I receive an email from a company saying they found my resume on so and so website, and they give me the job description. Other days I am online for countless hours into night time and am constantly applying to jobs, any jobs that sounds remotely interesting. Allison was job hunting and interviewing for a completely different job, when her dream job position seemed to sort of just fall in her lap. This isn't luck, or chance. That is fate. It is knowing what you really want, working extremely hard, and everything falling into place.

Now-a-days, it isn't what you know, but rather it is all timing and who you know. It is a crazy world where there are jobs and there are job openings, but if you don't have the experience, they don't want you. Yet, in college, I was constantly told that if I keep getting all of these internships and work opportunities, I will be over qualified.
So what is the happy medium? Honestly, I wish I could tell you. I, myself, am torn. I have all of these expectations and standards I have set for myself, which most have changed from when I was younger, but the principles remain the same. I have high expectations for myself, and I will not settle for just any job. I want to love my career, and I want to wake up in the morning with a smile on my face, wanting to go to work, because when I find my right career path, I will be making a difference in one way or another. That is my goal. I want to be able to look back on my life and say "hey look, I did that" or " I was a part of the conversation that sparked this movement" or "I was involved in this."

Happiness doesn't have a price-tag, but today it does have a label. For years now I have wanted to be a campaign manager. Today, campaign managers not head only political campaigns,but can manage social media campaigns, marketing, advertising, email marketing, the list goes on.
So, in a super market full of honey nut cheerios, all a different brand name, but all the same basic cereal, which do you pick?

Hopefully I didn't just make you crave cereal, but rather consider all of the options we have in life. I'm currently at a point where I can decide which career path, or cereal box to choose, and I can't lie... it is terrifying. I know everything happens for a reason, and everything works out the way it is supposed to, but that doesn't make options seem less daunting.

How did you get to where you are now? What made you choose your current career path? Are you truly happy?
Any advice or comments would help me and this post-grad-funk!

Happy FriYAY, and I hope you have an incredible weekend!

Hip, Hip, HOORAY

Welcome to my welcome back party! Hosted by yours truly (me) with special guest, YOU! I feel like I should make a little introduction, but I honestly don't even know where I would start. 

My world has changed into this crazy thing where one minute I am wishing that I was five years older and could just fast forward through this weird awkward transition from post grad into real world, the next minute I am missing college and all my friends and the memories I had in those four years, and then I stop and remember I just need to be and live in the moment. So that is currently where I am. This crazy gray area between post grad and real world with a full time career. Both which are miles apart - college and career - and yet, I'm still here, doing me. 

People change, relationships end, others are brought back, time continues, life moves on. So put a smile on, be the best you that you can be, and go out there and live the life that YOU want to live, because only you can live your life.

Inter-Vibes

Yes, the title of this blog post is me trying to be creative. It is also me trying to combine interview with vibes so it makes sense. In my mind... Right?

Now I am starting to question myself. Cool.

Lets talk about interviews.

There are multiple types of interviews. 

There are formal interviews, normally one on one, with a person in a suit, asking you typical questions, such as what is the last book you read? Why did you major in _____? Why would you be a good fit for this position?

Then there are the middle of the road type. Either you meet in their relaxed office, a joint conference room, a coffee shop if they are super trendy. It starts with awkward conversation, you get some Q&A time about you, and then you leave feeling sort of "eh."

THEN, my dear sweet reader person, there are the inter-vibes. These are the picture perfect interviews. These are the interviews that happen in movies or 17 magazine with the article title "how to nail your interview 101" or some cute clever thing that has been over done. These are the interviews that don't feel like interviews.

Now, none of these are bad, and none are good, and there are so many more, these are just the top 3 I could categorize in my brain. Everyone has their preference, and there is a time, place, and job for each. I personally like 1 and 3. I find lunch meetings in general awkward, so I feel that a lunch interview or even coffee interview would be uncomfortable. Or extremely judgmental, like more so than a normal interview.

But now, currently.... post interview:

Newsday Tuesday

I would like to apologize in advance for my constant lack of pictures. I have an Instagram and Twitter and Snapchat and then I forget about pictures for blog, I'm learning, I'm getting back into the swing of things. Work with me?

Speaking of work, I totally forgot I had an interview tomorrow, but it's okay. I remembered and now I'm super excited! It is a paid internship but hey, it's paid, and an internship, and I am at the point where I can figure out what I want to do with my life, or at least what I don't want to do with my life. That makes sense, right? It does to me.

