tuesday.

 

 We’re spending this Tuesday off doing our some of our favorite things.

Cooper got to spend several hours at the park with morning playing fetch and hanging out with some of his neighborhood dog friends. He even found a cute little toddler who snuck him cracker bits from his lunchable when his mom wasn’t looking.

As for me, I get to catch up on cooking, playing with my 35mm lens, and writing letters. Really, anything that will further procrastinate the laundry that needs folding and the bedroom that won’t clean itself: this post.

To be truthful, I just wanted to post a picture of my dog.

xoxo, k.

 

 

Shira wedding.

This last weekend, I had the pleasure of witnessing a beautiful marriage of two of me and Clint’s dear friends committing their lives to each other. It was such a sweet time of breaking bread with our friends and being reminded of how sacred and wonderful marriage is. And having an excuse to spend the weekend in Austin wasn’t too shabby either.

Here’s a sneak peek of a few shots I got from the weekend.

 

The guys were nice enough to let me join in on their man time the day of to capture some last shots of Elben’s singledom. I am so proud to call this group of men my best friends. They are some of the most intelligent, hilarious and solid men out there.

As for some background: Elben (pictured on the right in the blue) was Clint’s best man in our wedding. Most of the  others were roommates with Clint in college. We actually all went to the same high school- even though our friendships at  that time were limited to (and fondly remembered) as a few head nods in the hall ways.

Over the years, we all shared a love for Dexter, late night donut runs, nerdy games and getting into mischief. They helped make Austin my home and stood beside me when I, myself, said “I do”.

 

 

 

 

 

xoxo, k.

 

All in the small details.

There is something grounding about focusing on the little things.

The things that are truly meaningless, but mean everything.

The “something”s that take you away from the overwhelming weight of “everything”.

The little pieces of life that bring color to the puzzle.

So I set out to capture the small.

To remember the moment in it’s unframed personality,

not just of posed smiles and staged theatrics.

It is the small, I have found,

that make today unique

and tomorrow an anticipated meeting.

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you

because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.

Those who do not believe in magic

will never find it.”

Roald Dahl

xoxo, k.

bacon and guns.

My brothers came to visit for spring break while my parents were being hardcore and backpacking for the week. Being completely outnumbered by males (much to their delight), the seven days were a haze of bacon grease and testosterone laden activities. Outside of me working 45 hours that week (serving as their nap time and/or donut eating), I was convinced into the likes of rock climbing, paint balling and skeet shooting (okay, so mayyyybe I really did have a blast and am sort of/completely a boy.).

After this event, I forced them all to sit and wait in the salon lobby while I got my nails done. The woman painting them told me I was lucky to have so many boys that loved me enough to willingly sit through my manicure. I absolutely am.

xoxo, k.

The dream.

A memory of something I’ve yet to see.
This counterfeit reality that introduces myself to me.

In a hive shaken madly by vexed tenants of expectancy.

Darkness provides decampment from the blanket shaken hands have woven.
From behind closed lenses, chimerical possibilities open.

But whether my consciousness is painted in black or in white,
Can I truly validate that either is right?

xoxo, k.

teshuva.

I have always considered myself a fairly busy person. But I think everyone does. There is never enough time to do what there is to be done. But over these last few weeks of early 5am rising and midnights guiding me home, I have realized how important the time outside of the punch card really is.

Sometimes you have to force yourself to grow.

After a long day of work, it is painfully alluring to crash on the couch and let electronics numb your brain. It is quite tempting for me to label this as “unwinding” or “taking a break”, but if I was being honest, this very very rarely leaves me feeling rested or refreshed at all. The very things that I am sure I am far too exhausted to do are actually the things that make me feel ready to conquer another day.

Last night, after a long shift of not having time to eat for 10 hours, all I wanted to do was order chinese food and curl up in the fetal position- but I knew I needed to stick to my guns about actively pursueing a community in my church and a spiritual relationship with my husband. I decided to go to a community class that was being held that night. And then it started raining. Woahh hohhh hohhhh! Neeeeeeeeeeevermind- maybe we could just go next week? But Clint shoved me out the door. We drove to this coffee shop that is owned by the church where the class was being held on “teshuva”, which is Hebrew for “cleansing of the soul” or “repentance”. The course was being taught by a highly intelligent PhD of theology who’s mere bible reading voice sounded divinely inspired. We dove deep into the atonement of sin; a raw and genuine approach to how ugly we are inside, but the magnitude of how gracious God is. As we finished with a series of eulogies, I could feel the weight of the day melt off of me. I felt inspired to greatness- not laziness. I came home late, more energized than when I had come home hours earlier. It is in growing myself that I find the real vitality I possess.  In the same way, though short and sweet, I decided to write about it instead of scan social media. And see? Even though I thought I was too tired to write, now that I started, I feel great with the keys slowly expanding my experiences.

I hope you find the power within yourself to do the thing you are too tired to do- to find the person who has the energy to do anything.

xo, k.

weekend adventures.

After a long (but fun!) week of Valentine’s day festivities, crazy work schedules, and making new friends, Clint and I decided to take the weekend to get some fresh air. We went to Brazos Bend State Park, which is about an hour outside of Houston.

Once we got there, we were taken back by how gorgeous it was. Before we even got to our camp site, we pulled over and I whipped out my camera. Even though I wasn’t wearing any makeup or had brushed my hair that day (thinking I’d only be seen by the trees, not a camera lens), you can’t fight inspiration when it strikes. The sunset was simply amazing.

We set up our tent, roasted some hotdogs over the fire, talked about life under the stars and went to sleep in the FREEZING night. The next morning, we went hiking on a few of the trails.

And a few fun shots we got tonight from the photo booth set up at our church:

This week had an amazing service (AGAIN). I am so thankful to be at a place that feels like home. I am excited to grow into this church and into Houston. Finally.

XOXO, k.

work perks.

My first week of work isn’t over and I’m already reaping the benefits of working at an ever changing brand that happens to have my taste.

We are currently breaking down one of the stores to be able to restyle everything on Sunday. Because of this, everything has to go. Lucky for me, this means free home decoration.

These trees were a winter design. They broke apart into the individual branches so I was able to fit it in my car, but the downside was it took forever to gem them untangled and put back together. But I am excited to have them in my office.

I also got this jewelry holder. This would be pretty simple to make yourself, but it’s always nice to get a finished project.

I was up at 4:45am for work this morning, so I’m hitting the sack. Thanks for reading!!

xo, k.

four great things.

Here are a few things that made the month of January special, that I happened to catch with my camera.

One: My best friend, Corie, came to visit me for a weekend. We never stopped laughing… or eating. Corie is one of those gems of a friend that is always down for a new experience- no matter what it entails. This quality we share never fails to get us in trouble and, consequently, provides the best stories. This particular weekend had us galavanting through Houston, singing at random Karaoke establishments, making friends with strangers, and making sure we ate everything the city had to offer.

Two: Clint and I went to visit my family for my younger brother’s birthday. I can’t believe how old they are getting. And they both tower at least 6 inches over me.

