23 before twenty-three

Today I woke up feeling older and wiser than yesterday {lol}. I am now 22. 21 was a great year for me, but I am determined to make 22 an even better year! Inspired by one of my favorite friends Lindsey, of Love, Lindsey, and her 26 before 26 post I decided today was the perfect day to compile my own list of things I want to accomplish before I turn 23.

I have 365 days to check all of these tasks off my list:

1. Go horseback riding again
2. Participate in a Mud Run or a race
3. Go Vegetarian for 2 weeks...just to see if I can do it
4. Go on a road trip
5. Volunteer at a children's hospital
6. Organize & decorate my craft room
7. Photograph a sunrise {Ugh, I am NOT a morning person...this could take a while}
8. Break a record
9. Spend 1 whole day in bed with my mommy and sissys watching Lifetime and Friends like we used to
10. Refurbish a piece of furniture
11. Teach somebody something
12. Visit my 5 favorite teachers and tell them how amazing they are {even though I have WAY more than 5}
13. Paint a picture
14. Go on a hike. Just me, my dog, & my camera
15. Take my husband on an awesome surprise date {suggestions welcome}
16. Visit Forest Home {where I spent 99% of my preteen/teen years}
17. Throw someone a surprise party
18. Start a charity!
19. Send someone a homemade gift just because
20. Get in the best shape of my life
21. Go to the shooting range
22. Play a game {softball, soccer, football, basketball, rugby?}
23. Donate clothes to someone in need {I'm BAD at getting rid of clothes}

Some of these things I've done before but somehow lost time to do them again, and somethings I will be doing for the first time- ever, some are scary and others just excite me. Either way I can't wait to get this list finished, and as Linds said "So that's it- It's on the internet now, so that means I definitely have to do it." Crap. -K

Wish list!

In light of my upcoming birthday {have I mentioned my birthday is in t minus 5 days} I decided to throw together a little wish list of awesome things that I want- and that I think you should want because they are awesome things. There is definitely nothing that I NEED but it's always fun to do some online browsing for more worldly possessions to clutter up my house, feel me?!

1. World Peace. Don't even say this is a ridiculous request.

              You can purchase this great print from Etsy.

2. Since I'm still a newlywed for another 6 months- how cute is this?!

 

Grab one for yourself or a bride here.

3. Blades! So I can roll like a boss. GREAT workout and SO much fun! {Better on your joints than running}

  These ones would do the trick, I'd look for a better deal though because I'm cheap. ;)

4. Cowgirl boots! Stagecoach is coming. Enough said.

Outrageously priced, but I'm sure they're comfy! Get them here and let me borrow them for the weekend!

5. This one is kind of a joke. KIND OF. What a great conversation piece this would make!

             And I'm pretty sure my husband would love it.

6. Juicer!

7. For those very rare mornings when I actually have time to SIT and get ready for work.

   I might have to get this here after I pay my delinquent taxes! The IRS is after me!

8. Lastly, tickets to this cruise! Blake Shelton + 7 day cruise = DREAM VACATION!

There you have it! My list of things I have absolutely no need for, but would be awesome to have! Maybe you know someone with a birthday or bridal shower coming up?! Or maybe someone in need of some glow-in-the-dark tp?? - K

Confessions of a birthday shopaholic.

Today was the day my husband took me shopping for my birthday! Needless to say, BEST. DAY. EVER. I totally forgot to print out the ideas below and take them as a reference but I still found some great pieces and def got my {shopping for myself} fix! Here are some outfits I put together with my new purchases....

I already owned the brown slacks, purse, and wedges but I got the shirt {$10} and earrings {$5} at Charlotte Russe.

 

Pants, shoes, bag, and earrings from my closet. New blouse from Charlotte Russe {$10} love all the colors! Totally got that bag from an old box from my childhood, I guess I had style back then ;)

New heels {$20}, pink blazer {$30}, earrings {$2} Charlotte Russe. Coach wristlet, lace tube top, pinstripe slacks I already owned.

New heels {$20} and blouse, which I LOVE {$10} from Charlotte Russe. Earrings from a wholesale in L.A. {50 cents}.

Can you say  buy one get one free reversible shirt! Best invention in the fashion world. {$10} Charlotte Russe.

This outfit I love, but probably looks better on, not cute against the beige sheet I threw down but you get the idea! Heels and blazer {$20}, and bracelet {$3} from, you guessed it, Charlotte Russe!

Finally got my red pants! And on sale! {$25} Charlotte Russe.

