A Beach Week to Remember

I can't believe that a week ago I was boarding a bus for Myrtle Beach and now, I'm back! This was definitely a Beach Week to remember. 450-some (I think) high schoolers and 100 more volunteers in Myrtle Beach for some time in the sun, but more importantly worshipping God!

The trip definitely started rocky. Buses breaking down, buses never showing up, more buses breaking down. The drive down took longer than planned and some buses didn't even show up till 4:30 in the morning. We didn't let that affect us though. God was in control of the entire situation. But, for the rest of the week we faced bus problems. At one point, we only had 2 working buses...out of the 9. Yeah, crazy. Luckily though, that did not stop us from worshipping and having program.

I had a great group of girls. Some that I knew, and a couple that I didn't. As the week went on, I got to know each of the girls better and watched the group grow closer together. It was amazing to see how the Lord worked in their hearts throughout the week and it was so encouraging to watch them lift one another up. My favorite part, outside of program, would be small group time. This time is were major reaping happened and my heart broke, and I mean BROKE, listening to each of their stories and the obstacles they were facing. High school is so cruel these days. But, because these girls lean on the Lord, they are so incredibly strong.

Beach Week was also a huge week for me. It was the first time in six months that I attended corporate worship. It felt amazing. On top of that, God just really revealed the areas of my heart that I've been holding onto so tightly. He constantly reminded me throughout the week to "Let Go."

This past week was exactly what I needed. It was filled with sun, water, sand, laughter, tears, sleep deprivation, worship, sweet tea, and R&R. He knew that I needed R&R time with Him, and He did exactly that when Jenny asked me to volunteer.

The view from my hotel balcony. I loved waking up early every morning, sitting on the balcony, listening to the waves, and spending time with me devo's!

A great night at House of Blues Myrtle Beach

The great group of girls that I led

Some of the girls at Boardwalk on the Beach

Kudos to the amazing worship band. One of the songs that grabbed my heart this past week was Elevation Worship's Mercy Reigns. Incredible lyrics. 

Your mercy reigns | Your mercy covers me

Your grace sustains | Your grace is all I need



Beach Week

Today, I will be spending quite a bit of time on a bus filled with high schoolers headed to Myrtle Beach. It's that time of year again, BEACH WEEK.

About a week ago, I was asked by a fabulous lady if I was interested in volunteering with the McLean Bible Church high school group, The Rock, at their annual Beach Week. As some of you may know, my heart really is with the high school ministry at MBC and have volunteered with the ministry and its house groups in the past. So, of course I agreed to lend a helping hand!

It's going to be an incredible week of fellowship and worship. I've spent the past week praying for the week and for the students. I'm so excited to see how God will use this week to change each of our lives. It really isn't just about a group of high school kids going to the beach for fun. It's about heart change. Please be praying this week for the 535 students, staff members, and volunteers! Pray that God would just open our hearts to the things He wants us to see and learn.

Thanks for your prayers!!

Summer Bucket List

via

I am beyond excited that summer is officially here and am ready to begin writing a new story for this season. It's the last summer before I enter the real world. So, I want to take full advantage of this summer and experience many, many things before hitting the books come August. What better way to kick off the summer than a bucketlist! I have about 2 different bucket lists going right now--one with cMm and one for myself. Here are some things that I'd love to experience for myself before summer leaves!

1. Spend quality time with friends & family

2. Craft, craft, craft

3. Bake, bake, bake {to give others}

4. Get back in shape

5. Hit up a few of the "Diner, Drive-in, and Dive" spots

6. Hang out at the pool

7. Beach trip

8. Find the two perfect senior portrait outfits

What are some things on your summer bucketlist?

Niagara Falls

I've got something called "The Travel Bug" right now. I would love to spend the entire summer traveling around, seeing different places, and creating new experiences. After spending so much time in China traveling from one city to the next I realized how much of my own country I have not yet seen!

My parents and I have been talking about a trip to Niagara Falls for quite some time now. We decided last Thursday that we wanted to drive up Sunday night and spend a few days there. Living the spontaneous life, right? Come Sunday night, we jumped into the rental car and headed up to Canada. After 8 hours of driving through the night, we finally arrived at the Canada/US border around 8am! It was such a gorgeous sight!

Our first sight of the day was the cute little town called "Niagara-on-the-Lake." Very quaint town lined with boutiques and little stores, with an amazing few of the lake. Of course, we stopped and took a few pictures.

After seeing the lake, we decided to walk around the town and stopped to check out this cute little hotel. It was more like a bed and breakfast place, in my opinion. We stopped at the "Prince of Wales Hotel" and snapped a few more shots!

Mama and Papa Kong

Up next? It was time to visit Niagara Falls! When we got there, it was only about 9:30am but it was still a sight to see! Absolutely stunning. The sound from the fall was so grand, and I just stood there in awe. It's crazy the amount of water that falls every second, let alone the entire day!

How gorgeous is that??

