These are a few of my favorite things

New dresses

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 06:06:00 +0000

I've got a couple events coming up that I needed new outfits for and wanted to show one of the dresses I got today. I would never have tried this dress on if it weren't for What Not to Wear on TLC...this seems like something Stacy and Clinton would like:

I still can't decide if I think this is interview-appropriate or if it's more "already have the job"-wear.

The other dress I got today is a bright kelly green dress with flutter sleeves, and for the life of me I can't find a picture anywhere online! Bollocks!

The perfect accessory to the black-and-turquoise dress? The pumps I got at Target last monthish:

Covergirl Outlast Lip Stain

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:27:00 +0000

I hate lipstick.

I've got big ol' lips that make me look like a little girl snooping in mom's makeup bag when I wear caked-on out-of-the-tube lipstick.

So that's why I'm semi-obsessed with the idea of lip stain and have tried quite a few over the years, the best of those being from higher-end cosmetic lines which are more of a gamble (hard to find, expensive to buy). So when I saw an ad about this new stuff from Covergirl, I squealed. It's like a magic marker, but it's socially appropriate to smear all over your lips!

I've had to put on a couple coats to keep the color going, but for what I was looking for, it works just fine.

The first one I got was a safe pinkish-mauve which, upon close inspection, doesn't have the name listed on the tube. FAIL. They all have cute little names on the display in the store! Anywho, I went back last night and got a darker red for when I'm feeling fab. I'm going to a wine tasting on Friday and can't wait to try it!

Repurposed bowling bag

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:27:00 +0000

Let's not pay attention to how long I've been away. ;o)

When I was in undergrad, I lived in a dorm right next to our University's bowling alley, and my then-boyfriend and I would go bowling every Friday afternoon when the rates were at their cheapest. For one birthday or Christmas, I bought him this kickass bowling ball....it was clear and the inner core was painted to look like a Budweiser bottle. I wish I had been able to keep that in the "divorce."

I digress.

We really liked bowling and were planning to do a lot more of it, thinking of maybe even joining a league. One day while bargain-hunting at Goodwill, I came across this bowling bag and paid no more than $5 for it:

I didn't have a ball at that time, but who could pass up such a cute deal? Well, we moved out of the dorms and got away from our hobby, but I couldn't bear to part with the bag. It's a good size with an all-around zipper and a metal cage inside to hold the ball, so I couldn't use it for a purse or traincase. So it sat around and collected dust for a few years.

Fast foward to now...I got a Wii for grad school graduation and found myself putting it in soft tote bags when I wanted to take it places. I had forgotten about my purple bowling bag and stumbled upon it one day only to realize it'd be perfect for my Wii! The wire frame inside is perfect to slide my console under, thus protecting it, a

nd there's lots more room for cords, nunchucks, and games!

Imagine my shock when I found out that Brunswick is selling a Wii case disguised as a bowling bag for 50 bucks...

I like my authentic vintage bag more...plus, it's bigger!

Ostrich Feathers

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 18:43:00 +0000

I'm mildly obsessed with feathers lately, mostly of the ostrich and peacock persuasions. I'm going to use them in my bedroom in lieu of a floral arrangement...don't feathers just scream "boudoir"? I'm not sure I would want them in my wedding...I love them for weddings, but I don't know if I want mine to be so over-the-top. I guess we'll see when/if we get there though!

Here's an arrangement for a wedding:

Source

And here's a photo I took at Hobby Lobby of some dyed ostrich feathers...I would totally rock one or two in a little bud vase. Instead of sitting here blogging, maybe I should be looking for a job so I can get some money to blow on feathers...hmm....

Mounted Coral and New Stuff at Target

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:00:00 +0000

I like design elements that are modern-y and simple, but I like accents that are a little organic and soft too. In my old apartment, I had two big bookcases that flanked my TV, and on them I kept books (naw, really?), DVDs, and a bunch of accent pieces. I've been wanting a piece of white coral to put on these bookcases but didn't find a good one while I still lived by myself. Once I move out again (please, for the love of GOD let it be soon), I plan to start the search again! Have you guys seen the new home decor stuff at Target? I literally gasped when I saw one thing in particular, but I'm getting ahead of myself. In one of their bathroom collections, they have reddish-orange coral and light robin's egg blue as their main colors. You know I was all over that stuff! I had high hopes they'd have white coral, but all they had was the reddish-orange.

