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