WCW Update: Bri Griggs

Happy Wednesday! It's time for a WCW Update! Let's chat with a WCW alum, remember... Bri Griggs?!

Here's a note from our girl, Bri:

KJB! HELLO!!!

Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it’s been 2 years since our initial interview!  Your blog has grown beautifully, and I am so honored to continue to be a member of the KJB Meets World Family.  Thank you!

Let’s talk!  Since 2016, I felt the pull to create something relatable for people to see their lives through the principles in the Bible.  Accepting the challenge to create this, I worked diligently to create a publication that I felt people could relate to and wrote my first book and journal combination called Let’s Grow!  

A little about my book, I wrote about personal experiences I had in my life that reflected what we call The Fruits of The Spirit.  The Fruits of The Spirit are Biblical Principles that should be reflected in daily life.  The Bible says this: Galatians 5: 22-23a, but the fruits of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Gentleness, Faith, Meekness, and Self-Control.  Each of these represents a chapter in my book.  I wanted the readers to see my life and notice similarities in theirs which in-turn, would give them a glimpse of hope that God is real and can do amazing things in them as well.  Sharing this was challenging and I doubted myself quite often but knowing that this book is a resource to help someone else is well-worth it.  On March 4^th at 5pm, I am hosting my Official Book Launch and Signing at 790 Easter Ave. Akron, OH 44307 - Door#2.  I am so excited to share this with all who come! 

Thank you again for this amazing platform, I wish you the very best always!  One last thing, can you give Thomas a big hug from me; such an adorable boy!  Talk to you both soon, all my love!!

For anyone who’d like to know more information or to order this book please visit my website www.bngriggs4.wixsite.com/mysite or call (330) 572-8104.

I wish more than anything that I could be attending this weekend, but being across the country... foiled those plans!

Best wishes,

KJB

KJB About Town: San Francisco

The first time I went to San Francisco, my family was moving from California to Ohio. San Francisco was our last stop in California before continuing on to Oregon where we then began our cross country road trip.

It say I was excited to go back to San Francisco as an adult would be an understatement.

I went to downtown San Francisco for Happy Hour on my birthday (Tuesday, 13th) with the Bay Area Alumnae group. Then on Saturday, I met an Omega sister that lives in LA in San Francisco!

Thomas and I were able to spend the day with my sister, her boyfriend and their dog, Winston!

We went to Chrissy Field, Palace of Fine Arts and then Ghirardelli Square, afterwards we walked around Fisherman's Wharf.

Palace of Fine Arts

It's crazy that now that I live in California, and Northern California at that, I can go to such an iconic city on a whim.

Treasure Island Sundae

It was a great Saturday in San Francisco! Cannot wait to go back and see the Painted Ladies!

xo,

KJB

KJB’s Lent Promises

I think it’s safe to say that 2017 seemed to go on forever so imagine the surprised that January 2018 has gone on for years. Seriously you have to have seen all the memes. 

So naturally it took me awhile to get on the resolutions or rather habit changing. So I spent my Wednesday adding eight blue boxes to my planner so I can do a water log for the year. Knowing that with all my good intentions that I probably will fall off the wagon but I’ll try to keep it going. 

Then I started to think about Lent, my friend is giving up being petty and being a group of my best friends and myself call ourselves, Team Petty, it’s literally never happening. So then I consider giving up sweets and then I realize that Lent 1) begins on Valentine’s Day and 2) I stopped depriving myself of stuff I want 3) freshman year’s lent experience. Then there’s the fact that I could not drink anything besides water (freshman year) but then there’s just so much time in between and i have no self control when I really want something. I get the premise of Lent but I don’t think this will be the year to jump back in the saddle. 

My pastor once pointed out that you don’t have to give something up for Lent you could pick something up- so while I wanted to get stronger after seeing Wonder Woman and I did some things, after watching a Buzzfeed video- I’m gonna do 100 squats a day for 40 days. 

Starting to do the 8 glasses a day was a start and I think this will be a great way to jump start me getting back into the swing of working out regularly, I haven’t had a routine since 2013 so why not do it for Jesus in 2018. 

xo,

KJB

EDIT: I began my Valentine’s Day with the 100 squats and let me tell you- this is about to be a long 40 days! 

WCW: Alaina's Run

Happy Woman Crush Wednesday! Here's an update from Alaina Pinto!

IT'S HAPPENING! I'm running the BOSTON MARATHON for the Ronald McDonald House of Boston Harbor! I hope you can help me on this journey - both running and *more importantly* RAISING! My goal is to raise $10,000+ for this wonderful organization. Any contribution is appreciated ❤️ click on the link to donate! THANK YOU SO MUCH! 