I was also able to visit my grandmother, Mimi. We had lunch and talked about anything and everything. I always feel so blessed to have her cheerful encouragement in my life. She always tells me that I give her hope in the current state of the world, but in reality, she gives me hope in myself.

Three: This last time Clint was home, we were able to experience lots of peaches. (Clint and I describe the good things in life as peaches and the bad as pits.)

1. After months and months of searching, we found a church that we both love. This is a hugely exciting thing to us, since we have been craving a Christian community- and between me going to church on my own when he was gone, and us not “clicking” with a church when he was here, it was a frustrating roller coaster.

2. I applied for my dream job. I honestly believed I had no chance at getting it, but after several rounds of interviews, I got a call offering me the position! I am still completely blown away and insanely excited. Starting tomorrow (ah!) I will be helping with the design of Free People stores. I will help plan events, pick what goes on manequins, style customers, and help design the inside of the store… the perfect collision of everything I love into one job description.

Above: Me in my favorite little nook of the house. The coffee table is an old war trunk and we found that killer wingback chair at an estate sale when we first moved to Houston.

And below: Clint and I went to several different museums over the two weeks he was home. It was so funny to see my grown husband get all giddy for the dinosaur exhibit at the Museum of Science- and then he completely geeked out over the natural gas exhibit like the engineer he is. I love him.

Home: I went to Canton last weekend, and found this awesome iron canopy. I decided to attach it to an old window frame (that came from a barn in Austin), to keep from having to drill any huge holes in the wall. Then I went to World Market and got some sheer curtains that I could tie on. Then I put a chandelier inside, and voila!

For the vase, I took a mason jar and sprayed mercury paint (you can find it at Hobby Lobby) inside so that it looks silver/a mirror finish.

Four: I have a thing for instant cameras. My most recent addition to the collection is Fujifilm’s instax 210. This guy is a wide shot camera, producing pictures about 3 times as large as the popular 7s. Definitely too large to casually carry around, but the pictures are easier to see and the camera provides alot more control over your results than the 7s (lightening/darkening options, different zoom lengths, ect)

I am also excited about this year’s planner from Kate Spade. Each month is sectioned off by beautiful pictures and fun quotes.

Off to my first day of my new job tomorrow. Wish me luck.

xoxo, k.

dining room makeover.

When I was living in Austin, and in my first place, I was at garage sales every weekend. It was the only feasible way Clint and I could furnish our home on our newly married budget. With this came all kinds of trash that I made into treasure. One of these things being an old headboard that I made into a shelf, of sorts. I promised it a new paint job. Well.. Austin came and went and the unpainted headboard came with us to Houston. I sat it against a wall in the dining room, and after 6 months, it hadn’t moved- only collected random objects.

For Christmas, my parents gave me a beautiful wine rack. When the headboard/shelf could hardly support the wine, I decided it was time to let go of my $5 treasure and invest in something new.

Here’s what I came up with:

BEFORE:

AND AFTER!

Now our new wine cooler, rack, tumbler and set of wine/cocktail glasses have a home. (And one that doesn’t blend in to the color of the wall!)

Side note: Clint has been out of town, so I put this together all by myself. I feel a little overly proud of that.

Now to a weekend of friends coming over so that I can test this baby out.

xoxo, k.

getting certified.

The Philippines has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. I was not only able to experience these hidden beauties, but get scuba certified in their depths.

My instructor was a man named Frank. (How can you not love anyone with the name Frank?) Frank is a diver with a gypsy soul from Norway- traveling around the world until he (pretty much by accident) landed in the Philippines. He fell in love with the culture and decided to start his own dive company there. Ten years later, I am his student. He is a bit of a joker, but I appreciate this about him. Once, in an exercise where I had to take my googles off underwater, he took them from me and dropped them on the bottom- leaving me to blindly find them- just so he could have a good laugh. We had a good time.

Scuba diving feels a bit like flying under water. It’s an amazing thing. You’re invited into this world that so few get to see up close. I felt like I was out of my own body gliding through a land of coral and exotic fish.

For my last dive, we went on a boat ride for over an hour to a deserted beach. It was a place so beautiful and untouched by humanity that it was hard to even believe it was real. The water was so clear, I could look over the side of the boat and see straight down to the bottom. There is something about that kind of beauty that fills you up and makes you feel like life is worth living.

Now I am an official certified diver: something that I am proud to scratch off of my bucket list.

xoxo, k.

Getting my gear together. That stuff was alot heavier than I thought it would be!

Frank is helping me and my diving partner from Norway, Claus, pick out the right size goggles.

The dive that certified me!

My instructor, Frank. If he is above water, he has coffee in his hand.

The water was so clear that even snorkeling was amazing.

Day 3- because we are alive to sing.

It’s a funny thing, world view. How your whole idea of life is cultivated from the series of events played out from the beginning of time. That the decisions from men hundreds, thousands, millions of years before your first breath granted you the ability to be born. To be born exactly where you were born. And into the family you were born into. And it is where you happen to land, without choice or preference, that forms how you see the world.

I was born into a family of five. A middle class American family with a good education. A good home. Plenty of clothes and food on the table. And an unfulfilling fear that this is all there is to life.

I stood inside of a church without a roof. It was raining hard. There were children with little clothing shivering in the mud and watching us. The typhoon had left this city without a home. Families were living crowded under pieces of scrap metal on the burial grounds of where their houses had previously stood. People walked around aimlessly, financially unable to rebuild what nature had destroyed. Crops, being the major income source for a large portion of these people, were left as nothing more than broken stalks and bent trees. I was congregated with a group of people who, while also lived in the Philippines, had been untouched by the Typhoon’s fury. But we were standing in a whole village that was a sad wasteland of over 1,000 people dead and 27,000 without shelter. We came to do what little we could to rebuild. We began fashioning a roof to keep the rain out of the church that had to be completely rebuilt from the mud up. Young boys squatted on the top, skillfully maneuvering pieces of wood in the pouring rain. And while I shivered in my rain coat, beginning to feel the hunger pains of a missed meal- I witnessed something that I will never forget.

The people began to sing Christmas carols. Everyone was smiling and clapping their hands in unison to “Joy to the World” in different languages. When they were done, they served us fish and rice on banana leaves. The preacher of the church stood up and said a prayer for the meal, thanking God for all of the things He had blessed us with. “Why do we smile and sing even when all this has happened?”, he questioned. “Because we are alive!”

With this one phrase, my worldview changed. My heart ached with sorrow for these people in such inhumane situations, but yet fluttered with a contagious joy that they possessed for simply being alive to sing.

I gave my sandwich that I had brought for lunch to a mother and young girl. The young girl cried upon receiving it, therefore making me cry harder. We went on to another area to help rebuild an additional home. It continued to rain off and on through the day. The children of the area came to see what we were doing and giggled at our attempts to say various words in their language.

