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SOCIAL MEDIA

It's sort of become an annual tradition to take a cruise over Thanksgiving weekend! With a family business you have to take family trips during times when the office is closed, so we've sort of settled on the end of November. 

We were counting the number of cruises my family has been on together, and I think we ended up saying 11 or 12! Still my favorite one was that very first one when I was 12. It was all new and exciting! 

This year's cruise definitely makes the top of the list though! We took along the two other people who work with our family and their families. I think the group you go with makes all the difference! I like that we all do things together, but are also totally cool with everyone doing their own thing. 

We sailed on the Carnival Fantasy, an older but still nice ship. It seemed like it had been updated recently. Our only port of call was Cozumel, Mexico, which is definitely a favorite! We took an excursion to Chankanaab Park and had so much fun. The park had so much to do. Our favorites were the Tequila tasting and the swim up bar. We actually learned quite a bit about tequila. They told us that if we drink it with salt and lime we are doing it wrong! News to me. 

After getting seasick on last year's cruise, I was thrilled to sail on calmer seas. In fact I think Blake wasn't looking forward to this trip because of how rough it was last time. As we were going to bed the first night he said it was already better than last time, so that made me feel better. 

We are so happy to be home now. I missed my puppies so much! Although, being disconnected for a few days was really refreshing. When I finally got on Instagram I noticed that I scrolled right past several people's posts. That was the signal for me to unfollow. It's probably really good to do that once in awhile! 

I'll leave you with a few of the highlights: 













