Hallo from Berlin...

So, I know that I said I would post more often, but being a nanny for a 10-year-old girl is quite time consuming. Anyhow, I am here in Berlin and I have really fallen in love with this city. It is truly an amazing place. There are so many young people and believe it or not, they have great style. People for the most part are really friendly and I am even learning some German; ok, well at least enough to get me by. I have been here for 3 weeks and 2 days and have done a lot. I have seen a Picasso up close and personal, realized Dali's sick obsession with women, their parts and drawers, buildings that were ruined by WWII bombings, the horrifying Nazi past and the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, the Brandenburg Tor, pieces of the Berlin Wall, the Tiergarten that makes Central Park look like a corner park and the Charlottenburg Palace. I have been to lots of museums and have learned a lot about Germany's past.


Berlin is such a beautiful city. I love it because the public transportation is so convenient and easy. EVERYONE rides bikes here and they have the right of way in all situations. We got bikes at a local flea market, so we are fitting in quite nicely. Berlin is quite large, but I can also walk almost anywhere worth going. Berliners LOVE parks. There are fields of grass everywhere and ther are always people lounging there. They read, eat, chat make out or just sit there. It is really quite relaxing; I have gone and just relaxed on the grass and read. That is something that people in L.A. don't do. Life is slower paced here, and it is more about the quality of life. I have slowed down too and now stop to admire the beauty in things. It has been nice because I am really absorbing so much of this place.
Where I am living is called Potsdamer Platz. This is where the big play theatres are and there is also a casino right across the street. There are tons of restaurants all around and there is a Mc Donalds at the corner, which is always busy. The food isn't too bad here, but their pastries blow America's out of the water. I have tried the things that Germany is known for like an apple strudel which was so yummy, a Hefeweizen (had about 3 sips and couldn't do anymore. I really don't like beer), and I have had lots of German chocolate. The only things I haven't tried are bratwurst or pork schnitzel; I don't eat pork so I don't know if I can bring myself to actually try them. The one thing I want to eat before I leave is what they call a "Berliner," which is a doughnut filled with jam and covered with sugar. Lucky me I have five more days before we leave, so I think I can squeeze that one in.


I have really been enjoying my time here. I'm really excited though for the next chapters of my Summer. We leave here on the 31st and go home for 12 days. I am going out to visit Nick and then off to nanny in Paris for two and a half weeks. After Paris we are going to Boston until I have to come home and start school. The girl I am nannying for is great. It is really hard to have to care for a kid and not have very much time to myself, but I am learning a lot and gaining some good patience. I am lucky though because she is really a great kid.

So that is it for now. I will update the tale of my travelling Summer from on the road with Nick. Until next time choos! (<-- it's the German version of Ciao!)

Toto, I Think We Are in Kansas...

So, I arrived in Tulsa Oklahoma at 2:30am and got to witness some pretty heavy rain fall and some really neat lightening. It was neat, but I won't lie, it was a little scary. We don't get that type of storm in Los Angeles. The sky lit up like it was daytime every time the lightening struck. I didn't get to bed until 3:45 and was up at 9:20 cause the clock was an hour off and bus call was at 11am; we woke up thinking it was 10:20.

11am rolled around and we set out for Kansas. I never thought places like this really existed in the United States. There was literally one farm every couple of miles, random herd of cattle and every now and again some horses. Sitting at the front of the bus I felt like I was in one of those videos of people chasing tornadoes. I was just waiting for some funnel to drop from the sky and see a huge tornado form, but fortunately for us no such thing happened.

We got to the venue, The Cotillion, in Wichita Kansas where the show is tonight. It is such a neat place; I was expecting some fine ballroom where I could grab Nick and waltz the night away and that is what I got. I guess back in the day it was a ballroom and then in the 70's it was switched to a rollerskating rink and is now a concert hall. The stage looks like a mini Hollywood Bowl setting on a skating rink.

The show is now over and all I can say is that it was such a great hour and forty-five minutes. So much energy and love floats around a 311 show. Nick was just amazing and even busted out some new moves. I rock out in awe watching him; I am a lucky lady. Now it is time to head on out to St. Louis, so until tomorrow.

xxxo

The preface to the story of my Summer

You got to love Southwest Airlines! While the tickets are reasonably and comparably cheap, you got to wonder why it is and today I have figured it out: they have a whole staff of incompetent, not nice people working for them and while flying with them you might get a measly snack pack that consists of a bunch of dried out and unhealthy food. I know what you are thinking, "Kristin it is airplane food"! But come on, we wonder why America is so obese and yet everywhere a person turns there is unhealthy food or a McDonalds: "Now Serving 1 billion."

