Summer Lovin’

This summer has already crashed into my life quicker than I could get into a bikini but I’m definitely not complaining (except for maybe the heat of course). Ask me what my favorite thing about summer is and I can give you my top 3 answers. The ocean, the pool, the fashion. I’ve been playing with so many fun looks this season and collaborated with some amazing brands as well, and I gotta say I’ve been channeling a lot of 60’s vibes recently…if you couldn’t tell 😉

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Like this look? Shop now at Esther Penn

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Like this look? Shop now at Esther Penn

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Like this look? Shop now at Esther Penn

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Like this look? Get it now at Kersh Clothing

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Like this look? Shop now at Mister Zimi

xo kris

It’s okay to be alone: Never feel lonely

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It’s okay to be alone but you never have to feel lonely.

“In the past I felt pangs of loneliness but my biggest mistake was not drawing nearer to God in those times. He was like a friend I knew I needed to call, or a chore I kept avoiding. God is so much bigger and greater than that. It took anxiety completely breaking me to send me running straight into His arms! And he caught me quickly, not condemning me or ignoring me. He simply told me “I love you. You NEVER were alone. I walked with you through it all.” I cried, I had the most loving women pray over me, and I LISTENED to Him. He is a good father and a good friend whom I will always call.”Recently I wrote this this post on Instagram and had a few people message me telling me how it resonated with them…So I wanted to elaborate just a bit more on something no one likes to feel. Loneliness.

It can happen when you’re by yourself in your apartment, driving in traffic, sitting in a park full of strangers, or in a room full of people that you know. Loneliness hits. Sometimes it can be a bit confusing with ‘why do I feel so lonely right now?’. All throughout my 20’s I have gone non stop. Traveling, moving to different cities, moving to different states, or taking jobs that required me to work with people (sometimes that I didn’t really like) all across the US. I was “living the dream” as some would write on my Instagram photos of me smiling on the beach. But behind all that loneliness would creep up. I saw the dangers of letting it consume me by my dating life. I was picking men just to fill a void I had in my heart where I should have been placing God. I didn’t try to get better, I didn’t pick myself back up after times I fell, I didn’t even love myself well! Picking someone to fill the void will only lead you to pick the wrong person over and over and over again.

I decided I was okay being alone (physically not spiritually) but I was not okay feeling lonely. Where do you turn when you feel loneliness? What steps do you take? Do you dwell in it? Do you confide in others? Rid any shame or embarrassment because I guarantee everyone you pass on the street can tell you, “Yep, I’ve totally been there.” I finally stopped wrestling with how to fix these problems temporarily and fled straight into God’s arms. I asked him what the bible said about loneliness, what it said about him being my friend, and asked him to surround me with people who loved Him and put Him first as much as I so desperately needed to do. And He worked fast! Yes, it can be a process. It’s okay if you don’t “automatically” just feel better, or if you suddenly have loneliness start to creep back up on you. But it’s SO much easier to battle if you confide in your mentors, your close circle, your prayer warriors, your Father.

(I debated sprinkling scripture throughout this blog post, but I didn’t want to drag it on too much, so I’ll just leave these here, I encourage you to please read them.)

Deuteronomy 31:6
1 Samuel 12:22
Philippians 4:6-7
2 Timothy 4:16-18
Also, feel free to e-mail me with any private thoughts, requests, or just to say hi krisband@yahoo.com

To say thank you for reading my first write up on my new blog I want to share a song with you all that I wrote a while back about a time I was battling loneliness for free download! yay!
https://soundcloud.com/kristenwilliams/into-my-heart

@krisluv

Welcome to Krisluv

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Hello, everyone! It’s been a while (4 months to be exact). I am so excited for my new blog and space to share with you all the things going on in my life. For the past 3 years I co-ran a fashion blog with one of my best friends and had a blast covering LA fashion week, building relationships with almost 100 brands, and working with some of the most talented photographers. We were pumping out new posts almost everyday and though I loved it, I started thinking what it would be like to use my blog platform to share more than what shoes to pair with my new fringe bag (though I still plan on doing that from time to time #fashionforever!). On my new site I hope to share a more personal look at my life with stories of what a twenty-something goes through, a closer look at my music career, and stories from some of the most awesome people on the plant—my friends!

