30 Day Photo Challenge: Fictitious Love

Day 26:
a picture of your favorite fictional couple

As I've said before, I am a complete hopeless romantic.
And what's more "romantic" than real life love?
Oh yeah, love that someone creates in their head and has people act out for our amusement.

It's sad but true folks, falling in love in real life is never quite the same as it is in the movies.

In the movies their eyes meet from across the room, there's always some sort of dramatic conflict that's supposed to keep them apart but it really just brings them together.
And there's almost always some misunderstanding or sabotage that they have to overcome to finally realize that they love each other.
 

Yeah, it's really not all that complicated for realsies.
I met my husband in math class when I was 16.
He was assigned to the seat next to mine; we talked, we laughed, he drew me a picture of a prostitute whale (literally an orca hooker), and I was like "yeah, I'll take this one please".

Perfection ;)

But that doesn't mean I'm not completely and utterly addicted to the crack that is movie/TV romance. Because I am. And if that's wrong, I don't want to be right.

It's impossible to pick a favorite.
Seriously, I love ALL of them.
Jack and Rose, Christian and Satine, Yvaine and Tristan, Buffy and Angel (or Buffy and Spike), Lily and Marshall, Monica and Chandler, Claire and Henry, Spencer and Toby...
...I could go on for days.

But, as I've mentioned before, this challenge is about the here and now, so here it is:
My current favorite fictional couple has to be Nick Miller and Jessica Day (probably not all that surprising considering there's a picture of them about 4 paragraphs up).

I am OBSESSED with Nick and Jess's relationship and it terrifies me.
I don't know what I'll do if anything bad happens to them.
(You're reading this right now going "Haha, oh Kat, you're so silly when you exaggerate." I'm not exaggerating. If they break up I will weep and probably die a little.)

Why do I love them?
First off, who the hell wouldn't? They're hilarious and adorable and they just belong together.

Second, I love the fact that they don't fit into the stereotypical box of what a fictional romance has to be.
They love the shit out of each other, but sometimes it's awkward, and they have those real relationship moments that are so often passed over in movies but are a cold reality to those of us living in the real world. It's like they could be a couple that you actually know.

But yeah, they're wonderful and I love New Girl, and if something bad happens I'll scream.

PS: How amazing was their first kiss?

See, you get it ;)

Who's your favorite fake couple?

See you tomorrow!
 

30 Day Photo Challenge: "Grown Up" Dreams

Day 25:
a picture of what you want to be when you "grow up"

Yes, technically I am grown, but I am far from accomplishing all that I would like to.
When you're a kid you have all sorts of crazy ambitions.
At one point I wanted to be a lawyer, a singer, a professional soccer player, I even wanted to be a river dancer. But, like so many others, most of my dreams faded with age.
But one has stuck since I was 12, and that's becoming an author.

I know I'll never be the next JK Rowling (I'm simply not worthy), but I would love to have a bestselling novel. I've started so many stories through the years but have always lost interest before I made my way to end. I don't know if it's ADD or just really bad writer's block, but I've yet to complete an idea.

I'm in the middle of one now that I feel really good about, but who knows.

Here's my dream scenario:

I want write a book that becomes enough of a bestseller to warrant a movie (not a big movie like Harry Potter or The Hunger Games, but big enough to have Max Thieriot in it ;) 
But I don't want to sell out, I want to contribute to the film itself (write the screenplay, help with musical selections, casting, that stuff ;).
 
But overall, financially all I really want is to be successful enough to get a summer home out in the woods (think Secret Window without the schizophrenia) and get a massage once a week.
That's the dream ;)

As for the content itself, I really want to write about strong women.
Not bra burning feminists (frankly because I could just never get on that level, I NEED my bra), but girls who can handle themselves.
I still want to write about love and relationships (because I'm a sucker for all that shit), but I really want to create women that girls can look up to.
That was one of the reasons why I loved the Harry Potter books so much.
Hermione Granger and Minerva McGonagall are some of the strongest people I've ever read about, and they're the kind of women I want my (distant distant future) daughter(s) to look up to.

I don't know if it'll ever happen, but I'm never going to stop writing.