This picture gives an idea of what I'm looking for...I wouldn't be sad if it was a bit more "twiggy" and a little less thick.

Source

This is the thing that made me gasp! I guess this also follows along with my modern-and-simple-yet-organic thought process. This picture doesn't do the color justice...it's more like my favorite dusty robin's egg blue.

Source

Pier 1 Bird Figurines

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:53:00 +0000

I wanted these for Christmas, but Santa couldn't find any that weren't broken. They're made of resin and felt like delicate porcelain the one time I saw them in person...no wonder they didn't stay whole for long. I'd put them in my bedroom and drape jewelry across them. I'm still on the hunt for them or something like them!

Subway Tiles

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:39:00 +0000

I subscribe to a number of design blogs, and subway tiles seem like the "in" thing now. Forgive me if they've been popular for a long time, but I've just recently taken notice of them. I love this design because of how simple and classic it looks. It's modern-industrial but makes a great soft palette for a kitchen or bathroom. If I had my own house you can bet it'd feature subway tiles (in white or off-white)

Source

Resurrecting the blog!

noreply@blogger.com (Kat) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:37:00 +0000

I hope there are still some out there who are following this! I'm still on the job search, living at home, trying to stay sane. My creative bug has been all but squashed, so I'm trying to nurse her back to health and start blogging again! Stay tuned for some new posts!

CuteOverload Prairie Dog Video

katlynn125@gmail.com (Katherine) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:48:00 +0000

No, not that prairie dog video.

A few days ago, CO posted a video of a "laughing" prairie dog and asked readers to overdub it, saying it just needed two jokes so the prairie dog could "laugh" at them. People went above and beyond.

This is my favorite, and I can't stop laughing at the big-mouthed guy on the left:

Rescue Ink

katlynn125@gmail.com (Katherine) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 22:16:00 +0000

As y'all know, CuteOverload is one of my favorite blogs (I bought the 2009 page-a-day calendar today at Barnes & Noble!). This photo is on one of their posts today.

This is an organization called Rescue Ink - a bunch of big tattooed bad-ass looking guys who are fighting animal abuse and neglect. Reading this article in the NY Times about them warmed my heart. And check out the photo gallery - you'll melt. I wish I had more money so I could donate to them...it sounds like they give a lot of their time and own money for a cause they believe so strongly in.

Perfume

katlynn125@gmail.com (Katherine) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:07:00 +0000

I've been wanting a new "signature" perfume for awhile and have ripped out page after page of those "rub this page all over your wrist to be real classy" ads. I really liked Calvin Klein's Euphoria and Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle. I went to the mall last night and sniffed both - the Euphoria was a bit too "clean"...I wanted something of substance. However, I couldn't really bring myself to buy the Chanel that quickly for that much money. So I sprayed some on my wrist and we went to dinner. I kept sniffing my wrists at the restaurant for the next hour, and mom talked me into going back and buying it. And I'm happy I did...I had graduation money to spend on a legitimate gift, after all. So this is what I'll be smelling like for the next year or so.

Boudoir

katlynn125@gmail.com (Katherine) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:05:00 +0000

I promise this isn't going to turn into the "what to put at the head of your bed" blog, but I had to include this because it's tufted and fabulous and my shade of blue. From Urban Outfitters, though it's regrettably $325. Anyone love me enough to buy me one?

Inspiration Boards

katlynn125@gmail.com (Katherine) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:18:00 +0000

As I've reported, I'm semi-obsessed with blogs and my Google Reader. I read a lot of wedding- and event-planning blogs, and these often provide color inspiration boards (collages of different images according to a certain color scheme).

If I got married tomorrow, I'd use this scheme from Snippet & Ink (a definite favorite blog):

Clemson students happiest!

katlynn125@gmail.com (Katherine) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:48:00 +0000

The Princeton Review has named Clemson as the school with the happiest students!

