happy new year

VIA SANRIO

Alright, let's get this party started, shall we?
Here's a bit of what's been going on around these here parts:

• I have not been blogging regularly
• I joined Weight Watchers
• um.. and started a blog about it
• I cut my honey's hair AND he doesn't look like a Jim Carrey a la Dumb and Dumber wannabe. sweet!
•    (it actually looks really good. I'm his official barber now.)
• I got a new planner that's so beautiful, sometimes I just take it out of my bag to look at it. For really-reals.
• I'm loving me just about anything kawaii. I blame it on the lack of Sanrio availability when I was a kid. 
• Hi, my name is Kate. I'm 26 years old and I love Hello Kitty. 
• My hair is getting really long
• I wish it was Thursday so I could go to my WW meeting and weigh in. I'm kind of loving this.
• My new lip balm smells so lemonly yummy. mmm.
• I should be sleeping, I have to work overtime tonight. But it's Friday for me and I think I'm all 12 hours on my favorite radio, woo hoo!
• I need to find my second verse for Beth Moore's Siesta Scripture Memory. Over the course of the year the goal is to memorize 24 new scriptures.
• My first verse: You crown the year with Your good blessing and you leave abundance in Your wake. Psalm 65:11
• My new favorite word is lemonly.

Thank you and goodnight.

 

not all those who wander are lost...

Did you know that quote is from Lord of the Rings? I didn't until about a week ago. This is the whole quote, it's from The Fellowship of the Ring:

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken:
The crownless again shall be king.

I'm now a little over halfway through The Two Towers and that quote, in its entirety, is my favorite so far. It's just so, I don't know... powerful. I'm loving the series, even though it takes f.o.r.e.v.e.r. to read. There's so much packed onto one page. I'll be sad when I'm done reading them, it's been nice to be with the same story this long.


I haven't gotten to my schedule goal, but- MY HOUSE IS CLEAN. Due largely to the fact that I had a houseguest, so it needed to be presentable, but still. My sink is empty, and has been all day because I've done dishes TWICE. yeah baby. also my bed is made and laundry is going. This is a big deal guys.
I'm so pathetic.

I may even attempt- gasp- cooking this week. Yeah, I wasn't lying about the whole 'worst housewife' stuff. I'll get it someday. hopefully.

ps. got my hair did. LOVING IT.


by the way, little background on this picture. Greg was supposed to take a picture of my hair only, not my face, but did he listen? no. but, the picture actually had some potential, so here's the result after photoshopping out the dark circles under my eyes and photoshopping in some makeup. photoshop is a wonderful thing.
If only it could take off about 50 lbs. I'm over it.

Oh so random...

I recently told a friend that I have the greatest intentions and the worst follow through. That statement applies to pretty much every area of my life right now. First and foremost, the blog. I was so excited to get into a regular schedule. I kind of love this little blog, even though it's pretty wimpy, and I'd like to turn it into something great, even if I never get above 3 subscribers. (hey, it's more than zero! You readers out there, I heart you. Bigtime.) I love seeing my words on the screen, does that sound bad? Really it's because it makes me feel so accomplished, not because I think it's super great. Goes along with what I said before I guess, when there's actually follow through it's pretty exciting. Part of my lack of follow through is due to being sickity-sick-sick for 2 weeks. Yikes, it sucked. The first few days all I could think is, 'I want my mommy.' seriously. My honey was a pretty good substitute though. Normally he's pretty good at waiting on me hand and foot and responding to my ridiculous requests, ('honey, the remote is 6 inches out of my reach, could you come out of the other room and get it for me?' I wish I was kidding.) but he really kicked it up a notch when I was sick. He's a good honey. He even made me mac and cheese (homemade, oh yum). I'm finally feeling like a normal person again, yay!
That little bump in the road also affected the granny square blanket I was working on, so not much more progress on that front. Maybe she'll get it in time for Christmas. I'm awesome. (-sarcasm.) Sadly, I wish I could say that the state of my house is because of the blip on the health radar, but it's not. It's because I'm the WORST HOUSEWIFE IN THE WORLD. My goal, starting today, is to work out a better housecleaning, etc... schedule. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with what I have to do, and end up doing nothing. Can anyone relate? (hello? Is this thing on? Just me? Awesome.)
I've been reading more and more 'minimalist' type blogs, and although I don't think I can be one of those people who only owns 50 or 100 things (a zebra can't change her stripes, you know?) I would love to get as close as possible. The bloggers talk about how much more peaceful their lives become as things disappear, and it absolutely makes sense. My new favorite blog, Small Notebook has a post entitled 'Holding on to Sentimental Things' that really hit home with me. The author, Rachel, talks about the scene in the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding where Toula's grandmother brings out her box of 'most precious things'. What if her grandmother had taken Toula to her storage unit of 'most precious things'? As Rachel says, 'Not quite the same feeling is it? When it comes to keeping sentimental things:
the fewer things you keep, the more special they are.'
That's so powerful to me. That's what I keep going back to, and will keep going back to as I go through my stuff. Check out her blog, she has great stuff to say about organizing, simplifying and other home- ish stuff.
Why didn't anyone tell me being a grown-up was so hard? I want to go outside and blow bubbles and make a daisy crown, even if it's just as an in-your-face to adulthood.
Who's with me?!

