January 2017 Highlights: Highs and Lows

January 2017 Higlights: The Highs + Lows

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As part of my effort to keep you more updated on the behind-the-scenes of my day-to-day life and shed some light on the business of freelancing, I’m going to implement a monthly recap post that details some of my favorite—and likewise, not-so-favorite—parts of the month. So here goes with January 2017:

Highs

New clients. I can now officially say that SVV and I will be working with the Opry for the next few months. As a Tennessee girl and a lifelong music lover, this is a dream client, and I am super stoked to make magic happen with these iconic broadcasts and historic venue!

A very nice write-up on Travel Mindset. For the past four years, I’ve worked on various tourism campaigns with Travel Mindset and its parent company iExplore and was so pleased with this great article Corinne did on my career origins—i.e. how sports marketing led to entertainment reporting led to travel writing—and other tidbits about my mobile lifestyle.

Travel Mindset feature on Kristin Luna

Running for my life. I got back onto the running train. As I alluded to in a previous post, I am running a half marathon in April, and I thought it might not happen given how long it has taken me to get back into the groove of things, but I am finally on a training plan. And, y’all, it is painful. Even though I have run countless races in the past and already work out six days a week as it is, I started with a beginner training plan just because I haven’t been running for the past seven years (egads!). It is humbling, sure, but ultimately the right thing for my body. Here’s to hoping that I can make 13.1 miles on April 1.

Acro jams! I said 2017 was the year I was going to devote more time to Acro, and in January, I made it to two classes and started my own Saturday jams at my gym. This past week was our third meet-up, and 18 people came! Insane. I can’t wait to continue to spread the AcroYoga gospel.

Some solid press from my alma mater. The University of Tennessee Knoxville has always been so good to me, and this month they featured me in their monthly newsletter and on their website. I am a Vols loyalist to the core, and it feels so good to be recognized by my university as somewhat of a success story. Thank you, UT, for fostering creativity and being one awesome public education institution. Likewise, one of my favorite Tennessee cities, Franklin, gave me a nice shoutout on their blog.

Kristin Luna feature on Torchbearer
Kristin Luna feature on Torchbearer

The weather. Has it been mid-60s for most of January wherever you are? Sure, it’s cliche to talk about the weather, but YOU GUYS. It’s been so balmy! If this is a side effect of global warming, I don’t hate it. Tennessee may have had a rainier than average month, but if it’s nearing 70 degrees, I’ll take it. (Updated to add: After I’d already drafted this post, it took a turn for the worse and snowed on Sunday morning. Ha.)

I learned a new skill! I never thought I’d like Nordic skiing, but I went to Washington—to Mazama, where many an Olympian trains, to be exact—and my friends talked me into giving it a try in 12-degree weather, and let’s just say: I can definitely see the appeal. Six miles later, I was sweating beneath my layers.

January 2017 Highlights: Highs and Lows

Trips booked. In February, I’ll be going back to Universal Orlando Resort with SVV for my #UORBlogSquad visit. In March, my soulmate Lemon and I will be road-tripping from Atlanta to South Carolina for a wedding, then down to Jacksonville to see Angie. In April, Lemon and I—along with our husbands, who are also soulmates—will road trip back to Charleston again for the wedding of our college roommate. And in May, SVV and I will be going back to Universal for a very cool project. So lots of fun travels around the South in the cards!

Visiting St. Jude. You may recall how I spent a weekend at the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital two years ago for Country Cares. Well, the Nashville team asked me to put together a local crew of influencers to day trip to Memphis and see what the research facility is all about. It was awesome to see what all they’re doing to save kids’ lives, as usual.

Visiting St. Jude in Memphis
Visiting St. Jude in Memphis

Visiting St. Jude in Memphis

I’M IN THE CARIBBEAN. A very sweet blog reader offered SVV and me her villa in Grenada, so we’re chilling down South with my mom, Jade and Augustine, and Jade’s parents for the week. I’ll have so much to share from this trip after the fact, but until I return and get caught up, you can follow along here on Instagram.

