Thursday, December 30, 2010

Dating Dilemma - Letting Him Down

I suppose that it was bound to happen eventually. A nice, fun guy is finally really into me, and I am not that into him.

I've gone out three times with B, and he really is a cool guy and I do enjoy being around him. With that said, I'm just not feeling the chemistry. Date #1 was conversation over drinks, then we headed over to karaoke. We even did a suicide round where he picked a song for me and I picked one for him. So enjoyable, but not really into him.



Date #2 was watching movies and TV at his place. It was nice enough, bantering over the finer points of South Park and catching the discrepancies in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Unfortunately, there was no spark on my end. He leaned in for a kiss, and wow...nothing.

Since he is such a cool guy, I wanted to try one last time. Date #3 we went out for dinner, walked around the mall for a bit while dinner digested, then went to see a movie. Once again, it was all quite pleasant. However (and this is a BIG however), at one point during the movie, I had kinda zoned out and just seeing him next to me thought that it was a male relative. The fact is, he reminds me of one of my relatives a bit too much. Kissing him at the end of the night was a bit uncomfortable, but I don't think he picked up on it.

I don't really enjoy being on either side of the "dumping" (though it's not really dumping since we aren't in a relationship). I've been hurt when guys have ended things, and I certainly don't want to add to the number of wounded hearts in this world. At this point, I'm not sure how to end things in a kind and caring manner. I don't want to lead him on at all, and I know he wasn't looking for new friends.

Sigh. Does dating ever get easier?

Your favorite dating disaster,

~K

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas playlist

For those unfortunate souls that have no sense of time and are confused as to what a calendar is, today is Christmas eve. It is the night before we celebrate the birth of the one who came as an atoning sacrifice for all the badness and evil both in our hearts and in our deeds. Christmas has become commercialized over the years, and its celebration is no longer just for the faithful. Those of other religions accept it almost as their own.

One of my favorite aspects of Christmas is the music. I can turn on the radio and hear the sweet words of Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby reminding me how lovely this season truly is. However, there are times that I need to move beyond the classics and listen to Christmas music that doesn't get as much airtime or that you don't hear quite as often.

Thus, my Christmas playlist!

1. "Celebrate the Day" - Relient K
2. "Do They Know it's Christmas" - Band Aid (1984)
3. "Santa Baby" - Eartha Kitt
4. "Mary's Boy Child" - Boney M
5. "It's Christmas Time" - City on a Hill
6. "Punk Rawk Christmas" - MxPx
7. "Breath of Heaven" - Amy Grant
8. "Six White Boomers" - Rolf Harris
9. "Little Drummer Boy" - Jars of Clay
10. "Christmas is All in the Heart" - Steven Curtis Chapman
11. "I'm Getting Nuttin For Christmas" - Relient K
12. "Oh Santa" - Mariah Carey
13. "My Christmas List" - Simple Plan

...and this list would not be complete without one of my new favorites:



Merry Christmas!

~K

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Dating is hard!

When you feel that "click" with someone, that mutual attraction and butterflies begin to fill your stomach, you think that it's all sunshine and roses, right? Well, sometimes dating doesn't go like that. Sometimes along the journey you take a few wrong turns, get bad directions, and feel a few rocks in your shoe.

The last two guys I went out with were very different. The first guy came on to me pretty hard, and my goodness was he hot! This is not subjective, he was in fact so universally attractive that he was chosen for the local firemens' calendar. Unfortunately, things did not go well with him and his personality never really matched his looks.

Guy #2 was cute and sweet. We went out several times, and it definitely seemed like things were going somewhere. It has now been 4 days since I last heard from him.

So, back to my point: dating is hard! First semester of my sophomore year of college, I was in a difficult, while perhaps a bit enviable position. Two guys wanted to date me. I didn't really care to be in that sort of situation, and I floundered a bit before choosing. In the end, neither were the right one for me.

Dating situations and circumstances change along the way, but all in all I am still single. I go back and forth on what could be so horribly wrong with me that no one wants me. Am I truly unlovable?



I wish that I knew what I've been doing wrong or what I could possibly do differently. But then there is something to be said for the life experiences gained on this bumpy road of dating

Yours with love,

~K

Friday, November 19, 2010

Making New Friends

When I was in Girl Scouts, my mom was the leader and she taught us the following song:

Make new friends 
But keep the old
One is silver
and the other's gold.


A circle is round
It has no end
That's how long
I'm gonna be your friend.




That's all fine and dandy, but what about making those new, silver friends? While I mentioned in my last post that it's difficult to meet guys, it's just as difficult to make new friends as a young adult. Since moving back from Virginia, I've become friends with my roomie, my co-worker, a photographer at a club I frequent, a girl I met at karaoke, and a girl I met through a friend from VA.

My friend Caitlin (who I met at karaoke) just attended a local networking event. I haven't heard her full report on it, but I'm wondering if this may be a fun way to meet new people. 

While I do enjoy blogging, sitting home alone on a Friday night is not my idea of a fun time. Perhaps this is another things that I will work on this upcoming year. Goal? Maybe make 5 new friends? We'll see.

Your friend,

~K

Thursday, November 18, 2010

A Dating Drought

It seems like most girls begin dating in highschool. I didn't. I didn't think I was allowed to, but it was a moot point since I wasn't asked out. To be fair to all the awkward homeschool and youth group boys of my acquaintance, I was quite an ugly duckling. I had acne, braces then a retainer then braces again, I had no idea how to do my hair, and my fashion sense was a bit off.



College brought more dating opportunities, but I still didn't go out that much. Since moving back to Washington, I've gone out with a few guys here and there, but nothing of substance.

At the age of 25, I have had one boyfriend. Will there be a second? Hopefully.

So right now I'm in a drought...and a funk. Oh, guys will hit on me when I go dancing with my friends and I did have dinner with an adorable firefighter. But I am still single.

In the past, I have taken what I could get. That doesn't really work anymore. I don't want to be a doormat. What do I want? Nothing exceptional; I simply want to be adored. It is my belief that a lot of insecurities that arise in young women regarding their relationships are caused by the fact that they are not given any reason to feel secure.

I live in a land known for its lack of connection. We have what is known as The Seattle Freeze. It's just difficult to meet new people!

Any tips for my dating journey?

Single in Seattle,

~K

Sunday, November 14, 2010

In the Past

Last night I went out dancing, and started chatting with one of my guy friends who had come out. He brought up a recent Facebook status that I'd put up for Veteran's Day. It said that I'm "so thankful to the veterans. During WWII, you saved my grandfather, and thus I am alive. Thank you!"

My friend informed me that he had deleted that from his minifeed since it wasn't relevant. "It's in the past!" he exclaimed. "Regardless of what happened in World War II, you would still be alive in some form."



Seriously? Are you kidding me?? My grandfather was a Holocaust survivor who had everyone in his family except his brother die at the hands of a popular madman and his sick ideals. History by its definition is in the past. That's a given. But to say that it isn't relevant and that it doesn't matter since I'd be here anyway? Not acceptable.

There is no guarantee that I would be here in some other form. The fact is that I am alive because America decided to step up and sent their soldiers to stop a hideous war and free prisoners being kept in horrible death camps. Considering the millions of lives lost, I refuse to take my own for granted.

If my life now is relevant, then the circumstances that allowed me to exist are relevant and always will be.

