KJB Has A Case of Wanderlust

My mom spent the majority of her adult life prior to my sister and I moving all over the country. So it's strange to me that my life has been spent in two places. I spent the first 10 years of my life in Southern California. It was beautiful and wonderful and I miss the people and the place every day. And now, I have lived in Ohio, for 12 years. And I'm starting to get the itch for change. I'm ready to move on and experience the world. 

With graduation being roughly 10 weeks away, I could not think of a better time to experience the world, here's a list of the places I dream of going:

NYC

Chicago

Charlotte

Charleston

Savannah

England (especially London)

Ireland

Scotland

Spain

Portugal

Greece

Italy

Egypt

Brazil

Punta Cunta

Florida

D.C. 

Puerto Rico

Costa Rica

Cabo San Lucas

Cancun

Argentina

Alabama

Quebec

Niagara Falls

Martha's Vineyard

The Hamptons

Boston

California

I want to parachute, cliff dive, zipline, see national treasures, meet new and interesting people. I want to experience all I can. The possibilities are endless. Life is often times is too short and I have all the time in the world to be a grown up. Why not experience as much as possible while I'm young, with little responsibilities, because this time where we can be selfless, is short when you think about it. 

There's plenty of time to settle down and be responsible. But I crave adventure. 

And adventure awaits.

xoxo

KJB

"Not all those who wander are lost."

KJB the Recruitment Guide

Last week was my final recruitment as an undergraduate and the first Bid Day that I've thoroughly enjoyed, I suppose you save the best for last!

Fall 2014, being my last semester I want to do everything that I am able to do, I want to make the most of my final semester. So last semester I applied to be a Rho Gamma for this year's formal recruitment. Along with going greek, this is one of the highlights of my college career. Disaffiliation was tough, but helping other women through this process and helping them find their homes and made me realize that no matter what I've been through these past few months, I wouldn't change this experience for the world, I've truly found my home with my friends and within my organization.

By deciding to go greek, I met some truly amazing and inspiring people that I am lucky enough to call friends and sisters. This Rho Gamma experience gave me a greater appreciation for my chapter along with the Panhellenic community as a whole.

Know you're not alone, we're gonna make this place your HOME

xoxo

KJB

Call a bitch, a Bitch

So the saying goes that deaths always come on 3s...

1) Robin Williams, whom I'm still recovering from

2) Lauren Bacall

And yesterday on the Queen's day (Beyonce's birthday) we lost another Queen...

The hilarious, the honest, the one of a kind, 

Joan Rivers. 

It wasn't a tragic death. She had been in the hospital for the last few weeks. She was 81, and suffered cardiac arrest. 

I'm not saying this isn't a great blow, to her friends and family, my thoughts an prayers are with her daughter, Melissa and her grandson, Cooper. 

But Joan Rivers, lived a full life and she made a , which is all any of us could hope for. 

Joan was in every form and sense of the word, a bitch. She owned it. She loved it. She made a living out of telling it like it is and never apologizing for that. 

Some may say she was crass and vulgar and she 100% was! She broke barriers and boundaries. She gave women a lot of what they have today. So while you may not like her, in which case, she wouldn't care, you still have to respect her. She earned it. 

She will be missed.

"I succeeded by saying what everyone else is thinking."

xoxo

KJB

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Fall Must Haves

Yesterday was the start of NYFW, so it only seems fitting to bring you my fashion must haves, my current obsessions if you will:

• Leather jacket
• Statement bag- currently I'm rocking a bag similar to a Longchamp
• Black knee high boots
• Brown riding boots✅
• Plaid
• Army/Olive green blouse
• Leather skater skirt
• Wool high waisted skater skirt
• High necked sleeveless blouse
• Blue and white/pink and white striped oxford blouse
• Nude flats
• Booties
• Acrylic tortoise and horn monogram
• Sage nail polish✅
• Red nail polish
• Mixing metals- gold & silver, I'm still working on accepting it into my personal style
• Arm candy, lots of arm candy- my favorite being my watch, Alex & Ani bracelets, and my Lokai bracelet sometimes paired with my friendship bracelet
• Oversized sweater
• Jumpsuits ✅
• Oversized, menswear inspired watch, ✅
• Everyday sunglasses- whatever shape, style, color combination whatever it is your signature, Rock 'em!
• Wide leg trousers
• Chambray top ✅

xoxo

KJB 

The Summer Intern's #OOTDs

Tomorrow starts the final leg of my undergraduate career! So in honor of my last First Day...

Here are the #OOTDs of my summer internship.