See you tomorrow :)
 

30 Day Photo Challenge: Favorite Animal

Day 24:
a picture of your favorite animal

I love animals in general.
Dogs, cats, elephants, giraffes, otters (oh my God OTTERS!).
Not snakes or lizards (they aren't terrifying at all).

But I have a special place in my heart for manatees :)

I saw one at sea world when I was 13 and fell into a deep pit of squeeee.

I just love they're little heads and their fat bodies!
And I just love that people call them sea cows! It's like someone took a regular cow and made it even cuter.

When I was 18 I went to visit Bryan when he was stationed in Great Lakes for Valentine's Day.
We went to Chicago on one of the days that I was there and decided to hit up some of the museums. Since museums and history are more of my thing, I immediately agreed when he said he wanted to go to the Shedd Aquarium (he has a slight obsession with sharks).

I think aquariums are cool and everything, but I wasn't really roused until I found out that they had manatees.

We waited in line for hours (no exaggeration, it was like 2 hours in the February Chicago wind :/ ), but once we were in, I got really excited.
We went through all the other exhibits; Bryan got to see the sharks, we saw the fish, the turtles (turtles are pretty awesome too), everything except the manatees.

We got to the pathway for their exhibit, and I reached an almost embarrassing level of giddy. But then I see a the sign.

"Sorry boys and girls! The manatees are on vacation and won't be back until the spring."

I could have cried.

Seriously, how could you not love that face?

What's your favorite animal?

See you tomorrow :)

Tunesday: Conor Maynard

Happy Tuesday ;)

"Animal (feat. Wiley)" by Conor Maynard

This one is actually kind of exciting.
I subscribed to this kid on YouTube like 3 years ago when I stumbled onto his cover of "Tonight I'm Loving You" by Enrique Iglesias.
Needless to say, it was awesome.
This kid (I keep calling him a kid but he's only like 2 years younger than me) has some AMAZING covers, and is starting to come out with some great original stuff too.
And apparently I am extremely out of the loop because this song came out a year and a half ago and I didn't hear it until the other day.
It's really catchy though, I'm glad I found it :)

See you tomorrow :)

30 Day Photo Challenge: Shop Till You Drop

Day 23:
a picture of your favorite place to shop

This one is too easy.

I discovered Modcloth last summer and have been completely addicted ever since.
I have spent shameful amounts of money on this website, and I totally don't regret it.

If you're ever in the market for anything retro or vintage inspired, this is the website for you. And it's awesome because they have a little bit of everything: clothes (they have a great plus size selection too!), shoes, accessories and apartment decor. And it's not just girly stuff! They have a manly gift section too ;)

Where do you like to shop?

See you tomorrow :)
 

We're All Getting Up There...

There's no denying it: we're all getting older.

And now that I've reached the ripe old age of 23, I've started to notice some of the signs.

1. You feel irresponsible staying up past 11 on a weeknight.

 I remember staying up until sunrise and rolling into work on an hour of sleep and a hangover.
Now, it's dinner, netflix, bed.
(and somehow I'm still tired in the morning.)

2.  You've realized it's time to get a grown up purse.

When you have to carry your cell phone, your wallet, your keys and your lipstick in your hands to a 4 star restaurant, bells go off.

3. People at unfamiliar bars don't ID you anymore.

This basically means that you look so old that people don't mind risking there job to serve you booze.

Nice.

4. Older men are suddenly attractive.
Remember when you thought your mom was gross for thinking Sean Connery was hot in Entrapment? Guess who finally understands...
Oh yeah, you.

5. You spend more money on alcohol than food when out with your friends.

Burger: $8
3-4 Drinks: $30
Enjoying a nice evening out: "Fuck, I spent a lot on drinks tonight."

6. You now have to pretend that you don't like One Direction.

Or Beiber, or Selena or whoever. Basically any teen icon.
But you totally do.

7. You feel funny using text acronyms like LOL, OMG and TTYL.

I'll still do it, but I always picture someone reading the letters out loud with a bitch voice.

8. Crashing on a friend's couch is an absolute last resort.

You love your friends, that's why they're your friends.
But you love your own bed more.
I don't care if you have to crawl on your hands and knees, you're getting home tonight.