I can’t wait to start this new journey at Krisluv and see where it takes me. Join along, check in from time to time, or just take a quick glance when you’re bored-there will be something here for you!

-@krisluv 

Eden Roc of Miami Beach

         Ahh, summer. A season of travel, adventure, late nights, and exploring new places. I thought about it long and hard where I would want to vacation this year. I knew it had to be somewhere by the beach (hello, I’m part mermaid), somewhere warm, and somewhere I could completely unwind. It didn’t take much thought actually-“MIAMI” kept ringing in my head. A place I have visited a few times in the past but never felt like I was able to completely absorb it. What really took up a lot of time was finding WHERE to stay. I scanned page after page of boutique hotels and resorts when I finally came across a little piece of paradise…Eden Roc.

Upon arriving on a Wednesday afternoon I was greeted with hospitality and a genuine kindness that never fell short during my week long stay. The resort was beautiful and I could tell right away that I made the right choice when booking. Some of the best things you can find at Eden Roc are the four (yes, FOUR) swimming pools, a Starbucks INSIDE, and pool staff that will spritz you down in the heat, clean your sunglasses, fetch you water, and make you feel like Eden Roc is your home. And if home is where the heart is, then I definitely left a piece of mine back in Miami. It was a much needed getaway for my mom and I so we decided to just relax and plan our days based solely on our emotions. We spent time laying under umbrellas by the water, dancing to the music in the hospitality suite, and sharing pure bliss as we let the waves carry us around in the ocean.

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The view from our balcony. We stayed on the 19th floor with an ocean view and getting to wake up to that every morning made us feel like royalty. And yes, that is a sand volleyball court down below!

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Everyday we sat at the Cabana Beach club where we ordered Pina Coladas, Strawberry Daiquiris, and people watched.

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My favorite pool was the one above the Cabana Beach Club. I think that’s because it was a 21 and up only 😉

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One of my other favorite spots was the pool right by the sand volleyball area.

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As soon as I saw these hammocks I was like, yeah this place just gets me ;D haha

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I got their cheesecake more than once while I was there. SO good.

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One of my favorite parts was having this fruit plate sent up to us. We sat on our balcony eating fruit and drinking champagne while watching the sky change colors as the sun went down.

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Seriously, how amazing is this sunset view?

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During my stay I paid a visit to their resort spa and WOW. It was absolutely tranquil and gorgeous. I got a hydrafacial which I highly recommend trying if you go! You also will get a chance to unwind in their relaxation suite.

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We were totally spoiled on our last day there as we got to experience a delicious lunch prepared special by their chef and kitchen staff. I don’t say this lightly–the food is GREAT.

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I miss this place already and can’t wait to visit them again soon! Miami itself is such an amazing and diverse city. Getting to experience it all over again at Eden Roc was the icing on the cake.

xokris

Traveling to Miami? Book your stay with Eden Roc.

Thank you to our friends Jomary Jimenez, Jessica Van Horn, and Giancarlo Avila for making our stay even better than imagined. 

Hot Cross Buns

The rain has finally let up here in Texas, thankfully! I ventured around Dallas with my new pal, Jeyson and we shot these in between rain storms. It was such a fun day where we walked around under a rainbow umbrella and sipped on coffee.

I wore this green dress from Stelly, an Australian based company. It’s great if you want to show off your curves for a rainy day around town or night out with friends.

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xokris

Get this dress here!

Photos by Jeyson Paez

Pixie Girl

It’s been an interesting past few weeks here in DFW. We have had nonstop rain, thunderstorms, and flash floods. Though I love a good rainstorm I must say I am ready for some sunshine!

I played around in the studio recently channeling some retro vibes for some blog posts. I shot this amazing white lace dress from Pixie Market and also wore it to a Vogue celebration here in Dallas. It’s the perfect party ensemble and so unique. I am also obsessed with white this season so I couldn’t resist!

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xokris

Get this dress here!

Photos by Skyler Fike

Greens 101

Happy Memorial Day, readers! I want to address the importance of this day and those who sacrificed their lives to protect our nation. I hope you all take some time today to remember the significance of that.