~K

Sunday, October 31, 2010

October wrap-up

As I have been remiss in my blogging duties, I felt compelled to fill my readers in on the recent goings-on of your favorite Kiki.

October is one of my favorite months. The leaves change their colors, pumpkin pie abounds, and I get presents just for existing! How cool is that?

Mid-October saw a very excited Kiki and roomie flying away to Sin City.



Vegas welcomed us with open arms in return for open wallets. We were both disappointed. My roomie and I don't gamble, so the real draw of the casinos were the shops, restaurants, and in a couple, dance clubs. We stayed at the magnificent MGM Grand, chosen specifically for its pools. Unfortunately, we never got a chance to swim in those coveted pools.

We really ought to have researched a bit better, as the food options were not that great. Next time, we should definitely go outside our hotel for all of our meals!

The first night we showed off our moves at Studio 54 located within the MGM. It was certainly disappointing after all of the hype about Vegas clubs. Frankly, I think I would have preferred the club I frequented in central Virginia. The music was okay, but there weren't really any cute guys. Definitely not worth the $20 cover and $20 drinks.

The second night, at my cousin's suggestion (as a Vegas resident, I respected his opinion), we went to Vanity at the Hard Rock. This time around, a promoter met us as soon as we entered the Hard Rock and gave us wrist bands for free admission. Score! However, being snubbed by the manager (even if he was hot), and waiting in line forever was not all that great. We entered, hoping that things would get better. They got worse. The club was very pretty, and there was plenty of seating. But it seems that the designers forgot to put in a dance floor, so people were stuck dancing between two bar areas. Oh, and we still had $20 drinks.

So to Vegas I say BOO! I believe in second chances, but my forgiveness will take time. See you in another year or so.

As I mentioned earlier, October is when people give me gifts just for being alive. That's right, it's birthday month! I am now a quarter century old, and I feel every day of it. It seems like moments turn into days, and days turn into decades. Everything has gone by so quickly, but I have felt it all. Sigh.

Happy Halloween everyone and let's get ready for November!

~K

Sunday, October 10, 2010

A Sunday at Starbucks

Well, the silence is broken. I do apologize, once again, to my readers who were hungrily awaiting the next installment from their favorite Seattleite.

Unfortunately, my roommate and I do not currently have internet at our new place, so blog updates may be sporadic for a while. Please do your best not to weep, as I am sure it will be less than becoming to have mascara streaming down your cheeks.

Yours truly is currently sick with a cold, which is most inconvenient as my trip to Vegas is coming up. I need to be healthy and beautiful for this trip, and at the moment I have frizzy hair and my nose rivals Rudolph's. Sigh. It will be all right. I have a little bit longer to make myself well, and I have a jar of matzo ball soup in the fridge to aid my plight.

Yes, as mentioned, we are moved into the new place. It is a condo townhome, and I absolutely love it! So much soft carpeting that my feet are in absolute paradise, and it feels like a real grown-up living situation. My room, however, still feels like that of a 9-year-old girl. I have my twin size Ikea bed in the corner, two clashing dressers (one white plastic Ikea dresser, and one beige wooden one), a stack of Rubbermaid containers for little items, and quite a few garbage bags littering my floor full of books and random articles whose place I still cannot find. What I need is an interior designer and endless money. I have neither, so my room may stay this way for a while.

All in all, life is good and I have just finished a delicious raspberry hot chocolate. Once I leave, I plan to spend the rest of the day in bed watching movies I have already seen half a dozen times and trying to force my body into recovery.

Wish me luck!

~K

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Style of the Sirens: Katharine Hepburn

Yes, yes, we all know how beautiful, classic, and fresh-faced the other Hepburn girl was. However, it ought to be noted that Katharine Hepburn was more than just a pretty face. She always seemed pulled together with her wits about her.

Whether rolling down the river in a wide-brimmed hat with Humphrey Bogart, or sporting chic cigarette pants while beaus Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart fought over her, Katharine Hepburn always brought class and sophistication to her roles.

Enjoy this youtube tribute from delanoca.



XOXO!

~K

Friday, September 17, 2010

Playing House

While I don't want to jinx it, my roommate and I may just be getting into a DREAM condo. Sigh. It is in an extremely convenient location, it's 2 bed 2 1/2 bath, and is absolutely amazing. Already I have visions of how I'm going to furnish "my" living room. Yes, there are two living areas, so we will each get to figure out our own.

I'm thinking that I will want to save up a bit and maybe get a synthetic leather sofa or microfiber couch. I already have a coffee table, but it will be so lonely without a couch...poor thing.

It's just wonderful thinking that I may be moving into such a grown-up place! Sigh.

Happy Friday!

~K

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Things to do on Oahu

Having visited the island of Oahu twice, I will admit that I am not quite an expert. However, everyone has a different experience and I would like to think that mine may help someone else in conquering that eternal question of "what is there to do here?" These suggestions are from things I did, as well as things that I didn't do and may one day get to do!

1. Stock up on 100% Kona coffee. This stuff is amazing, smooth, and goes great with chocolate. You can find quite a few different kinds at the ABC stores, and it's usually cheaper than the $30 bags you get on the mainland.

2. Go to a luau at the Polynesia Cultural Center. These sound amazing, but the luaus can be a bit pricy.

3. Shop at Ala Moana Shopping Center, the world's largest outdoor mall. You may need a couple days to do this if you want to visit every store.

4. Go on a kayak tour of the island. I saw some ads for at least one kayak tour company that would take you into little inlets and lead you over to some sea turtles.

5. I may get a bit of crap for mentioning this one, but you need to try Gyu-Kaku Japanese (but really Korean) BBQ. You get your own little fire pit to cook your meat on, and it's all very affordable. Be ready to wait in line! While we waited, Meng pointed out that, of a group of drunk men getting off a party bus in front of the restaurant, was Jason Acuna. Not sure if it was actually him.

6. Most obvious thing to do: Sunbathe! Lay out on the beach and work on that melanin! Try to keep the pigeons off your towel, as I learned the hard way that they do not know where their restroom is located.

7. Browse the shops along Kalakaua Avenue. You can find anything from a ukulele to designer shoes.

8. If you don't feel like Japanese/Korean food, head to Chinatown for some authentic dim sum. I have been informed by my favorite Chinese girl that Chinatown has some of the best dim sum ever eaten.

9. Tour the rainforest. Lyon Arboretum is approximately 200 acres of greenery, and is a relatively cheap spot to visit.

If you've been to Oahu, what have you done?

~K

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Labor Day in Paradise

A few weeks ago, my best friend and I decided that the distance between us was just too much. There was, of course, only one thing to be done.

I needed to fly out to Honolulu for Labor Day weekend.



This was not my first time to Hawaii; I did have a nice little visit for Meng's wedding last October. Now I was going back to see Meng in her new neighborhood. Definitely a step up from Spokane, but I miss the convenience of being able to drive a few hours to see her. Now I have to plan, pay over $500 for a ticket, and stay in a hotel. Oh well, it was worth it.

We didn't really do much touristy stuff (like visit 'Iolani Palace or take a kayaking tour), but we had a lot of fun doing other things.

Ala Moana Shopping Center offered a real shopping adventure as the largest open-air mall in the world. While there, I had one of the best food court lunches I have ever experienced. Meng and I found the Aldo shop where they put all of their sale items, and we bought matching "friendship purses."