some pretties...

La Mer Watch

I want one in every color.

Anthropologie Hidden Framework Bracelet
So far out of my budget it's not even funny. A girl can dream.

Urban Outfitters Corner Bloom Ruffle Duvet Cover
Found via Lovely Clusters Pinterest
so pretty...

pretty girly lights by kootoyoo

I want to make a million.

This Bedroom
Found via Lottie Loves (originally from NY Times)

I love everything about it.

purple washcloth

last I checked, it was 89 degrees outside. EIGHTY. NINE. I'm melting. I told my honey that I'm a delicate flower and I can't take this kind of heat. He didn't have much sympathy.

darn texans and their heat tolerance...

I brought out the trusty purple washcloth for my migraine yesterday (it was a doozy) and tonight I think I'm going to slap it on my forehead and leave it there while I sleep.

which reminds me, I really should be sleeping right now.

ugh, I don't want to go to work... (insert whiny voice and stomping feet.) ah, the joys of being a grownup.

old school.

I stumbled across a sweet blog the other day, Once Upon a Win. It's a collection of 'epic wins' from when we were kids. I was pretty much hooked when I saw they had featured Jem, my favorite cartoon.

Some other posts that match up with my childhood memories: (all pictures from Once Upon a Win)
playing 'Heads up, 7up' and passing notes in school,





hypercolor t-shirts and t-shirt slides,





and every Christmas circling what I wanted in the Sears Wish Book.



the list always included Power Wheels, because sadly I never got one...



Brandi, our children will have Big Wheels!

I don't think I'll ever get tired of quizzes...

Olive Juice Photography (Formerly Dandelion Daydream Photography) blogged this Fun Friday Fact Fiesta today, and it looked like fun. So here's mine:

If I were a month, I’d be February.
If I were a day of the week, I’d be Thursday.
If I were a time of day, I’d be a late summer evening.
If I were a planet, I’d be Pluto, because I'm old school. (and short. and a little out there.)
If I were a sea animal, I’d be an otter.


If I were a direction, I’d be west.
If I were a piece of furniture, I’d be a lawn chair in front of a campfire.
If I were a liquid, I’d be rain.
If I were a gemstone, I’d be a peridot.
If I were a tree, I’d be a douglas fir.


If I were a tool, I’d be a sandpaper.
If I were a flower, I’d be a garden rose.
If I were a kind of weather, I’d be rainy.
If I were a musical instrument, I’d be a fiddle.


If I were a color, I’d be pink.
If I were an emotion, I’d be gratitude.
If I were a fruit, I’d be a raspberry.
If I were a sound, I’d be a river.
If I were an element, I’d be carbon.


If I were a car, I’d be a Dodge Ram 2500.
If I were a food, I’d be chicken.
If I were a place, I’d be Olympic National Park.
If I were a material, I’d be linen.
If I were a taste, I’d be savory.
If I were a scent, I’d be vanilla.
If I were an object, I’d be a book.


If I were a body part, I’d be a ear.
If I were a facial expression, I’d be eyes rolling.
If I were a song, I’d be 'American Honey' by Lady Antebellum
If I were a pair of shoes, I’d be flip-flops. Always.

I've found my theme song at long last.

American Honey - Lady Antebell...

Click the link above to have a little listen.


