Monday, March 31, 2014

Regardless of Who You Are Or What You Have Been, You Can Be What You Want to Be

"Your current situation does not determine your future. Your future is determined by your decision to succeed." - Tony Robbins

"You are never too old to set another goal, or to dream a new dream" - C.S. Lewis

______________________________________________________

I spent the first week of my time in Seattle feeling lonely and sad. I began to notice this on the third day, when my appetite diminished and I found myself constantly calling my mom and Jade. I spent the next few days allowing myself to feel alone and negative. I became stressed by shopping for apartment needs, not really allowing myself to enjoy each second of being in a new city. 

On Sunday I decided to stop the negativity and to decide to enjoy this part of my life.  I realized that I am exactly where I am supposed to be in life right now. I have the opportunity to dedicate most of time to developing myself and my career. I reminded myself that friends would come with time and that I had so many things that I wanted to work on to grow myself. 

Today I was reaffirmed that I am right where I'm supposed to be. Life showed me that everything was right on track and I didn't need to worry. With this reassurance, I was strong enough to go purchase all of the new furniture that I needed for my house which now gives me time to begin growing myself and settling into my new home. 

So many times I find myself facing negativity and not allowing myself to enjoy where I am if it is not where I want to be in the future. We must decide to succeed through any struggle in life so that we will gain the future we are working towards. Succeeding doesn't only mean getting by, but taking time to enjoy the journey. 

Salmon Crepe

Traffic in Seattle

Great Idea! 

Gustav Klimt at Ikea

My New Trader Joe's

Loving Scarves!!! 

My New Plates (Target)

My New Couch (Ikea)

Smile at someone today.

Karli


Sunday, March 30, 2014

Past Couple Days

Hello!

I went to my new Trader Joe's. As I walked into the bright, exciting store I started tearing up. I realized that this is the first feeling of normality that I've had all week. They were only groceries on a shelf, but knowing what each product was made me feel so at home. Maybe a little too "at home," as I dropped a miso soup carton and had to find the helms person to help me clean it up.

I am getting very excited about decorating my house. It is so adorable with nice wood floors, new appliances, a walk-in closet and a great second bedroom that will be perfect for an office/spare room. I spent some time looking around the empty condo, imagining everything that I would need to create a home. The city it is in is so homey, like Gainesville, but more of a woodsy, crisp feel. Kind of like a mountain town.

Here are some pictures from my past couple days- trying to decide on purchasing a dress for my birthday celebration.

Birthday Dress? 

Cute back. :)

Lamb Naan

YUM

Karli

Friday, March 28, 2014

Birthday Thoughts

Hello Everyone!

My mom is coming on Wednesday to help me set up my house and to spend my birthday with me. I had totally forgotten about my birthday until my mom asked me how I wanted to celebrate. I am trying to decide between a quick trip to Vancouver or buying a nice, big bed. I am so excited to have someone to spend time with.

Thoughts About Turning Twenty-Three:

I've always seen myself as an older person and have always had older friends, so each year it is weird to remind myself that I am still so much younger than I feel. Last year's birthday was full of so much love from friends and family. I remember Jade picking me up for my birthday party and giving me such a lovely note and gift. We drove to my mom's house where we met with  friends and family for drinks and food. I went home that night feeling so happy to be where I was in life.

Life has changed drastically in a year, but love and support from my family and friends has stayed the same. I've experienced graduation from college, a new job and city, loss and so much happiness. I feel closer to myself than I have ever felt before. I know what I want out of life and I am learning how to achieve it. It began with allowing myself to take risks and telling myself that I can live up to my potential. I am proud of the growth that I have experienced, even if it came from hardship.

I have big plans for this year and I am excited to see what comes of it.

I know pictures are the only fun parts of visiting a blog. I don't have any at the moment, but here are some of me and the remarkable Lucy. I've never missed an animal before, so this is a bit strange, but I am seriously missing those furry girls and am now contemplating purchasing a kitty.

Our Last Goodbye



C'est la vie,

Karli


Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Experimental Music Project and Other Adventure

Hello!

My second day exploring Seattle didn't go as planned, but was fun nonetheless. Originally I was going to take a bus to visit Gas Works Park, but ended up missing the bus stop and found myself back at Pike Place Market. I decided to grab a lamb gyro and then sought out other adventures. I felt like walking, so I walked all over the city and went to the Experimental Music Project Museum and spent a few hours there. After, I explored the outside of the Space Needle.

I am beginning to miss my friends and family very much. I keep telling myself that this is just part of the charm of moving to a new place. I am looking at getting involved with volleyball groups, outdoor groups and focusing on learning another language to keep myself occupied.

