thoughts of the day...

- i'm just really ready to be tan.. i need to be out in the sun like, right meow.

- nothing is worse than a weak three hole puncher! i hate a hole punch!

- steeldrivers >

- how old does one have to be to be able to say, "back in my day, we didn't have bobby pins!" ??

- why is cold coke in a can exponentially better than any other coke?

that's all. :)

vanity overhaul...

Alright, so I've had several different "makeup vanity" set ups.. from sitting on the floor in front of a full length mirror, to countless plastic Sterilite five and six drawer carts, to finally, some variation of my current setup.  Over the past few years I've used a few different cheap writing desks, first from WalMart, then graduating to my current desk from Target.  Eventually, I tossed the plastic drawer carts for a black "wood" (cheap as crap MDF) 5 drawer cart.  While I was able to store more, it's still just not enough.. that's probably a very bad thing!!  So anyway, I thought I'd document and share my vanity transformation, my current situation, plans for the new setup and the fun bits in between! :) 

This post will be all about my current makeup vanity setup.  So this is what we've got goin' on.  Let's note that I didn't clean everything all up, this is just the way things are on a daily basis! ha! --

Okay, so you see I've got a basic writing desk, a few lamps, a two sided/lighted/magnified mirror, the 5 drawer cart, bench seat, and of course the "big" main mirror.  Here are some of the links --

Avington Desk from Target

Halifax 5-Drawer from WalMart 

Conair Round Mirror

Cortesi Kayla "X" Bench

I've had these two lamps for ages, I'm pretty sure their either from Target or Walmart.  On to some smaller details and my hangups --

Okay, here we have the jumble of hair products, perfumes, lotions and some jewelry on one side; and my janky solution for my curling wand "storage" on the other (which consists of a command hook and a knot in the curling wand cord.. I'm not proud of it.)  The cords over here really annoy me, it's all an eyesore and I'm not crazy about my trash can being there for all to see.  I don't really mind having the hair products, perfumes, jewelry and all that out on display, because it's easy to get to that way, but I do want a little more space to have things more spread out so it's not so cluttered.

As for the display trays, etc., I don't have any links to offer =/  I know I got the 3 tiered jewelry stand from UrbanOutfitters.com, but it's no longer available.  I'm thinking I ordered the perfume tray from amazon or Urban Outfitters as well.  The tin bucket and wrought iron stand are random finds from who knows where!

So this is my biggest gripe, and it's totally my fault.. The terrible eyesore in the middle of my desk where I spilled damn near a whole bottle of nail polish remover!  I did this literally like a week after I got the desk.. yeah, I was pissed.  So it's sat there annoying me day in and day out; yes, I could sand/paint the desktop or come up with some clever way to cover it all, but I have other ideas :)  Just a few details - a small square glass "vase" I got from dollar tree filled with q-tips and the old WalMart desk lamp.  For brushes I've got two glass (used to be) candles from Target that I've burned down and cleaned out, so they're basically small glass cups.  I also have one little brush holder that I use for eye-shadow brushes.

 Here I've got a random metal basket filled with eye-shadow palettes (due to lack of drawer storage).  I've also got a little clear acrylic set of 3 drawers with randoms and samples inside.  On top, I have two 3-wick candle glasses from Bath & Body Works that I've burned all the way down and cleaned out ...stocked full of lip products, again, due to lack of storage. Bleh..

Clear Acrylic Drawer Set

Lastly, here's a peek into my hot mess drawers.. I could SO do better to organize these things, I just gave up when more and more things started piling in with no room.  This is only three of my five drawers in my cart, and the top drawer of my desk.  Basically, I want to double my drawer space so I can spread out some of this junk and separate things a little better ( foundation/concealer drawer, blush/bronzer drawer, eye liner/brows/mascara drawer, etc. etc.)

Whew!  All in all, I want more makeup storage space, and a little nicer/classier set up ;)  Next post, I'll try to go into more detail of my plans for the new vanity, but my basic image is white and rose gold.  So I've got some Ikea hell to go through, some DIY projects and a few swap outs in the lamp/mirror department!  I'll get into all that next, thanks for reading! :D

Christmas Wishlist 2013!

"it's the most wonderful time of the year!" yay!! to me, it really is the best time of year! cold weather, cardigans and scarves, family time, food time and poker on new year's eve time! :) Christmas is just over a month away and that means it's time for a Christmas wishlist!!

1. "Few of My Favorite Things" palette by Too Faced
this palette is a Sephora exclusive for $56! omg! it comes with lots of shadows, two blushes, two bronzers, a mini mascara AND one of the lip injection color bomb sticks! (which i've been wanting to try!) i've done my research and heard lots of great things about all of the products, and i believe it even comes with a cute pink and gold chevron patterned make up bag!

2. Buxom Shimmer & Shake Show Stopping Gloss Collection
this set of 15 lip polishes and lip creams from Buxom is $59 at Sephora! i die! the set includes several lip glosses i've wanted to purchase, including the "Katie" gloss! which, obviously, is a must have for me! :) i love the scent and feel of these glosses, minty and plumping! you'll never run out of choices, and with 15 of these babies, you'll never run out of product either! ha!

