katilda.com

heroin addict, daughter of God

2012-01-29T16:58:00.000-08:00

this is such a reminder to me that God doesn't forget anyone.

no matter what,

you're never too far for Him to reach.

happy sunday,

katilda

p.s.

10K report to come!

but i survived, as you can tell.

running report: halfway there

2012-01-27T12:56:00.000-08:00

this weekend is my one-year anniversary of my first 1/2 marty!

i was supposed to run my second one tomorrow....

but i had to adjust my goals, remember?

so instead,

tomorrow i will run a 10K.

and then i will wait at the finish line for this girl to finish her first 1/2 marty.

i am sooo proud of her!

honestly?

i wish it could be me again.

but, it will be.

just gotta be patient.

[via time.com]

dear 10K,

you are not exactly all i wanted,

but maybe you are exactly what i needed right now.

because even though i'm not as far as i was last year,

i'm still 6.2 miles farther than i was the year before that.

and i think,

that is something.

love and ambition and carb-loading,

katilda

dear turkish delight: no i will not make out with you

2012-01-26T07:41:00.000-08:00

and this, kiddos, is why my dating life keeps me on my toes.

the scenario:

a facebook friend request

from this guy:

goes by the name of:

ensar

hails from the great land of:

turkey

his message:

"I will come in june :) this year...."

that's right my friends.....

i think this guy just mail-order brided me.

what? that's totally a verb.

as i said to kels on the ol' skype chat...

I HAVE WHOLE CONVERSATIONS WITH ATTRACTIVE GUYS AT PARTIES WHO DON'T CALL ME AND THE ONLY GUY WHO OFFERS TO COME SEE ME IS FRIGGIN ENSAR.

but seriously. too funny.

shopping for a wedding dress that won't get wrinkled on an international flight,
katilda

almost 25 but going on 17

2012-01-25T10:48:00.000-08:00

this fountain of eternal youth thing i've got goin' on will totally work in my favor when i'm like 40 and smokin' hot, yes?

yes.

convo with the dental assistant:

she: so are you still in school?
me: oh no...i graduated a couple years ago.
she: oh cool. which high school?

also,

my face is numb from a cavity filling.
for all i know, i'm drooling on mineself right now.

good thing my metalmouth is gone and i am developing a deeply committed relationship with dental floss.

seriously, flossing is a highlight of my day.

this has been a paid service announcement by your local dentist.

[not really.]

let's end with this gem:

someone get me that on a shirt, yo!

love and numb lips and retro-fab booty shorts,

katilda

music: the paper kites

2012-01-24T07:43:00.000-08:00

i love this song.

it makes me want to take a nap in a hammock.

have a lovely tuesday.

shall i write it in a letter?

shall i try to get it down?

oh you fill my head with pieces

of a song i can't get out.

can i take it to a morning

where the fields are painted gold

and the trees are filled with memories

of the feelings never told?

year of the dragon.

2012-01-23T07:51:00.000-08:00

2011 was the year of the rabbit.

[which i took as a good omen because i was born in a rabbit year.]

today marks the dawn of the year of the dragon.

[considering my recent costume shenanigans, this HAS to be a good omen too.]

naturally, my friend holly threw a celebration!

it went down something like this...

1. origami & fortune telling with this gal.

[goes by the name of kim]

2. some authentic chinese garb for this guy.

[apparently it is working well for him.]

3. i believe i can fly.

4. an inability to take serious pictures all night.

5. photography art.

6. at some point, we proceeded to zoom in on the faces of other party goers and take pictures of an individual feature....

...which kim later photoshopped together.

i give you, "if our saturday night had a child..."

i want desperately to name this creature, but i can't decide what gender it is.

...suggestions?

modeling & a hiking chair

2012-01-20T08:04:00.000-08:00

sometimes,

you have a friend-who-is-a-photographer.

and sometimes,

friend-who-is-a-photographer is like,

"let's do a photo shoot!"

so you put on a skirt, lace, & red lipstick

grab a chair,

and hike off into the wild desert.

completely normal.

annnyway,

he took most of them on film so you'll have to w-a-i-t for those,

but here is a little preview.

...in other news, my hair is much longer than i thought.

shrug.

16,513 emails in 2011

2012-01-19T08:45:00.000-08:00

i did something wicked cool....

i had my email analyzed for 2011.

love the info, adore the sleek site design,

think everyone should do this.

most notable thing i learned:

for the top 10 people i emailed, the first 3 are all the same person.

my bestie's 3 separate email accounts.

i've never been sure why she has 3 email accounts,

and what's more, i'm not sure why i email all of them.

but let's be honest...

that. is. huh. larious.

and, not surprising, actually...

anyway, on to the goods...

facebook clearly polluted the last two graphics.

also,

apparently the most exciting moments of my life happen at 1pm.

...on tuesdays.

...in march.

go on. git yer own report.

the feminine ideal: class vs. crass

2012-01-18T08:01:00.000-08:00

oh hey girl hey.

and, boys.

and, choose-not-to-specifies.

...what?

anyway,

work is still bizzy bizzy.

just popping in to tell you...

i'm blogging over at the huffington post today!

if you've seen that death of pretty article floating around, this may hit home for you.

it's about the dying tradition of being a lady.

here ya go:

feminine ideal: class vs. crass

you likey?

aw, shucks.

feel free to read my other huffs*.

oh, and here's a debatably relevant picture for good measure:

over and out and under and aside,

katilda

*as always, that is totally not a drug reference.

have to save maggie. have to save jack.

2012-01-17T10:01:00.000-08:00

found a caption contest for the following photo on this guy's blog:

my entry?

"oh there you are, peter!"

if you don't get it...

i weep for your cinematic childhood.

but there's always second chances,

so get on that.

still busy-up-to-my-pearl-earrings with work,

katilda

macchio monday & jane fonda fingers

2012-01-16T07:50:00.000-08:00

no, macchio isn't a type of coffee.

[well, i think anyways...]

the point is,

it will be a busy work week.

so i kicked off monday by wearing my lucky shirt:

[thanks to my bonniesister!]

i believe in setting myself up for success.

oh,

and my coworker said his fingers were tired....

so i found these little gems on youtube.

they are quite delightful.

also, i wish i spoke asian so i could get the full experience.

but go on....participate...you won't regret it.

red lips, cucumbers, scribbles & gollum

2012-01-13T08:45:00.000-08:00

you know those times when you make a dinner consisting of several elements depending on whatever-the-eff you have roaming around in your cupboards?

this post is kind of like that.

potluck post.

enjoy.

new teeth call for new, red lips. i took the plunge.

i also think this angle looks like i'm taking a pic of my hair.

i was aiming for my lips, but whatevs...same region...

a post about my breakfast called for a follow-up pic of my lunchy mcluncherson.

cucumber & cream cheese, yo!

this is how i take notes when i interview clients.

actually, this is one of my more organized sets of notes.

i like to call it the "scribble & abbreviate" method.

started during my newspaper reporter days.

hey, people are still hiring me to write, sooo...

remember how i like defining the word verifications?

left the following comment on my mandysister's blog.

[click on that link to read more of my world-renowned definitions.]

feliz viernes,

katilda

breakfast of champions.

