"My soul is full of longing for the secret of the sea, and the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me." – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
In a fast paced, almost always connected world, the most important lesson is to stop and watch the animals. Today, we seized the day, and we went to the zoo instead of doing our typical homeschool day. One of the best parts of the day was when we sat and ate snacks while watching the lions and giraffes! Watching them filled me with such a sense of calm and peace. The feeling was enhanced by the warm sun on my face, gentle breeze blowing through the trees, and the refreshing sent of outside air. It was one of those feelings that served to remind me of the importance of slowing down and being present in the little moments. During this crazy time of year, I think we could all use a moment to stop and watch the animals!
Do you have a favorite place you have visited? Where is it?
“My home where dreams are born, and time is never planned. Just think of lovely things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever in Never Never Land!”
Remember those iconic words from “Never Never Land”? As a child (before growing up), Peter Pan’s home checked all the boxes for a favorite location! It had pirates and mermaids; it had a secret underground house and a cave! Not to mention the fact that it was an island. Plus, there was a lot of singing which is always fun! JM Barrie knew how to create a place that felt personal to us yet familiar to all.
Unfortunately, as we grow up, sometimes we forget how to find our own Never Never Land. We become so busy with the mundane – jobs, bills, etc – that it can be hard to take time to visit different places much less figure out a favorite. Sometimes we even stop dreaming about seeing exotic places that to us would be like Mermaid Lagoon or Pirate Cove. However, one thing I have realized is that to be a favorite place to visit, the location does not have to be exotic. In fact, some of my favorites have always been simplistic. So what are they?
As a child, my favorite place to visit was my Grandma’s house in Kansas. Oddly enough, I never called it Grandma and Grandpa’s. Where they lived had a lot of things we did not get to enjoy at home. They had Sonic for getting Limeades; they had Casey’s for getting Taco Pizza. Plus, there were a lot of cool touristy things to do that never really changed which provided comfort and nostalgia. Bonus, they had Keno before it was popular. It was fascinating to sit and watch people play!
Fast forward to adulthood, and I still enjoy sitting and watching people. Though I will say the locations have changed a bit. Now I also have way more favorite places to visit including:
Half Moon Cay (favorite Carnival Cruiseline Port)
Niagara Falls (favorite place to see waterfalls)
Holiday World (favorite theme park)
Anywhere With Mountains or a Campground (favorite place to unplug)
Museum or Art Gallery (favorite learning experiences)
Gettysburg (favorite Civil War battlefield)
America’s Historic Triangle (favorite general historical area)
St Louis (favorite place with lots of free activities)
Buc-cee’s (favorite place with clean bathrooms while traveling)
The more I get to visit new places, the more I find myself adding things to the list! They may not be Never Neverland, but they are places where dreams are born!
This is a great daily prompt! I am always fascinated by the responses to questions like these because they can go a variety of ways. The easiest way to answer is always with skills for which you have received recognition. It is also easy to answer with something related to hobbies you enjoy or a hidden talent that you may possess. I mean wouldn’t we all agree that we are amazing singers in the shower and put on the best concerts while in there? The more difficult way to answer this question is with intrinsic things that others may not know about yourself. Perhaps you would also come up with a list that includes extrinsic and intrinsic things. For me, I feel like it is a combination of both!
One thing that I am great at is worrying and letting the things I worry about distract me. In fact, sometimes I think I get some kind of odd pleasure out of having something to worry about. Part of this is a predisposition to worrying. I 100% believe that things like worry and anxiety have a genetic component. Which is why – though it can come across as toxic to some – I try to always find a positive lining to things. It’s for my own good. Sometimes I worry about things so much that after they have come to pass, I find myself simply exhausted. This is the case today. We started the day with having to take a cat to the pet (our cats are family), and I was afraid something was going to be wrong. Why? Probably because I’m still grieving the cat we lost this past summer especially on days when LilKsby brings her up a lot (which he did this morning), but also because the cat didn’t have the best checkup last year. Praise God (yes, I pray over my cats), the cat got a perfect checkup this year! What a relief!
