Poppy Wren

Pushin' books?

2012-02-24T07:07:00.000-08:00

{photo from nypl digital archive online}

How d'ye do everyone? Have you had a good week? I know there are still a couple of days left in it, so if you had a less-than stellar week I hope you can redeem it with some weekend fun or relaxation. It looks like our balmy 70 degree weather is about to give way to a storm and some colder weather this weekend, so I don't think I mind too much that I will be inside working for 90% of it.

Speaking of work, I can't WAIT until Monday. No, I don't have the day off, no, I don't have a shorter work day. In fact I don't get another day off until next wednesday, but I hope to be hearing back from some library job applications I put in this week. The last day for applying is tomorrow, so hopefully by monday or tuesday I will get some calls. I hope to get an interview because of my experience in library work. Oh, about six years or more. I have been praying so hard and so distracted about this possibility for four days now, ever since I applied and took my resume in to the branch where I hope to maybe work. I just cannot take working in sales any more. This quote from a friend's status update sums up my thoughts exactly:

In the working world, you'll always hear people complaining about their jobs. And then there are those who will say, "There are so many people without work, I'm just grateful to be getting a paycheck." While this, of course, is true to a large extent, at what point do we stop settling for bad hours, low pay, and a poor work environment because it's better than nothing? At what point do we say, there may be people who are worse off than me, but by golly, I can do better than this. I'm not going to settle anymore.

Wallowing self pity is no way to act. But I do believe that doing everything you can possibly do to change your position and lots of prayer and relying on the Lord for His will and timing is better than remaining in a situation where you cannot take it any more. For some reason it makes you feel better when you are actively doing something about it. Even though I am still having to sit in a panera for three hours before work and I won't get home until 9:30, I don't feel so terrible about it because I know that there could be a change soon, if the Lord wants it.

Well, I may have to dodge some raindrops soon, so have a lovely Friday night!

Color study

2012-02-16T15:09:00.002-08:00

I thought I would do something different today. Offer some content! What a novel idea!? I have recently had a discovery/obsession over green amethyst. I have also realized that I cannot seem to remember how to spell amethyst correctly. (don't worry, I did my research before this post) If you would like to keep up with my obsession go have a look at my pinterest board for jewelry HERE. And if you're wondering, you can buy these lovely things for yourself if you are so inclined

The combined color pallet and product links are after the jump!

(and I named them all!)

1. Necklace @hellothula

2. Strung beads @TheiaGemstones

3. Ring @delezhen

4. Second necklace no longer exists on etsy. :(

Valentines Day Essay

2012-02-14T05:56:00.000-08:00

This morning as T.W. was driving me to work, he commented: "So I don't even really know where Valentines Day came from." I, the terrible history major stumbled through some random (erroneous) facts. I even think I said "Oh, maybe he was the guy who married people in secret and delivered notes for lovers?" No, that would be friar Tuck from Robin Hood... not St. Valentine. So As I am sitting here in the mall waiting for 9:30 to come so I can go to work, I thought I would give a few facts for you guys!

St. Valentine is one of 14 martyred saints in ancient Rome.
The particular one celebrated with a feast day on February 14th has a lot of mystery surrounding his ministry and only the fact of his dynig on February 14th and his birthday are known.
The catholic church took this feast day out of their liturgical calendar back in 1969.
No one really knows where he worked. he could have been a priest in Rome, a bishop in Tarni, or a martyr in a Roman/African province.
Now it turns out I was a little correct in the facts of a legend that some people like to hold to that I will copy here: lore has been embroidered in modern times to portray Valentine as a priest who refused an unattested law attributed to Roman Emperor Claudius II, allegedly ordering that young men remain single. The Emperor supposedly did this to grow his army, believing that married men did not make for good soldiers. The priest Valentine, however, secretly performed marriage ceremonies for young men. When Claudius found out about this, he had Valentine arrested and thrown in jail. {somewhat reliable source}

Now. How in the world did we get from a Catholic feast day commemorating a martyr to Candy hearts and lingerie sales at Victoria's secret? You can thank Chaucer for it, and courtly love. Lots of mushy gushy poems, letters, flowers and sweet exchanging!

I admit, I have been one of those Valentines day haters in the past. I don't love the color pink, I still think there is way too much of it around when this holiday comes around, and I do not approve of it being the one day a year some people express their feelings with an evening out and some sweet card (just to change things up a bit.) In light of the day's namesake I think it should be a day where we remember an aspect of love: Sacrifice.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

(1 Corinthians 13:7 ESV)

Love is not gullible, please do not misinterpret this. It believes in all Truth that comes from the Lord. It bears all of those rough patches in your relationship that cause you to wonder why you are dating them, or why you married them! It hopes in the promises God has given to all of His children, and in the fact that yes, you will have wonderful moments in your love life and can have them even if you have not experienced them yet. Love endures the pain your loved one causes you in hasty words, dismissal, or even when they cheat on you. It does not mean that you should put up with repeated offenses by any means, but be patient, kind, and humble as you approach your other half, family member, friend, or even an acquaintance at work.

As Christians we are called to love all.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

(Mark 12:30-31 ESV)

So while you sit watching chick flicks eating a half gallon of your icecream of choice, please remember you are loved by God. You are accepted by him, and there are those who have gone before us as martyrs for the love they had for God and the Truth that His salvation through Jesus, the greatest hope we have on earth. As you sit across from your Beau or hubby this evening at dinner or snuggling on the couch remember the sacrifice that is synonymous with love. I know I need to remember it as T.W. and I are going through our seminary years and I have to sit at work hours before and hours after I can clock in and out. I have to remember it as I sit at home all day while he is at work and I am off without a car I can drive to go or do as I please. I have to remember it every time I walk across the apartment complex to do laundry because we live in the tiniest apartment there is in town (it seems).

So happy Valentines Day everyone! I hope you have a lovely day!

(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons by Sam Cooke on Grooveshark

Sat. Morn. Muse

2012-02-04T08:47:00.000-08:00

{photo} {colourlover}

My last post is rather a shamble after a failed attempt to layer css text over a photo. I have tutorials, but I need to sit down and really listen to the youtube video and review some codes. I'd like to become an expert in the realm of CSS, so I should probably look into buying a book instead of trying to piece together stuff from the internet. Anyone know if there is a CSS bible of sorts out there?

This week has been crazy. Comparable to the crazy-business college was. Something happening every day, work getting in the way of work in other forms (like doing laundry). Hectic scrambles to figure out three schedules, T.W's work, my work, and his classes.

Well, we made it! It has just been strange for the husband to be waist deep in reading when I am not in the same boat as well. Granted, I have been pretty busy working, so its not like I have time to plunge into anything time consuming until next week. Apparently it is the thing to do to work almost two weeks back to back (without a day off) during the slowest retail season. Ah well, five more days to go.

It's just that phase of life all seminary families go through. I've seen lots of people make it in one piece, so I know T.W. and I will. We just have to be patient and be thankful for the blessings we receive - no matter how small - knowing they are from the Lord who has our lives in His hands.

links!

2012-01-31T20:06:00.001-08:00

Here are some links
I'm sure you'll love!
you version
thief and bandit (etsy)
embroidery tuts

css code help by
puglypixel

I do believe I am incapable of having a 'normal' profile picture. I go from wacky eccentric "lets recreate a historical hairstyle/turban!" to "lets look emo with a mostly-sideshot taken with my ipod because I'm too lazy to get T.W. to take a picture of me." I hope to someday have one of me smiling face-front sans historically retro updos.

Now, for some very fun crafty-sites I have found.

speaking of...

2012-01-30T17:59:00.000-08:00

{link} {link}

So remember me saying only the other day how I didn't have anything to write about? Well here is proof that God has a sense of humor and we are made in His image, so you will most likely chuckle at this. T.W. has been out of seminary for the past semester for financial reasons. We we very uncertain as to when he would be able to go back this spring, or have to wait until the fall. Our church offered to pay the remaining amount left after his scholarships covered part of his tuition, and we thought it would be fall after the subject sort of died down. Well, yesterday after church we found out they could help pay this semester. Which means, the hubby went down to the seminary today, registered for classes, and starts back tomorrow.

So now we have a huge change taking place in the space of 24 hours. Our schedules, the fact that our truck is a stick and I cannot drive it, and us both being in retail jobs while he goes to school will make things very interesting to say the least. I am now officially a seminary student's wife, and have no idea how to be one. It's funny how they train men (or women) who feel the call to ministry, but they don't train their spouses. It's sort of like being an army wife, but not really. Now, do not get me wrong, I am so excited for my husband and the fact that we have been blessed with such a generous church and their helping us for this stage of our lives. I am just the the worst worry wort in history!

Here is an explanation:

#6 was just broken.

I need time to recover.

Thankfully I had today off for this reason, and for another. A little stomach trouble kept me in bed all morning and part of the afternoon. I am finally feeling normal, and am about to work 9 days straight in the midst of all this change. I'll be sporadic, pray have patience with me! But I now have something to write about... (seeing as the husband will be reading 99% of the time from now until about 2015.)

An explanation... of sorts.

2012-01-28T16:34:00.001-08:00

An explanation of cause is not a justification by reason.

C. S. Lewis

I apologize for waiting almost an entire week to write again! This week has been full of busy nothings. Nothing of importance and nothing to really write about that would interest even the nosiest of stalkers. I have come to the realization that I want to do something - really DO something - that has meaning. That is appreciated, useful, and fulfills a need. And not just at home, but as a part of my job, my life even. I suppose that is why I attempt in vain to build a blog that some how makes me feel productive. I have a mini stress before every entry I write hoping that I will feel good about what I write, giving content and a good balance of fun/pictures/humor. I don't suppose it is about pleasing myself as it is pleasing others, and while I hope I never change my words for others I hope I have something worth reading.

This is probably why my posts are few and far between.

If nothing has happened in the week that I think is of blog-worth, I don't write.

My way of life at the moment seems void of any real solid content. Yes, a writer writes whenever they have the time to sit down, even if it is just a few lines, they should write. So here it is, Saturday night, T.W. is at work, I'm watching Downton Abby for the second time (shh watched it the first time on a bootleg website), wearing scrub pants and a flannel shirt... and munching on mini marshmallows rather moodily.

Yup. I'm feeling introverted.

On the more interesting side, you'll find that I have been more active on twitter as of late. I've decided the facebook has left me bored, and twitter is far more advantageous to what I want in my newsfeed. If you would like to follow me, click on the link in the sidebar, or click here ---> @kate_wren. I have been finding all sorts of neat links throughout the day that I follow up on when I get home. Here are just a few of my findings. :)

Crocheted valentines how-to
Ten free fonts that look so cool I can't wait to download an use them!
NASA photo of the earth. If you stare at it long enough it almost seems to move.

Well, now that I have watched all of Downton Abby that I can watch for now, I shall scour the contents of Pinterest for some fun things to make. See you all!

