My Guide for Packing!

I'm a pretty experienced traveler, and I don't mean that in a boastful way. I count my self extremely fortunate to have traveled so frequently. A lot of my travels came to fruition out of my love for missions work. And though I did not always have the cash to finance those trips, I knew a lot of generous friends and family members who also love missions, but they themselves are unable to get away. Financing my trips was a way for them to be involved as well. Probably only a third of my travels were for actual vacation. On that train of thought (AKA bunny trail), my first solo recreational travel experience was when I was just freshly 18. My parents sent me on a trip to France as my graduation gift. Boy, they must have really trusted me... well, me, or my older sister that I would be meeting up with at the airport in Paris! Anyway, through all of my experience, I have learned to never again expect for everything to go perfectly right. And when those times go not as planned, it's good to have a pack you can carry. For example: walking across a section of Tokyo for an hour, with all your luggage I might add, to catch a train because your friend's car broke down, having to load up your bags in a tiny little canoe to get to your destination village or my more recent example of having to fit 12 people and their luggage into a 12 passenger van; all of which are great examples of when it is good to have small carry-able luggage.

Today I am boarding a long-anticipated flight to Nashville to see my hubby (and then on we go to visit my fam in PA). So, I am going to show you some of the tricks I have learned and used to pack for my trip. Here we go...

1.) Get the right pack for you. I received this one as a gift from my family, and it is perfect for all my domestic (and actually also international) travels as it is just small enough to sneak by as a carry on. Conclusion: NO BAG FEES!!! 

2.) Coordinate Mix-able clothes.  I try to pick out clothes that are all in similar color themes. This makes it much easier to pack light. I usually start with some of my favorite articles of clothing and the shoes I wish to take. I then grab other pieces of clothing that I can mix in to change the outfit enough that I can wear it another day. For example; I packed my white shorts. Those shorts go with just about every item I have packed. Then, I only packed two cardigans. Since I packed alike colors, I only needed two because they go with almost all my shirts and shorts that I picked out. See the versatility? It's pretty much the only way I can fit all my clothes into a carry-on size suitcase!

3.) Organize Accessories: I keep multiple make-up bags around to hold my accessories when I travel. Though a bigger  container is convenient as it keeps everything in one spot, smaller bags make it easier to fit into the small spaces of my little suitcase.

4.) Ready-to-go Toiletries: I actually keep a travel toiletry bag year round in my linen closet. I keep 3 oz. or smaller containers of travel necessities readily available and stored out of my everyday reach. That way, when the time comes to travel, it's ready and I don't waste money scrambling for travel size products. This also ensures that I can get my bag through as a carry on which saves me money not having to check-in big bottles of liquids or gels.

Add in any other needed items and your good to go with NO baggage fees!

This is my carry on for today's travels. I was gifted this bag not long ago and I absolutely love it! Not only is it just simply an adorable handbag, it's also the perfect size for travel. In it today, I packed my new issue of Relevant Magazine, my camera & travel tripod, my wallet & checks, a few snacks, my iphone/ipod combo, my favorite DVD's, two books, my computer and sunglasses!! Gotta love the Mary Poppins Purse! But even more than the purse, is who I get to see at the end of my flights!! DUSTIN!

Happy Summer Traveling!! -mK

Road Trip To San Diego and Back

A week and a half ago, myself and the entire Light Gives Heat family hit the road to San Diego. Here's a look at our trip, compliments of LGH photographer, and my friend, Megan Glenn!

This was the part we came for, the Switchfoot Bro-Am. Light Gives Heat was one of the Product sponsors, though all we really had to do was hand over the gear and then enjoy the remainder of our weekend. This huge treat was perfect timing seeing as we all have been working double as hard this past month to keep finances up to continue providing sustainable incomes in Uganda. (P.S. That's me in the white tank top, you can't yet see how burnt my forehead got!! Ouch!)

The music was great!! The after party at the Belly Up Tavern was amazing with acts like Fiction Family, Little Hurricane & Goo Goo Doll's Johnny Rezeznik! It was a blast, though I did wish my sibs were with me for Johny Rzeznik. My brother, Ben, would have loved it!

The food we had was, O so tasty. I had frozen yogurt from Yogurt land for lunch and then a second time for Dinner the following day! I just couldn't help myself, it was sooo yummy! In-n-out twice in one week was also a huge treat!! I ordered a grilled cheese off the "secret menu" the second time around just so I could say, "Is it true you serve grilled cheese?" in my secretive voice. I felt pretty under-cover and in the know! ha!