Here's what Alaina had to say:

Hi Friends! I never thought I would run a marathon. In fact, I thought I would be crazy to consider it! Here I am, it's 2018, and I am running the Boston Marathon - I guess I'm a little crazy... it's fine. Typically, for this race, you must qualify for it OR you can apply to join a charity team. That's what this sloth runner is doing. I'm running and raising for the Ronald McDonald House of Boston Harbor. I AM THRILLED AND ALSO TERRIFIED. I don't know what I'm more afraid of, running 26.2 or raising $10,000 for the house that love built. Either way, I will accomplish both. (Insert shameless plug, here, asking for donations by following this link).
As of the first of February, I have been running, or working out, almost every day, eating well and have completed 8 miles as my longest trek with some hill training mixed in. I have two full months to get my longest run to 23 before race day. I got this. Honestly, my biggest accomplishment has been staying sober the entire month of January and I will continue to stay sober until Patriots' Day which is Monday, April 16.
I wouldn't be able to do this without the RMHC team and my boyfriend who is running the marathon with me. I imagine we will cross the finish line and kiss. Swoon. I have heard from many Boston Marathon finishers that crossing the finish line is one of the best and most memorable feelings in their entire life - will I feel that way? Stay tuned. 

Feel free to make donations here and show our WCW alum some love!

Run, Alaina, Run!

xo,

KJB

Follow Alaina's journey here:

Instagram

KJB’s Mardi Gras Dreams

Aside from Christmas and my birthday, my favorite holiday is Mardi Gras. I can’t explain it but I’ve never wanted to experience anything more in my life than Bourbon Street in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. 

When I turned 18, I had the brilliant idea that a group of my friends and myself should go to Canada, so we could imbibe and then head to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. In 2010, it coincided with President’s Day so we could’ve had basically a five day weekend. It was a brilliant idea that didn’t come to fruition... who did I think I was to think I had the money to go to Canada and New Orleans... even at 18, I wanted to be a jet setter I guess. 

This year, I thought it was finally MY year! Chicago is back to Columbus and my sorority big (we share a birthday) loves the movie and has never seen the play. So I naturally thought we could do that and then- Mardi Gras is finally back to not only being near our birthday but actually ON OUR BIRTHDAY! So the plan was for us to go to New Orleans for a few days. But of course, I moved across the country and she’s in grad school and work so it definitely isn’t happening this year. But rest assured it’s happening eventually! 

So thanks to this I now know the dates of Mardi Gras until 2027, and guess what- February 13, 2024 is our next chance for Mardi Gras to be on the same day! It’s in 6 years, I’ll be 32 and I’m hyped. 

My big also pointed out We can go for a few days in 2021 ... our birthday, Valentine’s Day and discount candy day followed by Mardi Gras. That’s only 3 years out! I’ll be turning 29 and it’ll be her dirty 30! It’ll be perfect and hopefully by then- we won’t have some BS adulting responsibilities that’ll keep me from the dream! 

So catch us in NoLa in 2021!

xo,

KJB

KJB is Turning 26!

Tomorrow is my 26th birthday, it honestly seems unreal! 

At 24, I celebrated my birthday with friends in akron after defiling my best friends’ bathroom and ending my love of Taco Bell and fireball. 

Followed by a really painful night in Cleveland. Being hungover is hard af.

I still remember being excited about turning 25, because it obvi meant a new ID— lucky for me, I moved and got another new ID cause the one last year left a lot to be desired. At 25, I celebrated my birthday with my mom at California Pizza Kitchen and then had a luncheon with my friends at Hilton Downtown Columbus. 

This year I’m celebrating 26 in another state and with my dog! So I started celebrating Sunday night by treating myself to Red Lobster! Yum! Today, Monday, I’m going to get a pedicure and then some birthday balloons. Tuesday, the main event, there’s  an alumnae event in San Francisco for Happy Hour and it seems promising. Then there’s Valentine’s Day and whatever shenanigans I can come up with and then this weekend for Presidents’ Day a friend is gonna be in San Francisco so Thomas and I are meeting her for a day! 

I’ve never celebrated my birthday alone before. Though since turning 25 and going on tons of solo adventures including moving across the country, I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable with solitude. 

Funny how things can change. 

Happy Birthday to Me, KJB!

xo,

KJB

KJB Tries Bumble BFF

I always thought “don’t date in high school” cause you don’t want to take that with you to college. Then I went to college and thought “don’t date in college” because you don’t have to have a reason to stay in akron. All of this was in an attempt to not have any reason not to move back to California. As if my “total lack of allure didn’t shoot that horse in the face” first.

Recently I’ve realized how much I miss my Ohio friends and realize that they’re the people that would make me want to be closer. Interesting. Though I know that they would always be in my life. Once you’ve been in the trenches with someone it’s hard to lose them as friends.

Now comes the struggle of making new friends in my new city. Friendships in adulthood aren’t that easy. But here’s hoping Bumble is good for something especially if it’s Bumble BFF.

xo,

KJB