Happy birthday to my best friend and the love of m Happy birthday to my best friend and the love of my life, @john_aok. Every day I’m more and more proud to be by your side. Every day I love you more than I did the day before. You make me laugh more than anyone on earth. You are one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. 

I’m so thankful to have you in my life and I love celebrating you every single day. I hope you loved your day and you love this next trip around the sun. 

🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
💜💜💜💜💜
A round up of some of my favorite moments lately. A round up of some of my favorite moments lately. 🤍 

🎨 Planned a painting party with @joshyytbh and channeled our inner Bob Ross. 

🏝️ Visited the causeway after showing houses by the beach.

☕️ Enjoyed a cool night and some hot tea while walking around downtown Celebration. 

🌴 A much needed sunset at the Polynesian Resort after a busy work day. 

🍨 Gelato, live music, and lots of nerd talk with my besties on Saturday night. 

✈️ My favorite sign at Disney Springs. 

🎈 Maybe I’ll go on this attached hot air balloon this year! I love looking at it but still a little overwhelmed by how high it goes. 

🐊 Saw this on a car this weekend. I would love to be friends with the driver. 

Here’s hoping the weather stays beautiful this week! I would love to keep enjoying long walks and dinners outside. 

#liveintentionally #liveinthemoment #intentionalliving #hyggemoment #slowliving #livecreatively #creativity #gelato #disneymoments #disneymagic #weekendvibes #carefreeblackgirl #queeraf #orlandoliving #orlandolife #floridaliving #intentionalcommunity #intentionalcreativity
Weekend things. 🤍 Outdoor art and boat rides. Weekend things. 🤍

Outdoor art and boat rides. I’m hoping all of spring looks like this. 🖼️🛥️

#weekendvibes #vacationwhereyoulive #livefully #intentionalliving #intentionallife #hyggelife #hyggelifestyle #hyggeliving #artlover #lakelife #orlandoliving #springiscoming
Last month I went on my first ever VIP tour at Wal Last month I went on my first ever VIP tour at Walt Disney World! It was one of my favorite Disney experiences to date and definitely something I would recommend to anyone who wants to squeeze as much Disney as possible into one day. Thankfully I was on my tour with some VIP experts so everything was planned perfectly for the #BestDayEver. Here’s what I learned:

🤍 Make a game plan for rides and experiences you want to do. We did all four parks in one day but didn’t feel rushed or exhausted because we talked about what rides everyone really wanted to do ahead of time. 

🤍 Go to the parks with people who have similar expectations and want a similar experience. Everyone in our group was a #DisneyGirl already who visits the parks regularly. This made for an extra laid back experience because we had all visited all the attractions at least once before. It would be a completely different experience to have first time park visitors or people who don’t visit the parks much mixed in with people who frequent the parks. 

🤍 Enjoy the snacks! There are some fun snacks provided on a VIP tour. Snacks are always a huge perk to me!

🤍 Pay attention to the weather. We went on our tour on a gorgeous weather day. This made it easy to be outside for a long period of time. If it was too hot or rainy, it would have been a different experience. 

🤍 Wear comfortable shoes! You are trying to either get on many rides at one or two parks or go to three or four parks. This is going to require a lot of walking! Be prepared with comfortable walking shoes. 

🤍 Bond with your tour guide. You are spending the entire day with a WDW expert whose main goal is to make sure you have a great experience. Ask them questions about the parks, learn more about their job, and include them in your fun! 

What ride would be at the top of your list if you were going on a VIP tour at WDW?

#disneyworld #disneyparks #disneystyle
Today was a perfect weather day at Epcot. So thank Today was a perfect weather day at Epcot. So thankful I live close enough for middle of the week visits. 🤍

#epcot #disneyworld #wdw #disneyparks #epcotcenter #epcotball #spaceshipearth #norwaypavilion #livingwiththeland #minimalism #architecture #disneyimagineering #worldshowcase #seekingjoy #joyfulmovement #joyfulmoments #blueskies #visitorlando #orlandofl #joyfulliving #seekjoy
February is the perfect month for hiking in Florid February is the perfect month for hiking in Florida. It’s 65 degrees today and I’m so thankful to live so close to so many gorgeous hiking and walking trails. Three things to remember when hiking in Florida:

🥾 We don’t have mountains but we do have swamps and you can sink in them so keep it moving. 

🥾 Alligators won’t mess with you unless you mess with them first. Don’t give them a reason to feel threatened. Never sneak up on one and stay away from their babies. 

🥾 Stay hydrated! Just because it’s cool outside doesn’t mean you don’t need water. Drink before and after a hike and bring water with you if you are going out for a long hike!

Remember, getting outside is amazing for your mental health, even if you are just taking a short walk, or even just standing still and taking in how beautiful our earth is. 