Though travel is always fun, nothing is quite as sweet as home! Hello Colorado!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed the photos! To see the full photo post on the LGH blog, click right <HERE> -mK

The Guest > Canada's Best Kept Secret

Last night, I was catching up with one of my very closest friends, Janneka. We have a very un-likely-to-survive-but-actually-thrive kind of friendship. Janneka and I first met back in the fall of 2006. Really, it was the spring-time because we met while living in Brisbane, Australia. Dustin was first to befriend Janneka, probably because I saw her as the other "tall-girl" invading my territory. Haha, not really, but that definitely was one of the first things I recognized about her.

This was all three of us back in 2006. Wow, has five years done us good, I almost didn't want to post this photo, but ah well, this is me!

Back to the history lesson; Janneka and Dustin became quite good friends but I didn't really get the opportunity to really know her until most of our friends left and went home to their native countries. Janneka and I quickly learned we had a lot in common, almost kinda scary how alike we thought. But this served us well as I was newly entering the pre-stages of dating Dustin. I remember Janneka sitting with me as I went on and on trying to solve the mystery of whether Dustin did indeed like me, or if he was just calling me weekly from the US to be nice. All the while, Janneka just knew, she knew that Dustin and I would get married, and she was right! Thank goodness for that! :)

Janneka and I had only a few more months together before she was off to China and then home to Canada to start school. This began the 2 and a half year gap before we would see each other again. Let's be honest, long distance friendships can be really hard to maintain! But with Jan, oddly enough, though the miles further us from each other in the physical,  it has actually acted as a green house for our friendship. When Dustin proposed back in the summer of 09, Janneka was one of the first I asked to honor me by being my bridesmaid, and although circumstances didn't allow for her to come, instead I got to have her for a whole week to myself a few months later when she visited Grand Junction. Well, I had to share her with Dustin too, although, we didn't really give him a moment to say a word the entire first day. We literally talked from the moment we picked her up at the airport til the moment we all went to sleep!

Janneka isn't a one-time guest on From The Guest Room. You can expect to see her again! Even if we have to be vacation-buddies for the rest of our lives, with my future kids calling her "Auntie Janneka", we both know our friendship is one that will last til the end! -mK

Favorite Spaces > Bridal Beauty

Earlier today, I was invited to attend the bridal shower of a dear, sweet friend of mine, Karen. Seeing as the two of us live hours apart, it makes it quite a treat whenever she comes in to town! The afternoon party was hosted by another good friend, Becca, at her mother's home right in the heart of Palisade wine country.

Becca's mom's home is beautiful; filled with lovely antiques and a yard so alluring, you will want to stay outside from sun up to sun down. I didn't even tell you the best part yet, her house is surrounded by rows and rows of growing grapes from the local vineyards!

I loved this little corner of the house; the colors, the furniture, the wood panels. I am taking notes for my next home!

The shower itself was very relaxed and fun. The setting couldn't have been more perfect and the food was sooo yummy.

My friend, Larae, made these adorable little cupcakes that matched perfectly with the cake. We ate it too fast, so I didn't get a photo of it...but can you blame us? It was delicious!

Myself and the beautiful bride!

What's a party without a good laugh? We think we've discovered a new look for Vogue! Pretty and practical...you never have to leave the lovely fragrance of your favorite flowers!

What a great way to spend my Saturday afternoon! Have a good one, mK

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The Sale Rack > Good morning Sunshine!

Thursday morning, I woke up to a bright and sun-shining morning. Actually, it may have been shining a bit too intensely, as it forced me indoors with it's 100 degrees of pure HOT! But, if I was going to be indoors, why not bring in the sunshine with this yellow ensemble.

Give'm those details >
Skirt, Belt, Shoes & Shirt: All found at Ross, each costing between $5 & $10 (Belt was free with another shirt), All Jewelry $0 (Gift), Home-made Headband $0! Total Cost of Outfit: Right around $30!! Gotta love a good deal!!