Voice crush

2012-01-22T19:41:00.000-08:00

I know this is a song about new years, but it's still January, so I feel like I can post it and still stay within context. Just found this artist tonight and liked his stuff immediately. I'm pretty sure the fact that I am already blogging about him is proof of that.

P.S. Yes I'm married, but voice crushes are still allowed. It's a definition of something all girls get when they hear a hunky voice. You understand, right?

adorning thy neck

2012-01-14T18:02:00.000-08:00

1. Irregular Shapes of White necklace by TooSis

2. Rain Over the Rose Garden earrings by missbabacilu

3. Agate Stick necklace by TooSis

Just a little old fashioned etsy hunting and linkage! I have been so frustrated with photo layouts lately. Drooling over photoshop and the ability to do things like puglypixel has done making photo layouts. Well, finally I have discovered how to do the same thing with inkscape after piecing together information from a poorly written tutorial and a long-needed sit down with the handbook. I have figured it out dear friends! Hooray! I suspect I will be posting my own inkscape version of photo layout tutorials soon. It's super simple, and I may have not discovered an easier way to do it, but it all comes with practice doesn't it?

Subconscious Cyber Selfishness

2012-01-10T19:59:00.000-08:00

Don't you love the feeling of having a new notebook or journal? All of the pages are clean and unmarked, ready for your thoughts, notes and memories to be put down into legible (or not so legible) words. You can go back and read them to your hearts content, leafing through the past with your present state of mind analyzing what you thought and wondered, feared and wished. I've been doing a lot of analyzing lately; mainly of my reasons for blogging and what I want this blog to turn into. I'm pretty sure most of my reasons are shallow and selfish. As I sat talking to a dear friend this evening I gushed:

"I'd love to expand my readership and be a prominent blogger, and have an etsy shop,

and save money and go to the alt conference some day and wear really cute clothes

and hang out with all of the other artistic and awesome gals who go to that conference!"

But then I remembered reading the blog entries of some very down to earth ladies who let their faith soak through the words on their blogs and permeate their whole website. I would much rather write about the things that are of substance than put pictures up of expensive outfits and decor. Yet I feel this pressure to be just like all of the bloggers with 1,000+ followers who post exactly that. The things of this world.

This blog at the moment is a little half-baked as I haven't had enough time to devote a fully thought out design and organized interface, so please have patience with me! I'll have a new look that's easy for you to navigate soon. I promise. I have my old blog switched over to act as my test blog now, and I'm in the midst of creating something that is totally 'me'.

Do you ever feel the pressure to blog like everyone else?

Do you feel that twinge of jealousy when you see a really cute and successful blog?

Am I the only one who suffers from subconscious cyber peer-pressure?

Plan it!

2012-01-05T18:39:00.000-08:00

This little yellow book is my new blogging calendar! I write ideas, when I will blog about them, and little thoughts from the day that could turn into personal journal entries (your little eyes may never see). Just one little step in the direction of more consistent blogging!

Now some free calendars for you!

I know you'll have a hard time choosing like I did.

warm fuzzies

2012-01-04T18:14:00.000-08:00

I have had a tiny obsession with sweaters lately. Maybe because it finally decided to feel like winter instead of early fall here in the south, or because I have found three comfy sweaters/cardigans on sale to add to my winter wardrobe. In any case, I have been enjoying the fuzzy warmth of sweaters I own, and also these pictures I found of vintage knitting patterns available for purchase on Etsy!

I am pretty sure any one of these models would invite some rather hilarious/witty captions. Leave a comment if any come to mind after you scroll through!

Source: etsy.com via Kate@poppyWren on Pinterest

I may have to ad "knit a sweater" to my bucket list for 2012!

Hope list.

2012-01-02T08:23:00.000-08:00

|photo from etsy|

I have a confession to make.

I have never been a fan of new years resolutions.

I'm not sure whether it is my stubborn nature that doesn't like to do what everyone else is doing, or if it is my procrastinating nature. I haven't been able to stick to things for very long unless I was held accountable for it. I lost a little chub this past year by being in an aerobics class for a semester, but after that I was never regular about exercising again.

Eating healthier? Try working in a mall and never having a regular schedule and see what that does to your eating habits.

I have never been the best at self discipline in most areas, (I do shower and brush my teeth regularly, so please do not worry about that...)

Please do not think that I am the most lazy person on the face of the planet.

I am actually frustrated when I do not feel productive.

The only thing about me is, I cannot focus. I wonder if it is the stereotypical "artistic minds can't keep things together," because I have a hard time focusing even when I am trying to redo blog designs. I get distracted, and easily change my mind, making the process last twice as long as it should.

Well, I hope this year I am better about this.

I hope to find a job that offers a more regular schedule.

I hope that I am able to blog regularly and reach about 300 followers by the end of the year.

I hope to start an etsy shop.

I hope to take more pictures.

I hope to sew and craft more.

I hope to grow in my faith.

I hope to find the courage to be a more confident adult(ish) person.

I hope to love my husband more and more every day.

I hope to cook delicious and cheap food.

I hope to clip coupons like a fiend.

I hope to get a second car.

I hope to enjoy

this life

that

God

has

given

me.

What do you hope this new year brings?

New beginnings

2012-01-01T19:35:00.000-08:00

image from Nickeh Smith|image edited in pixlr| gif from gifninja| L.M.Montgomery quote

Hello my friends!

The new year has come, and I know so many people have recapped their lives via the blogosphere that you may be groaning "Oh no...not another 'this is your life' post!" Well, I will just hit the highlights. ;)

January:

Took the month off of school since I had all the credits I needed for college Jterm. Spent most of the time wedding planning and buying my wedding dress.

February:

School, a valentines day spent without my fiancee at the time, T.W. He was in Charlotte at seminary taking really hard classes and calling me every night after he got off work at Dunkin Donuts. It was such a hard time to be apart, but the phone conversations really helped us learn how to communicate and appreciate the little time we had together about every 5 weeks or so.

March-April:

Kind of a blur, school, missing T.W. and doing things with friends for the last time. We were all so nostalgic towards the end!

My college roommate threw me a wonderful wedding shower, and most of my bridesmaids were able to attend so that was wonderful!

May:

GRADUATION. Oh wait, a car accident two days before. My first, and I pray my last. No one was hurt, including the deer that ran out in front of me... BUT T.W.'s car didn't make it. Poor FDR bit the dust.

(literally) and T.W. was carless right before his first of seminary exams. I felt SO terrible.

- I was in a friends wedding the week after graduation. We had so much fun.

- Met and started working with my now dear dear friend and almost adopted Grandmother, Grace. She kept me sane in all the wedding planning and paid me to put books online which in turn allowed for more wedding plans to take place. Without her I don't know what our wedding would have been like.

June:

Wedding plans, stressing out, and LOTS of crafting.

July:

The first two weeks were crazy. Absolutely crazy. Last minute planning, packing and moving stuff into the apartment, just wanting some alone time with T.W. and not having enough of it.

16th: WEDDING DAY. Enough said!

The honeymoon made of stuff from the movies took place. We were so grossly unprepared for a night camping midweek, and underfunded for other things... it is only beginning to be comical. It was great, however, to get out of town, see the mountains, and be alone with the love of my life and now-partner through the thick and thin. I will have to post pictures soon. I really will... It will be a 6 month anniversary post I think.

(now notice the lack of pictures because life gets a little more boring...)

August:

Job hunting. Finally got a job at a nearby mall.

Began a new blog, poppyWren, and began blogging about the same stuff I always have. Random stuff.

September:

Getting used to the job, settling in, getting used to married life

October:

More work, nondescript normal events

November:

Put up the Christmas tree before Thanksgiving.

Work, a thanksgiving spent at my parents and then on the side of the road with a dead vehicle.

First black Friday experience at work, crazy holiday hours began.

December:

Work, lots of chocolate covered espresso beans, and some holiday stress I've never experienced.

A wonderful Christmas morning with my hubby, the rest of the day spent visiting every family member we could have possibly visited, but not until a meaningful church service. It really was special to be in church on Christmas day, even for all the difficulty it caused in logistics.

And now here we are in 2012.

I hope to be better at blogging, to maybe even start a successful etsy shop, and to find new friends to start this new phase of life with T.W. and I. We miss getting together with people our own age so much I have started looking into groups online for people in our area. I pray that my relationship with the Lord grows and deepens, and in turn that my relationship with T.W. makes us even more inseparable and in love. I plan on knitting a ton more, sewing some dresses for myself, and making our apartment the epitome of organization and comfort.

I hope you all have a blessed new year!

Love,

Kate

Holiday Recap

2011-12-30T07:09:00.000-08:00

I know school hasn't started back yet, but I thought I would go ahead and give my report on "What I did on my Christmas break". I must say that it was rather weird working through the holiday season for the first time in my life, and only having Christmas day off. It's all part and parcel of the retail industry, I know. To be expected and planned on. It was still a shock to my system though.

- Christmas Eve
Worked from 12:00-6:00pm (good short day, can't complain)
Went to Christmas eve service at 7:00, saw two friends I haven't seen in forever! Made mental note to get together with one of them soon.
Drove to friends house 15 minutes away for Christmas eve party. We have gone to this party since I was about 14 I think. It has been interesting to come as a highschooler, then a college student, and now a married working woman.
10:00 went home to chill out and go to bed in our new Christmas pj's.

Christmas morning T.W. woke me up numerous times from his tossing and turning. I was just as hyped up because it was Christmas, but it never really occured to me that he would be too! He was more of a kid than I was!

- Christmas Day

Up and out of bed at 6:30ish
Opened presents, was surprised with some neat techy things from T.W.'s work. I will have to take more pictures now that I have some filters for my camera lens!
8:30 we slowly started getting ready for church and were out the door by around 10:00
10:30 arrive at church where the kids were hyper from the afterglow of opening Christmas presents early that morning. Many a boy still had bed-head, and just about every girl I saw had brought some part of her loot to show off to her other little friends.
11:30ish church is over and we head off to my family.
Opened presents at the old homestead and snacked on crackers, twizzlers and coke. I sit down to watch Rudolph with the sisters and pass out in the living room chair. I'm sure my family thought it was pitiful, but I was just so tired from work and the early morning risethat I couldn't keep my eyes open!
3:00 we leave the house (right before my family started eating dinner... that was hard...) and head to SC.

4:00ish we arrive in C____ S.C. and begin the whirlwind in-law tour! We visited four different homes, and ate about three different desserts and drank soda with each one. Sugar was welcome as a caffeine substitute to keep me awake, but I was still so tired it brought a comment from my Step Grandmother-in-law who said my eyes looked tired. We will just have to plan another trip when I am more rested!
8:00 we leave the last relative and head back to Charlotte.
9:00 arrive at home, get in pj's, watch the new Tron movie, I fall asleep in the last hour of it, and finally T.W. wakes me up to get me to bed and we both pass out with that good holiday exhaustion.

