Creole Wisdom

i need to jump back into my painting

It has come to my attention that both of these ladies stole my hair style!!! I was antiquing with my mother (a common occurance, I swear we don't own any pieces of modrn furniture in our home.  I am not joking. There are over 10 pieces of antiques alone in our front room) when I stumbled across a portrait of a young woman. I looked at her, she looked at me. I said (to myself, obviously) "you and I kind of look alike" she smirked as if to say, "my dearest, our worlds could not be different.  But it is our curly bob and general disposition that we share."

The next day...

It was Jana's family and myself gathered for a divine Sunday dinner of chili followed by ice cream.  Her stepfather noted:
"Katie, you know you really look like some of those portraits of Victorian women.  Your hair and facial structure is very similar to them."  And I thought back to my little antiquing adventure and made a little mental note.

So I have concluded that another reason while older people like me (besides the fact that I talk to them) is that I look like a person from another time.  Ah ha!  The mystery is solved.  Perhaps I might feel better if I just jumped back into a frame and sat on a velvet covered chair.

big girl turns twenty-1

well, my birthday (12/27) started out a day early with a little visit from my grocery store lover/enemy. He came over and we watched a good little show of Le Divorce. Proceeded by a little birthday kiss in front of the tree. A little scandal on one's birthday is a good thing.

NEXT! (Please pick your mouths off the floor, yes I posted a kissing picture). Birthday morning started out with a lovely breakfast (err lunch, did I mention I wake up at 11am now) at the Pancake House. Divinity. Cupcakes from mom (I eat one as soon as I woke up!)

The birthday dinner: an evening out with a few of my favorite people. Jana. Brian. Kevin. It was intimate, lovely, and I got the steak.  Loved that it was low key.  I do not (repeat, do not) do the whole "it's my birthday the whole ward is invited" thing.  This was dreamy, and festive.

I am one year older and not drunk at all! I am so happy that I had such a low-key, relaxing birthday. There was no stress to be found, and I like it like that. 

merry christmas

OMG.  My sad shiny face, blame it on all the cortizone 10 plus I had to put on as a result of that lovely friend eczema who likes to make my life miserable. Plus the wrinkled shade shirt! But, without further ado Merry Christmas readers!

Do you want to know what is on my "grown gurl" Christmas list? I knew you did...
•to gain a better understanding, testimony, and reverence for Jesus Christ.  To be a better missionary, especially to my friends and family.  I have been given so many wonderful oppourtunities to do so, and sometimes I chicken out.
•work on my family history.  today I joined family search.
•to be more disciplined, mostly with school.  It's hard to get motivated.
•many more crazy, lovely, hilarious, food-eating times with Jana
•maintain those amazing relationships with those far away (Jay, Arlene, and now *sniff sniff* Claire who is going abroad wawa)
•find a man who fits the ever so secret and sought after "big 5" to be revealed after I am married. Haha
•read my patriarchal blessing more.  like once a month.
•i'm not even going to put exercise on this list because that is just silly.  we all know that i will not exercise until i am severly obese. my doctor asked me if i exercised and i said "no." she said my metabolism would slow down once i reach 30. i guess that gives me 10 err 9 (in 2 days) years left of bliss.
•to find time to read for enjoyment, not just during summer and winter breaks.
•oh, and some cute black Uggs

And thank you all for your kind comments on my last post. I deleted it, because it was not nice. I would be so sad if someone wrote those things about me, even if they were true. So that was my sign that it needed to go. My mom is my mom, and I am just going to love her regardless. Ahhh. But thanks for letting me vent!

Macy's 8th Floor

Each Christmas since 1963 Macys has put on a theme animated holiday display that is magical, wonderful. I have many fond memories of waiting in the long line at Marshall Fields (don't get my started) to see the free exhibit.  Right after I would get a chance to visit Santa.  It is so magical to travel downtown, to the top of the Macy's building, and see all the festive beauty.

Jana and I had been talking about going, since we hadn't been in years.  This Christmas Macy's presented "The Nutcracker," which just happens to be one of my favorite Christmas stories of all time.  It was so fun.



A self portrait of Miss Jana and I- oh, and I'm happy that the line was long, it got me so excited to see everything! 