She grew up on a side of the road
Where the church bells ring and strong love grows
She grew up good
She grew up slow
Like American honey

Steady as a preacher
Free as a weed
Couldn't wait to get goin'
But wasn't quite ready to leave
So innocent, pure and sweet
American honey

There's a wild, wild whisper
Blowin' in the wind
Callin' out my name like a long lost friend
Oh I miss those days as the years go by
Oh nothing's sweeter than summertime
And American honey

Get caught in the race
Of this crazy life
Tryin' to be everything can make you lose your mind
I just wanna go back in time
To American honey, yea

There's a wild, wild whisper
Blowin' in the wind
Callin' out my name like a long lost friend
Oh I miss those days as the years go by
Oh nothing's sweeter than summertime
And American honey

Gone for so long now
I gotta get back to her somehow
To American honey

Ooh There's a wild, wild whisper
Blowin' in the wind
Callin' out my name like a long lost friend
Oh I miss those days as the years go by
Oh nothin's sweeter than summertime
And American honey
And American honey

getting fresh.

I'm over at Inky Fresh Press today, blogging about the Arts & Letters writing contest. Go have a look-see.

Oh, Twilight

The other day, I was looking for an old friend on facebook, (I swear
she is the only one in our class without a facebook. ) so I clicked on
the link that said Forks High School Class of 2002. Instead of finding
her, I found that half of the people listed as classmates of mine
contained names such as Bella, so-and-so Cullen, and Sally
OMGilovejacobheisthehottestwerewolfevergoteamjacobpleasetakeoffyourshirt.
Okay, so the last one is an exaggeration. Or maybe not, I didn't go
through all of the pages.
Sometimes I just miss my unknown, middle-of-nowhere, logging capitol
of the world, Home of the Spartans, one stoplight, blink and you'll
miss it, 3 hours from the mall, no we don't have a mcdonalds,
carharts, romeos and riggins, small town.

what a fantastic weekend.

via Jo's Flickr Photostream

Hmm, so that last post was a little depressing, eh? what an off day that was. Luckily, my outlook is much better today.

Things that are making me happy today:

• new haircut, LOVE IT.
• got my nails done, my hands feel so pretty.
• dutch apple pie in the oven (marie callender's, not homemade. I'm over it.)
• fabulous date day with my honey yesterday (ending with a little super nintendo playing)
• taking pictures of the trains below my house. there's something so romantic about trains, I love everything about them
• trip to Seattle Library on monday with (work friend) Amber, woo-hoo! (for those of you who don't know, I have to differentiate because I have about 2,317 friends named amber. Alright, not that many, but I have considered only making new friends if their name is Amber.)
• I don't have to go to work tonight
• Just ordered the latest issue of Craft Leftovers Monthly. I've been wanting one for awhile, and February's was too tempting to resist.
• did I mention I got my haircut? and that I LOVE IT?
• there are no dishes in the sink right now.
• I have so many good books from the library right now I don't know which one to start next.
• that apple pie smells de-lish.

Tomorrow will probably be a cleaning day, bleh. then work tomorrow night, double bleh. here's hoping the rest of my weekend goes v e r y s l o w l y...

Hope your weekend turns out just as lovely!!

meh...

I don't know what to say. I feel a little lost, adrift in a sea of past regrets that seem to want to swallow me whole today. I'm going to try to sleep it off, the only problem being if the thoughts are waiting for me when I wake up.


Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:18-19

I really want to blog today, but I just don't know about what. I haven't done a whole lot lately, well, at least not as much as I'd like. Went for a drive with my honey on Thursday, got some pics from that. We went and sat at the airport, a couple of small planes and then a 737 came in. We were hoping to see one of the new 787's or the dreamlifter, but no dice. It was fun sitting there though, Greg was taking pictures of the 737 we saw. We used to sit at the airport a lot when we were dating, and although I'm not quite the airplane buff that Greg is, I do love watching them come in and take off. Having to travel on them is a completely different matter... bleh.
After the airport we went to the Mukilteo waterfront. It was cold and grey, but really beautiful. There were so many birds. At one point I sort of felt like I was in Bodega Bay. Check out the photos here.

I've had sort of a crafty dry spell lately. My craft room is pretty much in chaos, overflowing with half or not even started projects. Before I can even think of starting anything new I need to simplify, go through and get rid of the things I'm never going to use. I'm hoping to make that my project this week. There are a few projects that I've been itching to try:


1. 200 Crochet Blocks, 2. Recycled Garland, 3. remains of the day journal backgrounds, 4. cathedral window quilt - 4th set

I love to crochet and have tried my hand at granny squares once or twice, but I'd really like to make a granny square blanket. Some granny squares can be kind of hokey, but they can turn out really gorgeous, too, like the ones above. I love the monochromatic look, but I'd also like to try one with jewel tones.