9. You realize that a lot of the movies and TV shows you used to love are stupid (and that all of your old favorite songs are filthy).

This one's almost too real.

Seriously, go back and watch / listen to some of your old favorites and get back to me.

10. A staycation almost sounds better than a vacation.
A long ass plane ride, dealing with other tourists and paying out the ass vs. home in your snuggie with take out and ghostbusters 1 & 2?
Uh, that's not even a question.

11. Waking up sore and having no idea why.

Oh yeah, it's cause I jogged across the street yesterday.
Fuck.

12. All the hottest celebrities are younger than you.
Jennifer Lawrence is like 2 months older than I am.
That doesn't make me feel shitty about my own life AT ALL.

13. You finally don't have to call your parents every time you have a grown up problem.
Except for tax stuff. My poor dad.

14. You get really uncomfortable around woo girls.

You don't know if you should avoid eye contact or give them a hug.

15. Kids are now using words that you've never heard before.
I'm still trying to figure out what swag is.

16. You totally understand why you're parents used to say that money doesn't grow on trees.

Because apparently it doesn't, so now you're poor.

17. People no longer find it charming that you're obsessed with Harry Potter.
Or LOTR, or Doctor Who, or even something like Twilight.
Once you hit that age ceiling, everyone just thinks you're weird.

18. You just can't bring yourself to care about those last 5-10 pounds.

Because after trying every diet and exercise program, food is still awesome.


Any one else every feel this way?
(safe space, no shame here)

See you laterrr!

30 Day Photo Challenge: Noms

Day 22:
a picture of your favorite food

 

Dudes, I could go on about the wonders of food for DAYS.
I was a really REALLY picky kid, so there's a lot of different things that I'm just now discovering (clam chowder? OH MY GOD).

But since I don't have a picture of all of my favorites stacked about a mile high on a plate, I'm going to have to pick just one. 

So, I'm going to go with white chocolate covered shika-berries.

Strawberries are delicious on their own, but put them on a stick with white chocolate?
Holy fuck balls, seriously.
So delicious, and even better, it's only a little bit guilty.
I mean, it's fruit with a litttttle bit of chocolate, that can't be that bad can it? ;)

I will say though, I am a bit of a shika-berry snob.
So far, the only ones that really blow my mind are the ones I used to get at the Apple Blossom Festival back home and the ones I make myself.

My money's on the freshness, considering they dip their berries to order and I eat mine the second the chocolate hardens.

Next time I make them, I'll post a tutorial.
It's really really easy, but some ways are definitely better than others.

See you guys later! :)

30 Day Photo Challenge: Something Better

Day 21:
a picture of something you'd like to do better.

There are a TON of things I wish I could improve on.
Dieting, exercising, whatever the opposite of procrastinating is; I could go on.

But there's one thing that really sticks out, and that's playing the guitar.

I've always loved music, but for some reason never learned to play an instrument.
When I first moved to Virginia I had a really hard time finding a job, so after a couple months of complete boredom I decided to try.

Bryan got Giles for me at a pawn shop in Virginia Beach, and I just started playing.
I taught myself chords with visual diagrams and learned the best way to strum from watching YouTube videos.
I still have no idea how to pick or anything like that, but I'm still learning.

I've posted a few covers on my YouTube channel, but they're nothing all that special.
I guess my ultimate goal is to get good enough to play in front of others, not so much performing, but more for just jamming with friends.
That's something I miss most about living so far away from home, I had to leave all my musical friends behind :(

What's something you'd like to be better at?
(I know, never end a sentence with a preposition. But frankly, it's Sunday and I don't give a fuck.)

See you soon :)

Miss Alyss

Hey guys!

Meet Alyssa :)

I can't believe I haven't told you about Alyssa yet.
Insanity.

Alyssa is the friend that I've been doing the 30 Day Photo Challenge with, so I've been talking about her a bit here and there lately in my posts. There's really only one thing you need to know about her:
She is AMAZING.

Alyssa and I have known each other since we were 12 (maybe 11).
She knew me when I had my buck teeth and I knew her when she was even tinier than she is now.
(For serious you guys, she's adorable as fuck).