Some of my favorite scenes:

I love the Christmas tree on the table, it's a German tradition, and I'd love to have that in my home someday.

The Giant Tree scene, amazing.


"Marzipan" piggies and dancers at the Candy Castle.

In the back of the programs there are coupons for the Marketplace so we went downstairs and got frozen yogurt mmmm : )

We could not resist. I say, "peek a boo, my bronze lover and I see you!" and Jana says, "what did I tell you about wandering off into the forest !?!?" HAHA.  We are terrible.

feeling christmassy today

Three things I realized today: Christmas is in fact on Tuesday... and my birthday, which I had forgotten about is on Thursday.  And with that I remembered that I have to have my license picture re-taken.  I promise that this time it will be different, I will put effort into my appearance so as to not look "bling bling." HAHA

Tonight some sorors and I are going to see The Golden Compass.  I must note, that I am particularly pleased with this years holiday lineup of films.  Enchanted was excellent, and sweet, and I hope this film will be as well.

It makes me upset that this is not available for purchase online.  Jay, will you go to a store down there and buy one for me?  Wa.

Finals are over, I'm moved into the brand new double, and I guess there's just nothing to do, but have fun and enjoy this magical season.

"hurry up porkchop"

that's what my mom says to me sometimes.  it cracks me up.  I have a lot to get done right now, and so this entry will suffice as my list:
•get off this computer, out of the bed, and into the shower
•eat breakfast/lunch (whatever you want to call it)
•decide what is going home this afternoon from my room
•study until mom comes
•check out the new scrapspace that is now mine in my parent's newly remodeled house!!!

and with that my face says: have a productive Saturday peeps!!!

PS:
4 days until finals are over.

the creations

Here are my Christmas cards from this year, it feels so fabulous to have them done and out.  I didn't want to post them on here until I was sure they had all been received. 


So here's what I did:
Everything I used to make these came from one of my favorite places, papersource.  For my cards last year, I got all my supplies there as well.  I'm going to be real, it's not a cheap store.  But the quality is supreme, and since I'm not sending gifts to everyone I'm okay with putting a little more money into cards.  Really, I just get gifts for those closest to me, so the card is a gift in itself.

Ingredients:
•40 Scalloped Cards (20 3.5"x4 7/8ths") in blossom and stardream quartz
•40 4-bar envelopes in blossom and stardream quartz
•"Crystal Stickers" (acid free) in pink and white. I could not find these on the papersource website, even though I purchased them there.  However, they can be found here. They are self-adhesive, and really easy to put on.
•I just printed the photo and message off and added a signature. 

All in all these were pretty easy to make.  The only tricky part is printing onto envelops, I always forget how to put the envelop in the printer to get it to come out right, but once I figure it out it's easy. I wrote personalized messages on the back to add a finishing touch. I like how classic they turned out.

the good news/the bad news

It has commenced.  Final season. 

The last day of classes is Tomorrow. I am worn, and tired of waking up early to trudge through piles of (albeit lovely) snow.  I want to sleep, sleep, sleep all day long and never get out of my flannel sheets.

But until the 18th none of that will be a reality. 

Just two finals this semester (the other two projects are done).  That is the good news.  The not-so-good-news is that the finals are Math and French.  Kill me now. 

Was supposed to start on making flashcards last night until Jana came over and along with Claire the three of us commenced on what turned into a three hour conversation.  Where does the time go when you are with friends?  I looked at the clock and it said: 1:30 then thought, we couldn't of talked for that long.  Yeah, and I got nothing done to prove it.

But, at least I got to eat Brie at our holiday dinner.

Me studying at my desk last week, when I wasn't so sleepy.

christmasy weekend 1

It was on crazy fun weekend.  I am loving the wildness that panned out.
Friday:
You know I was prepared to just give in when shopping for formal dress... and I didn't have to sacrifice too much except for my boobs.  At least it had sleeves! The ensemble line up: Free People dress, Macys everthing else, and borrowed clip- which I took out later because I did not want to look five years old.

Miss Emma and I before we left in front of our spectacular Christmas tree.  Now, do you see what I mean about the clip? Kinda an awkward combo with the cleavage and all.  From there we headed to Bayview out on Lake Minnetonka.  It was so festive, so beautiful.  It is times like these where my life feels magical.

