Red Rock Canyon

As the job search continues, I have to find a way to keep myself entertained in the city of Las Vegas. You may be thinking, "It's Vegas, there's so much to do!" How that may be true, there's plenty to do when you have money, but options become quite limited when funds are limited.

Overview of part of the canyon

Some light climbing

After being back from camp for a week and a half and going through major camp and outdoor withdrawals, I dragged out my 'lil sis and we went on an adventure at Red Rock Canyon. This is about as outdoorsy you're going to get without venturing too far out of your way outside of Vegas. Red Rock Canyon has over fifteen hiking trails that all seem pretty sweet. We ventured down the only one labeled 'strenuous' as my 'lil sis' pointed out to me, to which we did not finish because it was slightly warm, we got kind of lost, realized we didn't have enough water, and Danika is not in shape, or an avid outdoor explorer or exerciser like myself.

The clouds looked awesome after the storm

The only kicker (for some reason I didn't see this on the website) you have to pay to get in. Vehicles are $7, smaller motorbikes and bicycles are $3, an annual pass is $30, so not too bad if you consider it like one of those mid-western state parks.

Always chillin' like a villain

I'm sad we didn't get to finish our hike, I'll just have to head back out on my own or with someone in better shape. I am definitely looking forward to going back and exploring all of the other trails the canyon has to offer, as well as some off road trailing and climbing of my own.

"Adventure is out there." Go find it!

The One and Only,

Carly K.

When Life Hands You Lemons

It's been nearly a year since I posted to my blog, and frankly it was a long one. After the move to Las Vegas, I lost myself and lost my passion for life. I started graduate school last Fall, and frankly I think it was only because I wasn't sure what else I wanted to do with my life. After graduating from Slippery Rock University, I freaked and thought, 'Well, I can waste a little more time avoiding reality by going to graduate school,' but alas, that was a bad decision.

So after a grueling first year of graduate school, where I barely made a dent in my writing because I was more stressed than not, I decided to drop out of graduate school and attempt to find my passion in life again which means in less than a week I am headed back to Girl Scout Camp!

In the mean time, there were some fun parts of my past year that I get to update you on.

My best friend got married last Fall!

Wrexx was adopted into the family!

I tried my hand at being artistic.

New Year's was a hoot back in Wisconsin.

I learned how to change a tire in a -40 degree winter snow storm.

At least it was pretty out.

I spent time reminiscing the past while walking on the beach back in Wisconsin over the Winter.

I saw the Jabbawockeez perform at the Luxor.

Ashley came to visit!

My friend, and considered my little sister forever, moved in.

I played soccer for the first time in a while and made my team's only goal!

And best of all, I found a new passion in crossfit that allowed me to kick my own butt into shape while silently competing with everyone else, and having the best support system ever at Crossfit Mountain's Edge in Las Vegas, NV.

So it was a crazy year of new experiences and searching for passion in life. My parents also came to visit, as well as my best friend Katie from Pennsylvania. I got a bomb job at Mandalay Bay for a bit, but left so I can go to camp. My newest hope that I'll find myself at camp again and move forward in a career that I can always be passionate about. The search for adventure and life happenings is on! 

Look forward to a way more exciting post at the end of the summer from my escapades at camp and in the northern part of the Tahoe forest near Sierra City, CA. It's going to be a swell time of leading young girls in their own summer adventures of canoeing, hiking, camping, and eating s'mores. And in my own time, I get to hike, rock climb, paddle board, and so much more while being inspired by the great outdoors to relax and write. I can't wait to get to know my new camp director, and she has high hopes for my future in the camp world as I do. 

See you in August! Peace out, Girl Scout.

"Adventure is out there." Go find it!

The One and Only,

Carly K.

World of Warthogs

This is the video I created when I went to South Africa. Spent a lot of time hanging out with the warthogs, who are scared off more than any other animal I've seen.

If you get the chance to go to South Africa, I suggest stopping off at the Schotia Game Reserve, it's really awesome. The food is awesome, they have their own garden where the grow most of the vegetables they feed us. On special nights you get impala or some other deer species straight from the reserve.

Enjoy my video!

"Adventure is out there." Go find it!

The One and Only,
Carly K.

"Life's like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending."

Here's a little background biography so you can get to know who I am and whose adventures you're reading about. I guess the first is that the title of this post is from Jim Henson, creator of Kermit the Frog, and it is my mantra.

My Family
I grew up with three older brothers, all of which I love dearly no matter the amount of times they farted on my face while growing up, popped off my Barbie doll's heads, and blamed me for them flushing Tinker Toys down the toilet (which were the best toys ever). But they have all inspired me to be who I am today and I am very thankful for them.

I grew up with two loving parents, where the only thing we disagreed on a regular basis was when and how clean my room should have been. We still don't agree, but at least now when I go home and blow my room up with the stuff from my suitcases, they just roll their eyes and shut my door.

I also grew up with two grandmas and a grandpa. My grandpa died when I was eleven, but he taught me that even if you are having a bad day, the rest of the world doesn't need to know. My grandmas have also shaped who I have become, my one grandma is all sass and can kick anyone's ass, now she has a cane and I am terrified. My other grandma is the sweetest woman on the planet with a deep love of chocolate. I like to think I'm a combination of the two, sassy but sweet, just like my mom.

My Education
I graduated from high school in 2009 in a suburb of Milwaukee.

I am going to graduate this May 2013 from Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Creative Writing and a minor in Film and Media Studies.

I will go on to start my studies this Fall at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where I will pursue a Master's of the Fine Arts degree in Screenwriting.

The Here and Now
I have been engaged for a year to my fiance, Chris. He moved out last Fall to be with me while I finish my studies and he plans to move with me to Las Vegas for my schooling. He is a mechanical engineer, he is pretty bright but very much a klutz. I had to drive him to the E.R. for a splinter he got while brushing sawdust off of a deck... he had to be admitted into the hospital for a few days and undergo hand surgery because the splinter was so big. And just a couple days ago he dropped a 45-pound plate from the gym on his toe. He stuck a needle through it today and it's been bleeding/draining since. I think he's going to lose a toenail.

Although he may not be perfect when it comes to life skills, he's my best friend and I love him. We plan to get married in the Fall of 2015.

And this is my life! I cannot wait to move with my fiance to Las Vegas and start a new adventure in our life.


"Adventure is out there." Go find it!

The One and Only,
Carly K.