This one is easy for me because I truly have the greatest friends in the world. I've been lucky to live in a lot of different places and because of that, I have friends from lots of different places. People always say quality is better than quantity and I agree, I guess I'm just lucky enough to have both :) I feel so lucky to have this large group of woman in my life. They've been my rocks, they keep me grounded, they're all hilarious, gorgeous, smart, compassionate and wonderful. #blessed.

My friend group gets thrown back to high school/junior high. Yes, I'm 20-something years old and I'm still best friends with my friends from high school, how cool is that?! Two of them are my maids of honor and another one is a bridesmaid (and I was her MOH!). They loved me through my awkward high-school years, which wasn't pretty people, so that is saying a lot. They're the greatest humans.

My mom always told me the friends I made in college would be my best friends for life. Boy was she right. In college, I met some amazing girlfriends who became my roommates, sorority sisters and law school comrades. We grew up together. They're the girls who saw me at my best and worst. I'm so lucky to have them.

Next, guest where...off to law school. And what figures, I found 3 more girls who complete the circle. Law school would have been unbearable without these girls. They were my study group, my wine drinkers, TIVO watchers and friends. If you can get through law school and all the stress and crap it brings, along with multiple bar exams and come out with friends, hold on to them, because I haven't found anything more challenging and friends are a necessity. I'm so grateful for them.

Lastly, I'm lucky to have sisters as friends. When my brother married Camila I instantly gained three incredible ladies to call my family. And when I marry Adam I will have two more sisters to officially add to that group. They're all so strong, smart, independent and amazing. 5 sisters? How'd I get so lucky.

I know this sounds braggy and oh my gosh my friends are great but hey, they are, and I'm thankful for them. They've made me a stronger, better version of who I am. Who are you grateful for?

This is post number 600. Can you believe it? This blog has now been going since August 2008, and this is the 600th post. I've been waiting to create a 600th post because I wanted it to be something that meant something. I wanted it to be something that people read and we're inspired by, words that changed people, words that meant something. But, I went back to my first blog, the reason for this blog, and I realized that this blog started for me. So I decided I was going to write this blog for me. So, this blog is about the people, in my life, who inspire this blog, who inspire me, and who mean the world to me. [This is dedicated to the one(s) I love.]

This is dedicated to my all over-extended-non-traditional family. Living in Scottsdale, Arizona, Omaha, Nebraska, Malibu, California, Boston, Massachusetts, & Florence, Italy,  I've learned the real definition of a family. It's the people in your life, who regardless of blood line are your everything. It's not necessarily those to whom you are blood-related. It's the ones who make you feel comfortable and loved regardless of where you are. In Arizona, my family is obviously my beautiful and wonderful mom, dad, erin & tom. But not only that. It's Coti and Whitney (even though she's in Utah), it's the entire Urtubey family who will soon be my [non-blood legal] family. It's Brooke&Kelcy who I worked with at Oregano's who still amaze me. In Georiga, it's Lauren. In California, it's Callie, Kate&Kate, in Colorado, its Car-bomb. In Omaha, it's Kristin, Lyndsey, Britt, Alyssa & Adam (& his fam). I've been more than blessed to have extended family all over. They are the ones who will be forever joined with me. They are the ones I turn too when I really need help, someone to listen, someone to care. These are the people that will forever be in my heart. They are the ones I laugh with till I cry, the ones I drink copious amounts of wine with. These people (above) have the hearts of angels, and will always be my guardian angels. They have forever changed me, and molded me into who I am today. Without these people I wouldn't be who, where or what I am today. I am everybit of who they all are. They have made me courageous, strong-willed & motivated. They have shown me what true love means; that regardless of mistakes & faults, that their love will never falter. They have never given up on me, and I know they never will. These people are the greatest people you will ever have the privilege of knowing.

Family is God's daily gift to us, and the easiest thing to do is take that for granted. But one thing I will work daily at, is making sure I never take them for granted. So, this is to my 'family,' thank you for being exactly who you are. Thank you for being in my life, I only hope I can be as much as a blessing to you, as you are to me.

While I'm far away from you, 

Friends are there to reassure you that things are always going to "be okay." They might seem terrible and complicated at the moment, but friends remind you that you're going to get through it. When class gets too hard, and the reading seems to much, your friends remind you that you're following your heart and going after your dreams. Friends are your common sense when you can't see straight. Thanks for being [that friend] last night.

