Emotions have been all over the place for the last Emotions have been all over the place for the last few days. It's overwhelming to think about all that we have been through this past year, these past four years, and before that. It's a relief to know that a fascist isn't in the white house anymore. However, it's tiring to think about the long road that lies ahead. There is still so much to be done to make this country a fair and equal place to call home. It's important to take moments to celebrate and moments to relax and reflect while we are on this long journey together. How did you relax this weekend?
Just a reminder that Black is Beautiful yesterday, Just a reminder that Black is Beautiful yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Black is Beautiful in every shade and in every country. Black Lives Matter and they always will. If you aren't an anti-racist who constantly lifts up Black people, then this is probably not the space for you.
I was in first grade when I realized that no one w I was in first grade when I realized that no one who looked like me had ever held the office of President or Vice President. My heart is filled with joy for the young people who will never know that feeling.
🙌🏽 🙌🏽
Please remember to stay safe this week! There are Please remember to stay safe this week! There are a lot of things happening in DC and all over the USA. Stay vigilant, stay away from people whenever possible, and stay home if and when you can! Also, remember that is it perfectly acceptable to celebrate tomorrow. These past four years have felt like a lifetime. We still have so many steps to take to make this nation a truly accepting, fair, and free place but let's hold on to the little happy moments along the way until we get there.
As a born and raised Orlandoean (is that what we s As a born and raised Orlandoean (is that what we should call ourselves?!) I haven't ever really experienced a winter season. I've enjoyed winter many times while in many different cities including, Edinburgh, London, NYC, and Boston. But I've never lived in winter day in and day out. After a week it was always time to fly home to my palm trees and theme parks. This winter is the first time that I am experiencing cold temperatures daily and often experiencing grey skies. It's only been about two weeks and I have to admit that it is a huge adjustment. But I am doing my best to embrace the season and stay as cozy as possible. I am used to being outside as often as possible in winter while hibernating with the A/C running all summer. So I guess now I will be reversing those habits and bundling up until spring gets here.
For my birthday I wanted one thing and one thing o For my birthday I wanted one thing and one thing only, @hipcityveg. Although I still miss all my favorite Orlando foodie places, I am so excited to finally be so close to a Hip City Veg location. It's my all-time favorite plant-based restaurant and I have been craving this vegan milkshake for months! If you haven't been yet and you are in DC or Philadelphia, go right now!
I'm currently reflecting on a very wild year. This I'm currently reflecting on a very wild year. This last trip around the sun was during a very difficult time in our world but I can't personally complain much about the last 365 days. I thought I would be taking over as the lead on a contract at a Disney hotel as their main wedding photographer. I had been photographing weddings there for years but covid had other plans. Instead, I watched as the entire world shut down around me, only for the hotel to reopen as a part of the NBA bubble. So I decided to jump headfirst into running a product-based business. It's something I wanted to do for years and yet I could never quite seem to muster up the nerve to fully go after that dream. I launched my first collection of candles, sold out in days, and things have been steadily growing since then for @kismetandcharisma. After finally going after my dream of switching from service-based to product-based, I co-founded a nonprofit. This has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl and the stars finally aligned to bring it to light. Along with my best friend, Anna, I co-founded @LoveDoesntHurtInc. It has already healed me in ways I never thought possible and I can't wait to see what our nonprofit does for other people. I also consistently recorded @heartandhustlepodcast all year alongside my ride or die, @studio404design. Outside of work, I adopted the sweetest little pup ever as a present for my husband's quarantine birthday (best present ever). I didn't finish writing my own book but I managed to read quite a few other books. I battled anxiety as usual but I managed to learn when to turn the news off and FaceTime a friend instead of continuing to doomscroll. I also convinced my husband to leave OCPS to work for a school district that would like to keep him alive during the pandemic, which resulted in us relocating to the DC area. Here's hoping that this trip around the sun is filled with the same amount of professional success but WAY more hugs.
Lately, I have been getting acquainted with some o Lately, I have been getting acquainted with some of the local coffee shops in DC and NOVA. You would never know that I don't like coffee by how often I am spending money in coffee shops. I do, however, love just about every tea I come across. Earthy, fruity, sweet, bitter, it doesn't matter. I love them all. Any other tea lovers out there? Do you like coffee and tea or just one or the other?
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Travel · March 9, 2015

A Vegetarian’s Guide to the Outdoor Kitchens at Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival

Every year, Epcot plays host to an International Flower and Garden Festival. This festival is full of beautiful topiaries but the real star of any outdoor festival is the delicious food. A food festival can be challenging for a vegetarian, but Epcot usually does a good job of having a variety of options for those who don’t eat meat. John and I went to the Flower and Garden Festival on Friday and had a great time sampling vegetarian options throughout the day. Here are a few of my favorite options.

