Tag: Self Improvement

Empowerment Blogging

Embracing Your Inner Light as a Creator

Krystle Kitchen

It’s a new year and a perfect time to reflect on your journey as a creator, blogger, or photographer. Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, consider the growth you’ve experienced and the challenges you’ve overcome. This is not only a time to celebrate but also a moment to look forward to the new year with fresh dreams and aspirations. This can also be applicable to any profession.

Cultivating a Positive Mindset

It’s easy for others to see only the surface of what we share while our true essence often lies deeper. Learning to ignore negative thoughts, both our own and the criticisms of others, is vital for cultivating creativity. Remember, only you have the power to control your mindset. Negative words can feel daunting, but if approached as tests rather than obstacles, they can strengthen your resolve. Guarding your mind against such distractions allows you to focus on what truly matters: your passion for storytelling through your lens.

Renewed Focus for the New Year

When sharing your experiences, maintaining a positive outlook is crucial. Respect is important, but remaining resolute in the face of disbelief and negativity is essential. You can’t achieve success if you dwell on defeat or the naysayers. Remember no one can undermine your unique vision as a creator because you possess everything you need to inspire others through your artistry and captivating narratives. Your distinctive voice, is what will make you stand out and can transform ordinary experiences into extraordinary stories.

Shine Bright Amidst the Darkness

Every creator brings a unique vibe to their work, shaped by their personal journey. Your experiences are invaluable. For a food blogger sharing what makes their culinary adventures special, such as the recipes that remind you of home, the street food that fueled your explorations, or the local chefs whose passion inspires can make them stand out.

Actively uplifting others is important. Creating a supportive environment can foster collaboration rather than competition. Simple acts of kindness, like engaging with fellow creators, or joining forces with local businesses for a project, can create ripples of positivity. These connections not only enrich your journey but also enhance the community spirit among fellow enthusiasts.

The Power of Your Voice and Perspective

Your journey as a creator allows you to illuminate not just your path but also the paths of others. The world of blogging thrives on authentic stories and connections. Each blog post or social media update is an opportunity to let your voice be heard, to share not just what you eat and see but how those experiences impact you.

As you continue to pursue your passion, think about how you can engage your audience on a deeper level in the upcoming year. Ask questions, invite feedback, and create a dialogue around your experiences. This interaction not only builds community but also inspires trust. When your audience feels connected to you, they are more likely to engage with your content and share it with others.

Utilize your skills to capture the essence of the moments that matter. A beautifully composed shot of a delectable dish for example can tell a story that reminds your audience of a favorite meal or inspires them to try cooking it themselves. Showcasing not just the subject but the ambiance, the people, and the cultural practices surrounding it can turn a simple post into a multifaceted narrative.

Keep Spreading Positivity

By embracing positivity, as a creator you become a beacon of inspiration. Your adventures and discoveries can encourage someone to embark on their own journey, be it trying a new recipe, exploring a new city, or simply savoring the moment.

As you step into the new year, keep capturing those moments, telling your stories, and sharing the joy you find in daily life. Shine brightly, and let your unique lens be a source of inspiration for others. Your voice matters and so does your journey, make it a beautiful one!

Take A Walk in My Flip Flops:Travel Blog

American Girl Store: Chasing Childhood

Krystle Kitchen
We are far too occupied with being socially accepted and could all use the break to daydream of more simpler times.

When I was a little girl having an American Girl was all the rage. I was a bit of a tomboy and I didn’t play with a lot of dolls. When I told my dad I wanted an American Girl doll he was a bit surprised. My whole childhood I was the type of child that did chores and respected direction from my elders. Doing this typically meant when I asked for something from “Santa”, I most definitely was going to see it under the Christmas tree.

