Krys Wanders

05/09/2023

ready for another adventure

14/04/2023

Sharing all my favourite BeReal moments since I got the app last August👇🏻

🌿showing Taylor a beautiful hidden parking spot on iOverlander that I was literally so excited to take him to. We brought sandwiches and snacks to make it official🥪

🌿getting my butt kicked in playing our own version of 2-player. We play as 2 colours that have to get to 10 points for each🐑

🌿the incredible feeling of sitting on a porch at the tail end of summer with an iced tea and your laptop for work☀️

🌿another adventure to scout out cool places on the island 🚐 taylor was actually so sick in that picture but he really wanted to get out of the house 🤒

🌿rigging up the plumbing in the van and regretting ever deciding to rig up plumbing in the van 😂 however with help from .van it got sorted 💖

🌿recent shot of me editing every single guest podcast episode I’ve recorded but haven’t posted. I’ve been feeling so insecure about the pod recently and I couldn’t tell you why🎙️

🌿Alaska and I happy about the rainy weather because it means cuddles in bed for the day⛈️

🌿a place we called home when we had nowhere else and the comfort it still brings when I see that photo. I know one day I’ll make it happen again🫶🏻

🌿a guilty pleasure/total embarrassment returning back to these novels but they were EVERYTHING when I was 12 😂

29/03/2023

I could be having the worst day and the moment I see a waterfall… feel like I was never upset at all 🌲🌿🥾

Sometimes, my mental health keeps me inside for multiple days. I forget how much being outdoors helps with those tough days, but when I’m feeling that low I just can’t get out of bed.

Right now, I’m just focusing on one day after the other. And for right now, that’s okay with me🌼

24/03/2023

A collection of a few photos I’ve taken🌼 and what I ultimately hope to get back into this year! Which one is your favourite? What photos would you like me to bring back?👇🏻

04/03/2023

Today, I turn 26 🎂

Thank you to everyone thats here and chooses to connect with me within this space. I’ve never felt more at home than I do with the community of pals I’ve made here. Thank you for making this year so special✨

03/02/2023

Hello to all the new + old faces here👋🏻

I wanted to take the opportunity to reintroduce myself, for you to introduce YOURself (who ya are, what you like to do, why you started following me) and perhaps answer any Q’s you may have in the comments below👇🏻
🌿I’m Krys. Like Chris, but spelt kinda fun. It’s a shortened version of my actual name)

🌿I’m 25 (turning 26 in March! I’m a Pisces)

🌿I’m a sensitive, creative, adventuring homebody that values my space feeling “cozy”

🌿I went to school for policing back in 2016👮‍♀️ but realized at that point in time I wasn’t super passionate about it

🌿met a guy, bought a van in 2019 and lived in it as the world shut down the following year🦠

🌿I grew up in Ontario, Canada my whole life and only just moved out of the province to the west coast where I currently live

🌿I really love to game, especially on my PC or Switch

🌿went to school for a second time and dropped out. It was my dream to pursue content creation full-time

🌿failed at becoming a full-time content creator but continued to find a way, even if it was a hobby or part-time. I just didn’t go into it with a proper plan

🌿I’ve been seeing a therapist for over 7 years and I love her. I had the hardest time finding someone that really “got” me and after almost a decade I had finally found someone. I’ll always live with my mental illness, but the goal is to not let it control me

🌿everyday I’m learning and growing to be a better person than I was yesterday. I make a lot of mistakes but I share the journey along the way

🌿and most importantly, I’m almost always terrified to try new things, but I try not to let that stop me. I just do it afraid🍄

Welcome! And thank you for following me. I can’t begin to express how much it means to me to have you here 🫶🏻

31/12/2022

I never grew up really liking the outdoors or spending any significant amount of time exploring it. Self-described homebody that didn’t understand how people found joy in nature, spending an entire day hiking to the top of a mountain just to climb back down.