3. Monogram Keychain from Swoozies
yeah.. this is just precious, and my key chain is missing it, so i pretty much need it! ;) of course, i'd have to get the "hot pink" color option!

4. Acrylic State Pendant Necklace
okay, i can't even!! bauble bar has me pretty much obsessed with any and everything on their website! at this point, it's basically a necessity that i show some love to my home state while living in tennessee! while i do love living in chattanooga, i also love being a georgia girl, and i love letting everyone know it, too! ha! :) i think i'd have to go with the rose gold chain on this necklace, and the "frost" color for the little state of georgia!

5. Michael Kors Runway Logo Rose Gold Watch
omg! this thing is perfection! i've wanted an MK watch for years now, and it just so happens that my current rose gold oversized watch is changing color and looking more and more like stainless steel =/ ha! i'm pretty much obsessed with the big "MK" in the middle of all those sparkles!! i've found the best prices for this rose gold watch are all on eBay! ugh, i'm so in love with it!!

so there you have it! my typical wishlist of makeup and accessories! :) i've also come to the conclusion that i'm just going to need a Sephora gift card, too! i just have way too many little things in my online shopping cart in there! they kill me! lol.. sephora x polishes, clinique bottom lash mascara, urban decay lipsticks, plus lots more! :)

maybe you got some ideas for YOUR Christmas wishlist from me :) of course i don't expect everyone to run out looking to buy these items for me, but i do enjoy making these types of blogs, just to share things that i've been lusting over for quite some time! :) hope everyone has a fabulous thanksgiving and Christmas this year!! :)

puppy love :)

a basket of peaches?

okay, i haven't blogged in an insanely extended amount of time.. but i want to say something. it may be short, it may get wordy, we'll see how things go..

i just want to say that life my not be a basket of peaches, and it's not even a box of chocolates (sometimes you do know what you're gonna get, and it's that one filled with coconut!) ..anyway, life can be difficult, miserable, frustrating, heartbreaking, etc etc. but like someone said, those famous words (which i won't bother to google from whom they came right meow), "it goes on." it does go on, and sometimes that in itself is what makes life suck. and there are days, maybe a lot of days in a row, where you can't see any light, you don't feel any hope and you think you're stuck in the black hole forever ..that's simply not true. having a single good day out of 100 rotten days proves that untrue. having said that, i know, without a doubt, that telling yourself things 'will get better' when they're awful can, sometimes, literally do absolutely nothing to ease your pain. those are your damn near impossible days. but your run of the mill "bad" day will come along, and maybe you'll see a tiny speck of light, maybe you'll smile once that day and it'll feel comforting and familiar, let yourself embrace it, and know that one day there will be more. there will be more smiles and laughter, and more comfort and solace, and maybe just a bit of happiness...

this probably sounds like a jumble, and i should go back and find better ways of explaining those things, but that's what came out, so there you have it. have hope. take heart. even when you can't even begin to tell yourself those things, do it anyway. when thinking about better days doesn't make you feel any less hurt or miserable, just know that they'll be there. press forward through the impossible, because, whether you believe it or not, impossible is not as resilient, not as strong as you are. impossible can't last forever. it'll give up and shrivel away and bite the dust, leaving you far ahead.

"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. in this world you will have trouble. but take heart! I have overcome the world."
-john 16:33

happy 2012!

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the people."
Psalm 105:1

i've been thinking of what kind of post i wanted to start this year off with.. and i thought about complaining/ranting about what you're supposed to do when you just can't seem to please someone, i thought about posting a Christmas haul with all of my wonderful presents, and then of course, i thought about posting some of my new year's resolutions... maybe i'll get to those, but lately i've been feeling pretty thankful, so i figured i'd jot it down somewhere to share and remember for myself :)

firstly, i'm definitely thankful for this past holiday season, my awesome Christmas gifts, and the time i got to spend with my family :) ..thanksgiving was great, as always! good food and good family! dad and connie were able to visit and spend that friday with us! we went to "ruby tuesday's", which was the first time i had been to a sit down restaurant in almost a whole year! i was pretty excited about that, and then we even got dad and connie to play a few rounds of "just dance 3"! that's always a good time!! ha! Christmas was more than i could have wished for! i got everything i wanted and more! anthony was able to spend the weekend with us and play santa with brandi for chasity.. i think that was the best part of Christmas for me. seeing chasity so happy to have her daddy here, and so happy to get all kinds of gifts she had on her wishlist!

writing this out, i think of all of the little things i'm SO thankful for that kind of interlace like silent side notes to those words... i was thankful to be able to spend many hours on thanksgiving day with my family at my aunt's house. thankful to be able to go to a sit down restaurant with dad, connie, brandi and chas. thankful to be able to go to chasity's Christmas play at her school with jake. i was thankful to spend Christmas weekend seeing chasity so happy with anthony and brandi. i was thankful to be able to spend a little bit of new year's eve with lots of friends and family at the poker party, and then watch the ball drop with bailey jane :) haha..