:: How did that little college do it? How did they get that priceless oceanfront property? How did they raise millions to pull it off overnight?’ For me, and thousands more, only one answer satisfies ineffably unrequited questions. This was literally and truly the work of God! This was the Malibu miracle! ::

William S. Banowsky

This weekend celebrated not only those in the graduating class of 2010, but it marked one year since my fancy walk across the same stage. It marked one year since I left my 'home' to move back to my real home. It marked one year since I was an undergrad. It marked my one year.

This weekend was a different type of graduation for me. It wasn't mine, but in some ways it felt like I was doing this all over again. As I sat, sweating in the stands watching my peers graduate, the memories of my big day came flowing back. In an instant I was back in that same moment, anticipation in my heart, butterflies in my stomach, excitement running through my veins.

I felt like all those in the class of 2010 felt, 'don't fall, walk gracefully, smile at the camera.' I thought about the goodbyes I'd have to say, the hugs and the tears.

2009 will always be my class, but in some sense, 2010 will also have a place in my heart. It will forever be my pledge class (go kappa PC 06), it will always hold the boy who stole my heart, the girl who became one of my best friends and memories that regardless of class or standing will never be forgotten.

2010 and 2009 were so very different, but each to their own, held a huge part of my heart. So, while this weekend was dedicated to celebrating the graduating class of 2010, for me it was my own personal graduation. Although I didn't get to walk across the fancy stage again, I did so in my heart and my head.

So, for me, it was the first time in a year that I finally said goodbye to Pepperdine for good. To the graduating class of 2010, thank you for a fun weekend, and thank you for the closure I've been looking for for the past year, I owe you. Now get out there and do big things, believe in yourself and believe in miracles, they're out there, I promise, you just have to look for them.

I heard this quote the other day, "Be here - just as you are" and I instantly fell in love with it. I think my favorite part of it is the 'be here' part. I know for me there are times that I feel like even though I'm here I'm not really - my head and heart is somewhere else. It's so important to give time to where you are. The minute we start wishing we were elsewhere is the minute we start losing little pieces of ourselves. Yes, there are times when I find myself in a place I don't want to be, be that a job, relationship, fight, ect ect, but it's my job to find peace in that place. Right now I'm having a hard time not knowing my future. Being the OCD planner-loving crazy that I am, not knowing my LSAT score and future law school plans is really throwing my chi for a loop. I'm learning to find peace in where I am. I'm realizing that I'm only 22 years-old and that I don't need to have my entire life planned out. It's okay to answer those nagging questions about life, futures, boys and jobs with "Yeah... so we'll see" It's okay to not want to rehash all the dirty details and to just move on. It's okay to just want a drama-free weekend.

I'm taking my own chances
And I'm finding my own answers
I decide how I live
I decide who I love
Choice is mine
And no one gets to make my mind up
I decide
I decide where I go
I'm the one who's runnin' my life 

I know this may seem like a re-blog but it is what it is. So, I'm here, just as I am. Let's hope Arizona, law school and everything in between accepts just that.

Kate gave me this picture above and I think the rush of the paint going into the drain is simply beautiful. So, here's to Kate and Currents, I know it seems like there's a lot going on right now, but keep rocking it out. Remember that you're a big badass senior Theta president. You can do this.

I'm sitting here watching Zoey 101 and the only reason I am, is because it's filmed at Pepperdine and by watching it, I feel like I'm a little closer to home. Today is the beginning of New Student Orientation at Pepperdine. Last year I was a NSO counselor, cheerfully greeting 800 anxious, new freshman as they were about to start their adventure at Pepperdine. I meet all kinds; nervous, excited, arrogant, amazing, beautiful, all of them with big hearts ready to start their college career. And today, it all starts again, except I don't get to see it. I don't get to experience it.

Everyone's starting school. Yesterday I met Whitney and Afton down at ASU to grab coffee and I was so jealous. The rush of the first day back. You can smell the excitement, the new books, the curiosity of a new boy in class, new friends, new clothes, a fresh start. To me the first day back is this new opportunity to start new, regardless of the fact that it might be your senior year. It's a chance to clear the slate and begin again. It's a deep breath, its one big step towards something great and I'm jealous. I'm jealous of everyone starting back up. I'm jealous of the new, fun things they're going to experience this year. I would do pretty much anything to be a senior at Pepperdine again. Maybe this is me, living in the past, not accepting the future, refusing to move on... blah blah blah, but I do. I miss it, I'm living in my past. I'm wishing I was back in Malibu, Villa Malibu 223 to be exact, about to start my adventure. And maybe that's the challenge of this whole growing up thing. It's finding my new deep breath, my new big step. It really is all about living in my present and my future - It's about growing up. I guess the thing I'm struggling with the most is that I miss my Pepperdine friends. I miss my amazing roommates, Kate&Kate, all my beautiful sorority sisters. I miss running into people at Starbucks & Ralph's. I miss the people I got to see every day in the Com building. I miss my professors. I miss the routine of it all. I miss the daily grind. I just miss Malibu, and guess it comes down to the fact that I'm jealous that other people are there experiencing it all and I can't seem to admit that its all over.