Another thing I am good at is finding joy in the little things. I believe this is truly an amazing skill to have! For example, I am finding joy right now in writing this blog. I also find joy in watching it snow, cuddling up in my chair in front of the twinkling Christmas tree lights, and wandering through art galleries. I think that one of the biggest things that can make a difference in our lives is finding joy in little things.
Guess what else I’m good at? Being creative! I love writing, scrapbooking, painting, sewing, finding ‘reuses’ for items, and singing. I also love to dance even though I have the rhythm of a bucket! There’s something magical about taking something and molding it into something new.
I am good at being social. It can be exhausting because I am an extroverted introvert, but I can do the whole “peopling” thing. It actually recharges my battery to “people” the majority of the time. I love listening to the stories people have to tell and seeing all the wonderful connections that we have. When you get out there and get to “peopling” you learn just what a small world it is!
Finally, I’m good at word puzzles. I absolutely love word puzzles! I love learning the definitions of different words, I love learning the origins of words, and I love utilizing the words that I use from crosswords. It’s fun to be like, “That’s not light brown; that’s ecru.” I also love number puzzles like Sudoku! Puzzles are fun past time, and I like to think they are good for the brain!
If you would have asked me this question as a teenager, I probably would have made a comment about how brands don’t matter. Now as an adult, there are a lot of areas where I would still agree with this. However, as I have become more knowledgeable about issues that matter to me, my stance on brands has changed a bit. I will openly share with people who ask about brands/companies that I no longer support because of their social responsibility, environmental issues, etc. I also share that I fully realize that the companies do not feel a dent in their profits from my choice to not use them, but I feel that my peaceful protest (channeling Thoreau, Ghandi, and King) provides me with a clean heart. Is it a perfect plan? No. Especially given a world where it is hard to truly know what a brand stands for as available information can have inconsistencies. I also do my best to not judge those who are willing to spend their dollars with brands that I do not utilize.
So what do I utilize? I like Letters & Lore! letterslore.com I’ve worked with them on a few publications. I also love #mymklife and the brand that I am creating with thegreatkaysby on Instagram. For our homeschooling (though our values do not 100% align), I love Sonlight and Abeka. In this case, I use what doesn’t align with our beliefs as a learning opportunity. For craft/art supplies, I go to Michael’s. Whenever possible I prefer to support local brands/businesses.
Everyone has the same number of minutes in a day: 1,440. The way those minutes are spent varies from person to person, but one thing always seems to remain constant. There never seems to be enough time in the day for everything that a person wants to do. However, with infinite time, I could think of a few things I would do more!
Paint – I love painting, but when I sit down to do it, I want at least two solid hours of painting time.
Scrapbooking – I love looking at pictures and making precious pages of our best memories. I also enjoy scrapbook competitions!
Writing – Really working on doing this more. I really want to finish my second non-fiction book soon, and the topic seems very pertinent.
Video Games – Since I was five, I have loved playing video games. I will 100% own up to the being that adult who loves to game.
Puzzles – I love compelting puzzles! Once I start one, I become hooked on completing it. We have stayed up until 3 in the morning completing puzzles before!
Traveling – I love to travel! If time (and money) were infinite, this is where I would be.
Sewing – I love to sew, but again I need bigger time blocks to do it!
Exercise – I would love to spend more time walking, doing yoga, and swimming!
Working – I work what most would consider “side hustles” and more time (and energy) would be great for these!
Studying – I love learning! With more time, I would take a lot more free courses online or watch more instructional videos.
Improve my piano skills and learn guitar!
It’s hard to work all of these into your schedule when you also homeschool and enjoy being involved in community activities! Maybe I should give up sleep, LOL!
I applaud all of the responses I have read where people can pick one favorite album of all time! My immediate thought with this question was, “I can’t pick just one!” There are so many albums that have been influential at different times in my life, and I still listen to the majority of them when the mood strikes. Of course that is the thing that I love the most about music: how it impacts us differently at various points in life and always seems to come into our lives when we need it the most. So instead of choosing one album, I’m opting to reflect on a few that have been an intregal part of my life.
