This writing challenge seems to be all about things I love and don't love... but I am all for that!!!

So this one is all about fruit!!!!

Let's jump right in with my least favorite fruit.

This one is a toss-up. There are actually quite a few that I don't really enjoy. Among them, blueberries, raspberries, pretty much all melon aside from watermelon, just to name a few. I don't really have a good reason as to why I don't like them...

I just don't!!!

But the fruit I love is easy...

APPLES AND BANANAS!!!!!

No I didn't plan that. It's true! I love apples and bananas. I try and have them in my grocery cart every time I am at the store. Plus, my work sells them as well... which isn't good for my pocket change!

Well, there you have it. This one was short and simple. Come back tomorrow for the next writing challenge!

K

Yes.

and

No.

Failures happen all the time; every day. They can be small and uneventful. They can also be big and life-changing. Failures are something that you can learn from so you can make a change and not make that mistake again. Failures allow you to better yourself and use that to your advantage so you can become better at whatever it is you are trying to accomplish.

But can someone else take your personal failures and learn from them too? Can they take your failures to better themselves?

Absolutely!

I believe that everyone can learn from mistakes, even if it isn't their own.

In school, we learn from others mistakes all the time.

As adults, we do the same at work and with the people around us.

You can't learn from someone else's mistakes if you don't want to. It's up to you, and only you, if you want to take someone's failures and make changes in your own life.

It's up to only you...

Will you make the change?

K

Ah.. books. Anyone who knows me would probably call be a book nerd and that is something I am damn proud of! Back home, I have took many books to fit in my bookcase and I wouldn't have it any other way! Well, maybe a bigger bookcase would be nice.

So for this writing challenge, I am supposed to pick a book a love and also, a book I don't. I don't know which is going to be harder!

Let's start with the book that I love.

Actually, I am going to change this a bit and go with a series I love.

The Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson.

This series, hands down, is my favorite!

I started reading this series in high school after discovering the first few books in the library. I wasn't even through the first book before I was hooked! Let me give you a rundown of the series.

The Women's Murder Club is made up of four women who work in the world of crime in the big city of San Francisco, California.

Lindsay Boxer: homicide detective

Claire Washburn: San Francisco's medical examiner

Jill Bernhardt: Deputy District Attorney

Cindy Thomas: Crime Beat reporter for the San Francisco Register

and later in the series...

Yuki Castellano: Deputy District Attorney

The book series follows the four women as they solve major crimes in San Francisco, take down criminals and try to figure out their personal lives. Each of the 14 books in the series will have you hooked from cover to cover. The cliffhangers at the end of each book will make you crazy waiting for the next!

If you are looking for a series that will put you in the minds of Lindsay, Claire, Jill and Cindy, then the Women's Murder Club series is for you!

Now... on the the book I didn't enjoy.

Since I used a series for the book that I love, I am going to use another for the one I don't. This one kind of breaks my heart. I went in to this series excited and ready to jump right in but once I started the first book, it was hard for me to continue.

This series is the Temperance Brennan series. For those of you who are fans of the FOX show 'BONES,' then you know who I am talking about!

Dr. Temperance Brennan is a forensic anthropologist, in other words, she studies human bones and uses the clues left behind to figure out how they died.

The character, Dr. Temperance Brennan, is about the only thing that the TV series and the book series have in common.

The author, a real-life forensic anthropologist, and is bringing her own experiences and personality in to the character. Dr. Brennan is strong, independent and brilliant and the perfect lead for a series.

That's about the only thing good I can say about the series.

Maybe I went into to the first book with higher expectations that warranted. Maybe the differences in the TV show and the book skewed my view of the series.

I don't know.

All I know is that I struggled to even get through the first book...

and the second...

and I'm struggling to get through the third.

The writing is inventive, creative, and not in a good way. The author used so many descriptive words throughout her pages that it is too much. There is too much mumbo-jumbo, so to say, within the pages that it takes away from the great story and crime case that lies within.

Because the story line and the plot really are amazing!

I am determined to finish this series, mainly because I have already purchased the rest of the book, but also because I hate not finishing what I start, especially books!

I challenge you to pick up the first books of each of these series, read them, and tell me what you think. Do you agree with my reviews? Do you think I have completely lost my mind?

Comment below!

K

I'm constantly debating myself on what my favorite color is. I guess you can say it changed based on my mood.