Waikiki beach is beautiful and so warm. I could have laid there forever if my skin hadn't begun reddening. Sigh. The shops along the main strip in Waikiki are cute, with ABC stores popping up every few feet. Down a side street was a duty-free shop where Meng and I purchased new lipsticks.

Saturday night we went dancing at Zanzabar in the Waikiki Trade Center. No sign of cute boys, and one ugly had the audacity to tell me "You're beautiful, but your outfit's ugly!" To this I simply replied "At least my face isn't ugly like yours!"

Sunday night we walked around trying to decide where to eat. It turned out that the Ruth's Chris location in Waikiki doesn't have the late night prime hour, so we ended up at Senor Frog's. Oh my word! This place was amazing. The food was really good, our drinks were fabulous (except for some random tequila a waiter gave us), and we were immediately pulled up to the stage to dance in a conga line. After we finished our meal, we walked around a bit, played around in their foam party, and watched some Capoeira up on stage in honor of Brazilian Independence Day. 


All in all, this was definitely the best Labor Day weekend I've ever had. 


Aloha!


~K

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Evenings out in Seattle

As we tend to do, this past weekend my roommate Stacy and I went out dancing. Friday night we joined our friend Liz at Trinity. The radio station was doing their thing in the red room, and DJ Kazan was mixing Bollywood with some house and hip hop in the blue room. Unfortunately, someone forgot to tell all of the other attractive people in Seattle about this event, as there were mostly Creepers and Butterfaces. Sad times. Oh well, we looked good and had fun.

After visiting with my family for a bit on Saturday, I came home to Stacy telling me that she wanted to go out again. I was up for it, especially when she suggested we get out of our Trinity rut and try a new place. "I did put our names on the guestlist at Trinity," she mentioned while blow-drying her hair. Well, it's good to have a back-up plan.

We went out to Amber, a bar/lounge in Belltown. While I loved the drinks we had, and there were definitely a good mix of people, it didn't really seem like anyone was branching out of their own little groups. So, we threw back the rest of our drinks and headed to our back-up. And it was like night and day!

Suddenly Trinity was reliving its former glory! The girls were few and far between (but more attractive), and the men were gorgeous! This is what should happen every time girls go out. A good ratio (80% men), attractive members of the opposite sex (hubba hubba!), and a good friend looking out for you.

Stacy and I may just have to do more exploration throughout the Seattle nightlife. I will be sure to update y'all on this amazing quest.

Back to work!

~K

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Another blow to the fairy tale


Once upon a time there lived a beautiful peasant girl named K. Her head was filled with notions of romance, a charming prince, and happily ever after.

Upon reaching young adulthood, K was going about her merry way when Reality showed up out of nowhere and slapped her in the face.

"Ouch!" the startled girl cried. But it came again. "AUGH! What was that for?"

"That," Reality replied, "is what you get for walking around with your head in the clouds."

The truth of it is, life doesn't always live up to the expectations. My little-girl dreams are not the same as my big-girl dreams.While I am a hopeful romantic, my optimism is constantly being chipped away by the cruel beast of Cynicism. Perhaps my happily ever after will come in a different form than in the fairy tales.

May the adventure begin.

~K

Friday, August 6, 2010

Stagnancy

Sometimes in my life, I get so caught up in the cycle of life. Day after day I find myself going to the same places, doing the same things, and never stopping to enjoy the life that keeps speeding by. Once in this rut, it is such a tricky thing to get out. I've done it before, and I sincerely hope that I can do it again.

Just a few short months away, I will have been on this earth and out of the womb for a quarter of a century. Perhaps in the grand scheme of things, it isn't that long, but it sure seems like a lot of time to have so little accomplished. Every passing moment reminds me of the things that I still have yet to do. My passport remains empty, and I have the last name that I've always had.

Facebook constantly reminds me of all the fabulous things that those around me are doing. I suppose that it's only makes sense to highlight all of the wonderful things you do for the world to see, rather than the dull day-to-day activities (though some people post those, too).

I want to do so much, but I hate facing my own disappointment when I don't make my goals. While the lack of a degree may not change the way my family and friends see me, I see it as a failure. Meeting up with old friends or out-of-town family members and one of the first topics of discussion is the love life. In my case, it is a lack of one. One boyfriend in my entire life, with the relationship only lasting 5 months, seems a bit sad. I've dated on and off since, but it's mostly off. At 24, I still have no idea of "what I want to be when I grow up."

As my life changes, it also stays very much the same. The seasons change around me as I stay still.

Right now I need a jump start.

~K

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

When Your Spirit Gets Too Weak



I love this song, and there have definitely been some times when I've been weak. Sometimes people will say something they don't mean, and sometimes people say things..that they do mean. Both can hurt deeply.

Friends and family can encourage, and uplift tremendously, but there will still be those occasions when I want to just run far far away, stop in the middle of nowhere, and scream. And cry. It doesn't always make sense, and sometimes it's been a long time coming. Every so often you just need to know it's ok to be weak.

You will get through it.

~K

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Summer Plans

It has still been pretty gray and rainy here in Seattle, but that doesn't keep summer away. Oh, no, Seattleites love summer! We start getting out our shorts and flip flops when it hits 60 degrees. I actually hit the beach this past weekend and got a tiny bit of sun.

Now that the overcast skies appear to be clearing, it's a good time to start planning my summer. I'm still not sure how many things I can actually manage to do, but here are some things that I plan or hope to do.

1. Go to Chelan with the roomie
2. Have a wine and chocolate tour day at Chateau Ste Michelle and Boehm's Candies
3. Kayak (back home, and maybe near the Arboretum)
4. Explore more beaches along Lake Washington
5. Take the Underworld 21+ tour through Seattle's historic red light district
6. See Rob Thomas in concert
7. Attend SeaFair
8. Go to the Mercer Island Summer Celebration
9. Watch a movie at Marymoor Park

Ok, can't think of 10 at the moment. Anyone want to contribute some ideas?

~K

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

The Sailor

Okay, so I will not go into great details, but the "friend"-ly guy has redeemed himself. I gave him another chance, and he managed to touch my arm, hold my hand, and...hmph! A lady does not kiss and tell...



Hintedy hint hint.


X's and O's!

~K

Sunday, May 23, 2010

A "Friend"-ly Guy

I do believe that a recent date was the first of its kind. I have been on somewhat innocent first dates where the guy will just lightly put his hand on the small of my back and guide me along. I have been on not-so-innocent first dates where the guy has tried to get into my pants (or skirt...whatever).

My most recent first date was a bit different. As far as I remember (and it was only yesterday), this guy didn't try anything. ANYTHING. No reaching for my hand, no guiding me along, no lean-in for a goodnight kiss...or hug, for that matter. Sigh.

Let me be clear: the date was wonderful. He was a perfect gentleman, very courteous, sweet, and fun to be around. It was enjoyable, but low-pressure. We went to a sporting event, then got drinks with his friends, and had a double dinner date with his friend and his friend's girlfriend. All very pleasant. 

However, it all seemed a little too "friend"-ly.

At this point I am torn between alternatives; this guy has no game, or he was not attracted to me.

Great.

