It's that time of year again! (Eeeek! It's so daunting thinking about being another year closer to 30!) As with tradition I make a yearly list of things to do before my next birthday. Last years list was quite epic! I've accomplished a lot of things personally and professionally! I'm doing things daily in my shop and business that I never would have imagined I'd be doing. One thing that I'm realizing never gets done is the traveling items on my list! That definitely needs to change! So here we go!

 It's been a while since I've done an Instalife Lately post! I'm much over due. Life has been busy as always, but particularly exciting lately. With Halloween, my birthday and other life shenanigans going on we've been going non stop (big surprise huh?)




I've been having a lot of fun coming up with creative ways to display things in the store. Conrad and I went to the circus with several friends from work. I took Conrad to his first play last month and he LOVED it. We saw Texas A&M Commerce's production of Big Friendly Giant. It's was so fantastic! I've rediscovered my passion for drawing for fun. Its funny how some things can become a chore when you have to do them so much for work. A recent design porject that I've been working on lately has inspired me to create some of my own hand lettered pieces for my shop. (more on that project later!) My hair has gone from red to orange and now plum. It seems like everyone's birthday is in the fall so we've been attending lots of kiddo birthdays.

I recently joined Ipsy! It's so exciting! I love snail mail and fun packages. I also love makeup, so this was a math made in heaven. Try it out if you haven't before! Basically you get a new little cosmetic bag each month filled with different things based off a short quiz that you take when you sign up. So far my favorite thing that I've gotten is a gold nail polish, liquid eyeliner pen and the prettiest shade of wine colored lipstick for fall!

Anywhoo - lots of photoshoot planning, christmas shopping and craftiness in my near future! What have you been up to?

It was a busy weekend and boy am I glad it's over haha. Between getting our costumes finished and the shop decorated for halloween AND my birthday party, I'm whooped this week. Halloween evening we handed out candy at the shop for the annual "Halloween On The Square". I did a little mini Photo Booth outside. It wasn't too successful but I did get some cute photos out of it! We went trick or treating in our neighborhood afterwards. Conrad was so excited to be the Star Lord for halloween. I was a piñata and my boyfriend was Nacho Libre. My costume was a but of a pain to make because I kept running out of hot glue sticks, but it was very simple apart from that.  Lola was super woman of course! After the candy high wore off, Conrad passed out on the couch watching Casper.

My party turned out adorable. It was a blast and everything turned out really well. It was freezing cold on my birthday so I definitely think that kept a lot of people at home and kept the evening shorter than it would've otherwise been, but the band, October 5th, was FANTASTIC and the food was yummy. I made this recipe for some yummy Apple Pie Moonshine. I made the cute little heart shaped lights behind the band. I really got to see how wonderful our back patio space can be and the potential it has for future events and fun times.

 Now I've gotta make it through Christmas! Luckily there's still a handful of weeks til that. lol

What did you dress up as for Halloween?

It's almost November, which means its almost my birthday! Normally I don't make that big of a deal about it, but this is the first time in a VERY long time that I'm actually throwing a party at my shop! It's my big "Quarter Century Birthday Bash" .We're going to have a live band and I'm whipping up some yummy apple pie moonshine punch and a "Dip Bar". It's going to be a blast!

Anywhoo, all party excitement aside, I usually do the list of things to do before my NEXT birthday. Somehow I forgot to upload last years, but I did make one in my notebook! I accomplished quite a bit this past year! Like, really! It's crazy! I never would've thought that I would be where I am today, with a vintage store, a design job and life that I love. I still have a lot to work on personally and physically but I'm very proud of where I've come in just a year.

Well here is this year's list. I'm going bigger and better and going to really push myself to follow more dreams and do more things that make me happy. Because, if we're not happy and living a life we love, what's the point of all this hard work?

1.) Make Over An Old Travel Trailer
               &
2.) Start A Photo Booth side business
               & also use it to:
3.) Sell At A Vintage Market!
4.) Draw + Paint More
5.) Go to Colorado
6.)  Pay Off My Car
7.) Upgrade my camera
8.)  Lose 40 lbs!
9.)  Attend at least 2 conferences/blogger meet ups
10.) Finish up school! I took off this semester but I'm nearly done! Woo!
11.) Start a society 6 page + prints, invitations, stationary CHECK IT OUT HERE!
12.) Take Conrad to the beach
13.) Host An Art show
14.) Create an awesome work space/studio
15.) Get handy with power tools & building something!
16.) Go on a thrifting road trip adventure somewhere
17.) Try to cook healthier and more organic/local
18.) Start a savings account!
19.) Sew More
20.) Visit the West Coast
21.) Make More Movies/Videos
22.) Start playing piano again
23.) Go camping!
24.) Be More Confident & Secure with myself
25.) Relax! Breathe and enjoy things more!



