What Kate Likes: Stripes

It's not a secret that I love stripes. I have a sick amount of striped clothing...dresses, shirts, shoes. I'm not much of a print fan, but put stripes on something and it's pretty much a must-buy for me. I'm to the point where I have to actively avoid striped clothing.

However, that doesn't stop me from loving them, so here are some stripes I'm coveting...

1//2//3//4//5

1. Colorblocking + stripes? I'm so in. J. Crew always does the best stripes, in my opinion.

2. This Jack Spade phone case is the perfect mix of nautical/tomboy chic.

3. How cute is this Lilly Pulitzer dress for summer? You could wear it to the pool, to a party, to a barbecue...pretty much essential.

4. Sequins, stripes, tassels...adorable!

5. I love pink and red together--so happy!

***Edited: Since tomorrow is the Golden Globes, check back tomorrow night/Monday morning to see what my friend Bridget and I thought about all of the gowns! We'll try to live-blog but that may not work out...

What's Up?

 so ready for summerrrr

Sorry for being kind of quiet lately...I've been totally sucked into January gloom and feeling completely uninspired.

Since I have a small, decent core group of readers now, I want to know what you want from me as far as content goes. What do you want to read on What Kate Likes in 2013? What do you not want to read? What do you want more of? Less of? Send me any suggestions you possibly have, no matter how off-the-wall they may seem. I want to stay true to myself, but I also want to write about things that interest y'all as well.

You can comment with any suggestions, ideas, feedback, whatever or you can send me an email if you're more into flying under the radar.

I look forward to reading your suggestions!!

xx

Happy Monday!!

 How delicious does this blackberry jam cake look? yum.

Hey friends! I hope you all had a nice relaxing weekend. I spent all of Saturday with an off-and-on migraine, which was so bad at one point that I nearly passed out while getting my nails done. So my weekend was pretty low-key since I didn't feel like doing much either day.

However, I'm feeling great today and ready to take on the week!

A happy little surprise waiting for me this morning was that sweet Amanda at Happy Asia Girl nominated me for a blog award! Isn't that just the sweetest thing?? I'm not quite sure how these work, so I think I just have to answer her questions, give you five facts about myself, and then nominate some other people. Well, I'm not going to nominate anyone, because I think everyone's already been nominated or doesn't have a blog (and because I can't pick favorites ever haha), but here's my 5 facts and responses!

5 facts about me:
1. I can bend my thumbs backwards.
2. I'm a middle child.
3. I read really fast.
4. I'm a total computer geek.
5. I've broken my nose twice.

Amanda's Questions:
1.) If you were a food what food would you be? 
 Something full of sugar and chocolate since those are essentially my two major food groups.  
2.) What is a secret goal that you have?
Hmm...I don't really think this is "secret", but I don't think a lot of people know that I want to eventually open my own boutique!  
3.) Tell us about your car (or public transit of choice)
I drive a green Saturn SUV and I love it. I love it even more now that it has two shiny new Auburn stickers on it. 
4.) All time favorite vacation?
My family took a cruise to the Caribbean and Mexico for Christmas one year...it was amazing.  
5.) Describe your perfect Saturday
Super lazy morning spent all snuggled up in bed and probably watching Food Network, followed by lunch and a day at the spa.
6.) 3 words to sum you up
food, silence, sleep.
 7.) Favorite member of your family (answer at your own risk)
Dad. I am a total, unashamed Daddy's girl.
8.) Favorite quote?
"The most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous."-Carrie Bradshaw
9.) what would your friends say your catch phrase is?
Hmm...probably 'bless' or something equally weird.
10.) speaking of catch phrase, which category do you rock at?
All of them. I am an intense Catch Phrase player. If you're friends with me, it's probably because we haven't ever played Catch Phrase together.
11.) Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Welllll....hopefully married, or at least dating some cute guy, with a job that I love and I'm successful with and I'm happy!