Millennium – Backstreet Boys – 1999 – I cannot tell you how many times I have listened to this album in the last 26 years. To say that I was (am) a BSB fan would be an understatement. There was something about this album in particular that was magical. “The Perfect Fan” was the sweetest homage to moms, and I loved that my mom got to hear it in person at their concert that year right around her birthday. “Spanish Eyes” was beautiful, but it became more important when my future husband was singing it in my car one day. Yes, I was VERY impressed by Mr. Kisby’s ability to sing unreleased BSB songs!!! “Don’t Want You Back” was the anthem for so many relationships over the years, and “Larger Than Life” made us all think we had a chance at “making it” with a member of the band. HA HA Most of us were wrong! Sadly, I did not shell out the $1,000+ it would have cost to see them at The Sphere. Feeding the family comes before flying to Vegas! I’m sure that would have been an incredible experience! If only one of them wanted to give me tickets and backstage passess…I could totally become an official BSB blogger! HINT HINT
William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet Soundtrack – 1996 – When I say I have seen this movie at least 16 times, I am not at all exagerating. It was a brilliant retelling of the story in a modern setting with a soundtrack that exemplified what mid-90s music was all about! There were alt rock numbers, adult contemporary numbers, a Prince song in a gospel style, and of course Des’ree’s OUTSTANDING “Kissing You”! I listened to that CD until it was scratched beyond being able to play everything. I could tell you exactly where songs were used in the movie, and when I listened to it, I felt the passion and emotions portrayed by the characters. How tear jerking was that ending? Baz Luhrmann is such a genius at making you think characters have hope before yanking it all out from under you!
Bat Out of Hell – Meat Loaf – 1977 – I was not born when this album was released, but in my teenage years this album became synonymous with family roadtrips. The lyrics were beatiful and the music was banging! As I grew up, the songs became more and more relatable. Like, how hauntingly accurate is “Two Out of Three Aint’ Bad” with “I want you, I need you, but there ain’t no way I’m every going to love you”? Also, “Paradise By the Dashboard” lights was iconic! Nothing left to the imagination there as they went for the line drive up the middle! The titular song was also amazing! Those riffs!
Reputation – Taylor Swift – 2017 – I loved how this album transistioned Taylor from young adult country/pop to relatable themes that so many of us experience as adults. I for one love the lyric “the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now because she’s dead.” I feel like a lot of people were shocked by this lyrical choice, but I think it is a highly accurate portrayal of growing older. Frankly, I am very glad to not be the me that I was when I was 18 or in my early 20s. Personal growth like that mentioned in the song is how I’ve become the person I love today! This was also the first Taylor Swift album that I could listen to on repeat, and it was the last concert we saw before finding out that LilKsby was going to be joining our family!
The Greatest Hits Volume 1: 20 Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys – 1995 – I have also listened to this album over and over again! My love of the Beach Boys began when I was about five, and I would listen to my dad’s cassettes. I knew the lyrics to songs like Surfin’ USA before I could read! By the time I was a teenager, I loved this album even more because of the poinancy of many of the lyrics as well as the unmatchable musical genius of Brian Wilson (may he RIP). Brian could bring things to life musically that most of us could never dream of creating! That album introduced me to “Sloop John B” and “God Only Knows” both of which have become two of my favorite Beach Boys songs. Plus, “Kokomo” featuring John Stamos and that video with the pink tank top. Drummers who can sing are hot, mmmkay? I really wish I could have seen Dennis Wilson perform while he was alive. Added bonus, the songs from this album are also what got LilKsby hooked on the Beach Boys too! Timeless!