"Clemson students approach life 'Southern style': We're pretty laid-back, we like to have a good time, we work hard and we have pride." "Clemson football and tailgating are the most amazing experiences of college," most Clemson undergrads agree. The city of Clemson, "a town completely devoted to the school," "comes to a complete stop for games, which is great." The surrounding area offers plenty in the way of outdoor activity, as Lake Hartwell borders the campus. "We're about a half hour from great hiking and mountain biking, and the weather is great most of the time, so we spend a lot of time outdoors."

[I was trying to put a Ren & Stimpy "Happy Happy Joy Joy" clip here, but YouTube seems to be having a seizure.]

font

katlynn125@gmail.com (Katherine) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:44:00 +0000

Ecolier is my favorite font at the moment. It's scripty without being too wishy-washy. It looks kind of like my style...a little modern, a little Victorian.

Kitchen colors

katlynn125@gmail.com (Katherine) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:49:00 +0000

Whenever I move into my next place (when and where that might be, only time will tell), I've already decided what my kitchen colors will be. In my living room I use a dusty Tiffany-robin's-egg-blue-aqua color along with dark brown and black.

My bedroom has that same color blue plus goldenrod, burnt sienna, and sagey green. My bathroom has that aqua color along with bolder blues, greens, and purples. Are we seeing a pattern here? I love that color blue. It's my signature color to the point that it makes my friends roll their eyes. (My office is subdued oranges and purples, but that's besides the point :oD )

My dishes are black and white damask (I think I've done a post on them before), I've got bowls in "that blue," black, and white, and my stemware is blue glass. So....my color palette for the kitchen will be white and black and.....

"that blue" and red!!! I can't wait to get moved and get started decorating! Now alls I need is a job....

Vinyl headboard decal

katlynn125@gmail.com (Katherine) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:40:00 +0000

Aaack, sorry it's been a week since I posted!

I haven't had a headboard in several years; when I re-did my room at home (well over 10 years ago) I switched beds from my old painted wrought-iron one to one sans headboard and foot...board? The one I traded in didn't "suit" me, and its successor came with a brass headboard I smartly decided not to attach. Then I went away to college where I had a kick-ass extra-long twin and bunkbed setup. When I moved out of the dorms and into an apartment, we bought just a basic frame/boxspring/mattress combo and I had no desire to get a headboard, for simplicity's sake, so here I am 4 years later, headboardless, but with a greater sense of style and a fierce desire to be Martha Stewart.

I'd love to make my own and cover it with some kind of fabric - nothing frilly of course, just something simple but with commanding presence. In the meantime, between me moving to a new place and buying/making a headboard, I might go for one of these bad boys. I'm slightly obsessed with the whole "vinyl wall decal" concept, and this is pretty much adorable and non-committal for just $40. From this point of view it's almost got a little trompe-l'œil thing going on there. Elephannie has some super-cute stuff....check out her shop!

Vintage spoof coasters

katlynn125@gmail.com (Katherine) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:37:00 +0000

You know when you were little at Christmas, and your parents told you that one day you'd have more fun giving gifts than getting them, and you're all "yeah right, that's crap,"? Well yeah, it's true. Over the past couple of years I've done my parents' stockings and have gotten so excited buying little things to put inside that I've gotten waaaay carried away and it wouldn't all fit.

This past year I got my parents each a funny coaster from Moxie. They're made of mouse pad material and feature a vintage-y photo and hilarious caption. Mom got the "grandma farts" one and dad's is the "how the hell was I supposed to know?" one.

Cocktail napkins

katlynn125@gmail.com (Katherine) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:24:00 +0000

It's no secret that I want to be Martha Stewart. Well, I take that back. I want to be Amy Sedaris...check out her book I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence to know what I mean. My point is, I want to be a domestic goddess who isn't stuffy and who has a sense of humor and wacky style about things.

I have a ginormous Rubbermaid tub full of party supplies, including paper goods like awesome plates and napkins I happen upon every now and then. I don't necessarily have to have an event in mind when I buy something (which can be somewhat problematic).