Then there's this little gem {and by little I mean HUGE} that my amazing husband got me, I'm so obsessed with it! I still have over a week until my birthday and it's already been fabulous! So blessed! Can't wait to wear my new digs (should I use that word?) to the office! - K

Dress to Impress

I don't know about you, but for me the best days of the week always happen to be when I look/dress cute. It sounds vain but it's so true that when you feel physically good about yourself you are {usually} in a better mood than when you just feel like you look blah. It's so important to take care of yourself, be healthy, and have CONFIDENCE! Here are a few great finds that I totally wish I had for work (since that is where I spend most of my time).....

To die for. Get it here. I will NEVER be purchasing this due to the outrageous price, but a girl can dream (or look for something similar for much less).

Pink blazer. Nude scarf. Great heels. Casual Friday for sure!

 

 Top half for work with some white pants. Bottom half for play;)

Love everything about this. Looks so comfy!

 Cute!

 Thick belt over the cardigan & shirt. Love the ruffle neck shirt & necklace too!

Freaking cute!

And then some days I'll just wanna be really girly and wear a dress like this.

Good news for me! My birthday is coming up {1.31.90} and I asked my husband for a shopping spreeeeee! I never love spending money on myself unless I have a good excuse {ie: it's my birthday and I want some new clothes K?!} Maybe I'll find some similar outfits! Wish me luck;) 

And don't forget, clothes are cute but a girls best accessory is her SMILE! -K

He asked....she said yes.

As a photographer and a newlywed I'd have to say my favorite photos to take right now are engagement photos. They just make me so happy! I am a hopeless romantic and love to see my clients as happy as they are right after they get engaged. It's a feeling that is still familiar to me even though I haven't been engaged for 6 months (happy 6 months to my husband tomorrow!!). I can't even describe the excitement that a girl feels after they've been asked by the love of their life to spend the rest of her life with him, it's the best feeling in the world (aside from having a child I'm guessing!), here are a few of my favorite photos!

These are also the easiest clients to shoot, their happiness is just insane! - K

My life be like oooo awwww

Truth be told I "started" writing a book the year after I graduated high school. And by "started" I mean I wrote down some notes on a piece of paper and lost the paper, of course. I did get very excited about it though! I researched, brainstormed, and even had some meetings with a published author to get some advice, but somewhere down the line I got side-tracked. I like to blame it on the fact that I was a full time college student who also had 2 full time jobs and 1 part time job and a boyfriend who was graduating from the Academy, but let's not make excuses now. :) My goal before I have children (4 yrs from now) is to write a book about my very fascinating {cough, cough} life.

Wish me luck!!! - K

DIY Shabby Chic Earring Frame

I have a slight obsessions with earrings. I don't usually like to wear the same pair in one week so I have quite the variety, and until recently I just kept them in the bags they came in, on my nightstand, or on my bathroom counter where I take them off. That system was working for me for a while but then I started losing one of each pair and that is unacceptable, so I constructed this cute little earring frame to keep them together and also to add some cuteness to my {yet to be} designed bedroom.

{Supplies}

• Picture frame (any size)
• Lace
• Hot glue gun
• Paint
• Sand paper

First I painted my frame (which I got from a thrift store for MAYBE $1). After the paint was dry and sanded it to give it the shabby look.  Then I just hot glued the lace (which I also got from a thrift store, but you can also get some from Michael's) to the back of the frame. So easy and you can make any color you want! Also makes for a great gift! - K

Mommy's Baked Apples!

This year my husband and I set out to start our own holiday tradition, as it was our first Christmas as husband and wife! We asked both of our families to our new home for desert after doing dinner and opening Pajamas at each of our parent's houses. What a coincidence that our families have the same tradition of  opening pj's on Christmas Eve... of course our kids grow up doing this! Anyways, the moral of this story is that my mom made some bomb.com baked apples!

So easy, so delicious, and good for you...after all....they are apples:) Thanks Mom! You're pretty! -K

 

2012 Resolution reminder!

Of course I'm going to make New Year's Resolutions! I love the feeling of a fresh start and what better time to make promises to improve yourself than the start of the new year?? After thinking of what I want to accomplish this year I had to come up with a way to remind myself so that I can KEEP my goals! That always proves the most difficult part of this whole thing huh?! Well I decided to keep my resolutions in a Ball jar, because I think they're cute and I have tons left over from my wedding.

I wrote down all my goals for 2012 and cut them into strips. I'll share a few of my favorites with you so you can keep me accountable!

I will be picturing Britney Spears in this video every time I don't feel like working out.

Dance class? Photography class? Psychology class?

We opted to buy the house, but now I want a honeymoon!

This would be nice.

I also put some blank ones so I can add more throughout the year!

Now I just have to find a place to put this where I will see it DAILY! I'm thinking my craft area! Happy New Year! What are your new year's resolutions?? -K