Inspiration

The Spring semester has sprung. This week, as I try to get back into 'school mode'

I decided to post a little fashion inspiration.

I love classic colors: black, white, gray, and blues. 

I like clothes to be simple yet intricate. 

It is all about the fabric choice and construction details.

Here are a few things I feel in love with that I found on the web...

love the simplicity of the dress and hair <3

love love love the pose and expression <3

LC picked an amazing dress. I love the deep V and its amazing with

white and silver <3

the wallpaper pretty wall paper + simple outfit + complex pose = love <3

simple black jumpsuit and bling ... classy and edgy <3

Love the lilac stain and silver combination.

not to mention the detail at the bottom and on the chest

can I have this dress please!! <3

Vera Wang. Gorgeous. Need I say more? <3

First of all, Heidi Klum is gorgeous no matter what she wears...

the shoes, the rings, the hair, the dress

love love love <3

Taylor has a really amazing way of wearing everything I love

Simple, yet complicated, elegant, classy, chic, and hot! <3

Besides the fact that I wish I could be Mary Kate and Ashley simultaneously,

this is my absolute favorite picture of them. I love the shape of the dresses.

The plainness of MK's contrasts really well with intricate details of Ashley's.

Plus the gorgeous wall they are leaning on and the one mirror.

How they are both looking away... I love seeing Ashley from the back

j'adore <3

I love the shiny material with the sparkly trim.

The detail on the lower back is amazing.

so flattering. <3

I love this dress and shoes and hair combo.

Its simple yet detailed and sparkly <3

In case you can't tell...

I love all of these people! They are gorgeous.

Sometimes their pose, face, and hair are just as beautiful as the clothes.

I especially love Mary-Kate and Ashley :)

They breath fashion. It is so effortless and I absolutely love their unique taste.

You can tell that they are passionate about clothes, too.

Kate <3

F.R.I.E.N.D.S.H.I.P.S. -- A Struggle

At my current point in time and in life I have very mixed feelings about my friendships. I have always surrounded myself with a lot of friends and made a point to plan things with them and keep in touch. Lately, more and more I am finding that I have fewer and fewer reasons to keep in touch with any of them. I am finding things about these people that add stress and complications to my life. Then, slowly, but surely I find myself no longer keeping in contact with those people. 

I made a decision to myself a while ago that if there was a person in my life that was adding more stress and trouble to my life than happiness and excitement that I shouldn't go out of my way for that person. I still strongly believe that to be true. I only want to surround myself with happy people whom I feel comfortable and confident with.

Some of my best friends and I have grown apart for different reasons.

Friend A and I took a big step forward in our friendship by moving to nearby areas. We ended up growing apart without any fault of either of us, but I felt abandoned by that person. I felt that if she did not want to hang out with me, that I wasn't going to go out of my way to hang out with her. I felt no effort on her part to continue the friendship. I was aware of events that I was not invited to and just felt down and forgotten with every passing day. With a few last efforts I tried to re-ignite the friendship, I realized I wanted no part in this relationship anymore. She ended up blaming me and arguing with me over a very minute detail. I was so upset that she would blame me and get so mad at me for such a small thing that I just knew she must no longer wanted anything to do with me. There is no point in me tying o hard to continue this friendship when this is what i get in return. So contact ceased for a good 2 years. Currently we have settled a few issues and are sociable and friendly, but by no means "friends." We both keep a respectable difference.

Friend B was there through most of my difficulties with friend A. I always thought I had a really great relationship with friend B. I thought we were best friends for all of those years and could tell each other everything, and I thought we did. Not too long ago I found out otherwise. It turned out that friend B did not trust me to tell me anything. I found out through a mutual friend several important aspects of Friend B's life that I had not known before. Things friends would tell other friends. It was like my friend was leading a double life and I just found out about the other life she was leading. Except most of her other friends knew about her double life. It was a wake up call for me. If anyone knew everything about me, it was her, and yet she didn't trust me to tell me about her life? I was really hurt by this news. When confronted with the story she blamed the mutual friend of ours for telling me saying "why would you tell her?" and refused to fill in the blanks for me. I attempted to give her a chance to trust me something, anything and to continue our friendship, but I kept finding other instances of secrecy and her distrust of me. I do not want a one sided friendship. I would worry and stress out over these secrets and always ask myself why wouldn't she tell me that, when we talk about everything? Eventually, we stopped talking. If I am not a person you can trust to tell you the simple things of your life, then why bother being friends? I felt as if she was just being friends with me to be nice and would rather lie to me than tell me she doesn't think of me as a good friend.

