Just another WordPress site

Category: Everyday Life

  • Walking the streets of San Francisco

    I wanted to start off by wishing everyone a Happy New Year again, and I hope you had a wonderful Holiday season, now it’s time to start anew and start the new year with many blessings to come. On another note, those who follow my blog, I told you that I would update you on my trip, and I’ve been so busy that I haven’t really had time. Where do I even begin…. Walking the street in San Francisco is one of the most breathtaking views you can have while just walking…

    December 17th, 2010

    We landed in one of the most beautiful Cities in the world – San Francisco. I hadn’t seen my friend for about 2+ years and I was excited to see her and her boyfriend who I hadn’t met yet. She picked us up at the airport and we headed to get her boyfriend and while starving because the planes just don’t feed you anymore unless you pay about $6+ for a measly sandwich, I was craving no other than IN-N-OUT! Wow, if you haven’t been here (because in Miami we don’t have these), it’s a Fast Food place but made with Restaurant quality, they make it right then and there fresh off the grill and you can see them make it too. We got the ANIMAL Style, meaning? = Everything on it with their special sauce and oh so good Double Cheese burger, and because I’m a fat ass, we opted to get the Animal Style french fries too. Okay so on to the city…. we took our bags to our hotel, we were on the 28th floor with the bay view – Breath taking, of course that day it was rainy and foggy so I couldn’t see past the first two buildings, yet I still couldn’t believe I was back in Cali, the one place that truly sometimes feels like it should be home. We finally set out to an old bar, and when I say old, I mean down right old school, with red carpets. That’s right… CARPET! I had never seen that before but they kept it real, with a nice happy hour to go with it. We had two drinks and we were hungry again. Okay sounds like we just ate, but I promise you we ate lunch around 1pm and it was now around 6, so Indian Food anyone???? I had never had it either, but let me tell you, if you haven’t you are missing out. The spices they use are so flavorful and oh so good, and once again RED CARPET! What is up with that? Granted we were only two doors down from the other bar, and this place also had a bar on the other side of the dining area, but still very strange. We called it an early night since we were jet lagged, went back to the hotel and then decided to walk around in the cold night rain, we found the mall. Of course I would find the mall, you didn’t think I would stay in Union Square and not find one of the biggest malls I’ve ever seen (Westfield) we walked around until I couldn’t keep my eyes open.

    December 18th, 2010

    Rise and Shine it’s only 6:30am – Granted in Miami it was already 9:30am so we’ll blame it on the time change. We got up and got ready for our continental breakfast with a view.

    We went walking the streets, took tons of pictures and then my friend picked us up and we went touring around town, we saw the golden gate bridge, we went up to the mountains and saw the pacific ocean, we went to Sausalito and had the best Fish and Chips I’ve ever had, and we just drove and got down and took more pics for hours. We later went back to the hotel to rest so that we can go out for my favorite SUSHI and then we headed to a lounge for some drinks and dancing (Pre-Bday Celebration), we had a great time.

    December 19th, 2010

    Napa Valley here I COME! My friend picked us up with another friend I hadn’t seen for over 5 years, I was so happy she could join us and I couldn’t have asked for a better time. We drove through Muir Woods and it was absolutely breath taking, once we got to Napa all I can say was Wow!; gorgeous views, not much of the vineyards since it was winter but yet the beauty is still there. Great bubbly wine and great wine all together.

    What a great night!!!

    December 20th, 2010

    Happy Birthday to me, more touring and of course I had to have me some MEXICAN food. Great food and great company. We were so exhausted from the day we didn’t get to do much but we did go to Ghirardelli and have me some Ice Cream!

    December 21st, 2010

    More touring….

    And for my birthday gift, we went to go see A Christmas Carol which was absolutely wonderful and then of course some Sushi 🙂 yum yum and YUM!

    December 22nd, 2010

    More touring, but this time we decided to head to Muir Woods and actually get down. Wow the nature in this area is one of the most gorgeous things I’ve ever seen. Here is just a small glimpse….

    We also went to the Walt Disney museum, which if you love everything Disney you should definitely check this place out.

    December 23rd, 2010

    Our last day in the City of Love…. we saw a few more things and then headed to this Irish Pub and drank our sorrows away…… Okay so maybe not our sorrows but the sweet goodbye of what I have come to love.