Have a GREAT Saturday!! -mK

The Fifty Dollar Challenge

Dustin is in Nashville. Three Weeks Now. Interning as an audio engineer at Dark Horse Studios. I am home. I am working. Dustin is not. (paid job, anyway. Work he IS doing)

Okay, so that sounds a bit harsh, but it's just setting the scene for the little idea I am soon to tell you about. Last week, 8 days ago, I was talking to Dustin about finances and the fact that we are down to one job for this month and next. One job isn't that bad, it's still an income, it just doesn't provide the extra cushion we've grown accustomed to. After we hung up the phone, I got to thinking; it's hard enough for guys to feel like they are not providing, especially for their family, so my thoughts came to this; my spending habits either needed to be slightly tamed a bit more or he would feel even worse come bill-paying time. After all, he may not be working, but he is making a hugely sacrificial investment into our future! I want to support that, not all girls are as lucky as I am with a hubby who wants to be pro-active and provide! So, here's what I came up with. I challenged myself to spend $50 or less for the next two weeks!

Again, harsh? Well, you see, I have a weakness for challenges or dares. That weakness is the only reason I can say today that I have eaten an entire raw squid, drank a drink I found buried in a sand bar, cliff jumped from 30+ feet, swam through a window of a sunken ship and rode "Hell's Revenge" on a manual four-wheeler that I learned to drive earlier that morning. Knowing this about myself, I figured only a challenge, a dare, would give me the drive to complete this task. That, or my inherited trait of competitiveness from my dad!

So, this brings us to today. After a much needed fuel-up for the Jeep, I gathered all my receipts and calculated my progress. As of today, I have spent $42.30. (This excludes one thing: a bridal shower gift I knew I had to purchase!) The $42.30 consists of gas & food only. So, the question is: Will I make it to next Wednesday morning on $7.70? Will my competitive nature win out, or is it just too hard?? We will see...What do you think? Do you think I can do it?

The Land of Looks

It's Official, I am now on Lookbook.nu! It's funny, I have been looking at that site for a while now, gaining inspiration from other every-day people's daily fashion, but just the other day I decided to just go for it and join the land of looks with my very own profile! Check it out my profile here!

This was one of the recent outfit posts I found that I really liked! Simple & Sweet! Check out this outfit here! Enjoy, mK

The Guest > Jeane' & the "D"

Hey friends! Today is an exciting day for me because I have a guest! This guest not only writes a fantastically raw, real & positively hilarious blog called The Coffee Cottage, but she also happens to be my very own cousin! Jeane' is a mother to six kids, a wife to one awesome man and still makes time to share her life through her blog! I'm impressed! :) You may at first glance think I asked Jeane' to be my guest today just because she is my cousin, but in all actuality, I asked her because she is quite an inspiring woman! She is one who, although may be living a bit more hectic of a life than she had anticipated, still walks forward with humor in her heart and love in her actions! I greatly enjoy reading her blog daily because she encourages me to be real and genuine, have strength in the harder moments of life and laugh every chance I can! With no further a due, I think you will greatly enjoy this guest-post from Jeane'! Enjoy, mK

 "D" is for...

In digging through boxes that remained unpacked from our move, I came across several photo albums that contained pubescence scenes of old that I decided were best left deep in the eaves of our attic. Perhaps I will whip them out when the dip of my daughter's self esteem reach pivotal lows...and then I can show them what could be, and how relieved they'll be that this was not them (and almost sympathetic that their mother lived through such a fashion nightmare decade, and embraced it as though it were anything but).

There are several fashion scenes in my memories that induce an outright wince...pieces that should have never been introduced to me (or to anyone for that matter), but instead of having the good sense to run the opposite direction, I embraced these monstrosities and the humiliation that occurred as a result was well-deserved.

And so I present for your consideration: The Dickey.

The dickey is defined as such: A dickey (alternately written as dickie or dicky[1]; sometimes known as a tuxedo front or tux front) is a type of false shirt-front - originally known as a detachable bosom.

At a young and impressionable age in my life, I was presented with this 'wonderful' alternative to a full turtleneck and the way in which it was presented seemed to make complete sense to me. Why should one spend a long school day suffering under the immense heat produced from the wearing of 2 full toasty layers, when I could breeze right through it, cool as a cucumber in only 1 (and a quarter) all the while deceiving the eyes of the public into thinking there was, indeed, a full fledge turtleneck under my kitten appliqued sweatshirt! Oh the trickery that went on in the hallways of my Jr. High.

That is, until that fateful gym period in 8th grade.

You remember how it is walking down the high school hallway as a junior higher in between classes. It is absolutely thrilling and terrifying, as it is your small window of time to present yourself as the 'mature' and 'not just your friend's little sister anymore' self to the desirable high school boys darting from their lockers and classes. Oh, just to receive ONE little glance, one tiny quick shot of the eyes in acknowledgement that you merely exist. That was all I wanted.