Urban Farm Eats

Disney World’s website says:

“Honor the earth and all it grows with a refreshing selection from this location’s all-natural menu. Choose from a hearty array of foods and beverages, many of which have been cultivated entirely from the soil.”

We ate:

  • Kale salad, dried cherries, almonds and goat cheese with white balsamic vinaigrette (NEW!) (gluten-free) (vegetarian)
  • Quinoa vegetable “Naanwich” with arugula pesto and oven dried tomatoes (NEW!) (vegetarian)

The verdict: The kale salad was a delicious explosion of flavor that was both light and powerful. The “naanwhich” was delicious but the cilantro was a bit strong. Moving the cilantro to the side made a huge difference. Even though it was a small dish, it was very hearty.

epcot1 Epcot2

 

Fleur de Lys

Disney World’s website says:

“Tiptoe over to this tasty milieu, named after the famous art gallery in Paris’ Tuileries Gardens. Come—dine and imbibe as you indulge in many of the France Pavilion’s most magnificent culinary masterpieces.”

We ate:

  • Gnocchi Parisien Ă  la Provençal – Parisian-style dumpling with vegetables and mushrooms (vegetarian)

The verdict: This dish was absolutely amazing! It was the best thing I had all day! John described it as a French version of stuffing, which I think is pretty spot on.

Epcot3

 

Botanas Botánico

Disney World’s website says:

“Celebrate Latin America with a festive assortment of specialties, from refreshing snacks to zesty entrees. No matter your palate’s preference, take a siesta from your Festival travels and enjoy one or more of these all-new options!”

We ate:

  • Cachapa con queso – Sweet corn pancake with farmers cheese (gluten-free) (vegetarian)
  • Coconut tres leches (vegetarian)

The verdict: I don’t eat a lot of corn so I was pleasantly surprised by how good the cachapa con queso was. John was especially excited for coconut tres leches and rightfully so. It was so light, moist, and mouth watering.

Epcot4Epcot9

Primavera Kitchen

Disney World’s website says:

“Say, “Ciao!” to spring as you set sail for a land of garden-fresh foods near the Italy Pavilion. On your stop, be sure to explore the countryside’s many featured flavors!”

We ate:
  • Cheese Manicotti – Egg pasta stuffed with mozzarella, ricotta, parmesan, tomato sauce and bĂ©chamel (vegetarian)
  • Limoncello Panna Cotta – Lemon custard, limoncello liqueur and raspberries (NEW!) (gluten-free) (vegetarian)

The verdict: You can never go wrong with Italian food. The manicotti tastes like something out of an Italian grandmothers kitchen and the limoncello panna cotta is my new favorite non-chocolate dessert.

Epcot5 Epcot6

 

 

Jardin de Fiestas

Disney World’s Website says:

“Make your way near the Mexico Pavilion where the tapas are spring light and cooked just right. Don’t miss your chance to take part in this celebration of festive flavors!”

We ate:

  • Veggie quesadilla – Flour tortilla filled with Monterrey Jack cheese and mixed veggies (vegetarian)
  • Flan de queso con chocolate abuelita – Mexican chocolate custard with whipped cream and cinnamon (NEW!)

The verdict: I could have probably eaten four more veggie quesadilla’s because they were so delicious. They seem like they would be easy to make so I will be attempting to make them at home this weekend. I normally don’t like flan so when John decided to get the chocolate flan, I had no intention of trying it. I am so glad he convinced me to give the flan a try because after the gnocchi parisien Ă  la provençal, it was my favorite dish there! If you like flan, you will love this one and if you hate flan, you will probably love it anyway!

Epcot7

Epcot10

In: Travel · Tagged: epcot, flower and garden festival, outdoor kitchens, vegetarian

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Flower and Garden Festival 2015
Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival 2014
Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival
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Hi! I'm Charisma, a creative entrepreneur who loves to help others reach their full potential. I'm a photographer, a writer, and the owner of Kismet + Charisma, an online boutique that pairs minimalist, cozy, boho style with activism. In my little corner of the internet you'll find my latest travels, what I'm currently reading, how I practing Black joy as resistence, and how I'm finding hygge in my daily life. Pull up a chair, grab a cup of tea, and stay awhile.

