Friday Favorites

1. 9 Rules For Emailing From Google Exec Eric Schmidt. (time.com)
2. When to Toss Your Makeup. (theeverygirl.com)
3. 10 Ways to Make the Most of Your 20's Professionally. (levo.com)
4. 5 Quotes From Mark Zuckerberg That Prove Success Begins With Impossible Dreams. (elitedaily.com)
5. The Pair Of Pants You’ll Want To Wear Literally All Weekend. (theglitterguide.com)

Enjoy your weekend!

"Fall in love with your life."

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday everyone! As much as I would like to say that I am looking forward to this weekend, I'm not. Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of the passing of my Grampi. He was one of the best men I knew and I know he is with me every single day. Remember to take the time to tell your loved ones how much they are loved because you never know how much time you will have left with them. I will be sharing more about my Grampi on Monday...stay tuned.

1. Five Suggestions For Texting in Relationships. (typsywriter.com)
2. Learning to Love Criticism. (nytimes.com)
3. The 2-Minute Stretch All Desk Workers Should Do Before Bed. (huffingtonpost.com)
4. Ownership. (thecollegeprepster.com)
5. 20 Ways to Style the Classic White Button-Down. (theeverygirl.com)

Enjoy your weekend! XOXO

"Life goes by fast. Enjoy it. Calm down. It's all funny." - Joan Rivers

Friday Favorites

Hope everyone has a great weekend! XOXO

1. Sling It: Crossbody Bags to Covet. (instyle.com)
2. 15 Basic Pieces Of Clothing Every Twentysomething Owns. (cosmopolitan.com)
3. Break Tradition With These 14 Alternative Engagement Rings. (barneys.com)
4. Lara Spencer’s 12 Dos and Don’ts for Shopping at Flea Markets. (domainehome.com)
5. #StyleHack: Never Get a Blister Again With This Genius Trick. (whowhatwear.com)

"Be the type of person you want to meet." 

Friday Favorites

It’s Friday! It’s Friday! It’s almost time for the weekend, but before some well needed and deserved R&R I have pulled together my five favorite online stories from this week that I have enjoyed reading. I hope that you will like them as well! Enjoy!

1. Strategic Dating Advice: Be As Proactive at Dating As You Are at Work. (levo.com)
2. The Kind Of Woman: Balance. (apartment34.com)
3. On Finding Happiness. (advicefromatwentysomething.com)
4. Skill to Conquer: Trust Yourself. (nycprgirls.com)
5. The Future of PR: 5 Lessons for Pros. (prdaily.com)

Have a great weekend! 

"Always believe that something wonderful is about to happen." 

5 Instagram Accounts to Follow

Whether we like it or not, social media has become a part of our everyday routine. For me, checking Instagram is how I keep myself busy when I’m bored or look through when I need inspiration. If you are looking to be inspired by a quote, get the latest fashion trends or to see how your favorite style-setters are decorating their homes look no further because Instagram is the place to go. I follow a ridiculous amount of people and brands and can spend hours scrolling through pictures, so I figured I would pick out my top five Instagram accounts and share with you! Be sure to follow these lovely ladies!

Courtney Bier - @CourtneyAndConfetti

Emily | Life With Emily Blog - @ENH410

JWS Interiors - @JWSInteriors

Krystin Lee | Suburban Faux Pas - @Krystin_Lee

Kelsey Lane Tucker - @MonogrammedPrep

What are your favorite Instagram accounts? If you wish, you can follow Kindly With K on Instagram at @KindlyWithK!

“No regrets in life. Just lessons learned.” 

Friday Favorites

Thank gosh it is finally Friday! That means the weekend is almost here! My life the past couple of months has been crazy to say the least and I am at a point in my life where there is a crossroads and it’s time for me to start making some big girl decisions – none of which are going to be easy. I have been doing a lot of online reading and I wanted to share with you some great articles that I have come across. If you need inspiration, cheering up or even just a little pick me up these are definitely for you! Enjoy!

1. Change your relationship with fear. (maxiemccoy.com)

2. How to Use Afformations to Change Your Life. (levo.com)

3. Nine Things No One Tells You About Being a Grown-Up. (bustle.com)

4. Twenty pieces of advice every young professional should follow. (prdaily.com)

5. Fifty Simple Ways To Transform Your Life For The Better. (huffingtonpost.com)

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

"Better days are coming. They are called: Saturday and Sunday." 