Cruise 2016

Tuesday, November 29, 2016


  1. Coffee or tea? I don't drink coffee! I never developed a taste for it. I love a cup of hot tea, but I drink iced tea every day! 
  2. Black and white or color? Color, definitely
  3. Drawings or paintings?  Paintings.
  4. Dresses or skirts? Hard to say, since I wear both a lot! Dresses, because they feel fancier.
  5. Books or movies? I love to read, but movies!
  6. Pepsi or Coke? Coke...but I'm currently not drinking soda.
  7. Chinese or Italian? Italian, with lots of garlic bread.
  8. Early bird or night owl? I'm completely a early bird. In bed by 9 typically.
  9. Chocolate or vanilla?  Chocolate.
  10. Introvert or extrovert?  ENFJ..the introverted extrovert.
  11. Hugs or kisses? I guess it depends on who's doing the hugging and kissing!
  12. Hunting or fishing?  Neither. 
  13. Winter or summer? Summer. I hate how dry everything is in the winter. I feel all shriveled up. 
  14. Spring or fall?  Fall. It is nice to have a break from the Floridian heat.
  15. Rural or urban? Somewhere in-between. I hate traffic, but have to have a bit of culture. 
  16.  PC or Mac?  PC.
  17. Tan or pale? Tan! The healthy kind...
  18. Cake or pie?  Cake.
  19. Ice cream or yogurt?  Moose Tracks Ice Cream
  20. Ketchup or mustard?  Tons and tons of ketchup
  21. Sweet pickles or dill pickles?  Dill! I hate sweet pickles actually. 
  22. Comedy or mystery? How about both?
  23. Boots or sandals?  Sandals.
  24. Silver or gold? Gold, always thought so!
  25. Jazz or classical? Classical. 
  26. Dancing or singing?  I'm a terrible singer and dancer..but dancing is more fun!
  27. Checkers or chess? Checkers.
  28. Board games or video games? Board games.
  29. Wine or beer?  Wine...but sometimes I want beer, so I dunno.
  30. Freckles or dimples? Both!
  31. Honey mustard or BBQ sauce?  Honey mustard.
  32. Body weight exercises or lifting weights?Both! 
  33. Baseball or basketball?  Baseball probably.
  34. Crossword puzzles or sudoku? I can only do crosswords if they are in People magazine.
  35. Facial hair or clean shaven? Clean shaven, but sometimes a little scruff is nice.
  36. Crushed ice or cubed ice?  Crushed...Zaxby's has the best ice.
  37. Skiing or snowboarding?  I've only ever snowboarded.
  38. Smile or game face?  Smile.
  39. Bracelet or necklace? Necklace.
  40. Fruit or vegetables?  Both!
  41. Sausage or bacon?  Sausage. 
  42. Scrambled or fried? Uh...either! 
  43. Dark chocolate or white chocolate? Dark, white is disgusting. 
  44. Tattoos or piercings?  Neither. I don't even wear earrings anymore, hah!
  45. Antique or brand new?  A mix of both old and new. 
  46. Dress up or dress down? I love dressing up, but can't wait to get in comfy clothes later.
  47. Cowboys or aliens? Uh? Cowboys I guess. 
  48. Cats or dogs? Pugs!
  49. Pancakes or waffles?  Waffles.
  50. Bond or Bourne? Bond..but i'm not really crazy about him either. 
  51. Sci-Fi or fantasy? Sci Fi
  52. Numbers or letters?  Letters.
  53. Star Wars or Star Trek?  Ah! I actually really like both.
  54. Fair or theme park? The fair is so weird. 
  55. Money or fame? Money duh. 
  56. Washing dishes or doing laundry? Geeze. Laundry I guess. 
  57. Snakes or sharks? Sharks. but from a distance. 
  58. Orange juice or apple juice? Apple. 
  59. Sunrise or sunset? Sunsets.
  60. Slacker or over-achiever? Definitely an over achiever. 
  61. Pen or pencil?  Pen.
  62. Peanut butter or jelly?  Peanut butter! Tons of it. 
  63. Grammys or Oscars? Oscars, but I only watch for the clothes. 
  64. Detailed or abstract? Detailed.
  65. Multiple choice questions or essay questions? Multiple choice.
  66. Adventurous or cautious?  I'd like to be adventurous, but I'm probably cautious. 
  67. Saver or spender? Working on being a saver!
  68. Glasses or contacts? Glasses. 
  69. Laptop or desktop?  Desktop, actually. I work a lot better at a desk. 
  70. Classic or modern? Classic! 
  71. Personal chef or personal fitness trainer? That's the hardest question ever. Trainer, I think.
  72. Internet or cell phone? Internet. 
  73. Call or text? Texting over all, but I do love chatting on the phone. 
  74. Curly hair or straight hair? Definitely straight. 
  75. Shower in the morning or shower in the evening? In the morning
  76. Spicy or mild? Mild! I hate having an upset stomach. Not worth it.
  77. Marvel or DC? Ah! I like Superman the best, so...
  78. Paying a mortgage or paying rent? Rent! We are homeowners now, but we won't do it again.
  79. Sky dive or bungee jump? Neither. Never!
  80. Oreos or Chips Ahoy? Oreos
  81. Jello or pudding? Pudding. 
  82. Truth or dare? Truth.
  83. Roller coaster or Ferris wheel? Roller Coaster. 
  84. Leather or denim? Uh...I don't know. Obviously a leather bag, because denim would be gross. But leather pants would be a no. 
  85. Stripes or solids? Stripes. Specifically navy and white. 
  86. Bagels or muffins? Bagels! 
  87. Whole wheat or white? Whole wheat. I like the grainy taste. 
  88. Beads or pearls? Pearls. Pugs & Pearls!
  89. Hardwood or carpet? Hardwood with pretty rugs. 
  90. Bright colors or neutral tones? Brights!!
  91. Be older than you are or younger than you are? I guess younger, but I like where I'm at. 
  92. Raisins or nuts? Nuts.
  93. Picnic or nice restaurant? Picnics are great, but I love going out to eat.
  94. Black leather or brown leather? Brown leather.
  95. Long hair or short hair? Long! Growing mine.
  96. “Ready, aim, fire” or “Ready, fire, aim”? Ready, aim, fire. I've never heard of the other. 
  97. Fiction or non-fiction? Fiction.
  98. Smoking or non-smoking? Non!!
  99. Think before you talk or talk before you think? Think...but I never do.
  100. Asking questions or answering questions? I LOVE asking, but I know I do more answering. 
Leave a comment below if you agree! I'd love to hear your answers!

Either Or...