all of these things i was able to accomplish with no severe anxiety or panic attacks.. i thank God everyday for that blessing. for a full day with no disaster. i spend so much time worrying about these elaborate irrational fears and tragedies, and then it's kind of crazy to me when things just go off without a hitch.. it's nice to make it through a day when nothing bad takes anything good away from me. and i've had a lot of those good days :) trust me, i don't take them for granted..

so essentially, i'm thankful for making it through 2011. it was a rough year for me. it started off pretty bad, got better, and got worse, but now it's over.. i'm thankful for the new year, and i'm thankful that it started off perfectly fine :) i'm thankful for my good health and that of my family. and super thankful for many many blessings that it might take me forever to write. mostly, i'm thankful for all of my answered prayers. it's truly amazing to see God blessing me, my family and my friends every day...

how i made my t-shirt fringe scarf! :)

i saw this tutorial on youtube and figured it was easy enough to try! super cute and only about 4$! i bought the same t-shirt she used, a fruit of the loom shirt with no side seams from wal-mart!

*she doesn't say to do so in the video, but i cut under the arms AND just above the seam at the bottom of the shirt!

hope you enjoyed! :)

Christmas wishlist!!

well, it's officially DECEMBER! this year seemed to go by slow, but now that it's december, i feel like it's flown by! i can remember each and every moment from this time last year and it feels like only days ago! anyway, december means Christmas! and that means a wishlist items post from me! :D

eeee!! i was so excited saving the pictures and links/websites for the following Christmas list! i adore each one of these items, and i know some of them are far fetched, but i just had to list them here to show some of the amazing products i'm in love with! :) so, without further adieu, my Christmas wishlist for 2011! yay!

also, i'm going to try my best to put these in "most wanted" order, obviously they're all most wanted, but i mean.. i know i can't get everything :) haha..


1. michael kors pave disc necklace in rose gold
..let me just breathe for a minute after looking at this breathtaking piece! GORGE! look how pretty!! i don't own any rose gold jewelry, and this is just a no brainer must have! :) especially for this price! let me tell you this is an EXACT dupe for the sydney evan pave disc necklace which retails at $3,015 ..okay, you pretty much HAVE to get the MK dupe for this at $55, right?! :)
- this beauty can be found here -


2. too faced matte eyeshadow collection
okay, i know, why do i need more makeup!? well.. i only have one "high end" palette of shadows, and they are all shimmer shadows, so i need some matte ones! i've heard many good things about too faced cosmetics, let alone this particular palette! i'm a neutral eye kinda girl, so this is perfect for my everyday looks! :) AND it's a $76 value for $36!
- available at sephora -


3. cortex 4-in-1 cermaic clipless curling iron
whew lawd has my curling iron had it! i use it daily and it's about 75 years old! haha! these 'clipless' curling irons, or "curling wands", are all the rage lately! basically, i just like the look they create more than the old fashioned curling irons.. this one comes with four different sized barrels for different sized curls and looks! which is awesome! this is a must have for me! :) hehe!
- online at beautychoice -


4. "designer de better" from the new OPI Muppets Collection: Holiday 2011
this is just a gorgeous color! i've seen it raved about all over the beauty blog/youtube community! it's just an original, i don't have anything like it and love the classic color! :)
- available at ulta -


5. a game of thrones 4-book boxed set (a song of fire and ice series)
really?! i'm embarrassed i don't already have this! as much as i love reading big books and as much as i LOVE the HBO show, it's a wonder i don't own it already! apparently, the boxed set is ridiculously cheap at barnes & noble around $20! enough said :D
- here at barnes & noble -


6. dolce and gabbana's 'light blue'
yum! i'm a perfume junkie, though i only have 2 bottles of fancy perfume! ha! i've never owned this one, but obviously i'd love to! mixing scents and smelling good is an every day thing for me, i think this one is perfect for my little collection! :)
- available at ulta and department stores -


7. laura mercier rose rendezvous face illumiator
this is probably one of the most beautiful pieces of makeup that exists.. it's stunning! great brand, great payoff, wears amazingly.. must own for any guru! in case you're not sure what a "face illuminator" is, it's basically a highlight.. you apply the shade with a brush on areas of your face you'd want highlighted, like the top of your cheekbones, right under your eyebrows, inner corner of your eye, down the nose and cupid's bow of your top lip.. highlighting gives your face a natural "glowy" or "dewy" look :) this is a splurge item for me at $42 bucks!
- here at sephora -


8. lancome beauty sensation beauty box in 'beautiful bronzes'
okay, this is just insane.. lancome = high end, department store makeup brand = expensive! this set is worth over $300 but is being sold with any lancome purchase for $57.50! usually gift sets come with little travel size products or samples, but these are all full sized items! 2 lip glosses, 2 lipsticks, kohl eyeliner, limited edition 2 brush set, mascara (which is a top rated mascara), 3 eye shadows and a full size makeup remover (which also happens to be a top rated product!).. if you know any makeup lovers, this is pretty much the perfect gift set for them, hands down! :D
- at macy's and other department stores -



okay.. too much? :) as you can tell, i'm a makeup junkie! i think i ask for these things as gifts because i have a hard time buying makeup myself.. i don't know why, it's just always clothes over makeup, i guess! :D i hope you enjoyed seeing/reading and i hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas full of items from their own wishlists!