It's what I got, the day my dickey OVERLAPPED the sweater I threw on quickly after gym class. Oh the hot mortification that overtook me, starting at my scalp and ending at the edge of my toes, when I realized that I had walked tall and proud, unknowingly showcasing my bright white knit bib across my barely-there bosom AND back!!! Ohhhhhh....ahhhhhh!!!! Barely breathing in the haze of humiliation, I somehow fumbled into the perpetually body odor smelling girls locker room and with shaky hands, tucked my derelict dickey back into place and walked back out, afraid to look up lest I see the band of boys who had surely seen my fashion faux-pas. I was burning up, hot as the mid-day sun, even without that pesty second layer!!!

That evening, when I got home, I buried my dickey in the depths of my underwear drawer next to the forgotten cotton undershirts where it stayed until the Goodwill gods took it away forever and ever amen.

I was hesitant to google 'dickey', for fear it would bring up an assortment of unsavory images that would leave my husband shocked if he found it in the search engine's history. But I did it anyway, and gratefully, everything came up 'clean'. Including an obscure little online shop that is probably the last of it's kind. They are the purveyors of everything Dickey. I am sure for those of you who may be in the market for such a functional piece of under wear, this is delightful news. However, you should note that this appeared on the top of the web page: I will be away from the office from Jan 7th - Jan 20. If possible, please refrain from sending dickey inquiry eMails during that time, as my mail box will likely fill up, and your eMails lost. I will return and be ready to assist you on Jan 21st. Sorry for the inconvenience, and Have a Happy New Year! I can't imagine what his inbox will look like on the 21st. Filled to the brim. Especially since he has so many satisfied customer testimonials, touting his fine products.

Take, for example, this letter of praise from a wearer named Richard:


10.17.09 - Dear Rick, I recently purchased several dickies from your website (HOT pink, popcorn, and cornflower blue). I was very pleased with the quality and craftsmanship of the faux turtlenecks! Since their arrival, I have worn a dickey daily and on multiple dates. I have been very successful with my new lady friends. I blame my past misfortune in the love department from a lack of dickies. I find your product highly satisfactory. I am considering stitching small rabbit caricatures on the top bit of the dickie. I will be using small cotton balls for the tails. I just wanted to share this idea with you in case you want to market it. Also, for Christmas I have thought about sewing a series of jingles bells in the shape of reindeer's. Many happy dickey wearing days, Richard
(I did not make this up, honest!! This website is real and you can visit it here.)

If you truly are a fan of the dickey, please do not allow my bitter take on them to cause you to think less of me. It's simply that my dickey (the cotton one, dear) failed to perform (ahem). I am sure they have their rightful place in the world. Just not in mine.

As for the other fashion faux pas...they are stories that will need to be saved for another day, as I am needing to leave in order to retrieve my 15 year old step son from school. While he is WAY cooler than I ever hoped to be, perhaps he had a humiliating walk through the hallways today and I will be able to better come along side of him, all because of a dickey.

-Jeane

The Sale Rack > Mornings by the Sea

This past Friday morning, I spent some time by the Pacific! Being landlocked in Colorado, I didn't care whether it was overcast or raining, just being by the water brought happiness to my heart!

Give'm those details >
H&M Cardigan < $20, Victoria Secret Romper < $29, Suubi Classic Necklace compliments of Light Gives Heat & Tom's shoes (paid close to $60 for these because I love what Tom's is doing)! Total: Roughly around $100. Okay, so not my cheapest outfit, but sometimes, I will dish out a bit more cash for a good cause!

Have a great Tuesday!! - mK

Favorite Spaces > Sleep over the Ocean

On Friday afternoon, my LGH friends and I went down to Pacific Beach  for lunch. After enjoying my bowl full of frozen yogurt from Yogurt Land, (best choice for lunch I might add) I slipped away from the group and headed down to the pier. I am so glad I did because this is what I found; one of the cutest hotels, one that I would LOVE to come back and stay at! It's the Crystal Pier Hotel!

The thing I loved the most about this hotel is pretty obvious, the fact that you can sleep on the pier right over the ocean! Maybe next time I visit San Diego, this is where I'll stay!

I hope you all are enjoying your Father's Day weekend! Maybe next Father's day you can treat your dad to a  stay here, at the Crystal Pier Hotel!  - mK