After we did all we could do for the day, we had a three hour bus ride home. My jet lag was really kicking in (my body feeling as though it had pulled an American all-nighter by the time we were heading home) but I couldn’t allow myself to sleep and miss a single minute of what we were passing. I silently sobbed, staring out the window at the mass destruction. I became angry with my own ignorance and spoiled lifestyle. I wanted to throw up. That with all I had been blessed with, I was still left wondering what else was out there. Was this a mark of ambition, or self-centeredness? But as the miles passed, I was overcome with the feeling of God’s grace and His powerful ability to change hearts that are willing to change. I was thankful for this overwhelming opportunity to fully submerse myself in a different culture and for an experience that made me feel truly human. To cry for something that deeply moved my soul and changed my entire view of life. To realize that when everything else is stripped away, we can find pure joy in being alive to sing.

 

xoxo, k.

A child playing in the water of a well that is in front of what used to be a 5 bedroom home. Now the entire family sleeps in the small hut that is made out of scrap metal to the left.

A picture I captured of a small girl hiding inside of the rebuilt church to stay dry from the rain.

Rebuilding.

To observe the way that random things had settled from the storm was a strong visual representation to me of man vs. nature. Here is an old broken guitar, medicine bottle, and confetti next to a tied up chicken. It’s both playful (Chuy’s style), but yet deeply heartbreaking.

Clint helping to put a tarp on top until we could get the roofing supplies.

The meal of fish on banana leaves. I was told to eat quickly to avoid being the one left with the heads.

 

 

Philippines: Day 1-2

While I would have hoped to post this sooner, I have been extremely sick and bed ridden for the last couple of days. And between NyQuil and jet lag, I have slept a record of 45ish hours of the last 3 days. But, per the demands requests of some important readers, I have brewed some coffee and will share my first installment of my trip (that’s all I can muster up right now people.)

Day 1&2:

While I was aware of how long our flights were, there is no way for a novice world traveler to truly grasp the length of a trip around the globe. I had no idea how long 35 hours of continuous vacillation between airport gift shop browsing and transit above the clouds would feel. With my most lengthy flight (previous to this experience) weighing in at around 5 measly hours, I had never experienced the world of in-flight meals or the importance of saying a silent prayer that you might be graced with an aisle seat to steer clear of painfully avoiding waking the person beside you in the middle of the night to relieve yourself of the gratis diet cokes.

Our first flight was to LA with a lengthy layover that allowed for a nap curled up in one of the cold leather waiting chairs. Then it was on to South Korea which had the nicest airport I had ever seen. Upon arrival, I quickly realized that I had made a wardrobe mistake. I stuck out like the poor, unfortunate American tourist I am. I was in athletic shorts and a tshirt amongst a sea of Asians in puffy parkas and Ugg boots (fitting, since it was 10 degrees outside) and this was leaving me with plenty of odd stares and goosebumps. Clint and I shared a meal of pork over rice- my third meal of this fashion over the last 12 hours. My first being on the plane ride where an Asian flight attendant (looking identical to her fellow air mates- down to the tight low bun, winged eyeliner and turtleneck dresses, which is apparently standard for Asian airlines) offered me two choices of meals. I didn’t understand either option she said (them both sounding like Ah-Ah-Oh-Po), and asked her to repeat them. After a side glance to Clint that confirmed he was equally as confused, I simply smiled and said, “Yes, I’ll take the first.” This rice roulette landed me with a meal tidily divided into small red square dishes that fit together perfectly on the tray. Each contained small portions of various foods- some of which I didn’t recognize. After spying on the Asian man at the end of the row for guidance, I followed his lead of throwing the contents of all the red squares into a bowl of white rice and adding a red spicy paste that was squeezed out of a white tube. The next meal was served after Clint and I switched off sleeping through the night- the other one standing guard in fear of missing the breakfast cart. With the dramatic time change, we had no idea when the free meal would wheel its way over and we weren’t going to let sleep jeopardize our consumption of it. So after a fairly sleepless night, we were served rice. Again. Where are the pancakes? Muffins? No… just rice? Okay. So by the 3rd airport and meal of white rice and mystery meat, I am feeling real cultured.

We are now in Manila, Philippines with one flight to go. Immediately off the plane, I am struck by the huge difference in culture. I am one of very few fair skinned people around, and I am noticing a lot of stares. The airport is hot and run down. When we walk outside, I see palm trees and lots of old taxis. It is painfully humid (and this is from a Houstonian!) as we wait for the shuttle that will take us to the next airport. After being asked for a “Christmas tip” from a cop, we boarded an old airconditioned shuttle that closely resembled the ambiance of a hookah lounge. It had purple seats and curtains made of patterned cloth that had moons and dolphins with orange tassels. The characters of this ride included: 1. Another young American couple (which I gauged to be honeymooners)with the woman in tears looking around and saying “I didn’t know it was going to be like this!”. The two removed themselves from the shuttle prior to departing. 2. A family of Filipinos with handfuls of fake designer merchandise who kept staring at me and Clint and talking in a different language. 3. A large Canadian man who told us that he was coming to meet his girlfriend (whom he had met online) and her family for the first time to have a wedding reception in her home country. The ride was 20 pesos (about 50 cents in American dollars). With each pot hole we hit, the tassels swung back and forth over the top of my head. It was quite charming to me that someone decided to spice up this old bus with these specific decorations. They believed these dolphins and tassels to be a homey touch for travelers, and worked hard to make this interior exactly what it was. Clint gave me a look that asked me if he had done a good job explaining what I was in for by traveling here. And I smiled back, assuring him that I was loving every minute of it.

We boarded our last flight and arrived in Davao, Philippines late the night of the 22nd after two days of globe-trotting. We were greeted outside of the airport by Clint’s entire immediate family who were full of hugs and “how was the trip”s. We rode in a taxi van to the house that Clint’s parents and younger sister (Christy, age 17) currently live in. The house is bright pink with cement walls all the way around it with shards of broken glass and barbwire surrounding the top. This is very standard for all homes in the Philippines. “To keep honest people honest” was a phrase that I heard several times. The front yard is beautiful with many colorful flowers and an outdoor porch with bamboo furniture. We shared a late dinner, stories of travel, and we were off to bed. Tomorrow was going to be an early morning of service in the community. An experience that would genuinely alter my view of the world.

xoxo, k.

One of our meals in South Korea.

It came with a noodle/seaweed soup.

Each seat had it’s own screen and remote control for movies, games or news.

Clint on his sleeping shift (sorry babe!)

The view from the Hanna’s back yard (looking out). I naturally look over the gate with how much taller I am than most Filipinos.

This is the street view of where I was staying.

a short hello/goodbye.

Today is my last night in the Philippines before the two days of traveling back to the home of the brave. This trip has truly changed the way I see the world. And while I have very little Internet time, I wanted to assure everyone I was still alive (after my 2 weeks of no internet and phone access), and am excited to blog about all my adventures when I get home.

(excited) side note- as of today, I am scuba certified! I was going to save that for later blogging, but couldn’t hold back my current euphoria.

Thank you for reading and I’ll be back soon.
xoxo, k.

before I die.

