Meet Kris Mcneal!  She’s a born Floridian who made her debut at Good Sam Hospital in West Palm Beach and now lives in Jupiter.  She’s a passionate mom of 2, a boy and a girl, ages 26 and 21 years old.  She’s been a dental hygienist and office manager since 1987 and is an advocate for Crunchi, a non-toxic and environmentally responsible cosmetic line.  She’s passionate about educating and helping women with a non-toxic, safe beauty regime.  For her, the word HOME means Comfort, Family, and Memories.  She has many fond memories of growing up here with her 3 brothers in their childhood home off of Northlake Boulevard.

Thank you for Kris sharing your story with us and your love for The Palm Beaches.

Questions:

Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career?

A:  “When I was in high school, we were all encouraged to do a work program, so I found a job at a dental office.  I would go to school in the morning and then go to this job.  I was their gopher girl, doing whatever they needed help with.  I liked it.  It was really something I didn’t know that I wanted to do at that time.  The dentist encouraged me to go and take the dental hygiene program which is in Lake Worth.  It was the perfect job that allowed me to work and be a mommy.”

Q: What is your favorite restaurant in The Palm Beaches, and what do you love there?

A:  “I like the local restaurants, it does not have to be fancy.  I’m a Food Shack or Leftovers girl, I also love Coolinary Café.  What’s interesting is the waitress that used to wait on us at Leftovers, she and her husband opened Coolinary Café.  The feel is the same, super intimate and small.  It’s not crazy big.   It has unique dishes.  I always get their  Roasted Brussels sprouts.  It’s a fantastic appetizer.  I get it every time I go there.”

Q: How long have you lived or worked in Palm Beach?

A:  “I have lived here all my life.”

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Palm Beach?

A:  “Nicole Rymer.  She does a lot of different things, not just real estate.   She’s a realtor as well, just like you.  She has her own radio station and now she has a TV Show which is pretty cool.”

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?

A:  “I’m going to Italy.  Ever since I read the book Eat, Pray, Love, I’ve wanted to go there. Tuscany would be super.”

Q: What is your favorite movie OR what is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?

A:  “I loved fried Green Tomatoes, Forest Gump, and Simon Birch.  I like movies that really move you whether you’re laughing, or crying.”

Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?

A:  “To not take yourself so seriously, that would be the first thing.  I raised my children on my own and I was so caught up in making sure I did everything right and there is no right and time goes really fast.  So, enjoying the moments with them.  If things didn’t get done, so what?  Eventually, they will.   And not putting so much on having to have everything done before you start the next day.  So, just kind of let up and enjoy every moment because in the blink of the eye they’re away at college.”

Q: What is something on your bucket list?

A:  “I want to take dance lessons.  I like salsa and Latin.  It would be fun.  I love watching dancing shows like Dancing with the Stars and So, You Think You Can Dance?”

Q: What is your favorite music/ 3 bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?

A:  “That changes for me.  I was always a country girl.  Sometimes I just like something instrumental.  I don’t really have one favorite.  I tend to put on soft rock or classic rock.  I used to go to a lot of concerts.  I would love to see Peter Gabriel.  I think he is amazing.”

Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Palm Beach?

A:  “I can remember there was a restaurant in Jupiter, called the Log Cabin.  It is where Jupiter golf or Lighthouse golf is now. It’s down the street from Square Grouper and Guanabanas.  Log Cabin used to be there and it was the place to go for breakfast.  It was amazing.  Every Sunday we would go there.”

Q: Choosing anyone in a non-relative with whom would you love to have lunch?

A:  “I would love to have lunch with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga.  I like being outside but we would probably go to some restaurants in Miami Beach.  Nothing fancy, maybe playing music.”

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Palm Beach?

A:  “Living this close to the beach, there’s nothing like the sound of the ocean.  The beach and the ocean, to me, makes living here something else.  I do love the mountains also.”

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?

A:  “I see myself semi-retired and having a place up north in the mountains but not full-time.  I think I would always have some roots here, but I would love to spend more time in the mountains.  I love hiking.  And, I see myself growing my business and helping educate women and spending more time doing that.”

Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?

A:  “I’m left-handed, both of my kids are.  A lot of people don’t know that I tried out for the Dolphin cheerleaders when I was in right out of high school.  It was super fun.  I had never had any cheerleading experience and had never danced but I got this wild idea. Why don’t I try?  Well, I made it the first round, but after that, it was like, forget it.  It was an amazing experience.”

Q: What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?

A:   “There’s no place like home. Comfort, Family, and Memories.”

Q: If you had a full-time staff member that was fully paid for, who would you choose? Chef, Housekeeper, Driver, Coach, Physical Fitness Trainer, or Nanny?

A:   “At this time in my life, I would pick a coach.  There’s a lot of areas in my life that I think are a little bit stagnant.  I’m in a new chapter of my life, so I think a coach would be good for me.”

Q: If you were cast into a major motion picture and had your choice of anyone to be your co-star, who would you choose?

A:  “If it’s romantic, then it would be Bradley Cooper.  He’s a very interesting person.”

 

The Faces of The Palm Beaches is a project to showcase the amazing people that live or work in our community.  If you would like to nominate an interesting person to be featured, please email swoods@kw.com.