My Life Lately

Hi everyone! I realize I haven't posted on here for a couple weeks and I wanted to explain. A couple of weeks ago my dog, Lucy, became very ill and we honestly didn't think she was going to make it. We spent days just watching her and praying for the best. Luckily within the past week she has turned the corner and is starting to be her normal self again. We know that our time is limited with her (she is 12 years old), but we are cherishing every moment that we now have with her. She is a part of our family and I can only imagine the pain and sadness we will all feel when she is gone. But until that time comes we are keeping our heads high and just loving her as much as we possibly can!!

Tomorrow I will be back to posting on a regular schedule...stay tuned for my Bachelorette recap and what I received from being an Influenster!!

"Dogs are not our whole lives, but they make our lives whole." - Roger Caras

The Bachelorette Recap – Part I in Santa Barbara

Last night was part 1 of The Bachelorette two-night special and it didn’t disappoint. There was a little bit of everything – from a “normal” date to singing to fake wrinkles to more man drama. With that being said I am still really hopeful that Andi finds her guy in the end. She seems like she is taking this process seriously and genuinely wants to get to know every guy. Now let’s recap what happened in Episode 3 of The Bachelorette.

First 1-on-1: Nick – This date had a lot of hype surrounding it because Nick was the recipient of the first impression rose. They started off riding bikes along the boardwalk in Santa Barbara and then went on a hike to Lizard’s Mouth. Nick willingly admits that he is skeptical about the process and shares that information with Andi. She says that she will “make him a believer” and he starts to open up. I really like the chemistry between the two of them because they both seem to be on the same pages with their life. Did I mention that at the cocktail party he sent Andi flowers to thank her for his date because he wanted to try to make it as normal as possible?!! I think that may have made Bachelorette/Bachelor history!! I have high hopes for Andi and Nick’s relationship.

Group Date – Why are these always so darn hilarious?! I could not stop laughing because putting 12 guys on stage singing Boys II Men is just torture. I thought that they were all good sports, but it was still so funny to watch! My favorite part of group dates is when the guys get 1-on-1 time with Andi. She is quite the prankster – asking Cody why he had a girlfriend and watching him sweat was pure perfection. Marcus finally got his first kiss with Andi – I definitely think this relationship will progress, but I think it will be purely physical. Now don’t hate me, but I think Eric is a bit insecure. He kept asking if he had thanked her for his date and kept wanting reassurance that she still liked him when really he needed to just focus on building his relationship. Don’t even get me started on Josh M. because their chemistry and connection is unreal. They both get very giddy when they are around each other and it is very sincere. If Andi doesn’t pick him, I will definitely take him for myself! :)

Images via The Bachelorette on ABC.com - 1 | 2

Second 1-on-1: JJ – Finally we get to see the Pantsaprenuer!! I thought this date was so awesome. Not only did they get to see what the other one would look like in 50 years, but they both played their parts perfectly when they were in the park. It was very endearing that he asked if he could kiss her on the tire swing…what a gentleman. Like I said prior, I really like that Andi is genuinely interested in getting to know the guys because her conversations always have depth. Her and JJ have more in common than you would think and it will be fun to see if their relationship can blossom.

Images via The Bachelorette on ABC.com - 1 | 2 

Cocktail Party/Rose Ceremony: There is always DRAMA and this season is no exception! JJ and Josh M. confronted Andrew about getting a waitress’ phone number before filming started and of course he denied, denied, denied! Josh M. is very protective of Andi already and it shows that he has true feelings for her. But I say leave the drama at home…it’s not worth it and it is annoying for the viewers!

What do you think of Andi’s dates and men so far? Will you be watching part II tonight?

“In all the world there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world there is no love for you like mine.” – Maya Angelou

The Future

When you are younger, all you do is look towards the future and think about how great it will be to become an adult and make decisions for yourself. However when you actually become an adult, the future can be a scary place. At 23 years old, I can honestly say that I don’t really know what my future holds. Now this may seem strange, but it is the truth. I know where I would like to be and what I would like to be doing however all of the pieces have to fall into place for my “perfect” future to occur. Even though I know that a “perfect” life doesn’t exist.  At this moment in my life, looking into the future is terrifying.

My younger self had a plan. I was going to go to college, become a teacher and live happily ever after. However, when I got to college I realized that the plan I had in place all along wasn’t truly what I wanted. So I threw my plan out the door and embarked on my new plan that I knew would lead me to happiness in the long run. After graduating college one year ago, there have been so many ups and downs with my life and career that I am starting to wonder what my future truly holds. Did I make the right decision changing majors and throwing my life-long plan out the door? Will I find the job that is the perfect fit for me?