I apologize for the lack of pictures this time. I am rather disappointed that T.W. and I have no pictures of us for our first Christmas together. Really, we hardly have any pictures of the two of us, and I rarely take pictures any more at events (what few there are that we go to!) I am compiling a list of things I want to be better about this coming year, and documenting our life together is one of the items on the list. Journaling, photographing, archiving and putting into frames... all of it. I need to do it more!

Enjoy your Friday!
Love,
Kate

I only have to Check it once Santa, I don't know why you're so OCD.

2011-12-20T14:07:00.000-08:00

Today has been such a long-awaited day!

Two days off together right before Christmas is just what this over-worked and under appreciated sales lady needs. I was able to meet my sis #1 for coffee. We ended up going to the library where I checked out a few books. Pictoral novels are a favorite of mine, but bookstores and libraries don't have a section for them, so I usually come out of both places empty-handed. I checked out this:

I've already read about 1/4th of it. I'll have to save it for the car ride on Christmas from my parents to T.W.'s family down in s.c. I have other things I need to be doing that require more concentration.

Project #knitthatstocking is underway and about 50% finished. The pattern so far has been super simple, and the yarn I chose has knit up prettily. I just have to give a concentrated effort to the heel and toe now. Concentration on a work-day is not as it needs to be for row counting and turning.

Here are a few songs to brighten up your pre-christmas week!

Indie Rock Cafe.com

Its a playlist set to 'Twas the Night Before Christmas! One song for every line. I'm about to turn mine on and get knittin'!

Now go bake some gingerbread men.

And bite their heads off first.

Update!

2011-12-17T09:42:00.000-08:00

It's half way there!

I have to devote the next part of the knitting to when I have a couple of days off next week, but so far it's going faster than I anticipated. I think this goal of being done by Christmas eve is a possibility!

Now off to work until midnight.

Bye!

It's' official...

2011-12-12T08:40:00.000-08:00

I am insane.

I have procrastinated and forgot followed by more procrastination until here we are: two weeks away from Christmas, and Manly has no Christmas stocking to put his Reese's cups and other assorted treats in.

While I feel like a terrible wife for not having this done sooner, I am sort of excited to have a mission and a deadline. These next couple of weeks are going to be hell at work, and because I have experienced what was probably a panic attack on the job, I think I will need something to help me wind down when I get home.

I just ordered the yarn, and for the first time I have paid extra shipping to have knit picks...

I have the needles thank goodness! Updates via twitter on mission #knitthatstocking! will be continuous if you wish to follow my insanity.

Peace to you all!

-Kate

Hooray!

2011-11-29T15:23:00.001-08:00

Hello all!

I hope you all had a lovely thanksgiving! We have had a rather difficult weekend since our truck broke down on Thanksgiving night en route to my mother-in-law's house after eating dinner with my parents and sisters. I would recommend (if you don't have it already) you get AAA for everyone in your family for Christmas. We didn't have it, and had to leave our truck on the side of the road for two days before we could get a tow truck out to get it to the shop. Yeah, and AAA came within about an hour after T.W. called early Saturday morning.

Add working in retail on black friday, and you get some interesting fanagling of getting to work with a borrowed vehicle from parents (bless their generous hearts!). We finally know what is wrong with the truck and should be getting it back soon.

Real life kind of sucks.

I am just praying we don't have any fiascoes on Christmas day!

Speaking of:

Our tree is up.

I have indi Christmas music playing on the iHome.

I am finally wearing a sweater and thick socks (did anyone else in the south think we had switched weather with florida?)

Mint dark chocolate covered espresso beans from Trader Joe's are the perfect holiday pick me up at work. I pop two every hour these days to help keep me going!

And our advent candle wreath is ready for the first candle to be lit.

O come, o come Emmanuel...

O Come O Come Emmanuel by The Civil Wars on Grooveshark

Hooray!

2011-11-28T18:13:00.001-08:00

I am so excited! I just won a giveaway over at City of Dionne. Dionne is so sweet she's going to send me this platter to my little abode, so I can put my own vintage postcards and earrings on it. I can't wait!

(fyi, I've never won anything before, so I'm kind of hyper-excited...)

More tomorrow, it's time for a rest!

Have a lovely evening all!

-Kate

App Reviews

2011-11-20T12:36:00.001-08:00

I have a confession to make.

I love free things.

Now, rest assured I do not feel entitled to free things, however nice it is when we receive free stuff. Free samples in the mail, free cone days at Ben and Jerry's, free hugs...

Since I bought my iPod touch over a year ago, I probably bought maybe five apps.

And I don't even know that I use those as much as I do the free ones.

I have been compiling a list of really useful free apps for about a month now, so now that I have enough I thought I would share them with you!

Oh, and they're all centered around creative things.

Yup. I'm good.

Howdy! is a free e-card app that gives you multiple ways to customize and send some really unique cards to send to friends around holidays, or just to say "howdy!"

The app includes card categories of video, get well, holidays, photos, love, and party. The photo and the video categories offer the neatest sections for customization and sending personalized messages.

Use your own pictures, or pictures you have saved in your device. Easy peasy!

Most cards are somewhat animated, and sure to brighten your recipient's inbox.

Knitting bag simple has been a useful device since I picked my knitting back up. I lost my tiny little hand held dial-counter in the move this summer, and with some difficult increase and decrease rows in most of the sock patterns I really needed something to keep track of the rows! This one works great, and though it doesn't really have any frills, I'm finding the simpler the app, the higher likelihood of me using it regularly. I think there is a paid version of this which may contain some more features, but I'll be good with this one for quite a while I think!

The weave app is by far one of the best to-do apps out there that I have used.

The push notifications are frequent enough to remind you of what you need to get done, but they are not obnoxious. They are also easy to set up so they actually go off. I have had problems with apps not reminding me of events and things I needed to get done. The neat thing about this app is, it has the expense feature. A great thing for me as I am starting to think about selling on etsy. All you have to do is start a new project and

There are folders which act as categories of to-dos or projects, and then within those projects you create the individual projects themselves. When overviewing the categories you can calculate how much time is spent on the projects, the percent completed towards your goal, and how much money has been gained or lost within each category or project.

Overall, it's just cool.

This one may or may not be kind of cheesy.

I also know some of you may be leery of putting your voice into a public social network, but I think this app is a neat way to make your tweets and status updates more unique; especially if you are a person who tweets a lot for your blog publicity or business.

You can see I have no followers, and I'm not following anyone at the moment, but that's because I just downloaded it and wanted to share it right away! I think it would be a neat thing to do if you're out and about. Record the sounds of where you are and have friends guess your location. ( If you're worried about safety, just save and post when you're not there anymore - just in case someone who's following you is in the seat next to you at the movie theater or something...)

Another one of the best free video-making apps out there. I love the set up and the ability to change the way things look with not only the preset cinematography settings, but also by changing the lens and the filter colors to create your own unique lighting

(please excuse the tired face, I've been sick lately)

You are given a set about of "money" with which to buy the filters and presets you want. If you want any more past what the app allows you to have for free, you have to pay for more, but it's really not necessary unless you think you will use everything and get your money's worth out of it. It's pretty darn awesome, and makes me wish I had an iPhone with a better camera. I'd be doing vlogging!

And for fun, here's a good crossword puzzle app to stretch your brain. I got T.W. hooked on it the other night to the point where it was hard to pull him away! I would suggest this as a great app for iPad users, but it's on the edge of difficult to use for iPod/Phone users. The size of the keyboard is almost too small.

Still fun to waste time on though!

And now you have no excuse.

They're all free, they're all cool, and if you have any device that will download them, you should!

Go have fun!

Scones

2011-11-16T19:14:00.001-08:00

This week I made not one, but TWO batches of this yummy seasonal breafast/tea bread.

The recipe came from the Joy of Baking, but I didn't put the raisins and nuts in it. I also didn't have ginger, so I substituted it with nutmeg and it was quite a delicious substitution if I do say so myself!

Now, by themselves they look a little sad. Last year my family made some scones and we made a wonderful discovery. Trader Joe's has a seasonal apple butter.

Cranberry apple butter.

Put some on your pumpkin scone....

And it tastes like a thanksgiving party in your mouth.

No really.

Go try it. It's amazing. If you don't have a Trader Joe's near you... I'll lament your loss with you and offer to mail you a jar for a small fee. :)

T.W. just saw my photo of the scones... I have a feeling I will have to make another few batches before we've had our fill of yummy pumpkin-ness.

instagrams

2011-11-14T16:27:00.001-08:00

Some instagrams for your perusal.

{1} Top left, T.W. gives Sasha the dog a hug.

{2} Top right, christmas ornament ideas for the mcWilson tree.

{3} Bottom left, our living room after curtains and a bookshelf. Still need to fix that lamp standing by its lonesome in the corner.

{4} Bottom right delicious food from a local restaurant on our last date night.

Did you know you can put a book together of your instagrams? Have a look here!
I have yet to try it, but it doesn't look like it would cause any kind of headaches...

Mouthwash

2011-11-11T09:42:00.000-08:00

Lately my mind has had an itch for history. It comes in phases, just like my current 60's fashion phase, or my co-existent urge to knit any and every knitting pattern I come across. I think it is the plague of artistic minds, to be so interested in so many things that it is impossible to maintain them all at once. I came across this quote from Abigail (whom I fancy I could have called Abby if we were dearest friends way back then) and could not resist. It could be taken in so many different ways, and unfortunately I didnt' write down the surrounding context when I pulled this from another book about Abigail this summer.
I think for this time in my life I could say these same words with some apprehension and worry. My current job (in my mind) is something I would very much like to exchange for another in the next year, and the whole subject of T.W.'s seminary career coming back into the mix next year makes me want to cling to him any second we get to see each other. Unfortunately, the holiday season sucks when two spouses work in retail. We are at the mercy of our employers and the hours our respective stores keep.
So. I think now is the time to find some solidity. Something to keep me grounded at least until January 1st, and then I can go from there. A refocus moment.
T.W. and I are doing memory verses for each week from Isaiah 9. Here's the first verse:

Isaiah 9:1

But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish.

In the former time He brought into contempt the land Zebulun and the land of Naphtali.

But in the later time, He has made glorious the way of the sea,

the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

A verse of hope!

I think that is what we all need to be reminded of, and me especially right now. There is a hope beyond this world, even when our minds run wild with the what-ifs and worries of the future.

catty eyes

2011-11-10T08:14:00.000-08:00

Source: thebeautydepartment.com via Kate on Pinterest

A great tutorial I just used for my first ever experience putting liquid eyeliner on.
I felt like a teenager putting makeup on for the first time hoping it looked ok and not crazy.
I'll need some practice, but I should get the hang of it soon...
Just another step back into the 60's. I've got it bad.

New favourite.