little tidbits.. :)

i just found bailey jane's little pink sweater and put it on her to keep hers warm :) i forgot how precious she looks in it!!

i'm in serious need of a new storage set up for my makeup/beauty products, i'm collecting way too much makeup!

i don't get these commercials marketing tampons that look inconspicuous because apparently it's embarrassing to take a tampon to the bathroom... uh? it's not that big of a problem? i don't need to pay more to have my tampon in a pink WRAPPER...

i'm having the hardest time finding the new revlon lip butter displays! ugh!

i have to wait until february for 'the walking dead' to come back, and APRIL for 'game of thrones'... why can't reeeeeally good shows play year 'round? ..three times a week? surely that's not too much to ask! :)

JIF "natural" peanut butter is dericious!! and better for you! :D

i'll be back soon with a Christmas wishlist! :)

untitled...

i haven't done a post this month, and i'm not quite sure what to say, so i'll just share a picture of the prettiest orchid ever and a few songs on my "chill" playlist :)


'vienna' by billy joel - a good friend recommended this song to me and i immediately knew why :) it's just for me! i adore billy joel, and love love the lyrics of this song! "...vienna waits for you." would be a good tattoo ;)


'roslyn' by bon iver & st. vincent - i first heard this on one of the twilight movies, "new moon" i think.. i don't know why i like it, it's kind of odd, like the rest of the songs on that soundtrack, but i love it :)


'somewhere over the rainbow' by israel kamakawio'ole - ughhh, such a good version of this song! so happy and warm feeling!


'long way home' by mofro - first heard this at the end of an episode of "deadliest catch", which is a fabulous show! always has good music! there wasn't a video for this song on youtube so i just made one myself :) love this band, love this kind of music, it's just nice!


'no one's gonna love you' by band of horses - i really like the musicality of this song! it's a bit awkward but it works, love it!


'if i could' by jack johnson - is there anything bad to say about jack johnson!? everything he writes, sings and performs is perfection! this song is so sweet and sad at the same time..


'holdin' on' by citizen cope - seriously!? one of my favorite songs by c.cope, without a doubt! this song is insane to me.. i love the slow sensuality of it! it's perfect :)



thanks for reading/listening :)

let me tell you something...

basically, august was a huge "transition month" for me.. i packed up and moved up here to tennessee at the beginning of the month and have pretty much been "settling in" since then! lol.. some things have been difficult, but overall, i consider this a much needed, positive change for the better :) it's nice being close to my three favorite "two and a half women" (ahhh, clever! :D), mama, brandi and chasity.. and the area i live in is just much much more refreshing than macon, georgia!

the past few weeks have been a little rough, but i'm finally feeling like things are coming together, and i'm looking forward to being okay again :) after running out of my SSRI and thinking i could tough it out until the next refill ended in a complete meltdown, i found a great general practitioner (which i haven't had since age 8), who "re-upped" my prescription for me and also recommended me to a therapist he seems to think pretty highly of, so that's exciting! it'll be nice to have a therapist again. whether you have mental health issues or not, i think having someone on the "outside" to talk to, someone in your life with a professional opinion, clear mind, solid experience with all types of people and complete lack of judgement is beneficial to anyone! it's refreshing to have that time every day/week/month where you can exhale and clear things up, get things out, and solve some problems. needless to say, i'm looking forward to some one on one therapy! lol :)

earlier in august, brandi and i started our little apartment overhaul! we're planning on painting all walls, doors and trim, and i think we made pretty good progress in a small amount of time! so far, the living room, hallway, "office", and my room all have fresh coats of paint on the walls, trim and baseboards. neutral is the way to go, and covering creamy beige trim with fresh stark white makes such a difference! pretty soon, we'll get back to work and start on brandi's room and chasity's room and then the kitchen! we'll be getting fancy "vintage white" cabinets and granite counter tops in the kitchen so i'm super excited about that! (quick side note: i just now realized i still had the tag left on my panties after i've been wearing them all day! wow, katie... also- that 5 for 25$ deal at victoria's secret is too legit; i just realized these were regularly $9.50! what the heck?!) OKAY! back on track... for my room, i went with my ideas from the previous post. i chose "hope chest" for my wall paint color, a dark grayish-brownish-taupe.. although i love the color, it wasn't what i thought it would be once my walls were covered in it! lol.. it's a bit of a "chameleo-color", sometimes it looks brownish gray, but most times it's kind of a seductive deep brownish purple color.. which i also like! it compliments my deep wood furniture and black and white accessories pretty well, if i do say so myself! :D

we're all pretty excited to get the entire apartment done, and i'm excited for brandi and chasity to have their rooms finished and feel as comfortable in them as i do in mine! :) i'll leave you with some pictures of our progress and a few from the experience in chattanooga so far!