~K

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Luna Halo vs. Taylor Swift

As the resident DJ at work, I try to mix up the music as opposed to falling into a rut. So a couple days ago, I decided to play some Luna Halo songs that I hadn't heard before. Surprised by the content, I later learned that they had decided to cross over from the Christian music industry to mainstream. Ok, I can handle that. The songs were pretty catchy, and one has been stuck in my head ever since that first play.

"Untouchable" was written by the lead singer of Luna Halo for Taylor Swift. Personally, I think that the Luna Halo rock version beats Taylor's soft and slow version hands down. Tell me what you think!

Luna Halo version:



Taylor Swift version:



Get out in the sun today!

~K

Friday, May 7, 2010

An Interesting CS Moment



As I may have mentioned before, I work in customer service. The majority of my job is answering emails from customers. Today I was corresponding with a customer regarding the shipping time frame of his order, and letting him know that yes, his order would be able to be delivered to an APO address. Part of my sign-off is "Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!"

After addressing his order issues, the customer replied saying, "Well I have one question...lol". Not sure what to make of this, I told him that I would be happy to address any other questions. Mere moments later, his email response went "Well...any chance that you're single? I know that this is coming out of left field, but I just had to ask."

Please keep in mind that I have never even spoken to this customer on the phone, and there is absolutely nothing flirtatious about order change emails. I kinda chalked it up to the APO issue; he's a lonely soldier currently stationed in Iraq (I checked the zip code).

I replied in the most professional manner possible; "Single, and ready to mingle, baby!"

Okay, that didn't actually happen. I responded by saying that it is against our policy to disclose personal information, and that if he had any order-related questions, to let me know.

TGIF.

~K

Friday, April 30, 2010

Skating back to my youth



Sometimes it's easy to forget our youth and childhood; those wonderful carefree days where the worries were trivial and the styles were frightening. Back in those days, I would take roller-skating lessons with my sister Sunday afternoons, and would attend the homeschool skate session every third Friday of the month. I wasn't cool, and I was quite the ugly duckling. But when I got on the rink, I was like an eagle soaring free! ...in a circle.

Last night Koko and I went to the local skate rink for the 18 and up session. Neither of us fell, and while the music left something to be desired, it was a fabulous, carefree, and somewhat nostalgic night. It helped, of course, that the rink hadn't really changed since junior high. Same gross carpet, same giant shoe car in the corner, same mural of Seattle showing the no-longer-in-existence Kingdome, and the same smell of junior high awkwardness. Compared to everyone else, we were true amateurs. There were people skating backwards, flipping around, and doing little tricks. It was intimidating, but a little inspiring. At the end, I found out that the man who had taught me to skate all those years ago still worked there.

Koko and I decided that this will need to be a regular thing, so we plan to go once a month. We really have no excuse now, since the locker rental guy gave us each a couple of free entrance passes.

May even more memories be made!

~K

Thursday, April 29, 2010

The Flying Trapeze

My mom seems to have decided that my life has sunk to such a low that she actually offered to pay for what she considers to be exciting - trapeze classes. While this is certainly fun to watch on TV or at the circus, I simply do not have any inclination to fly through the air without superhero abilities. She then suggested scuba diving, to which I also declined.

Is my life so dull that it will take such extreme measures to make it somewhat exciting? I certainly hope not! As a matter of fact, my friend Koko and I are actually going out roller-skating tonight. Last night, we got manicures after work, and I later met up with my friend Kirk for 31 cent scoop night at Baskin Robbins. Tuesday night I met up with my cousin to play pool, then made my way over to Greenlake to have ice cream with my sister and some pilot friends.

Okay, this is not some amazing jet-setting lifestyle, I don't live in an extravagant penthouse overlooking the city, and my wardrobe is not even similar to a Hollywood starlet's. Yet I find my life pleasing and enjoyable. It can seem a bit predictable and stuck-in-a-rut-like, but I'm comfortable and happy.

No trapeze for me, but I will be taking a few quick trips this year. My roommate and I will be going to eastern Washington in July, Koko and I will be visiting Vancouver, B.C. for Memorial Day, and my roomie and I will be taking in all of the wonders of Vegas some time in October.

Plus, at some point this summer I plan to take a weekend to myself, somewhere secret and pretty much removed from everyone. I will explore, contemplate my life, and just breathe. No trapeze required.

XOXO!

~K

Monday, April 19, 2010

On Edge

So if you're a girl, and you have ever gone out dancing, I'm pretty sure that you can relate to what I'm about to say.

Saturday night, my roommate and I went out to a nearby club, and while the music was not ideal, we kept moving. Soon, more and more people started showing up, which was definitely a good thing. Unfortunately, with more people came The Creepers! You know them; they're the guys who hang around the edge of the dance floor, maybe standing still, maybe doing their awkward little dance by themselves. Well, they kept their eyes on us, as we were relatively close to them, and they kept either trying to force their way into dancing with us, or they'd grab an arm and say something along the lines of "Heyyyy, wanna dance?" with the meaning in their voice indicating that they expected a positive answer.

Let me just put this out there: HECK NO, I DON'T WANT TO DANCE WITH ALL YOU CREEPY GUYS!

I don't know if there is some sort of rule book for clubs, but proper etiquette dictates that you politely ask a girl to dance. You do not grind up on her. You do not assume that she will say 'yes'. Basically, you do not act like a creepy jerk.

Thank you.

~K

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Health is Overrated

So I've realized that I like meat and cheese too much to ever become a vegetarian. I know that my eating habits should change if I ever want to ready myself for bikini season, but it won't happen in such a drastic measure.

On another note, I have noticed a disturbing trend in my spending habits. I eat out or grab snacks out way too often. Despite forgoing coffee, I keep finding things at Starbucks, or I'll grab a pastry at Hoffman's. Perhaps this needs to change in order for my health to change as well.

We will see!

~K

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Time to get healthy...ugh.

Those are my feelings at the moment. While I am not fat or even necessarily overweight, like most American women, I see things in myself that I would like to improve...or not see anymore. Since I cannot break every mirror on the planet, it seems that changing my diet is a logical decision.

A little bored and wanting a different type of reading material, I decided to pick up my unread copy of Skinny Bitch. It was enlightening, and it made me want to chuck all of my food out the window. Unfortunately, I do not know how to open any of the windows, and ridding myself of all these things would leave me hungry. So I have decided that I will start adopting things that they suggest, step by step, but also finish out the food I already have.



One of the big things that this book stresses is vegetarianism. And not just standard vegetarianism, but VEGANISM. Ewww. That makes my steak-, cheese-, and all things yummy-loving blood curdle. Like I said, this is gonna be a step by step thing, and I refuse to be so strict as to deprive myself of amazing food. I will not be making any regular meat at home, but may continue indulging in salmon. I figure this should be an easy task since I usually only eat meat when I'm out.

Next up is coffee and soda. While my devotion to Starbucks has wavered, I've remained a coffee lover throughout the years. However, it has recently been upsetting my stomach, so it really hasn't been an issue. Soda will be a bit harder. I grew up guzzling soda, and this stupid book even instructs readers to give up on diet soda. GRRR. As I don't want to waste food, I will be finishing up my 2 liter of Diet Pepsi. Then...done.

Cutting out sugar and sugary-foods is going to trip me up, just as it has my entire life. However, with both parents being diabetic, and knowing that I have a sensitivity to sugar, this is long overdue. Aspartame is not an option, according to Skinny Bitch, as it creates formaldehyde and has a ton of health issues. The list of edible foods continues to shrink.

