Well Then . . .

Welcome to TWENTY - FIFTEEN!!! 

This isn't a new thing, it's been 2015 for approximately 15 days now, so if this comes as a surprise to anyone, I suggest you call someone who can help you.

Now I have no idea where this year will lead me, and I've decided to forego the concept of "new years resolutions" because a lot of times I choose tasks to large to complete in a mere year. Instead I chose to create a list of goals. Yes, those sound screamingly similar, except my list of goals don't hit completion at the end of the 365 days that are 2015. Instead these are lifelong goals that I want to start making more prominent in my life. It's a way to prioritize myself towards the life I want to live.

So here it is, my list of lifelong goals that I am putting into action starting NOW:

GOALS

1. Be Healthy
    (probably a pretty common one in most people's books)
2. Move
    (always keep myself in motion; whether that be via exercise, 
     career goals, or simply location)
3. Be Happy
    (probably the hardest on my list, but I strive to find something 
     good in every day)
4. Try New Things
    (nothing but knowledge can come out of new things)
5. Be There
    (for family, friends, or strangers... be more present)
6. Write More
    (I would like to, once again, find beauty in the written word)
7. Believe
    (believe in myself, believe in others, believe in love, 
     believe in pain, believe in monsters, believe in magic,
     believe in something greater)

Keep in mind that this list will grow. I have my entire life to follow through with these goals, I only hope to find pleasure in them sooner than later. 

I wonder...

If you could create a list of things that would help you live the life you've always dreamed of, what would you put on it? Or maybe you are living your dream life. What do you do to maintain peace of mind, heart, and soul?

Always,
Kirsten Nicole Huxtable

Take A Chance . . . You Never Know

Take a chance, I know it sounds cliche, but I mean it. 

This summer I decided to put myself out there and try new things, take a chance or two, and have no regrets.... and I LOVED IT!!! Since the end of May I have gone to Disneyland 3 times, Vegas, a taping for Comedy Central's show @Midnight, Newport Beach, San Diego, a SYTYCD (So You Think You Can Dance) live taping, and even to Lamorne Morris' private Birthday Screening of Let's Be Cops (which by the way is an unbelievably funny film, go see it!).

Now to back up and explain a few things. 

Our impromptu Surrey ride around Coronado Beach.... the faces tell it all.

Summer started out with a few pre-planned trips, such as Vegas and Newport Beach. One of my best friends Aimee was turning 21 and we had planned a trip to Vegas to celebrate. Newport Beach is where her home is and so before road tripping it to Vegas, we drove from NorCal to SoCal and stayed there. Whilst in Newport Beach we decided to drive down to San Diego to visit her mom and her mom's fiance. There we did some impromptu stuff of our own, such as a painful, but utterly fun surrey ride through Coronado Beach.

Disneyland was another pre-planned trip... if you consider 48 hours pre-planned. Another one of my best friends and I decided only 48 hours after I picked her up at the airport from her trip to Spain, that we wanted to drive down to Anaheim and go to Disneyland... So we did.

Disney's California Adventure Park

See that's the thing, I know sometimes it's hard to go through with ideas or things you think would be fun, but someone very wise once told me, "If you want to do it, do it, no matter if nobody else wants to join. If you want to go do something, you better do it, or you will regret it." So I took his words to heart and decided instead of just saying, "Yeah, that would be fun.", I was saying, "I'm packing, let's go!" And we did.

Disneyland

On the first trip to Disneyland I convinced my friend to leave her number with one of our servers and just seeing how proud of herself she was for having the courage to do something so bold was more then enough reward, however what made it even better was that he contacted her. Without giving away too much personal information, I'm happy to report that they are still in contact... 2 months later. Whether it be the start to a great friendship or something else, the bottom line is she stepped out of her comfort zone, took a chance, was nervous as all hell, but it all worked out.

When I got home from Disneyland I was watching an episode of SYTYCD and wanted to see how you can get tickets for the show, so I went online and signed up through a site called On-Camera Audiences. I was placed on a wait-list and honestly believed that it would be a miracle if a spot opened up for me to attend a show. Well miracles happen. Two weeks after our Disneyland trip I received two tickets to attend a live showing of SYTYCD. So we packed our bags and hit the road once more.

SYTYCD Season 11 Top 16

*This may just be a blog about how to live out of a suitcase all summer, because I don't think I ever truly unpacked. ;)

While at SYTYCD we were isle mates with New Girl's Lamorne Morris (Winston). I'm not going to say we didn't make some eye contact... cause we did, but I was honestly more invested in the dances than trying to meet Mr. Lamorne. However, as life would have it, almost a month later I saw a contest that Lamorne had posted to his social media sites. 

The contest was to take a photo relating to the theme "Let's Be Cops". You email in your photo submissions, they are looked over and the 25 winners would get to attend a private screening of the film Let's Be Cops with Lamorne Morris on the Fox Studio Lot. After hours of texting humorous ideas back and forth, just for fun, my friend Lisa and I decided "What the heck! Let's try!"

*There was no harm in trying, we were just taking a few funny photos to see if we could win a fun night out. We honestly did not think we would win. Another far fetched idea... or so we thought.

24 hours later, at 5:30pm I received a response to my submission email. We won! I couldn't believe it. I was running around the house out of pure excitement. I don't know what I was more excited about, the fact that I would get to watch the film Let's Be Cops, the fact that the email was signed "Lamorne", or that someone was going to allow me onto the Fox Studio lot for hours at a time. (I'm a huge film and television fan, I sort of geek out over costumes and sets)

On the Fox Studio Lot

By 9:00pm we were on the road driving down to LA. Now while I don't think driving from 9pm to 3am is the smartest thing I've ever done, it was our only choice since the event was the next night and I knew I needed to rest after and 6-7 hour drive.