    Cheers with good friends!

    I will always love you SF!

    xo,
    kristin nicole

  • Happy New Year 2011

    Another year flown by, another year older, another year to set goals and another year where dreams can come true…

    Each year we get older we realize the change, we see life pass us by, and we make goals some achieved some left written on the paper you started to write about your dreams, and sometimes we just forget and we loose track on what is really important to us. In life I have learned that life is way to short, we don’t always get what we want, we sometimes think we are going to live our lives a certain way, or with a certain someone, and that isn’t what was meant to be. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow, and tomorrow may never come, so I’ve learned the hard way a few times that when you want something, when you really love someone, when you really know what you want, GO FOR IT! Life is too short for the what if’s, or maybe’s in life, or even the I can always do it later… What holds us back from the possibilities; from the things in life we really want? As humans we have too many doubts we hold ourselves back, we make excuses because of family and friends but at the end of the day we are the ones who control our own fate, we are the ones who control what to do with our lives, and if we keep holding back, you will life always wondering about the “what if’s, maybes in life and I can always do it later”.

    This year, I move forward, I hope that with fate and love from God that I am strong enough to surpass the goals I have in life, to live life to the fullest and do all the things I have been dreaming and thinking about lately. A new beginning, a new start into a new life.

    Live. Love. Laugh

    xo,
    kristin nicole

    Happy New Year 2011 ~ May all your wishes come true ~

  • Happy New Year

    Happy New Year to all my followers and readers! May your new year be blessed and may only good come to each and everyone of you.

    I will start posting new stories on Monday 🙂

    Enjoy your weekend.

    xo,
    kristin nicole

  • Dear Santa

    Dear Santa

    Dear Santa, I’m older
    But, still believe in you
    (At least, I believe in
    The things you try, to do).

    Maybe, I can’t ask for
    A Tonka, or, a train.
    (But, if you’d bring one of them
    You know, I won’t complain).

    But, what I really wish for
    Is a special present
    Love that can’t be “returned”
    Once it has been sent.

    Everybody needs a little
    And some, need a lot
    But, if you get a tiny bit
    You still know what you got.

    So Santa, drop a little
    Under each Christmas tree
    Then, all will get a present
    From what it’s ‘posed to be.

    And if there is no tree
    For the alone, and poor
    When you get, to their place
    Just, drop, a little more.

    Written by: Del “Abe” Jones (TheHolidaySpot.com)

    What do you want for Christmas this year?
    I hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday and a Happy New Year

    xo,
    kristin nicole

  • 5 Worst Ways to Propose

    So I was reading this article on Yahoo.com, The 5 Worst Ways to Propose, do you agree?

    The List:

    1. Don’t propose in Public – they say most people tend to say yes because they feel bad with all the people looking, it’s pressure put on the other person and they might just say yes to please the people cheering around them, and later can turn around and say they really don’t want to marry you. (Wow that would be a bummer).

    2. Leave Food out of it – They say people have actually swallowed the ring (when placed in food or drinks) and well it’s not the best place to be on the day you get engaged if it’s the hospital waiting to “release” your ring (If you get my drift).

    3. Do NOT propose via – Internet (email anything that involves a computer) – I have to agree – it’s very impersonal, and when you propose it should be face to face with the person you love.

    4. Do not propose on the day you wed – Okay I only hear of this in Vegas and then it’s annulled the next day – so I have to agree, think about this before you do it, it’s a big commitment.

    5. Beware of Mother Nature – WHAT? That was my first reaction… According to Yahoo they say don’t propose hiking up a mountain or on the beach. Some have gotten lost in snow storms and lost the ring in the snow, others in the beach, and we don’t want to buy an expensive ring only to loose it in a few minutes of proposing. (do we?).

    I say be romantic, do something unique. People in New York although cute, stop proposing by the Christmas Tree it’s been done, oh about 1 million times (at least that’s what I hear from the locals in NY) 🙂 Here in Miami I am sure the Beach has been done and what did Yahoo say about the beach? (Oh yea we don’t want to loose that ring in the sand).

    Some women like the cliches of what is in the movies, if your lady likes it, then go for it, I don’t think there is really any wrong way to propose as long as you really know what your women wants. (Some women like the public scene, some like the ring in the food (although I think I would avoid this one), and some like to be spontaneous (although I highly recommend getting to know your future bride to be).