Monday was my birthday. I use this day as a place marker. Most people mark the beginning of every year as January first (shortly before popping “one last” cigarette in their mouth). But for me, my birthday really makes me stop and recognize where I am as a person in comparison to the last. It’s a formal goodbye to a time that I will never have the ability to go back to. Life is so much more romantic in retrospection, isn’t it? This was the first year that I didn’t want to move forward. I’ve always yearned to be on to that next glamourous life step- on to driving a car (that beautiful maroon minivan in all her glory), on to a curfew past 11, on to graduating, on to being on my own, on to the “real world”. But when I blew out my candles this year, I realized I didn’t want to rush forward. I had a lot to figure out right here, Father Time, and if you’d kindly give me a second to breathe.

I had an overwhelming sense of nostalgia all day as I continually mentally replayed where I was at each of my last couple of birthdays and who I was sharing it with. During a hike with a friend that morning, we stumbled upon a chalk board wall titled “Before I die..” with blanks inviting strangers to proclaim their deepest desires. It was a moving thing to read, in someone’s own handwriting, what they wanted to accomplish before their breath of life had expired.

I picked up a piece of chalk, and sat there wondering what to scribble down. I thought of a few things, but realized fear was keeping me from writing them down. “It’s just a stupid wall, Kendall… a game… just put something.. people are staring at you now..” I didn’t want to write (in public, no less) the desires of my heart that I, quite frankly, doubted would/could actually happen. But even more so, I was scared those dreams would rip me farther away from the past.

That was when I realized why I didn’t want to move forward. I didn’t want year 22 to have 365 days of not being in the past. I was struck, that if I was being honest, I would have chalked up “I want [insert various parts of my life] to be like they used to be” on the blank line behind the painted “Before I die..”. I was missing a time that was inside a closed book. I realized I couldn’t revisit my past birthdays even if I wanted to. Even if, today, I went back to where I lived, to who I hung out with, and what I did, it wouldn’t be the same. That time was delicately wound together by the vast intricacies of the people, situations, intentions, and circumstances that not only represented myself but everything around me in that one split second of life.

And if I couldn’t go back, I shouldn’t be scared to write what I want for my future. Yes. Those things will separate myself even more from my past, but I have better things ahead of me than behind me. I finally wrote down a few life long dreams of mine. And unless I wanted to start every year wishing it were the last, I had better get after them.

xo, k.

Grandpa glasses.

Bought a new pair of glasses. People keep calling them my grandpa glasses, so we’ll dub them that. I’ve always had an old soul, anyhow. The guy at the lens place told me that these are all the fad in California, but that Houston won’t catch up for another year or so. I don’t care. I like em.

Xoxo, K.

p.s. You’ll have to forgive me for the cell phone pictures. I really need to get the Nikon back up and running.

it goes on.

I have learned a lot about myself these last few months. Some have been great discoveries, and some were down right hard to swallow. But here are a small handful of the great things I have learned from this recent adventure:

1. True friends are the greatest thing in life. The ones that cry with you through the hard times and do the “boo ya!” dance with you during the great times. The ones that push you through the confusing times of life instead of cut you down in their own confusion. The friends that, by their mere presence, remind you who you are at your core when you have, quite frankly, gotten so wrapped up in your current circumstances that you have temporarily forgotten. These last few months have taught me how valuable and irreplaceable a genuine friend is, and I am incredibly thankful for the handful that have been more encouragement to me than I could ever have guessed/ hoped for.

2. Traveling is a catch 22. It can soothe your soul, or let you run away from it. I have traveled more in the last year than I have in my entire life. The experiences that I have gained from these trips and adventures have changed the way I see the world and myself in it. But it also provides a way to escape from reality when sometimes you just need to face it. I am the poster child for keeping myself busy to avoid the quiet times where I realize everything is out of control. When it came to a weekend of hiking or a mental freak out in the middle of my living room about the future… it was no-brainer. But at one point during these last few months, I had to make myself stop. I had to tie myself to my home, all alone (clint was gone traveling for work), for 2 weeks straight. I had to journal it all out, pray, cry, let go of poisonous relationships, cry again about the loss of my poisonous relationships, pray some more, and watch an entire season of Ugly Betty (don’t judge what my desperate mind will reach for.) I read a lot… and I practically bought stock in Starbucks by the amount of coffee I consumed while mulling over Jen Hatmaker’s every word in her book “7″ (which is now highlighted, circled, and dog eared to the point of oblivion.) At first it was miserable. I was on house arrest to my body and my mind… and that was a scary place.  I didn’t want to even recognize within myself that I needed to face the things I was struggling with. Moving to a new city, being away from all my friends, being in a house alone half the year without my husband, trying to keep a long distance job I love, and my inability to open up to anyone I loved about any of it: I had things to work out. And it was ugly. But I came out of those weeks refreshed and in tune with what I needed. I came out with a new sense that God knew what he was doing through all these trials (can you IMAGINE if I had moved straight from my comfortable social world of Dallas to Houston without the buffer of Austin to teach me how to live on my own and adapt to whatever life throws at me? I would have drowned. Thank you God for giving me only what I can handle. Thank. You.). I came out eating a piece of humble pie, understanding that I didn’t need to put on a brave face all the time (forget me ever writing this post before that lock down), and that I needed to be transparent enough for people to be able to come into my life the way I desperately wanted them to (but was too proud to admit). Curse you 7 deadly sins! And ya, it’s not some revolutionary idea to self reflect, but in all the huge changes in my life (getting married, moving 3 times in a little over a year, going to 3 different schools.. to name a few), the thing I was most scared to do was actually stop and face my own feelings about it all. I guess I was scared that if I stopped, everything I had worked so hard to keep together would suddenly fall apart in front of me, as if the mere idea of life is what held it together and that poking around too much would make one of the Jenga blocks fall out. Instead, I have such a humbled appreciation for the grace of God and His ability to bring you hope in whatever season of trials you are in. I am blessed beyond measure (I’m sitting here contemplating how I can even give  that sentence justice.). It is easy to get caught in the negative, but learning how to self reflect and see change as an opportunity to grow has been a wonderful lesson to learn.

3. Cooking is a great antidepressant. Okay. We all like to eat. So duh, having good food around will make you happy. But there is something about preparing food that has been very soothing to me. Cutting up all those colorful veggies, disregarding exact measurements and tasting your way through, and taking that first bite of a finished meal where, to your satisfaction, it’s actually edible (!) can be as therapeutic as making art. Ohhh ya… and then having a man to tell you how amazing you are for making it always helps too.

Even as I write this all down, I realize how beneficial these hard times have been for me.

In conclusion:

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.”
― Robert Frost

And it does.

 

XOXO, k.

I promise you I will always be a kid.

Artwork that caught my attention today:

Designed by three Chicago-based designers, Jillian Barthold, Lauren Connolly, and Kady Dennell.

These balloons give such a innocent and fun representation of adult desires. It was a nice reminder to me that I can be a kid at heart, even in the toughest of times.