I know a lot of you are cooking out today, having back yard BBQ’s, or enjoying a picnic in the park which is why I want to share with you all some fun little tips on how to add something healthy to your festivities of choosing. I came up with a few fun ways to easily add in some greens to your diet. Thanks to my friends at Evolution Fresh, they make it super fun and easy to incorporate a healthy lifestyle and a love for yummy greens!

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Recipe #1

I love a good salad, especially one that is colorful and flavorful!
Here is a simple way to make a delicious salad

Add:
Spinach
Carrots
Zucchini
Strawberries
Lemon
Optional- to keep it clean avoid adding any dressing. Instead, squeeze some lemon onto your salad and sprinkle on some pepper for added flavor

For a drink try any cold pressed Evolution Fresh juice and add a cucumber for a garnish

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Recipe #2

This one is my favorite! Cucumber Strawberry Orange Spritzer. Are your taste buds watering yet?
I began by pouring my Evolution Fresh Orange juice into a cup about half way and then filling the other half with sparkling water. Cut up strawberries and cucumber to give it an even more refreshing taste. Cucumbers are great to add to any drink like water, lemonade, or a spritzer.

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Recipe #3

This one was fun and so easy and perfect for kids too! Who doesn’t love a delicious icy pop? If you struggle with fitting greens into your diet this one is for you. Simply pour any green juice into a pop sickle mold and voila! You have a great summer time treat. The Essential Greens and Sweet Greens juices are perfect for this one 🙂1 - IMG_0229 - Social

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I hope you all enjoyed getting some fun new ideas on how to add greens to your meals! Visit our friends at Evolution Fresh and learn more about the benefits of cold pressed juices.

xokris

photos by Skyler Fike

Make Me Chic

I am writing to you from the very dreary land of Fort Worth, TX. I only say that because for the past week the weather has been nothing but grey skies, wind, and rain. The upside…the lakes are getting filled up! Though I still pine for the sunshine and much warmer days, I guess one must be patient 😛

I got this adorable new romper from Make Me Chic that is perfect for a sunny summer day. The pattern is so cute and unique and will definitely keep you cool. I paired it with a sun hat because I am pretty obsessed with them and some neutral colored wedges. Seriously, rock this outfit to an outdoor concert, by the pool, or out to lunch with your friends.

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xokris

Get my Romper here.

My hat is from BCBG, check out more of their hats here.

photos by Skyler Fike

Stripes of a Tiger

Hello, lovely readers and Happy Cinco De Mayo ;P I am so happy that May is upon us and that summer is finally peeking her head around the corner…Spring/Summer season wardrobes are my absolute favorite when it comes to wearing things in my closet, and one of my top favorites is wearing two piece dresses. Perfect for a day out shopping and then to go grab a sweet tea with your friends. One of my favorite online stores with lots of two piece combos is LuLu’s, they seriously have pages of cute clothes that help my embrace the June bug that I am.

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xokris

Get the stripes two piece set here.

Get my skirt here.

Shoes: White House Black Market. ON SALE!

Purse: GUESS. Buy Similar.

Photos by Skyler Fike

Happy Earth Day!

It’s that time of the year again…Earth Day! For many, it’s just any other ordinary day but I’ve always enjoyed acknowledging the day and spreading some sort of awareness to other around me how important it is. But just like I feel like we should show love every day and not just on Valentine’s Day, I feel we should celebrate our planet every day and not just on Earth Day! I spend a lot of time outside and I don’t think that will ever change about me, so I believe in keeping Mother Nature happy by keeping her clean and respecting her beauty. My friends at Synergy Organic Clothing believe in the same thing.

Their clothing is made with Certified Organic Cotton and other eco-friendly fibers. Using these materials reduces pesticide usage, damage to fresh water resources, and lowers health risks for global farming communities.  Also, to minimize a carbon footprint Synergy Organic Clothing primarily uses solar lighting in their warehouse, reuse boxes for shipments, and recycle paper. They predominately work with organic cotton from India that is dyed with low impact dyes. They are also big on fundraising, empowering women, fair trade practices, and supporting foundations such as The Waterwheel Foundation, a non-profit benefiting young children and women clean water, food banks, urban gardening, and more.

If there is any company you should support and shop from today, it is definitely Synergy Organic Clothing!

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xokris

Get my  dress here!

photos by Skyler Fike