2015 New Years Resolutions

Happy New Years everybody! I am going to show you guys my new years resolutions for 2015. I am hoping that since I am posting this online for people to see, that I will actually complete some of them. During the year I want to do quarterly check-ups where I will write down how I am doing with each of my resolutions. Without further ado, here are my resolutions!

1. Learn the D.C. bus system (Or at least how to get to Dupont Circle, Georgetown, and Columbia Heights). The buses are faster and cheaper than the subway, so it is something that I should have learned last semester. But c'est la vie. 

2. Cook more in the dorm. I do love to cook, so this should be an easy one. But since I am living on my own I actually have to remember to get groceries and to pick recipes that I can cook in a small kitchen. I do own cookbooks, however, that are specifically geared for college students and teens that will help me complete this resolution.

3. Be more adventurous. This has to do with life in general and with trying new foods. I want to be less picky with what I eat. I just read Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain, and it made me think about how my food is created in restaurants and how much work goes into my meal. I want to develop the philosophy that the chef chooses the ingredients to go in the particular dishes, so I should trust them and not ask for dishes to be served without an ingredient. 

4. Read 30 books. In 2014, I read 25 books. This count included the books I read for school and the books that I read for pleasure. I have chosen to challenge myself to read 30 books in 2015. I log what I have read on my Goodreads account, which encourages me to actually complete the challenge. 

5. Explore D.C.. This one is pretty self explanatory. I want to go to all the Smithsonian museums, find new restaurants with great lunch deals, and coffee shops with free internet and fantastic coffee drinks. 

6. Eat better and exercise more. I feel like everybody says this every year, but I am still going to try. I want to take a fitness class at the gym at school because then I feel obligated to go and exercise. The eating better is a bit harder because it is so easy to eat EasyMac or dessert from the cafeteria. This is where the cooking more comes into play because then I can cook healthier and more balanced meals.  

And those are my 2015 new years resolutions! What are yours? Thanks for reading!

Love,

Kara

Happy New Year!

I cannot believe that 2014 is already over. So much happened in the past 12 months to my family and me. I went to France (Perigueux to be exact) in March, Playlist Live a week later, graduated from high school in May, drove up and down the East Coast in May then in July, went to LeakyCon in Orlando in July/August, started college in Washington D.C in August, spent my last Thanksgiving in Florida, helped my family move from Florida to Massachusetts three weeks ago, and then we celebrated our first Christmas in our new house last week. I want to thank everyone that has been a part of my life this year. I had a great 2014, and I have every hope that 2015 will hold even more adventure and fun. Here are some of my favorite photos from this year!

Taken during my amazing trip to Perigueux, France 

Last spring break in WDW for a while! Glad to have spent it with my parents, sister, and Aunt Linda. 

Graduation! Can't believe that high school is over!

Beginning of the road trip to Boston. And South of the Border was an experience to say the least. 

Pit stop in D.C., exploring the new home!

First day of the summer in Boston, one of my all time favorite cities. 

Duck face and new ombré hair. 

From the Met in NYC. One of my favorite museums!

Chocolate gelato on a hot day in the city, need I say more? 

The beautiful Leighton Meester after the fantastic play adaptation of Of Mice and Men

Taken after a delicious meal at Jean Georges with my Aunt Kathleen. A meal I will never forget. 

Gorgeous tea with Mom at the Taj in Boston

A few days before orientation for college!

Spending time with my sister is always fun!

One of my favorite restaurants in D.C.: Jaleo!

Connecting with my inner kid in a park this summer

Revisiting my old camp, Camp Bernadette, while dropping Emma off for her first year there!

Leaving Boston (through New York) to go back home to Tampa

A beautiful shot of Charleston, SC from the top floor of a parking garage.

Impromptu trip to EPCOT and meeting up with Dale!

When Mom and I prepared an afternoon tea for my friends and their mothers. So much fun!

Meeting Hannah Hart (My Drunk Kitchen) was definitely a highlight! 

Mary Kate Wiles and Matthew Glick (from The Lizzie Bennet Diaries) was another highpoint of LeakyCon!

Nick Lang (member of Starkid) and I at LeakyCon. Cannot believe I met him!

Emma and I at the One Direction concert in MA! 

Start of my Freshman year at college!

Had a great day at the American Girl Place with my roommate and her sister!

Beautiful sunset from the Capitol!

Christmas tree on Christmas Day. I had a great Christmas! How was yours?

Trying to ice skate this past Monday. Started off shaky, but ended strong!

And that was my year! I hope you had a great 2014! Thank you so much for reading my blog this year, it really means the world to me. I hope that I will keep writing in the coming year. Is there anything that you guys want to see me write about?

Have a great new year!

Love,

Kara

A Sunset and A Christmas Tree in D.C.

The past week and a half has been busy. Mom and I have been unpacking box after box since all of our stuff got to the new house last Tuesday. Dad and Emma got here on Saturday, and then it was the full sprint to Christmas. Now it is Christmas Eve and we are baking cookies, wrapping last minute gifts, and assembling gingerbread houses. 

But before the movers arrived and before I even got to Boston, my friends and I decided go to downtown D.C., and see the different Christmas decorations. First we went to the Madison building to get library cards for the Library of Congress. It was a super easy and I can’t wait to explore the library.

A statue of James Madison in the Madison Building

Even though the Library was closed, we went outside of the building and took some great photos of the sun setting.

As we walked towards the Christmas tree in front of the Capitol Building, the sun got closer to the horizon and the colors got more vivid and bright. 

The views from the front of the Capitol Building were magnificent with the entire National Mall before us. 

Then the sky got dark enough for the Christmas tree to turn on!

It got a bit chilly after that, so we hurried off to dinner at the Shake Shack in Penn Quarter. I had the special salted caramel hot chocolate, which warmed me up on the cold night. It was a great last night in downtown D.C. before we all headed back home for the holidays. 

Now I am home and surrounded by my family, the perfect recipe for Christmas. Our tree is up, lit, and decorated. There are lights and a wreath in front of the house. And most importantly, a great majority of the boxes are unpacked!

Until next time,

Kara