 

\

There are lots of exciting things going on in the office this week, so I’m glad to be busy with things I enjoy: design and networking. Photoshoots, events, and free food.. oh my! But I forgot how much pesky pollen is floating around in this Austin air. I’m trying to make it though with one (half) breathable nostril.

Well, I’m off to design Christmas cards for our clients. Yes. Only 2161 hours left! (you can thank Twitter for continually informing me.) With all this spirit, I’m about to put my tree up right now. That way I can enjoy it before I head to the Philippines for a white christmas of sand instead of snow. 

I digress.

Have a wonderful week, and enjoy the new Mumford and Sons album that came out today. (SPOTIFY. NOW.)

Xoxo, K.

My dog.

Today, I am thankful for my dog. I’m thankful for him teaching me that everyone is a friend. And that things are just things, and they shouldn’t be more important than being able to have fun in the mud. I’m thankful for his willingness to sit and watch me work all day, and then give me an excuse to go outside to get some fresh air and throw a ball. I’m thankful for him teaching me that everything is an adventure and that you should always take another lap on the trails. I’m thankful for this furry best friend who has taught me how to be a better human, and forgives me when I’m not. I’m thankful for my little Cooper Hanna.

Xoxo, k.

more love letters, please.

Handwritten cards and letters are something that I cherish, but an act that has definitely fallen off of our society’s to-do list. It’s a shame, because I think it is one of the best ways to encourage, sooth, and love someone. It is a tangible conversation frozen in time. I often write letters to my friends who are going through a hard time, or just need to know they are valued. So when I found out about a way to help encourage complete strangers with a few handwritten words, I was filled with joy and excitement… and couldn’t keep this amazing opportunity to myself.

More Love Letters is an organization that provides a way for people going through a hard time to receive letters from people all across the world- whom they have never even met. They send out a list every month of people (who have been sent in from their friends/family) who are in particular need of encouragement. You can read their stories, and write letters to them. More Love Letters sends all these letters in bulk to the recipients who have no idea they are coming. What a beautiful touch of humanity. Can you imagine your best friend getting in a car wreck or being diagnosed with some life-threatening disease and having hundreds of letters show up to your door one day from complete strangers offering their love and support?

For the cost of a stamp and 3 minutes of writing, you could completely change a stranger’s life. Please consider joining this wonderful organization.

I just got finished writing a few today:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is their blog, where you can keep up with the current missions and news.

And here is their website.

xoxo, k.

iphone pictures into polaroids.

Okay. You guys already know about my love for polariods, so you can imagine my excitement for a machine that weds old school photography with new age technology.

New york-based company, impossible, has developed a device capable of turning digital iPhone photography
into analog imagery using ‘impossible film’. Their newest creation, ‘the instant lab’ features a cradle to hold the smart-phone with a highly specialized lens designed to focus the image from the screen onto film. a high precision film processing unit (FPU) processes and develops specific instant film when the phone is placed within its designated base alongside specially calibrated app. Users can select and crop images accordingly from their image libraries, where they become developed in a polaroid-styled manner. Nifty, eh?

Granted, you could always buy a polaroid camera. Or just use instagram. But for the techie lusters out there, this machine looks pretty cool. Now, too bad I don’t have an iphone…

xoxo, k.

The ladder of the two.

For more closet inspiration… Err… outside of the closet.. Here is a great DIY for you to try out. I think it would be pretty awesome on a wall to organize and display what you’ll be wearing in the upcoming days.

And can I just be a nerd for a second and be excited about how I posted this from my new iPad?!?

Mexico was a dream. I’ll post pictures later. since I still have yet to manage to unpack.
Xoxo, k.

sneak peek into my home office.

Moving pretty much just sucks. And as much as I love interior decoration, it can definitely be a struggle to find time to decorate and redesign with the normal everyday responsibilities keeping you busy (and having an everyday budget to work with!). When Clint and I moved into our new home, we were thrilled. Mainly because it had a reliable hot water source and ceiling fans in every room… luxuries that we didn’t have at our old place. But along with warm showers also came more space. Over DOUBLE the space. While this has been more wonderful than I can say, it also posed the problem of filling the space. I like my house to be nice and homey (read: knick-knacky and crowded), so with a small budget and a big home, I was up for a challenge. But if deal hunting were an Olympic sport, I sure would have won a gold for America.

One of my favorite things about our home is that I get to have my own office. I work from home alot. From graphic design, to the blogging world, to my endless list of art projects I am working on, it’s an absolute blessing to have my own space to create and… well.. completely mess up with acrylic paint.

First step: get rid of the beige walls. Carpet and beige walls are the death of me, and so I did what any girl on a low budget could do in this situation: PAINT EVERYTHING.

I painted the walls first in a very light blue. This was an adventure that I (the ADD child) stupidly brilliantly decided was a good project to begin at 1am one night and didn’t sleep until it was completely finished… the next day at 6pm. I also gave my dresser, that was formerly lime green (don’t judge my 7th grade taste), a face lift with a new coat of coral paint and new pulls.

I am far from done, but here is a sneak peak into my creative space.

This is a picture of my office before: a week after we had moved in.

And now:

I bought these old spools from a flea market stand that was selling various industrial supplies from an old factory.

I frame various things. My favorite thing to do is frame things that are typically not framed.

The top left picture is a print on top of a piece of tapestry that I received as a wedding present.

Top right is something I tore out of a book.

Bottom left is a piece of tissue paper that was wrapped around some stationary I bought from Kate Spade. I fell in love with the pattern and the color matched perfectly with the dresser it’s hanging over!

Tip: Even when you have a small gallery of pictures that are framed, don’t be afraid to just tape something that you love with them. It adds some character! I took the polaroid of Clint at a Star Wars watching party we had, and wanted to hang it somewhere. I used some patterned washi tape to hold it up. I use patterned tape on EVERYTHING. You can find all kinds on Etsy and Amazon, if you’re interested.

I like finding little places in our home to inspire me. I taped this picture on the inside of my office door so it’s the last thing I see before I walk out of my creative space and into the world.

I needed to find a way to keep my obsession with stationary organized. I bought this wooden box from Hobby Lobby, and painted “cards” on it with some stencils. I keep my favorite letters from people, cards that I have made, and random stationary/post cards that I have picked up over time.

This bookshelf is made from some vintage folding crates. It’s the perfect size to hold some of my design favorites and keep my sketch books, journals, and work notebooks together.

I get a lot of questions about where I bought my lamp from and they are always surprised at my answer: target. I bought it as a empty glass and filled it with painted driftwood. I put a burlap lamp shade on it to give it a warm glow, and it lights up the wood beautifully!

This vase single handedly inspired the color scheme of my office. I loved the coral and light blue together: hence my blue walls and coral dresser. The vase is from Anthropologie and then I took some branches from outside and wound them with yarn. For the tutorial I did over this: check here.

I love having a big empty frame to hang up little bits of what is currently inspiring me. I bought it from a boutique. It was actually used to display some hanging clothes, and I asked the owner if I could buy the frame from her since I loved it so much. I finally convinced her into letting me buy it and now it’s one of my favorite pieces in my office!