Yes I am a bitter Betty today because I started my day at 6a.m. and it is not 7:31pm and I am stuck at Phoenix airport because of a bunch of incompetent people at the lovely Southwest Airlines. I initially boarded a plane today at 11:45 and sat on it until about 12:30 at which time they figured out they couldn't fix the computer that was broken on the plane. REALLY!? I mean come on, didn't they think of the full plane of people before they loaded us on the plane like a bunch of cattle and thought to maybe put us on a different plane considering our plane was meant to leave at 12:10, then try and fix the problem before a flight that leaves at like I don't know, 3pm? Noooo, that would have been way too easy. So, they unloaded us, like the cattle they thought we were, and told us to go to another gate. At this point it was 1:15 and I knew I would be missing my connecting flight to Tulsa from Kansas City and so I went to the counter to try to see if I could catch another flight somewhere that would direct me to Tulsa sometime before the days end. I came to find out that had I got on that Kansas City flight I would have been s.o.l. because there were no flights leaving until the next day. Awesome. After a zoo of people gathered at the new gate, panicking because of missed connection flights, I called Southwest to figure out someway for me to get to Tulsa tonight. I was very upset at this point because I missed Nick's show, which I was so super excited for, but at least I would still get to see him tonight. So they put those of us set out for Tulsa on a flight that connected in Phoenix and would arrive in Tulsa at 11pm. "Ok. I can dig," I thought; that was until I landed here and found out that the flight had been delayed due to storms and tornadoes and so now the flight isn't leaving until 10:15 and won't arrive in Tulsa until 2:15a.m June 27.

On a side note: I met a girl on the flight who was returning home from China. She was there for a year teaching English. If talking to her was why I was meant to get into this debacle then it was worth it because she inspired me. I mean she went into a completely different world (an Eastern society) and lived in a cement "house," in a coal town in a rural area of China. Now that takes guts. It helped me to believe in myself that I will be OK in Germany by myself this Summer and that it will only make me a stronger person.

Anyhow, it is now 7:45p.m. and I am sitting in a wheelchair near a plug-in writing this and hoping the time passes by. I am hungry, but torn because my choices are Wendy's, Mexican food or some Pub and Grill food. I know I am lucky that I even have a choice, and trust me I am grateful for that, but man I only wish there was a healthy choice. I guess that is too much to ask from an obese America.

So ciao for now. My travels continue and I will update from the road! xxxo

(NOTE: Not my picture. Not quite sure whose it is)

The Tale of the Travelling Summer

So, I know it has been about 3 months since the last post and all I can say is sorry. This summer though, y'all will be sick of how much I post because as of July 1, I will be a summer resident in Berlin, Germany. There are so many emotions that go along with this opportunity, but the one that is winning out is my excitement. I have never been to Europe and my first visit will be a long one; I will be there for 2 1/2 months. For the few of you who read this and the fewer that don't know, I will be a nanny for a 10 year-old girl, which couldn't be a more perfect age. Her name is Malina and she is as sweet as pie; we have already talked about all the activities we want to do. I will get some weekends off and when I do I want to go out and explore different places. Hopefully I will get to go see the Black Forest and buy a cuckoo clock!

The summer will be sort of lonely because I won't have anyone close to me with me to share all of the experiences with. The positive side to this though, is that it will be a great time for me to really find me and for me to grow as a person seperate from everything that I know and am comfortable with. I hopefully will also come back with some German under my belt. It is such a hard language to learn and tricky; it is after all the closest language to English and English is one of the hardest languages to learn (thanks Jen for this tidbit). I am also excited to see all the history there, the culture, the architecture, the art, the Berlin wall (or what is left of it) and everything else that is Germany.

I will miss all of my friends and family, but know that you will all be with me and don't worry because you will get to travel Berlin through the eyes of me. I will try and post very often and share lots of pictures with you all.

Guten Tag!

"[S]he who has health has hope. [S]he who has hope has everything"
-Arabian Proverb

Quote of the day...

I apologize for breaking my "quote of the day" cycle, but things have been crazy! Now that the tide has calmed, the quotes will return. Don't get too excited that the inspiration has cometh back! : )

The quote for today is just too perfect for me. It explains what is going on in my head and how I feel now that my flame of desire for Law school has returned! I hope that it inspires you or touches you that way it did me.