"Fashion is a language. Some know it, some learn it, some never will- like an instinct." 

My final grade for my internship posted...

Drum roll please!... 

I received an A! I had the best experience and what a fabulous way to start my final semester! 

"You can have anything you want in life if you dress for it." 

Watch out Akron, I'm coming atcha!

xoxo

KJB 

The Loss of A Great

Most people would say I'm easily emotional. I don't think that's a bad thing. I feel like Kate Hudson in Bride Wars, when she says she muddling along, but she's awake. That's the clarity that came with the death of my grandpa. I had never been atuned to my emotions before that. Now, I can literally cry at the drop of a hat.

So yesterday, when the great Robin Williams died. The news was sad and tragic, and devastating to me. There are some people that you may never meet but they matter in your life. Such an amazing man gone from the world too soon.

He created so many great characters and movies. He made people laugh and thus making the world better place when he, himself wasn't happy. He truly was a remarkable person.

Television and movies have always been a favorite pasttime, it takes no time whatsoever for me to become attached to fictional characters, I credit being a 90's kid. I grew up in a time when having an active imagination was key and I think that's why television and movies are so important to me, these actors are able to create these new characters time and time again. The world we live in is so great because no matter what you're going through there is a movie, a show or an album that can get you through it. This is why I think Robin Williams work is so important. When I was growing up, he was the father I never had. He was another crazy uncle to add to the bunch. His presence may not have been personal but it was definitely felt.

As sad as I am. I cannot imagine how devastated his family is.

My thoughts and prayers are with them and for them.

He was instrumental in so many parts of my childhood. While Robin Williams is so entwined with my youth, my first thoughts went to a film, I didn't realize resonated with me so much, Dead Poets Society, the one and only time I've watched was junior year of high school. So naturally being a glutton for punishment, I looked through clips. One of my favorite scenes, "What will your verse be?", must've been Apple's too:

His loss is felt gravely. He was a great man. He did great things. He made my life through his roles happier, much like the rest of the world and for that I am incredibly grateful. He made the world a better place and his loss makes the world seem a little less bright. He made people laugh. But while there will never be another, his memory will live on forever.

So why shouldn't his death affect me? The tears come and go and I think it's important and appropriate to feel the emotions you have. You can't close yourself off from sadness. But you have to harness it and use it to make yourself a better person.


Maybe it'll happen on such a worldwide scale or maybe not. But I hope that when it's my time I will hae affected some margin of people the way Robin did. I hope that he can see the way his life affected the world.

Oh Captain, MyCaptain 

God Bless Robin Williams. Rest in Peace.

"No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world."

xoxo 

KJB

If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). 

KJB's New Adventure

I'm just gonna say it- I'm excited about my upcoming graduation. Surprising because I've always despised change. The thought of the unknown is terrifying to me. I am the girl that refused to talk about senior year when I was 17 cause I didn't want to graduate. And yet, the promise of this new adventure that comes at the end of this long journey, that has been school, is truly exciting.

That's not to say that I'm not going to miss the friends I've made in Akron. But something I've learned thus far, people are always moving but real friendships can stand the test of time. The majority of my friends moved away after high school, so I've had my fair share of long distance relationships. So I know that if you put work into it and if it's there, the friendship will last no matter the distance. I mean, the past 4 summers I've come home and my friendships are no different during the summer than when school is in session. But there's something comforting in the fact that people come and go from your life but their mark will always be felt on your heart. True friends don't have to be seen constantly to remain close.

Don't get me wrong, I'm nervous to see what will happen come graduation, but up until this point everything has been set in front of me. You start school at 3 or 4, and go until your early twenties. School is what you do to become a member of society, nowadays. So there was no question about my plans after high school. So after this December, I'll have a bachelor's. And yes, I've toyed with the idea of grad school, but at this point, I'm grateful that I didn't choose a life path/career that requires it.

So I'm finally about to start on a journey that's entirely my own. I'm no longer standing in the trail of the people that came before me, now I'm about to set my own trail ablaze. And there's something reassuring about that. I've had so many people this summer giving me encouragement about my future. These well wishes have given this new adventure a kick.

There's just something exciting about becoming the person you were born to be.

"Whatever is going to happen will happen, whether we worry or not."

xoxo

KJB

KJB Does Feminism

Have you heard about the Twitter hashtag, 

#YesAllWomen,

have you checked it out?

Have you seen Always new commercial 

#LikeAGirl

You should.

There's a conversation happening and you should be a part of it.

It's 2014, it's time we all start acting like it.

It's time for change.

There are tons of articles to open your mind: 

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5587422?utm_hp_ref=tw

xoxo

KJB

KJB Says Go Greek!