We sang in choir together and had a lot of the same friends, but we didn't really become close until Junior High. And then we were inseparable**

** some people may think that I'm using that word figuratively, for for reals, we were always together, and usually hanging off of each other **

We were part of a bigger group of friends throughout Jr. High and High School. We would sing together, make ridiculous home movies (parodies, fake music videos, random nonsense...) together, and grew up together. It was an absolute blast :)

But, as to be expected growing up in a small town, our little group disbanded toward the end of our time at EHS. Nothing bad happened, we just sort of went our separate ways. Some of our posse graduated before us, others left for college, a handful moved away just because.

We'll still meet for coffee when we're back at home at the same time, but other than that I don't see much of our old gang.

But somehow, even with her leaving for school and me moving all the way to Virginia, Alyssa and I have managed to stay as close as ever :)
Not geographically obviously, but even with 2,836.8 miles (yeah I googled it) between us, I still feel like she is one of my greatest friends and she's always there when I need her.

 

 ^^ she hated that nose so much LOL

We can go months without speaking (rare) and pick right back up like we had just seen each other yesterday.

She even came to visit me last year :D
We had SO MUCH FUN!

 

we drank green dranks on St. Paddy's Day

went to the Virginia Aquarium :)

jammed with Giles and Luna 

(yeah we name our instruments after fictional characters, WHAT OF IT?!)

we even went on a mermaid hunt :)

One of the main reasons that we chose to do this 30 Day Photo Challenge is so we can see how much we've changed in the last few years of us living so far apart. Even if it's just in little ways, we aren't the same people we were 3 years ago.

She's just awesome, and since I'm probably going to be talking about her more and more, I felt that you needed to know about her awesomeness as well :)

ooh, and just to give you an idea about the shenanigans:

This is us in my bathtub. Because that's just how we roll ;)


happy friday everyone :)
see you tomorrow!

 
PS: Alyssa does some pretty awesome covers on her Youtube channel, be sure to check her out ;)

30 Day Photo Challenge: Favorite Fictional Character

Day 20:
a picture of your favorite fictional character

The timing for this is absolutely perfect.
I already gushed about my love for Kate Winslet yesterday, and today it's Leo's turn.
Well, technically not Leo himself (though I love him too), but his best character:
Jack Dawson.

Titanic is my all time favorite movie and it has been since I was 16(ish).
I saw it when I was 10, but couldn't fully appreciate it because, well, I was 10.

But when I watched it again as a young adult, I absolutely fell in love with Jack Dawson.

And yes, I know that you're supposed to, that's the whole point of a love interest in a movie.
But still.
 

His character is so free and youthful and full of life, all things that I admire so much.
I'm a complete stress magnet. Things that shouldn't bother anyone stress me out to no end.
And it never goes away.
I could be obsessing over something for weeks, and then once it's resolved I start to worry about something else.
There's always something haunting my thoughts, but that's never the case for Jack.
And Rose, he's able to make her smile and laugh and let go just by being who he is; his outlook and attitude is contagious.

And he's so supportive.
Could you even imagine having someone like him in your life?
Someone you meet, and just sees right through you? Someone who accepts you before they even know you? Someone who can tell how you are actually feeling when everyone else around you has no idea?
And someone who cares!
He knew Rose a whole 30 seconds before he was unlacing his boots to jump into the water after her. It may not have mattered at that point who she was or what she was doing on that ledge, but he was willing to bet that she would be worth saving.

But I think the thing that makes me love him the most is his unstoppable positivity.
One of the other days for this challenge was a picture of my favorite quote, and I chose one of his.

"I figure life's a gift and I don't intend on wasting it."

Sometimes it's really hard to think of things that way, and it really shouldn't be.

Sure, I could pinpoint all the disappointments I've ever had, all the things that stress me to no end; or I could fuck off and just remember that I'm lucky for the life I've been given.

The good things in my life greatly outweigh the not so good, and it would do me well to remember that.

That's why he's so great to me.
He has no money, no real home, and he can still see his blessings more clearly than so many people.

 Who is like that?

Above is one of the deleted scenes from Titanic.

