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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Personal, Travel · June 26, 2014

Falling back in love with Orlando: The Red Carpet at Diagon Alley + fun. in concert

 FallingInLoveWithOrlando

It’s no secret to those who know me well that I would be ready to move to New York City at the drop of a hat. John, on the other hand, is hesitant to move somewhere so busy and would much prefer to go somewhere that we can get more house for our dollar, like Charlotte, North Carolina. So currently, we are at a standstill, living in Orlando and doing as much traveling as possible while we figure out if we will move and where it will be to if we do.

Last Wednesday was the kind of day that made me remember how much I will miss Orlando if we do happen to move. John and I woke up, went to the gym, and ate breakfast together. After work, we met up with my brother at my grandfather’s house. We spent a few hours there talking and relaxing before we decided to head home. On the way home, I told John that we should go stop and look at Diagon Alley. I knew that we still probably would not be able to see much but I had been having a rough couple of days and I knew that Universal could help cheer me up. Despite it looking like it might rain, John and I headed over to the theme park.

I knew that there were a lot of special events going on that the public wouldn’t be invited to but I had no idea what we were in store for when we arrived. There was a small crowd gathering around the London portion of Diagon Alley and behind some law enforcement, there was a red carpet with every major news outlet waiting. After spotting Mario Lopez, I knew that I should stick around to see what was happening.

Minutes later, Bonnie Wright, who plays Ginny Weasley, arrived. Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood) and James and Oliver Phelps (Fred and George) followed soon after. These four have been in Orlando for the past week filming different things for publicity for Diagon Alley. They also are known to come to the park from time to time. While I was extremely excited to see all four of them, I wasn’t terribly surprised that they were there. What I was surprised about was Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom) arriving (and I may have even participated in some fan girl yelling). Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfloy, was one of my favorites from the group because he definitely spent the most time with the fans and he showed no fear walking into a noisy crowd of Potter fanatics. Robert Coltrane (Rubeus Hagrid), Warwick Davis (Professor Flitwick), and Helena Bonham Carter (the badass Bellatrix Lestrange) joined the party, making this not just a Harry Potter fan’s dream but an awesome experience for anyone who likes good films. Helena Bonham Carter has an amazing presence about her and she is so graceful, lovely, and unique in everything that she does. Matthew Lewis is extremely good looking but I was most excited to see Helena!

After the red carpet event, John and I starting making our way towards the front of the park, only to stumble into a fun. concert for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. We got there about 20 minutes before it started and we were easily able to find great standing room towards the middle of the venue. About 10 minutes after we showed up, there was a rush of people filling up every nook and cranny of the outdoor venue so we came at the perfect time. Jimmy Fallon was just as sweet and hilarious as you would expect him to be and fun. was absolutely amazing live. I could listen to Nate Ruess sing all day.

While listening to Ruess and the crowd sing “We are Young” under a starry sky with roller coasters soaring high above my head, I realized that for the moment, I’m really happy that I still live in Orlando and that adventure and spontaneity can find you no matter where you live on this planet.

In: Personal, Travel · Tagged: diagon alley, fun, harry potter, jimmy fallon, orlando, the tonight show, the wizarding world of harry potter

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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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