I now find myself without any really close relationships like I had before and I really miss the feeling of having those relationships. I don't miss my friends though, because I fell like they have changed and are no longer that person I was friends with. I think the next step for me is to find new friends and build new relationships but easier said than done. 

any feedback would be greatly appreciated :)

50 Questions all about me

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes. Mary KATE Olsen :) or so I have decided 

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? This week. sad episode of Tough Love when Angel tells her family she is a stripper... I always cry after a touching moment on television. 

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes. However, it depends on what pen I am using. It comes out perfect and effortlessly with this one pen I have... weird

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Turkey but it must have melted cheese 

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Nope. 

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I deff would! I am the perfect person to hang out with !!

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM? All of the time. 

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes and I plan on keeping it that way. I hate the idea of ever having surgery. 

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No..... not at the current time. 

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Raisin bran crunch....soo good!

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? I realized the other day that I haven't owned shoes with laces in 10 years. I'm a girl, its boots, flats, heels... even my sneakers are slip ons. 

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? OMG where do I start? In soft serve I love plain vanilla with an overload of rainbow sprinkles. In hard serve, I love mint chocolate chip, or a really good chocolate brownie chuck. 

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? The way they dress deff, and then their general outlook on life. 

15. RED OR PINK? Red. I know I'm a girl, but I just don't do pink.

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My intelligence. 

17. WHOM DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My old high school friends. 

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO COMPLETE THIS LIST? Sure!

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? I'm wearing dark wash jeans and am barefoot 

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? My bf playing video games 

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Why would I want to be a crayon?

23. FAVORITE SMELL? The smell of my make-up lol

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My oldest sister

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? I kind of found it myself

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Football when the Patriots are dominating or basketball 

27. HAIR COLOR? Brownish

28. EYE COLOR? Blue/Green

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No. I have pretty good vision

30. FAVORITE FOOD? I love love love calzones and baked mac and cheese.

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings, absolutely. A movie is not a movie unless it has a happy ending in some way.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? In the theatre: Sherlock Holmes. At home: Post Grad ...wouldn't recommend

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Black

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer. Summer. Summer. Because i love the beach, the pool, and the sun!

35. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs 

36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Carrot Cake or Ice cream or cupcakes

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Probably no one because I am a blogger-newbie

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Everyone..

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Any one of my 8 textbooks for school

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? The word "love"

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON TV LAST NIGHT? The Golden Globes and the Red Carpet

42. FAVORITE SOUNDS? The Crash of the ocean waves on the shore

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles.

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Florida.. Not too far. 

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I think my talent is the ability for me to be successful at school and in my creative side of life. 

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? In a hospital 

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Anyone! I would love to read someone else's answers

48. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE? In school 

49. IS THE CUP HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY? Well if you poor the glass to the midway point, then Half full, but if you drink the contents of a glass until it is at the midway point, then half empty. 

50a. IF YOU COULD SIT DOWN TO DINNER WITH FIVE LIVING PEOPLE WHOM WOULD YOU CHOOSE? My bf, Heidi Klum, John Mayer, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and The Olsens.

50b. IF YOU COULD SIT DOWN TO DINNER WITH FIVE DECEASED PEOPLE WHOM WOULD YOU CHOOSE? Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, John Kennedy, Princess Diana, and Marie Antoinette.

Craft time!

I was shopping around for furniture for my new apartment

and I just feel in love with this idea.

It cushioned, comfortable, chic, classy, and will never go out of style.

So, I just had to have it.

Unfortunately it came with a $599 pricetag. Ouch!

So, I decided to make it and it came out exceptionally well!

Supplies:

(quantity depends on bed size. see website above for size specs)

• sturdy piece of hardwood for headboard
• extra wood for legs
• screws/ screwdriver
• drill
  
• foam batting
• hot glue or carpenters glue
  
• leather fabric
• black buttons
• wire
  
• staple gun w/staples
• bobby pins
• a friend

Procedure:  

1. Figure out the measurements of your soon to be head board 
• King is approx 62h x 80w inches 
  
• Queen is approx 61h x 62w inches square 
• Twin is approx 51h x 41w inches square
2. Cut wood to appropriate size and attach legs with screws
• note: if you want to mount headboard to wall skip legs
3.  Measure and drill holes through wood where your buttons are going to go
   
4. Glue batting to front of wood (foam cushion and batting were too expensive for me, so I used THIS ($17) in queen size, cut it in half, and turned the eggs in on itself)
5. Drape fabric over headboard and with friend, pull as tightly as you can and staple to the back of the wood (I bought 2 yards of faux leather fabric at JoAnn Fabrics for $16 w/ a 50% off coupon)
6. Loop wire through button with about 5 inches of extra and poke through fabric and pre-drilled holes
7. Wrap the excess wire around a bobby pin on the back of the headboard to hold the button in place 
8. Continue for all buttons. I used 8 evenly spaced buttons.

final product :

I lucked out and got the wood for free. It was left over from a remodel next door. The total cost came to about $50.00 for the buttons, fabric, and foam. I absolutely love it.