2012-01-12T08:04:00.000-08:00

nom nom nom.

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?"

"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"

"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully. "It's the same thing," he said.

-a.a. milne

...who just so happens to be my favorite author.

he knows how to make magic words.

in other news, none of that breakfast got stuck in my teeth,

because i am free.

that makes two magic things.

love and elder wands,

katilda

writing: running for you

2012-01-11T07:38:00.000-08:00

you're the reason i started running.

well, not JUST you.

there were other things.

but you were the final factor.

the thing that pushed me over the edge and into a pair of running shoes.

it was your thought that pushed me out the door.

your face that pulled me through those first hard miles.

your name that gave the aches and blisters meaning.
your hope that sucked mouthfuls of sweet air into my gasping lungs.

you're the reason i kept running.

i was accountable to you, even if you didn't know it.

it was your voice in my head that stopped me from quitting.

your words that picked me up from every setback and injury.
your touch that rolled off me with every drop of salt and sweat.

it felt like vindication.

even when you didn't want me,

it was still about you.

because even though you'd never call,

it was the thought that you might,

that made me want to have something to say.

some accomplishment to share.

some way to impress you.

some manner in which to feel important enough.

and,

it was knowing all of this,

realizing it,

cringing from it,

acknowledging it,

facing it,

and hating it,

that continued to fuel me, in the end.

but,

i'm the reason i'm STILL running.

it's MY voice in my head.

it's MY words echoing around in there.

it's MY goals and MY pain and MY courage.

i ran your miles.

but these ones are for me.

NO. MORE. METAL. MOUTH.

2012-01-10T10:31:00.000-08:00

AFTER MANY, MANY MOONS OF A DEEPLY INVOLVED RELATIONSHIP WITH MY CYBORG GRILL...

INVOLVING A TIN-MAN EXPERIENCE...

AND A FEW (OR SEVERAL) SELF ESTEEM CRISES...

I AM AN ADULT HUMAN BEING AGAIN!!!!

AND I AM CELEBRATING BY TYPING IN ALL CAPS!

HEY....WE ALL HAVE OUR WAYS OF CUTTING LOOSE.

BE FREE, TEETH! BE FREE!

XOXO,

KATILDA

good things to come.

2012-01-09T07:44:00.000-08:00

in case your monday needs a little boost,

may i recommend...

who of us hasn't felt like this?

like you keep getting stuck in the same place,

whether it be relationships/school/work/spirituality/whatnot...

and you think,

"seriously? this again? how many times am i supposed to learn THIS lesson?"

whatever it is...

"don't you quit. you keep walking. you keep trying."

this inspires me!

happy monday,

katilda

richard gere & attention hunger

2012-01-06T08:47:00.000-08:00

this is what happens when i'm being neglected on skype chat and trying desperately to get my bestie to stop being distracted by whatever "important" thing she was doing and return to the proper activity of focusing 100% of her attention on me...

me:

so i went to dinner last night

and there was a dragon

and i made out w/ a handsome stranger in a dark corner

and then there was this meteor crash outside

and richard gere came to investigate

and he was supposed to interview me but then he fell in love with me

and i was all torn cuz i was like "i just made out w/ this other guy"

...

also, i wish i had hair like the chick from A Fine Frenzy

she:

oh whoa, that's weird - i just got your messages!

they were completely delayed!

sorry babe, lemme read them

me:

um, i warn you they aren't....important

except for the one about richard gere

that seems pretty important

i really pride myself on my quality conversation.

your new idolized wannabe skype friend,

katilda

running report: the arch nemesis

2012-01-06T07:46:00.000-08:00

dearest running delays,

i'd like to introduce you to my new friends...

...aka, your new arch nemesis.

[shout-out to ASICS for the sleek design!]

also,

r.i.p. to my trusty old faithfuls...
...which were apparently a 1/2-size too small.
...and probably hit their peak about 100 miles ago.
oops.

xoxo and stuff,

katilda

p.s.

if you get a chance to get fitted for a pair of running shoes, do it!
i hit up road runner sports for mine.
super fun to run on their little treadmill and stand on their fancy machines.
they told me all kinds of interesting things about my arches and ankles, etc.
plus,
if you don't like the shoes they have a sweet return policy, even if you've been running in them.
win, win, win!

music: He Is We

2012-01-05T07:16:00.000-08:00

so,

evidence suggests i might be a bit behind on this one...

and by "evidence" i mean this textersation:

me:

hey, go listen to He Is We

baby sister:

Duh.

...touche, lil' sassypants.

but late or not,

i discovered them via spotify stalking this fabulous girl.

ok but here's a few favorites:

all about us

kiss it better

our july in the rain

skip to the good part
prove you wrong

and they really killed this cover:

replay (orig. by iyaz)

p.s.

are you on spotify?

let's share playlists!

writing fails that resulted in comedic wins.

2012-01-04T13:48:00.000-08:00

both of the following images please me immensely.

thank you, internets.

[via]

and...

with the priceless caption,
"somewhere in Japan, recently, a copywriter just gave up."

[via]

running report: delay of game

2012-01-04T06:28:00.000-08:00

so,

the phoenix suns & my boy steve nash didn't start off so hot this season, right?

but, umm...

there's still plenty of room for hope!

my story is kind of like that.

except minus steve nash.

no wait...

i'm certain he's involved somehow.

he always is.

the point is...

remember how i'm registered to run my second 1/2marty on jan. 28? remember how i busted my toe? and then i got sick? and then there was that whole toenail thing? and then i pushed myself to catch up, only to over-do it and end up with sore knees for a week? and then i got sick again??

needless to say...

i will not be running my 1/2marty on january 28.

i dislike quitting.

i dislike that my body is not invincible.

but remember my goal this year?

i am not running my 1/2marty, but that does not mean i'm a bad runner and it does not make me a quitter.

stay tuned for a new 1/2marty date.

in the meantime,

i will read my inspiring running book,

and slowly but surely,

train for next month's repeat of last year's ragnar adventure.

we're picking our team costumes this week.

think we can top the Legos??

...suggestions?

luff from me & my calf muscles,

katilda

book review: the boy who harnessed the wind

2012-01-03T06:50:00.000-08:00

you guys...

you. guys.

you know when you read a book that just kind of changes you?

this book reminded me what it means to dream,

what it means to have a passion,

what it means to believe in yourself,

what it means to have other people believe in you,

what it means to be grateful for the simple things...

etc

also?

God doesn't forget anyone.

and, there are no coincidences.

mostly, i feel deeply humbled.

also, i'll be impressed if you're not crying when you get to this line:
"and i try, and i made it."

now stop reading my blog and get a copy ASAP.

in the meantime, i'm on to my next literature-ical adventure...

sun, sun, sun, here it comes

2012-01-02T15:42:00.000-08:00

turns out,

the big yellow ball in the sky smiled on my new year's weekend...

no complaints from this little arizona heart.

luff & abundant sunbeams & deliciously sore post-hiking glutes,

katilda

new year's resolution: be nicer to me

2012-01-01T23:13:00.000-08:00

first, here's a little treat from my fam pictures on saturday...