Outside the American Girl store at Tyson’s Corner
Standing outside the American Girl Store in Tyson’s Corner Mall

Christmas that year came and went through without any American Girl dolls. Everything else on my wishlist however was underneath the tree. Birthdays and Christmases went by and I kept asking for an American Girl doll. When the American Girl store opened in Chicago in 1998 I knew I was destined to get a doll because it was somewhere we traveled and visited. I’d cut out ads of the store information and talk about all the cool things a child could do there every time I knew we would be close by.

Kaya doll at the American Girl in Tyson’s Corner Mall
Kaya doll at the American Girl in Tyson’s Corner Mall
A kitchen play set at the American Girl in Tyson’s Corner Mall
A kitchen play set at the American Girl in Tyson’s Corner Mall
American Girl doll display in Tyson’s Corner Mall
American Girl doll display in Tyson’s Corner Mall

Time went by and another American Girl store opened in 2003 in New York. At this point, I was a junior in High School and not a little girl focused on dolls. I had stopped asking for an American Girl. I later learned my dad had some issues with the American Girl brand and didn’t want to support them and that is why he hadn’t purchased a doll from them.

At almost 18 years old after my dad had taken a trip to New York I was finally given Josephine. This was the doll I had so desperately wanted ten years prior. She was beautiful and I appreciated the craftsmanship, but that excited feeling I’d had thinking about her at 8 wasn’t there. I honestly didn’t feel much of anything when I unwrapped the box.

Fast forward sixteen years later my husband and I were planning a trip to DC. I had mentioned the American Girl store at Tyson’s Corner. He insisted that we go and that I finally get to check out an American Girl Doll store in person. We even made reservations to eat inside the American Girl Cafe.

Some of the American Girl dolls on display at the American Girl Store in Tyson’s Corner

I must admit as a 35-year-old with no children or grandchildren I felt a bit silly walking into an American Girl store. All the magic and excitement I had over visiting didn’t flood back to me as an adult. We walked around and looked at all the dolls. My husband offered to buy me a doll of my choice, but I couldn’t justify spending $300 as an adult for something that would only sit up on a shelf. I found myself a bit sad, desperately wishing someone would have thought it was that important when I was 8.

Pretzel Bites at the American Girl Cafe in Tyson’s Corner Mall
Pretzel Bites at the American Girl Cafe in Tyson’s Corner Mall
The decorations inside the American Girl Cafe at Tyson’s Corner Mall are whimsical
The decorations inside the American Girl Cafe at Tyson’s Corner Mall are whimsical.
Menu at the American Girl Cafe in Tyson’s Corner Mall
Menu at the American Girl Cafe in Tyson’s Corner Mall
The napkin ring at the American Girl Cafe in Tyson’s Corner Mall doubles as a take home hair tie
The napkin ring at the American Girl Cafe in Tyson’s Corner Mall doubles as a take home hair tie
Inside the American Girl Cafe in Tyson’s Corner

We waited for our lunch reservation time. The American Girl Cafe is so cute with loads of pink. They have chairs for the American Girl dolls, food items to share with the dolls and make a big deal out of celebrating for children. The American Girl Cafe even has dolls for use by children who might not have one yet, so they can experience the fun. The American Girl Cafe also has adult drinks and the food was well prepared and tasty. It was fun watching the little girls get their dolls situated and offer up food and drink to them. Watching and daydreaming it brought me back to days of tea parties and dress-up.

Cotton Candy milkshake at the American Girl Cafe in Tyson’s Corer
Cotton Candy milkshake at the American Girl Cafe in Tyson’s Corer.

For a few moments, I was that 8-year-old girl again wide-eyed and full of dreams, unspoiled by society and the demands of life. It may sound ridiculous, but it was somewhat therapeutic. This was an experience that deep inside I felt I had missed out on. Sitting there looking around I felt as if a void had been fulfilled and I am glad we went.

If you have a toy you didn’t get as a child you can still go buy it if you think it would give you joy or go visit a special place from your childhood. It is healthy to want to feel those feelings again and to connect back to the innocence that once was and bring back some childhood nostalgia. We are far too occupied with being socially accepted and could all use the break to daydream of simpler times.