Next item to be thrown out? Dairy. Sigh. If you know me, you know I love my cheese. I'm not sure if this is gonna work out. Cheese is extremely fattening, so it really makes sense to cut it out, but does it really make sense to cut out delicious garlic and herb chevre? You see my dilemma.

All in all, I want to start eating better without being annoyingly stringent. I never want to be one of those uppity people who looks down on you when your filet mignon is brought out while they are picking away at their salad.

Wish me luck in this new adventure/dietary suicide!

~K

Monday, March 22, 2010

A Good Snip

So, as I have previously mentioned, I had been growing my hair out for Lock of Love. LoL is an organization that provides wigs for children who have lost their hair through disease and could not otherwise afford them. If you're interested in such an easy way to give to children in need, be sure to check out the Locks of Love website.

So today I was getting kind of antsy, and decided to call the salon I had been to last time I had my hair cut, Seven Salon in Bellevue. They had an appointment open, and the receptionist informed me that if I was donating my hair, the cut would be complimentary. While I was aware that some salons participated in this manner, I had no idea that such a nice (and somewhat pricy) one would.

Well, I went in with hair this long (sorry for the cropping):

My stylist Cassie had me leaving like this:
If your hair is getting to be a bit on the long side, I would definitely recommend checking out Locks of Love. It's a very passive way to do something good for a child who is losing part of their identity.

Goodnight!

~K

Sunday, March 21, 2010

I'm back!

To my loyal readers, I want to thank you for sticking with me through the dried-up desert of a blog that this has been lately.

But now you shall be quenched! In case you were wondering, part of the reason for the lack of bloggage was due to my trip to Lynchburg, Virginia to catch up with some friends. I missed both my friends and Lynchburg like crazy for these past two years and was so thrilled to finally be going back. Some highlights:

1. Adventure in Roanoke with Cindy

2. Having "secret" conversations behind our menus at a diner in downtown Charlottesville with the girls

3. Dropping by Laura's office and not finding her...twice! haha Eventually she showed up and we were able to make plans

4. Introducing Cindy and Sarah to my favorite South Park episodes (the WoW & Scientology ones)

5. Exploring Lynchburg's history in the Old City Cemetery



That will have to do for now, but know that I do love you!

XOXO

~K

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Small Accomplishments

While achieving humongous goals are wonderful and all, there is something to be said for checking off those smaller ones. They bring about quite a bit of joy as well.

This weekend, I can check off a few of those small accomplishments.

1. Try foie gras. Okay, I wasn't exactly sure what this substance was, but now I know; I have eaten duck liver. Yes, it was just a sprinkling of fried foie gras over pecorino gnocchi, but it totally counts.

2. Learn how to apply fake lashes.  I have tried this numerous times, all to no avail. Well, Friday night I decided that I wanted to look fierce since I don't go out that often, and Trinity was having a Holi celebration to remember with a performance by Jay Sean. I just grabbed a set of lashes and this time it miraculously worked.

3. Grow my hair at least 10 inches for Locks of Love. I've surpassed that mark, but since the longest layer isn't really that thick, I'm gonna let it keep on growing a bit longer.

Life is full of goals, big and small. Sometimes the big can seem a bit out-of-reach, but the smaller ones can have a significant impact, too.

Happy Sunday!

~K

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Giving Up on Love

I have been told many a time that love find you when you aren't looking for it, and that constantly seeking it out will do nothing.

Lately, my friend Koko and I have noticed a few things. A lot of our friends are coupled up, actually married, and some have started the whole baby-making thing. There are also some who are out partying every moment they get the chance. We fall somewhere in between. It's a sick relationship version of the Twilight Zone.

After discussing the idea that love tends to find you rather than you finding it, and that we are not really wanting to hang out at the bars all the time, we decided to make a change. We realized that we want to focus more on enjoying the life that we have by experiencing new things and places, and basically getting out of the stagnant waters.



My goal right now is to focus on things I want to do, places I want to see, and things I want to try. We discussed going more often to the museums, taking part in the Belltown Art Walk, and today I even had my very first Yellow Leaf Cupcake. For the unimpressed readers, Yellow Leaf is amazing.

So there you have it; I am giving up on love. If it wants me, it knows where to find me.

G'night!

~K

Friday, February 26, 2010

Losing Your Voice

Sometimes it is inevitable that people will get a bit burnt out doing the same thing over and over and over. Such is certainly the case with musicians. When this happens with a lead singer, it seems that most bands just break up. Some, however, seek out a new member. They are the rare ones; it is often too difficult a task to try to replace a lead singer, especially if the band is well-know. This was the task that was presented to the Newsboys, and more famously, Journey.

The Newsboys have had a few singers over the years; John James at the beginning, Peter Furler as his replacement, and guitarist Phil Joel would occasionally lend his vocals on songs like "Entertaining Angels". Peter Furler became the sound of the Newsboys, but he, too became burnt out from so much time in the studio and touring all over the world. In their song "RSL 1984" you can hear his gentle goodbye and his yearning to return home to Australia. Furler's replacement came in the form of Michael Tait, former member of DC Talk. While I loved DC Talk (they all attended my college, p.s.), the Newsboys are Australian and New Zealander. Michael Tait is American, and his voice is nothing like what the Newsboys are known for. Below are the original and Tait versions of the Newsboys hit "Something Beautiful":


Original with Peter Furler


Michael Tait version

Journey had a similar dilemma when Steve Perry left quite a while ago. Rather than turning to an established singer, they decided to check youtube. They ran across a Filipino singer named Arnel Pineda, and they were hooked. It was quite fortunate for them that there happen to be two people in the world with identical voices. Compare them for yourself with these versions of "Don't Stop Believing":


Original with Steve Perry


Arnel Pineda version

Sometimes differences are not for the best, and sometimes they save a truly epic band.

Rock On!

~K

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Dishwasher Disaster

It was the type of situation that you would see on "I Love Lucy" or some other comedy. Of course, when it's you it doesn't always seem as amusing.

As often happens, some dishes got a bit dirty. So I put a little bit of detergent into the dishwasher, and turned it on. Easy peasy, no? I grew up without a dishwasher, so I'm not especially accustomed to this magnificent machine.

As I was sitting in my bedroom watching "Millionaire Matchmaker" online after having finished leftover quesadilla, my roommate yells across the house "What did you put in the dishwasher???" I come out, stating that I had put in some dishes and dish soap.

Upon reaching the kitchen, my jaw drops as I take in the sea of foam that used to be our kitchen.

Moral of the story: detergent used for handwashing does not work for a dishwasher. Be warned!

~K

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Style of the Sirens: Doris Day

Growing up, I didn't keep up with all the current movie releases. Instead, I watched what my parents allowed me to watch, and I fell for some of the classic movies. I remember rejoicing the first time that we watched AMC. I was in heaven! My sister and I would get up early to watch episodes of "Laurel and Hardy", and after our schoolwork, we would often turn on films from the 50's and 60's.

One of my favorite leading ladies was (and still is) Doris Day. Whether she's playing a country bumpkin from the depths of Louisiana, or the witty housewife of a hypochondriac, she always pulled off her roles with style and grace.

For your viewing and listening pleasure, this is a clip from "The Man Who Knew Too Much" with Jimmy Stewart.


