Hey friends!
Spring is almost here, and with it comes a season of fresh starts—which makes this the perfect time to evolve Kickin’ It with Kristen! 🌿
Over the last 18 months, my world has completely transformed. I went from corporate life to running my own coaching business, helping leaders grow with confidence. I also became an independent licensee with HelmsBriscoe, where I get to do what I love—helping clients find the perfect hotels for their events worldwide (which is why they call me The Hotel Whisperer!). Oh, and I have managed to write my first book, which will be published soon! You can check it all out on my website.
And because big dreams run in the family, my sister Katy Lampe, launched her own travel agency during this time. She specializes in personal travel, with a deep passion for all things Disney and Universal. So, as Kickin’ It with Kristen evolves, she’ll be joining me here with travel tips and insights in our brand-new a_far_off_place section.
Let’s dive in!
💡Aha! Moment
✨ It’s National Tell a Fairy Tale Day! ✨
We don’t always think of ourselves as storytellers, but creativity isn’t just for books—it’s how we see new possibilities in our own lives.
So today, take 15 minutes to write your own fairy tale. Maybe it’s about a hero finding their courage, a leader discovering their true purpose, or an unexpected twist that changes everything.
Let your imagination run wild, and see what magic unfolds.
Here’s mine…
The Experience Enchantress's Tale When ‘Someday’ Becomes Today
Once upon a time, there was a brilliant but exhausted executive named Claire. Her days were a blur of back-to-back meetings, endless spreadsheets, and a to-do list that never stopped growing. She was the go-to person for getting things done—except when it came to her own dreams.
For years, Claire had imagined creating unforgettable experiences, traveling the world, and helping others break through their own barriers. But those dreams sat on a shelf labeled Someday—gathering dust while she said yes to everything else.
Then one day, while juggling too many things at once, she reached for her coffee… and missed. The cup tipped, dark liquid flooding her open planner, smearing carefully laid-out schedules and soaking through her color-coded priorities.
Claire froze. Normally, she’d be scrambling for napkins, muttering under her breath about how she didn’t have time for this. But something about the mess stopped her.
For the first time in a long time, she wasn’t rushing to the next thing.
She just sat there, watching the ink blur and realizing—maybe her plans weren’t as permanent as she thought.
And then, beneath the ruined pages, something unexpected emerged. Faint words, hidden in the margins, slowly appeared as the coffee seeped in:
"When you're ready to write your own story, call on the Experience Enchantress."
Her heart pounded. Was this a joke? A coincidence? A sign?
A voice inside her whispered: What if I stopped waiting for ‘someday’?
Tentatively, she murmured, "I’m ready."
With a rush of shimmering light—oddly resembling passport stamps—the Experience Enchantress appeared.
"Tell me, Claire," she asked with a knowing smile, "when are you your happiest?"
Claire closed her eyes, and memories surfaced: planning surprise celebrations that made people’s eyes light up, discovering hidden gems in new cities, watching others have breakthroughs because of experiences she had designed. But lately, those moments had been buried under endless expectations.
"Then it’s time for your real journey to begin," the Enchantress declared, waving her magic planner.
In an instant, Claire found herself on a peaceful beach in Thailand, watching a woman celebrate opening her dream cooking school—built for less than Claire’s monthly car payment.
"The power to change lives—your own included—is already within you," the Enchantress whispered.
Through bustling markets and serene temples, Claire rediscovered forgotten pieces of herself. But her real transformation happened in a grand ballroom—not as a stressed-out organizer, but as the creator of an extraordinary celebration. Around her, people were having breakthrough coaching moments, planning their dream travels, experiencing pure joy.
And then it hit her: This is what she was meant to do. Not just plan events, but create spaces where people could discover their own magic.
Her someday wasn’t waiting for her. It had been within her all along.
The End
The moral? Creativity isn’t just about storytelling—it’s about seeing new possibilities. Sometimes, all it takes is a spilled coffee and the courage to say yes to yourself.
And here’s the real magic: Creativity isn’t just for fairy tales. It helps us break out of routines, see solutions we hadn’t considered, and reimagine what’s possible in our careers and lives.