Black.

or

Neon.

...

Black goes with everything. Except brown! I know they are both neutral colors and neutral colors are supposed to go with everything but any time I see someone wearing black and brown together I cringe. Literally!

Almost always you will see me wearing something black. Whether it's a jacket or lately... Yoga pants...yes, they are real pants, something on me is always black.

Same goes for neon. Yellow, orange, pink, blue, green, it doesn't matter. If it's neon, I love it! I will always have something neon or bright on my, usually it's my socks or hair ties, but I love neon!

I guess there really isn't a color I don't like...

Except brown.

I still hate brown!

K

Tattoos.

The thought of them intimidate me but the beauty that follows the initial needle prick is fascinating.

I have one tattoo. It's simple and signifies something of great love and beauty.

I first decided on this tattoo in high school but never actually went through with it until my Junior year of college.

My tattoo? My nickname. Katrina

Now, you may be thinking, 'who gets their nickname tattooed on themselves?'

Me.

My nickname was given to me by my grandparents. I was rarely called Katie by them, it was always Katrina. Close friends and family still call me Katrina and I love it.

Growing up, I hated to be called Katrina. It wasn't my name. My name was Katie.

Now, I would kill to hear my grandparents call me Katrina again.

My grandpa passed away rather quickly when I was in eighth grader, right before Thanksgiving.

My grandma lost her year-long battle with lung cancer at the end of my Sophomore year of high school.

I miss more than words can say.

They were my rock, my constant, and they loved my brother and I unconditionally. The last months of my grandma's life, I spent every moment I could with her. I brought her ice cream and malts after school, did her grocery shopping (and I got to drive her Cadillac), we sat and played cards for hours. I still hope to be half the woman that she was.

This tattoo is simple, yet beautiful. It's my nickname, my identity. Most importantly, it's in her handwriting.

The nickname my grandfather created, written in my grandmothers beautiful handwriting.

It's simply perfect.

I couldn't decide, foot or wrist. I wanted it to be somewhere I could see it, a constant reminder of what they meant to me. What their love still means to me.

I finally decided to go through with the tattoo when I heard my cousin Kim and her daughter were coming to town from the west coast. It had been years since I had seen them last and having family with me, standing next to me during this experience, was important.

Along with my family from the west coast, my best friend was also by my side, but she was filming the entire experience in case I started to cry from the pain. True friendship right there!!!! (I am definitely glad she filmed it all!)

It has been just over a year since I got the tattoo and I don't regret it one bit. It is a constant reminder as to how much love and support my grandparents gave me and how much they meant and will continue to impact my life.

My name may be Katie, but Katrina is who I will always be.

Richard and Elaine Kingston, thank you for making me the person I am today and influencing the person I will become.

K

This is a hard one. Very hard. There are so many people who fascinate me, who inspire me, who make me want to be better.

But back to the task at hand, someone who fascinates me.

That would have to be the dancers from the reality show "Dance Moms" on Lifetime.

I have an unhealthy addiction to this show.

There... I admit it!

The drama is entertaining and Addy Lee Miller is insane but the dancers...

Lets just pause there for a second.
...
...
Ok... These children, yes... CHILDREN.... are phenomenal, amazing, and oh so talented!!!!

Have you watched one of the dances featured on the show? No?

Take a few minutes and watch this one here, and this one here.

If you didn't get goosebumps watching those... well then... we can't be friends anymore! Just kidding :) Sort of... Anyway, this show, minus all of the mama drama (no pun intended) and crazy antics of Abby Lee Miller, showcases a handful of extremely talented young dancers who have their entire lives ahead of them. They have hundreds if not thousands of dances in their futures that will no doubt be even more awe-inspiring than the ones linked above.

Maddie and Mackenzie Ziegler, Nia Frazier, Kendall Vertes, Kalani Hilliker, JoJo Siwa and every other dancer that has been featured on this show are some of the most talented dancers, singers and young actors that I have ever seen.

Maddie alone has been featured in many TV shows (Drop Dead Diva, Austin and Ally) and music videos (Anyone a fan of Sia?) that she has a pretty long resume for someone who is barely a teenager.

Mackenzie, Nia and Kendall are all music artists of their own with music videos that have missions of hits on Youtube.