[that's me on the right and da baby sista on da left.]

ok now on to the resolution stuff...

here's my problem:

i'm SUPER self critical.

the thing is,

it's really easy for me to be nice to other people.

but for some reason,

i often leave myself out of that equation.

i have a big, fat habit of getting very frustrated with my flaws and having very little patience with myself.

did i fail at something?

i feel like i'm a failure.

did i have a lazy afternoon?

i feel like i'm a lazy person.

did i read my scriptures half-heartedly?

i feel like i'm a sorry excuse for a follower of Christ.

is my hair weird and my lips dry and are my legs twiggy and do i have dark circles under my eyes the size of tejas?

i feel like i'm an awkward mess.

is my room always cluttered and messy?

i feel like i'm a terrible human being who can't even keep a handle on something as simple as hanging my clothes up or putting my shoes away.

you get the point.

so my resolution for 2012?

be nicer to me.

if it's something critical and demeaning that i would never say to someone else, i shouldn't be saying or thinking it about myself either.

it's kind of like the golden rule, but opposite:

do unto myself as i do unto others.

someone make me a shirt & bumper stickers, yo!

dear 2012,

let's do this.

are any of you with me on this?

turns out i did a surprising amount of things in 2011...

2011-12-31T10:42:00.000-08:00

what's, that mr. twenty-eleven?

you want some recognition?

well, by all means...

most notable things i did this year...

+ ran a 1/2 marathon

+ ran a ragnar relay

+ got me one of them legitimate career things

+ turned 24

+ travelled to san francisco

+ won a volleyball championship

+ married off a little sister

+ married off a roommate

+ changed my own car battery & oil

+ went camping with my people

+ went camping again & hiked the subway

+ kept KAST alive & kickin'

+ various dating adventures and non-adventures

+ got interviewed by the phoenix biz journal

+ put feathers in my hair

+ read the book of mormon again

+ published more stuff on the huffington post

+ became a ward missionary

+ travelled to portland

+ travelled to seattle

+ travelled to utah 4 times
+ finally caved and got a smartypants phone

+ took the GRE

+ dressed up as a dragon for halloween

+ got me a new baby niece

+ celebrated my parents' 30th anniversary

+ got braces

my most popular blog posts in 2011...

1. brains vs. beauty

2. dating: the ladder theory

3. well, i chose a pig

4. public breastfeeding: wrong? right? medium well?

5. bridesmaid round 11

but mostly i love...

any of my posts where i actually write

or any about dating

other personal favorites...

memoirs of a (potentially) difficult girlfriend
love, actually

the 4 pinnacles of commercialism

in my noodle: swag, mucus & chicken nuggets

to my baby sister as she goes to college

that one time on a friday night

that one time i helped a friend propose in the airport

good gracious i've been busy!

seriously can't wait to see what 2012 has in store.

stay tuned for my resolution!

"he looks like a pink nightmare."

2011-12-29T13:21:00.000-08:00

my bloggity is still all abuzz with yesterday's touchy-subject post,

but i just found this photo...

via this girl's blog...

...and i can't stop laughing.

for some reason this picture is just really, really funny to me.

happy thursday!

side hug,

katilda

public breastfeeding: wrong? right? medium-well?

2011-12-28T21:55:00.000-08:00

i am a creature of habit.

and one of those habits involves snacking late at night.

usually, cereal.

but sometimes...

...my roommate's homemade salsa.

nom nom nom.

in other news...

what's your take on public breastfeeding?

katie, i don't know why your intro was about salsa.

this is my blog, quit telling me what to do.

but seriously,

i read this news story

and it got me thinking.

and i'm not talking about politely-covered-with-a-blanket breastfeeding.

we're talking no-secrets-between-you-and-the-public breastfeeding.

i suppose i can see the pros and cons quite clearly on this one.

on one hand...

it's a functional thing.

we shouldn't be ashamed.

them babies gotta eat!
there's more nudity than that in classical art.

on the other hand...

what about public decency?

and respect for other people's comfort levels?

how hard is it to drape a blanket over yourself?

but i suppose my take is...

live and let live.

public breastfeeding doesn't really rub me the wrong way.

or the right way.

it doesn't really rub me any way at all, actually.

and if i'm ever out in public,

with my future man-child,

and we are to see such a thing,

then well....

i'd probably quite frankly inform him that she is breastfeeding her child, and if we feel uncomfortable we can choose to look away.

and then i'd drop it.

and buy my man-child a snowcone.

and one for me too.

however,

if we're going to allow bare-chested women in public...

are we going to let the menfolk unzip & pee openly in public as well?

or scratch themselves, if needs be?

i mean, it'd be functional nudity...

sorry for any visuals i've caused.

i saw no reason to be indirect about the matter.

but it's a point to consider.

your thoughts?

put ME in the zoo.

2011-12-28T07:36:00.000-08:00

soooo,

last week i went to the coolest zoo ever.

with my friend tiffany.
we rode the ski lift, aka "sky ride."
and we ate hot dogs.

also, i got to pet & feed a sting ray.

and a kangaroo.

and a giraffe.

also keep in mind that i'm terrified of aquariums.

so some of these pics are kind of a big deal.

and just in case you want to move in to the emu enclosure...

they're selling.

p.s.

watch ridiculous videos of us interacting with the animals, here and here and here and here.

gettin' crafty up in hizzle

2011-12-27T12:18:00.000-08:00

i decided to make my parents' christmas gift this year...

and i wanted to involve the words to their wedding song.

behold,

the product of...

an hour wandering the aisles of the craft store

a couple fingers temporarily super-glued together

a growing addiction to using spray paint

then i got a little excited about crafting...

and mayyyybe gave my entire bedroom wall a makeover.

here's a preview:

[please excuse the asymmetrical chevron stripes]

stay tuned for the full report!

buttons! pleats! bows! (toothpaste!)

2011-12-26T16:09:00.000-08:00

fact: thrifting is one of the greatest pleasures of my life.

it's also a good cure for the shopping bug, minus the guilt.

i am, however, progressively running out of room in my closet...

...but today we are not thinking about that.

so, enjoy my finds from a recent Goodwill run!

with a few sponsors:

photos, courtesy of my smartyphone.

modesty in the yellow dress, courtesy of my hair.

class & style, courtesy of my mismatched, folded-down socks.

oh, and remember my phone cover looks like a cassette tape...

...lest you be confused, like everyone always is.

blue buttoned skirt, $4.99

green pleated skirt, $2.50

yellow dress with a bow, $9.99

oh, and don't worry,

i totally wore that green skirt this weekend.

what's that?

you want a picture?

maybe in my messy bathroom?

maybe while i'm brushing my teeth?

well, if you insist...

heart,

katilda

when i'm 80.

2011-12-26T00:24:00.000-08:00

christmas, christmas, christmas...

...'twas lovely, my friends.

much laughter.

much family.

much gifts given & received.

much blossomingJustDance3 addiction...

and much pictures to come, don't fret!
but here's a taste, my festive green pants and all:

anyway,

it is like....1am.

and i was just thinking to mineself.

my thoughts wandered to a story i meant to blog about, but it slipped my mind.

you see, one night in november i wanted hot chocolate...

three friends obliged and went with me.

and as we were leaving the local QT with our beverages in hand,

an old man with a newspaper stopped us.

fact: i like old people.

sometimes, i feel like an old person.

i like the stories they tell...

they often seem quite wise.

and they have perspective.

and they play some fierce uno.

anyway,

this man at the QT, he told fantastical stories.

i think he said he invented chocolate?

and maybe was friends with warren buffet?

and used to drive a shmancy car?

the details are fuzzy.

but what i remember most is that he talked a lot about money.

about wealth.

about living fancy in a hoity toity part of town.