So, what would happen if you gave yourself 15 minutes to think differently today? You might just find your own enchanted moment.
Now it’s your turn—what story will you write today? 📝
One Thing to Know
🏨 Event Essentials - As the Hotel Whisperer, I absolutely love helping individuals and businesses find the perfect hotels to host their meetings and events. I'm here to assist you, whether it's corporate meetings, association events, retreats, weddings, or travel sports teams. If you need hotel rooms or event space, I can help! The best part? My services won't cost you a dime!
In future newsletters, I’ll be sharing insider tips on selecting venues, managing logistics, creating memorable experiences, and even some funny event stories—because let’s be honest, there’s never a dull moment in the events world!
🏰 a_far_off_place - My sister, Katy, is the ultimate travel wizard with Magical Moments Vacations, conjuring up dream trips to Disney Destinations, Disney Cruise Line, Universal Orlando Resort, and Universal Studios Hollywood. But wait, there's more! She can also sprinkle her magic on all-inclusive getaways and cruises aboard other fabulous ships.
If you're itching for a personal travel adventure, don't just sit there—swoop on over to her Facebook or Instagram and let her work her enchanting planning powers to create the most magical vacation for you and your family. What’s even better...her services are completely free to you!
Beginning next week, she will use this section to sprinkle in fabulous tidbits and fun travel deals every week!
🏫 Learned - I recently had my first Aura Reading with Yosh Han, and let me tell you—it was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. The theme of this year’s readings was Graceful Evolution, and as someone in the middle of a major life transformation, it couldn’t have been more fitting.
During the reading, Yosh described my aura as a volcano-meets-ballgown hybrid, with swirling snow—a powerful image of both strength and elegance. She explained that I naturally shift between intense, fiery energy (the volcano) and a softer, more graceful presence (the snow). This hit home for me. As I navigate my journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship, event planning, coaching, and publishing my first book, I’ve felt both fierce determination and the need to embrace flow rather than always pushing forward.
One of the biggest takeaways? It’s time to embody my "Snow Queen" energy. That means stepping into elegance, presence, and leadership with ease—not just doing, but being. Yosh even suggested things like learning to waltz, hosting Bridgerton-inspired gatherings, and weaving more magical, old-world charm into my events and book launch. Who knew an aura reading could inspire both business strategy and ballroom dancing?! 💃🏻✨
This experience gave me a whole new perspective on how I want to show up in the world. As I move forward with my book launch, speaking engagements, and event planning, I’m leaning into this idea of graceful power—fierce yet effortless, strong yet soft. Maybe we all have a little Snow Queen energy waiting to be embraced. ❄️👑
✔️ Accomplished - I’ve reimagined and refreshed this newsletter to bring even more value, insights, and inspiration—adding new sections, refining the focus, and making space for more collaboration.
One of the biggest updates? I’m teaming up with my sister, Katy! Between my work placing groups in hotels for meetings and events and her expertise in personal travel (especially all things Disney and Universal!), we can now handle almost all of your travel needs. Whether you’re planning a corporate retreat, a wedding, a sports team trip, or a magical family vacation, we’ve got you covered.
I’ve also streamlined the content, keeping the Aha! Moment as the heart of each edition while introducing new sections like a_far_off_place for travel insights and Event Essentials, where I’ll be sharing tips on selecting venues, managing logistics, and creating unforgettable experiences. Plus, I’ll be highlighting accomplishments, lessons learned, and answering reader questions. My goal? To make this newsletter more engaging, useful, and fun—a place where leadership, travel, and event planning all come together.
🤔Insight for the Week
If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life.
~ Marc Anthony
❓Ask Kristen or Katy
Do you have a question about leadership, events, or travel? Reply and ask—we’d love to feature your question in a future edition!
💬 Let’s Connect! Whether you’re planning an event, looking for leadership coaching, or dreaming up your next adventure, let’s chat. Hit reply, or find Kristen on LinkedIn/Facebook and Katy on Facebook/Instagram.
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