My date Matt and I.  Dad would be proud, he's a Sigma Chi, too!


Our little sorority family; "grandma," little, and big (me). All on the dance floor together.  It was hilarious.
Saturday:
Ward Christmas party at the Bishop's house.  It was themed- "tacky holiday sweaters."  Now you all know that I don't really do themes, especially if they're gonna make me look bad.  I am still trying to find a husband ya know.  So I wore this ensemble instead. 

Due to multiple invitations Jana and I had to leave early.  We headed down to Rochester for Jonathan's Christmas party.  You know it was only fair we travel that far since he came up for our "work and the glory" party last Friday... And what did I just say about themed get togethers? Haha
Well, I will just be up front.  With men throwing parties you just never know what to except.  It might be bad like the time I ended up eating dry spagetti and a burnt roll (bless his heart for effort).  But Jonathan was pretty organized.  We ended up baking cookies, and you know I can take over a kitchen! A girl was there, and here's the convo that ensued.
Girl: What cookies are you guys making
Me: You know, the traditional herseys ones with the kisses in the center
Girl: Oh, actually those are called drop cookies (followed by a detailed definition of what a drop cookie is, I was thinking: does she know who she's talkin to?)
Me: Hm, well the recipes says "blossoms."
Girl: Well, be careful about your dough- don't add to much flour or it might get dry.

People kill me sometimes, lol.  But it all turned out lovely.  Jonathan gave me three awkward hugs and Jana and I left to head home. 

Sunday:
Church as usual, then Brian "finally" as he would put it, got me to go up and have dinner with his family.  We went to his cousin's place, and let me tell you they are the FUNNEST LDS people around (that I've met in real life, not to dog you blog readers ; ) What I like about them is that they have two kids, but are still hip.  They're funny and have a positive, playful, (a little crazy, too!) attitude.  We talked for hours then ran outside in swimsuits (barefoot) in the snow to the hottub.  The stars were out and it was dreamy. 

Brian loves the sorority.  He dropped me off after church so I could change (yes, I kicked him out of the room while I did the actual changing).  Here he is wearing Easter colors!

So that was it, and now I'm looking forward to a nights of rest under my divine flannel sheets.  Three guys in one weekend.  Ya, that sounds ho-ish, but I like to call it being busy. 

I'd like to bear my testimony.

It is not often that I pick up Vogue anymore. You see, it used to be a huge part of my life.

I would stand in the line at Zupans in high school, fingering the glossed pages for some semblance of glamor that I could soak up.  This was during my I want to live in New York and be really fashiony go to Sarah Lawrence phase. Vogue, W, and WWD (Women's Wear Daily) provided me with a sense of what I wanted to become, and what I thought was my goal.  As I have developed into adulthood my future vision for myself has changed, again.

I never thought I would open up the pages of my old friend, Vogue, and find a story so close to something that I feel I know, struggle, and am blessed with.  Balancing this life, carefully.  Being LDS is not like being Catholic, I know, because I used to be Catholic.  When I was Catholic I went to mass on Sundays, but forgo-ed any of the "rules/standards" the church had.  When you're LDS you adopt not only a faith, but also a culture.  It is hard to balance and find middle ground between both "worlds."  I am a sorority girl, and I am temple worthy.  This means that I am a word of wisdom following Latter-day Saint and a non-drinking Greek. 

Like Kristina, I have had to learned to, as she puts it, "[dip] a toe in both ponds- a nice alternative in an era when many women still grow up believing they need to choose one pond and either sink or swim" (p. 424).

Granted there were things about the article I did not like.  But I am not going to lie, any great PR out there on the Church is wonderful.  I want to see more positive images of LDS people in the public eye, and as we all gear up (and hold our breaths) for what will result of Mitt Romney it is nice to see that the world has caught on.  Mormons are really cool, savvy, intellectual.  I mean, we are some of the best looking people out there (there is not denying it), not to mention smart, devout, wealthy, and a whole long list of positive attributes! HAHA

I really urge you all to go out and pick up a copy. I've searched high and low and cannot find an online link to the article in whole, otherwise I would of pasted it on here.  I have no idea if they will talk about this on Segullah, but we shall see.

Kind of reminded me of CJane's post on Sunstone (which I just discovered about a month ago).