25 THINGS {BY SAYEH}! 16 May 2012

 

As our beloved Lithe community grows and expands, more and more new faces are flooding the studios. From new instructors, to new faces behind the counter, it seems like I’m meeting new people daily. With each new person comes a new story, and something unique to add to the Lithe family. Kristin Koefoed, one of these newcomers, tell us a little more about herself.

1. Mine is the little tan hand behind the little brown pen that writes out all the Lithe Foods labels at Lithe, and I'm the little brunette with the asymmetrical hair that says Hello! to you at Northern Liberties and Old City.
2. I love cartoons. My aspiration is to become a famous cartoonist and have my own cartoon show. From there I will revive the awesomeness that was 90's Nickelodeon, cause kids today deserve better!
3. My parents took me to Philly for my birthday when I was about 7. We walked past the University of the Arts on Broad Street, and I told them, "I'm going to school there!" They did what good parents do and just agreed. A decade later, it was the only school to which I applied and I refused to take my guidance counsellor's advice on safety schools. As it turned  out, little me really was a bit psychic and I now have my BFA.
4. I've worked a number of jobs as a face-painter and arts & crafts instructor for children in New Jersey and Philly, and they've been some of the most uplifting experiences I've ever had.
5. I like to dress up for holidays, even (especially) if there's no costume party. Those of you who took classes at Old City on Easter may remember my bunny ears with justifiably in-fashion white faux fur vest. I was so excited we had the Carrot Ginger Lemonade to complete my ensemble!
6. My whole life has been spent on the stage. My first play was in 2nd grade (I was an Evil Magic Flower) and I never hesitated to jump at a casting call or a request for volunteers from a Colonial Williamsburg Player. I also danced for 13 years, doing tap, jazz, some hip hop, ballet, and my specialty: pointe.
7. I did fencing for a little while in high school. The teacher was this totally awesome metal dude, and gave me the best compliment, I think, ever when he said I was a "natural born warrior." I like to call on this memory whenever I go through one of those little stressful phases Life throws at you to keep you paying attention :)
8. Growing up, the other kids never got my jokes. But the teachers did. To this day, I relate more to people my parents' age than my own.
9. My kind of humor is observational and sarcastic, which sometimes gets me into trouble when I try to kid with people who don't know me that well.
10. I love chicken something ridiculous. I don't like eating animals that look back at you, but a chicken pooped on my hand when I was little so I think part of me is still mad.
11. Working at Lithe has been one of the most beneficial resources and biggest inspirations to me as far as forcing myself to accept that I am not superhuman and do need proper nutrition, sleep, and lifestyle on top of however much exercise I may pride myself on. After years of self-delusion, I've come to terms with the fact that even if you can run from Queen Village to the Zoo and back, no problemo, you still aren't allowed to flood your system with ice cream, candy, and coffee on a regular basis and call yourself healthy.
12. My exercise playlist includes the soundtracks to Kill Bill 1 and 2, as well as classic hits like “Eye of the Tiger” and Joe Esposito's “You're the Best.”
13. If you ever take a class when I'm working at Northern Liberties, chances are I'm standing on a phone book behind the desk.
14. I was born in the first hospital in America, right here in Philadelphia. My mom and dad used to call it the Kristin Store, which always made me curious as to what the selection was like.
15. One time I tried to run away in Toys 'R' Us because I wanted to live there. I figured they had a kitchen set, a little house, and I was set. When my finally dad caught me, in a last ditch effort, I yelled "He's not my daddy!" I was about 2 or 3. I wasn't allowed back in Toys 'R' Us after that, so I formed a strong love for the giant LCD Tic Tac Toe game at the Kids 'R' Us next door.
16. I am very good at Tic Tac Toe to this day.
17. Although I never had a fancy gaming system growing up (unless you count a hot pink Gameboy Color, with Pokemon Yellow and the Simpsons Treehouse of Horror games), sometimes my dad would take me and my mom to Ocean City and let me loose in Jilly's Arcade with a bag of quarters that weighed as much as I did. These trips were how my parents helped me deal, when little me would get frustrated by the things that frustrate kids.  18. One game I'll never play is the Cool Game. The rules are different on every field, and I have too much to do to keep them all straight!
19. My alltime favorite show is The X-Files. I own the I Want To Believe poster and I have two sets of Agent Scully and Mulder action figures that I got for my 12th birthday... one set still packaged and one set I can actually play with.
20. I have two furry babies. Sigmund Salvatore Stardust (Ziggy for short) is a 5 month old Mini-Daschund, and Cuy Valdar is a one year old Guinea pig.
21. I will never be able to live anywhere more than an hour from the sea. It's such an incredible feeling to be able to stand at the edge of the water, watching the horizon dance in the early morning before everyone else is awake.
22. I want to live near forests and mountains as well though, because I want every environment as an option for potential adventures. This is why I have the West Coast as part of my Long Term Goal list.
23. Right after I live in NYC for 2-3 years.
24. Right after I learn a form of martial arts.
25. I want to learn and see everything. I want to go everywhere. I want to travel the world, and I try to live poor so I can save up to do that someday.

Kristin, 90s Nickelodeon is basically responsible for the entire basis of my sense of humor today. Watching kids with Canadian accents get slimed, tell scary stories in the dark, and search through a hidden temple for random fake relics was really quality programming. To this day, I try to tell people that there was a cartoon on the network that involved a little girl who used to fly through the air with two of her stuffed animals (koala bears?) that would come to life when she touched noses with them. No one knows what I’m talking about. I’m starting to think I imagined it. If you ever need a pal to watch old episodes of Eureka’s Castle, I’m your girl.

See you in class!

In-Studio Image of Kristin via Sayeh

Comments

[pam]

I love this! And I was completely sold when I read about Ziggy ... Browny is my mini doxie :)

[S]

Sayeh--the koala show is Noozles! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noozles I used to love it too!

[Ilysa]

I loved the Koala show and whenever I've mentioned it to anyone they never what I'm talking about either! That show was awesome.

[Lena]

I am so psyched Sayeh that you mentioned the show with the koala bears! I totes loved that as a kid!

[kelli]

Well, I can't relate to 90's Nickelodeon, er, because I'd just started college, but I can appreciate #11, which is something still in process for me. And as a lifelong Wa/Id. resident, I can't wait for you to see that part of the country! Kudos to your 25 things!

[Sayeh]

Oh my GOSH! NOOZLES!!!!! Thanks guys!! I LOVED that show!!