    Live, Love, Laugh ~ And do what you want when you are ready to propose, if she loves you it doesn’t matter how it’s done, I know some people who get proposed to in a car and have been married for years
    😉

    xo,
    kristin nicole

  • Happy Birthday to Me

    Happy Birthday To Me

    Today is my birthday, another year passed, another year to celebrate all that I have.

    Today is my birthday, home away from home, enjoying the weather, the people, the city and everything that I own.

    Today is my birthday, I’ll celebrate it with you, in spirit of course as I always do.

    Today is my birthday, with tears in my eyes because I know today is the day I celebrate another goodbye.

    Today is my birthday, another year gone, today I start a new leaf with everything I have.

    Today is my birthday, don’t you want to wish me good day, today is my birthday help me blow out the candles and say;

    Today is my birthday, I want to make a wish or two, I can’t tell you what they are of course, if not they won’t come true.

    Today is my birthday and with every wish I have, I close my eyes and know that today is my birthday, count the candles one, two, three… Happy Birthday to Me, because today is MY BIRTHDAY~

    xo,
    kristin nicole

    ~Happy Birthday to ME~

    Written By: Kristin Nicole 2010

  • San Francisco in December

    San Fran

    I haven’t been to San Francisco in about 5 years and I am finally heading back, a Birthday gift from my boyfriend (of course I gave off the hint, found a great deal, and said baby this is what I want for my birthday). Okay well it went something like that…. This year has gone by fast, this year many things have changed and we are about to embark in a new beginning, 2011.

    Every year we try to make new memories by going somewhere new. Last year my boyfriends birthday present was Seattle. Yes I gave him Seattle 🙂 — Seattle is so beautiful that we have even thought about possibly moving there someday, but for now we continue in our home town Miami, waiting for the next adventure — This year — My birthday — This year — San Fran!

    Today I am boarding a plan — I am sure I will let you know about the experience and the TSA and how all that went later, but today I’m boarding a plane to San Francisco, one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever been to, filled with cold air, rain, beautiful skylines of the bay and great people. I do not know that I would ever want to live in San Francisco but I do love to visit.

    I consider myself to be very organized, with ideas on what to do but this trip, one of my good friends is going to show us around, so we are going to wing it. One place that we are going to for sure, which I’ve never been is Napa Valley, I am very excited to share this first with my boyfriend. I am going to try and post a few pictures and our adventure in Frisco but I do not have an iPhone (due to it be stolen on Halloween, Yes I know…lets not go there), so I will try to find another way, and if I can’t you will just have to wait until I return. 🙂

    Happy Holidays

    xo,
    kristin nicole

  • How to Plan for your trip

    How To Plan for Your Trip:

    Everyone gets a little nervous right before a trip, Do I have everything I need? Am I missing anything? I hope I didn’t forget anything.

    Stop stressing I have a few tips on what you need to do in order to plan for your trip with enough time to sit on the couch and sip on a hot cocoa, coffee, wine, or a stiff drink………..
    😉


    Let’s get Organized

    Don’t wait until the last minute to pack, that will only lead to stress and more than likely you actually forgetting something you really wanted to take on your trip. Trust me I learned my lesson the hard way. (Let’s just say I didn’t have the right shoes for my outfit and the ones I did pack weren’t exactly the most comfortable). Let’s get organized. Make a list about a week before your trip (sooner if you really want to get it out of the way), with everything you need to pack for your trip. Once your list is made it’s easy sailing.

    My List:

    Start as if you had no clothes on and go from there. I start dating my list with how many days I’ll be there so I know how many day time and night time outfits I will need to take. For us women that includes shoes and accessories.

    1. Underwear (put the amount you need to take) I double mine, I use one in the morning, one at night and a just in case you never know kind of underwear.
    2. Bras (if you are a man, you obviously do not need this on your list)
    3. Socks (If you are a women you might not need any depending on your preference in shoes, but if you are traveling now in December, make sure to take plenty).

    Okay so I think we have the essentials ….

    4. Remember if you marked your list with Monday, Tuesday etc, then count the amount of days you will be gone and count how many day and night outfits you will need.

