An Update on Life

{lots of fashion, coffee, and thrifting happening lately}

Hello, Internet! I've been absolute rubbish at blogging lately. Life has been crazy and for some reason I've felt very censored about posting publicly - which is stupid, because I've literally been doing this for years and I've made some of my best friends through blogging. So I'm going to try to post semi regularly again. But first, some updates on how my life is going.

Work:

I'm still at Francesca's, but in November of last year I was promoted to the full time assistant manager of one of the stores in a mall. Being in a mall for the first time in my retail career has been an adjustment, but I love my store and my team. I was acting manager for two months and that was a great learning experience, and I know I want to be a manager someday, but not yet. For now I'm happy to be assistant manager to my new (awesome!) store manager.

Boys:

My boyfriend and I broke up in late December. It was a weird experience. For months and months I thought that if we ever broke up I would be crushed/heart broken/at my wits end. Then it happened... And I was surprisingly ok. Not going to say I didn't have my moments of sadness, but as Mr Collins of Pride and Predjudice so eloquently put it once - for as they say, even a broken clock is right twice a day - "resignation is never so perfect as when the blessing denied begins to loose somewhat of its value in our estimation." So, yeah. Basically I'm a-ok. 

Home:

In September I moved in with two of my best friends just over the border in Wisconsin. It ended up not being the best of situations so I'll be moving again at the end of the month, to an adorable, little, one bedroom, upper apartment about ten minutes north of where I am now. I'm really excited. Living alone has always been a dream of mine, but I wasn't sure if be able to find a place I could afford. As always, however, God provided exactly what I needed and I'm excited to start this new chapter of my life (as well as being able to decorate it however I choose!).

Fashion:

I've actually been really happy with my style and the pieces I own lately! I mean, I better be considering how many I have! Working at Francesca's is seriously dangerous for me, y'all! The only problem is that I'm lazy and haven't been taking pictures for this lil' piece of the Internet. Boo! I'm going to try to do better as the weather warms up.

So yeah, that's what I've been up to lately! Just lots of working and thrifting and getting ready to move. Spring is for new beginnings, right?

Captains of the Sky // What I Wore

{dress//Francesca's :: denim button down//Plato's Closet :: boots//Target} 

I'm so in love with this dress! I didn't get a good shot of it, but the neckline is beaded and has a very classic, preppy, J Crew-ish look about it. I can't wait to wear it in the summer with some strappy wedges!

I bought it right before my district manager's visit to my store. Well, sort of my store. I was promoted to assistant store manager in November, and I've been acting store manager ever since my manager left in the beginning of January. It's been a really good (if exhausting) experience, and I love all of the girls I work with. I always try to bring my a-game fashion wise whenever the district manager is in my store though - and that makes for a good excuse to buy new, pretty dresses. Haha! 

I'm hoping to take a trip up to Mackinac Island in the summer and if so this dress will definitely be included in my suitcase. It's such a perfect, nautical look for an island getaway! Summer can't come fast enough for me. What are you all looking forward to this summer?

Backyard Swagger

{skirt//Francesca's :: blouse//Francesca's :: denim button down//Plato's Closet :: socks//DIY}

 "You can't ride in my little red wagon
The front seat's broken and the axel's dragin'
You can't step to this backyard swagger
You know it ain't my fault when I'm walkin' jaws droppin' like
Ooh, ah, ooh, ah"

~ Little Red Wagon by Miranda Lambert

Sorry for the long absence. My computer went kaput and I've yet to remember to bring it over to my dad to fix it.

This week Molly and I are staying with our aunt and uncle in the sticks of Missouri for some much needed R&R. It snowed here shortly before we came which is pretty unusual, so naturally the only logical course of action was to do a photo shoot in a mini skirt out in the 20 degree weather.

It was a really fun set to shoot because we just had fun. I had my phone out playing some Miranda Lambert songs and just danced around. Usually I'd be too self conscious to be this goofy or wear such a tight skirt, but I've come a long way in self acceptance over the past few months and I actually had a blast shooting these photos - even if I did almost freeze to get them. 

Every Day is like a Battle // What I Wore

 {dress//Francesca's :: necklaces//Francesca's :: purse//Francesca's}

"'Cause, baby, I could build a castle

Out of all the bricks they threw at me

And every day is like a battle

But every night with us is like a dream"

~ New Romantics by Taylor Swift

These photos are a while old - late October. I snatched this gorgeous dress up for just $9.98 at Francesca's and the day after we had a freak 70 degree day - can you say "fate"? So obviously I had to bust it out for my uber-glamorous Target run. Perfectly acceptable, right?