As of right now there are a lot of unanswered questions in my life that only I can answer. I know that all of my decisions have led me to where I am today and the people around me will only continue to lead me in the right direction. Living in the moment is a hard thing to do, but I am striving to make every day count and take my life one day at a time. I know that I will find what makes me happy in time and have the career that I have always wanted to have. Until then I will take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way and make the most out of every day. Everything will turn out in the end!

Have you ever struggled with what your future looks like? I would love to hear how you have gotten through those times…feel free to leave a comment or send me an email at kindlywithk{a}gmail.com.

“Surrender to what is. Let go of what was. Have faith in what will be.” – Sonia Ricotti

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes

Some may say that I like shoes and that would not be incorrect! I have too many pairs to count and my collection just keeps growing. Just like jewelry, shoes can make or break an outfit so I have to make sure I have a wide assortment to choose from. Maybe in the future, I can document my shoe collection on Kindly With K!

Summer is the perfect time to break out the wedges and sandals and add the “little something extra” to your outfit. I have compiled some of the shoes that are on my summer wish list – everything from sneakers to flats to wedges! What shoes are on your summer wish list?

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

“Cinderella is proof that a pair of shoes can change your life” 

Maya Angelou – A Way With Words

Today the world lost an incredible soul. Maya Angelou passed away at the age of 86. Her words were unlike anything I have ever heard before and when Maya Angelou spoke, you listened. She will be forever missed, but her legacy will always live on in her words. My thoughts and prayers to her family.

“If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love.” - Maya Angelou

The Bachelorette Goes On Her First Dates

Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone enjoyed their Memorial Day weekend and reminisced the true reason why we celebrate the holiday – to remember those that have lost their lives fighting for our freedom and those that are still fighting.

My holiday weekend was capped off with episode 2 of The Bachelorette - did you tune in? Andi went on her first 1-on-1 dates and had her first group date and in my opinion these dates are very telling on what she likes and how the season is going to go as a whole.

First 1-on-1: Eric -- Let me start by saying that I know there has been some controversy as to if ABC should have cut him out of the show. In my personal opinion, I think that ABC did the right thing by airing Eric’s date with Andi. He seemed like such a charismatic guy and you could tell that Andi was intrigued by all of the stories that he had to share. His legacy will definitely live on. For more information on how you can #LiveLikeEric, please visit www.livelikeeric.com.

Group Date – How do I even begin to describe this date? I actually don’t think words are needed for the first part of the date…just enjoy the pictures!

Image via The Bachelorette Facebook page

Now the second half of the date didn’t go as well. What was Craig thinking?? Come on, you are a grown man and you think getting drunk and losing your marbles is the right way to win a woman’s heart? I’m sorry but he is a complete loser and I’m surprised Andi waited until the rose ceremony to eliminate him. On the other hand, Marcus got the only rose on the date. I can’t figure out though if Andi really likes him or if she just thinks he hot.

Second 1-on-1: Chris -- It is adorable that Chris is a farmer from Iowa…it doesn’t get more real than him. The whole concept of the date was awesome and they both looked fabulous. I just didn’t see the chemistry right away with Andi and Chris; maybe the sparks will be a gradual build. To me, he is too safe for her! But what do I know, he did get the first kiss!

Image via The Bachelorette Facebook page

Ohh and we can’t forget about Josh M. His interaction with Andi during the cocktail party was unreal. There is so much chemistry and you can tell how much she likes him already just by the way she looks at him! I can’t wait to see their relationship blossom. 

What did you think about Andi’s first dates? 

"Death cannot extinguish the spark that glows within all of us." - #LiveLikeEric

Five Friday Favorites

It’s finally Friday AND it’s the official start to summer this weekend!! Does anyone have any fun plans for the holiday weekend? I am planning on just relaxing, hanging out with family and of course watching the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday.

Here are my Five Friday Favorites:

1. Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop 
I could not be happier that they just opened a Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop down the street from me! They literally make the best made-to-order sandwiches with fresh roasted pulled turkey – my favorite is the Cole Turkey!

Cap's Specials

2. Daily Dose of PR
PR News posted a great personal #PRmantra on Twitter this week that I loved and that I had to share!

@PRNews

3. Kate Spade Surprise Sale
Kate Spade has the best sales and this surprise sale was no different. If you follow me on social media, you know that I purchased a new purse!! If I could I would buy the entire store!