The young girls of Dance Moms are definitely fascinating and hell, they even survive the wrath that is Abby Lee Miller!!!

So...join me and my guilty pleasure and watch Dance Moms on Lifetime!!!! And there are even a few episodes on Netflix.

You can thank me later :)

K

For any of you who know me...you probably know exactly what city I am going to say...

CHARLOTTE!!!!

The hub of NASCAR.

The city where it all happens.

My future home.

I haven't had the chance to visit Charlotte yet, but I will, someday.

If that day happens to be the day that I officially move there? Even better :)

K

In today's writing challenge, I am supposed to tackle 10 interesting facts about myself... so... here we go!

1: I used to be a dancer!

I started taking dance lessons when I was three and it quickly became a big part of my life! I took ballet, tap, pom, jazz and a few other forms from a private studio, one of the best in the area. Taking dance lessons definitely shaped a big part of who I am today. I learned how to work with others. I learned that you have to work hard to accomplish something important. I danced with my studio until I hit high school, then it was off to the high school dance floor.

2: I don't drink pop.

In seventh grade, A few friends and I decided to see who could go the longest without drinking pop. Needless to say, I think I won that challenge. I haven't had a glass of soda since that day and I believe I am better off for it!

3: I started working at the YMCA when I was 14.

And I am still working for the Y today! I started teaching swim lessons at the Y because I was too young to lifeguard or work anywhere else in the building. Since, I have been a part of the Y in some capacity and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love everything that the Y stands for and believes in and I hope to be a part of the Y for many years.

4: I played three sports in high school.

Volleyball, Tennis and Swimming.

5: I was highly involved in choir.

Varsity choir, show choir, jazz choir, church choir, madrigal choir, you name it, I was probably in it!

6: I have a double-jointed thumb.

I love to freak people out with it!!!

7: My all-time favorite movie is Mary Poppins.

I believe I wore out a few VHS tapes as a kid because I watched it so much!!! It is still my favorite movie today.

8: My first concert was Kenny Chesney.

I was in 6th grade and I went with my best friend and our moms! It was a great show and I still have the t-shirt!

9: I have been to New York City twice.

I absolutely LOVE NYC!!!! I really hope to call the Big Apple my home one day. I love the people, the atmosphere, the culture and everything and I am in heaven every time I step off the plane.

10: I would love to work as a crime scene investigator.

It is something I could really see myself doing but I don't think I am smart enough to actually be one.

There you have it, 10 interesting facts about myself. Come back tomorrow to see what place I would love to live... but have never visited. Some of you may already know :)

K

Ugh... This is one I was not looking forward to writing about. I'd rather change this challenge and pick something different... but... here we go.

It's hard to admit that I am kind of a late bloomer. I didn't have my first kiss until college. I didn't have a serious boyfriend until college. It wasn't because I didn't have the opportunities or teenage boys that I was crushing on, I was more focused on school and really, the activities I was in. So I didn't really date anyone until college and in turn, my first real kiss was in front of my dorm room building.

My school rents out the local movie theater every month and students can come and go to these new movies for free because, well, we are all broke college students!

He and I hadn't been dating long and we decided to check out one of the movies that the school was offering for free. Taken 2 was our movie of choice and since we were both movie fanatics, it was a good pick!

After the movie, he dropped me off at my building, walked me to the front doors, because it's 3am and he is a gentleman :)... and...

SMOOCH!!!!!!

;)

Come back tomorrow as I dish out the 10 most interesting facts about myself!

K

SNAKES!!!!!!!

So... if I didn't scare you away yet, let me tell you about my earliest memory.

I don't know if this really counts as my earliest memory because I had to ask my mom but this is what she said...

"you put snakes in your pocket."

Well, I didn't actually put snakes in my pocket, my uncle and father and my cousins were the ones who put snakes in my coat pockets.

My grandma lives on a farm of sorts where snakes were hard to escape. They were everywhere!!! When I was little, one of my family members would put snakes in my pocket and then stick one in my hand and send me on into Grandma's house.

From what I've been told, it was a pretty hilarious site!

Being around all of those snakes when I was young must have left a lasting impact because I still love snakes today. In fact, I would really love to have one as a pet!!!

Now I am sure I have scared you off :)

K

*Check back tomorrow for Day 3 of the Writing Challenge where I tackle my first kiss. YIKES!!!!!!