Hey y'all! As the summer draws to a close and a new semester fast approaches I can't help but get excited for Fall Recruitment, after 2 years as a potential new member, and 2 years as an active member, this year I'll be a Rho Gamma, Recruitment Guide. I'm so excited to help these new girls find their perfect fit, like I found mine. So last week, I drove to Akron for the day and we had our 3rd training. As Rho Gams, we have to help with Freshman Move-In, so we each had to come up with a 60 second elevator pitch for the incoming students and their parents:

Here's mine:

Going to school 2.5 hours away from home is difficult but by joining a sorority, I found a second family, my Akron family. Joining Greek Life is the greatest decision of my college career thus far. Akron's Greek life has given me a home away from home. The friendships I've made are lifelong. I've become a more confident person during my time here and I think a lot of it comes from being a sorority women. I've had amazing opportunities and tremendous leadership experiences. The values of our community have strengthen my morals and allowed me to grow into the woman I am today.

Here's my advice:

So I think if you've ever considered it, you should look into it. You'll never regret trying something new, you'll always regret not giving college your all. Be yourself.

Live your values. Experience the tradition. Go Greek.

xoxo 

KJB

Fashionably KJB

At 22, I feel like I should be an adult. A functioning adult. My life should be together instead of in shambles, it's really not as shambly it could be. I feel like the first step of growing up and looking the part is all in he way you dress. This summer is the first time in 6 years that instead of wearing my lifeguard swimsuit, day in & day out for 3 months, I'm dressing up for my internship daily. The first first step in growing up is looking like a grown up. Fake it until you make it. 

#OOTDs are my favorite. 

So here are some recent outfit of the days from the past few weeks: 

xoxo

KJB

KJB Does Happiness

I started this summer wanting to work out everyday, a feat I've never been able to accomplish. The first two weeks home, I made a great go of it. I walked 9 miles in the 6 days I was home. But as time progressed, Mom & Jade started their summers, May turned into June and I realized I really didn't want to spend everyday climbing the mountain or going for 3 mile walks everyday.

When I finally stopped making myself feel bad about the fact that I'm not working out daily and accepting the fact that I genuinely detest eating lettuce. I became a whole lot happier. When I accepted that I'm not at my dream weight or in my dream body, but who the hell cares, I was a happier person. I once read an article about how a faction of women are so body obsessed that their first and sometimes only goal in life is to be thinner or rather "skinny". I am guilty of being one of those women. Whenever I picture up my dream scenario- I'm significantly smaller than I am now. But something I've learned recently, SO WHAT! Yes, it's not a secret that one day, I would like to be 50-70lbs lighter than I am now, honestly I wish that one day was tomorrow, and maybe one day- it'll happen, but then again- maybe it won't.

Honestly, there comes a time when either you change what you can or you learn to become more comfortable in the body that you have. I don't eat terribly, I'm healthy when I can & when I'm not- it's cause I would rather have a piece of pie or a S'mores Blizzard from DQ. I'm 22 years old. Why be unhappy when I don't have to be.

This mindset- I'm not sure what it is or where it came from but, I suppose not holding on to anger is one thing. I've tried to stop holding on to things that aren't beneficial. Let go of the grudge you're holding. The only thing in life you have control over is how you deal with the cards life deals you. So I've chosen to be happy and so- I go about each day doing my best to be just that. Happy.

Stop letting others determine your mood.
Stop being around people you don't like,
Don't do something you don't want to do.
Say what you mean, & mean what you say.
I'm not telling you to be an asshole.

But you have every right to be happy as long as it doesn't come at the expense of others.

So stop talking about people, sometimes it's cathartic and other times- it's draining, you're giving that person all your power and energy, why? Do they deserve it? Talking badly about someone does nothing to them and everything to you. What I do, and what I tell my friends to do, choose to believe that they no longer exist, and go forth not letting them have a place in your mind or in your life.

Life is all about loving the skin you're in. That's my secret, my happiness begins and ends with me. Anything worth having, is worth fighting for.

So yes, maybe one day I will be 50-70lbs lighter, my "dream weight", or maybe I'll be just as happy 10 pounds lighter. Ultimately, that's up to me. I decide where my happiness lies.

I read something that said, "How to Wear a Crop Top: put one on, look you're doing it.", "How to Get a Bikini Body: put on a bikini, you now have a bikini body."

That's the secret, you can be, wear whatever you want. You just have to be confident in whatever it is you do & knock 'em dead.

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." - Eleanor Roosevelt

xoxo

KJB