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Emotions have been all over the place for the last Emotions have been all over the place for the last few days. It's overwhelming to think about all that we have been through this past year, these past four years, and before that. It's a relief to know that a fascist isn't in the white house anymore. However, it's tiring to think about the long road that lies ahead. There is still so much to be done to make this country a fair and equal place to call home. It's important to take moments to celebrate and moments to relax and reflect while we are on this long journey together. How did you relax this weekend?
Just a reminder that Black is Beautiful yesterday, Just a reminder that Black is Beautiful yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Black is Beautiful in every shade and in every country. Black Lives Matter and they always will. If you aren't an anti-racist who constantly lifts up Black people, then this is probably not the space for you.
I was in first grade when I realized that no one w I was in first grade when I realized that no one who looked like me had ever held the office of President or Vice President. My heart is filled with joy for the young people who will never know that feeling.
🙌🏽 🙌🏽
Please remember to stay safe this week! There are Please remember to stay safe this week! There are a lot of things happening in DC and all over the USA. Stay vigilant, stay away from people whenever possible, and stay home if and when you can! Also, remember that is it perfectly acceptable to celebrate tomorrow. These past four years have felt like a lifetime. We still have so many steps to take to make this nation a truly accepting, fair, and free place but let's hold on to the little happy moments along the way until we get there.
As a born and raised Orlandoean (is that what we s As a born and raised Orlandoean (is that what we should call ourselves?!) I haven't ever really experienced a winter season. I've enjoyed winter many times while in many different cities including, Edinburgh, London, NYC, and Boston. But I've never lived in winter day in and day out. After a week it was always time to fly home to my palm trees and theme parks. This winter is the first time that I am experiencing cold temperatures daily and often experiencing grey skies. It's only been about two weeks and I have to admit that it is a huge adjustment. But I am doing my best to embrace the season and stay as cozy as possible. I am used to being outside as often as possible in winter while hibernating with the A/C running all summer. So I guess now I will be reversing those habits and bundling up until spring gets here.
For my birthday I wanted one thing and one thing o For my birthday I wanted one thing and one thing only, @hipcityveg. Although I still miss all my favorite Orlando foodie places, I am so excited to finally be so close to a Hip City Veg location. It's my all-time favorite plant-based restaurant and I have been craving this vegan milkshake for months! If you haven't been yet and you are in DC or Philadelphia, go right now!
I'm currently reflecting on a very wild year. This I'm currently reflecting on a very wild year. This last trip around the sun was during a very difficult time in our world but I can't personally complain much about the last 365 days. I thought I would be taking over as the lead on a contract at a Disney hotel as their main wedding photographer. I had been photographing weddings there for years but covid had other plans. Instead, I watched as the entire world shut down around me, only for the hotel to reopen as a part of the NBA bubble. So I decided to jump headfirst into running a product-based business. It's something I wanted to do for years and yet I could never quite seem to muster up the nerve to fully go after that dream. I launched my first collection of candles, sold out in days, and things have been steadily growing since then for @kismetandcharisma. After finally going after my dream of switching from service-based to product-based, I co-founded a nonprofit. This has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl and the stars finally aligned to bring it to light. Along with my best friend, Anna, I co-founded @LoveDoesntHurtInc. It has already healed me in ways I never thought possible and I can't wait to see what our nonprofit does for other people. I also consistently recorded @heartandhustlepodcast all year alongside my ride or die, @studio404design. Outside of work, I adopted the sweetest little pup ever as a present for my husband's quarantine birthday (best present ever). I didn't finish writing my own book but I managed to read quite a few other books. I battled anxiety as usual but I managed to learn when to turn the news off and FaceTime a friend instead of continuing to doomscroll. I also convinced my husband to leave OCPS to work for a school district that would like to keep him alive during the pandemic, which resulted in us relocating to the DC area. Here's hoping that this trip around the sun is filled with the same amount of professional success but WAY more hugs.
Lately, I have been getting acquainted with some o Lately, I have been getting acquainted with some of the local coffee shops in DC and NOVA. You would never know that I don't like coffee by how often I am spending money in coffee shops. I do, however, love just about every tea I come across. Earthy, fruity, sweet, bitter, it doesn't matter. I love them all. Any other tea lovers out there? Do you like coffee and tea or just one or the other?
This year is off to a wild start. I literally star This year is off to a wild start. I literally started the New Year on the road, driving somewhere just south of Raleigh. We slept in Raleigh for a few hours and then finished the drive to our new home in the DMV. We have been here just over a week now which feels pretty hard to believe. In some ways, it feels shorter and in others, it feels much longer. I don't feel at home yet but yesterday was a beautiful day and definitely the best one that I have had since we moved here. It definitely has me feeling hopeful. I know that this year won't magically be better than last year but I am going to be doing everything I can to make it a better year for myself and everyone I know.

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