What trails are you hiking or walking this month? 

#getoutside #mentalhealth #mentalhealthrecovery #natureishealing #naturelover #outdoors #thegreatoutdoors #floridahiking #floridawinter #softlife #softgirl #softblackgirl #slowliving #intentionalliving #petitejoys #joyfulliving #joyfulmovement #joyfulmoments #choosejoy #floridanature #blueskies
My first dining experience at the Flying Fish was My first dining experience at the Flying Fish was a success! I loved everything from the food to the service to the atmosphere but what really blew me away was the dessert. As always, I chose the chocolate option on the menu, and I was certainly not disappointed. This is definitely one of the best things I’ve eaten on Walt Disney World property and one of the best desserts I’ve had in general. If you are a fan of chocolate, you definitely need to try it during your next visit! 

🍫 Cocoa Breach
Vanilla Custard, Chocolate Bavarois, Feuillentine Crunch

📍 Flying Fish 
Disney’s Boardwalk Resort 

#disneyfoodie #disneyfood #chocolate #chocolatelover #desserts #dessertbae #disneydining #diningexperience #flyingfish #disneyworld #boardwalkresort #chocolatedessert #chocolateaddict #disneyrealtor #disneyinsta #disneygram #wdwap #wdwresort #wdwfood #orlandofoodie #foodiesofinstagram
Goodbye, January 2023! You’ve been such a wonder Goodbye, January 2023! You’ve been such a wonderful month for me! 🤍 This year, for the first time ever, I decided to start the year off with a focus on only myself. I spent a large part of January celebrating my birthday this year! From delicious dinners and coffee dates to hiking and surprise secret adventures, this month has been full of celebrating and I’ve embraced every single moment of it. After a few years of not feeling quite like myself due to anxiety and depression, it’s great to feel like ME AGAIN! 🎉 I love her and she’s BACK, BABY! In addition to celebrating myself as much as possible, I also honored my mental, physical, and spiritual needs with lots of rest, intentional movement, meditation, and reflection. 

My word for 2023 is community and now that I feel like myself again, I’m so excited to spend the year pouring into my community, while still remembering to fill up my own cup first. 

#january #januaryreflections #selfcare #selfcarefirst #selfcarematters #intentionalliving #intentionallife #beintentional #uniquevintage #velvetdress #blackgirlmagic #blackgirlskillingit #joyfulmoments #joyfulfulmovement #joyfulliving
Snapshots from a beautiful day spent with friends Snapshots from a beautiful day spent with friends who always make my heart happy. Plus a small snippet of me being overjoyed at getting the tiny seat at the back of the train. 
🤍🌳🏰🚂

#intentionalliving #intentionallife #joyfulliving #joyfulmovement #livejoyfully #enjoythemoment #enjoythejourney #happyliving #blackgirldisney #disneymoments #disneygram #orlandoliving #orlandolife #orlandolifestyle #orlandofl #magicalmoments #choosejoy #joyseeker #orlando
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Uncategorized · November 12, 2013

Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number

cupcake1

Recently, many people close to me have had what I consider to be milestone birthdays. My grandfather recently turned 85. A lot of people have a preconceived notion of what 85 will look like but my grandfather is definitely keeping people guessing. My grandfather currently still lives alone, gets his own groceries, and is better than me at algebra (and anything else numbers related).

A few of my friends have turned 30 this year and they could not be in further apart places in life. Some of them are happily married in big houses waiting on child number two, some of them have finally landed the job they have been trying to get for years, some of them are moving overseas, and some of them are dancing on tables.

My two best friends are turning 27 today. I have known one since 2005 and the other since kindergarten. Their shared birthday reminds me that shortly after the new year, I will also turn 27.

I imagine that it is not necessarily a milestone birthday for many people but for me, it is an important age. My mother gave birth to me when she was 27 years old and knowing this my whole life has always made 27 seem like such an “adult” age. I have always felt like 27 is the age where everyone finally puts the pieces together. While I do see a lot of people finally figuring out what they want out of life, I also see some major concerns among my age demographic.

A growing number of women in their twenties are constantly referring to themselves as old. In a time when many people are living well into their 80s and beyond, 27 doesn’t even constitute as middle aged, let alone old. Yet, it is not uncommon to hear a women in her mid to late twenties complain about her age and the many things she believes she should have checked off of a mythical list at this point in life.

My grandparents grew up in a different time when it wasn’t considered polite to ask a woman about her age. Due to this etiquette, I never once heard anyone mention my grandmother’s age. It was almost as if she wasn’t allowed to age. I noticed a trend among many older people in which the women didn’t discuss their ages but the men were always celebrated for getting another year older.