I used to feel guilty for being happy. Especially right after I moved out. I felt like there were so many people out there who were worse off than me, that why did I deserve all this I've been blessed with?

Lately, though, that guilt has faded. I realized that I'm as happy as I am because God revealed to me changes that needed to be made in my life, and I worked hard to mend them. I left friendships behind, lost a lot of pride, and had to learn a lot of forgiveness. It wasn't easy. It was actually a lot of hard work.

I made a decision a long time ago not to let my current situation or past hurt define the rest of my life, and I've had to wake up and face that battle every day since then. I don't always do things or handle situations like other people - that's just not something that's possible for me. All I can do is my best in each situation. I've had to learn to stop comparing myself to other people and just be content with my best. I'm never going to be "normal" I'm always going to have scars and triggers (metaphorically speaking), but I can do better and be better each day than I was the day before. That's my best. That's my normal.

Dropped Out of the Sky // What I Wore

{dress//Francesca's :: boots//Bussola :: socks//local boutique :: cardigan//Maurice's :: scarf//Francesca's :: necklace//Francesca's :: purse//Emma Fox via T.J. Maxx :: belt//Target}

 "My life was so boring before you just dropped out of the sky."

I'm not sure how I got to this place in my life, to be honest. Molly and I were just talking the other day about how crazy it is that we're both more-or-less where we thought we'd be after graduation. She's at home writing and photographing while learning about Charlotte Mason's approach to teaching; while I'm moved out of my parents house, going to work surrounded by pretty things everyday, and in a relationship with the best guy I've ever known. Seriously how did we get here??

I feel like everything happened in a whirlwind - most of which I wasn't even looking for... Basically life kicks butt right now and I'm happier than I've ever been in my life. Here's hoping the last two months of 2014 are just as fantastic as the last ten have been.

Loving Him was Red // What I Wore

{jeans//American Eagle Outfitters :: sweater//Francesca's :: army jacket//borrowed from my roommate :: scarf//Francesca's :: boots//Sorel :: purse//Francesca's :: necklace//Francesca's}

This purse and scarf have quickly become two of my favorite autumn accessories. The (teeny tiny!) size of this purse is a nice change of pace from my usual, bulky Mary-Poppin's bag; and this sweater seriously feels like wearing a blanket around my neck. It's so warm and cozy!

This outfit is super simple and casual - so different from what I was wearing last year! Like I said in my farewell post on Beautifully Pure, I was trying so hard to be one of the "cool kids"/hipsters last year. I know I talked a lot last year about how my confidence had grown, but that was nothing compared to how I feel now!  God has really worked in my life the last year, though, and I've let go of all that and am happy just being myself - as a result I'm drawn to more minimalist, comfy-casual but chic outfits.

Honestly, how I've dressed in the past has really been a bit of a mask. I felt that I needed those a-line skirts to hide my tummy and big thighs and all those colors and makeup and lipstick to hide my under-eye circles and tired-looking eyes. Like I said, God has worked in me a lot this year. One of the most important things I've realized is that the people who love me will think I'm beautiful no matter what I wear, and the people that will criticize me don't matter.

And since we're talking about accepting my flaws - can we take a moment to appreciate how often I've been posting photos of me smiling with teeth!? That used to be something I was super self conscious about, but lately it doesn't bother me. Maybe it's the fact that I've recently realized that several of my friends hate their smiles, too, despite the fact that I think they look adorable smiling with teeth. Or maybe it's the fact that closed-mouth smile just can't express how unbelievably happy I am with my life right now. Who knows? Either way I'm happy to see myself making progress in this whole "self-love" thing. ♥

Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore // What I Wore

{sweater//local boutique :: shorts//Francesca's :: tights//Francesca's :: scarf//Francesca's :: necklace//Francesca's :: boots//Bussola :: bracelets and watch//borrowed from work :: purse//Emma Fox via TJ Maxx}

Hello. 

My name is Katie. 

I'm kind of weird sometimes. 

I love Gaelic folk music - I can even sing along to several songs in Gaelic. 

I don't read new books - not that I don't love the stories, but I'm very particular about writing styles and would rather spend my time reading the classics. 

I eat raw cookie dough by the spoonful. 

I have the first two scenes of the Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring committed to heart. 

I believe that the 1995 adaption of Pride and Prejudice is the only version worth watching. 

I'm for gun rights.

I have a special fondness for period dramas.

I live life with my own personal soundtrack via my iPod.

I relate to Anne of Green Gables more than any other book/movie ever.

I'm loud. 

I'm crazy. 

I have a lot to say.

I'm nerdy.

I'm home schooled.

I'm me, and I won't change for anyone on this earth, so don't bother asking.

I am who I am. Take it or leave it.