As you may or may not know, my morning job deals with kids. I am the only permanent teacher and it's exciting but also sort of stressful. Anyways, one of my kids almost left my class to go to the one down the street because she was the only girl. Luckily we got another girl this week, but regardless, she told her mom she did not want to leave my class because Miss Kathryn wouldn't be there. HOW CUTE IS THAT.

But then I apply for other jobs and feel guilty but I mean they are just interviews and I see interviews as opportunities and lessons to get better at interviewing. It also gives me an insight to if I ever want to go into HR, and different interviewing tactics. Also, I just looked up the guy interviewing me and he is very attractive so that's fun! We all know how I get around attractive men...

Wish me luck!

When work gives you AC...

Because sometimes, you just experience really random things at work, and get extremely bored, and decide to take your phone out and write about them in the moment. These are the days of my life. 

Currently, in a cooling center at work. And I don't like it. 

I would like to start this blog post by saying how grateful I am to have a job and air conditioning. That being said, my current task for the day is not one I enjoy. When the city of LA hits over 100 degrees Fahrenheit they open up public cooling centers. What is that you might ask? A center, that is cool, from air conditioning. Yep. That's it. And that's what I'm working. You know, gotta make sure they don't break anything or touch anything. But I mean, realistically I'm just getting paid to sit here.

Now you're probably thinking "why is this girl complaining? She's literally sitting inside in AC and getting paid." WELL, person, that is a great question. Reason I am complaining, which I wouldn't even say is complaining but rather, observing, is that these people are talking about me in front of me. I have the guy in the tye dye shirt complaining about being 70 years old, another elderly man complaining about not being cool in his youth so his career started too late, and a couple asleep on a couch. Yep. So I'll be here. 

Hour and a half in update: dad brought me Starbucks and I had a visit from a coworker. Also I'm writing thank you notes from my birthday to try and be productive.


Long story short, I survived, and ended my day with Dunkin Donuts, so I mean my day was pretty fantastic. 

Bippity Boppity Blog

Not going to lie, typing "blogger" into my Chrome browser was a very weird sensation and I'm still trying to figure out if it was more of a "what are you going to do there?" feeling or a "yeah! Let's have a fresh beginning!" feeling. If there was a gray area in between, that is where I currently am.

So hello, hi, shalom, happy Tuesday. Hope you had a fantastic Labor Day weekend! It's weird, my birthday usually falls on Labor Day weekend, and this year it didn't but I didn't notice until.... about five seconds ago. Actually, that is a lie. I realize when I was in Vegas last weekend, and I was extremely grateful because I would not have wanted to be in Vegas on Labor Day weekend. Too many people. Way too many people.

So here I am. Welcome. I was supposed to write this blog post earlier when I went to the gym, but that didn't happen for a multitude of different reasons. First being that I was on the elliptical and I would've probably fallen off, and second, I totally forgot until I was doing leg presses, but at that point I was really into my playlist and work out and people watching that I just kind of wrote it off. Oops. It's all good. I am here now, and that is all that matters. Right? Right.

So last night, I went to dinner with Rachel, who is basically my big sister. Side note, this post is going to be all over the place so maybe get some snacks, or water, or wine... definitely wine. So at dinner last night, Rachel and I were talking about life and it just made me put my life into perspective. I am twenty-two. I am employed (not doing anything remotely near what I thought I would be doing post grad life but hey, that's life). I have a house. I eat great food. I have great people in my life. Long story short, and after what would be a very long list of gratitudes, I have a great life, and I don't have much to complain about. Do I know what I want to do with my life? I mean, kind of? Sort of? Not really. Yeah I have a vague idea, but it is just an idea. I have my whole life in front of me! What more can I do right now? I'm sure there is a whole lot of things I could do, but I am going to be working for the rest of my life, so why not volunteer, and intern and do things that actually interest me before I dread going to work every morning, and hate my career. Because that, I don't want that.

I have never really stuck to one profession when asked "what do you want to be when you grow up?" I have stuck in the same range, besides when I was younger and said I wanted to be a princess (still true) or a doctor (science and I don't get along).  So yes, I have a focus, and the idea of law school is constantly poking the back of my head asking when I am going to actually consider it, but still. I have a paycheck, I have free rent (which is incredible, like as much as I want an apartment, free rent is so nice) and I have amazing people in my life who encourage me to be the best me, and don't rush me, and are proud of me for just being me. So I'd say twenty-two is going to be a good year. Hopefully. Fingers crossed. And hopefully I can remember that I have this little thing called the Internet where I can write everything that happens and log it into cyber space and hope that maybe one person can read it and smile, or give advice, or take advice. That's all I can really hope for right now, and I am totally and perfectly content with that.