vamos al costa rica

bantogether and friends and even random friends of friends of people who may not even like me…..

james and I (+ henry) are packing up and flying south for the winter!

I know what you’re thinking… your first thought is probably not a nice one maybe something like “f*ck you,” and then the latter thought is maybe something more like “how, when, and what about bandtogether HQ.“

well first, I’d like to validate all of your thoughts, feelings, reactions, and questions and second, I’d like to inform you to keep reading and hopefully in the gibberish below I will answer all of that and more!

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before we talk departure and temporary move of BTHQ, I figured I would take the next 10 sentences or so to elaborate on my engagement. yes you read that right. no – I am not that conceded. I know you don’t give a shit about my skin care routine, but a few of you, over 7 I might add, have asked for me to release a TELL ALL on the details and well you see I am a giver. so here you go, at your f*cking service friends!

11/27/20

the engagement

it was the day after thanksgiving, a thanksgiving unlike any other we’ve had before. my father cooked – thats enough of a shock in itself. I made cornbread stuffing, and my soon to be sister-in-law (engaged to my brother) and I got drunk and laid horizontal on the couch. Because this was in fact a “a thanksgiving unlike any other” I decided to work the following day. I booked two morning sessions because remember friends – money doesn’t sleep. I woke up at 7 prepped for my 8:30 and 9:15, brewed some coffee, and locked myself in the studio.

To my knowledge, my family was meeting at my dad’s again in the afternoon for an outdoor covid-friendly bonfire to see my goddaughter siena from arms-length. already annoyed at life and the inability to hold baby siena, I decided I was in no rush. I chatted with my 8:30 about stuffing and family bullshit only delaying my 9:15 to 9:30 and then chatted with my 9:30 about college, friends, and loungewear sets we needed to buy. outside the studio door, james apparently listening in (rude), wanted to kill me and my endless gossip for I was delaying his and my family’s master plan.

closing up the studio around 10:30 – a full hour behind my expected schedule – I trotted into the kitchen happy and ready to start the weekend. james was wearing his coat, the kitchen had been cleaned, and he was showered and ready for the day. behind the scenes, my best friend jill had been waiting outside for 30 minutes hiding behind a church fence, our families were on pins and needles wondering if the radio silence was confirmation that I had in fact said no, and my sister-in-laws, step-mom, and mother-in-law were all busy prepping an engagement afterparty.

before james could even say anything, I announced that I was going to ride the peloton. his gut only twisted more. apparently he was supposed to propose around 10:15, jill was supposed to capture it all on camera, and we would call our families around 11:00 a.m. wrangling me is naturally the most difficult task at hand.

it’s now 10:45 a.m.

after calling both jill and my brother to no answer – I called my dad. for the first time in 63 years of living, he paid careful attention to what I was saying. in his defense, I speak faster than a foreclosure auctioneer. upon hearing, “sup dad? where’s chris when should we be over?” his deductive reasoning alerted him that the proposal had not in fact been made. I resurfaced from the studio again to let james know I would peloton later and that my dad suggested we aim to be at his house by 1.

alas – he could move me back on track and in accordance with his plan. you would assume james would have learned by now that I am not easily swayed and that I often believe my course is the fastest most correct course of action but what are you gonna do!?

it’s 11:00 a.m.

jill is officially frozen, my family has begun to plan an amicable split, and james is ready to jump out of his skin. we get into the elevator, I’m somewhat clean after a quick change, and we head out with henry on our regular coffee route as he suggested. a few steps later, we’re on henry’s favorite cobblestone street. james stops to alert me of his shoe being untied and like a dutiful girlfriend, I said “okay” and continued to walk henry ahead.

a moment later, he shoved me – no literally he shoved me to get into proper photograph friendly position – and popped the question. I blacked out friends. definitely never said yes and definitely never stared into his eyes longingly. I simply stared at the ring – completely dumbstruck. he got me. I was completely shocked. as many of you know I pressured james constantly as any aging bride to be should! but there wasn’t a clue! not a single hint! GASP!

so I realize this story was longer than 10 sentences and many of you probably jumped ahead to the costa rica announcements but I had to publicly tip my hat to james and company for the surprise of a lifetime.

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tell me more about costa rica…

so wait where are we headed?

james and I (+henry) are heading to Matapalo in the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica to stay with his Aunt Nanette! if you’ve been with me over the past few years, this is a trip james and I annually take. but this year, we’re bringing henry and staying 42 days lol. I only know the exact day count because we just had to get travelers insurance enabling us to safely stay for an elongated period of time in Costa Rica. so I guess you’re wondering why? we love the Osa. our goal is to one day live half the year in Costa Rica and the other half here in philly. with james working from home, we’re able to go and stay for a longer period of time. previously we’ve gone and vacationed – without laptops and without a care in the world. aunt nanette has a pretty insane property in the rainforest and is the real life jungle jane. thanks to her, we’ve got the opportunity to see what it’s like to live and work there.

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so what about live classes? and wifi?

bandtogether will carry on – but with the ocean as our new backdrop. I’ve run wifi tests and purchased some new gear. classes will continue at 7 am EST on tuesdays and thursdays! technically it will be 6 am for me but you all know I wake up around 5 everyday anyway! you can still book privates with me online using the CONTACT page on my website and we will still have coffee every morning as the sun rises above the ocean. poetic af.

our final class in the states at BTHQ will be 12/24/20 – so stay tuned for more on the christmas eve special later! there will be no live class on tuesday decemeber 29th as james and I settle into our new home and then on new years eve we will break ground and band-back-together again in costa rica!

after celebrating christmas with our families we depart for the Osa on sunday december 28th and unless we leave early or extend we are scheduled to come home on february 6th! so now you are very much in the know. probably more in the know than most of my family members as phone tag is apparently our favorite past time.

we’ve spent the past month planning, scheduling appointments, and arranging everything necessary for henry to travel along with us. i realize how luck I am to be able to experience something like this and i’m even more excited to bring you all along with me.

starting JANUARY 9th I will be teaching an additional live class every saturday at 9:30 am est. this class will be a combo class of both strength and mat sculpt and will tie together the classes from the week before into a full body flow! in honor of bantogether’s new home and the dose of vitamin sea we all need, we’re calling our saturday sessions SATURDOSA. to register – members and non-members alike will have to sign up through the link in my instagram bio or by clicking here. everyone interested in joining will pay a $15 drop in fee! the class is designed to be a live experience (hoping to change locations in the Osa weekly) and will not be recorded!

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2020 gang – it’s almost over.

I can’t believe all thats changed in a year. there were highs and there were lows. heading into 2021 take the time to register where you’ve been and where you want to go. feel free to change your mind, your opinion, and your hairstyle. you’re the boss – don’t sit back, step up.

xoxo
K