Monday, November 21, 2016

The first organized race I ever ran was a 10k. I think I was a sophomore in High School, and my aunts convinced my family to sign up for our first race. No one had ever ran before and we had NO idea what we were getting into. I think I walked 75% of it. I have a very distinct memory of my cousin and I not being able to get off our front porch step a few hours later. So, that race doesn't count! 

My first REAL 10k was this past weekend in Jacksonville! Those same aunts and I ran the Bailey's Mandarin 10k on Saturday. My sister and I started running together a few months ago and I signed up for this race hoping it would keep me accountable. I wish I had prepared better, but I am still so proud of myself. 



I did not run the whole thing, but I was able to go farther than I thought. When I got tired I ran/walked. It was pretty humiliating to be running next to a 100 year old man with bowed legs and a knee brace. He was seriously out running me, but it was his walk breaks that kept us in the same pack of the race.  



The run was in a really nice neighborhood, and you even got to glimpse the water on one loop. The temperature was really nice. I wore shorts, a short sleeve shirt and puffer vest. The vest is so great, but I wanted to take it off around mile 4, and without sleeves you can't tie it around your waist. I thought about stashing it and coming back for it. It really wasn't all that hot, but it's such a mental sport at that point and you want to get rid of anything to help you along. 



Mile 5 was SO difficult, but 6 was great. My aunt ran back to sweep me in and she really motivated me on the last leg. I got a real medal at the finish, and my aunt gave me a 10k magnet for my car. The satisfaction is unreal and I think that's the real runner's high. 


We celebrated with breakfast at First Watch, which was only enjoyable after I threw up in the bathroom. I don't know what happened, but I guess those bananas did not sit well with me. I felt so much better after that and I gobbled up a Belgian waffle. After breakfast we got pedicures, which may have been the best thing I have ever done. That is going to be a new ritual for me after a run. It was heavenly. I really only get my feet done for special occasions, like a wedding or something, but now I'm thinking a race is definitely a special occasion!


I am really proud of myself, but at the same time I wasn't thrilled with my time. Those seconds count. I want to improve my endurance and try to get a little faster. I don't mind being a slower runner, but I don't know why I'm so slow with the length of my legs. My aunts gave me some good tips and they really inspired me. 

I'm still pretty sore, but I can't wait to get back running this week. I want to keep the momentum going! Leave a comment below if you've ever done a 10k, or have any good running tips! I'll take all the help I can get. 

My First REAL 10K - Bailey's Mandarin Run 2016

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Ah, what a fun night this was! We went to downtown Gainesville for a date night, and unbeknownst to our group a heavy metal music festival was going on at the same time. It's happening more and more frequently that I'm in situations that make me feel so old! 










I'm wearing my favorite jewelry with this outfit. I love my stack of arm candy and it seems to make every outfit feel a bit more special. I've been eyeing a Kendra Scott necklace, but I don't want to pay for one...so I found a great dupe on Etsy

SheIn strikes again! We've all seen the great Stitch Fix pin, with this top - but of course that not what I got when I tried Stitch Fix. SheIn's version, I'm sure, is lower quality, but I got the look for less!

This post contains affiliate links!

Date Night

Monday, November 14, 2016

I can't wait to share this amazingly easy recipe with you! A month or so ago I was randomly sent a Good Housekeeping magazine in the mail. I don't subscribe to any magazines, so I'm not sure why I got it. The recipes included in the issue looked so good! Usually I only see 1 recipe that looks worth making, but I was surprised that I was interested in a couple of them. One week we ended up making 5 recipes from the magazine! 

One of them stood out above the rest, and that's what I'm sharing with you now. It's a 20 minute dinner, and pretty simple. I'm trying to introduce more vegetarian meals into our routine, and this one may be my favorite. 

asian sesame noodles recipe

Here's what you do:

Cook 12 oz linguine according to package directions. 

Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons sesame oil in a large skillet. Add 1 bunch of thinly sliced scallions, and 2 cups shredded carrot. Cook for about 5 minutes. 

Add 1 bunch of chopped rainbow chard and cook for 2 minutes, stirring. 

Add 3 large beaten eggs to the skillet, and cook for an additional 2 minutes. 