I am now moving on to the living room, but will keep you posted with more before and afters.

I’m off to Mexico tomorrow for the next week with my man, so it’s off to my to-do list that is a mile long. Including getting waxed for the first time. Ouch.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Leave me love. <3

XOXO, k.

Separated or together?

Speaking of closets: I have been told that the key to a good relationship is to have separate ones. When Clint and I moved into our new home, there was plenty of storage space for us to have different closets. At our last place, we had a matchbox of a closet that had both of our clothes piled on each other and  hangers were a treasured commodity which we were continually stealing from each other. Having my own closet is heaven. I am pretty particular about closets, so to have full reign over my wardrobe is wonderful. But sometimes I miss when we’d both be picking out our outfits for the day together. Now I have to walk into a completely different room to gently advise him to maybe not wear those shoes on our date. But in general, I think having our own space is great for our relationship… and I know he enjoys not being nagged to pick up his socks.

I have also heard that sleeping in a king size bed can be bad for your relationship because you don’t even have to touch while you’re sleeping. I can agree with that. Clint and I still sleep in my full sized bed that I had when I was a kid, and it’s perfect for us. We get to (read: forced to) cuddle all night unless we want to end up on the floor. I really do believe that it keeps us physically and emotionally close to be all curled up on each other every night.

Your thoughts? Better to be separated or share everything?

Now on to closet lusting:

XOXO, k.

make your closet even more beautiful.

(via Design Lovefest)

This paint is Montana Gold spray paint in “Blood Orange”.

How great are these? I love cheap projects that make your home that much more beautiful in the small details.

Now I’m off to finish designing a billboard and then end the day with some girl time by the pool with my best friends. Summer, never go away.

xoxo, k.

weekend via instagram

My weekend via Instagram: where my friends came via bus, train, and car to come see my new home and explore the big city.

 

 

 

 

 

 

xoxo, k.

shameless friend promotion.

Meet Mark. Dear friend, fluent in ebonics, and dangerously clever behind a lens.

The first time we fluidly exchanged Nicki Minaj lyrics in an everyday conversation, I decided we would be best friends. Other than our late night phone calls where he recites the day’s happenings, with a cigarette dangling from his lip James Dean style, he spends his time inviting the world into his creative brain one snapshot at a time.

Here are a few of my recent favorites:

Mark (or Queen Mark as I refer to him as) inhabits the streets of the DFW, if you’re wanting someone to take of a picture of you being fabulous.

Here is his tumblr. Check it.

xoxo, k.

cuteness for your computer

I love finding cute calendars to make as the background of my computer. Beautiful and logical. Thought I’d share the wealth for your computer background pleasure.

Happy Wednesday.

xoxo, k.

chevron

Chevron is blowing up all over the design world right now, and I’m loving it. It’s so graphic and quirky. There are also plenty of DIY chevron projects floating around on the internet if you’re looking for a cheaper option.

 

 

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. 

xoxo, k.

lamp shade face lift.

I have a lamp that definitely needs a face lift. My first mistake was walking into Anthropologie. $250 for a LAMP SHADE? Well, after that, I was on the hunt for a DIY option for my poor, ugly lamp.

I’ve been seeing a trending theme of music sheets being used as a lamp shade cover. Clever… but not enough to spark my interests. Then I found this lamp. With some simple yarn and cloth flowers (which are insanely easy to make… and CHEAP), this lamp looks almost identical one I saw at Anthropologie. 

Something to consider, for sure. 

 

xoxo, k. 

sequin walls and glowing treats.

I really enjoy finding fun party ideas. I rarely get to put them into action, but I like to pretend that I would. But for you crafty party animals, here are a few fun ideas.

A sequin wall. This is a very inexpensive project that is perfect for a wall decoration or a photobooth background. I think it’s so festive and great, and I’ve heard the people who have tried this out in their home don’t end up wanting to take it down once the festivities are over.

Glow and the dark cotton candy. Now this is awesome. You put cotton candy on a glow stick, and you have a treat that will bring the kid out of anyone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think this would be so much fun. You cover each circle on a Twister board with the coordinating paint color, invite people over and tell them to dress in all white, and then pray you don’t slip.

I love this idea for wrapping presents. I bought some vintage spools of yarn not too long ago, and I would love to use this project as an excuse to test them out.

Obviously I’m feeling festive.

xoxo, k.

gimme some sosie.

Here are a few pieces that I recently bought from an online boutique called Sosie. They have a pretty good selection, and are very reasonably priced.

I love the color of this dress. Mint is a wonderful shade that is seasonless. While it’s perfect for bare legs in the summer, I can pair it with tights and boots in the fall, and it will be just as lovely.

I am in love with chambray shirts. I really love this look sleeveless, and it also allows you to pair it with a cardigan or blazer without the bulky bunch of the denim sleeves underneath. I like the tailoring in the back, as well.

Check out some of their other stuff here.

Hopefully everything fits when it comes in the mail. But I just love getting things in the mail. It’s like sending yourself a present.

Happy Wednesday, everyone.

xoxo, k.

5 random facts about my life, as of lately.

1. I’m moving to Houston in a matter of weeks. This change is exciting, but has stemmed a lot of anxiety. I have never been one for change. Funny, since I have made some pretty stinkin huge life changing decisions in the last few years. But I guess I know that about myself. If I sit somewhere for too long, I get bored and uncreative. So I have to slap myself upside the face with huge change to keep me on my toes, and continually growing. Sometimes I love myself for doing this. And sometimes I’m my own biggest enemy, and I just want to tell my wandering spirit to kindly shut up, and go away.

2. I am supposed to be packing. But in the midst of all the cleaning, decluttering, and organizing… I have found things I have forgotten about. These little gems have spawned whole crafting projects, redecorating sections of the house, and reading old books and letters for hours on end while sitting between the “maybe” pile and “why did I ever own this?” pile. I’m thankful I’m going to have professional movers, or else my lease might end with me nailing paintings (that I just created on a creative/decluttering whim) to the walls.

3. I have been working out a lot more lately. But “a lot more” has room for interpretation since before “a lot more” was… nothing. But with extra time on my hands this summer, I decided to sign up for a fitness boot camp called Camp Gladiator. Although I have never done a cross fit camp, that is what many people compare it to. All I know is, it kicks my boo-hiney. It’s outdoors with a group of about 10-20 other people. I go a few times a week, and then run on my days off. I can’t remember the last time my body wasn’t  soar, but I’ve been really seeing my work being paid off with a visit from my long lost abs. Other than last week, when I thought it was a grand idea to go to the 12pm class at the height of summer’s hellish temperatures (and then proceeded to vomit twice behind a tree, whilst being instructed to finish my sprints and lunges), it’s been a great experience.