Here are some pictures from my day.

Lamb Gyro

Pike Place Market

Monorail Above City

Space Needle

Superman

Me as A Monster

Shawn of The Dead Shirt

Outdoor Garden

Daffodils

Space Needle

There it is! 

Holding On :)

Dream big!

Karli

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Day 1: Pike Place Market and Adventure

Hello!

I have survived my first day exploring the city. I began by taking a bus into Pike Place Market. I was so surprised and impressed by all of the vendors giving out samples of every type of food you could think of. I had samples of smoked fish, chocolate pasta, pastries, jams and so much more. I walked around the market for a few hours talking with vendors and looking at all of the cool shops (pictures below). I felt like a tourist being so excited to see everything, but then I realized that I live here now and can come to this market anytime.

I then decided to walk around the city just exploring different kinds of shops and the culture. I came across some very nice places and adorable little coffee cafes, where I had coffee and spoke to some locals. One thing is for sure- everyone that I have come across in Seattle is so nice. It is a big city feel, but everyone I have met is so welcoming and happy. Not to mention, the transit system is super awesome.

During my walk, I did one of my favorite things. This is totally nerdy, but one of my favorite things is to go into a well-known store and compare how things are different and similar to my store at home. I walked into a Target today in downtown and spent at least 45 minutes looking at how the merchandise is set up and why it made sense to do it that way. I don't understand why, but doing this is always enjoyable for me.

I feel so wonderful being here and so excited for my friends and family to visit. I wondered today when I would be able to feel comfortable enough with the city and begin to call it my home. It has been a while since I felt completely comfortable and "at home". With my whole life in limbo, I quickly began losing myself and holding onto other's lives and accomplishments. In the past few months, I haven't had my sense of confidence, or "glow".  I noticed today that I haven't felt this independent and happy in a while. I started glowing again, and am so excited to see what the future holds.

The pictures from my day are below. The order doesn't make sense, but I'll figure out how to order pictures sometime in the future.

Rain in Seattle

Jade's Next Christmas Present

Famous Mac & Cheese

Grilled Salmon

:)

Making Cheese

Soaked Shoes

Rain in Seattle

Coffee Shop

Crabs

Short breads (for you, Jade)

Gorgeous Sky Above Pike Place

Scary Fish

Smoked Salmon Sample

Smoked Fish

FISH! 

Almost to Pike Place! 

Produce

Flowers

Uhh..?

Karli

Goodbye Florida, Hello Seattle

My last day in Florida was so incredible. Maxim and I went to the Dali Museum, Ybor City for dinner, and finally the Hard Rock Cafe Casino. Of course there were many exciting detours in between. It was a perfect distraction from feeling gloomy about leaving everyone in Florida. 

Flying to Seattle wasn't as bad as I had thought. I had a 2.5 hour flight to Chicago and then a 4.5 hour flight to Seattle.  Unfortunately, one of my bags was lost on the way. It was the bag with all of my toiletries, shoes and dresses. On the bright side, if it is lost then I will have a reason to purchase a new wardrobe.

I wasn't sure how I would feel when I landed in Seattle. I remembered how I could not stop myself from crying when I got to the farm in Italy, realizing that I was so far from my friends and family. I wondered if I would feel the same way when I got here. Thankfully, I was very excited when I landed and couldn't wait to explore the new city. I am also staying with some really nice friends, so that helps too. 

My plans for today include taking a bus to Pike Place Market and then maybe stumbling across some parks or other cool sites. Does anyone have any recommendations of things to do in Seattle? 

Hope everyone is well. 

Karli

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Fun Things in Gainesville

I move across the country in 4 days.

I still cannot fathom how this opportunity came into my life or how to live knowing that everything in my life is about to change. I could move to Seattle and become anyone that I want because no one knows my past or my most importantly, my mistakes. There is no one to judge me for embarrassing lip stick shades that I've tried in the past years; no one to remind me of the time my foot got caught in the string of a pinata when I was desperately trying to gorge myself with candy; no one to expect me to be the outgoing one in a crowd.

I have become saddened by this, but I make myself stop feeling sad because moving to an amazing place for a great job is such an exciting thing. I will probably feel lonely at first, but I need to realize that I am outgoing and will meet friends very quickly. One thing is for sure, I will miss the mornings spent working on my computer while Lucy fights for my attention by cuddling with me on my lap.

I am leaving my hometown, but I realized that many readers will have just arrived in Gainesville and might be feeling lonely. I decided that it would be beneficial to include information about things to do in Gainesville for younger people who are new to the city.