2011-11-09T12:17:00.000-08:00

The British spelling of many words is just more superior than our way here in the states, don't you think? To me it looks more phonetically correct. But it could be because I have read too many British authors in my lifetime instead of Uncle Toms Cabin, and other fine American literary works.

I have been watching too much Pan Am and Mad Men recently as well. A healthy dose of the 60's is in my little grey cells lately, so I took a seam ripper to the size tag of my black v-neck Merona sweater and wore it backwards.

I think I'll be doing this will all of my old cardigans now. It gets so hot at work that I can't bring myself to wear sweaters. The v-neck in the back keeps me remarkably comfortable though! It's over all cuter as well.

Now to down another cup of coffee while I work on my knitting in the above picture.

If you want to see what I have on my circular's click HERE.

Happy Wednesday!

To perm or not to perm...

2011-11-08T08:03:00.000-08:00

Finally, after a five day stint of some stress-filled work, I have some time to myself. I just made myself a cuppa, and am deciding what to do next. I have some projects (christmas presents) to work on, and a few patterns to hunt down for more presents. The most exciting thing about these two days off is I get to cook! The husband and I have sort of switched roles in the during the past week, and I think it will become a tradition of sorts. When one of us is worn out from work, or anything else, the other will cook for them. I think this will apply to being sick as well, but thank goodness we aren't sick at the moment!

In other news I'm contemplating a hair change, and it may involve a trip back to freshman year. Yup. The perm.

I am so glad that shirt was either lost or destroyed... remind me never again to buy a putty green shirt. Me and earthtones had a phase, but thank goodness some color has emerged in my wardrobe.

Then there was the short hair phase, or in the words of a friend, the "duck butt cut" where it was shorter in the back than in the front.

Lowfi pics ain't workin' here. My apologies for the poor photography.

I will never go this short again for a LONG time. It has taken forever for my hair to grow back out and look normal, and I'm an experimental type with my updo's, so I hated the limits short hair put on my hair creativity. I guess you just have to try it once and then learn from it.

I will definitely not go so curly as before, maybe more along the lines of a wave, and some shorter bangs than I have now. Just to find a good hair stylist who won't charge me an arm and a leg to have it permed and maybe highlighted with some red.

We shall see...

Anything is better than this!

(think the bangs should come back?)

etsy finds

2011-11-07T16:53:00.000-08:00

I'm in a rustic mood lately.

It must be the change of the leaves and the constant desire to be outside when I have put in some 41 hours at work last week. I hate that I will see the sunlight even less now, but these next two days I will get to see the sun from the time it comes up to the time it sets. Two days off! oh yeah! Which also means I have more time to blog!

In the theme of rustic, here are some things I found on etsy!

earrings from {loveisrising}

timber! shirt by {timberps}

cross body bag by {karenkell}

Sock pattern by {TatianaOrlova}

Message ring by {Austin Moore}

orange skirt by {jenniferlillydesigns}

notebook by {GalaBorn}

multi-metal bracelet by {BlueRoomGems}

Boutineer Tutorial

2011-10-24T09:50:00.000-07:00

At long last I have the time and the pictures of the finished product to share with you all! I made all the boutineers for my wedding, and the pictures are from the first experimental one. I'm wearing one that the boys left behind, either on purpose, or by accident I'm not sure, but I'm glad I had one because I don't have any pictures of the finished product when I was done experimenting! Here are the pictures along the way, and a link to the tutorial for the flower part which I found elsewhere.

You will need:

You will also need a glue gun and glue for assembling later. (not pictured here)

1. Draw and cut a freehand leaf. I used a rose leave as a guide from a mock wedding bouquet I made. Trace onto something stiff, but not too thick. Cardstock works best. Trace onto fabric with a pencil and cut two for each boutineer. This gives the leaf more substance and will help it stand up straight when pinned.

2. Use your thread spool to trace 6 circles. Then assemble a flower with the directions from here. The size of the circles you trace will determine the size of your flower. Also, the more circles you use in the flower, the fuller it will look.

3. Cut a few sprigs and play with the arrangement before you go to the next step.

4. Pin the two leaves together at the top and the bottom with long quilt pins and sew them together first around the edge to solidify the shape. Then sew the vein pattern in the middle any way you wish. I used two colors of thread, one green on top, and one yellow on bottom to give the leaf more color dimension. Play with the thread tension to bring the bottom thread up more for the mottled look.

5. Pinch the bottom of the leaf and glue in place with hot glue. While the glue is still wet slide the sprigs in and hold until the glue has set. Then glue the flower pom pom on top. Pin in place with a quilt pin or a boutineer pin found at any craft store in the wedding decor area.

Enjoy! I am wearing mine as a little corsage pin today.

Honeymoon pictures are coming later!

Love,

McWilson

Which way?

2011-10-21T07:17:00.000-07:00

Okay, my friends... my 13 little followers... thanks so much for adding me to your long list of blogs to read!

I have a confession to make. I don't have much direction or goal for this blog. If you would like to know the entire truth, I don't feel like I have much direction in life at the moment either! I have a husband, I have a job, I have a roof over my head, I have those lovely things called student loans which are adding up to be the biggest hairy ball of debt the American people have to deal with. But those are the only constants. Nothing else seems nailed down. Every time I get on to post I have to rack my brain for more than 20 minutes to come up with something, and half the time I give up after 10 minutes and go stare at Pinterest and then get off the computer because I don't even go beyond my default haunts of (in order) facebook, gmail, pinterest, and maybe my googlereader.

I am in need of a refresher.

A change.

A spark of motivation.

A run.

Ambition.
ANYTHING.

My apologies as I figure this thing out! I am trying my hardest, but will try harder to make this place a more interesting, creatively put together and refreshing blog! I Am attempting to do the same thing with our apartment, so Maybe I will have to blog about that!

What do you do when you lack motivation or inspiration to do something productive? I'd love to hear about it!

music

2011-10-18T18:18:00.000-07:00

I thought you all would enjoy this music. I know bluegrass takes some getting used to if you don't listen to it often, but do give Abigail a chance! I recently came across her work through a friend, and have her on my spotify so I can listen to her whenever I want to! Grooveshark is a little outdated in my music-listening habits now, but they're still great for compiling playlists for you all. Enjoy!

Gettin' Knitty

2011-10-17T08:50:00.000-07:00

Mountain trip

2011-10-14T08:54:00.000-07:00

Here is an assorted collection of pictures from a couple weekends ago. (In no particular order)

Sipping coffee at the Flat Rock Bakery!

Carl Sandburg Home

It was so hard to leave! The cute door and these last two pictures are of an antique store in Saluda, NC where I hope to back because the store was closed. It actually looked like a well organized and good antique store. More pictures on the way! I still have to edit the ones from the honeymoon... so much to do... Ah well. Have a happy Friday!

Love,
Kate

I'm waiting....!

2011-10-13T07:28:00.000-07:00

Oh shoot me, please...

I'm in the process of downloading the new iTunes so I can download iOS 5 for my ipod touch. It's taking forever. So I thought I would come and give this place a little love. For the last 6 days I have been working, and the past four I worked the evening shift, so by the time I came home I had no desire to write or put energy into finding anything to put on here. I know, it's silly. I'm lazy... but .... OH! iTunes is done!
(don't you love the play by play updates?) Now the iOS5 is downloading. This could be a chore for my poor old Dell. It has had one too many papers and downloads for new versions of Paint.net to be very efficient any more. Poor thing. I'd love to put it out of its misery, but there are currently no funds for buying a new one.

Yesterday was quite the interesting work-day. I started out coming in early to meet with our coach representative and for a split second I actually felt somewhat professional. Or was it the ensemble of all-black clothes complete with my old blazer from my college scholarship interviews? I looked like a young law student with no money. The only difference being I sell coach. I was bought coffee, and watched some vids on new merchandise, talked shop. (literally... haha) The whole day centered around product. Hooray! but the one exciting thing was, and I appreciate it greatly because I had no part in it, that I received a free bag. Yeah!

Now, I will be spoiled beyond all get out. An expensive bag has never sat on my shoulder except at work to model the bag for customers. Now I'll be carrying one around, and my $20 bag from Marshalls will be sitting in the closet lonely and alone. Not that I will be carrying my new ill gotten gain very often anyway, though. I have to carry a clear plastic purse to work, along with every other woman who works for the store. I feel naked when I carry it. I mean, come on! The contents of one's purse represents one's life in a way! It feel like it's all out there for anyone to look at and be nosy!

What do you (women) carry with you in your purse? Is any of it stuff you're willing to put into a clear purse?

(P.S. iOS5 is taking forever. I'm taking donations for a new computer...)

2011-10-11T08:58:00.000-07:00

{from dribble}

a pretty design I found on dribble. I'm having the creative itch to do some graphic design, so you may see some free downloads again soon!

Have a lovely Tuesday!

-Kate

2011-10-05T06:59:00.000-07:00

(psst, these are pics from the honeymoon which I have still not put up... but I thought you would like some mountain pics anway.)

I'm back! Our weekend in the mountains was wonderful! Some much needed fellowship and time to get to know the people in our current church home. We hiked, ate, talked, wandered, and ate some more! I realized that in the course of two days I ate 6 krispykreme donuts. I regret the pigging out that I did, but how often do you get donuts when the hot light is on? Huh?

I will be posting pictures tomorrow of our trip!

FREE... falling...

2011-09-30T05:31:00.001-07:00

Guess who? T.W. and I will be listening to his new album for the first time on our way to the mountains for the weekend! I'm sitting having a nice, slow, relaxing start to my morning, and soon we'll be driving up the mountain looking at the leaves starting to turn. Oh I can't wait! Off to make coffee, pack, and do a little laundry. Oh yeah, and download that CD...
Have a lovely weekend all!

KEEP CALM!

2011-09-26T18:04:00.000-07:00

Seriously? This Keep Calm craze is getting silly, but I have

to admit that this made me smile, because I had one of these

this morning. Orders from T.W. to have any size of the drink

I wanted because I had to sit around and wait in the mall for

a few hours before I was scheduled to go into work, and I

have a long week of work before this weekend. It did make

my day a little better! Paired with a wildberry coffee cake slice

and I was a happy lassie.

What food makes your day better?

M.M.

2011-09-26T06:52:00.000-07:00

A long awaited mix! It's been a little busy

in the McWilson household, but I hope

you enjoy this mix as it is now officially

AUTUMN!

Mrs. Jones can have her skirt.

2011-09-23T17:05:00.000-07:00

I promised I would return to the subject of why we aren't satisfied with what we have, and why it is so hard to not compare ourselves to other people, so lets take a moment and think back on your day yesterday.

How many times did you see another person and envy their clothes/hairstyle/purse/car/husband/wife (if you're a guy reading this)/or even their child?

How many times did you look at items in your house and wish you had a better version of it?