Too bad I couldn't find a "Tammy" clip. Oh well. Que sera sera!

~K

Monday, February 15, 2010

Valentine's Day in Review

As we all know, yesterday was Valentine's Day. What exciting things did I do? Well, let me tell you! I woke up a bit earlier than intended, went to a new church where they were doing a series on relationships. Yesterday's topic was dating. Very appropriate.

Later on, I went into the kitchen and began a labor of love making what would become an utterly delicious prosciutto garlic mac & cheese. Mmm, so glad I still have leftovers!

Upon finishing that, I got dressed for the girls' get-together at Koko's. After much deliberation, I finally settled on a white eyelet strapless dress, a Forever 21 red and black cardigan, and my beloved Guess Carrie pumps. Oooh la la! Humor me, it's one of the few outfits where I can actually make references that readers will be able to check out.

Koko and I watched a movie while waiting for our other friend, then ate my lovely creation, and headed out to Bathtub Gin & Co., a local hard-to find, back-alley speakeasy. I felt so utterly cool just being in there. Unfortunately, my drink started off well and ended like cough syrup. We left a wee bit early since Koko was a bit nauseated.

All in all, it was a lovely evening with the girls and I don't feel quite so single when I'm amongst friends.

Lots of love!

~K

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Google and McQueen

I simply cannot keep track of all of the different social networking sites that are up-and-coming all the time. It seems that foursquare has taken off, and now we have another Google entity vying for attention. Google Buzz seems to be a bit Twitter, and a bit Facebook. Yet, this is not the only network-y tool that Google has marketed. It seems like just yesterday that Facebook statuses were all screaming out for invitations to try Google Wave. Just a bit further back, one of my friends tried to entice me into joining orkut, Google's main social networking site. Note to Google: too much already!

In other news, Alexander McQueen was found dead in what seems to be a suicide. The fashion world will be a bit lonelier today.

Those are my thoughts and tidbits for today, folks!

~K

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Results of the Hottie Awards

I was surprised by the lackluster response, but such is life, no? So, after tabulating the votes, the Female Hottie Award hereby goes to Zooey Deschanel. Gorgeous, funny, and has an amazing set of lungs on her. For your viewing and listening pleasure, "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?" by She & Him:



The Male Hottie Award is a tie between Zac Efron and Robert Schwartzman. As I do not consider Zac Efron a dream boat (sorry Jamie!), here is a Rooney (Shwartzman's band) video of "I Should've Been After You":



Congratulations to the utter hottness, and thanks for voting!

~K

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

The Hottie Awards 2010

I know that there isn't really any such award show, or even award, but if there were, it would be a must-watch with all that hotness going around. So now I want your vote. Who out of the following (I'm a little biased, so I may not include everyone you would) would you vote for at the Hottie Awards? If you aren't familiar with some of the names, be sure to google them. You may end up with a new crush!

Male:

1. Hugh Jackman
2. Jared Leto
3. Orlando Bloom
4. Christian Bale
5. Hrithik Roshan
6. Johnny Depp
7. Channing Tatum

Female:

1. Megan Fox
2. Aishwarya Rai
3. Scarlett Johansson
4. Jessica Biel
5. Miranda Kerr
6. Beyonce
7. Natalie Portman

If you have ones that aren't listed, be sure to let me know about them as well for your write-in vote, and give a reason why they're the hottest. All votes must be in by Saturday at noon PST to be counted. Of course, you can still tell us why you think whoever is hot after Saturday, too.

Happy voting!

~K

Monday, February 1, 2010

I Want You Bad - Creepy Love Songs!

The Offspring inspired me. I realized that sane people are not the only ones who fall in love. There are psycho stalker creepy people who do as well. So, as Valentine's Day approaches, I wanted to create a playlist just for the creepos out there, and songs of love gone wrong/weird. Here you go...please excuse the language on a couple. I wanted to give you the real names of the songs.

1. Bad Romance - Lady Gaga

2. Every Breath You Take - Police (obvious)

3. I Used to Love Her - Guns N' Roses

4. Crazy Bitch - Buckcherry

5. I Wanna Fuck You - Akon & Snoop Dogg (have you heard the original version? Eww.)

6. Creep - Radiohead

7. Please Don't Leave Me - Pink (seriously, watch the video)

8. One Way or Another - Blondie

9. I Knew I Loved You - Savage Garden (still love it!)

10. Possession - Sarah McLachlan

Sarah McLachlan's is extra creepy; she drew some of her lyrics directly from a letter from a stalker...who sued her for plagiarism. This is kinda the antithesis of all that is Valentine's Day, but we don't want to get too  mushy, do we? I think not.

XOXO

~K

Sunday, January 31, 2010

MIA?

I know I haven't been posting regularly, and I do sincerely apologize. You see, I eloped. No no no...I took a safari deep into the jungles of the Amazon. Wait, that's been done. Um...some guy walked up to me and asked me if I wanted to be a supermodel and the next thing I know I'm on the cover of Vogue. Yeah.

So you can see why I haven't been able to keep up on here! Please don't give up on me, as I will try to put out a few more posts this week.

Love ya!

~K

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

My first award!

Today, Aspiring Fashionista was kind enough to tag me for the Beautiful Blogger Award. I know, I know, whodathunk it??? So now I must offer up my acceptance speech. AHEM!

When I was a little girl growing up in cow-town, I remember creating my very first blog. It was also on blogspot. It didn't last long, as all of my friends decided to move to xanga. Well, look where I ended up! It feels good to be back, and I'm sure it wouldn't have been possible without the help of the following people: Christina, my sister who inspired me with her writings and had a stint with celebrity gossip blogging. Cindy, who had a comment war with my ex on xanga. All of my current readers; it is for you that I write. ::sniff sniffle sniff::

Okay, so, the rule of being tagged is that I now get to share 7 facts about myself.

1. My first date took place my sophomore year of college, when I was nearly 20.

2. I take great enjoyment in spelling and grammatical errors when being insulted. They show me that I truly am superior.

3. Needles are one of my greatest phobias. When my mom took me in to get a shot, I would whine that I needed to use the restroom, then lock myself in until my mom started pulling out the threats. On another occasion, I ran into the back office and had to be restrained for my shot...screaming bloody murder the entire time.

4. I have a love-hate relationship with horror movies. Sometimes I love them, other times I don't have any desire for them.

5. Back when he was THE heartthrob, I gushed and drooled over Jonathan Taylor Thomas. I had a poster of him over my bed.

6. I am hooked on V: The Reimagined Series. It's kinda nerdy, but I bought the original miniseries and will probably buy The Final Battle and the series that was spawned back in the 80's.

7. I may act a bit cynical, but deep down I am a hopeful romantic. I'm holding out for Mr. Darcy!

So, just as I was tagged, I get to tag seven others. Aspiring Fashionista already took two of my picks (Cafe Fashionista and Too Pretty For This), so here are mine: Wrecked Stellar, Kajal Couture, Daydream Lily, City of Dionne, Chard Intimate, Cafe Couture, and The Budget Babe.

There you are, friends!

~K

Saturday, January 23, 2010

How to (momentarily) Forget a Boy

Last week I went on a date. It was a very pleasant date. I have not heard from the boy now for one week. Thus, when my friend Mariko suggested that we have a sleepover for last night, I was happy to have a distraction.It worked quite well, and I want to offer up my experience to any girls out there wanting to (at least for the moment) forget about a boy.