At 5:40pm the next day I was wandering the Fox Studio Lot and loving every second of it. Then came time to watch the film. Lamorne got up and said thanks to all his friends and family... and strangers that came to his birthday screening and the film began. After the film ended I got to take a few photos with Lamorne, tell him happy birthday and thank him for letting us have this experience, it truly was once in a lifetime for a girl who grew up in a 15 square mile town.

Myself, Arthur, and Aimee

Through the same On-Camera Audience site, I was able to gain access to tickets for a Comedy Central show called @Midnight that airs, you guessed it, at midnight. So Aimee, her boyfriend Arthur, and myself drove to Hollywood to attend a taping for  @Midnight which was hilarious and raunchy beyond belief. Since phones were not allowed inside the theater, I had to settle for getting the photo posted here outside of the studio. However I have found the full episode of our taping of @Midnight you can watch free HERE. 

Oh!!! And I bought a fish and named him after one of my all time favorite Disney movies. Meet my double tail betta fish Sharkbait! I know this image is super dark, so if you want to see some more photos of Sharkbait to come in the future, then you will want to follow me on Instagram.

Also if you want to see more photos from Vegas and my other trips this summer then you will want head on over to my Instagram. I also went on my first Wine Tour in San Diego and saw Smashmouth live in Santa Cruz.

Overall, this summer has been one of my favorites. Sure there have been hard times and even some days where I just don't want to get out of bed. But I do. I have been taking chances that I never thought I would. Sure they may not be life changing chances, but they make me happy, and that can change your life. So even if it's just entering a contest that you don't believe you can win or jumping off the high dive in the swim center, don't be afraid to take a chance or fifty because you never know what can happen.

Always, 

Kirsten Nicole Huxtable

Off the Screen: Felicity Smoak

Felicity Smoak

Arrow's Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards) isn’t just a quirky, computer hacking genius that just-so-happens to be teamed up with Starling City’s most-wanted vigilante, Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell). Ms. Smoak is one head-to-toe fashionista! 

Need proof? No problem. Here are just a few of the amazing outfits that the lovely Rickards gets to don throughout the first two seasons of Arrow.

* Please keep in mind that some of the images of the actress will be rather fuzzy due to the fact that I had to take a screenshot from Netflix or cwtv.com.

Worn: Season 2, Episode 5
Exact Match: BCBGMAXAZRIA

Talk about a stunning top. This peplum waist banded floral and lace top from BCBG is an absolutely exquisite top. Felicity Smoak is a character with a subtle presence yet her style is off the charts. You can wear this top casually like Ms. Smoak or you can take it into a night look effortlessly with a skirt or dark wash jeans and some heels. Either way, this top is brilliant.

Worn: Season 2, Episode 4

Dress: Saks Fifth Avenue 

(Above) I will admit it, the first time I saw this dress all I could think was, "Dalmatian" but after reviewing the infinite options on how to spice this look up, I realized that the spots on the bottom half of the dress are just a thing of taste. Even though this dress may not be the perfect option for me, it's soft solid black top paired with the skater skirt of the dress is gorgeous. 

Worn: Season 2, Episode 2

 Dress: French Connection

(Above) Now on to my absolute favorite dress that Felicity has worn on the show thus far. Talk about sexy color blocking! The simplicity of this geometric dress is wonderful. The salmon colored squares and the black strip around the waist creates a slimming effect that I love so much. This dress is a great option for work or a night out on the town.

Oh... And clearly the costume designer loved the dress as well because not only did Felicity Smoak wear the orange/salmon color dress, she also donned a yellow version or the exact same dress. (pictured below)

Worn: Season 2, Episode 11
French Connection (Yellow)

(Below) This outfit is a more unique look that might not be for everyone, but I sure as hell love the look. The costume designer for Arrow really has an amazing eye when it comes to dressing Ms. Rickards. She is transformed from the sexy office fashionista (above) to a dainty girl next door (below).

Worn: Season 1, Episode 23

Sweater: Anthropologie // Exact Dress: Anthropologie // Similar Dress: ModCloth

"From Bombshell to Girl-Next-Door then back to Bombshell."

Worn: Season 2, Episode 7
Dress: Bebe (White)

These two dresses (above and below) were both worn during episode seven of the second season and are both brilliant! Talk about the power of pink. This episode was full of pink tones to bring out Felicity's more soft feminine side. And I don't blame them. Rickards looks stunning in both dresses, however if I were to choose one to be my favorite, it would have to be the BB Dakota dress (below).

How simple they both are, yet the dress below has a little bit of flare with the faux leather waistband, cutout and button down back. However BB Dakota does not sell the burgundy dress online, so if you are interested in the one Ms. Smoak wears, then you will have to shop in stores.

Worn: Season 2, Episode 7
Dress: BB Dakota (nude) Amazon

Well that rounds out my favorite outfits from Arrow's Felicity Smoak. I hope you enjoyed this little "Off the Screen" moment on KirstenNicoleHuxtable. If you are at all interested in seeing these outfits and more in motion, then head over to any of the places listed below to get more info about the CW's Arrow and miss Emily Bett Rickards. 

Until next time...

Watch Arrow

Wednesdays 8/7c on the CW

Season 1: Netflix

Season 2: cwtv.com
Season 3: Pre-Production

Felicity Smoak Snapshots: Netflix and cwtv.com