    Example: I will be gone Friday to Friday – So I have to take 7 day outfits (I do not include the day I am leaving) and 7 night outfits (not including the day I leave). Right here I already know how many outfits I need without having to over pack. If you do not over pack you have no choice but to wear what you take. If you really can’t help yourself and you have to take a “just in case outfit” only pack about 2 extra “just in case” outfits. If you are a man, you have no idea what I’m talking about, just pack 7 day shirts, about 4 jeans/shorts/sweat pants and 7 night shirts/nice & casual and about 2 jeans and 1 pair of slacks.

    5. Shoes, shoes and shoes. Okay ladies, I know it’s hard because we have our day shoes, our night shoes and our of course “just in case” shoes. Really try to limit yourself. How many day shoes do you really need? Take one black and one brown and maybe one pair of tennis shoes. Night time, do the same, one black, one brown, and of course “the just in case” shoes. (Again I know it’s hard but try to think of the time you actually wore every shoe you brought on your trip)? MEN- Pack your tennis shoes, and 2 pair of night time shoes (black and brown) (Of course you can take any other colors you want, I just write black and brown because they are the neutral colors that go with everything, so you can’t go wrong).

    6. We now have our undergarments, day and night clothes and shoes. So what is next…. For Women: Depending if you are like me or not — I usually take my blow-dryer (because the ones in the hotels usually don’t work as well, but if you can leave it, that is one less thing to pack), iron (for hair), hair brush, makeup (brushes etc), clips/bands for hair, hair products, and cream (If I’m leaving anything out — this is exactly why I write myself a list, imagine if I didn’t).

    For Men and Women: Deodorant, Shampoo & Conditioner (the ones in hotels are way too small), Razors, Shaving Cream, Perfume/Cologne, Toothbrush and toothpaste. (If you need other stuff mark them down – ex: contacts/solution, sunglasses etc).

    7. For Women: Jewelry – decide what day time jewelry you want to wear, and match the night time outfits, put them in a little bag so that all your jewelry is together. (If it’s real — Make sure to carry it on the plane with you, do not pack it in your suitcase). For Men: If you don’t wear jewelry don’t worry about it, if you do make sure to take whatever it is you need and mark it down (ie: watch)

    8. Pack any vitamins, icy-hot (if you have back pain), meds you may need.

    You are all set, your list is done and now all you have to do is pack it and check it off your list. The week before your trip start packing whatever you can and checking your list off, and whatever you need to pack last minute like toothbrush etc, you check off the day of or the night before.

    I hope this helps get you a little more organized before your trip. I know it helps me
    🙂

    xo,
    kristin nicole

  • 5 days before my Birthday

    5 days Before my Birthday:

    5 Days & 120 hours later it will be my birthday. The big “?” — you didn’t actually think I would tell you my age did you? Okay so it’s not that I am ashamed of how old I am going to be but I haven’t quiet accomplished all the things I had hoped to accomplish before this birthday, and a true lady never reveals her age to the world…. Okay so maybe the world isn’t reading my blog but I hope someone is out there. (Yeah I’m talking to you reading this right now), leave a comment every once in a while, so I know you’re out there…..

    Okay back to the subject on hand… My birthday — Another year older, another year gone. Why do I feel like this year has gone faster than most, and why do I feel like I haven’t truly accomplished anything this year? Well I did finish my Associates Degree (I guess you would call that a pretty big accomplishment, considering I am the only one in my family to actually achieve this), somehow though, I thought I would feel more about it, but truth is, it was just a paper mailed to me saying I passed, and now I continue the struggle to finish my Bachelors Degree. Life doesn’t stop, not for you, not for me and so I keep pushing forward hoping for more accomplishments and more fulfillment.

    This year I won’t be here for my birthday, it’s the first time I have ever gone away for my birthday (except of course when I lived in California but I was still at home and not on vacation). This year I think I’ll start a new tradition (Vacation for my birthday). My boyfriend gave me the idea really, every year for his birthday he takes a trip, even if it isn’t far (Orlando) it’s still not home. My birthday as you can imagine is difficult to celebrate, difficult to take trips and anything else I always want to do because it is so close to Christmas. (Is it my fault however that I was born 5 days before Christmas?) NO — So this year my birthday lands on a Monday, and I figured if we left before my birthday and came back on the 24th to celebrate Christmas Eve (Noche Buena) with our families then all would be right in the world. So we are doing just that, this year my present from my boyfriend is San Francisco. That’s right… I said it… SAN FRAN, FRISCO, Bay area here I come!