I am in love with garlands, can you tell? I love this one because it's all recycled paper. I have stacks of magazines and random paper that I saved just cause they're pretty, and this would be a great project for them. Maybe to decorate my soon to be clean and organized craft room?

Another great project for old scraps is this remains of the day journal. I haven't looked into this too much, but I think the point is to use the journal to display all of the interesting scraps that are collected day to day. I would love to do something like this and then use it as a journal to write in.

I've heard the cathedral window quilt blocks are very time-consuming, which usually would turn me off, but they're so pretty I have to try. I'm thinking I'll start out easy, maybe just do four blocks and the rest on a solid color, instead of a whole quilt top full of them.

Well, for not knowing what to say I sure said a lot. Now I have to go get ready, off to see Lovely Bones with Ashley, yay!

some happy things.

I'll just say it- I want these.
Real bad.

MIA Outlaw at Zappos.com

Steve Madden Texic at Zappos.com

In part because I hope that by putting them on I will magically transform into her:

cmt.com

Miranda Lambert pretty much rawks.

Which reminds me, I've been thinking of going back to blonde. What do we think?

PS. this picture from cuteoverload.com is the cutest thing in the world. I can't stop looking at it because it makes me smile. so addicting... you've been warned.

today's daily photo

008/365
Originally uploaded by small town <3

A writer needs loneliness, and he gets his share of it. He needs love, and he gets shared and also unshared love. He needs friendship. In fact, he needs the universe. To be a writer is, in a sense, to be a day-dreamer - to be living a kind of double life.
-Jorge Luis Borges

To me the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it's about, but the music the words make.
-Truman Capote

Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.
-Cyril Connolly

What's so exciting and terrifying about the writing process is that it really is an act of exploration and discovery. With all of us, not just writers, there is a sort of knowledge of the other. We have a lot more in common than we realize, and I think writing is really a sustained act of empathy.
-Andre Dubus, III

2 posts in one day?!

I know, I'm awesome. haha. Even more awesome? my photo a day project, I'm pretty much rocking it. And by rocking it I mean I'm actually keeping up with it, which is a surprise, even though it's only been a few days. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new camera, it's so fun to play with! I'm pretty sure I took about 50 pictures of my honey today when he was outside installing his new satellite radio. I don't know that he was as excited as I was... :)


So handsome, sigh.

Since tonight is my Friday I think tomorrow we will be doing a mini roadtrip with the camera, although I haven't decided where yet. Yay!

Okay, so, go check out the rest, tell me what you think.

PS. what about my new header? see the little white heart on the right side? total fluke. I didn't see it until I got the picture into photoshop. I love it when that happens.

40 questions

Alright, I filled this out yesterday while I was at work but am just now getting around to posting it. I took it from Notebook Doodles, she tagged all of her readers. Yay!

1.what is your current obsession?
my new camera! I heart it. and tea.

2. what are you wearing today?
My favorite sweatshirt, (FHS fastpitch one I kidnapped from brandi years ago.) Barbie tshirt, jeans and pink Romeos.

3. what’s for dinner?
Mmm, hopefully turkey tacos.

4. what’s the last thing you bought?
$5 shoes and a sweet green and white scarf.

5. what are you listening to right now?
Calltakers across the room, fire radio and the hum of the computers.

6. what do you think about the person who tagged you?
She has adorable handwriting and an awesome blog.

7. if you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
Forks. maybe even within walking distance of my mom's house.

8. one thing you wanna change about yourself?
More gumption

9. if you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
The Hoh Rain Forest

10. which language do you want to learn?
Swedish

11. what’s your favourite quote?
Oh, how to choose? I love quotes. Right now probably
I'm not interested in money. I just want to be wonderful.
-marilyn Monroe
Or
Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swaps of the not-quite, the not-yet, and the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists.. it is real.. it is possible.. it's yours.
— Ayn Rand

12 . would you cook for me?
I don't know that anyone would want that.

13. what is the right way to avoid people who purposefully hurt you?
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the LORD will reward you.
Proverbs 25:21-22

14. what are you afraid of the most?
Opening an officer.com 'Officer Down Alert' email and having it be someone I know.

15. who do you want to meet right now?
The Australian accent on the radio.

16. what is your favourite color?
oh pink, always pink.

17. give us 3 styling tips that work for you.
ugh, I have not been very stylish lately. what always works for me is sweatshirts, flip flops and scarves.

18. what is your dream job?
Co-owner and barista of a coffee shop/pottery panting/yarn shop/allaroundloveliness with amber. And photographer. And Park ranger. All at the same time.