I'm really sad that they didn't include it in the final version of the film, especially since it includes references that would make later parts of the movie even more significant.
It's nothing super exciting, but I think this captures his personality perfectly :)

And yes, I know he's fictional, but some of my favorite people don't really exist ;)

See you tomorrow :)

30 Day Photo Challenge: Lady Crush

Day 19:
a picture of your lady crush


 

Kate Winslet, hands down.

I've loved her since Titanic (favorite movie everr.)
She is so unbelievably beautiful and talented.
 

There are a few of her films that I'm not super fond of (looking at you Quills :S ), but I always love her characters.
Aside from the infamous Rose, I especially love Iris Simpkins from The Holiday.
She plays a woman that we can all relate to...a woman who falls victim to unrequited love.
No matter who we are, every woman has had feelings for someone that hasn't reciprocated.
And it hurts like hell.
But seeing Iris rise above the shambles of her crushed self esteem and stand up for herself always makes me feel proud and empowered, and gives a whole new meaning to the word "gumption" ;)

Another thing that makes her wonderful is her stance on body image.

“As a child, I never heard one woman say to me: ‘I love my body.’ Not my mother, my elder sister, my best friend. Not one woman has ever said: ‘I am so proud of my body.’ So, I make sure I say it to Mia, because a positive physical outlook has to start from a very early age.”

Seriously though, there are two types of people in the world:
People who would bang Kate Winslet, and liars.

Who's your lady crush?

See you laterrrr!

30 Day Photo Challenge: My Day

Day 18:
a picture of your day

I work at a little deli downtown, about 2.5 miles away from my apartment.
I'm currently sans car (left my bug back in WA :( ), and after a pre-christmas bike crash, I've been walking home in the afternoons.
It's usually a bit of a pain, especially with Norfolk weather being what it is (a bitch.)
 

But today was beautiful.
I hadn't gotten through two songs on my iPod before I had to stop and take my coat off.

Above is the view from the Elizabeth River Trail, the most scenic and (to my luck) fastest way to get home.

I plan to start riding my bike again, but until then I hope the weather stays this agreeable :)

And guess who got home right after I did?
 

This is a horrible picture of me, but please keep in mind this was after my 2.5 mile walk home ;)

See you tomorrow :)

30 Day Photo Challenge: Best of '13

Day 17:
your favorite picture from 2013

This is a picture from when my family came to visit me for Christmas.
(left to right: my mom, me, Bryan, my brother, my brother's girlfriend, and my dad.)

This is my favorite picture because it's one of my favorite memories from last year.
As I've mentioned before, I used to live in Washington state, and now live in Virginia. My family is still back west, and thanks to distance, expense and conflicting work schedules, I don't get to see them very often. I've lived on the east coast for almost 2 and a half years and I've only gotten to see my family 3 times since.

This was their first visit here (the other times I've gone home), and this is us at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg.

I love my family, which is why moving to Virginia was so hard to begin with.
Sometimes we get on each others' nerves, but we're all really close.

I was really happy to show them where I live (I know that they worry sometimes) and the life that Bryan and I have created out here.
They got to meet my Virginia family, and see the places I'm always talking about.
We got to spend the holidays together (not for realsies as they left on the 23rd, but it was close enough) for the first time since 2010, which made the season even more special.

My brother even cut his hair so he could donate to Locks of Love :)



A lot of people said that he should have kept the mustache, but I was happy with the final look.
He looks like my bubber again :)


See you tomorrow :)

Tunesday: Ewan McGregor

what day is it again? :)

"Your Song" sung by Ewan McGregor

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before, but I'm going to guess that it won't come as much of a shock...
I LOVE musicals.
Like, ALOT.
Rent, Sweeney Todd, Phantom of the Opera, Little Shop of Horrors, Mamma Mia, 

not Cats though. I actually really hated Cats. Ironic? Maybe.

But my favorite by far is Moulin Rouge.
Alyssa had me watch it in junior high and I fell in love.
The story is wonderful, the film itself is visually stunning (ah, Baz:) and the cast is wonderful.
 

But what makes it my favorite is simple:
Ewan McGregor.
Oh my God you guys, this voice is so incredible, it's like sex for your ears.
He gives me goosebumps, especially when he hits the higher notes.
Seriously, all I really need in life is for him to serenade me when I'm sad.
Or when I'm happy. Or hungry.