...i feel like the newsies when i say hoity toity.

[...christian bale?!]

anyway,

now this man lives in an area he considers the slums.

he had disdain.

he was not a fan of the neighborhood.

his greatest pleasure, he told us, were his daily trips to the nicest grocery store in walking distance to get a name-brand cherry pastry-something-or-other.

we must have one of those cherry things, he said.

and you know...

i felt a little sad for him.

i hope when i'm 80 that i'm not looking down on everyone around me, even if i live in "the slums" and don't drive a fancy car or hang with warren buffet.

also, i typed "buffest" at first...

in any case,

if i don't want to be consumed by unimportant things when i'm 80...

...i sure hope i'm not wasting time worrying about them now.

though, the cherry whatever-pastry-he-said didn't sound too shabby.

i could totes be on board for that idea.

what do YOU want to be doing when you're 80?

this will be me...

yellow pants and all, kiddos.

[via]

christmas magic.

2011-12-25T06:53:00.000-08:00

my Christmas gift to you?

this video.

"there is a magic in Christmas...

this season when gifts are given,

let us not forget that God gave His Son,

and His Son gave His life,

that each of us might have the gift of eternal life."

pres. gordon b. hinckley

[via]

happy christmas from new zealand!

2011-12-24T10:58:00.000-08:00

i couldn't resist sharing this.

no, i'm not in new zealand.

but the kids in this priceless video are.

so,

happy christmas my loves.

focus on the sheep and the star.

and the line, "he has two daddies."

xoxomistletoeandstuff,

katilda

serious cool points.

2011-12-24T06:02:00.000-08:00

...and that's really all i have to say about that.

happy christmas eve.

he had the crazy eyes.

2011-12-23T06:53:00.000-08:00

that title is really all i have to say about the first photo...

in other news,

guess what i did?

that's right kiddos...

this girl can change a car battery.

score one for grown-up katie.

the first half of a chick flick.

2011-12-22T11:50:00.000-08:00

sometimes my life is kind of like a chick flick...

but, you know, the first half of the movie.

all them awkward parts.

i've seen enough of this genre to know that i've racked up enough first half encounters to have earned myself some kisses in the park and dramatic wedding crashing moments by now.

in any case,
here's this week's winning first half moment:

it is rather late on a weekday night

i potentially have a fever

[can't kick those hooverdam germs!]

my dear roommate needs a ride from the airport

fact: my car's interior is atrocious

we're talking UH.TRO.SHISH.

so i make a half-hearted attempt to consolidate all my junk into one neat tower in the back of the car

i drive a CR-V, so there's no trunk, just an open back space

no secrets here, baby!

anyway,

i drive to the airport

and discover that said roommate has brought home her verygoodlookingbrother for the holidays

i am duly embarrassed by my tower of things

apologize profusely

and all seems mostly well, until...

i have one of those uncertain moments with a yellow light

decide to go for it

speed thru a left arrow

and in the process of said very-fast-left-turn...

the tower comes a-tumblin'

and all my car's random treasures are now intermingled with the luggage of my roommate and her verygoodlookingbrother.

eep.

upon arriving at our place,

i rush to the back of the car to salvage the damage

but alas,

roommate & verygoodlookingbrother are witness to my avalanche

and we're not talking normal stuff, here.

items of note include:

cans of sliced peaches

my "missing" hair straightener

2 bottles of sparkling cider

a can of soup

a pair of batman boxer shorts [don't ask.]

a belly dancing kit [again with the not asking.]

for serious you guys.

i think the first phrase i uttered was,

"i'm a disgusting human being. don't judge me."

sooo...

this is when i go eat brown m&m's by a tree in the park and wait for fate to step in, right?

hey, if it works for J. Lo, it works for me.

oh, i did indeed later confirm that i had a fever.

[i really should stop doing things when i'm in that condition, case in point.]

hence, i work from home today...

i also don't know how to make attractive blogging faces.

i think i missed the memo about red lipstick, thick-framed glasses, and standing perpetually pigeon-toed and leaning forward with either my lips pursed or my mouth half-open in an alluring smile-laugh.

but fuzzy ponytail, oversized mango shirt and dark circles da size of texas due to no-makeup-at-all is a good second choice, right? right.

christmas eve...eve....eve...

2011-12-22T06:31:00.000-08:00

so, tradition has it that my familia goes to dinner on christmas eve.

and we always go to the olive garden

this year, we went out on december 20

and we went somewhere new

we're gettin' crazy up in here!

so here it is, photographic evidence that may include...

the live john denver music

the silvery boots on the old lady at the next table

photo sessions with da nephews

my attempt to claim the donut i wanted with a hearty bite

my sister's attempt to claim the other donut with a finger poke

oh, and...maybe a surprise from my glory days....

and, the crowning jewel...

hot ham, i look good.

we need a little christmas now!

2011-12-21T07:31:00.000-08:00

the bloggity festiveness continues!

today ima be miss bossypants and tell you exactly what you must do to properly be in the holiday spirit...

must watch:

must listen:

"have yourself a merry little christmas" coldplay

"baby it's cold outside" zooey deschanel

"silent night/away in a manger" relient k

"still still still" mormon tabernacle choir

"baby, all i want for christmas is you" mariah carey
"oh holy night" david archuleta
"breath of heaven" amy grant
"last christmas" jimmy eat world

must read:

Luke 2

[other suggestions? i've never thought much about holiday lit before...]

must eat:

must do:

well i might not be doing so well at that there last item...

but, there's always hoping, eh?

now tell me your holiday must watch/listen/read/eat/do list!

spoiled children & redemption

2011-12-20T07:33:00.000-08:00

fact: i have [hopefully fully and irreversibly] resurfaced from the germy escapades.

it's kind of like the ice capades.

except a little different.

in any case,

it's about time to get this bloggity into da holiday groove.

let's start with these two festive vids...

1. made me wrinkle my nose at the condition of america's children, if we're being completely honest.