1. Sports-- There are many different groups at UF Southwest Rec and around Gainesville (just google, for non-students) that play sports. A few are volleyball, dodge ball, ultimate frisbee, biking clubs, etc... Any of these would be excited to have another member.

2. Community Ed Courses/ Leisure Courses-- Santa Fe College offers many different classes for anyone in the community to take. I've done a few of these, such as ballroom dancing, tango and belly dance. UF also has a similar set up called Leisure courses. I've taken the bar tending leisure course. All classes that I've taken through UF or Santa Fe have been really fun.

3. Free Friday Concerts-- Gainesville offers free local music at the Bo Didley Plaza on Friday nights beginning in the Spring. There are always really nice people hanging out at the plaza and many neat venders. The schedule can be found here-
http://www.gvlculturalaffairs.org/website/programs_events/plaza_series/plaza.html

4.  Art Walk-- Art Walk in Gainesville happens every last Friday of the month. This is an exciting event where many local artists will set up their galleries around downtown and it is free and open to the public for viewing. The website is found here- http://www.artwalkgainesville.com/. It is a perfect place to meet new exciting people of all ages.

5. Go to the springs-- There are many springs located around Gainesville. Most are only 30 minutes to an hour away. You can spend the day swimming in the spring or canoeing/ kayaking down the Santa Fe River. My favorite springs are Blue Spring, Ginnie Spring and Ichetucknee Spring. A website for all the springs in Florida can be found here- http://www.floridasprings.org/

I hope that new people to Gainesville can enjoy these things to do as much as I do. Gainesville really is an amazing place filled with beautiful people. I feel so lucky to have grown up in a town like this.

Karli

Sunday, March 16, 2014

“Failure is not falling down, but refusing to get back up.”

There is only one more week until I move to Seattle. Nerves are beginning to develop as I realize how many things I need to do before I leave. Sadness sweeps in as I realize I will be leaving all of my family and friends, but leaves as soon as I think about the new and exciting life that I will be living (this process continues over, and over).

It is such a wonderful and scary moment in life when you shed the person that you have been for the past years and begin to develop into the person that you will be for the next chapter of your life. In November I began realizing that I was growing when I started having new interests for my life.

I sit today and realize that in the last few months, I have grown so much in my personality, interests, career and view of myself. I think of the person I was, and prepare for the new person that I will become. The only way I am preparing for this is to hold onto the idea of the person I want to be in this world and the effect that I want to have on life around me. I have taken leaps and fallen, but continue to pick myself up, ready to fall again. Sitting at the table now, I realize that we are supposed to fall in life. We are supposed to make mistakes and cause pain for ourselves and sometimes for the people around us. Without this, we would have no way of learning how to do it better the next time. No chance of growing and becoming something more.

Whether it is a career, class, personal goal, or relationship, don't be afraid to mess up. Just come clean to yourself and the others around you, and realize that you now have the opportunity to do better.

I am keeping this in mind as I continue to be in situations where I need to remind myself that this uncertainty is temporary and will be gone as long as I continue to push forward.

Thank you to all of the people in my life that allow me to fall and then encourage me to do better.

Karli

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Welcome to A Sunflower in Seattle!

I am creating this blog to share the exciting adventures that I will experience as I move from Gainesville, Florida to Seattle, Washington to pursue a career with Amazon.

This blog will feature a mix of posts related to food, fashion, business, careers, friendships, outdoor adventures and other life topics. I wanted to give my friends and family the ability to keep up with my everyday life as well as give myself the opportunity to journal about my new experiences and motivate others to strive towards their dreams.

I am extremely scared to move across the country to a place far from anyone that I know, but I am also excited and ready for challenges. Some interesting things I am excited to do in Seattle include:

1. Get a library card-- Seattle is ranked the most literate city in the country. The Seattle Public Library system has the highest percentage of library card-holders per capita in the country.


2. Go to the market. They have one of the largest farmers markets around-Pike Place Market. I cannot wait to see what kind of vendors they have.

3. A tour of Boeing- Future of Flight. I think it will be so amazing to see the industry of planes and how they are made/where the industry is going.

4. French Fest! There is a festival for French-speaking people. I am sure there are lots of amazing people here as well as delicious food. 


5. Get outside. One of the things that I keep hearing about Seattle is that they have many different outdoor activities such as parks, beaches, mountains, etc... I am cannot wait to put on a sweater and go hiking. 


Does anyone have any recommendations of things to do in Seattle or tips for moving across country/ beginning a new job? 


Until next time,

Karli