The entire soundtrack is amazing, but I chose "My Song" because it was the song that made my breath catch in my throat the first time I saw the movie.
I had never seen him in anything except the Star Wars Prequels, so when I heard Obi Wan belt out the first line of this song, I almost died.
And no, I NEVER pretend that he's singing it to me. That would be nonsense ;)

I hope you enjoy :)
And if you haven't seen Moulin Rouge, stop what you're doing right now and go watch it.
For realsies.

See you tomorrow :)

30 Day Photo Challenge: Dream Destination

Day 16:

a picture of a place you'd love to visit

I don't know why, but I've been fascinated with The Northern Lights lately.
I've never had any desire to travel any further north that were I used to live (the Pacific Northwest), except maybe just past the border into Canada.
 

But lately I've had a stirring to visit Alaska.
When Bryan and I got married he would always joke about wanting to move to Alaska, and I would always laugh but dread the day that he wasn't kidding.
I've never been there mind you, but I know all the general information.
The cold, the months without a sunset, the wilderness, the danger, none of it sounded appealing to me.
 

But lately, as if out of nowhere, I suddenly want to go.
How beautiful would it be to see the Aurora Borealis outside your window every night?
I don't know a lot about space, but I love gazing at the stars.
It's one of the things I've missed since moving to the city.
And I can only imagine that seeing the Northern Lights with my own eyes would be absolutely breath taking.

Where do you want to visit?

See you tomorrow :)

30 Day Photo Challenge: Celebrity Doppleganger

Day 15:
a picture of your celebrity doppleganger

I've been dreading this particular day of the challenge.
A few years ago when the whole celebrity face match thing exploded online, I tried to figure out who I looked like.
Any guesses on who it is?
No one.
No one famous looks like me.

But still, when I saw that this was part of our challenge, I went searching.
I downloading the app from MyHeritage, I tried a dozen different rando face match websites that I found on the google, I even had the friend that's doing the challenge with me (her's is Ashley Olsen and holy fuck it is uncanny, no idea how I never noticed before) plug a picture of me into the generator she had been using.
Every single time it came up with different people.
Katherine Heigl, Ashanti, Celine Dion, Cate Blanchett, all women who look absolutely NOTHING alike.

But I knew I'd have to find something for today's challenge, so I did a facial comparison with each of the people that had come up as a result.
Turns out, Norah Jones and I have pretty much the same face.

Hers is thinner than mine, but we have the same nose, our lips are really similar and our eyes are about the same distance apart.
I still look we look like completely different people, but when it comes to facial shape and features, we have a lot in common.

It's too bad that Kelsie isn't famous, because we're practically twins ;)

See you tomorrow!
 

30 Day Photo Challenge: Favorite Book

Day 14:

a picture of your favorite book

**I'm choosing to exclude the Harry Potter series (which are by FAR my favorite books. Ever. In the universe. Forever.) I'm doing this because I've already written a post about my favorite HP book.**

So today I'm going to talk about Blood & Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause.

This book is one of the few books that I can read over and over again.
And I totally do.
I've probably read this book...uhmmm... I'll say 12 times in the last 9 years.
It's my go to "I just finished a book and I still really want to read but I'm not ready for a new story yet so I'll read this again" book.
I even bought the Kindle version so I'll always have it with me.

And the crazy thing is, it's not even that great of a story.
I mean, I love it, but there's nothing revolutionary or elaborate about it.
And it's kind of a bummer because it doesn't end the way I want it to :/
But I can't stop reading it.

Oh, and the movie version is a god damned joke.
Yes, the ending is more of what I wanted, but that's only because the ENTIRE plot of the movie is completely different from the book.

I've never really been one of those "the book is ALWAYS better" people, simply because I think that people tend to enjoy whatever they positively experience first. If you see the movie first and like it, you're going to be a little pissed when you go read the book and it's different from what you originally knew as the story (and vice versa).
But this one, holy fuck.
I swear, they basically took all the names of the characters (some of them aren't even the same people) and the BASIC (I'm talking bare bones) storyline of the book and then changed everything else.
And I was PISSED.
 

But yeah, it's a good one.
(The book, not the movie. Just to avoid confusion.)

See you laterrrrr :)