"There is a sense of exhilaration that comes from facing head-on the hard truths and saying, " We will never give up. We will never capitulate. It might take a long time, but we will find a way to prevail."
-- Jim Collins (author)



And just in case you are wondering why there is a picture of the Brooklyn Bridge attached to this quote, I took this picture and thought I did a pretty damn good job at it and also because the meaning of bridges. In ones path, there are many paths to cross. Some may be hard and ugly, but if you push forward you will get across. (I know, I am so inspirational! I even inspire myself! Hehe!)

A Spring break in My Step!

Soo, things are fabulous to say the least! I am officially on Spring Break and loving every bit of it! I mean of course I am running around constantly doing something, but it is something I enjoy doing. I am savoring every second of every day of this freedom.

I got to join my best friend Jenny to Southwestern Law School today, and it has rekindled my flame of desire to be a masochist and venture my way to Law school after I complete my undergrad at CSULA. I was so inspired by all 3 of her Professors who were just so damn intelligent. Of course they were using law terms that I couldn't understand and talking about Rule 11 and how attorney's abuse it, but I wasn't and still am not quite sure as to what it all means, but hopefully soon I will find out. It was just so nice, and all the people were really welcoming and 2 of the 3 Professors came to me and introduced themselves and talked to me, which made my experience all that better. For some reason, Law Professors have this reputation of being evil people with horns sticking out of their heads, and I can now confidentally say that they do not have horns and are quite nice. I also got a grand tour of the old Bullocks mall, which is now home of Southwestern Law School. It was so neat to imagine that at one time, it was such a new concept and such a fancy place. That building, at one time, was such an amazing place to shop and so full of class. They had a polo lounge, a women's sitting room, a nice cafe' and a DAMN nursery to drop their kids off so they could enjoy a peaceful shopping experience. The interior is all art deco and really why it is so fascinating to me, is because people had class and style back in the day. The surroundings of that mall was not a bunch of homeless people, and people who could care less about their community. The old Bullocks building, now Southwestern Law school just represents old L.A. and everything it embodied. I'm glad that whoever bought the building, turned it into a Law school and kept everything pretty much original; I mean they still have the perfume cases in the main lobby!!



All in all, my Spring break has started off just like I could have hoped for. I have a week and a day left and the sun is shining on me and I am taking it all in! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

The XXII Los Angeles Marathon

Sunday was the annual 22nd L.A. Marathon. No, I surely did not run it, but Nick did. It is such an amazing experience for the runner, but even for the observes/cheerleader like me! It is so surreal; there are 25,000 people of all age, race and shape. There were the "crankers," and the wheel chairs who both inspired me so much. They go 26.2 miles by hand! You thought running was tough!


Any thoughts of "could I ever do this" were completly belittled when I saw them. Then next came the Armed Forces who were running the 26.2 miles in their boots. Talk about foot pain; could you imagine running in those bulky, uncomfortable not to mention hideous things! But they did. Then the infamous Kenyans came jogging by warming up. Ok, these guys run a 5 minute mile the WHOLE ENTIRE way! The first guy crossed the finish line in 2 hours 17 minutes and 12 seconds. I mean really?


Now, this is for you Austen: the "Running Elvis'"! They ran all 26.2 miles in those hot outfits, blasting Elvis music while pushing a cart with Elvis' picture in the front.


The sea of people was really one of the most extraordinary things I have ever seen. It was unbelievalble how many people were filling Ventura Blvd; as far as the eye could see.



My most favorite thing of the day though was watching Nick. We got to the starting line and he had to do an interview for Channel 4 with Fritz Coleman. He was talking about Liberal Hexum and our cause: global warming. He is such a natural in front of the camera. Fritz was really excited about Liberal Hexum and did his homework on it. Here is Nick plotting about his victory in the Marathon, unfortunately during an interview while running through mile 12 he found out the first Kenyan had already finished! HA!


Then it was time to line up and all 25,000 people were off! The next time I saw Nick was at the half way mark, mile 13.1. Now, here is where it is a lot of fun to be a cheerleader/observer. The runners just get so much from seeing people like me cheering them on, calling them by the names on their bibs and encouraging them. It is so amazing to see how many people come out to support them. It really brings the communities together. I mean I was in the middle of Compton on Martin Luther King Blvd. and Vermont (the ghetto) and it was fine. No one bothered me and I blended in. So, Nick called me at mile 12 and let me know he needed to change socks and sweat bands, so I got it all ready for him with an energy drink, Crunk. Note: yes it is really called Crunk and I will give you a guess as to what rapper sponsors it... yes, it is Lil John! Ok, back to the marathon...