4. I dream about getting a dog. No, I literally dream about getting a dog. Most nights I wake up mid-dream about some wonderful pup that will be mine once I move to Houston. Some nights it’s a shnoodle, some nights it’s a golden retriever, but I’m always on the verge of tears in happiness that I have the privilege of owning it. I’m obsessed. I seriously make more dog friends out than I do humans. I’ve come dangerously close to adopting a number of dogs while Clint has been in Africa, but it always ends up with him getting upset that I’ve picked one out without him. That’s what you get when you go to Africa without me. What?

5. I’m in the market for a new camera. I’m in no rush (surprisingly). I just want to hear around for recommendations and save up for the one that’ll be best for me. Me and my camera are best friends, and we go everywhere together. I find that I almost live life through pictures. As if I didn’t capture the moment, it didn’t happen. There’s just something about the way I connect to a time and place through the familiar weight of my camera in my hands, and the light clicking of the shutter that marks my place in time. I bought my first SLR (Nikon 3000) for a college photography class, and had no idea what that class would creatively spark inside of me. It was my love for photography that ultimately led me to graphic design. And now that I have a big girl job that combines both of my loves (photography and graphic design) , I’m hoping to graduate to a more professional camera. If you camera lovers have any suggestions on a particular body you’ve fallen in love with, please let me know.

 

Well children, I’m off to some old black and white films on TCM until I fall asleep… and dream about dogs.

Sleep tight readers.

xoxo, k.

 

 

 

 

DIY polka dot journal.

I’m in love with journals. Blank pages get me excited. So, I stole this DIY from one of my favorite blogs, and wanted to share it with you guys. I think they would make wonderful gifts.

Supplies Needed: Journal (ours was provided by Miro), photos you don’t mind cutting up (magazine pages work great too), scissors and glue. 1. Use a small bottle cap to trace circles on your photos and cut them out. 2. Use glue to adhere photos all over the front of your journal. Be sure to leave some circles hanging off the edges. Allow to dry completely and repeat this step on the back cover. 3. Trim circles along the edge of the cover. 4. Use washi tape (ours was provided by Freckled Fawn) to create a cute spine for your journal. Enjoy your new book!

 

xoxo, k.

Be Daring

Something to dance to

art and interview by bianca green.

Here is an interview I found with Bianca Green that I found interesting/inspiring. Enjoy!

Travelettes: What got you in to art?
Bianca Green: I have always been doodling, collaging, painting.. since I can remember. I just never considered that being art.

T: How is travelling part of your life?
BG: I never had planned to travel as much as I do. It just happened to be that way and I am very thankful for that. And it does become a little addictive. Once I’m at one place for too long, I feel like getting on a plane.

T: How does your current home influence your art?
BG: Currently I am living in Uruguay, South America. When I moved out here one year ago, I had no idea what to expect. It was the best thing I’ve done in a long time. I found peace, nature, colors and a lot of time to create and get my work out there. It all started here so I will forever be thankful.

T: Where do you find your inspiration?
BG: Traveling, beautiful places and cities, food, music, people…just about anything and everything can inspire an idea and create an image in my brain.

T: Where is home?
BG: Home is wherever my bed is.

T: What is your favourite piece and what is so special about it?
BG: I don’t have a favorite. I have strong and different relationships with every piece I’ve made. But after I created the world map “LOUIS ARMSTRONG TOLD US SO,” many doors have opened for me. So I am very thankful and happy about that one.

T: What art-related advice would you give other girls who travel?
BG: Any trip you take, let it be far away or the city next to yours, it will show you new things. While you travel, soak in as much as you can. You could find inspiration in everything you see. A dress, plate, front door, wall color, landscape – even in a hairdo. Have your camera prepared, but also don’t forget to see with your own eyes.

T: What does your workplace look like?
BG: I mostly sit in the living room, at the dining table. Behind me is this antique furniture that I found in an auction house and painted myself. Her name is “Queen Elizabeth II” because she is old and majestic, and yet so graceful and charming. Because of her I also bought four antique chairs that are beautiful, but not that comfortable.

T: Who is your role model?
BG: My Father. He was an incredible artist and lived by his rules. He created unique and one of a kind things, made music, was into filming, enjoyed good food and loved to travel. I am my Father’s daughter (edwardfredgreen.com).

T: What are your plans for the future?
BG: Travel as much as I can. Africa is on top of my long list. Keep creating and exploring. Endless opportunities. Life is good!

Check out her other art here.

xoxo, k.

 

polaroid magnets

I found this adorable DIY, and wanted to share.

Make your very own refrigerator magnets using photos of friends, family, travel destinations and anything you want to use as a magnet.The gimmick of using small Polaroids as the face of the magnet is 70s retro and sure to be a conversation piece the next time someone visits your kitchen’s refrigerator.

Supplies you will need for your tiny polaroid magnets:

• Stiff white cardstock or cardboard
• Opaque white marker
• Craft knife
• Metal straight edge/ruler
• Spray mount
• Adhesive-backed magnet tape
• Adobe Photoshop
• Photo paper
• Printer

The instructuctions are in the graphic but you must have access to Photoshop to use the template provided below. Otherwise you will need to create the Polaroid frame in an image editing program on your own, which should be too difficult considering it is a simple white box with a larger bottom frame border.

Aren’t these Polaroid fridge magnets adorable.

You can visit Ambrosiagirl.com and download the Photoshop template she has provided here. OR you can visit this site and read through the Photoshop tutorial.

Happy magnet making, loves.

xoxo, k.

lover of quirks and stories.

You know me. Lover of anything that is quirky or houses a story. I love that worn, earthy feel of a house that just begs you to come in and feel at home. I love beaten up furniture and crisp walls. I love a home that looks like a million bucks, but doesn’t strive to impress with grandeur. I love things that have the perfect amount of mismatch and imperfection. I love the playfulness and self expression in a home that is there for the inhabitants, not the guests. And I love these pictures of these absolutely lovely homes. Sigh.

 

 

Happy monday.

xoxo, k.

a no excuses attitude

I have learned that there is never an opportune time to accomplish your dreams. 

You will always be “too busy” to do the things that you’ve always wanted to do. Somewhere between emails and making dinner, there’s barely any time to breathe. So my theory with goals is: you just have to go for it. You have to commit to your dreams before you know if you have the time to do them or not (because you never really will). When you commit to completing something, the rest of your life will shift around, and while you’ll be busy, you’ll be happier and more fulfilled than if you keep bumping your dreams down the list of things to do.

One of my personal dreams has been to learn how to play the guitar. Simple enough but after that goal collected dust for over a decade, I decided it was time to make it a priority. Without knowing if I could handle the extra load, I signed up for a beginner’s guitar class in January. With my first class teaching me how to simply hold the instrument, it was easy to think my time would be better spent elsewhere, but I kept going twice a week. Slowly but surely, I was learning entire songs and understanding how to write my own music. In 5 months, I went from having an unfulfilled dream to being able to play almost any song I wanted to on the guitar, and I barely noticed the sacrifice of time I had made to get there. I feel a sense of accomplishment and purpose in tackling my aspirations; a feeling much greater than what I would have gotten from a few extra hours of sleep if I hadn’t taken the class.