In the efforts to impress a guy I liked, I agreed to go camping with him. I owned NO camping gear, but really wanted to prove to both of us I was able to do it. Taking that leap, although not initially for just myself, was the best decision I ever made. To camping trips, hiking expeditions, vanlife, and moving to the pnw for even more access to exploring… I see why people love it. I feel the happiest when I’m outside and the best feeling in the world is having that goofy smile plastered to my face because I can’t believe anything so beautiful, lush and WILD could ever really exist🌲

So here’s to more of this in 2023 + doing things afraid✨

07/11/2022

It’s been almost 2 years since I last felt like myself. It’s hard to take a look at the big picture and see how badly you’re struggling. It’s not until it’s gotten considerably bad that you realize how much you’re hurting. It’s not until you’ve neglected to text your friends back, when those hobbies that once had you bouncing out of bed each morning continue to get pushed off, when your emotional, mental and physical capacity gets paper thin, that you realize you’re slipping back again. I talk so much about mental health, but I hate talking about it when I’m in the throes of it, because it feels like I’ve failed. It lacks the motivational tagline “but I pushed through and now I’m doing what I love” because I’m not there yet. Mental health recovery is often 2 steps forward; 5 steps back, 3 steps forward; 1 step back. It’s uncertain and it’s heavy and those days where you feel like you’re slipping can be terrifying because you’d do anything not to go back to how you felt before. When everything feels like it’s crumbling around you… you become paralyzed. These last few weeks have been difficult because I had to admit that what I’ve been doing just isn’t working anymore. I needed real change or else things weren’t going to get better. This time allowed me to run away from my problems (and, honestly, how many I left festering). I’ve discovered a lot about myself in 2 years, now it’s time to heal that. For the first time in a long time, I’m feeling closer to myself again.

“A lot of things have happened this year, and you have had to bear more than you ever thought you would, but I just hope you know, through the difficult and the good, you have also been brave, in a beautiful, honest way, and no matter the progress you feel that you have not made, you are still growing here.”

28/10/2022

✨Our Announcement✨

We’re starting season 2 of the Life + Van podcast off with the biggest news we’ve been holding back from sharing. Now that everything is officially set it motion + there’s no going back, we’re so excited about our adventures that begin in the next few weeks!🚐💨 and you can hear the whole thing on todays podcast episode, link in bio!✨

It all starts November 18th, but until then we have to pack the van, say goodbye to family + begin the trip of a lifetime… ✌🏻

https://anchor.fm/lifeandvanpodcast/episodes/Why-We-Left--Whats-Happening-With-Our-Vanlife-Plans--Big-Announcement-e1prmsl

03/10/2022

Luna + I just chillin’ and enjoying the autumn air🍁 today I am painting everything in the van! The cats are enjoying house life a little bit longer as we get the last few things finished in the van before we hit the road🚐

04/08/2022

Lastnight, taylor + I set up our camping gear for our big trip happening in 2 weeks. We both love camping and genuinely can’t wait to be out in nature with friends. We were so excited in fact, that we had to set everything up, so I took that as a photo op😂

Do you get so excited for trips/plans that you get things organized and setup waaaaay in advance?🏕🌿

30/06/2022

I’m starting my weekend off early + navigating my way to an island on the Georgian Bay🥾🏔

How are you spending this weekend?! And am I the only one that loves short work weeks?!🤭🌿

06/06/2022

The end of an era✨

finally the birch plywood is up on the walls! I was kinda worried it would take awhile to get these bad boys perfectly measured and cut for the windows, but it actually wasn’t hard at all! I’ll just need some trim to hide the awful wonky edges🫢

And I had bought JUST enough plywood, no excess 😍 next job is securing the remaining to the ceiling, which should be interesting 🤔

Also sporting my trusty for this mini shoot, you can get your own + get 15% off using “KRYS15”

03/06/2022

Who else struggles being bad at something the first time you try it?🙋🏼‍♀️

I still can’t stand up on a paddle board. I’ve always been the type of person where if I’m not good at it immediately than I’m AWFUL at it and should never try again… okay then🫣

I thought these boards were meant to make it easy but I’ll I’ve done is wobble around like it’s my first time using my legs 😂

Still, I’m going to keep at it until I’m standing upright and paddling faster than any boat on the lake🏄🏼‍♀️ and all I can say is that I hope you continue to stick to that thing that maybe you weren’t great at the first time. Practice + continue to work at it✨🍄🌲