2. redeemed my faith in humankind. ees a good one.

germs vs. katie

2011-12-19T14:16:00.000-08:00

germs:

"hey katie. just thought i'd drop in."

me:

"well...uh...good gracious, i just wasn't expecting you, ya know?"

germs:

"i know right? it was really fun to hit you in the face like a brick wall in the middle of a party on saturday night. the best part was when you decided it was time to go home and you had to crawl up the stairs when you got home because you were so tired, even though it was only 10:30pm."

me:

"i don't really remember that being as great as you say....."

germs:

"nah, you've got it all wrong. you love laying in bed all day, thinking about all the productive stuff you could/should be doing."

me:

"i think i have a fever in my eyeballs."

germs:

"is that all you've noticed? i thought the ache in your ears would've kicked in by now. how about the sore throat? fatigue? noticed any of that?"

me:

"i'm hungry."

germs:

"good, because the only thing you have in your fridge is eggs and bread. you could make french toast..."

me:

"that's not funny. you know i've never successfully made french toast in my life."

germs:

"fine then, go to the store and buy healthy foods."

me:

"the public does not want to see me in this state."

germs:

"sure they do. also, it looks cold outside, you should bundle up."

me:

"....ok."

me:

"hey it's totally warm out here. i don't know what you were thinking."

germs:

"i just wanted to make sure you'd be uncomfortably warm for your entire solitary trip to the store. you know you're not supposed to wear striped socks with sweatpants and moccasins right? what an embarrassment."

me:

"...hey how come my car won't start?"

germs:

"you were supposed to get a new battery today, remember?"

me:

"i was supposed to go to work, too. now look at me."

germs:

"well it turns out your car will BARELY start, so fingers crossed your luck continues until you feel well enough to take care of that."

me:

"bah."

germs:

"hey as long as you're at the store, buy some nyquil."

me:

"i hate doing that when i'm sick. the braces + pajamas + no makeup = they always card me for being too young to buy nyquil. it's demoralizing."

germs:

"oh but such fun for me to watch."

me:

"fine."

germs:

"hey remember how your dresser is broken? and your car is a wreck? and you have like 50 things you should be doing? forget them all! go lay in bed and think about the fever in your eyeballs!"

me:

"no way. i'm totally going to fix my dresser. all on my own. with a hammer."

germs:

"nice try. you don't have the right kind of nails for that."

me:

"screw you, i'll tape it all back together."

germs:

"touche. now go back to bed."

me:

"but i....i...um...ok."

germs:

"good girl. i love it when i get to control your life."

me:

".....i still really want french toast."

p.s.

my dresser is totally back in working condition.

held together by black electrical tape.

me = champion.

keepin' ya 2012 calendar funky fresh, yo

2011-12-16T07:13:00.000-08:00

remember how my bestie is on etsy?

[...remember how much i love the way that rhymes?]

anyway,

your people will thank you if you gift them this 2012 calendar:

seriously, i've seen all 12 prints

and trust me,

it's wicked cool.

i even helped pick out the quotes for each month.

i'm kind of privileged like that.

check out her other art while you're bee-boppin around in etsy-land.

reading: the best of 2011

2011-12-15T07:28:00.000-08:00

we know i like reading.

we also know i'm less awesome at being timely about things.

so, cop-out or not

here's some good choices in bulk.

you know, costco style.

[minus the free samples.]

[and the ginormous boxes of fruit snacks.]

[shoot, why are you even reading this?]

anyway, from the archives of my 2011 reading,

i recommend...

[hint: click on the book for more info]

something classic:

something sci fi:

something deliciously romantic:

something youthful & timeless:

something emotional:

something from my heart & soul:

something religious:

another something religious:

and so you'll hold me accountable for future reviews...

i'm currently devouring:

and i have on deck:

and

stay tuned!

[no really, i mean it this time]

[....i saw you roll your eyes, don't think i didn't.]

other recommendations warmly welcomed!

dating: the ladder theory

2011-12-14T07:19:00.000-08:00

i've discussed this topic various times in the past week, so i figured it was time to introduce it to blog land.

blog land, meet the ladder theory.

[for the record, it's not a theory i made up...hence the link...i didn't want to take undue credit.]

here's the basic idea:

women have two ladders when it comes to males,

one for friends and one for potential lovers.

a man can move up and down the ladders based on how good of a friend or potential lover he is.

if he's near the top of either ladder, he gets time and attention.

conversely, men have one ladder.

at the top of the ladder is attraction, and at the bottom of the ladder is ...not attraction.

if a lady is near the top of the ladder, she gets more time and attention.

[via]

the article draws a few key conclusions:

1. men may receive copious attention and time from a woman, only to discover that they are merely highly ranked on the friend ladder.

2. men do not generally give excessive time/attention to a woman if she is low on the ladder.

therefore, even if she is truly "just a friend" but she is earning time/attention, he is at least remotely attracted to her.

3. it's difficult for men to switch from the friend ladder to the lover ladder in a lady's eyes.

4. if women want to be considered, all they have to do is climb the ladder, i.e. become more attractive, whether physically or personality-wise, etc.

fascinating, eh?

...your thoughts? agree or disagree?

the 3 commandments of christmas lights

2011-12-13T08:43:00.000-08:00

it's true...

i made some official commandments.

about things like this:

other truth...

i'm guest blogging today!

discover my passionate feelings about christmas decor over at alexis laughs.

she's cute,

her blog is cute,

therefore it makes me cute too.

gee, i love logic!

running report: the eulogy of the toenail

2011-12-12T07:24:00.000-08:00

it began like any other run

shoes tied

spandex in place

ear buds firmly secured

but then,

it is in moments like these that i realize,

i may have taken some things for granted...

forgive me, for noticing you less than i should

& for polishing you less regularly in the wintertime

but just so you know...

i will cross the finish line

with or without you and all your little friends.

may you rest in peace.

[or, pieces.]

p.s.

running season hasn't been kind to my poor little toes this year, has it?

the coat: a story of charity

2011-12-11T16:12:00.001-08:00

the following video has put me in a delightfully happy, christmas-esque state of heart and mind.

also, i want to be this kind of mama,

the kind that makes coats and gives mama-bear hugs.

and have a man-child like that one,

the kind that plays outside and has a big heart.

[and yes, i reserve the right to refer to my future baby boys as man-children.]

ok now watch the video...

music: in which some artists cover the beloved classics and i actually don't want to throw something against the wall

2011-12-09T07:43:00.000-08:00

the thing is,

i got me some hippie in my soul

so if you're going to cover the 60s and 70s...

trust that ima be fiercely defensive of the original

with that said,

i am delighted by each of the following.

and that's saying something when we're talking about james taylor, simon and garfunkel, and jackson 5, yo.

[via]

go. click. listen.

"you can close your eyes"

cover by: brooke fraser & william fitzsimmons

original: james taylor

"sound of silence"

cover by: brooke fraser

original: simon & garfunkel

"i want you back"

cover by: the civil wars

original: jackson 5

want another good cover?

the bon iver video in this post still floors me as well.

writing: you are just a scar

2011-12-08T07:18:00.000-08:00

bandaids come in all shapes and sizes

each perfectly tailored to conceal a wound

situated over broken flesh

and sealed at the corners

each bearing a story

and i must sit on my hands

and remember, "don't touch."

"you. must. not. touch."

the temptation begs distraction

there were the same warning signs

and the subtleties between the lines

the ones that only i knew

almost like you saved them, just for me

and, for a moment,

there was you

in raw form

untainted

and all i could think was,

"i should have known you then."

but now

the feel of adhesive on my skin

and the taste of resolve between my teeth

are the strongest sensations i have

and, tucked inside the details,

a growing confidence

that one day, my hands won't be tied

and you will be just a scar

that i can run my thumbs over

and think

"this doesn't hurt me anymore."

perhaps the world IS mad.

2011-12-07T07:47:00.000-08:00

"he was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad."

rafael sabatini

the other day i realized that, on a regular basis,

i laugh by myself in my car

sometimes the things i think about are just so hooverdam funny, mmmk?

i already blogged once about my propensity to laughter.

well....

why not blog it again?