the living room--
super cozy and comfy! makes for good tv/movie nights with brandi and chas! :) the color is totally washed out in the first photo because of the window, but you get the point.. neutral tan! lol



a few from my room--
finishing touches are done with the wall hangings and decor, although i didn't take the time to dress my "bed" up with the fancy coordinating comforter for this photo, lol.. and bailey is looking at me saying, "why are you doing this??" :)


nail painting station! woohoo! i still need to get a matching chair, i'm borrowing this one from the office. also, you can see bailey jane's crate/eating area aaand my new pink tennis shoes!! :D


no room of mine would ever ..ever be complete without a full length mirror and hair/makeup station! (and you notice i have yet to paint the doors in my room! ha!) there's a bailey jane in this picture, too!


miss jane got her first haircut at the new groomer! they did SUCH a good job, i really love that place and i think she does, too! despite the look she's giving me in this picture! haha!


i curled chasity's hair before school this morning.. she loves being a diva! ;) and also likes how much bailey sneezes after i spray her hair down with hairspray! ha!


brandi calls this the "cereal/snack management system", lmao! i was pretty excited, i've always wanted the plastic things to put my cereal in! haha!


the mail lady has been unaware of which apartment to deliver my packages to on account of no clear markings on our door, lol.. she is now well informed :) haha!!


all done!! if you're still here, thanks for reading this super long post! i like the picture updates! maybe i'll start doing that more often? byeeee! :D

movin' on up...

well... it's finally time for some good news! :) my sister and i got approved for an apartment in chatt town! it's actually a cozy little old house split into sectioned apartments... moving day is THIS saturday so i've got lots of packing and planning to finish up this week!! i'm super excited! planning new things for new spaces is enough to fill all of my shower thinking time and pillow talk time! haha! :) along with the packing, i've applied and been approved for financial aid, and have applied and been accepted to chatt state! so, if i can get transcripts/immunization records sent fast enough, i may be able to start fall semester at the end of the month! i'm thinking i may go towards a business degree and own my own business ..can't say i've ever been much for working for anyone else.. heh ;)

anyway! i've filled so much of my head with ideas for the new apartment, so i figure i'll share here to get it all out somewhere! your welcome! haha! :D

first! paint color! we're allowed to paint as long as we don't go crazy, so i'm definitely taking the opportunity to find my perfect color! i'm thinking a brownish-grayish-taupe... like this--


and for bedding, i'll have a "full" size futon for my room, so i think i'll just put a comforter over that and toss tons of pillows on it and call it a bed :) i think this aqua-teal color will be gorgeous with the wall color! i have two big black and white zebra throw pillows, a few black throw pillows and some other neutral ones i think will be adorable! this comforter set has already been ordered from target, so hopefully it'll be shipped up to tennessee before i arrive!


desk area.. if you know me, you know my obsession with all things nail polish! i paint my nails once or twice a week, and having a clean area with a bright lamp is a must for me! :) jake and i went to walmart and picked up this simple little "writing table" for under 40 bucks! i'm excited to stack a few books, add a lamp and cute picture frame and set this baby right in front of the double window in my new room!


and of course i couldn't leave out my sweet bailey jane :) she got some new doggie food bowls and a place mat from walmart to match our new style!! i'm also on the hunt for a purple collar and leash for her, but haven't found one i love enough yet, ha... anyway, i thought these bowls were almost as precious as she is!! :) and no, cute yorkie baby does not come with! lol


lastly, i finally ordered a jewelry box from amazon with the last of my birthday gift card from my sister! since i'll be mixing wood furniture with black accents in my room, i figured i might as well go all out eclectic and mix with black and white accents so it'll look purposely done instead of unfortunately mismatched, ha :) for under $20, i'm guessing this is a little on the smaller side, but i've been looking for a white jewelry box all over, and this is the best you can get unless you want to spend $200 on a jewelry armoire ..which isn't quite necessary for me yet! lol


so that's what's been going on so far... hopefully i'll be able to get the painting and setup done pretty quickly so i can post pictures or something! ...on that note, i guess i'll share another idea of mine... again if you know me, you know i'm pretty obsessed with the youtube "beauty community", if you don't know what that is, it's just a bunch of random girls all over the world who film all kinds of videos, tutorials, tips and tricks relating to beauty, hair, makeup and fashion.. a bunch of the girls film "vlog" videos for a second channel and include day to day activities that may be interesting, shopping trips, home projects, etc etc... since i'll be moving away from my boyfriend and very best friends, i thought maybe it would be fun to try to film day to day videos of what's going on in volunteer country! mainly so jake can watch and be updated and see my purty face every day :) haha!! ...but seriously... lol, anyway, if i ever do get that up and rolling, i'll share links on my blog, for sure! let me know if you'd be interested or have any other ideas of how to keep in touch..??

whew! that was a lot... thank youins for reading! ...gotta get that lingo down ;) hehe!!

counting my blessings :)

i've been inspired by another blogger to share a bit of my faith... so if you're not interested, go ahead and move along :)

sometimes i feel like breaking down, i kind of let myself crumble, as if to my knees, and cry tears of gratitude, of joy and thanks. even though i often feel the cards i've been dealt aren't exactly spades and aces, i have to set myself back and remind myself that there is no 'easy hand'. these are the times when i can most clearly see my many blessings. whether the blessings be greater than my struggles or not, they're still mine. i still have them, deserving or not. i'm not really a fan of the whole "it could always be worse" thing.. because maybe it could be worse, but it can always be better, and you're blessed to have control of one of those paths. i guess i'm just saying it's not always a bad thing to feel some weight on your shoulders, it's okay to struggle, just take the time to slow down and "count your blessings" ..maybe it's not a winning lottery ticket or an answered prayer, maybe it's the simplest of blessings- either way, it's yours, and you haven't been forgotten.


"blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."
james 1:12

happy anniversary, blogger!

well it's been exactly one year since i started this blog adventure :) and i guess it'd be pretty cliche and expected to say "and boy, has this been a year of change!" ...in some ways things have changed since june of 2010, some for the better, a lot for the worst. but compared to the changes i'm about to face, this past year has been a dud. i have to say 2011 hasn't treated me very well, but i'm hoping that will soon 'change' (word of the post?) as well..

so far 2011 has been a huge roller coaster of emotions, actions, feelings, everything... just a complete uphill, mostly downhill ride of life. i can't decide if things are looking up, and i want to say they certainly are, but i guess the pessimist in me wants to set my expectations low ..boo, katie! lol

in recent (happy) news.. my dad finally proposed and married miss connie greene! they've been together for a long while, and have really been through a lot, so it's been really nice to see them so happy.. daddy proposed in february and they planned a trip for the beginning of june to palm island in the grenadines. they planned to have a simple wedding on the beautiful beach with just the two of them :) little did we all know, they were planning much more than that! they were set to leave on june fourth, so on friday, june third, family and friends of dad and connie got together at my aunt and uncle's house for a nice poolside engagement party. brandi and chasity came down from tennessee to go to the party with me, and as usual we arrived just shy of too late ;) we mingled for a while, (wondering where connie was, might i add!) before dad stood up to give his little speech.. he stood at the high point of the pool, above the rock waterfall on a little stage of sorts with a microphone and read a letter him and connie had written for the event. he spoke about their relationship, ups and downs, and their journey together with Christ through it all. ending his speech, he thanked us all for being there for them and shared that they had more plans for the evening ..they wanted to share their vows and the experience with all of us! :) i immediately burst into happy tears like a baby. it was one of those times where i just cried, without even knowing why, lol.. i was happy, of course, but i think i was mostly surprised and happily shocked. none of us expected to be a part of their wedding, and it was really special that they decided to let us all in on such an awaited event for them :) ...anyway, "God blessed the broken road" came over the speakers, and connie, following her daughter megan, with her son brandon at her side, began walking down the stairs of the balcony to meet my dad above the rock waterfall in her gorgeous gown! she was a beautiful bride, and i was truly amazed at what i was witnessing! haha! chris minton, a longtime friend of daddy's, married the two and then came the "congratulations" and "oh my God!'s"! you have no idea how unexpected this was for our entire family. not a soul knew their plan other than mr. chris, connie's good friend who planned the party, and brandon and megan. not even prim and michele knew, and we were at their house! lol... their wedding was just as beautiful as it would have been on a caribbean island, and i can't explain how nice it was to see it all happen :)

SO! after arriving back from their honeymoon in paradise, dad moved in with connie and has been working on fixing our house up to be put on the market. so i guess this is time to announce MY upcoming changes.. lol

i decided, after a ton of thinking, stressing, crying, and anxiety, to move myself and bailey jane up to tennessee to be with my sister, niece, mom and her side of the family. while i'm extremely excited to get the hell out of macon, i'm also feeling weird about leaving. this city is all i have ever known. i was born and raised here and know every road, highway, interstate and alleyway like the back of my hand.. i look forward to being with great family, enjoying fresh (much less humid) air, and hanging by the pool with chasity and brandi ..but you bet i'm still somewhat afraid. i feel like i'm not sure what to expect, and i guess i'm apprehensive because i have never ..ever put myself in such a position as this. i've always avoided change as much as possible, and crumbled when i've been forced to face it.. but i've always come out of it okay, so i'm just going to have to have a little faith :) of course, i'm not at all excited about leaving jake, my friends and family behind.. but i truly believe i'll be able to be happy in tennesse, albeit missing them like crazy! i feel like i'm at a point where i need this. i need a happier environment, a less stressful environment, in order to pull myself out of my funk.. i'm hoping for a breath of fresh air, and finding a good place to settle myself down before having a family of my own to raise :)

anyway.. i'll keep you posted on the move, just wish me luck! :)

..birthday wish list! :)

so i've been horribly depressed, stressed and anxious lately =/ but! my birthday is coming up next month, and i figured it would be more fun to post a wish list than to whine about everything, lol.. even when i don't have money (which is usually the norm), i still like to check tons of clothing stores and different websites online just to see "what's new" ..i guess that just makes fashion a passion of mine :) ha! mind you, this is in no way a list of things i want people to get for me at all, i don't expect that, i just like to share things i'm loving.. so here goes! :)