19. what’s your favorite magazine?
Martha Stewart Weddings

20. if you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
Fancy tea (I am on such a tea kick right now) and getting my upper ear pierced, again. And a new pair of jeans, I really need another pair. Maybe even a new sweatshirt, depending on where I'm shopping.

21. what do you consider a fashion faux pas?
Not wearing the correct size, not dressing (somewhere near) your age.

22. who according to you is the most over-rated writer?
I have to agree with Miss notebookdoodles on this, stephenie meyer. But I’m still mourning the loss of innocence of my hometown, so I may be a little biased. Especially considering I haven't read the books yet.

23. what brings a smile on your face instantly?
5 words: Josiah, Edie, Lincoln, Riley, Alex.

24. a word that you say a lot?
Received

25. what kind of haircut do you prefer?
Inexpensive.

26. what are you going to do after this?
Go home and go to bed, I'm tired!

27. what do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
Sleep, grump, avoid.

28. what makes you go wild?
Road rage.

29. what are your favourite movies?
Sense and Sensibility, Lord of the Rings trilogy, Maverick, North by Northwest

30. what inspires you?
Trees, river and rain. Light. beautiful dresses and amazing interior design.

31. what do your friends call you most commonly?
Kate, except for my jeffcom peeps, they call me Katie.

32. would you prefer coffee or tea?
Tea

33. which other blogs do you love visiting?
I have over a hundred on my google reader, from quilting, photography, fashion, business and funny. I'm addicted to blogs. Here's just a few:
Notebookdoodles, of course.
The Sometimes Crafter
Rachel Cox Designs
Oh, hello friend
Gabrielle Kai Photography
Kate's Irrelevant
Lamebook

Oh, cute overload always makes my day.

34. favorite dessert/sweet?
Apple pie/ crisp, my mom's cheesecake.

35. how many tabs are turned on in your browser right now?
I'm on my phone, so only one, but usually on my laptop I can have anywhere between 2-20.

36. when you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
That's as good as it's going to get.

37. favorite season?
I don't think I could choose.

38. one wish that you really want to see it come true?
There are a lot of wishes I've made lately that I'm working to make come true.

39. what breaks your heart?
Children not being taken care of/ loved like they deserve.
Any time my mom cries.

40. what's one thing you really want to do in life?
To stop sitting on the sidelines and watching life pass me by.

Friday Fill-Ins

Friday Fill-Ins, Again...

I'm still on vacay, so this is the most effort I can put out today! I'm still a little tired from my fishing trip yesterday. (woo-hoo, so fun!) I hope to have pictures of that up soon.


1. My car is a Brown 2007 Kia Sportage.
2. Monk, the final season is coming up next. I won't be watching, I'm only here for NCIS. Surprised?
3. Lately, things seem more hopeful and terrifying at the same time.
4. Sleeping is one of my favorite 'hiding' places.
5. What happened to treat others as you want to be treated? Common decency?
6. Happiness is not impossible!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to bed, tomorrow my plans include lunch with Brandi at the In Place and Sunday, I want to go to church with the fam and take it easy!

Friday Fill-Ins and a Do-Over

I decided that I wanted a do-over for my blog. We don't get many do-overs in life so I figured I would take advantage of the fact that I had that kind of control in this situation. The posts before were just... blah? So they're gone. I had some other reasons as well, but mostly I thought, if I'm going to do this I want it to be something I'm proud of, something I want to get to everyday and write on, something I will want to show off. Mostly I want it to be memorable, if not to anyone else then for myself. I think that's why it was so easy to trash the earlier posts- they weren't memorable. So, here's the beginning of my do-over. I wish those were more readily available in other aspects of my life!

::Friday Fill-Ins::

1. I'm experiencing a lot of new things lately. That's a scary place to be.
2. My husband's asleep with the dogs; I'm over here!
3. The possibilities include: failing or succeeding. The question is, which one is scarier?
4. Macaroni and Cheese is one of my favorite cool day recipes. Who am I kidding? It's my favorite everyday recipe....
5. How will you know if you don't at least try? That's been my motto for the week.
6. My favorite place to be is the Hoh Rain Forest under big raindrops and a stormy sky.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sleeping when it's actually dark, tomorrow my plans include finishing up some crafty projects and Sunday, I want to go to church and then maybe do some more crafting! Oh, and then on monday I get to go thrifting in Seattle with a friend from work and Tuesday it's off to Forks for a week, woo-hoo!!