EXHIBIT A

the following is actually a screenshot from this life episode.

i suppose there is a special kind of happy reserved for

a) making a video for my bestie

b) making fun of myself

[c) being in my car alone]

EXHIBIT B

truthfully...

there really aren't a lot of words for the following series

[she said we should make a christmas card out of these]

"i believe that laughter is a language of God."

yakov smirnoff

that one time i helped a friend propose in the airport...

2011-12-06T07:18:00.001-08:00

on sunday night, one of my best amigos decided it was time to put a ring on his lady's finger.

and well...

what better place to do that than the airport?

enjoy the photos...

[you may notice i had trouble staying behind my sign...i was too excited to stop peeking!]

but mostly, enjoy the video...

it is quite epic.

not shown in the video:

1. the "other carly" who came off the plane first and was disappointed to discover that, no, she was not the one getting engaged that night.

2. the old lady who asked me, "is your friend sober??"

extreme makeover: blog edition

2011-12-03T23:32:00.001-08:00

this is called hibernation:

my blog did that this week.

and..

it maybe did that whole cocoon thing, too.

[not to be confused with raccoon, mancoon or....pinecoon.]

*ahem*

welcome to katilda.com!

that's right kiddos...

i've gots me a custom domain.

[cheers! snaps! foot stomps! uncontainable rioting and lighting of things on fire!]

go poke around!

it doesn't look perfect....but i done what i could with my blossoming html skills.

...i've never liked the word "blossoming."

...especially in such close proximity to the word "poke."

....hmmm.

and just so you know what the hibernation/cocoon/not-pinecoon truly consisted of...

...hope i didn't get anyone fired, eh?

p.s.

the playlist is up there in its own tab now, lest you were ready to throw yourself into a fit of angst and teeth gnashing. the music did not die.

them social media people

2011-11-25T08:29:00.000-08:00

hey katie, how's that new job of yours going?

well, thank you for asking!

it's been quite lovely.

and busy.

but i have no complaints!

i really am very, very content thus far.

and,

they sent me to a social media conference last weekend in tempe

let me tell you a unique feature of such a conference:

the audience is full of people who are likely on more than one techy device at a time, tweeting about the presentation as it's happening.

this is potentially the only venue out there where it's not rude to be actively using your cell phone, etc. during a presentation, yes?

what did i learn?

here's a couple tidbits...

50-60% of people check social media first thing after waking up

94% of buyers [online and in-store] perform an online search about the product before making a purchase

having a properly optimized video on your site makes it 53 times more likely to show up in the first page of a Google search

...pretty fascinating, eh?

are you cats into social media?

twitter?

you'll find me at @k8ehawkes

[say hello!]

running report: down for the count

2011-11-23T07:17:00.000-08:00

remember how it's training season again?

yep yep.

well, i set my official 1/2marty goal:

i want to run it in less than 2 hours

which means 9 min per mile or less

which is 30 min quicker than last year

i can do this!

well, i had a slight setback:

wait katie, do you really consider horrifically ugly toenails a setback....?

no no, stop looking at those -- focus on my purple toe!

oh, right right.

---------

enough of that selfersation.

[ooh, new made-up word for the win!]

ok but here's the deal:

a guy with cleats at a church football game had an encounter with my poor little phalange.

fact:

i haven't run in a week and a half

other fact:

i feel grumpy about it

[need a shot of endorphins, please!]

[...endorphin sounds like a type of dolphin]

other other fact:

my toe is no longer purple and swollen, but it is still sore

and yet another other fact:

i will be lacing up the running kicks again this evening

it's go time, kiddos!

wish me luuuuuck...

"an old maroon, hot air balloon"

2011-11-22T07:01:00.000-08:00

last saturday night involved the following activities:

friends

a blanket

two corn dogs
a sunset

hot air balloons

sparkling sky divers

fireworks

really,

a girl can't complain.

also, it all reminded me of this favorite song of mine.

you must click and enjoy.

the awkward mother of all exercise

2011-11-20T21:01:00.000-08:00

um, you guys...

you guys.

the other day i said to my coworker,

"why do they call them jumping jacks?"

which inspired a google search

[as most of life's deepest questions do]

and said google search led to a discovery of the jumping jack's cousin:

the star jump

from what i can tell, the key term in this exercise's description is the word "explosive."

behold, the glory:

and, don't miss this gem:

you may notice that the first two pics are a woman, and the 3rd is clearly a man.

we pondered the significance of this:

did she fail to make a satisfactory star, in the end, and get cut from the photo shoot?

did she have an unseemly wardrobe malfunction with those red shorts?

do star jumps catalyze a cosmic explosion of some sorts that causes a gender transformation, mid-star??

whatever the case, as my coworker put it:

"something weird happened in that squat."

...bahahaha

confessions: mono-stripe-matic

2011-11-18T00:13:00.001-08:00

sooo.....

can we say i have a small problem?

at least it's a beautiful, perfectly lovable problem...

and will serve me in any season...

shrug.

writing: one year ago, today

2011-11-14T20:41:00.001-08:00

let's keep hiding, all quiet like

they'll keep seeking but they won't find us

let's keep living a quiet life

you and i

[a fine frenzy]

sometimes i pause

and think

about 365 days

one second there i am

in the middle of something big

or something small

but it's enough to preoccupy my thoughts

my emotions

my energy

my time

and then, as quickly as it came,

it passes.

and the calendar tells me, it's been a year

and my heart sometimes has forgotten

and sometimes is still hanging on

to whatever it was

hope?

exuberance?

uncertainty?

heartbreak?

there are always those moments

when the month and day stare back at me

and say,

"one year ago today..."

and sometimes the old feelings invade me

race through me

tighten my tummy

and lodge in my throat

but other times

they simply whisper in my ear

and are gone.

[me]

(sleepless in?) seattle

2011-11-13T16:16:00.001-08:00

aaaaaand

here are the other half of the trip's pictures!

i know, there's a lot.

but some of my favorites are toward the bottom, so...

don't you quit on me now!

feel motivated?

good.

enjoy.

oh, and that old-fashioned yellow building...
that's where we stayed.
seriously wicked cool.

p.s.

by golly, i love seattle!

must. live. in. a. houseboat. someday.

portlandia!

2011-11-10T05:37:00.000-08:00

to understand the title reference, go here.

to experience the portland half of my recent trip, scroll down.

and yeah,

half the pictures are at a playground.

and a lot of ridiculous pictures of me on a teeter-totter.

i've got my priorities straight.

stay tuned for seattle!

yes yes....jelly beans on the train!!

just waiting for a certain wizard to come kick it with me.

new job job mcjobbity!

2011-11-08T21:29:00.000-08:00

i have returned from the great [freezing] northwest!

oh wait, it's like 40 degrees in arizona too.

what the h-muffin, arizona?

...yeah, i don't even know about the "h-muffin" phrase...

anyway.

guess what?

i started a new job this week!

but katie, didn't you just...

well, yes.

but that was like 9 months ago.
that's long enough to have a baby you know.

what do babies have to do with career changes?

i'm not sure. i think it might have something to do with an h-muffin.