As a person who loves birthdays and life in general, I decided long ago that covering up my age was not going to work for me. I consider every year that I get older to be a victory. I want to celebrate each unique age because I only get one year to be that particular age. Each day is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make a positive change in this world and create beautiful memories with the people you love. I truly believe that should be celebrated.

Many women in their late twenties dread each birthday because it gets them closer and closer to 30 years old. While many women are embracing 30, there are still those who take entering a new decade pretty hard. Instead of worrying about what we haven’t accomplished on a timeline that doesn’t really exist or stressing out about wrinkles or gray hair in our future, we should be proud of what we have done so far on this earth. You have made it through, year after year, and chances are that every year you are smarter and wiser! Chances are you are also more comfortable with your friends, your fashion, and your personality. I bet it is safe to say that you have a better idea on what you want your life to look like than you did five years ago. I dare say you may have even accepted certain parts of your body more than you did in recent years.

Many of us grow and mature for the better as the years go on. Many women find that they have a better sense of self and are overall happier with life. If life keeps getting better and better each year, why are we worried about becoming women of a certain age? I believe that we have the power to embrace each new age and celebrate it to the fullest extent, whether we are turning 30 or 80. With all of this fabulous stuff going on in your life, why worry about a number?

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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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Happy birthday to my best friend and the love of m Happy birthday to my best friend and the love of my life, @john_aok. Every day I’m more and more proud to be by your side. Every day I love you more than I did the day before. You make me laugh more than anyone on earth. You are one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. 

I’m so thankful to have you in my life and I love celebrating you every single day. I hope you loved your day and you love this next trip around the sun. 

🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
💜💜💜💜💜
A round up of some of my favorite moments lately. A round up of some of my favorite moments lately. 🤍 

🎨 Planned a painting party with @joshyytbh and channeled our inner Bob Ross. 

🏝️ Visited the causeway after showing houses by the beach.

☕️ Enjoyed a cool night and some hot tea while walking around downtown Celebration. 

🌴 A much needed sunset at the Polynesian Resort after a busy work day. 

🍨 Gelato, live music, and lots of nerd talk with my besties on Saturday night. 

✈️ My favorite sign at Disney Springs. 

🎈 Maybe I’ll go on this attached hot air balloon this year! I love looking at it but still a little overwhelmed by how high it goes. 

🐊 Saw this on a car this weekend. I would love to be friends with the driver. 

Here’s hoping the weather stays beautiful this week! I would love to keep enjoying long walks and dinners outside. 

#liveintentionally #liveinthemoment #intentionalliving #hyggemoment #slowliving #livecreatively #creativity #gelato #disneymoments #disneymagic #weekendvibes #carefreeblackgirl #queeraf #orlandoliving #orlandolife #floridaliving #intentionalcommunity #intentionalcreativity
Weekend things. 🤍 Outdoor art and boat rides. Weekend things. 🤍

Outdoor art and boat rides. I’m hoping all of spring looks like this. 🖼️🛥️

#weekendvibes #vacationwhereyoulive #livefully #intentionalliving #intentionallife #hyggelife #hyggelifestyle #hyggeliving #artlover #lakelife #orlandoliving #springiscoming
Last month I went on my first ever VIP tour at Wal Last month I went on my first ever VIP tour at Walt Disney World! It was one of my favorite Disney experiences to date and definitely something I would recommend to anyone who wants to squeeze as much Disney as possible into one day. Thankfully I was on my tour with some VIP experts so everything was planned perfectly for the #BestDayEver. Here’s what I learned:

🤍 Make a game plan for rides and experiences you want to do. We did all four parks in one day but didn’t feel rushed or exhausted because we talked about what rides everyone really wanted to do ahead of time. 

🤍 Go to the parks with people who have similar expectations and want a similar experience. Everyone in our group was a #DisneyGirl already who visits the parks regularly. This made for an extra laid back experience because we had all visited all the attractions at least once before. It would be a completely different experience to have first time park visitors or people who don’t visit the parks much mixed in with people who frequent the parks. 

🤍 Enjoy the snacks! There are some fun snacks provided on a VIP tour. Snacks are always a huge perk to me!

🤍 Pay attention to the weather. We went on our tour on a gorgeous weather day. This made it easy to be outside for a long period of time. If it was too hot or rainy, it would have been a different experience. 

🤍 Wear comfortable shoes! You are trying to either get on many rides at one or two parks or go to three or four parks. This is going to require a lot of walking! Be prepared with comfortable walking shoes. 

🤍 Bond with your tour guide. You are spending the entire day with a WDW expert whose main goal is to make sure you have a great experience. Ask them questions about the parks, learn more about their job, and include them in your fun! 

What ride would be at the top of your list if you were going on a VIP tour at WDW?