1. ADORE this bedding set from target! and i've been in pretty dire need of a new one for a while now! lol.. i have some black and white zebra pillows that have been sitting in my closet for forever.. i think they'd be cute with this set and some black satin sheets :) ...i'm also thinking about making the switch to satin sheets/pillow cases, ha! much better for your hair and skin! lol anyway, i love the pleating detail and little buttons! the dusty violet color is cute, too!
violet comforter set from target


2. omg!! this has to be THE cutest dress i've seen in a while!! ahhh!! if you know me, you know dresses are just about all i wear in warm weather.. and warm weather it is! this would be so cute with a pale yellow cropped cardigan or something :)
floral dress from windsor


3. it's been said that every girl needs a pair of nude pumps, and i couldn't agree more! preferably nude hidden platform stiletto pumps ;) hahaa! i love these to death! they go with just about anything and make every one's legs look long and sleek!
nude pumps from urbanog


4. i'm pretty much OBSESSED with this blue/lilac color! it's so flattering and spring/summer appropriate! i also really like the off-the-shoulder style shirts! they're my favorite comfy shirts that can also be dressed up easily!
tunic from victoria's secret


5. i know it's summer, but i think light weight cardigans are essential year-round! i love the length of this one! it'd be cute over a patterned dress or skirt on a windy day or cool night, aww :) and i really like 'oatmeal' colored anything! i guess i'm a neutral kind of person, my favorite wardrobe colors are all boring colors like taupe, gray and cream! lol
cardigan from aerie


6. ..pretty sure i NEED these tan ruffly flats! perfect with the above mentioned sweater/dress combo! :) they are simply adorable, 'nuff said!
flats from charlotte russe


7. could i possibly have a wish list without nail polish?? i think not! recently, i've discovered a new love for pink polish.. however, i don't seem to be satisfied with any of my pink colors! boo! so i've done some research, and decided i'd pretty much love the following pink colors! and this pale blue is awesome! i have a 'tiffany blue' that i love so much, so i think this would be a hit, too! :) ha! from left- 'borrowed and blue', 'knockout pout', 'need a vacation', and 'haute as hello' all from essie!
essie polish from ulta


8. holy bananas! i have been DYING for this palette for over a year! this thing is impossible to get your hands on, and a must have for every beauty freak like myself! :) urban decay made a limited quantity to begin with when this 'naked' palette was released and the demand for it was so high, it was sold out in weeks! they've decided to make more and they're finally back in stores! eeee!!! these colors are perfect, every eye shadow color you need for every look! love them!
edit: i have the best boyfriend ever and this palette is finally mine!!! :D


9. an epilator.. yeah, i said it. you don't know what that is? i didn't either... it's this super scary looking 'shaving' device! seriously! it's got a ton of tiny tweezers that pluck the hair and apparently leave your legs smooth for pretty much forever... sound painful? yeah, doesn't bother me! lol.. anything to keep from shaving every day during the summer! ugh! i have no idea how it works, but i've read/watched reviews and it's all the rage! haha! :)
epilator from sally's


10. splurge- this BEAUTIFUL ring!! i'm in love with it!! 3.5 carat cushion cut green amethyst, with pink topaz and diamond accents set in white gold! gorgeous! :D i'm beyond excited that i actually AM getting this ring for my birthday from my sweet jake!! it'll be an early birthday present.. maybe i'll post pictures when i get it soon! yay! :)



that's it for now! ha :) thank you for reading!!

uncomplicated...

okay i "stumbled upon" this list, and it's really long, but hopefully it's worth it to you :) ..but before i get to that, you should know what 'stumble upon' is.. www.stumbleupon.com - you can pick interests (fashion, photography, humor, dogs, religion, food, health, ANYTHING) and hit this little "stumble" button at the top of your browser and it'll take you to random websites from alllll over the interwebs that have to do with your interests. you can either check out the websites, or hit "stumble" over and over like i do and sample them all :) it's awesome for when you're bored! good times!

right... so i love lists for some reason(??), some of my stumble upon interests are psychology, psychiatry, sociology, people, life, whatever i don't know! so i always get these lists and articles about life and living and being happy/successful/etc etc... this list is super long, but it's pretty worth it :) it's 100 little ways to "uncomplicate your life" ..no, it's not some checklist or race to complete all of them and be 100% the shizz at living life, but i found it interesting and refreshing, maybe you will, too :)