Honorable Mentions – these are albums that I may not listen to as much, but they have definitely had a lasting impact on my life either because of the moving scores or life event significance: Beetlejuice Soundtrack, Titanic Soundtrack, Clueless Soundtrack, Hamilton Soundtrack (seriously, right after you’ve had a child, “Dear Theodosia” will make you cry your eyes out), Rocky Horror Picture Show Soundtrack, Josie and the Pussycats Soundtrack, American Wedding Soundtrack, Backstreet Boys’ DNA, Rent Soundtrack, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer The Musical Soundtrack. I could talk about each of these, but this blog is already too long!
When I started this blog in 2018, my idea was to make a blog about travel and food. I like to fancy myself a “foodie” and “travel lover” with big hopes that someone will pay me to eat and travel in exchange for my opinions. That hasn’t happened yet! Cruise lines, I’m looking at you!!! LOL Though the direction of my blog has changed over the years, my love of food has not!
So what are my favorite types of foods? Let me break it down!
Comfort Foods – Pizza, French Fries, Bread Products with Butter
Cold Weather – Chili, French Onion Soup, Tomato Soup with croutons and parmesan cheese
Craving Salty – Chips – especially sour cream and onion or ones that I can dip in ranch
Condiments – Ranch and mayo
Italian – Pasta with olive oil and parmesan cheese, breadsticks, pizza
Chinese – Egg drop soup, fried rice, various chicken dishes
Hibachi – rice, sushi
Fast Food – Zaxby’s (because they are consistent no matter where we go)
Carryout Pizza – Casey’s Taco Pizza and Cheesesticks, Domino’s
Now do you see why I originally started a food blog? Now I’m hungry!
By definition, according to the Oxford Dictionary, a leader is “the person who leads or commands a group, organization, or a country.” Solely looking at this definition, I have been a leader. I have been in the President/Highest Office in a few organizations and been one of the supporting main offices (usually secretary) in other organizations. I have also led a team of beauty consultants for almost 15 years. Just going off of what is on paper, I have been a leader in various capacities since about 2004. In other words, if my leadership self was their own person, they’d be having their first legal drink this year! LOL
But do I see myself as a leader?
No. Yes. Maybe. Being a leader is interesting because I do not necessarily see myself as a leader, but I have the type of personality where I can take charge when necessary (especially in critical situations though I may have a come apart when it is over), and I can also be the planner, organizer, etc for various situations. However, sometimes it is also nice to be part of the ensemble so to speak. It’s nice to be in the background while someone else steps in the spotlight. I also feel like as I get older, the reason for seeking leadership changes. When I was younger, sometimes I wanted to be made the leader because it made me feel like I had a bigger purpose (like when I held various offices with organizations). As I have gotten older, I want to lead people with a servant’s heart so that they will be able to mirror that love and gratitude to future generations. Currently, I have a semi-leadership position in a non-profit, and I have said for years that I want to lead it in such away that when I decide to step down, I know that it will be secure for years to come. I have also found myself desiring to grow in business leadership because I know that it will have a bigger positive impact on my own family. However, I also know that to do this and be the best leader I can be, I have some self growth that needs to happen in areas like time management and overcoming obstacles.
So do I see myself as a leader? I see myself growing into the person I was born to be, and if that involves leading others and showing what it is like to live by the Golden Rule, then that’s cool.
Daily prompts are interesting. The questions are often simultaneously simple and thought provoking. Someone’s answer might simply be a single word like “sleep”; someone’s answer might be items from their daily to do list. Another person may have something fun planned with friends, family, church, or a civic group. I definitely first thought of all the things on my to do list, but then I started to realize that each of those things is teaching a bigger lesson to LilKsby. What do I mean?
Wash the dishes – shows that we place value on a clean home and taking care of our things.
Promote our businesses – shows dedication to our respective crafts while also showing that we understand work is necessary to make our dreams come true
Responding to business and personal messages – shows that we value the relationships we are building and value positive communication
Follow up to an event today – shows the importance of following up on your new contacts to begin building relationships
Looking over lessons and resetting for the next school day – shows that we value learning while also wanting to be organized and prepared
Likewise, Mr Kisby will be doing schoolwork this evening. This shows our little one the value of pursuing educational opportunities to further your career and improve your skills. All of this goes to show that when it comes to those around us often what is caught has a bigger impact that what is taught. But for now…I’m having some wings this evening!
