True Story. I Cry When I Vote.

It happens every time. They hand me that yellow card, I walk over to the polling station and click it in, and then suddenly - I am not thinking about the election or the candidates. I am overwhelmed with the gratitude that I get to vote.

Women in the United States didn't get that chance for nearly 150 years.

Today, millions of women all over the world still don't get that chance. The right to vote. No one cares what they think or believes that their mind can form an important, informed opinion. They don't have the respect of their peers and they don't have the ear of anyone. Their thoughts don't matter.

But here I am, living privileged enough to exercise my right to vote. To live in this post-suffrage United States where I can drive my unchaperoned self to the polling station, cast my ballot and my vote counts. Because what's in my head - it matters. It took a long time for women and African Americans to get the recognition that they always deserved, and although I wish the journey wasn't such a messy, storied one - here we are today. With a right that no one can remove. And my country recognizes that right and recognizes me. And I don't know you guys, but every time I hit the polling booth, I am just flooded with these feelings of gratitude and pride and my face gets really hot and I start to well up. I know it sounds kind of emotional and a bit silly. I know I need to keep it together long enough to actually complete the act of voting. But usually by the end of the session I am kind of a mess and hurried to get out of there. Well, I make sure to grab my sticker. But then I hightail it out of there.

Those polling volunteers probably think I'm emotional about the candidate. Or maybe related to one of them.

It's a big deal, this ability to vote. I really want to encourage all of you to rock your right to vote and actually do it. Please do it. It breaks my heart when I see someone so apathetic about voting because "our government this and that". Complaining will gain us no further rights to make a thoughtful change in our world. Being hopeful, getting educated, seeking out answers - it will get us so much further than just not voting and instead spending the next 4-8 years complaining about our country's leadership. We all know those people. Some of us might be those people. But you know what? No one wants to be around those people. Do your best to get out of your head and assess the issues that matter the most to you - then focus on what you think the solution could be. Don't focus on the problem and why the other side is "so screwed up". Focus on the solution. And let those solutions guide you toward a candidate you could align with. Let us honor those who it made it their life's work to give everyone an equal right to vote. Let us remember those who are living and breathing on this Earth today, with a mind and a heart, living without the right to vote. Let us do our research and take responsibility for this privilege and right. Get engaged, friends! In the blink of an eye it will be November 8, and we should be ready to vote. And no, you don't have to cry. But you can remember me when you're in the polling booth, because I probably will.

*Image via Historical Stock Photos

Life After Whole30 (+ My 3 Biggest Takeaways)

Life after Whole30 is weird.

It's actually kind of ruined my life. But in a really wholesome kind of way. Because the Whole30 discipline is such a healthy way to approach food and fitness and overall health, and it holds a really high standard for what should be put in our bodies. It was so so hard when I was in the midst of the 30 days of no sugar, no bread, no alcohol, constant meal prep and kitchen cleaning and ugh - I felt like the days went by so slowly. And I felt like this way of eating was just so enormously time-consuming and not realistic for our day and age. So many times, I remember feeling sorry for the pioneer women. Because I had the realization that this was their life - cooking and cleaning up for their families. Preparing everything from scratch. Dirtying practically every dish in their pantry and then having to clean every dish - over and over and over again. It felt monotonous. It felt archaic. It felt like sacrifice. It felt like a crap-ton of work. And life is already work. So yeah, I had some low moments, in the midst of Whole30. And that doesn't even include the mood swings from detoxing from all the sugar and caffeine and happy breads.

But this strange thing was happening during all the whining and complaining and headaches and longing for sweets and wines and sweet wines. I was starting to feel a surprising amount of goodness. I was sleeping hard. I was waking up early, with no grogginess. My workouts were strong. My mind was clear. I just felt an intense amount of clarity, like the chaos in my mind was being detoxed along with with the unhealthy foods. So as much as I hated the meal prep, I was starting to really love the feeling of wholeness.

My biggest, most positive takeaways from my Whole30 experience:

1. I think about what I put in my mouth.
Whole30 taught me to read the labels on my food products. Instead of grabbing something because it says "organic" or "all-natural" and thinking that meant it was the healthiest choice, Whole30 taught me to read the labels and decipher the ingredients. There are so many sneaky sugars, preservatives, emulsifiers and chemicals that are in normal, everyday foods. You might think that sounds like propaganda - it's not. Do your research. Don't trust me for a minute - do your own research. The findings are pretty appalling. And once you learn something - you can't unlearn it. And that's what happened to me. Once I understood what soy lecithin and carrageenan actually are, I was much more motivated to find items that simply don't have those ingredients in them. And healthier options do exist, it just takes a little time to find them. The first time I went to the grocery store with a Whole30 list in hand, it took me over two hours to get out of the store. And no, I didn't have my toddler with me. It is just so time-consuming, reading every ingredient on every label of every item. It was exhausting. But now that I've done that work, I simply revisit those same items in the store, and my grocery trip are under 30 minutes now. So even though the process was time-consuming and overwhelming, it paid off with healthier choices that I am able to continuously make, now that I know my options.