1. Don’t try to read other people’s minds
2. Get up 30 minutes earlier so that you don’t rush/get a ticket while driving too fast/have to explain why you’re late/get fired
3. Get 8 hours of sleep per night so that you think more clearly
4. Stick to your budget
5. Start saving and investing every week, no matter how little you can spare
6. Balance your checkbook
7. Don’t try to be friends with everyone. Cultivate closer relationships with fewer people.
8. Don’t try to do business with everyone. Identify your target client and take very good care of them.
9. Before getting angry, ask yourself if it will really matter in 20 years
10. Focus on being a good person, not on pleasing others
11. Stay home this Saturday, and finish off that nagging chore that you need to finish
12. Kiss and make up
13. Make a weekly menu, and shop for only those items at the market
14. Ask your grandparents the best way to uncomplicate life, and try it for a month
15. Fill up your gas tank when it’s half full
16. Don’t drink alcohol when you’re tired, sad or mad
17. Pay your bills on time
18. Get an annual physical examination
19. Say “I love you” to your significant other and to your children. Studies show that more marriages last, and fewer kids use drugs, when these words are spoken every day.
20. For just one day, imagine everyone’s intentions are good because most people’s are
21. Give away clothes that haven’t been worn in two years
22. Throw out clothes that are in disrepair, and can’t be mended
23. When you have a conflict with someone, talk it out. Don’t let it turn into more than it is.
24. Know what your priorities are in life, and act as if they are your priorities
25. Tell the truth
26. Don’t cheat
27. Don’t steal
28. If you’re holding on to a ridiculous grudge, let it go
29. Clean your house weekly, so that it doesn’t become too large a chore
30. Do your best at work, or at school
31. Don’t eat when you aren’t hungry
32. Eat when you are hungry
33. Be yourself
34. Say no unapologetically
35. Cook simple meals
36. Don’t try to keep up with the Joneses
37. Pay off your car before buying a new one
38. Organize your desk at the office
39. Change your smoke alarm batteries when the clocks spring forward, and again when it falls back
40. Organize your important paperwork
41. Take only half the clothes that you planned to take with you on holiday
42. Help your children with their homework every night, and have an open dialogue with their teachers
43. Have white sheets and white towels in children’s rooms/bathrooms, because they’re easily bleached
44. Spend your time with nice people
45. Avoid drama
46. Don’t text or talk on the phone while driving
47. Turn off the television/video games/computer; they’re time consumers
48. Don’t engage in office politics
49. Refuse to gossip, or talk behind other people’s backs
50. Do the dishes right after dinner
51. Never go to sleep angry
52. Ask nicely for what you need and want
53. Walk 10,000 steps per day to help your heart
54. Do 20 push-ups before speaking in anger
55. Leave work at work
56. Don’t befriend anyone that isn’t trustworthy
57. Don’t envy others
58. Have your oil changed
59. Take vitamin C BEFORE you catch a cold
60. Don’t work more than 8 hours per day
61. Weed your garden weekly
62. Wash your car weekly
63. Have a spring cleaning month every year, and do one room at a time
64. You don’t need to be best friends with work colleagues, but build respectful partnerships
65. Don’t drink and drive
66. Don’t look for reasons to be angry or sad, look for reasons to be happy. You’ll always be able to find plenty of each.
67. Be friendly with your neighbors
68. Return emails and phone messages promptly
69. Schedule in free time
70. Don’t procrastinate
71. Do what you say you’ll do, when you say you’ll do it
72. Be more flexible when you’re able to be
73. Forgive and forget. End of story.
74. Break the consumerism habit…put a three month moratorium in place on buying anything not deemed a necessity
75. Start your diet on September 1, rather than January 1, so that you won’t also have holiday pounds to lose
76. Take care of any health issues or concerns
77. Have your tires rotated
78. Have your brakes checked
79. Have your eyes checked
80. Don’t let your imagination run away with you
81. Let go of perfection in others
82. Let go of perfection in yourself
83. Don’t try to help those that refuse to help themselves
84. Find a way to reduce your commute to work
85. Have an allotted amount of worry time per day/week, that you strictly abide by
86. Drink more water
87. Eat more salmon
88. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill
89. Wear your hair in a classic, easy to care for style
90. Finish what you start
91. Wear classic clothes and shoes that never go out of style
92. Create a daily routine
93. Have a 1, 5, 10 and 20 year plan for your financial and life goals
94. Slow down
95. Eat out less often
96. When you ask your husband which outfit looks best, thank him for his answer and wear the one he liked rather than focusing on why he didn’t like the other one
97. Allow your children to grow up
98. Clean out your garage, and donate anything that hasn’t been used in the past year
99. Stretch every day
100. If a relationship is over, let it go

yeah, it's colorful, haha... i wanted to emphasize the green ones for myself :)
our lives can get extremely complicated, stressful, unhappy and even agonizing. i think it's important to keep at least some things in check, to keep some things simple and easy. most importantly, i think it's a must to have some kind of faith and some kind of trust that things are all happening to you and around you for a reason. don't try to nitpick everything, or find the 'reason' for everything, but instead see the good in what you can, and when you can't, just let go and have faith. here's a few i think i'd add to the list :) --

101. breathe.
102. spend time everyday dreaming about the future.
103. watch silly/stupid/funny movies.
104. soak up some sun.
105. pray. be thankful. ask for forgiveness.
106. tell someone a story.
107. wear a pair of cute heels, if you're a woman, of course ;)
108. read a good book.
109. take a nap.
110. set a few small goals for yourself every day, and pat yourself on the back when you accomplish them.