The next time I saw Nick was at mile 19 and for support I ran with him for a mile. During this mile I was thinking to myself, "hey maybe I can do this one year," and then I came to. Anyhow, it was great. Then Nick's brother Zack met me at mile 25 to cheer Nick on to the finish and we sure did; we ran with him to right before the finish line. Nick finished in 5 hours and 39 minutes; pulled calf muscle, not completely healed broken foot and all. Me? I probably would have crawled up like a baby with my thumb in mouth crying if that happened to me. But this is why it was Nick running the marathon and me cheering! All in all it was a great day and really inspiring. Maybe one day I will be crazy enough to train and go through it myself; it definitely seems like a life experience to cherish. Don't expect it too soon though!

Quote of the day...

There is only one success - to be able to spend your life in your own way.
- Anonymous

Can I get an Amen to that one? But if that is success then what is it I am doing? Right now I have two papers due on Thursday and another one due next week. That is not to count the endless pages of Dostoevsky, Poe, Whitman and Cortazar I have to read; when all I really want to do is snuggle up on my couch with my favortie delivery Chinese food at hand and watch all the new movies I have received on Netflix that I haven't been able to attend. I know it is just simply that I am at the end of Winter quarter, overwhelmed and very over the quarter. I am very much looking to my week and a half off and my quick visit to the Bay Area. Awesome vintage shopping here I come!! What is most sad about this whole thing is that I am already dreading next quarter. It tires a girl out! Quarter systems are bittersweet; I definitely prefer them to semesters, but the first day of class you are up and running; there is no smooth walking, your ass better be ready to go full fledge. Yes, it is my choice to be in school and really I am very grateful that I have the opportunity to get a great education and choose what it is I want to study, but I just need a good 2 month break. What will I do when I don't get things like "Spring Break" anymore? Good thing I am going to be in school for another 3 years at least! I guess when it comes down to it, I am successful and in 2 weeks I can snuggle on my couch and catch up on movies. At least then I will have a good excuse.


That is my cute little Jake'n Bake'n all cozy in his bed! And that will soon be me!!

Sex and the Beach

It isn't often that one can find a group of girlfriends who are truly so diverse, but through thick and thin will be there for one another no matter what; I am lucky enough to say that I have found that group of friends. We are all so different but we connect with one another on all different levels. We all know that no matter what is going on in each of our lives, we would all drop whatever it is to be there for one another. The brilliant Jenny came up with the idea to meet up once a month, no matter what, and all come together (Thanks Jen!), and this week was the first in our monthly girls brunch, lunch or dinner dates. We have all been so busy living life that we can't all find time to get together and months would pass and then someones birthday would pop up and then we could all come together, which is horse shit, so this is a way to stay connected and be like the girls on Sex and the City, but of course with our own flare. This month we met at James Beach in Venice which was oh so yummy! I got to see the wonderful Erica feeling overwhelmed trying to set up for a large party, but it is always nice to see a sweet soul. Anyhow, back to the lunch: I had such a good time laughing, gossiping and remembering old times. We have built so many memories over these 9 years and I know that we will continue to do so. I was looking at my girls and thinking to myself, "these are the girls that my children will grow up around and these are the girls I will be sitting with in 60 years when our hair is that awful purple from dying it ourselves." I am grateful for these three girls: Jenny, Natalie and Katie, thank you for being the greatest friends a girl could ever ask for.

Quote of the day...

"It's kind of fun to do the impossible."
-Walt Disney


How narcissistic does this sound? But, for some reason I LOVE IT! To me it means loving challenges and I must say I do love me a challenge! For me, to attempt something that is near impossible or even "impossible," is so fulfilling. Even just attempting to the the "impossible" is fulfilling because at least I took the risk; how could anyone know their own ability if they didn't try. With the risk of sounding like a complete cheese ball, I believe that nothing is impossible and Mr. Walt Disney is proof of this theory. He took his wildest dreams and made it into one of the most succesful enterprises in the world. He attempted the impossible and he took it by the horns and beat the crap out of it and had fun in doing so. So today, Walt Disney is my inspiration. I hope that this can in some way do the same for you.



Picture taken from: www.justdisney.com

Quote of the day...

"Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those
who dream only by night."
-Edgar Allen Poe

Always dream and dream big! The most successful people wouldn't be so successful if they didn't dream.

Quote of the day...

"Be not afraid of growing slowly,
be afraid only of standing still."
-Chinese proverb

This quote resonates so deeply with me. For so long I was so angry with myself that I hadn't graduated from college yet and I was so disappointed too. Now I realize that as long as I am moving forward, even at a slow pace, at least I am progressing and growing. I am not being idle and I am really enjoying my life. I am at a happy medium; I am not working too hard that I can't enjoy my wonderfully blessed life and I am not standing still taking my life and my mind for granted.

Life is a beautiful thing!

Quote of the day...

Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don't complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don't bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality . Wake Up and Live!
-Bob Marley

Spring Fashion 1.0

In celebration of today being an absolutely beautiful day, I have decided that it would be fun to post some of my favorite Spring fashions. Not that I can afford most of these designers clothing, but hey a girl can dream!

First up is one of my new favorite designers: 3.1 Phllip Lim.
He is so brilliant; he really has an eye for tasteful fashion. He is simple yet fabulous (exactly what I like).
I love that he keeps his patterns simple and choose soft colors. I'm not one for prints and he has very few styles with prints.
He definitely has taste that will stay relevant for a long time.









Next up is no other than my favorite rockstar fashionista: Gwen Stefani's line L.A.M.B.
Now really there are no words to express my love for this woman and her line. I mean her taste in style is immpecable. She is always one step forward in fashion. In viewing these pictures one must look past the hideous wig these models are wearing and for the most part, we need to look past the models themselves.


I had to leave out some great looks because the models were just too harsh for the eyes. Too bad I could never afford to buy her clothes, but I can still admire them for the fabulousness they embody.
















Now this next woman is the daughter of one of the greatest musician's ever and her eye for style is unbelievable. I have never seen something that she designed that I didn't love. It is none other than the fabulous Stella McCartney!





She too, uses solid colors and not a lot of print and if she does it isn't too busy. Her designs are original and could look good on any body type.




She is also a designer who is simple and fabulous! I love her and one day my closet will be throwing up with clothes from her!






So, that is all for now. But do stay tuned because there will be more to follow to give you good ideas for the up coming Spring season! For those of us who can't afford such things, thank God there are designers who rip these fabulous minds off to make a mock style for the less wealthy; like me! Ciao Bella!

All Photos by: Marcio Madeira

Hopefully the Next American Idol

So although I'm not sure how this works, but considering I will be talking and rooting for someone whom when I see him he says, "Kristin right?" I figure I can spread the word and the support without it getting him in trouble! But just in case: In no way is this a part of Fox network or Brandon Rogers or anything remotely close. Now that I got that cleared...

So, the exciting news is that a friend of Nick's and a close friend to his brother Zack, Brandon Rogers, is in the top 24 of American Idol!! This is so exciting because he truly is so talented and should have made it huge so long ago.



Now you all have to watch and root for him. Of course if you like him, which you BETTER!, you will have to support him by calling and voting for him. During his first audition he sang his own rendition of Elvis' "You Are Always On My Mind," and let me just tell you that it brought tears to my eyes. Not often does someone's singing do that to me.

It is such a breath of fresh air to know that someone who is so talented and truly works so hard at getting himself out there and living his dream, is actually getting a shot at proving himself and his undeniable talent.

So all of you out there is cyber land, tune in to American Idol and at least check him out.

GO BRANDON!!! Sing your heart out!

Quote of the day...

The greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising up every time we fall.
-- Confucius

Quote of the day...

"Ritual is necessary for us to know anything."
-Ken Kesey



This will be my new ritual: posting quotes of the day. Hopefully some will be inspirational, some will be heart wrenching and hopefully some will even be mind boggling. Any of the ways the quote of the day comes across, hopefully they will be fun! Thanks Mr. Kesey.

My first blog here!

Wow! All I need is a certain corner seat in the corner of the local Coffee Bean and I will feel like Perez Hilton! I mean seriously, I could do his job and more! Ahhh the life and time of the blog. I guess I had to jump on the train and create one for myself; even if nobody reads it. I'm not quite sure what the vibe will be about, but it will be simply fabulous!!! I might even begin to use my new camera and post some of my normy pictures. The first of the series is one I took in Florida of Melody Key at sunset. I must say I am not too shabby for a normy "photographer!" Austen might be proud!