...ok ok back to the point.

i got a new job!

i am writing again!

the new creative writer for skyhook internet marketing, to be exact.

i've been there for two days and...

so far it's been lovely!

exhibit A:
they have an arcade in the office.
they downloaded dr mario for me to play during lunch.
only my favorite game ever, you know.

let me just say,

it feels really good to write again.

like, really really good.

ok now help a sista out.

let's play a game called...

*pimp katie's new workspace!*

[du du du, wicked cool theme music, doodly du du]

so far i've got:

my trusty old K mug [pictured here]

a really kick-A lunchbox

[that'll get its own post soon, don't you worry]

aaaand

a moustache on my computer:

[it's movember, yo!]

other things i want:

some kind of funky-fresh coaster for my mug

a plant

wall hooks to hang my coat/keys/etc on

something to hold pens
something to satiate my sticky note obsession

any other accessories you deem necessary

so...

shop for me or something.

share some links.

fun, right?

ready, go!

oh, and i wore these on my first day:

a girl's gotta make an impression!

to portleattle i go!

2011-11-01T21:29:00.000-07:00

i am going away.

to the northwest.

for 5 days.

because i've never been.

so,

i am going!

i won't tell you my whole itinerary

[i mean, what if one of you stalks me? i will not enable your creeping!]

but i will say,

i get to ride on a train

and the #1 priority on my to-do list for the entire weekend is to eat jelly beans while on said train

[bertie. freakin. bottt.]

now ima go pack my peacoat, scarves and mittens...

because this girl's got pure arizona runnin through her thin-blooded little veins.

brrrrrrr!

au revoir, darlings!

polaroid moments (4)

2011-11-01T00:20:00.000-07:00

you know....

the stuff i take pictures of.

things of note:

PDA at ihop, crowding my dragon wings

my retro-fab new iphone cover

a scrapbooked thai-food menu

a roller coaster that discriminates against amputees

the potential to make money off gingerbread houses

and other whatnot.

dragon (ball z?)

2011-10-30T22:41:00.000-07:00

puff the magic?

pete's?

albi the racist?

...let's leave it up to your imagination.

[note: does not do justice to actual copious amounts of green glitter involved. i am still finding it on my face, in my hair, on my elbow, etc.]

but wait katie...don't dragons...you know...

breathe fire???

that is my friend King. he blogs here.

if you watch arrested development, you might think his costume is hilarious.

[i was unfortunately under-informed.]

and yeah...

he barely escaped 3rd-degree burns, kids.

i'd be concerned about his PTSD if he wasn't a capable medical professional.

music: footloose & flashdance

2011-10-27T15:37:00.000-07:00

so,

i can appreciate a good cover

[as long as said cover doesn't involve taking a perfectly good hippie song and turning it into a ska/punk monstrosity, that is. *shudder*]

just a couple gems i found this week:

"holding out for a hero"

from footloose, rendition by ella mae bowen
recommended by da baby sista

[still waiting for kevin bacon to do his own cover. stillll waiting, kevin...KEVIN ARE YOU THERE?!]

oh hi kevin.

[via people.com]

"what a feeling"

drew ryniewicz from x-factor did flashdance a serious solid

did i mention she's only 14? i mean...sweet huckleberries, child.

[now don't go crazy and do drugs and spoil that bright career of yours....]

[source]

p.s.

anyone seen the new footloose?

p.p.s.

....recommend any other stellar acoustic covers?

p.p.p.s.
hey, sometimes i do my own covers:
"firework" by katy perry
"build me up buttercup" by the foundations
"can't help falling in love" by the king

hob nobbin' it up

2011-10-26T11:46:00.000-07:00

stumbled across the most delightful cafe with this lovely lady last night

the endearing name:

the elements of a happy ambience:

[note: the hot chocolate was the perfect temperature, flavor, everything. i recommend it in a big way.]

the feta & red pepper pizza:
[can't remember the exact name of it]

[i want to kiss whoever decided to put feta on pizza. why hadn't i thought of this?]

the company:

[we look a bit crazy-eyed. crunk on hot chocolate and feta?]

the people watching:

[bright orange curly hair, and an outfit with spiders and candy corn on it. my hero on so many levels.]

not to mention the coconut cake, the good-looking employee, and the plenteous uh-friggin-dorable halloween decorations

i officially consider it the perfect place to spend a drizzly tuesday evening

let's just say...

we'll be going back.

y'all phoenix amigos should checkity ch-ch-check it out too:

www.hob-nobs.com

what makes the red man red?

2011-10-25T06:29:00.000-07:00

ummm is that title totally racist?

well...

take it up with peter pan

in any case,

just finished up my christmas shopping online

[yeahhhh buddy!]

so other than a gift i have to make

i am dizzone and ready for them holidays!

[note: i'm not an over-achiever. i just love giving gifts so much that i always know what i want to get people wayyyy in advance.]

i just need to point out what a website suggested after i ordered one present

[i can't tell you what i ordered, because the recipient might see this]

but, i kind of wish i had ordered the following item

it was highly recommended, after all....

i mean, i really can't argue that my christmas would be inifinitely cooler with that get-up on hand...

dearest 1/2marty...we meet again!

2011-10-23T21:21:00.000-07:00

all summer, any convo with mineself about a certain form of exercise went something like this:

hey katie

oh....oh hey

remember that time you used to be a runner?

mmm...yeah. i do kinda remember that.

so....what's the deal?

well it's summer, and....it's hot....

there's such a thing as a treadmill you know

well yes but then i'd have to go to the gym...

you could just get up early. it wouldn't be so bad.

but my sleep...my precious sleep...

you're making an awful lot of excuses

i'm kind of over this conversation in a big way.

don't tune me out. didn't you LIKE running?

i can't hearrrrr yoouuu....

[turns out i'm really mature when i talk to myself.]

...............................................................

well....

i figure it's about time for an announcement so ol' jiminy cricket in my head will stay out of my hooverdam bizness

*ahem*

i have officially registered to run another 1/2marty in january

applause! cheers! poetry snaps!

[me. ragnar del sol. remember that?]

looks like me and the ol' running shoes are about to re-form a seriously committed relationship

last year my goal was just to finish...

...this year i've got the clock on the brain

still negotiating my exact time goals

will report soon.

bring. it. on.

reminiscing on my running glory days:

dear finish line...

1/2marty eve

"i just felt like running"

2:27:27

tswizzle report: the good, the bad & the less pretty

2011-10-22T10:50:00.000-07:00

what?

what's that you say?

you stayed up alllll night waiting to hear my report on the t-swizzle concert?

well, don't mind if i do.

what i liked:

i knew every single song

we bought a churro! i am obsessed!

a crowd of 14,000 is an electrifying experience

i saw a guy in a chicken costume

and two guys in banana suits

[i think this is how teenage boys justified coming to the tswiz concert...by making fun of it and pretending they don't actually listen to the music. i see right through your weak facade, pollo y platanos!]

many ballerinas were involved

[i find ballerinas fascinating. they're like lifesize dolls.]

fireworks....indoors

two of her guitarists had legit david bowie hair
["the power of the babe!"]

people kept popping out of the stage floor [like daises!] ... the use of the trap doors was quite fascinating.

the acoustic portion of the evening, in which she sat by a tree

don't worry, i took a low-res, glowing photo of it:

she uked it up on "fearless," which i utterly adored

[uked = played the ukelele. turns out she plays the piano too. look at her go!]

what i didn't like:

the sound system was lessthanawesome. if i didn't already know all the words, i would have had a hard time picking up on her lyrics. a couple of the mics were no bueno.

the over-choreography

[i've never been to a concert before that was as much about the show as it was about the music. my favorite parts were when she stopped acting and just sat down w/ the guitar and sang. i wasn't there for the broadway, my dear.]