    This year I want to make memories, this year I want to make a change and I want to have the best birthday a girls always dreamed of, not a birthday filled with disappointment because people are busy during the holidays and can’t show up, not getting presents because it’s too expensive to give you a birthday and Christmas gift (although I must admit, my family was always good about this and I always got a birthday and Christmas gift separate). This year, this year is DIFFERENT.

    5 more days…..

    xo,
    kristin nicole

  • 31 Years old and Finding you have Cancer…

    I was on Facebook following Dolphin Player Sean Smith when I read I saw a link that he placed on his wall of a friend, 31 Year old Maurya.

    This is her story:

    magine finding out at 31 that you have a rare brain tumor

    In May 2010, after Maurya insisted on a CT Scan for another medical condition, to everyone’s surprise including the doctors, the scan showed a mass. Since then, a couple of MRI’s have been done to better understand what type of mass we are talking about. She’s seen a couple of Neurosurgeon’s and the cyst (tumor) is located behind the left eye positioned near the carotid artery, numerous nerves and not to mention pressing on the brain membrane, which causes a great deal of pain and is being managed by medication.

    Currently she is only 1 of a handful of reported cases with this type of cyst in the brain but the only documented case with the positioning/placement of this type of cyst. The surgeons are confident it is not cancerous but are unable to do a biopsy. Due to the location of the cyst, the biopsy procedure is the same as the surgical removal procedure so they are unable to confirm that until they remove the mass.

    There are many risks with any surgery and in Maurya’s case it could be as minimal as facial numbness, double vision or as severe as facial paralysis or disfigurement, lose of eye muscle control, possible blindness and other possible paralyses or loss of motor function.

    The upside right now is that Maurya is young, healthy and active but as you can imagine scared (as her loved ones are also).

    In June 2010, Maurya met with one of the Neurosurgeon’s, who left her honestly frightened by the predicted outcome and the surgery itself (disfigurement, paralysis, blindness etc.) Their approach was to wait and see on her other medical condition but this was why this mass was not detected sooner; Had this cyst been found 3 years ago when the other medical condition presented itself, who is to say the prognosis would be the same.

    When asking various physicians and other industry related colleagues across the nation, there was only one surgeon’s name continually recommended for this rare case, Dr. Mitchel Berger at UC San Francisco. UC San Francisco’s Neurosurgery department is ranked #3 in the nation. When Maurya met with Dr. Berger in October he took time to review and discuss her case with her. He discussed in detail the removal procedure (which was nowhere near what was described by the Neurosurgeon she saw in June), what areas are or are not affected by the tumor and the prognosis (3% – 7% probability of facial numbness & short term double vision). This, of course, is the best case scenario which Maurya is hopeful for.

    Most people can relate to the emotional trauma for someone so young trying to make sense of the information given during the initial neurosurgery consult and the lack of data/research available for this rare cyst (tumor). After meeting with the various surgeons and taking all of the above into consideration, weighing the options provided, understanding that with any surgery there are risks (even loss of life), Maurya and her family/loved ones feel her only decision should be to go with Dr. Berger at UC San Francisco.

    With this decision comes a huge financial cost. The surgery at UC San Francisco is the best option but will not be covered so Maurya has been in search of a new insurance plan. The struggle is that this is now a pre-existing condition and could be denied but Maurya stays hopeful that she will find a plan to cover the $500K+ surgery, understanding it comes with a high deductible. For now, Maurya is paying for her visits on her own. If the pain can continue to be managed with medication and no additional symptoms arise she is looking at surgery in late February 2011.

    You can read more and where to donate on the link below.

    (Story linked HERE).

    Stories like this happen every day, we just don’t always here about it. It is sad to hear someone with such a rare cancer, someone who can’t afford it due to insurance yet, who can put a price on LIFE? I wrote about Madison a baby girl with a rare cancer tumor, and she has overcome the odds and is beating it, I believe in Miracles, I believe in Fate, and Hope, and with a little encouragement from others, anything can happen.

    xo,
    kristin nicole