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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Travel · June 20, 2017

Edinburgh, I Love You

Standing in the train station with my phone in one hand and bag in the other, I tried to figure out which exit would be our best choice for the walk to our AirBnb. The first person who walked in our direction immediately stopped and asked us if we knew where we were going. “Kind of”, I sheepishly told him.

I didn’t plan to fall in love with Edinburgh. The plan was to fall in love with London and maybe Oxford but Edinburgh definitely stole my heart. John and I originally planned to just tour England but decided shortly before our trip to add a trip to Edinburgh so that we could visit some of the sites that J.K. Rowling used to frequent while writing.

Of course I assumed I would enjoy all of the Harry Potter related sites and I was certainly right but Edinburgh has a charm that goes even beyond the Wizarding World. As soon as we stepped off of our train, we started to experience a bit of what makes Edinburgh so magical.

After being set on the right course by the kind stranger at the train station, John and I soon learned why so many travelers choose to Uber from the station, even if the location they are headed is only 15 or 20 minutes away. On earth there are hills, there are mountains, and then there is Edinburgh. The streets heading toward the Royal Mile in Edinburgh are incredibly steep. So steep in fact, that at one point, the street were hiking up had an actual guard rail!

Journeying through the winding streets with two rolling suitcases and two large heavy bags was a bit of a disaster. Moving that amount of luggage can be challenging on a flat surface but through streets steep enough that some of them actually have guard rails?! It felt impossible! Luckily, I’m incredibly stubborn and once I set my mind to something, I will do it. I won’t say I didn’t dream of the warmth and ease of sitting in the back of an Uber with our luggage but John and I do a lot of squats at the gym so we were able to make it through the cobblestoned streets, even if we were somewhat slow. I will suggest that anyone who isn’t looking to take a hike should just call an Uber.

Once we arrived to our AirBnb we quickly put our things down and headed to Edinburgh Castle. The view from the castle makes the trip up with luggage completely worth it. I would carry 20 bags and take that hike again to see that view. Standing up there, you see so much of what makes Edinburgh a fantastic city…enormous mountains, historic stone buildings, modern chic buildings. There is so much history and culture in this amazing city.

John and I spent the next few days exploring museums, trying new foods, writing in coffee shops, exploring old buildings, and meeting new people. The people we met were my favorite part of our trip. From our hilarious and charming AirBnb host Darren, to the lovely people at coffee shops who jumped at the chance to tell us which U.S. cities they have visited, to the strangers all over the city who asked us how we were enjoying our holiday and invited us to move to Scotland (this really happened often), the people in Edinburgh are reason enough to visit again. I can only hope that our next trip is that much longer.

In: Travel · Tagged: edinburgh, scotland

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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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