Do you do any kind of annual goal list or special birthday tradition? Share!  I'd love to hear what you do!

My dog is one! If you've followed the blog for the past year than you might remember her as a pup when we got her. She was basically the cutest thing I've ever seen. I had great elaborate plans for a doggy smash cake and cute photos but it just didn't happen. I did manage to get a few cute pictures though. It's been an eventful one year with this hyper silly dog. We couldn't imagine life without her now that's for sure.

Happy Wednesday! Back to work now! =) Kat

 Last weekend we attended my awesome cousins beautiful home for her daughter's 1st birthday! I had the honor of photographing the event. She went above and beyond with the theme. From Mickey shaped chicken nuggets, cheese and cookies to the the candy bar. Even though it poured down rain mid-bounce house,  it was absolutely perfect. I couldn't help but share.

In celebration, I'm offering 20% off your purchase in my etsy shop for the whole month of November!! Use code birthday89 . I'll be adding a lot of fall/winter items this week so keep your eyes peeled!! Enjoy! Happy Friday! I have a little bit of work and some homework but other than that I will be enjoying my day!

Kat

glitter

 The other day we popped into Earthbound Trading Company like we always do when we go to the mall... I was surprised at how things had changed! They still carried their usual bohemian style clothing, jewelry, hookahs and what not but they had a new collection of home decor that I immediately fell in love with. I can't wait to go back a pick up a few more items. They have new sections of "curiosities" featuring insects, antlers, anatomical things and animals in human clothing that I thought were very unique and totally up my alley. I picked up a mini statue of a cat in a suit.. with a can. I mean, c'mon. This is so me. Haha.

I apologize for being so MIA lately... Conrad's birthday party is this Thursday and I've been trying to get everything together for his party and get presents bought and clean the house like crazy. Things will hopefully be back to normal(ish) next week.

Kat

photos courtesy of

we had quite a busy weekend with our little family. Saturday we went out for a little bit of a late birthday dinner between nate and i. (my birthday was the first and this is the first time we've been alone lol!) Sunday was the adorable little Adalynn's first birthday! Now it's already decided that Conrad and she have a pre arranged marriage. She is just the cutest little girl in the world! I love her to death! I handmade a few hair clips and headbands for her birthday that turned out well for my first real whack at it.
Conrad cloud watching! It always makes me happy to see Conrad so social and making people laugh but at the same time being a little shy and playing by himself. I'm a proud momma.


A lot of old friends were at the party that have been very missed! It was so great to see everyone! Our friends Chase & Allie even brought me a late birthday present that i am in LOVE with.




AN OWL JOURNAL!
Could there be a better gift? Thanks Chase & Allie! I can't wait to feel this up with great memories, dreams and inspiration. I'm definitely thinking about starting a 21 before i'm 22 list like Elsie did and posted about. It's a lovely way to set goals! I find that I dont accomplish what I want if I dont make a mental list and have the gratification of seeing that goal crossed off the list. (Hence my dry erase board for daily chores etc).

well tata for now. hope everyone had a lovely weekend! yay for turkey coming soon!

kat ann

today has unofficially been declared "lazy fort day". its a cold morning in texas, so conrad and i have decided to spread out all of the pillows and blankets on the living room floor and have a star wars marathon. haha. my 2 year old LOVES star wars. how awesome is that? =) I'm on coffee pot #2 and it feels like a great day already.


ive got a few movies that i want added to my collection that i thought id share:

The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Pride & Prejudice, Moulin Rogue, and this is a long shot but there are several shows id like to have the complete seasons of lol... like Flight of the Conchords and Spartacus.

Last but not least, I want to go on a mini trip before school starts. Maybe Austin or somewhere out of state but close. Possibly Oklahoma… I hear there’s a whole highway of nothing but flea markets and thrift stores… hmmm.. maybe Austin & Oklahoma!

All of the above will hopefully be accomplished in the next month or two. How exciting. =) The past few days haven’t been very eventful. I’ve just been brainstorming conrad’s birthday party more and more and finishing up the invitations. I’m going to be a little dinosaured out once this is all said and done. Hope everyone is having a lovely week! Ta ta

Kat Ann