I conquered Whole30. Again! This was my third round of Whole30 and the easiest yet, likely because SVV did it with me. Technically, we only did Whole24 (see: we be in the Caribbean, mon’), but I feel great and want to figure out how to incorporate this way of clean eating into our lifestyle permanently.

Lows

Inauguration, Cheetohs, refugees. ‘Nuff said. I’m not turning this site into a political space, so let’s focus on the positive, k?

Speaking of focus, a severe lack of. Because, see above. But I’m working on it.

What were your highs (and/or lows) for the month?

COMMENTS
  • January 31, 2017

    I’ve got the same lows, plus add some bad weather…. Also the last days of my sabbatical and back to the real world. But I am so blessed in my life, I’d rather focus on that!

    • January 31, 2017

      Ahh, do you have any idea what you’re going to do next? Yay to new opportunities!

      • February 1, 2017

        Digital marketing, content marketing, social media, influencer marketing – all that good stuff…

  • January 31, 2017

    ‘Love your post. I feel as if January has just rushed along. What have I been doing?

    Highs: I was asked to be involved in a partnership to own a school which was nerve-wrecking, scary, and exciting!
    Lows: It didn’t go through as the other partner couldn’t cross their “t” and dot their “i”, before the deadline….!

    • January 31, 2017

      I really hope things turn around and it all goes through for you, Victoria! Crossing my fingers.

  • January 31, 2017

    I’d love to hear more about your workout routine in preparation for your half marathon.

    • January 31, 2017

      Duly noted, Sophie! I’ll definitely write a couple of workout posts over the next few months. Still getting back into the swing of training right now, which is soooooo hard.

  • January 31, 2017

    Highs: It snowed…a lot…in Alaska! (Yes that’s a big positive when snow machines were the family Christmas gift.) I exercised…Yeah!

    Lows: Taxes, social media madness, I wrote 3 blog posts and for some reason am questioning if doing the website is worth it…WTH?

  • January 31, 2017

    High: I think it may have finally stopped raining in California.

    Low: All those other things.

    But on to February 🙂 Looks like you have some fun things planned!

    • February 6, 2017

      You know it! And I can’t believe you guys have had so much rain in California after last year’s drought. It’s been equally wet here the past month!

  • February 1, 2017

    Ah you booked more trips! My highs of January are the trips I’ve booked and planned for the upcoming months as well. All close to home, and one close to my heart: Edinburgh! I can’t wait to celebrate my birthday in my second hometown!

    • February 12, 2017

      Yes! Lots of work stuff popped up, and a couple of weddings, too 😉 SUPER jealous you’re going to EDI, the other city that has my heart, as well!!!

  • February 2, 2017

    Congrats on getting Opry as your new client – how exciting!

    I hear you on the running part! I haven’t ran in maybe 2 years and found it so, so hard to get back to my groove. Thankfully I can now say it’s enjoyable again. Those first few runs though… Man!

    Toronto has been so damn gray all January. Today is actually the first day the sun shines but it’s still crazy windy and cold outside. Apparently our groundhog predicted an early spring today, but I don’t know… doesn’t seem like it will happen.

    Cheers to an awesome February!

    • February 12, 2017

      I finally ran 7 miles yesterday without it feeling like I was going to die, huzzah! It’s super warm here right now (near 70) so that definitely helps with motivating me to get outside 😉

  • February 3, 2017

    Congrats on the Opry gig, how exciting!

    My high: starting the month in Baja, then coming home to plan a longer return.
    Low: ending the month with several chiro visits after being rear-ended on my commute 🙁

    PS – where’d you get the sweater you’re wearing at St Jude? Super cute!

    • February 12, 2017

      Ahhhh, your kayaking trip looked amazing! I’ve never actually been to Baja, only to Cabo on that coast.

      And the sweater is from Gap (or Gap Factory, can’t remember), this season. I get pretty much everything I own from one of those two stores because if you find something you like and wait a few days, it always winds up being 40% off 😉

  • March 1, 2017

    I never tried cross country skiing, despite living in The Salt Lake City for my whole dang life! I know. I KNOW!

    Sigh. Coulda-shoulda-woulda. (Also? I miss the snow!)

    xox

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