Stir in cooked linguine, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoons molasses and 1/2 tsp pepper. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring and tossing. 

Garnish with sesame seeds, and enjoy!

We've enjoyed having Schwan's Pot Stickers with this dish! Although they are not vegetarian. 

According to Good Housekeeping this noodle dish is 495 calories, 16 grams protein, and 6 grams fiber per serving. Serves 4. 

Leave a comment below if you end up making it! I'd love to hear your recent favorite recipes, and how you feel about magazine subscriptions. 


Asian Sesame Noodles

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

I fired my disgruntled Instagram husband! Blake usually takes my outfit photos for me, and he was less than enthusiastic about that. I hope this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship between me and my photographer (and friend!) Chabeli. She is an amazing wedding photographer, who retook our wedding photos earlier this year! 








 Old Brooks Brothers Ballet Flats // Nails

Photos by: Black Tie Cinema

I've been dying to wear this outfit for weeks! Florida is still much to warm to embrace fall style. Which is so unfortunate because it is my favorite fashion season! It may be still yet be a few weeks before I can actually wear this out and about. 

Vests are so popular with bloggers, but it's easy to see why.  Throwing one one adds a cute layer, but I love that it's not too bulky and it still allows me to freely move around. When it gets cooler it will be so simple to add boots and a scarf to this look. I've been coveting this vest since last year, so I finally treated myself when it went on sale a few weeks ago. I still may by the other colors too!

Also, you guys have to check out SheIn, where I got this top. It was SO cheap, but I was still very pleasantly surprised with the quality. 

This post contains affiliate links!

J Crew Puffer Vest

Monday, November 7, 2016

You guys just come here for the pug pictures anyway, right?! Because they are constantly being cute, I'm always snapping a picture here and there on my phone. Here are a few recent ones I thought were cute enough to share. Stay to the end to read about why Winston is in a cone! 










Little Winston (aka Winny) has been in a cone for a little over a week. He hates it so much! After his visit to the vet with Fred (who was with us for his shots too!) his right eye was very droopy and watery. I wasn't really worried about it at first because I assumed he was just allergic to something from the vet or his shot. But the next day his eye wouldn't open at all, and then the following morning it was completely clouded. I started googling and that was a huge mistake. I convinced myself his eye was going to have to be removed and he was going to go blind. This further proves to me I shouldn't have any kids! I will worry myself to death.

The vet was so very happy to charge us an emergency fee, but it was worth it to be reassured he wasn't going to be a pirate pug. Turns out he had 2 very small punctures on his eyeball. Mostly likely from playing with his brother, but it could have been anything.  I didn't know this, but eyeballs don't bleed! The cloudiness was indeed a leak, but not blood. He's on a couple of medicines and he has to wear the cone of shame so he doesn't rub it. I could see a huge improvement after the medicine, and he doesn't seem bothered by his eye at all. The vet said he will probably have a scar on his eye and may not be able to see out of that small spot. Pug's eyes are so prominent and vulnerable, I think this happens a lot. 

He isn't looking too happy in this picture, but the photo above this paragraph was actually taken a few days later and it already looks pretty much healed. Still a bit cloudy, but not nearly as bad. We have to take the cone off for him to eat, drink and go outside. Poor thing has basically been in puppy jail! He can't really even play rough with us, just in case. He already wants to chew everything, so he's been extra hyper since we are keeping him restrained.




We do miss Fred! He is such a handsome pug too.  He is happily living with our cousins, about a block away. I can't imagine having 4 dogs at this point...3 is already a huge handful. It's been a challenge to train Winston with Delly and Bailey competing for the treats. It's hilarious actually. Winston is working on "Go in your Kennel!" and Delly will run right in, even though she hasn't even seen that thing in 5 years. 

Leave me a comment: Do you Google everything too? Are you here just for the pugs, haha!


Puppy Picture Dump

Thursday, November 3, 2016


Hello!

Hi friends! I'm Kristen, and this is the Life and Style of an early 30's Floridian living the Best Life Ever, with her husband and three pugs. Runner | Avid Reader | Small Shop Owner

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