Friends are always a good distraction. When they know you need to get your mind off something, whether it be a boy or the death of a loved one, they will be there to help you out.


We drove to her place from work, took her dog out for a quick walk, then headed out for a cocktail and appetizers at Spur. If you're ever in Belltown, I highly recommend the Antionette (delicious lemony big-girl drink) and the parmesan gnochi. We also tried smoked salmon crostinis, but I had assumed that by "smoked" it meant "non-raw". I was mistaken...ick. The ambiance was nice and dim, and while a bit loud, we could still hear each other if we leaned in a bit.

Still quite hungry, we headed over to Via Tribunali for some delicious thin-crust pizza. Unfortunately, when I left this morning, I failed to get my leftovers out of the fridge. Sad times.

Following the food, we stopped by Belltown Video and headed upstairs for movie night. I am not typically creeped out by slashers or blood and gore scary movies, but when you get into the spiritual realm like in Paranormal Activity, it takes a little time to recover. Fortunately, as soon as that was over, we popped in 500 Days of Summer for a sweet and stylish end to the night.

This morning, we woke up at the ungodly hour of 8am to fill up the meter where my car was parked. Once we were fully alive and properly clothed, we made our way to Macrina's Bakery for a yummy brunch of brioche french toast. So good!!

And there you have it; a wonderfully laid-back evening with a good friend full of laughter and amazing food is the perfect way to forget about...wait...what? Oh, and I guess buying a new pair of Guess pumps, five DVDs, a modern classic book, and two strapless dresses didn't hurt either.

Happy Saturday!

~K

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Playing DJ

As I am at the end of my lunch break, this post will not be especially long. Sorry, babes!

In our little office, I pride myself on being the resident DJ. I take requests, and try to fill the air with various musical sensations. Here are some of the songs currently in rotation:

  1. "Enter Sandman" by Metallica
  2. "Blame It On the Girls" by Mika
  3. "Left Outside Alone" by Anastacia
  4. "Hot Mess" by Cobra Starship
  5. "Bette Davis Eyes" by Gwyneth Paltrow
  6. "Tricky" by Prozzak
  7. "Oh Boy" by Buddy Holly
  8. "I Want You To" by Weezer
  9. "Kiss the Girl" by Colbie Caillat
  10. "Defying Gravity" from Wicked
  11. "Slow Me Down" by Emmy Rossum (yes, the one featured in a previous post)
  12. "Cupid" by Sam Cooke
  13. "Low" by Flo Rida, Travis Barker remix
What, if anything, do y'all listen to at work?

Happy Hump Day!

~K

Monday, January 18, 2010

Virginia To-do List

For one of my Christmas gifts, my parents paid for my trip to Virginia in March to visit my friends. This trip has been in the works for nearly two years (since I moved back home to Washington), and I am thrilled. So now it's planning time. I can't waste one precious Virginian moment, since I will only be there for a few days! Here's what I want to do:

  • Eat my weight in parmesan garlic wings at Buffalo Wild Wings
  • Trick Sarah into going dancing at Corned Beef
  • Take a road trip to Charlottesville with Cindy to pretend we're UVA students, get nutella mochas at HotCakes, and check out all the little book stores downtown
  • Visit Thai '99 with Sarah, since evidently she will die if we don't
  • Drive over to the Old City Cemetery, one of my favorite places in the South
  • Grab a burger (not a cheesy western, I'm sorry!) at the Texas Inn
  • Wander around Riverside Park and take in the exquisite views of the James River down below
  • If we're feeling really adventurous, maybe go dancing at Cattle Annie's. That's the epitome of Lynchburg nightlife - sad and stinky
  • Meet up with Carmen
  • Hang out with Laura P.
  • Get together with Glory
  • If I'm ready to be insulted for my height, visit with Laura & Hunter
All in all, I expect that it will be fun, eventful, and full of picture opportunities.

TTYL

~K

Joys in the Mundane

Happy Monday, everyone! Lately I've noticed myself living "for" something. Living for the weekend. Living for my next karaoke outing. Living for this, living for that, instead of living in the moment.I want to slow down a bit so that I can truly appreciate the individual moments of each day.



So here are some little things that I have enjoyed lately.

  • Last night while grocery shopping at WinCo, I discovered Roasted Chicken flavor ramen, which is much tastier than regular chicken ramen. I had previously rejoiced in the discovery of kosher chicken ramen, which is also better than regular chicken ramen.
  • While shopping for some easy-peasy Indian food at Cost Plus, I was happy to find that they were on sale! 2/$4. Bringing up my 6 boxes (I had to stock up!) to the register, they had my favorite wine on sale, so I also grabbed a bottle of that. At the checkout, they randomly decided to give me a free tote bag. Win!
Those are some lovely (shopping) moments that I've had lately. Hope that your moments go well, too.

XOXO

~K

Friday, January 15, 2010

Mission: Cowboy boots


Yesterday, my co-worker came into work and told me about her dream that she was needing to shop for cowboy boots. She took it as a hint that she needed to do that. After thinking about it for a while, I realized that I would love to have a pair myself!

So, I've searched Target, Amazon, Google shopping, Nordstrom, Zappos, and Newport News in my quest to find the perfect boot. Unfortunately, none so far have fit my criteria. I want a pair that is between camel and brown in color, has that perfect rounded slightly-pointy toe, comes up mid-calf, and has an agreeable price tag. Page after page produces heartache upon heartache. When will I ever find my dream boots?

Perhaps it is not meant to be. Perhaps I am meant to settle for Target's biker boots. Sigh.

Disappointed but hopefully yours,

K

Monday, January 11, 2010

Things to Do on the Eastside

Seattle has a lot to offer, and in comparison, the Eastside may seem a bit dull. Do not worry, however, if this is your destination for a day of fun! I have a list! Oh yes, a list. A list of things one can do to have hours of immense fun on this side of Lake Washington.

1. Start off an Almond Joy (it's a coffee drink) at Victor's in Redmond. If you feel up for it, play cards or a board game - they have them!




2. Stop to smell the roses - or whatever is in bloom - at Bellevue Botanical Gardens. While it isn't especially easy to find, it's gorgeous and perfect for picture days!

3. Take a stroll around Bellevue Downtown Park, located right next to Bellevue Square Mall. At the moment, they have an ice rink set up. Besides that, it's just a lovely little getaway in the heart of the city.

4. Speaking of Bellevue Square, if you have the urge to shop, be sure to hit up the Bellevue Collection, which includes Bellevue Square, Lincoln Center, and Bellevue Place.

5. If you're interested in learning a bit about your local history in a beautiful setting, stop by Clise Mansion inside Marymoor Park in Redmond. You'll learn about James Clise and his Willowmoor Farm.

6. Having a sweet tooth attack? Definitely check out Boehm's Candies in Issaquah. If possible, plan ahead of time to take a tour. They make their own chocolate in a little chalet, and have the cutest bavarian-style grounds.

7. Want the ultimate experience in move-going? Try Big Picture Cinema in Redmond Town Center. Order some drinks to have delivered to you while you watch your movie!

8. If the weather's nice, bring a ball and play volleyball at one of several beaches lining the Kirkland waterfront.

9. While in Kirkland, don't forget to grab a dozen or so delicious wheat-free creamsicle cupcakes from SweetCakes Bakery.