2009 <3

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
completely lived on my own

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Last year I didn't make any resolutions. I think that will change this year

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

one of my ex-coworkers had the cutest baby ever

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No- thank God

5. What places did you visit?

just good old New England for me 

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you didn't have in 2009?

a new apartment.

7. What dates from 2009 will be etched upon your memory, and why?

June 17th - 3 year anniversary with my Lovey

July 25th- My 21st birthday party

Sept 1 - A new beginning

9. What was your biggest failure?

figuring out how to start over

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

yes, I had swine and a shoulder injury

which I am still in PT for

11. What was the best thing you bought?

my macbook / ipod touch

                   love it btw

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

I think one woman in particular, ND deserves a big celebration because

she commits herself 200% everyday

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

some of my friends... you never know who you can trust

14. Where did most your money go?

rent! ...I dont want to think about it!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Moving into my new apartment :)

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?

Its a Party in the USA - Miley Cyrus 

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

a. I'm a bit more lost

b. I'm about the same 

c. I'm definitely poorer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

worked/ earned money

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

ate out. lol

20. How did you spend Christmas?

I spent it with all of my families :)

and yes... I have 3 families

my origonal, my in-laws to be, and my work family

21. Did you fall in love with 2009?

I'm in love everyday

22. What was your favorite TV program?

LOST -- you know it!

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

No. I dont hate anyone anymore. It goes no where.

I have resolved quite a few "hates" from last year

so I am on the right track ....

New resolution! Hate no one.

24. What was the best book you read?

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Seriously. Its really good.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Lady Gaga

She is so original, talented, beautiful, intriguing.

I just cannot stop watching/ listening to her

26. What did you want and get?

humble abode

27. What did you want and not get?

a stress free life

28. What was your favorite film of 2009?

I loved transformers,

Its complicated,

the Hangover

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

21! I got really drunk with my besties

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Becoming rich

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2009?

Classy, modern, casual

32. What kept you sane?

my Bf <3

33. What political issue stirred you the most?

 well Ted Kennedy passed

34. Who did you miss?

My fam. I don't like living so far away from them 

35. Who was the best new person you met?
Friends at school

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.

Don't waste time! If there is something you want to do.. do it!

Tres Chic

As I was browsing through the latest issue of British VOUGE the other day, I discovered this

AMAZING DRESS.

I have always been a huge fan of the double-breasted pea coat look

and now it has transformed from outerwear to Spring/Summer

I am very excited. I love love love it.

Of course it is made by the wonderful LV and is too expensive for me...

So sad :(

the bow on the front, the pockets, the color... it is gorgeous

and I have to note that I adore the shoes as well

one thing i found odd though was that British Vouge featured this same dress twice in their issue

Has that ever happened before?

It was in the Louis Vuitton ad, which folded out of the front cover

and it was in their cover story with Rachel Weisz modeling it.

Well I just thought this dress was so beautiful I had to share it.

I am a big fan of cruise look. Very excited about the entire collection from LV.

<3 Kate

Shopaholic

        As I was strolling through the shops at a local strip mall, I came to the horrific realization that I am, in fact, a shopaholic. I was on a mission to find an extremely unique gift for one of my good friend's momentous birthday coming up and I could not help but shop for myself. A few hours and a few stores later, I had nothing for my friend and several things for me. I know many of you are thinking, "I do that all the time" but I am usually a really good shopper. I have always been the person to save rather than spend and what I did buy was at an incredible price and was something I was going to use for a long time. I have always loved to shop and buy clothes, don't get me wrong, but I used to be better at it. 
       Before I was in college, I had such limited funds that I was extra careful about what I bought. However, now that I am in college and know I don't have ANY money to waste, It makes me want things even more. It is driving me crazy. I am buying stuff and not even using it! I can no longer resist the urge. I am just buying things all the time. It doesn't even matter what it is. I even love going to the grocery store, target, CVS. It doesn't matter because it is still shopping. Why it took me until today to realize, I have no clue. Unfortunately, I have spiraled into a shopaholic way of life. 


Any advice? Anyone?


I think the best solution is to just increase my disposable income :)


<3 Kate