The fun part comes next: the Maid of the Mist tour! We hopped onto this cruise ship and pretty much circled around the falls. I honestly did not think we were going to get soaked...but I was 100% wrong. Those ponchos did nothing! The falls are incredibly strong and water was just flying everywhere! But, it was such a fun experience, I would do it again.

On the Maid of the Mist. See how we're nice and dry?

Putting on this dorky little thing.

The aftermath: soaking wet.

After the tour, we dried off a bit and headed out for some food and live music. At the end of the day we returned to the hotel and I simply loved the view...minus the massive casino in the center.

Best part about the view from our room? They light up Niagara Falls when it gets dark out. LOVE.

Day 3 of our little trip entailed a drive up to Toronto and visit this mall Mama Kong wanted to see: Pacifica Mall. The mall has over 300 stores and 100 restaurants. Crazy, huh? We stopped for some dim sum (WAY more delicious than that in the DMV area) and did a bit of shopping. The mall was pretty much exactly like those in China. I actually felt as if I were back in Beijing haggling away.

My trip to Niagara Falls and Canada was fabulous. I had an incredible time and can now cross "See Niagara Falls" off of my bucketlist!

Pinterest Wednesday

Before I get to Pinterest Wednesday, there's a whole lot going on today! It's Dave Barnes' birthday, so happy birthday sir! It is also National Wear Your Lilly Day! So, get out there (in this heat wave) and wear your Lilly proudly.

Last but not least, Happy First Day of Summer! Summer is my favorite season of the entire year and I'm very excited to kick off this summer with a little bit of Pinterest Wednesday. Two trends that I'm totally loving so far this summer are: high-low dresses/skirts and pleats! Put both of those together and it is just gorgeous. Last week for cMm's birthday, I wore a blue watercolor pleated high-low dress and was absolutely loving the ensemble. Pair that with the wind and you've got some great movement going on in that outfit.

Not all high-low skirts work though. It's gotta be the right length, print, and must be correctly accessorized. Pinterest has a few great ideas!

via

Great color, scarf, and belt! You can't go wrong with a cute pair of wedges to pull the outfit all together!

via

This dress has a super cute print and I'm just a huge fan of those wedges.

via

Not a high-low but it is pleated. Loving this ensemble! The gold belt and accessories make it work.

via

Mint is so hot right now and what better than a pleated mint colored skirt?? Um, that bauble and pink belt!

What are your thoughts on the high-low trend?

Follow me on Pinterest

One Busy Sunday

This is one busy Sunday! There is so much to celebrate.

First up, HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! It's a bummer that my dad has to work on Father's Day, but it's been like this for the past 20 years of my life. We're pretty use to it. The family just simply celebrates this special day on a different day.

NEXT: It is one of my best friend's 21st birthday! June seems like a busy month for birthdays. Today we celebrate my friend Julia's birthday. I absolutely cannot believe we have known each other almost 11 years now. Crazy! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIA!

Julia and I at Senior Prom

Julia and I at the beach right before leaving for college

In other news, I am headed to Niagra Falls/Toronto tonight with my parents. I am fully prepared for my mind to be blown by this world wonder!



My Latest Find: Francesca's Collections

One of my favorite stores to shop at is Francesca's Collections. The store is color-coordinated (to keep the OCD side of me happy) and has the best selection of shoes and accessories. It's also a great spot to find cute birthday presents for your best friends! I can easily spend a couple of hours just going through everything...and walking out with a bag filled with some amazing items!

Prior to going abroad in January, I would always drive all the way to Bethesda Row to Francesca's since it was the closest location. HOWEVER, when I returned home from abroad, I happily discovered that Francesca's opened a location 5 minutes from my house. Dangerous!!

Yesterday I was running a few errands in Washingtonian Rio and decided to swing by Francesca's and peek in to see what they had. A couple hours later, I walked out of the store with a couple purchases. No regrets though!

I'm in love with this navy blue flowy blouse! The fabric is light, so that I won't sweat through it in the summer time. It would be perfect with a color popping bauble and white jeans for a night out. White shorts work also for a casual afternoon!



Brace yourselves for the next dress! It's a great hue of blue, lace detailing, and best of all: double key hole back with gold buttons. Yeah, I instantly fell in love with this little find. To top it off? It was on sale! As some of you may know, I have a senior photoshoot/portrait session coming soon and I think it's safe to say that this dress is a front-runner for the shoot. Pair it with a brown-braided belt and cowboy boots? PERFECTION!

Thanks Francesca's Collections for making my Friday afternoon great with these wonderful finds! I will be back soon, for sure. Ladies, head to a location/online store and take advantage of the 50% off summer shoes sale!

Live to Love: Summer Line

TANKS TANKS TANKS!

Last night at midnight, Taylor Thomas launched Live to Love's Summer 2012 line. Scrolling through the new items, I found myself saying "Like, like, like that too, oOoo that one is CUTE!" Yet again, Taylor does not fail in creating a line of cute designs. But, these shirts go beyond fashion. It's about spreading the love of Christ to others. I am a huge fan of these shirts because it's always a great conversation starter to share the message of Christ.

