Hello! I realize it's been a while since my last post. Life has been nothing short of chaotic for me this past month or so and honestly I just needed the time to breathe and pull myself back together (Yay mental health!).

I recently had a conversation with a good friend of mine that honestly really pissed me off. I totally appreciate it now, but man did it hit me hard. I had been venting to him about various things going on in my life and at the end of it all he told me--"What's wrong with you? You have every opportunity right at your feet and you're doing nothing about it!" Ouch. 

Of course my natural response was to get upset and defend myself by saying, "Well, I don't want to take any opportunities that I can't fully commit to because I'm not sure what I want to do." He follows up with, "Well, what's your passion?" And you know what folks? I couldn't answer that! Not because I don't know what it is, I have an inkling--but because I was too scared to open myself up and be vulnerable with my dreams. 

So I went home that night and did some serious soul-searching and came to this conclusion--It's time to cut the crap! I have spent way too much time being paralyzed by fear. Fear of commitment, fear of vulnerability, fear of judgement, fear of not being good at something right out of the gate, fear of everything really! No more. 

Life is too short to be wasting any of it by not being 100% authentic to who we are and what we want. By no means am I saying that we need have everything figured out right this moment--but what I am saying is if you don't know what your passion is, find it. Try all the things, talk to all the people, volunteer, meditate, read, soak in as many experiences as you can until you find the thing that sets you on fire. If you know what your passion is, chase it. Sign up for seminars, reach out to people who inspire you, seek knowledge, read, talk about your dream and try to make it real. If you're hiding behind fear and excuses, fix it. Even the tiniest step in the right direction is still a step. 

So shoutout to the friend who gave me the swift kick in the face that I needed to cut the crap. 

Until Next Time, Kelsie

Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation

Aloha! From beautiful (if not extremely too humid) Kona, Hawaii!

One of the very first excursions we took upon arriving on The Big Island was a trip up the Volcanoe to a quaint little coffee farm called Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation.

If you have never been to Kona it is important to note that Coffee grown and harvested in Kona is a big deal! Coffee shops on every corner boast “100% Kona Coffee” and “Peaberry” is most definitely a thing.

Anywho, at Mountain Thunder they do FREE tours on the hour of their operation where they grow, harvest, roast, package, and sell their 100% Kona Coffee. Our little group arrived early and we were able to wander the gift shop that offers free samples of coffee, tea, spices, body products, and chocolate covered beans all of which are grown and made on site! I definitely picked up a couple of goodies to bring home!

There were also several personal touches added around the property to make you feel right at home. Including this adorable kitty who refused to move from that spot the entire 2 hours we were there!

At 11 o’clock on the dot our tour guide arrives and brings our international group (we had folks as far as Israel and Norway join us) up to speed on what a coffee plant looks like, what peaberries are, the process from plant to beverage, and even gave us an up close look at the roasting machine!

At the end of the tour there was an optional nature walk down into the actual farm which was totally worth the $10 group fee! We were given a booklet that pointed out unique features of the trail including several lava tubes and native plant life. At the end of the trail is a giant patio where you can sit and picnic or just admire the view of the fields. It only a tiny bit looks like you’re standing in a field of marijuana.

All together Mountain Thunder was an incredible experience and the hospitality displayed was simply wonderful.

Until Next Time, Kelsie

A Dangerous Business

Hello! Welcome to A Dangerous Business! 

If you know me at all you know that I am first and foremost a Lord of the Rings fanatic--Thus, the title of this blog. If you came here hoping for advice on working in a chemical plant or insight into how not to break your neck acting as someone else's stunt double, I'm sorry to disappoint. The true purpose of this blog is based in the heart of this quote from JRR Tolkien's The Fellowship of The Ring. 

Sure, I may not be stepping out into a world filled with dragons, elves, Hobbits, evil wizards, or omnipotent rings, but going out into our world is filled with just as many adventures, perils, thrills, and joys as any other! Life is a wild ride filled with twists and turns at every corner! 

Which brings us to my blog. I plan to fill it up with all the adventures I stumble upon as well as all the random things I discover and love along the way! (I hoard books, makeup, planners, and Scentsy wax like Smaug does his treasure.) 

So here's to documenting the journey--Unexpected though it is. 

Until Next Time, Kelsie