#disneyworld #disneyparks #disneystyle
Today was a perfect weather day at Epcot. So thank Today was a perfect weather day at Epcot. So thankful I live close enough for middle of the week visits. 🤍

#epcot #disneyworld #wdw #disneyparks #epcotcenter #epcotball #spaceshipearth #norwaypavilion #livingwiththeland #minimalism #architecture #disneyimagineering #worldshowcase #seekingjoy #joyfulmovement #joyfulmoments #blueskies #visitorlando #orlandofl #joyfulliving #seekjoy
February is the perfect month for hiking in Florid February is the perfect month for hiking in Florida. It’s 65 degrees today and I’m so thankful to live so close to so many gorgeous hiking and walking trails. Three things to remember when hiking in Florida:

🥾 We don’t have mountains but we do have swamps and you can sink in them so keep it moving. 

🥾 Alligators won’t mess with you unless you mess with them first. Don’t give them a reason to feel threatened. Never sneak up on one and stay away from their babies. 

🥾 Stay hydrated! Just because it’s cool outside doesn’t mean you don’t need water. Drink before and after a hike and bring water with you if you are going out for a long hike!

Remember, getting outside is amazing for your mental health, even if you are just taking a short walk, or even just standing still and taking in how beautiful our earth is. 

What trails are you hiking or walking this month? 

#getoutside #mentalhealth #mentalhealthrecovery #natureishealing #naturelover #outdoors #thegreatoutdoors #floridahiking #floridawinter #softlife #softgirl #softblackgirl #slowliving #intentionalliving #petitejoys #joyfulliving #joyfulmovement #joyfulmoments #choosejoy #floridanature #blueskies
My first dining experience at the Flying Fish was My first dining experience at the Flying Fish was a success! I loved everything from the food to the service to the atmosphere but what really blew me away was the dessert. As always, I chose the chocolate option on the menu, and I was certainly not disappointed. This is definitely one of the best things I’ve eaten on Walt Disney World property and one of the best desserts I’ve had in general. If you are a fan of chocolate, you definitely need to try it during your next visit! 

🍫 Cocoa Breach
Vanilla Custard, Chocolate Bavarois, Feuillentine Crunch

📍 Flying Fish 
Disney’s Boardwalk Resort 

#disneyfoodie #disneyfood #chocolate #chocolatelover #desserts #dessertbae #disneydining #diningexperience #flyingfish #disneyworld #boardwalkresort #chocolatedessert #chocolateaddict #disneyrealtor #disneyinsta #disneygram #wdwap #wdwresort #wdwfood #orlandofoodie #foodiesofinstagram
Goodbye, January 2023! You’ve been such a wonder Goodbye, January 2023! You’ve been such a wonderful month for me! 🤍 This year, for the first time ever, I decided to start the year off with a focus on only myself. I spent a large part of January celebrating my birthday this year! From delicious dinners and coffee dates to hiking and surprise secret adventures, this month has been full of celebrating and I’ve embraced every single moment of it. After a few years of not feeling quite like myself due to anxiety and depression, it’s great to feel like ME AGAIN! 🎉 I love her and she’s BACK, BABY! In addition to celebrating myself as much as possible, I also honored my mental, physical, and spiritual needs with lots of rest, intentional movement, meditation, and reflection. 

My word for 2023 is community and now that I feel like myself again, I’m so excited to spend the year pouring into my community, while still remembering to fill up my own cup first. 

#january #januaryreflections #selfcare #selfcarefirst #selfcarematters #intentionalliving #intentionallife #beintentional #uniquevintage #velvetdress #blackgirlmagic #blackgirlskillingit #joyfulmoments #joyfulfulmovement #joyfulliving
Snapshots from a beautiful day spent with friends Snapshots from a beautiful day spent with friends who always make my heart happy. Plus a small snippet of me being overjoyed at getting the tiny seat at the back of the train. 
🤍🌳🏰🚂

#intentionalliving #intentionallife #joyfulliving #joyfulmovement #livejoyfully #enjoythemoment #enjoythejourney #happyliving #blackgirldisney #disneymoments #disneygram #orlandoliving #orlandolife #orlandolifestyle #orlandofl #magicalmoments #choosejoy #joyseeker #orlando
I love being able to explore all of the little pat I love being able to explore all of the little paths that exist in Animal Kingdom. All of the gorgeous greenery in this park makes me feel happy, balanced, and calm. Whether it’s a quiet moment at a waterfall, watching birds enjoy the beautiful weather, or trying to see how many different types of plants I can spot, it’s such a peaceful place to spend the day. 🌳🤍

#outdoors #plantlife #nature #naturelovers #walking #animalkingdom #disneysanimalkingdom #wdw #bestdayever #waltdisneyworld #animalkingdomdisney #intentionalliving #livingintentionally #livinginthemoment #joyfulmoments #joyfulliving
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