10. If you're ready to put your dancing shoes on, you've got a few options. My favorite on the Eastside is in..Kirkland again! Check out Lake Street Bar on a Saturday night and have the pleasure of shakin' that booty to the sounds of DJ Kazan.

Ten is typical for a list, but I have a bonus for you!

11. As my beloved readers know, I adore karaoke. Maple Leaf Chinese Restaurant in Bellevue has karaoke Wednesday-Saturday nights, and offers an enormous variety of songs.

Have fun!

~K

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Let's have fun, shall we?

So Aspiring Fashionista tagged me in her survey thingy, so now it's my turn to answer the questions. Enjoy!

1. Your hair? Curly dark brown with black grow-out. I'm growing it as long as possible for Locks of Love.


2. Your favorite food? Indian food, definitely. Serve me up some paneer tikka masala on some rice with some warm naan and a fresh glass of mango lassi and I will be in heaven!

3. Your favorite drink? Hmm. Gonna go with mango lassi for right now.

4. Your dream/goal? To touch others' lives and leave them better than before having met me.

5. Your hobby? Karaoke, dancing, blogging.

6. Your fear? Needles and people in those big mascot suits.

7. Where were you last night? Eating yummy bacon ranch fried chicken sandwiches at Sport with my friend, then a sleepover at her place.

8. Something you say all the time? GRRRR.

9. Something that you’re not? Tall

10. Wishlist item? More wishes! Mwa ha ha

11. Last thing you did? Ate lunch.

12. What are you wearing? Jeans, black flats, black v-neck with a t-shirt weight short-sleeved cardigan over it.

13. Your pets? A cat that lives with my parents.

14. Friends? Fabulous show! ..oh, I get it. lol I love my friends :o)

15. Missing someone? My college friends.

16. Something you’re not wearing? Stirrup pants and shoulder pads. ::shudder::

17. Your favorite store? Fireworks. Local and international artisans, and everything is beautiful!

18. Your favorite color? Pink.

19. The last time you cried? Not sure, actually.

20. When's the last time you laughed? Earlier today at work. My co-workers are awesome!

21. One place that I go to over and over? My apartment??

22. Where do you eat? Lots of places, but I love Mehfil in Redmond Town Center!
 
Okay, I guess it's my turn to tag. Budget Babe, City of Dionne, and Cafe Couture, it's your turn!
 
Love and kisses!
 
~K

Monday, January 4, 2010

Making do with what I have: White Polo Shirt


You don't have to be super preppy to have one of these in your wardrobe. In fact, they're wonderfully versatile and very comfortable! It would kinda be silly to not have a white polo.

While it may not be October, no closet should be completely empty of costume idea pieces. Like I said, a white polo shirt is extremely versatile. Throw on a high-waisted pencil skirt, a pair of short white socks, black flats, pull your hair up into a quintessential ponytail with a scarf, and perfect the look with a pair of black-rimmed glasses. Oh...and bright red lipstick doesn't hurt. Voila! Emergency costume for your friend's 50's-themed party.


 This next look is wishful thinking for most of the country. However, for those lucky Floridians, Hawaiians, and Californians (or Virginians on those weird-weather days), this one you can have now. I love this look for a spring or summer date. I pulled on a floral-print miniskirt, slipped into white peep-toe flats, added a pearl necklace and a flower for my hair, and I managed to remember a gold clutch purse.


This last one took me forever to shoot! Every 20-something needs a good interview outfit, and I think this works. It's stylish, professional, and pulled-together...without being a suit! I topped the polo with a purple button-front blouse, but left it open and wound a black leather belt around it. Those cigarette pants made a comeback, and a pair of black patent pumps, dangly gold and black earrings, and a headband to keep my bun tight completed the look.


There you have them! Any other ideas for white polos?

Night night!

~K

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Hello Rodarte!

One of my friends is in love with Rodarte, and was thrilled to hear that they would be coming out with a Target line. Up until that point, I had never heard of the brand. By the time the line was released, she had heard some negative feedback, and it sounded like it wasn't going to be the dream-come-true that she had envisioned.

While running errands earlier today, I stopped at Target and decided to take a stroll past the clothing section. I saw a sign indicating that the pieces below were from the infamous Rodarte line. Well, it couldn't possibly hurt to take a look. I saw the pale blue dress that I'd admired on Target.com, but it wasn't in my size.

I walked around, and caught sight of the perfect dress to welcome Spring! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh!! They even had my size! I grabbed the utterly fabulous dress, and rushed off to the fitting rooms thinking of how my dress would make me the envy of every girl. At first I was a bit scared, thinking that perhaps the reviews were correct and the dress wouldn't work on a person as well as it did on the hanger.

Nope, it was even better! While I had been attempting to avoid impulse clothing purchases, this was a necessity.



Sigh. I'm in love...with a dress.

Kiss kiss!

~K

Getting Hit On


So as I was comfortably lounging around my room on this lazy Saturday morning, I came across a hilarious website called "I hit on you". Lots of anecdotes of lame pick-up lines and ugly drunks. Ah, the memories it brought up. Okay, okay, twist my arm why don't you? Here are some of the memorable "hits" that I've taken.

  • While I was walking back to my car with some friends after a night of dancing, this Mexican guy walks by, then kinda turns and looks back at me and says "Oooh, you've got the body of a Mexican!" Umm...thanks?
  • This guy at my school and I had chit-chatted a bit off and on, and I thought he was kinda cute (even if a bit short). One day he bravely approaches the table in the cafeteria where my dorm (of girls) sits. He says 'hello' and sheepishly says something that I interpret as "do you have a phone?" I reply that I do. He then asks if he can have it. I say "NOO!" and laugh, thinking how odd a request it is. Then I notice his dejected face, and ask him to repeat his original question. Yeah...he'd asked for my phone number, not my phone. End of story: gave him my number, but the jerk never called. 
  • My roomie and I decided to pop by a burger place near our school for lunch. While getting my soda, this kinda weird-looking guy comes up and asks me if I know some random guy. I had never heard of him, so I say no, and that I'm sorry. I sit down, explain what happened to my friend, and we see out of our peripheral vision that creepo sat down at a table right behind us. For his enjoyment, we start speaking as loudly as possible about boyfriends and different sexual things we enjoyed (we were Cosmo-reading virgins!). Unfortunately, this did not deter him from coming up to our table while we were eating, look me in the eye and ask if I have a boyfriend. I didn't, but I needed to for the purpose of this conversation, so I said yes. He stares at me for a second, then says "REALLY?" At that, I get a bit huffy and say, "Yes, actually I do!" He apologizes and leaves. Praise God!
Those were some of the more interesting ones. Hope you enjoyed!

Buenos tardes!

~K

Friday, January 1, 2010

Playing with Makeup

So, despite tons of eye looks posted on various beauty blogs, I decided to play around with my brand new Coastal Scents 88 Piece Makeup Palette. A lot of the youtube makeup tutorials use this palette, so it was on my Christmas wish list. My mom came through on that one. :o)

Frankly, I kinda wish that I'd gone for Stacie Orrico's "Stuck" music video prom look, which has been recreated below.




One day I want to figure out how to do this look with my palette and/or with other things I already have in my possession.

Hope all my readers looked fabulous last night, and happy 2010!

~K