Thankfulness and Inspiration

If you took the time out of your day to read my unedited, heart-to head-to hands post yesterday and aren't ready to quit reading this little bloggie of mine due to my general lack of knowing what the heck I'm doing, or if you thought 'man that girl needs a) some advice, b) a hug, c) spiritual guidance, d) all of the above' and gave me any of that, just know that I am infinitely appreciative and blessed by all of it and y'all and that I'm giving you all hugs through my screen.

Anyway. I'm obviously still mulling things over and thinking things through and talking them out and trying to figure out what to do, so here are a few little quotes that are on my mind.

xx

 

1//2//3//4//5//6

Rocks & Hard Places

 loving this verse and the post it accompanies right now...

 So.

I have a really tough decision to make: take an unpaid internship w/ a company I'm excited about and that would give me TONS and TONS of experience and that would probably let me start ASAP and I would be supporting myself completely with less than $5000 to my name right now...OR...do I keep on searching for a paid, full-time, stable job at a company I'm less excited about and would get work experience in one area, as compared to 5+?

I know the stable, no-risk option is to keep on looking...but a little voice inside me is telling me to take the risk, make the jump and just go. for. it. and the rewards will be infinitely bigger than the risk and everything will be taken care of.

Then on the other hand, another voice is telling me that as great as experience is, it doesn't pay bills and homegirl has to eat...and while everything will work out fine, there is a very real possibility that I'd be sleeping in a box on the side of the road before things work themselves out and I'd reach the level where things would be okay. And that is really really scary.

The verse pictured is what I am clinging to right now...the Lord has something planned for me and it's better than anything I could ever dream. Where does He want me? What does He want me to do? I know He'll provide for me and won't ever desert me, but that involves two things I am not good at: a) giving up control and b) trusting in Him completely.

Since I need a plan to survive (slight exaggeration), here's my plan: spend lots of time in prayer. I don't have the rest of it figured out, but I know prayer is the best place to start.

Ahhhhh....

I'm living the very definition of that old saying 'between a rock and a hard place'. What would you do? Have any tips/advice? Anything?

Style Resolutions

So I've already covered my resolutions for life in general, but I have a few goals for my style this year as well. These are by no means desperately important, but rather things that I want to incorporate into my wardrobe or shopping habits this year and in future years.

1. Be more conscious of quality and fit when buying pieces.

2. Invest in high quality basic pieces (example: knit tops) in colors that I love, are versatile, and fit well.

3. Buy only what I love.

4. Get things altered in a more timely manner so they're always readily available.

5. Break out of my comfort zone as far as colors, patterns, and styles go.

6. Have more fun with fashion!

7. Upgrade my lingerie wardrobe and get rid of anything ratty. (that's maybe overly personal, but whatever)

8. Finally upgrade to a really nice pair of sunglasses instead of relying on Target cheapies. Also: buy sunglasses since I currently don't own any...

9. Become more of a jewelry person and add to my tiny collection. 

Am I the only person who comes up with goals for every area of life? I hope not...

What are your style goals for 2013? I'd love to hear!

1//2

2013!

Y'all. How weird does 2013 sound?! I keep thinking about what people from the 1900s imagined when they thought about the year 2000, and now we're 13 years beyond that...and still no Jetsons-style flying cars. Maybe 2013 will be that year...

Anyway. How were your NYE celebrations? Mine was suuuuper fun! I went up to San Antonio and hung out with some lovely college friends and had an absolute blast and then spent all of yesterday hungover resting from the festivities and driving home.

ignore our demon eyes...

again, ignore demon eyes...

I am so excited for this coming year. I have a feeling that big (HUGE) things are on the very near horizon, both personally and professionally, and I am ready for whatever challenges or successes that are in store for me. I'm hoping to grow a lot and change and I'm very, very excited for it all. A bit nervous of course, since I am not change's biggest fan, but excitement outweighs nervousness.

I have plans for this little bloggie, but I'm also hoping that great unplanned things will happen with it as well. Yay 2013!!