2. I realize that everything is way too sweet.
My taste buds had been warped. And I'm going to be bold enough to suggest that yours are probably warped, too. Don't take it personal. It's not really our fault. It's been a slow process of eating "normal food" our entire lives and not knowing what is in it. Our taste buds have been warped because everything has so much sugar in it - like everything. Ketchup, crackers, barbecue sauce, lunch meat, bread, etc. And that's not even the stuff that we know has sugar in it, like cereal and alcohol. And then there's the obvious good stuff, like brownies and ice cream, duh. But I tell you what - after going 30 days without any sugar, and then coming back to it? Everything tastes annoying sweet. Like, obnoxiously, brazenly, almost insultingly sweet. Starbucks lattes? Too sweet. Chocolate chip cookies? Wayyy too sweet. Jeni's ice cream? I couldn't even finish it. I know, you probably want to ban me from your life right about now. If you haven't already stopped reading this post. But I never said that this blog would tickle your ears all the time. I can't help it you guys. I really can't. The truth was glaring me in tongue.

3. I'm discovering how to make healthier meals.
Look, you are probably cooking most days. I know I am. But learning some healthier techniques/recipes/ingredient swaps has been one of the most revolutionary takeaways for me. Because I'm cooking for my family every day, no matter what. We have to eat! And learning that I can spend the same amount of time prepping a meal but ensuring that it is incredibly healthy, made with whole foods (not preservative-laden substitutes) and brimming with irresistible flavor has been such a welcome revelation. These Whole30 meals do not taste like cardboard. It's actually the opposite. They taste better than most meals. In the beginning of the experiment, i definitely craved chocolate after dinner and wanted to throw some Parmesan cheese on top of my spaghetti squash spaghetti. But those desires have diminished significantly. And I feel empowered with some new recipes that are extremely delicious and nourishing. WIN.

There you have it, some of my biggest takeaways from the Whole30 experiment. Since ending Whole30 and eating "normal" again, nothing is really normal. I can't help but think about the health impact of everything I put into my mouth. It's definitely changed my way of approaching food, and I am still in the process of striking the right balance for my family that feels manageable (like, not annoying and high-maintenance) but also with a standard of health excellence. I want to set my son up for a lifetime of wellness, but I also want him to be able to eat a cookie with absolutely no guilt. It's a process, and I am still figuring it out. I'm compiling a shopping list and a slew of great recipes that I would recommend and will be making that available to blog subscribers soon. Let me know in the comments section if something like that would interest you!

If you would like to learn more about my Whole30 experiment, you can read about why I decided to try it. Also, check out my weekly diaries - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4. Happy discoveries to you!

Lets Talk About Dreams.

Dreams deferred.

dashed.

achieved.

unfulfilled.

cut short.

Dreams achieved, only to realize that the hope of the dream was more fun than the result.

Dreams lost.

forgotten.

Lack of a dream.

Reemergence of a dream.

In the midst of a dream.

Will the dream ever come true?

Am I enough? Have my mistakes held me back? Has my fear gotten in the way? Surely I don't have enough skills/money/talent/drive/discipline/connections to make that dream a reality... right?

Wrong?

Wrong. I think you're wrong.

I think your dream is beautiful and you need to make your dream come true.

Listen, I don't know what you're dreaming about today. You might not even think that you have dreams anymore. But I'll bet money that somewhere, deep in your heart, buried in your gut, hiding out on a dusty shelf in your mind, there is a dream. Pulsing. Waiting. Waiting for you to acknowledge it. Waiting for you to receive it and hug it and give it all your attention.

I bet you're scared.

That's okay. The good dreams usually ignite a healthy kind of fear. Don't think about that too much. Just do it. Figure out the first step. Make a plan. Read a book. Talk to a mentor. Figure out a way to get the dream out of your head and into your hands. Because it's time.

It's time for your dream to come true.

You might think this is a lot of big talk coming from me. But I feel so passionate about making dreams a reality, both yours and mine, because I have taken a lot of risks over the years. I've tried to make my dreams a reality. Some of them have become a reality. Some of them haven't. Some of them have felt like failures. And some dreams have surprised me by sneaking up from behind and then coming true in the most unpredictable kind of way. I can't wait to share more with you over the next several weeks. I am a little scared to share my failures with you. But I'm more scared NOT to. Because if my journey can help someone, who am I to stand in the way? I'm going to get out of the way, so that I can get in your way. And tell you how amazing your dreams are. :) Are you ready?

An Afternoon in Cozey7 + Giveaway! (CLOSED)

I've got my hands full these days. My 19-month-old son Everett is busy. Busier than ever. He's exclamatory, opinionated, hilarious, and recently - he's slightly frenzied about the next time we're going outside. He always, always, always wants to play outside. With the polarizing weather that's come to our little town this winter, it's been an interesting experience, teetering between making my son happy and staying comfortable. Because I don't necessarily always want to be outside. It's been cold! But he always wants to be outside - playing on his swing set, running around the yard with his football and especially his new favorite - making mommy play basketball. Because he can't dunk (yet). My game has actually gotten pretty good.