[but for reals, serious props to miss swift for running around the stage, in high heels, and never missing a beat, all while singing, for 2.5 hours, and never once sounding out of breath.]

though it was cool when she flew around in a magical basket:

my thoughts on the venue:

jobing.com arena, what. the. hockeysticks. this place was terrible to navigate ["turrible." - charles barkley] we were misdirected by parking attendants like a bazillion times, and once inside we were faced w/ one elevator and two horrible, intertwining staircases that never seemed to spit us out on the correct floor.

what. the. hogwarts, you guys.

let's not even talk about the fact that they only had one guy selling merch [let's count it, ONE] to two huge lines of concert-goers wanting their tswizzle swag. by the time we got to the counter we could hear the show starting so i bought my shirt in a hurry...and picked a size too small. But that's okay, because i'm totes just going to cut it up and put it in a tshirt quilt anyway.

the good news is that you could buy a giant afghan with her face on it, if you wanted...

what i'm neutral about:

jon foreman from switchfoot made a cameo appearance. if they hadn't played "meant to live," i may have liked it more. i could have gone for some "24" or "on fire" or even "dare you to move," personally.

but what it comes down to, really:

my inner 13 yr old loved every. single. part. of. it. all.
and let's be honest, my inner 13 yr old pulls a lot of sway around here...

crowd surfing & t-swizzle

2011-10-19T13:08:00.000-07:00

so...
i have plans this friday.

i have big, fat plans this friday.

[source]

read about them here!

got me thinking about all the concerts i've attended over the years
started when i was 14 or 15 or so

while i may be forgetting a couple, here's what i've got in my repertoire:

jimmy eat world x3

format x2

all american rejects

yellowcard [first crowd-surfing experience]

coldplay

backstreet boys [on ice]

john mayer

goo goo dolls

bryan adams

maroon 5 x2

journey

def leppard

mae

william fitzsimmons

brad paisley

rocky votolato

lady antebellum

mumford & sons

edward sharpe & the magnetic zeros

who i pine to see:

jimmy again

celine dion

ben gibbard

the bee gees

bread

phil collins

john denver

ingrid michaelson

schuyler fisk

straylight run

weezer

shiny toy guns

something corporate

hanson

and um...

jimmy, again.

what about you?

tell me 'bout your shows, old and upcoming and yearned for.

p.s.

yeah, i really did see the backstreet boys on ice

consider your life officially one-upped.

p.p.s.

some franken-twizzle lovin' from a couple years back, just for kicks

"i like the tin man"

2011-10-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

paid a little visit to OrthoLand this morning

[note: it is not actually called OrthoLand. i would not get my teeth fixed at such a place, if it exists. that's like calling the number on those "free dental implant" billboards you see in the sticks. um, nothankyou.]

anyway,

i can't tell you when i'm getting the metal mouth off

[i rambled about it being a surprise somewhere in here]

but i will tell you

that my grill is officially rubber-banded shut

for the next month

seriously,

i can't even open my teeth

talking?

laughing?

absent-minded snacking?

fuhgeddaboutit

[source]

needless to say,

i got the giggles in the ortho chair

[and still have them]

because seriously,

i sound like this kid in the aviator hat

[watch that clip like 5 times for your own good. it makes me laugh every time. mostly because of the look on ralphie's face at the end....i want to look at people like that app. 100 times every day.]

want proof of my woes?

i recorded this video for my bestie

and for her only

to cheer her up

but goshbieberitall

i just know you all deserve to see it

so let's all have a hearty laugh at my expense

you're welcome.

p.s.
let's not focus on the fact that i had an encounter with a beautiful man in scrubs this afternoon.
he smiled.
i smiled.
he said,
"nice braces."
i tried to say something clever...
but oh yeah,
my mouth is banded shut.
FAIL.

writing: stitches, scotch tape & staples

2011-10-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

i had always thought

though i never openly acknowledged it

and never pointed it out

that when you tilted your head a certain way

i saw the faintest hint of green in your eyes
green as jade

and i could tell you now

but it would be so overdue

i know it would mean little

i know i mean little

but if i had the chance,

and the bravery,

i would have told you,

i wrote a song about you

did you know?

a few of them, in fact

also

i didn't mean what i said

that one time

or,

maybe i meant it a little

but i didn't mean to say it out loud

but,

i did mean a lot of other things

and i wonder if you think i didn't

well,

i did.

and

for the record,

you changed me

breathed me in

and exhaled me

with pieces missing

and some parts new

tacked on as you pleased

stitches, scotch tape and staples

and i've yet to determine

if i think i'm better this way

though,

being that i can't change it,

i like to think i am

or,

that one day i will be.

[mesmerized by the bellagio fountains, july 2007]

if i had moneys, vs. 2

2011-10-15T00:19:00.000-07:00

mmmm

more of that online "window shopping"

and....ok maybe i made one purchase

but first, what i wanted:

[but denied myself, like a good little girl...]

[via]

um...

i would rock those earrings

in a big. fat. hippie. way.

surriously, i can't even look at them without feeling disgruntled that i don't own them...

but,

the above items remained snugly in their snooty, we-shouldn't-be-so-absurdly-expensive stratospheres

[except the dino boots...those just aren't made in adult sizes. roadblocks to shopping success come in many devious forms these days.]

however, the following treasure has a little date with my mailbox:

[via]

....my happy dance is about a mile big just looking at that thing.

i cannot wait to have it on my wall!

in which my roommate takes pictures of me whilst i sleep

2011-10-13T16:56:00.000-07:00

there were many good signs from the beginning that this girl was bound to be a good fit to share a room with me

the list of supporting evidence has grown exponentially, including but not limited to:

asking if she could take a nap in my bed while i was at work

making me climb on the roof with her to spy on a drug bust

the time she became emotionally attached to a stray cat and we walked around the neighborhood with a can of tuna, looking for little Skeeter

waking me up for a week by singing the theme song from Fox & the Hound

digging through the dumpster

letting me videotape her digging through the dumpster

but today....

today took the cake

[punkin cake, if you will...]

[...and i will.]

i texted the aforementioned roommate about a less-awesome workday

she texted back and said she had something to show me...

behold:

Look at you! You love to awkwardly hold your arms up near your face as you sleep...

And....position #2 about 3min later as you were stirring awake. Poor chap! Yet still, the arms...

And the final one, number 3!! Haha how cute you are!

fact: i've recently been [repeatedly] accused by another amigo of always having "awkward arms" in photos

[i will share evidence to support his claims on another day]

i guess it turns out this happens in my sleep too

[i mostly like how i'm gripping my blanket for dear life]

[i very much wish i knew what i was dreaming about]