4. Reclaimed Pine Cross Base Desk from West Elm
Love, love, love this desk. It is so simple, yet adds so much character to a room!

West Elm

5. Indianapolis 500
For anyone that knows motorsports, you know that this weekend is one of the biggest racing spectacles in the world – the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Every race car driver dreams to compete in this race and every race fan dreams of watching their favorite driver “kiss the bricks”! I hope to one day be able to attend the race in person and experience everything that makes this race so special and unique, but until then I will watch as the best drivers in the world go over 230 mph for 500 miles!

Indy 500 | 33 Starting Drivers

Have a great weekend everyone!

"Better days are coming. They are called: Saturday and Sunday."

Kindly With K on Social Media

Social media is a huge aspect of today's society. There are positives and negatives to social media, but I hope to use my channels as a way for people to follow along with my amazing (sometimes crazy) life and connect with people like me! Social media is a conversation! 

If you haven't already I would love to have you like Kindly With K on Facebook and follow Kindly With K on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Bloglovin'. 

 

How are you connected?! Feel free to leave your username in the comments or send me an email {kindlywithk@gmail.com} and I would love to give the love back to you! 

"Saying hello doesn't have an ROI. It's about building relationships." - Gary Vaynerchuk

Summer Favorites - Jewelry

With summer fast approaching, I wanted to share some of the baubles that I have been lusting after. In the summer I usually live in either dresses or basic tees and shorts, so adding a great necklace or pair of earrings is an easy way for me to put my twist on a simple outfit. Accessories just give that little burst to every great outfit. My go to jewelry designers are Kendra Scott, Stella & Dot, BaubleBar and Kate Spade.

Here are some of my favorite baubles for the summer!

Clockwise from top left: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Clockwise from top left: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Clockwise from top left: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

What are some of your favorite summer accessories?!!

"Pearls are always appropriate." - Jackie O.

Kindly With K was not given compensation to publish this post - I truly love all of these brands. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Andi Meets Her 25 Bachelors + My Predictions

I couldn’t be happier that Andi is The Bachelorette. She is strong, smart, independent and seems like just a fun person to be around. Last night she met the 25 guys that are going to try to win her heart. Now I have to admit watching the guys get out of the limos is probably one of the funniest things ever. I actually think that they make themselves look like complete dorks – going in for a handshake on the first date, come on guys!! If you missed the season premiere, here are a couple of the notable moments of the guys getting out of the limo:

• Brett stole a lamp (full-size) from the hotel and gave it to Andi. She made sure that it was returned!
• Cody decided it would be a good idea to push the limo because he is a personal trainer. Andi made note that Cody shouldn’t be out of breath if he was a trainer!
• Nick S. rode in on a golf cart – that is just what professional golfers do!
• Patrick brought out a soccer ball (Really???!! Did you not watch last season??!!) and then claimed he wasn’t anything like her last experience with a soccer player!

Overall I think it was a great start to the season and I really am rooting for Andi in her journey to find true love. Now, there were some guys that stood out and I have narrowed down my top three and have made my prediction for who Andi will choose in the end. 

1. Josh M. – You could tell that there was an instant attraction and chemistry just by the way she looked at him! As she said last night, he is her type! He will get the final rose.
2. Marcus – The only reason I am putting him in my top three is because she could not stop commenting on how “hot” he was.
3. Nick V. – While I do think he is on the dorkier side for her, she did give him the first impression rose. He could be a front runner this season!

Josh M. | Marcus | Nick V.

What did you think of the season premiere of The Bachelorette? Who do you think Andi will give her final rose to? 

“He’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” – Emily Bronte

The Bachelorette is Back!!

I am so excited that The Bachelorette is back and couldn’t be happier that it is Andi’s turn to find love - she was one of my faves on The Bachelor! As much as the whole “journey” of The Bachelor/Bachelorette is made for TV, I really can’t help but get invested in the show. Come on, who wouldn’t love the chance to date 25 yummy bachelors who are all vying for your attention! I can’t wait to see the 25 guys that will try to win Andi’s heart and I totally hope that she finds her Mr. Right. Tomorrow I will be doing a full recap of the premiere and I will make my picks for who I think she chooses in the end.

Andi and her 25 Bachelors

Are you going to be watching the season premiere of The Bachelorette tonight? Follow along on Twitter with me tonight {@KindlyWithK} and make sure to use #TheBachelorette!

"All is fair in love and war."