How many times did you look at yourself in the mirror and feel maybe the slightest twinge of dissatisfaction with your appearance?

When was the last time you bought something you wanted but you didn't really need? How long were you 'happy' after you had it in your possession?

Are you constantly saying things like "I really need to get a new ______." "I wish I had _________." out loud to a friend, spouse or family member, maybe even a stranger?

Don't feel the need to comment, but do think seriously about it for a moment.

We live in an extremely materialistic consumer culture. It is only natural that your thoughts will drift to wanting something to drink when you see a Coke commercial. Our "needs" are more often planted into our minds by advertising than the hard fact of a lack of something in your closet or cupboard.

But this is not completely the fault of companies and their hired ad-men.

It is yours, it is mine. It is finding and wanting to place our value and self-worth in something that will never satisfy us. It is the fact that we do not trust that our every NEED will be met by One who knows our needs before we ask them. Its the fact that we do not take satisfaction in the thing we can have or already have and is the only thing we need.

Our only true need is the saving Grace of Christ.

Period.

Your car, your home, your clothes, your internet, your computer and the eyes you are using right now are all perks. Yup. Even your health is a perk. Because our purpose is not to be on earth hoarding all the handbags and clothes and pins on your pinterest board you could possibly want.

(Yeah, who could imagine getting sick of pinterest? I can't!)

If you have given your life to Christ, your only true NEED - to be made right with God through the saving blood of His Son- is met.

When this is a real fact in your life, you only need to worry about this:

Our purpose is to glorify

God.

You will never feel satisfied with anything or anyone on this earth. But that is the wonderful thing to know!

When your focus shifts from the world, to Christ, all else pales.

I realize this is the first post that I have done which is glaringly Christian, but I decided its about time that I be completely honest with who I am, what I think, and how wonderfully freeing it is to be free from the weight of sin, worries, and cares of this world.

1 John 2:15-17

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Mrs. Jones, I want your skirt!

2011-09-22T09:04:00.000-07:00

So having a job at a high end mall has a few perks. Getting to look in J.Crew whenever I want... touching real leather, spending way too much time in anthropologie and having to walk all the way across the mall at a power walk (in heels) to get back to work on time, and drooling over dresses in Banana Republic styled after Mad Men dresses. But it kind of sucks.

Pinterest, and shopping online is removed from your real senses. You can't touch that cute top, or see the upclose detail of that handpainted mug from anthro. And that's ok! I can tear myself away, quench the desire for things when they aren't in front of me. But working in a department store, and in a really nice mall where your favorite store resides and is only a few steps away (one of them in SIGHT of where I stand for 7 hours every day) has presented new temptations and frustrations.

I'm having to expand my professional wardrobe. No more cutesy-college-comfy clothes all day. Now its "will this look nice enough for work?" questions every day directed at T.W. who responds with a shrug and says "I have no fashion sense love... I don't know..." Yeah, and of course all of these well dressed people have to walk in front of me while I'm wearing a $10 target sweater and a pair of yellow cords that got lots of compliments, but just don't look work appropriate. HELP! So last night I went online in search of things I wouldn't be tempted to buy right away and found some options, but now that I look at them, they're still plain, not so exciting, and I don't even know if they're "me". I'm in need of a grown up fashion-redo, but I'm poor...

So poor, I went to goodwill and bought a wool skirt and a white blouse so I would have something other than sun dresses from this summer to wear.

Yup, I need help.

the shirt

(please note the terrible photoshop job on these shirt models.)

red shirt the skirt

the skirt the dress

H&M actually has some nice things for cheap, but guess what?

The only store in NC is in Raleigh, and you can't order from them online.

Yeah.

Anyone up for a trip to Raleigh?

More on the desire to keep up with the jones' later. There is some real content to sink your teeth into coming! I promise! I don't complain about my wardrobe for no reason. :)

Knitting season!

2011-09-19T19:00:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited it's knitting season! Here are some knitting projects I'm looking into making soon!
{click on images for the links to their patterns}

(Pattern available in "Handknit Holidays" by Melanie Falick)

Amazon, $11

I can't wait to have some needles and yarn in my hand again!

In other news, it feels like fall!!!! The weather has been overcast, chilly and wonderful. Too bad I'm inside selling coach purses every day and haven't had a chance to actually enjoy it. Thank goodness my day off is tomorrow! T.W. said he is going to make me a hot breakfast tomorrow and I fully intend to sit with a cup of coffee and a comfy sweatshirt long into the middle of the morning while catching up with all the blogs I need to read! I can't wait. :)

Oh Ray... sing me to sleep...

2011-09-15T19:20:00.000-07:00

Because Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs are awesome at the end of the day,

and because at the end of the day I don't feel much like posting... See ya tomorrow. :)

Internet and empanadas.

2011-09-14T14:39:00.001-07:00

What's cookin' good lookin'?

Hello everyone! I'm back! And I should be much more regular from now on.

WE HAVE INTERNET!

(it was worth the caps, please forgive the text-screaming)

These delicious looking pouches are homemade empanadas from last week. And guess what? We're eating them again with NO work on my part this week! They are currently sizzling away in the oven, and if you would like your own amazing empanadas sitting in your oven sometime this week and again next week, or even the next with no prep at all, click over here to joelen's blog for the recipe. It was pretty easy, just a healthy amount of prep work. I would suggest making this friends in a large kitchen so the prep work is more fun and shorter.

Oh, and because it's extremely hard to find empanada dough, I made my own, so that made it harder and longer. Haha

Here's the recipe I used for that as well over from about.com of all places! The dough was super easy and rolled out very easily.

*Suggestion for assembling the pouches:

- make sure after you roll the dough out into circles that you dip your finger in cold water and run it around the entire edge of the flat totillia shaped dough. This will seal the empanada better and keep the pouch from un-crimping in the oven. I didn't do it for one, and the thought occurred to me to do it for all the other ones and they didn't pop open like the first one.

The rice was an attempt at being like quodoba's rice with some lime and cilantro, but it didn't really taste like either when it came out of the pot. It was lighter tasting, but just not as zesty or tasty as T.W. and I would have liked it. Maybe more lime next time and skip the cilantro...

Oh well, enjoy!

-Kate

2011-09-10T07:46:00.000-07:00

Feeds.

There are lots of them. But I am pretty sure you all check your facebook feed at least once a day. You don't have to tell me how many times, but considering about five bajillion people using facebook, I made a page on there for poppyWren. So have a click, and you'll get my updates in your facebook feed where you can easily click and read my new posts! It's easy!

Crying Over Spilled Oil

2011-09-07T08:37:00.000-07:00

Source: flickr.com via Kate on Pinterest

I was napping yesterday when T.W. came home from a run and started making a snack for himself. I hear a pop from the kitchen microwave and say "Love, you might want to check on your potato..." He rushes into the kitchen, lets out choice word or two, and says "Kate! Stay in the bedroom. Just stay in bed! Don't come in here." I immediately know what just happened. He put one of the only plates that we can't put in the microwave... in the microwave. I wait a little bit, expecting to smell the aroma of melted plastic any second, and wonder how he could be so forgetful for the five millionth time.

But irony is always a running theme in mine and T.W.'s life, and so, while cooking dinner I had the bottle of vegetable oil out to brush our cast iron skillet with to bake some cornbread. I picked it up, rushing a little too much to hand it to T.W. so it would be out of my way as I prepared to put the pan in the oven, and it slipped out of my hands... onto the floor. Thankfully the rug on the floor soaked most of it up, and T.W. cleaned up the remaining mess without a single "HA! we're even now!" or "Nah -nah -nee - boo- boo! You screwed up too!" We WERE even though, and I realized that I had been too harsh on my husband even in my mind.

Mistakes, they happen. Honey do I know. I totaled T.W.'s only mode of transportation during his first seminary exams back in the spring, and the whole time he never blamed me. I think I may have married a rare breed. Just as we have been forgiven, so should we forgive. Even when a cheap walmart plate gets melted, a spoon taken to work for lunch gets stolen leaving only 7 in the new set you got for a wedding gift, or when oil spills on a rug and all over the kitchen floor. Yup.

Confessions of a Coffee House Hopper.

2011-09-06T17:29:00.000-07:00

Source: Pinterest

The end is in sight. We thought it would be today, but unfortunately the local internet provider we chose is a pain in the tush about letting you do self-set up internet when you live in an apartment. We have to wait until next Tuesday, so just one more week of the almost daily pilgrimages to our nearby caribou coffee shop for internet access and some coffee. For a while it was nice because I was at home all day with no job yet, and in desperate need of scenery, plus we didn't have a coffee pot for a while, and T.W.'s blood/caffeine content started dropping below the necessary levels to function normally. But now that we have a coffee pot of our very own, and I have a job that offers at least a reason to get out of the house... this coffee shop hopping is getting old.

It's been frustrating especially setting up a new blog and then having to let it languish in a state of little attention! I hate not being able to offer the music mondays two weeks in a row. It's usually a great pick-me-up for my start of the week, and I hope it is for you as well! Never fear... the days are almost over. Cold turkey no more. It will be pinterest until the wee hours of the morning and vimeo watching when I should be cleaning the house. T.W. will be researching local politics and dead theologians to his hearts content soon, and oh! the happy bliss of ravelry to fuel my knitting passion that has resurfaced in the past few weeks.

The one nice thing about the coffee shop hopping is, I have grown to be more conscientious about the people who work at coffee shops. I try to make an extra effort to smile and be patient. I've seen some cantankerous people in these places, and if you had to deal with people who haven't had enough caffeine before they order... you'd need an extra understanding smile too!

So, the confessions?

1). I don't really like starbucks coffee. I'd rather have one of their shaken iced teas. Yeah, it's not coffee. I know.
2). It really ticks me off when there is only ONE power outlet in the entire place. It's a little less frustrating but only a little, when there are only three, and the people sitting near them don't have a computer with them at all. Save the outlet spots for the people who spend more than ten minutes pretending to read a philosophical book. I'm convinced some people bring a book just to look cool while they sip their lattes. Kudos to you all who actually READ when you're there!
3). Children under 12 shouldn't have coffee. Hot chocolate has enough sugar to keep your kid going. Believe me.
4). Don't have deeply personal conversations in a crowded coffee shop... it makes others around you feel emotionally involved. Now, I must say, I have heard some deeply sad conversations and have prayed small prayers for those people, so know that if you sit near me, you'll be prayed for. :) But don't talk about your sex life. Please.
5). Baristas: Please don't ask more than once if I would like to order something more than just a plain coffee, or just a muffin. I'm at least buying something and not using your internet without making a purchase. :) Isn't that great?
6). More comfy chairs. Period.
7). Every coffee shop should have a microwave. Thanks caribou for having them!

Enough ranting! What are some of your peeves or favorite things about coffee shops?

-Kate

Fluid Dress?

2011-08-28T14:17:00.000-07:00

Too. Cool. Makes me wonder what clothes will be like some day.