Life doesn’t give you enough time, but it does give you enough opportunities.  So I now know if I want to achieve something, I just have to let go of excuses and do it.

 

 

I wrote this post for Wellington Group.

Hope your Monday is going well. 

xoxo, k.  

 

I likey.

I have been criticized by art professors for being too “cute” with my art. But I enjoy things that make me smile. Call me emotionless because I don’t like to paint skulls of blood and bats, but I like to look at things that make this dark world a little happier.

I will post about our “May the Fourth be with you” party we had last weekend soon. It was quite the time.

xoxo, k.

obsessed with orange

I’ve always been a fan of colored doors. And my recent love is orange. 

 

xoxo, k.

Kate Spade Pool Clutch

How cool is this clutch? Just in time for summer.

How Pintresting

I wrote this blog for work, and thought I’d share.

 

Pinterest is a rapidly growing social photo-sharing site with the goal of connecting the world through visual representations of people’s interests.

Its pin-board style of sharing photographic ideas, in which people can “re-pin” or “like” pictures from other Pinterest users all across the world, makes it easy to collect and share ideas. While many people think of Pinterest as a highly addictive site full of beautiful luxuries, tempting its users to dump all their savings on the table for a home makeover or the perfect skinny jeans, Pinterest isn’t just about throw pillows and knitting projects. Pinterest has proven itself to be a wonderful medium for personal wellness.

With a huge portion of the internet’s health, fitness, and wellness blogs combined together in one website, Pinterest can help you become healthier, one pin at a time:

1. Healthy food options: A large portion of Pinterest focuses on food. This is a very easy place to find healthy recipes, facts on food, and nutritious food plans that have been tried and reviewed by users. Most of the pictures of food on Pinterest lead to the full websites that provide further nutritional information and recommendations for other health-savvy websites.

2. Workouts: Pinterest is the ultimate go-to for workout boredom. No matter what you’re interested in, there is a workout for you waiting to be utilized. There is everything from yoga, running, and mountain biking to quick workouts for people who only have fifteen minutes to spare for a workout on their living room floor. There are also tips on how to burn more calories during everyday activities such as being at work, driving a car, and cleaning the house.  With the site being highly visual, it is easy to see the accurate formations of workout poses and learn how to correctly use an exercise ball.

3. Recommended gear: Upset your third infomercial ab machine didn’t give you the six-pack promised? Pinterest users dish out their tried and true workout essentials and share what has worked best for them. Users can even comment on other people’s posts inquiring where they bought it or how much it costs.

4. Health support: Whether you have a disease and want to find counsel from other people who are experiencing the same illness, or you’re looking for a weight-loss support group, Pinterest users have posted the websites they have found the most helpful for encouragement and information. You can also find healthy ways of substituting natural remedies for medication for minor illnesses and a list of what to bring for a hospital visit.

5. Inspiration: Sometimes you just need the extra push to tie up your running shoes or drink that extra glass of water. Pinterest is overflowing with inspirational quotes, testimonies, and pictures that will give you the extra “oomph” you need to make your day healthier.

This social media outlet has allowed the topic of health to become an entertaining pastime, integrating the importance of wellness into everyday life. Try it out for yourself, and see what Pinterest can help you accomplish.

Happy Pinning.

Free arrow photoshop brush download.

I am currently working on a design project for work that requires different kinds of arrows. Well, this just got me on an arrow kick, checking out all the different styles of hand-drawn pointers. In my quest, I found this Photoshop brush set which allows you to simply drop these cute little arrows into any project you’re working on.

Here are some videos to show you how to use these:

The first clip shows tips on loading the brushes in Photoshop (if you’re unfamiliar with the process), and the second one shares a couple ideas on how to use the brush set. If you’re already comfortable with Photoshop, then feel free to just scroll on down for the download and dive right in.

VIDEOS:

How To Load Photoshop Brushes

Tips On Using Photoshop Arrow Brushes

Tip: I suggest using the fill screen button (at the bottom of the page) to view the videos, so that it is sized correctly for the computer that you are using.

If you’re new to Photoshop brushes, I’ve have a few simple pointers on using them to pass on. Please let me know if you need me to clear up any steps. Again, I’m not very savvy when it comes to the technical side of Photoshop, but I should at least be able to get you going with this brush set.

LOADING PHOTOSHOP BRUSHES:

1. Scroll to the bottom of this post and click on the download button
2. Double click on the file once it has downloaded onto your computer. This should automatically load the brushes into your brush library.
3. If that doesn’t work, open photoshop > Window > Brushes
4. When the Brushes palette opens click on the tiny triangle in the upper right-hand corner of the palette
5. Select load brushes from the menu box that opens > select the arrow brush file from your computer (file name cc_arrow_brushes.abr) > click ‘load’
6. Your brushes will now appear in the brush palette library

Now that you have your brushes, here area a few ideas on how to use them:Arrows are great for highlighting details on a post or image.

You can also use them to create a decorative pattern like this.

BRUSH USING TIPS:

• You will need to use a new layer to get started using your brushes.
• I recommend using a new layer for each brush that you want to use on your page, that way they will be easy to edit individually.
• You can change the opacity of your arrows (allowing more or less of the background to show through them). To do this make sure you have selected the brush tool, toggle the opacity and flow percentages in the very top menu bar before stamping down your chosen arrow. Once you have the opacity looking how you like, apply your brush anywhere you’d like on your page.

Download your brushes here!

Happy arrowing.

xoxo, k.

A girl can dream.

this is a video kinga burza made for kate spade ny.

then, i decided to paint something.

I wanted to paint something that would be simple and bright to put on my new crates, so with a glass of wine, a few episodes of the Office, several tubes of paint, and absolutely no clue what I wanted to paint… this is what ended up coming together.

 

 

I’m pretty crazy about this color scheme right now, so I like it. It also matches my bouquet of  flowers (which is actually my wedding bouquet that my parents dried out for me… isn’t that cute?!)

You should go paint something. Who cares if it sucks? It’s so liberating. Plus, you can get a frame like this at Ikea for only $15 and put it up for all to see.

 

xoxo, k.

 

 

A few thing to lift the spirits.

Feeling a little funky today. Needed some visual medicine.

 

Okay. That’s all.

xoxo, k.

target clearance schedule

Ladies and gentlemen, I am here to give you a nugget of gold: the Target mark down schedule. Now you’ll know when everything you love is going on sale- before it does. You’re welcome.

Check it out here.

 

xoxo, k.

work space

Home offices are one of those things that can be easily over-looked, over-crowded, and under-decorated. For most creative people, this is where their greatest work comes from (second being on the couch with a burning hot laptop on your legs), yet most offices are just thrown together. Well, I want to be more intentional with my next office. My office now (shared with Clint), is full of paints, paper, chords, unfinished projects, and chick fil a cups. With no real organization or theme, it can really dampen the inspiration. So here are some pictures that I am currently musing over:

To check out the rest of the offices that I compiled together, you can look here. (And repin them if you’re a pintrest typa’ gal.)

xoxo, k.