What is the biggest challenge you will face in the next six months?
Six months from now will be the end of August. Summer will be winding down (take the hint winter, it’s time for you to start winding down), and our school year will be about to begin. Though with homeschool do we ever really stop learning? Based on our current lack of big plans, I suppose the biggest challenge will be self-discipline and remaining committed to the goals I have set for myself, our family, and our businesses. A key component to staying disciplined and committed will be remembering what I can and cannot control while also not getting distracted by things like doom scrolling that cause emotional shutdown and keep from my goals. How am I going to conquer the challenge? By keeping the vision in front of me, checking on benchmarks for goals frequently, prayer, and reflection. Time to get the job done!
For YEARS Diet Coke was my favorite drink. I was 100% addicted to them, and I couldn’t have just one. Diet Mt Dew was a close second. Then, I started learning just how bad diet soft drinks are for you. Like, does anyone really know what half of those ingredients are? On January 29, 2022, I had my last soda. It was Mr Kisby’s virtual college graduation, and I had a 44 ounce Diet Coke that left me feeling bloated and uncomfortable. After that I said to myself, no more and quit cold turkey. My gut health thanks me immensely!
So what is my favorite drink now? I drink A LOT of water. It’s become the typical daily drink. I also enjoy coffee and hot tea most days. Coffee is usually after breakfast, and hot tea is typically in the evening. For an indulgent treat I will allow myself unsweet tea (my fav treat drink), lemonade, and juice on a a rare occasion. My favorite juice is the cranberry that the Drury Inn & Suites serves at breakfast!
For me there isn’t just one thing that makes me feel nostalgic. However, the most powerful is probably music. So many songs are tied to people, events, places, etc that it is easy for a song to transport you back to a specific memory. Sometimes the nostalgia of music is great such as hearing BSB and feeling like a teenager; sometimes the nostalgia is sad like hearing Daniel and thinking of my grandpa. I often associate music with whoever introduced me to an artist, song, etc so that can also evoke a lot of nostalgia. I could go on and on about the power of music on reminiscing about the past!
Other things that are nostalgic? Smells can be! Cucumber melon always takes me back. Some items and photos evoke a sense of nostalgia. Driving by a place you used to frequent can also do it. Jewelry, clothes, old letters…I suppose the true answer is anything can be nostalgic!
There is no hesitation for me to say cats when answering this question! For as long as I can remember, someone in my immediately family has had at least one cat. Usually it was my grandfather, and he had two white cats (one long hair like the Fancy Feast cat) around the time I was 12 that solidified my love of kitties! They were the ones that lead to me begging to get my first cat of my own for Christmas 1995. One cat quickly turned to two when we a stray adopted us during a severe rainstorm! Fast forward to today, and we have four cats. Two we adopted from a shelter, and two we bottle fed after they were abandoned. I never dreamed that we would have four cats (briefly it was 5 until the 17 year old passed), but here we are!
“The Greatest Gift” for me is not a cat, but I thought a picture of something I love was fitting for my response. The greatest gift that one can give or receive is love. Love can be presented in many ways: sharing a meal, spending time together, texting to check on someone, sending a card in the mail, taking a trip together, snuggling a little one (pet or person), etc. Love can also be shown by giving someone a physical gift as what you give often shows that you know them. The most important thing is to do all that you do with love in your heart. There is no greater gift!
Do you play in your daily life? What says “playtime” to you?
I play a lot! To me playtime is any time you are doing something that is fun for you and brings you joy. The emphasis is on you because playtime is different for everyone. I feel like I’m having playtime when I practice yoga, write, walk, hike, sew, paint, read, learn a language, play games, put together puzzles, make glamour videos, and much more! I think the key to playtime is knowing what you enjoy and taking time each day – even if it is just 15 minutes – to do it.
The Great Kaysby 