10<$10

2011-08-27T08:40:00.000-07:00

My apologies for being so late with the Ten under $10! This week I was hired to be the new "Coach Specialist" (purse-seller) at Belk! Hooray! I'll be starting training Monday and I suppose my first day will be soon after that! Which means... Music Monday may be late. Just a heads up. Sorry guys!

BUT in the theme of kids going back to school this week, I did a back-to-school theme this week. Items are listed lowest price to highest, which of course, is only $10!

Source: jcrew.com via Kate on Pinterest {$4.99}

Source: etsy.com via Kate on Pinterest {$6.00}

Source: shopruche.com via Kate on Pinterest {$6.50}

Source: etsy.com via Kate on Pinterest {$8.00}

Source: shopruche.com via Kate on Pinterest {$9.00}

Source: jcrew.com via Kate on Pinterest {$9.00}

Source: amazon.com via Kate on Pinterest {$9.00}

Source: amazon.com via Kate on Pinterest {$9.88}

Source: etsy.com via Kate on Pinterest {$10.00}

Hope you enjoyed!

Now go get off the computer and enjoy your Saturday!

Love,

McWilson

Thanks and many thanks again

2011-08-22T18:23:00.000-07:00

Thanks to some very helpful tutorials from Puglypixel I was able to make the banner and menu at the top as well as the small menu in the sidebar. Aren't they so neat?

Some info and credit for the design:

Font: Downloaded from dafont --> signerica (script) Wicked Grit, (caps)

Watercolor background: deviantART, creator: ytresu

Tutorials used:

And thank you T.W. for letting me use your BIG HONKING LAPTOPto do the graphic designing. My little Asus Eee pearl wasn't cutting it.

Music Monday

2011-08-22T09:05:00.000-07:00

T.W. and I still use coffee shops for our internet at this point.

So what? I may be going crazy without internet at the house, but if I hadn't been at starbucks I wouldn't have seen this group featured on their wifi-page.

I now have to have all of their music. I love the female vocal and the different sound they have. I can't place my finger on it.

Enjoy everyone!

longing...

2011-08-21T16:51:00.000-07:00

{from flickr}

Lately I have been longing for fall.

It could be from the fact that we have a truck with no AC, but I think it's also the fact that I just don't love the heat all that much, even though I was born in August.

After church today T.W. and I went to walmart today and smelled candles: pumpkin spice, mulled cider, apple.

What do you long for?

A Taste of Reality

2011-08-18T16:45:00.000-07:00

I think in years to come when I look back on 2011 I will tag it as the year I tasted and had to bite down and then chew and somehow swallow reality. I'm still in the tasting stages at this point, but its getting to the chewing stage. I graduated college in May, basically planned a wedding in two months, got married in July, and now am sending my resume to anything and everything out there. The constant questions are: "How's married life" "Have you found a job yet?" Thankfully the pressures are not so terrible that T.W. and I will go completely under if I don't find a job tomorrow, but it would put both of us so much more at ease about our situation if I found something. I look at my resume and think of what employers would see as inexperience, and quickly toss it to the recycling bin. SOMEONE HIRE ME!!! I cry inside. Married life is wonderful, but really sucky when you only have so many square feet of apartment to clean and straighten. Its getting to the point where T.W. can't find something in the same place because I move things around so much!

In all of this contemplation and waiting and praying (which I do not do enough of unfortunately) I recently realized. I have grown up. All these years thinking about what I want to do when I grow up... well... its here! I remember in my elementary years I wanted to be an archaeologist. Yup. Little me was obsessed with ancient Egypt and mummies. I still am! I just don't see that avenue of a career opening up any time soon. "Oh, T.W. Dear, you stay in seminary here, I'm going off to Greece to the dig!" Nope. Not happening.

I have recently thought of (from the encouragement of T.W.) building up a portfolio and getting really good at blog design and CSS. I even checked a book out at the library about it! How special is that? I secretly dream of a job I could do from home, but that links me to other people where I wouldn't be confined to the four walls of a home office all of the time, but also networked with hundreds of other people like me. I drool over blogs like Oh Hello Friend, You are Loved, and The Flowerchild Dwelling and wonder how in the world they got to have so many followers in what looks like just a few years! I'm bound and determined to make this an outlet of my creativity, even while waiting for a job where I just answer phones. Any job is worth it as long as it pays the bills for internet!

Oh and there is still that desire to start an etsy shop.

So with all of this swimming around in the creative juices of my brain (eew) I invite you to see what happens. And to pray that I find a job soon so I don't go mad with the sitting!

Here's a video to entertain you:

Beet Cake.

I have never had it, but this video makes me want some!

$10 and Under!

2011-08-16T16:56:00.000-07:00

I have been a gal of low/limited income my entire life, and it seems

to be a growing talent of mine to find things under twenty dollars.

Now how about finding things under $10? I intend on doing a new

kind of blog-series on finding things for cheap. $10 and under in fact!

Now here are the first things from my search!

Source: etsy.com via Kate on Pinterest

$5 eyeshadow

Source: etsy.com via Kate on Pinterest

$9 pouch purse!

Source: etsy.com via Kate on Pinterest

$8 bracelet

Source: etsy.com via Kate on Pinterest

$7.50 Bracelet

Source: etsy.com via Kate on Pinterest

$10 bracelet

Source: shopruche.com via Kate on Pinterest

$10 socks from Ruche

Source: anthropologie.com via Kate on Pinterest

$7.95 mug

Source: anthropologie.com via Kate on Pinterest

$4.00 bowl

Source: etsy.com via Kate on Pinterest

$9.39 earrings

Source: etsy.com via Kate on Pinterest

$6.25 pouch pattern

Music Monday

2011-08-15T09:23:00.000-07:00

Here it is, Monday, and you're either excited about the week because of going back to school, getting rid of the kids at school, or you're dreading the thought of all of the syllabi you're about to get from professors. I remember the feeling all too well. Last night I had a dream that I had a paper due the next day and hadn't even started on it.
Here is a little mixtape to get you going this morning!

Sunday update:

2011-08-14T17:47:00.000-07:00

the view from black balsam knob, NC

I'm sitting at my parents house watching Cars (because T.W. hasn't seen it) and using the internet.

When I walked through the door all of the decorations from the wedding were sitting in boxes. It has been a little odd coming home after a month and knowing I won't be sleeping here tonight! This picture makes me miss the mountains... we should be back there sometime late September with a church retreat though!

The plans for this week are to bake this cake:

Source: cookiesandcups.blogspot.com via Kate on Pinterest

And then perhaps finish a sock I have been knitting.

What are your plans for the week?

-McWilson

Birthday Business...

2011-08-12T11:38:00.000-07:00

My birthday may or may not be tomorrow, and while looking through etsy and pinterest I found a few things I wouldn't mind having show up on my doorstep, or on my coffee table... but seeing as most of these things are on the expensive side, I will just pretend like they are being shipped to me, and enjoy staring at them. :)

Source: etsy.com via Kate on Pinterest

Gorgeous dress.... unfortunately it is $400.00

Source: etsy.com via Kate on Pinterest

I could see using this for anything, everything, and something as well!

Source: etsy.com via Kate on Pinterest

Stop it. Paisly dress!

Source: etsy.com via Kate on Pinterest

Fox. Napkins.

Source: canvas.landsend.com via Kate on Pinterest

Beginning to love Lands End Canvas even more these days...

Source: etsy.com via Kate on Pinterest

Source: arweystore.com via Kate on Pinterest

Please go look at this neat notebook!

The "My Life" page is now up. I am slowly but surely making those neat little plaid boxes link to things instead of sitting there so silly and dysfunctional.

Go have a look!

HERE

7, seven, sieben, 7

2011-07-09T16:43:00.000-07:00

This time next week the ceremony will be over,

The reception will be over,

and T.W. and I will be man and wife.

I still feel like it is seven WEEKS away, not days!

I'm gluing, designing, sewing and spray painting all sorts of neat little things for the day, and I have already got some ideas about putting together a tutorial for the boutineers I made. I would show a picture of the finished product, but like my dress, I have a funny thing about putting pictures up of my projects before they are shown to the people they are meant to be for first.

Rest assured, pictures, memories and a recap will be posted.

Just a warning, I will be gone from now until who-knows when because of the wedding week, the honeymoon, and the fact T.W. and I will not have internet. I also plan on overhauling this blog. I feel as if I have painted myself into a corner, and considering such a large change is about to happen in my life, I kind of feel as if I should carry this over into the way I share my life, craftiness and ponderings.

Give me a little time to adjust, refocus, and I will come back with the blog-fever I'd like to have.

This isn't a hiatus, just a warning about my absence.

I don't really think I've given warning before!

God bless!

Hair. We All Have It!

2011-06-28T12:40:00.000-07:00

As it seems that I may be doing my own hair for the wedding in a couple weeks, I've been scouring pinterest for easy DIY hairstyles I can do without much stress. It may be one of those things where I let someone else curl my hair, and I will pin it up. Not to toot my own horn, but I was known in college for my creative updos.

One of which is pictured right here on the blog ---->

Well what do you guys think about these?

I have done this one before a couple times. It's good for a let-it-get-messy-throughout-the-day-don't-care updo, but it wouldn't hold up for hours of picture taking and standing in front of people. It's super easy though!

I would LOVE to do this. But considering I can't find someone with the expertise to do it right, I may have to say goodbye to it. Plus, my hair isn't as thick as this girls. Curse you thin hair!

Pretty messy updo. No headband, I just ordered some flowers to pin into it.

Just some ideas... :)

Junk is a Relative Term

2011-06-27T17:13:00.000-07:00

Thursday, T.W. and I went to the Mooresville NC area to get our marriage license.

Afterwards we went into a really neat antique store. These plates caught my eye, but my wallet wouldn't allow for anything "frivolous." As just about everything in there was. Junk some might think, but to me it was all "me." I like worn, used, loved, and useful or just pretty things. Just not TONS of it. A few focal pieces like these plates on the wall in a room or bathroom are enough to give a person something to look at, but not enough to distract them.

I think T.W. secretly wanted these. They're men's cologne bottles in the shape of dueling pistols. Avon, now why don't you make these any more!? (Well, I'm kind of glad they don't. the cologne smelled awful)

Ever since I started watching American Pickers, I've kept my eye out for bigger vintage coke and other brand products. If I could do what those guys do for a year I think I'd be very happy.

Now this is some junk I CAN'T handle.

My room is filled with college things, wedding gifts and crafting and clothes and books and papers and my wedding dress. Somehow my bed surfaces when I need to go to bed, but otherwise I try to avoid being in here as much as possible. Thank GOODNESS T.W. moves into the apartment this week so I can start moving my stuff out of here. I need some clean area for my sanity these next couple weeks!

Oh, and the person who's counting says it's 18.2 days.