What does this new line entail? Lots and lots of tanks. As y'all know, I'm quite fond of tanks and have a closet full of them during the summer. What's great though is that these tanks are versatile and can easily be layered with a cardigan during the fall! All shirts are printed on American Apparel and are SO soft. Seriously, you won't regret purchasing one...or ten tanks.

Here are some of my favorites that I will be picking up:

Texas Tank--I've got a special place in my heart for Texas. What better to show my love for the great state than a tank?

Tribal Logo Tank--Tribal and geometric print is a hot trend for the summer right now!

Green/Turquoise/Pink Dyed Tank--Tie dye screams summer, right?

Circle Tote--This tote isn't actually part of the summer line but from a previous season. BUT, it is on sale AND is perfect for toting around books to the pool/beach.

What do you have your eyes set on in the Live to Love summer line?

www.livetoloveapparel.com

***use promo code: LTL75 for 10% off your purchase!***



Suits Premiere

Guess what tonight is! The season premiere of SUITS! I have been waiting all year for this show to return and the day has finally come. I may have to watch last season's finale again just to refresh my mind of all the crazy drama.

This show is just so wonderfully written and the actors...yeah...eye-candy.

Helloooo Harvey (aka Gabriel Macht). I was a huge fan of his after seeing Because I Said So. But, he is simply brillant in Suits!

Will Mike's secret be revealed?? "Nothing's ever black and white." TRUTH.

Don't forget: TONIGHT. 10PM. USA. BE THERE!

Pinterest Wednesday

Is it a bit shocking that in the past week, I haven't really been on Pinterest? Usually, I'm the Pinterest Queen who pins away. This past week has been a bit busy so, my apologies for the lack of pins. However, I did pin a few random little things this week. Mostly words of inspiration to get me going.

via

Anyone else have this problem?

via

How awesome is this?

via

I'm very grateful to be surrounded by incredible women who set the example for me.

Following me on Pinterest yet?

I'd also like to take a moment and wish my Little cMm a HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY! Oh how they grow up so fast!!! She is one fabulous lady who brings such joy to my life and is ALWAYS there for me. I'm beyond stoked to be reunited tonight, hit the town, and celebrate her life! HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLAIRE!



Tuesday Tunes: John Mayer

If I ever get around to living | It's gonna be just like I dreamed
I'm gonna take the love I'm given | And set it free

It's been quite awhile since the last installment of Tuesday Tunes. My apologies! But, we are back on track. To kick off this homecoming, this week will feature John Mayer's Born and Raised. Please tell me that y'all have picked up this album. For the past month this has been a regular on my iPhone and it is a well deserved honor.

I am beyond elated of John Mayer's comeback. I hope that his medical concerns are laid to bed soon because I would love nothing more than to see him live again. After waiting so long for a new John Mayer album, I was so excited for Born and Raised to hit the market. The album is a little different than his previous work, but you know John Mayer, he's a musical genius. Born and Raised is the perfect summer roadtrip soundtrack. It truly takes you to that sunny day, driving down the road, passing the mountains. John Mayer creates this laid back feeling with the acoustic guitar and blue-grass feel.

My favorites on the album include: Queen of California, Shadow Days, If I Ever Get Around to Living, and Love is a Verb.

Hey John Mayer, thanks for this summer gift. Get better soon so I can see you live and swoon.


Karen's New Picks of the Week: Jason Reeves' Songs are Silent Films and Jesse Ruben's Thoughts I've Never Had Before, Part 1.

Happy Listening!



Welcome Back Home

"Welcome back home to the United States Miss Kong."

It felt absolutely incredible hearing those words when I went through customs at the airport. After a long 24 hours of traveling, I finally arrived home and reunited with my family! My surprise upon returning to the United States after 5 months? My amazing parents surprised me with a BRAND NEW CAR. That story, along with pictures, will be saved for another day.

I have officially been home now for a week and 3 days. How would I describe being home? AMAZING. Slowly, I'm getting back into my routine and adjusting to the American culture again. No more shouting across restaurants!

The past week has been filled with coffee dates, lunch dates, and dinner dates. Lots of food! But, I will take the calories because it simply means I get to spend quality time with family and friends. I have even gotten back to a little bit of babysitting. Who knew babysitting meant so much to me? It felt so great to be reunited with some of the families and kids this past weekend.

On my flight from Fuzhou to Beijing, we were able to see the beach! What an incredible view.



Dinner date with one of my best friends since freshman year, Lesley, at Raku! ...we both were Instagramming. Social media addicts?



Finally got my cupcake fix at Lilly Magilly's!

Trying out Chef Geoff's for the first time with Maritza. Can you tell we were absolutely excited?

Besides shoving food in my face, there are some fun things happening in the life of Karen and am so excited to share them with y'all through the next couple of weeks! 





Back in the Game

Hey y'all!

I am back in the U. S. of A! It's been four days since landing and am loving life back home.

Lots of things are happening right now in the life of Karen. Updates coming soon!

I am officially back to blogging regularly!