Carly and I used to watch X Factor try-outs on Youtube for hours, lame, I know, but I love them. I watched a couple today and this one was amazing. Enjoy (click here) - I get by with a little help from my friends.

I have the most encouraging people in my life.
Without them, this whole Boston experience would be impossible.

My dad: "It's about the passion and the commitment, and obviously you've got both of those....you're doing the right thing."

My mom: If I could put every daily email and text I get from my mom on here I'd have to start another blog.

My brother: See here.

Whit: "I'm on the bandwagon and I am proud of you.. AND I say FUCK off to the weak-asses who can't jump on this bandwagon!!!"

Patti: "good luck, K! you can do it :)"

Kate: " :) i love you Kris and I'm so proud of you for doing this!!!"

Matt: "Keep working hard and it'll go by fast. Remember you're gonna be a bad ass lawyer dear."

I know they may seem small or not that big of a deal but it is a big deal.

You all mean the world to me.

I have had the best couple of weeks recently. It's been a rush of a two weeks - visiting friends all over. Two weekends ago I was in Atlanta visiting Lauren and it was incredible. I got in late Thursday and the fabulousity began. It was so nice to sit around and talk and catch up. Lauren and I have this ability to not see each other for six months and as soon as we're back together, we pick up right where we started. We went to the Coke Factory and tried Coca-Cola from all over the world and then we went to the Worlds Largest Aquarium. Hanging out with Lauren instantly throws me back into the Vitamin C lyrics, "And as our lives change from whatever, we will still be friends forever." I don't think those lyrics could ring anymore true. From 1st grade to college graduation and still going strong. We were having too much fun together - that we didn't worry about tomorrow. We always have the best talks. We talked about life, careers, relationships & friendships. We talked about passion and emotion and the need for it in all circumstances. Regardless of, if that passion and emotion is positive or negative its unrealistic to think one can live without it. Journey said it right, "Living just to find emotion." We both realized that we rather live with passion and emotion in our lives than to be complacent and boring and stuck. Call me a hopeless romantic or unrealistic but it's hard to believe that there is life without that. Because passion is about living for what matters the most.

After that I got to spend a fun-filled week, getting a new dog Henry, spending time with my family and enjoying Arizona. "There's no place like home." After a great Fathers Day, I ventured back to California for a week in the ocean-kissed air and soaked in everything Malibu. I forgot how absolutely breath-taking Malibu is, I know I've only been gone for a little over a month but from that first look at the ocean after coming through the tunnel on the I-10 to the view seen from campus, it really is a diamond in the rough. From the second I got into Malibu it was a whirlwind of events. Visiting friends all over the 27 mile stretch that is Malibu - I was never bored to say the least. I was lucky enough to spend the week with Kate & Kate. After wine nights, movie nights, wine tasting, Taco Tuesday, the Whiskey and more pictures than ever, we all realized how blessed we are to have each other. Granted we've all only been friends for the past six months, we've grown close regardless of time & place. We're not together every day, we don't get to see each other all the time (besides Skype dates) but we have made a friendship that works. It's one of the most comforting feelings to know that regardless of how hard it might be to maintain, I know at the end of the day these two girls are here. Leaving college I knew I'd lose touch with some people, I knew I wouldn't talk to or see people like I used too, but I'm ecstatic to know that Kate & Kate are two girls that won't disappear, like so many others have. This trip was exactly what I needed.
It was my Malibu-closure that, for the last 6 weeks, I've been desperately trying so hard to find. I think for a lot of people who graduate it's hard to officially say goodbye to something that has become such a huge part of us. For some, closure is found in a new job or a new relationship. For me, it was going back to the place I missed the most, soak it in, remember it for everything I loved about it and leave knowing I'll be back soon. It's hard, but you can't be afraid of everything you don't know.