Freak out commences.

Ten on Tuesday

2011-06-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

I finally caught it on Tuesday! I always think of it a few days late.

1. How do you pronounce the word aunt? Does your pronunciation rhyme with ‘haunt’ or ‘can’t'?
My pronunciation rhymes with "can't". Any other pronunciation sounds too stuffy.

2. Do most of the people in your life know you blog? Or are you partially or totally anonymous?

I'm pretty sure only a handful of people I know read this blog. I linked it to my facebook for a while and I think some people from college started reading it, but all of those followers on the right are anonymous save a few! I think that's the neat part about blogging. Its a way to meet new people and form different connections you wouldn't have ever made otherwise!

3. When you grocery shop, do you prefer to bag your own groceries or do you like it when the store bags them for you? Paper, plastic, or reusable bags?

I haven't gone to the grocery store as a married woman yet, but I foresee lots of Aldi trips, where the food is cheap, and you have to bag your own food. They don't bag for you. I'll use plastic at Harris Teeter, and let the baggers do it for me. I like saving plastic bags for making crocheted purses.

4. Do you have a green thumb?

I haven't ever really had a plant that depended on my sole efforts to keep it alive. So, in other words, I have no idea yet! I plan on trying to grow some herbs in little pots some day soon.

5. If you watch the Food Network, which chef/show host is your favorite?

I never watch Food Network, but I think Alton Brown is pretty cool. Though I've heard he can be a jerk in real life... kind of ruins the enjoyment of watching him now...

6. Do you like to take baths? Do you take them very often?

Baths = cleaning out the tub first. Thus, I rarely take them unless I have sore muscles. Showers are quick, and I am proud to say I get in and out in about 5 minutes or less. Yes, I'm clean. Don't be jealous now!

7. What color are the walls in your kitchen?

White. You can't paint apartments unfortunately.

8. Do you prefer to dine outdoors or indoors?

Outdoors if at all possible. I have a feeling when T.W. and I own a house some day that we will have one of those space heaters for your patio so that we can be outside longer in the fall.

9. Describe your ideal weather.

Warm during the day and cool at night, so maybe 75-85 during the day and in the 60s or 50s at night. I like being able to wear sweaters, but I also enjoy the combo of shorts and long-sleeves. An occasional cool thunderstorm would be welcome now and then too.

10. If you could learn any foreign language, which would you choose to learn?

I really really really want to learn Russian. Ever since my Russian history class I've had the itch. Once T.W. starts his studies again in the fall, I may find a Rosetta-stone look alike to start learning it! I also need to pick my German back up and build on it. Its always good to put on your resume!

Cuppa Words

2011-06-17T17:43:00.000-07:00

I have been making this beautiful little flowers for about a month now.

I don't know if it's bad etiquette to show what you are making for your wedding ahead of time, but they are just too cute and inspiring to not share.

29 days!

Sollee's back!

2011-06-08T10:41:00.000-07:00

Let's Listen to...

Besides the fact that the cover is inspiring me to make art on graph paper, this CD immediately jumped into my shopping cart on amazon because of it's being Ben Sollee's newest album!

I haven't had enough time to listen to much of the cd, but hereinlies the uniqueness of this post. I will listen and write at the same time, and you will get my honest reactions (in brief sentences I promise) on what his stuff sounds like!

Off we go!

#1: Introduction - Some crazy brass improv stuff which I don't think I'll listen to unless I am listening straight through the album. (sorry Ben, just a little too harsh for me)

#2: Close to You: - "I wanna be close to you...but you're miles away" The contrasting oboe and brass comes back, but not while Ben is singing verses, and only a little bit during the chorus. I like the experimentation with some minor counter melodies. Short song, but it sets up the listener to realize this album isn't a repeat of the last one!

#3: The Globe: Some return of Ben's bluesy sound! Yay! I love the blend of acoustic and electric guitar. Very chill. I have found that Sollee's music is great for driving, and this song immediately puts a picture of me and T.W. driving down the road with the windows down in our truck.

#4: Hurting: OOoooh the cello. It makes me happy. I was afraid his cello playing would disappear after listening to the first few tracks! I think he really likes this whiny kind of harmonica/oboe sound in the sub levels of these songs. Definitely sounds like low-country Alabama or Louisiana. NEXT!

#5: Embrace: Slow cello chords, likin' it... I like how Ben's voice is exposed more and he is able to show off his abilities in that area, but the song is almost too minimalistic for me. It would sound great with a duet with a female vocal underneath him.

#6: Bible Belt: From the looks of this title I'm either going to love it... or dislike the misrepresentation of it. "You wore a champaign dress...bought it at target 'cause it cost less" - that sounds exactly like me! and because it's about a wedding I love it automatically. Oh Ben, you've hooked me. This might be my favorite so far.

#7: Captivity: Aw little kid singing... and another good driving song. Also liking the female vocal and the absence of the brass and oboe. "I just need someone to know my name" struggling between the leaving of where you don't want to be and heading toward freedom, but not quite finding the satisfaction in it.

#8: Huddle on the Rooftop: Very nice beat and piano in lowfi recording. Like it like it...

#9: Cluttered Mind: Banjo... Another minimalist song that brings out the vocal ability of Sollee. You almost expect to hear all of the things he is talking about "casset tape of Dr. Kings speech" etc. He's good at putting you into the mellow mood of this setting.

#10: Electrified: The beat is picked up again! This song has more qualities in it that will make it hard to get out of my head. I love love love the cello parts. It makes me want to hear what he would sound like re-writing some classical pieces! "Built your congregation, now you're televised..." Hmm!

#11: I need: "You look so familiar, You move like I thought you would, You pray when you need to, you said what I thought you said,"

"You are a believer, You stand up for what you think is good, we want all the same things, you say take it, day by day, I don't know you, Like you think I should, I want you as much as you want want me"

aw.

Enough said.

So, go have a listen! It's not out on grooveshark yet, unfortunately, but with a quick preview on amazon, I think you'll be enticed enough to buy it. :)

Who's counting?

2011-06-06T09:10:00.000-07:00

The days are ticking by!

I apologize for not keeping you informed of the recent developments in my life, but really, sometimes its best to relate everything after it has happened. I would much rather enjoy the moments of these next few months and write about them post-date.Sitting in front of the computer takes away from the enjoyment!

As you can see the wedding is 39 days away. I am home now, and trying to avoid worrying about how everything is going to fall into place before the big day. The older and wiser people I have come into contact with say "It will all fall into place... at the last minute." Not something I would love to hear, but oh well! T.W. and I have already experienced so much of God's grace in our lives in the past month that should comfort us in the fact that he will provide for our needs. They may not be the needs WE think we should have met, but we will be in His hands no matter the course of events.

I don't think I can list 39 blessings happening right now, But I am going to attempt it:

BLESSINGS/THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR

1}. A new-to-us truck we were given for FREE after I totaled T's car. (the truck is better anyway!)

2}. a job for T.W. which he will be able to start very soon

3}. A paying temporary job for me which I started only three days after graduation.

4}. My temp. employer who is a Godly woman who has become a kind of role model and mentor these past few weeks in working for her.

5}. Conversations on faith with T.W. on the back of our truck.

6}. The realization that life is short, and we are to make our time on this earth a testament of God's love to others by loving the unlovable.

7}. Blackberries

8}. The helpfulness and charity of others

9}. Parents who offer advice (even though I am at the end of my rope listening to it when I am 39 days away from being a married woman)

10}. Time on the river with T.W. talking about how we will take our future children to play in lakes and creeks and rivers. (life jackets at all times of course)

11}. The generosity of the ladies of my family church. They showered me with many wonderful gifts yesterday!

12}. Being back in civilization after 4 years of Due West.

13}. The love of friends

14}. The generosity of my roommate and her family who are hosting my and tom's bachelorette/bachelor stuff at the end of this month

15}. Sasha. the sweet dog that comes and sleeps next to me while I work every day.

16}. Time to get ready for marriage after graduation. I'm kind of glad we decided not to get married in June...

17}. The fact that I was able to graduate on time without any problems!

I don't know if I can think of any more at the moment, but I almost got half-way through it!

I have intentions of changing the look of my blog again to a more permanent style, but this probably won't happen until august or September.

I am in the process of applying for a job, so if you could all pray that this comes through soon, I would much appreciate it. Now that T.W. has a job I'm not as worried, but I need a job now that will pay more than minimum wage. Don't you hate those college loans?

I hope you are all doing well! I feel like this was a lot of text I just cranked out, so I shall post some pretty pictures of the last few months of school if I can soon! After being on the computer all day at my temp. job I don't much feel like plugging in again after I get home.

Keep a look out on my twitter and tumblr and pinterest accounts if you wish to see what I am up to! I try to update those more regularly.

Ciao!

The Civil Wars

2011-04-04T17:43:00.000-07:00

What I would rather be doing...

2011-03-28T18:41:00.000-07:00

I have a midterm Thursday.

After spring break?

Yeah.

So the first week back isn't a great calm re-entry into the last lap of my college career. It's studying for my hardest professor. I would much rather be making this things than studying:

{Lace Doily Lamp}

{Headband}

{a pretty necklace in teal blue}

And because crafting doesn't help the hunger pains:

(and because strawberries are coming back in season...)

{Lemon Poppyseed Pancakes}

What would you rather be doing?

Spring eh?

2011-03-26T10:55:00.000-07:00

My friends, I must apologize.

Once again I fell off the wagon of blogging consistently, and there really isn't much excuse other than laziness and the inability to find interesting things to write about or tell you!

I am spending my last day of spring break studying and doing all of the reading I didn't do this whole week. While I have been unproductive in some areas, I have succeeded in accomplishing a number of things.

#1: I have taken my wedding dress to be altered!

The lady was super nice, lives just about ten minutes down the road, and will press the dress free of charge. She basically re-made my friend Heather's dress, so I trust her to do a good job of taking it in and re-hemming it. Sorry I can't give details about the dress! I am super paranoid T.W. will read my blog on a whim some day and find out something. He probably never reads this, but he would the one time I let myself slip. ;) My one concern about this lady is, her house smelled (not overwhelmingly) of smoke. I may be enlisting your help in de-smoke-smelling my dress. I hope and pray it stays in the bag when she isn't working on it. I will have to ask Heather how hers smelled when it was finished.

#2: I can now legally drive.

I am super embarrassed to say that I have not had a full drivers license until three days ago. NC is ridiculous and the cost of insurance which is mandatory for having a license - even when you aren't driving about 10 months out of the year - was just impossible for me. Now with a second "job" at the church I can afford the payments until T.W. and I get our own policy. Just being able to drive myself is going to be a great help in doing wedding stuff in the next 3.5 months. (GAH! It's coming up fast!) I won't complain about how frustrating it was for four years of college not being able to drive. I'll just be happy and content with a valid ID that only needs one glance when I'm carded at a restaurant when I order a drink. :)

#3: T.W. and I are now registered for some wedding gifts at both Belk, and Target.

