We're going places, baby!

Noticed anything new around here? Yes, that's a new blog header and new photo collage at the right sidebar. The photo in the header and the two first photos in the collage were taken by Mae during the fun photoshoot we had a couple of weeks ago. I believe that bright, happy colors can inspire and bring about positive vibes, and that's what I need right now. How'd you like it? :)

Kym's post reminded me of the blog award Nikolett also gave me last week (I can't believe only a week has passed since, it feels so long ago!) so I am doing my own version here.

Just because it's kinda related,

This is 5-years young Krissy back when I was still known as Kring-kring :D

This photo is very precious to me as this is one of the only eight remaining photos from my childhood as everything else was burned by the big fire that razed through our neighborhood nine years ago.

You're Going Places, Baby! award

The rules of the award/ tag state that recipients should have to describe what and where he/ she think he/ she'll be in 10 years.

In 10 years...

• I'll be 29 34. I will be married by then, enjoying an imperfect but happy and beautiful life with the family my future husband and I are going to make. At that age I want to already have at least one child. I want two children before I'm 36 :) A big family will be great, but of course raising children is a big responsibility so I want to make sure that we would be capable of providing for them. We would live in a modest house with a beautiful and quaint garden and we will raise our children to be responsible and God-fearing citizens.
• I will be married to someone who is smart and smells good. Those are not the prerequisites, though. He should be God-fearing, responsible, faithful and treat other people with respect. And of course, he should love me completely and adore our children. I don't know if we have met before, or I am just about to meet him. To you, whoever you are, I am excited to meet you. :)
• I will be an established writer. Again, I won't get tired of thanking each and everyone of you who read the stuff I publish here in my blog. I can't tell you how happy you make me when my blogging efforts are appreciated. Thank you so much and I wish I can repay you in any way I can. :)
• I will have my own bookstore connected to a coffee shop. I have always loved books and dainty, pretty things, and I would not want them to be forgotten because of gadgets like the iPad and Kindle. Yes, they may be convenient and cheaper, but for me nothing can beat the feel and smell of a good book.
• I will learn to forgive everyone who has hurt me and let go of "friendships" and relationships that are bad for me. But then again this sounds more like a short-term plan that I can do long before the 10-year deadline is up.
• I will keep on learning new things, stop procrastinating, eat healthy food, watch good movies and concerts, listen to beautiful music, and take lots of photos. In 10 years I will have learned another language, and will have seen more of my country and the world through travelling. 
• ... and every day starting today, I will be happy.

Notice that I replaced I want to be with I will; I think that it's a more positive reinforcement that way. See, I am not too complicated. Remove the frills and the compulsion to collect all things pretty and you'll see that really, I am a simple girl with simple dreams.

I want to constantly remind myself that life is short, so I should start doing the steps necessary for me to attain these things before the 10-year deadline is up. Hmm, care to help me find a boyfriend? :D

From How I Met Your Mother:

Ted: No, it's not an adventure, it's a mistake! 

Lily: OK, yes it's a mistake. I know it's a mistake, but there are certain things in life where you know it's a mistake but you don't really know it's a mistake because the only way to really know it's a mistake is to make the mistake and look back and say 'yep, that was a mistake.' So really, the bigger mistake would be to not make the mistake, because then you'd go your whole life not knowing if something is a mistake or not. And dammit, I've made no mistakes! I've done all of this; my life, my relationship, my career, mistake-free. Does any of this make sense to you?

Ted: I dunno, you said mistake a lot.

Just about sums it up. :)

I will have my own adventure!

I am passing this award/ tag to Ana, Mae, Meream, Joanne, Belle, Rej and Mai. ♥♥

Oh before I forget, please check out my contribution to Meream's Book Style series (a very interesting blog series wherein outfits are styled as inspired by book covers) here. Can you guess what book inspired the style I did? :)