This new season of frolicking outside for hours a day has left me with the curious task of attempting to properly dress Everett to keep him warm enough for all the 40-degree weather play. When Cozey7 reached out to me about trying out the Trailhopper, I pretty much looked to Heaven and gave thanks. After browsing the Cozey7 site for just a few minutes, I had a dumbfounding feeling that this product was the answer to so many of the problems that we have encountered with our little guy. For example, when he was a baby, he would gladly sit cozy in his stroller with a blanket wrapped snug around him while I jogged (okay, walked) outside to get some fresh air. However, as he has grown into the toddler stage, his signature move is to strip off the blankets (and hats, mittens, even shoes!) in his stroller. One day I felt like passersby were looking at me like, "What a bad mom, taking her son outside and so under dressed!" That may or may not have been true - but he has been under dressed all too often. Because he's getting opinionated about what he wants to wear and not wear.

Until now, that is. The Cozey7 Trailhopper has been the answer to our cold-weather problems. Not only does Everett love putting it on (because he knows it means he gets to play outside!) but it's extremely thick and durable, so he can be as rough and tumble as he likes and I don't have to worry about his clothing. It's made of a performance-grade Polartec fleece, and the feet fold up and down to adjust the size, allowing him to wear it for as long as possible before switching to the next size. Surprisingly enough, I did a little research and there is almost nothing like this on the market - unless you want to dress your kid in a full-on snow suit. I love that my son can wear this as a final layer over his normal clothes and enjoy the toddler life most abundantly - he's worn it camping, during the Snowpocalypse, and even riding around on the golf cart (because in our town, there is more golf cart path mileage than actual road mileage). We've been testing this product for months now, and I must say - I'm a believer. I wouldn't share this with you if I weren't. If you're an outdoorsy family (or if you aspire to be!), this outwear layer will be just as important as shoes and a hat. Check out a few pics of our little guy in his Trailhopper - and scroll below for a promo code and to enter a giveaway to win one for your kiddo!

Everett is wearing the Trailhopper, C/O Cozey7 in frost blue.

Check out the Cozey7 site to learn more about the mission to educate parents on getting outside with their children, browse the product line and economical subscription box options, and learn more about the amazing mother-son duo that run this Colorado-based startup. When placing an order, make sure to use the code oykristen to get $5 off! And follow the instructions below to enter to win a Trailhopper in your choice of size/color for your little one! The giveaway will run for a week and the winner will be notified via email on Tuesday, March 8, 2016. Good luck, friends! And happy adventures to you :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Many thanks to Cozey7 for hosting the giveaway. Other than being gifted this product to try/use, I was not compensated for this review. The opinions represented are entirely my own. See my Advertising Disclosure for more information on my product collaboration policy.

Exploring Ponce City Market.

If you want in on the cool, Ponce City Market should be your next venture. Located in the historic Sears Roebuck building, tucked between the Virginia Highlands and Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, Ponce City is a mixed use live-eat-play community in Atlanta, Ga. Managed by Jamestown Properties, the same developer responsible for Atlanta's Westside Provisions and New York's Chelsea Market (which I shared about when I lived there), Ponce City is another super mondo building that has been resurrected to the crowning beauty of current era urban charm. This is where you come to shop, dream and eat a drillion things.

Dancing Goat Coffee. Get you some. And how about that wall art?

Pork Korean BBQ bites from Simply Seoul - simply yes.

Citizen's Supply, where crafty vendors showcase their designs.

Everett played on some of those designs.

Everett played wherever he wanted. Suddenly my stroller felt so obsolete.

He's got this thing with chairs lately. He really loves sitting in chairs. Just sitting in them.

We had a blast, finally getting the opportunity to explore this much-talked-about urban development project. There is a tonnnnn of amazing shopping, which we mostly resisted because Everett could barely make it through West Elm. But we did peek our heads into Williams Sonoma, because they were carrying some of the home line, which I've been dying to see in person. And it did not disappoint. I want it all. The Citizen Supply was really amazing - a bunch of vendors showcasing jewelry, art, clothing and accessories (and toys!) in an open, lofty space that felt really fresh and inspired. They were especially cool about letting my toddler run around and get his wiggles out while I attempted to shop, so thanks Citizen Supply! And the Food Hall was righteous - it made me want to come back on a date night to try a bite at ten little places. Plus, there's gelato that I didn't get the chance to try. So obviously we have to go back :) Although this amazing place was developed by the same company as The Chelsea Market, it reminded me an awful lot of New York's Hudson Eats, which is another tasty roundup (I chatted a little bit about it here - remember Everett with his BFF Anthony?) Whew, this was an epic day, beginning at The Children's Museum and ending with Korean BBQ - but it was SO MUCH FUN.

I hope you have the happiest weekend. If you're like me, you will be praying for this weather to turn for good and for the rising of tulips to happen :)

P.S. - I may or may not have a really cool review + giveaway coming up on Monday... see you then!