WOOT. I am super excited about the every day china I picked out at Belk. I will try to find a picture of it soon and show you. It looks just like me, and it's MIX and MATCH!

#4: I have been able to see T.W. about 7 times in the past week and a half.

You didn't think I would leave out the sap did you? Haha. I really hate being at school without T.W. I have been able to spend time with my gal-friends which is such a blessing. I wouldn't be sitting on Beth and Em's futon nearly as much if T.W. were still at school. But really... with only 3.5 months left until the wedding... its getting hard. Phone conversations, while great for learning how to communicate with each other are not enough. Funny how you take just sitting on the couch watching TV with your fiancée for granted until you only get to do it once or twice in three months. Ugh. If anyone comes to me asking if they should have an engagement last a year, I will take them by the shoulder and warn them that engagements are great for that long, but only if you're in separate states for about half the time. If you see each other all the time... I suggest 6 months being the longest.

I guess we'll look back in this and laugh some day.

But not yet.

Oh, and T.W. has been warned that he is not allowed to go into the service as a chaplain or anything. No. I don't plan on ever being separated longer than maybe a week from T.W. after we're married. If it happens, well... it happens. But as much as I know he would be such a hunk in a uniform, I never want to see a real one on him. Reenacting is fun though!

And now... I must return to this silly studying.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend!

-Kate

Scotland on My Mind

2011-02-28T13:42:00.000-08:00

Lets go, shall we?

More little things...

2011-02-27T18:13:00.000-08:00

My apologies for not coming up with some more little things, but I recently came across some fun jewelry DIY's on pinterest that I am excited to make! These are definitely considered 'little' and most definitely cheaper to make than buying ready-made things online, (or etsy! shh)

{hex nut bracelet!}

I would imagine you can find the gold nut pieces at any hardware store in large quantities!

{braided necklace}

This looks like an assortment of embroidery floss and a few strands of thin thread throughout. If you don't want to make it, you can find it on etsy here.

{Broomstick Lace Cuff}

I really want to make these and give them to everyone I know! Such an awesome way to use up skeins of yarn from larger projects. I never know what to do with the last few yards or so, and I'm too cheap to toss it. (And pom poms just aren't as fun as this!)

{Wooden Bead Necklace}

This one doesn't have a source that is followable, but It's pretty easy to see what they did. Leather cord, and a package of wooden craft beads, paint a few some fun colors, and wear with anything! It looks like simple white pony beads were used in between. A little first-grade project never looked this awesome! (Would be great to make with your daughter/niece/sisters!)

{Friendship Bracelets}

These are from martha stewart, whom I don't believe does any real crafting on her own any more. I'm pretty sure she hires other crafty people to create things and then put her name to, but oh well. When you've got money...

But these look simple and cheap to make, and look at the cute card! Great favors/last minute little gifts to tuck in with a gift card or sweater.

Tomorrow is Monday.

Go forth and gather your supplies throughout the week, and then Friday night or Saturday afternoon make yourself something fun!

(Or, if you're like me, you will stay up late to make these things even when you have to be at work the next day at 8!)

That little thing called graduation...

2011-02-25T08:03:00.000-08:00

{aspenglow}

The past twenty-four hours have just about done me in.

I do not handle unpleasant surprises well, especially after already being exhausted from a long Wednesday.

I dropped a class last week thinking I was good on hours to graduate. Turns out there was this whole complicated process of elective hours canceling out the extra hours I have in music ensemble hours.

So convoluted.

I received an e-mail yesterday afternoon during class saying because I dropped the class, I couldn't graduate.

I couldn't do anything about it last night because they sent the e-mail during class and when I got out, there wasn't anything I could do about it.

Thank goodness I didn't have my evening class last night, or I would have been sobbing in class!

(I hate crying in front of people. I won't even cry in front of T.W. if I can help it)

This morning I woke up with a stomach in knots, praying I could graduate without any problems.

After lots of running around campus trying to find my advisor and the prof. for the class I needed to add on again, I am set for graduation May 14th.

Thank the Lord!

There is nothing worse than hearing "You can't graduate" three months before graduation, and five months before getting married. In order to graduate this August I would have had to do an independent study, and pay for an extra summer class. (another $100 or so which would have made wedding payments even harder)

But God was looking out for me. I have a friend teaching a Rock climbing class who is willing to let me add the class if I absolutely need to get another hour in for some strange reason.

The only thing with all of this is, I am now uber paranoid about graduating. I cringe every time I get an e-mail notification on my phone now, hoping it isn't the registrar saying "oh wait! I found another hour you're missing!"

Uh-uh. No. Hoooo-boy you don't want to make me come in your office and karate kick your computer.

--------------------------------------

On another note,

I have 58 followers now! And I am so excited to have more people who comment and are so encouraging! I will be away from this college community soon where I receive encouragement face-to-face, and I am so glad that when I am out in the real world, I will have you guys to bounce my thoughts off on, and be encouraged to get into my Bible for answers like you have been.

I can't tell you how much it means to get an e-mail saying I have a comment, and then to be encouraged in such a Godly way. You are all so sweet! I hope I am able to show my appreciation to you all in some little way. I don't have much time to read blogs, let alone write in my own, so here's hoping in the next few months you will be encouraged just as you have encouraged me!

Hebrews 10:24-2524 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Cold Turkey, Pastors Wife, and Bangs

2011-02-24T11:43:00.000-08:00

After 3.5 weeks of going cold turkey (not seeing T.W. except for two brief moments on skype) I finally was able to see him! My friend Zach was going up to the Charlotte area for some interviews, and offered me a ride because he was going to the exact same pace T.W. is on Wednesdays. So I rigged some work schedules, skipped choir practice, and left with him at 8:30 in the morning so I could see my fiancée for about three hours before coming back in time for church choir at 6:00.

The trip is about 2.5 hours both ways.

And I hate car trips.

But oh my goodness. I needed to see T.W!

We ate cheap chinese food, talked about housing possibilities for our future home in July, and the whole question of whether or not I feel called to be a pastor's wife.

Because T.W. is going to be a pastor.

All these years I have refused to marry a pastor because I am a PK (Pastors' kid).

Isn't it funny how the Lord works?

At this point, to keep things short, I don't feel called, but I feel prepared because of my upbringing and knowledge of how my mom has had to support my dad in whatever he decided for our family. I am already having to follow T.W.'s lead on some things, which is hard for this oldest child! But I am learning, and praying about this whole thing called "calling." T.W. and I really know very little about the biblical foundations for calling, so at this point it's just hard for me to figure out what I am meant to do. I know I was meant to marry T.W., and he obviously knows this too....... but what was I made to DO? As in profession, or role, or job, or responsibility?

It's hard to be patient, but it is situations like this where I learn a little more how to be patient.

In other news, I brought back the bangs from a near 13 year disappearance!

(before a night on the town Friday)

(Today: looking a pale there from the camera glare!)

It's so different! I feel more creative/artsy now. Haha

Because bangs are SO artsy.

Really though?

2011-02-21T12:52:00.000-08:00

Really... I don't know why it is this hard.

I have MORE time than I have ever had while at school.

So why can't I get more than one post or maybe two in here a week?

Wedding daydreaming has been kind of put to the wayside, but not for any one reason. I suppose one could be it makes me even more restless for July, and it makes me miss T.W. even more, so I try not to read the wedding blogs I subscribe to, and I don't look at stuff on Pinterest for ideas.

I have plenty any way.

It's time to start working on them!

Do you remember playing the Fortunately/Unfortunately game when you were young?

You tell a story with a group of people and each person is able to turn the story around by adding onto it with a good or bad thing in the plot line.

Well...

Unfortunately, I have a lot of reading to do.

BUT

Fortunately, I get to see T.W. for a few hours Wednesday for lunch and a little hanging out time.

Here's hoping it won't hurt more than it helps! We have another date-night planned in the next couple weeks. It may not be much of one because it's the night of a concert I am in, but here's crossing our fingers.

Unfortunately, I think it is going to start getting cooler from all of this wonderfully warm weather we have been having.

Fortunately, I painted my toenails AND fingernails.

Something I never do!

And...... To tip the scale in favor of the fortunate side:

The wedding is under 5 months away!

Thank heavens February is a short month.

Controversial Holiday

2011-02-14T07:58:00.000-08:00

I know this holiday is pretty black and white.

You either love it or you detest it.

(usually depending on your marital/relationship status)

My blog-pal Jeanine has a cool post about the history of Valentine's day and some beautiful pictures to go with it!

And here are some words to remind you what true love is.

Remember, love isn't just between a guy and a girl.

It is from the Lord which we should in turn show towards everyone we come in contact with.

Thank goodness it isn't all about pink hearts.

*gag*

[The Way of Love]

[13:1] If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
[2] And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
[3] If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. [4] Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
[5] or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
[6] it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
[7] Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
[8] Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
[9] For we know in part and we prophesy in part, [10] but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

(1 Corinthians 13:1-10 ESV)

Little Red Wagon

2011-02-12T16:57:00.000-08:00

So the song at the end of the last Bones episode caught my attention right away.

I immediately searched youtube for it and found it because of the

"Little red wagon, little red bike"

line in the middle.

And now an afternoon in pictures...

Happy Saturday evening!
-Kate

I admit it

2011-02-11T18:16:00.000-08:00

I saw {the flowerchild dwelling} write about her confessions, and thought it was a cool idea, just as she thought it was a cool idea from someone else!

So here goes.

There are 6.

{1} - I almost never finish a drink (water) when I am out at a restaurant. For some reason I just don't drink as much. Maybe because the food is yummier and out of the ordinary, so I'm focused on eating rather than drinking something normal? Not sure!

{2} - I bought a pair of skinny jeans this past month. And I'm pretty sure they've been the trend for quite a while now. End point: I don't jump on trends right away. Purposefully or un.

{3} - I used to love the "Mummy Roadshow" on the history channel. Yeah. the show where two guys went around and xrayed mummies to find out if they were fake or not. They mummified roadkill (raccoon) and while I shouted with disgust while watching it, I really thought it was cool. End point: I'm morbid.

{4} - I have compared my fiancée to Mr. Tilney. And of course T.W. came out on top. :) But I love the similarities in their wit and the fact that T.W. wants to be a pastor, and Mr. Tilney was a clergyman. (hint of obsession with literary characters?) *ahem*

{5} - I can't stand it when people jiggle their leg while sitting down. It seriously peeves me, and it takes everything that I have to not jump at their throats. I can understand not being able to sit still, I get that way too! But it is a good trait to have to be able to control your... jiggling.

{6} - When out in public by myself I play with the idea of speaking in different accents when checking out at registers and saying "excuse me." So far I haven't worked up the courage.

You wanna 'fess up?

Leave me a link to your blog post or leave your confessions here!