01/06/2022

Taking 🌈P R I D E🌈 in being myself✨

Happy pride month my loves! I never grew up with a lot of q***r representation + never really knew if what I was feeling was ever worth sharing, but this community truly and honestly made me feel confident in showing up regardless. Bi Pride🏳️‍🌈

Some accounts that you should be following to have more representation in your feed:










These are just very few of the accounts that I value + appreciate that show up authentically as themselves🤍✨

***rpride

29/05/2022

First paddle board session of the season ☀️ I’m actually petrified of open water hahaha! Something about how vast and deep it goes just freaks me out yall… still gonna get out there for the experience though 😉

What’s your biggest fear and have you conquered it?!👇🏻

19/05/2022

The Life + Van podcast has been an absolute labour of love and I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has listened, supported, been hosted + shared the show ✨

As co-host, editor, producer + social media manager for the show, I’ve put everything I’ve got left into this adventure. I’ve had the pleasure of hosting some absolutely incredible souls + I’m so beyond excited for this next chapter with the show, and with as my co-host🎙🌿 thank you to our loyal audience and listeners, we couldn’t do it without your constant encouragement 💛

14/02/2022

How could I possibly put into words how much you mean to me?

I knew the day that I met you, regardless if we worked out romantically, that I wanted you part of my life. You reignited the flame within me to seek out adventure and to live in the present moment. Your unwavering belief in me that I’m capable of anything I put my heart into is the sole reason I’ve made a point to pursue all the endeavours that give me purpose. Thank you for loving me unconditionally + here’s to many more adventures spent wandering together.

Happy Valentine’s Day, my love 💓

17/01/2022

“You are that vast thing that you see far, far off with great telescopes.”

Ember Cabin night sky ✨staying at this cabin was so dreamy and magical. Nighttime photography is a must here!

01/11/2021

✨WE GOT A VAN ✨

Okay, not quite 😂 I’m super excited to share that for the next 10 days, I have partnered up with for a vanlife adventure, perfect timing as winter is just around the corner 🥶 it’s the best little break from our current van build!

I am so excited to have this opportunity + can’t wait to share all the content the next 10 days (and let’s be real, probably for months afterwards 😂) will definitely offer.

15/10/2021

My take on the drone shot of everyone’s gear, except mine is van build edition. What do y’all think?! I wish I could show ya just how much wood will actually be going into this van 😂 what was your favourite part of your build?!

🍁

28/09/2021

Long drives with no destination is how I spent my weekend, enjoying the changing leaves 🍂

22/09/2021

While you are waiting for those certain things to happen, I hope you know there are still books to read. There are still people worth getting to know and there are still really good songs to sing. And these little things might not “fix” everything, but they will surely remind the soul: though the journey is long + winding, there is a life to be lived on the road.

🍁

05/09/2021

Blessed are the curious for they shall have adventures. I’ve had many of those. Ever since the day I decided to take the leap into vanlife, other aspects of my life started to fall into place. I started to put time into all my ideas, the never ending feedback loop of creative projects + businesses I would plan. With every person I share my newest adventure with, I’m always met with the same response: “you are so incredibly motivated.” These words are the driving force in continuing with my passions. To see so many people relating to the 3am business ideas, the spur of the moment branding of a company I dreamed of, and everything in between. I’ve learned that life is too short, so you may as well do the dang thing. The worst that can happen is it doesn’t pan out, so ya go right back to the drawing board.

Sincerely, a former photographer, painter, writer, media director, a newly eco-friendly retail owner + glorified dirtbag ↟

29/08/2021

This was fun to record, dropping aaaaallllll the info to ya 🌲

https://youtu.be/KA3s2w0KB0g

Finally! I asked y'all to send in your questions for me to answer in a video + it's here! Talking about vanlife in all aspects: how I got into it, how I affo...

29/08/2021

The life I grew up living prepared me for difficult, unconventional + at times, unsettling circumstances. Like a lot of people, my formative years were less than ideal + I witnessed/experienced things nobody should ever have to, but unfortunately a lot of us do. I learned though, that without those experiences, I wouldn’t have become the person I am today. I can’t go back + change the past, but I can control how I choose to allow it to impact me for my future. When you focus on the good, the good gets better.

17/08/2021

Happy anniversary to the love of my life ✨ but… can you guess how long we’ve been together?! What year are we celebrating?!

Photos by .zg