I picked up these napkins somewhere because they were just RANDOM. I would love to be able to entertain on a whim, and I can't wait for the day when I've got my own home (and my own driveway - y'all know what I'm talking about) to have people over all the time.

I bought these at Moxie in December when buying things for my parents' stockings (see next post) and can't wait to use them, though I'm not sure I'll be able to part with them! Oh, and PS - Moxie was totally charming...I bought a few things and they gave me a gift and included a handwritten thank-you note for doing business with them! I'll definitely buy something from them again, and I'm sad I haven't yet.

To thine own self be true

katlynn125@gmail.com (Katherine) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:12:00 +0000

I'm not exactly religious, but it would be nice to have some kind of object of affirmation to myself. I love this necklace featuring a quote from Shakespeare's Hamlet. I might totally buy one for myself once I have a steady source of income again. Click on the image to see a few other kick-ass inspirational pendants from charmingwords.com.

Apologies!

katlynn125@gmail.com (Katherine) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:02:00 +0000

To all of those who read (hopefully I'll get that number to increase soon), I'm sorry for going MIA lately. I've just finished my thesis and will be submitting it TOMORROW MORNING!!!! I can have my life back! Only, for the next two weeks my life will consist of nothing but packing...at least I can do it without worrying about what I *should* be doing instead.

I've been reading so many great blogs lately and have gotten really inspired to be creative and do my own thing. I've got some plans in the works for my life over the next month or so (until I find a big-girl job), so hopefully I'll be developing those soon.

Anyway, I'm going to start posting here like a madwoman to try to hone my blogging skills....so be prepared.

Love,
Kat =)

Strawberry Bars

katlynn125@gmail.com (Katherine) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 01:48:00 +0000

I'm trying to lose weight (duh) and am looking for anything I can to help me out. One of the things that has gotten me to the weight I'm at now is giving into cravings in a big way. If I wanted cake or ice cream, I'd totally just go to the store and buy it and eat it all. I have the biggest (fattest) sweet tooth in the entire world, and it seems like I always need something sweet to follow up anything I eat.

I'd eat sugar free popsicles, but biting into them is like fingernails scraping across a chalkboard...just thinking about it makes my teeth and ears hurt all the way down to my throat. I bought these hoping that they'd be of a softer consistency than mere popsicles, and THEY TOTALLY ARE. They even have bits of strawberry in them. Anywho, they're doing the trick lately...let's hope I'll keep it up.

Oh, and PS, the consistency of the Jell-O sugar-free fat-free rice pudding reminded me of cold vomit, as does cottage cheese. So yeah, that stuff doesn't help.

Aminals

katlynn125@gmail.com (Katherine) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:28:00 +0000

I'm sitting here sobbing at this amazing video...I hope it's as true as it looks!

Get ready to have your heartstrings pulled HARD.

Blog Feeds

katlynn125@gmail.com (Katherine) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:03:00 +0000

I've been following a few blogs for awhile, but when I'm at work and refresh my Google reader, I actually want something new to pop up. So starting with a Martha Stewart page listing a lot of blogs she deems "good things," I checked out a bunch and added them to my feeder thingy...whatever it's called.

Now I'm subscribed to a whole bunch of designing, domesticities, and wedding/event planning blogs!!! And I really really want this book when it comes out; the cover makes me squeal.

Izze

katlynn125@gmail.com (Katherine) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:59:00 +0000

Last week I was buying stuff in Target to get ready for....well...I just buy stuff at Target. That's a hobby of mine. Especially the end-of-the-aisle clearance stuff; I can rationalize ANY purchase made from Target. So they had 4-packs of Izze in a can, 2 for 3 bucks and I got them with the express intent of adding vodka. Because that's what I do - I look at new beverages and think, "hmm, now what liquor is this a good vehicle for?"

I had people over on Saturday but we just stuck to beer and lemonade, so come Monday morning I take one to work, and it's hella good! It made me feel pretty (which I attribute to the packaging, but who cares?) and it wasn't too sweet. I've still got to try my Izze cocktail though, that's the true test...