13 Things to Look Forward to in 2013

Hey Cats!

First of all, Happy New Year! I hope you had a great time celebrating with your friends and family! I didn't do a lot, I just got dressed up and went to  dinner with a friend, and then we ended up back at my house watching the Kardashians in our yoga pants and eating queso. And it was really fine with me. As for New Year's Resolutions, I don't really do those. I like the concept of having "goals" better than "resolutions" because I feel like it's more motivating. My goal for 2013 is to make a 4.0 at least one semester, or maybe both. So we'll see how that works out. Anyways, as of right now 2013 has the potential to be a fantastic year. Lots of exciting things are on my calendar, and I can't wait! Here are some of the things I'm already looking forward to:

1. Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl- This happens in three short days! I have been missing Aggie football, and I'm glad we have one more game before the fall. BTHO ou.

2. Spring semester starts in less than two weeks- Which means I get to go back to my friends in College Station in a little over a week! I've loved being home, but I'm ready to be back in my regular routine and use my planner and drink coffee every morning.

3. The Bachelor premieres January 7th- And I am dying. Sean was my absolute fave on the Bachelorette, because he loves Jesus and is a Texas boy, and I mean, have you SEEN him? omg. I think that if Emily had picked him she wouldn't be single right now, but whatever. I cannot wait to watch it instead of doing my homework every week.

4. Pretty Little Liars comes back January 8th- And we all know how I feel about that. Obsessed.

5. Emerald Green as Color of the Year. This is just so great. I love jewel tones, and I love green. I will be on a year-long mission for all things this hue, just so you're aware.

6. Kate Middleton is having the Royal Baby this year. I just love the Royal Family, especially Wills & Kate. Well, mostly just Kate. I mean, she is perfect and she earned the ultimate MRS degree, which is to be admired. I cannot wait for the next heir to the throne to come into the world, because I'm sure it will also be perfect.

7. The Great Gatsby premieres May 10th. I am literally beside myself about this one. It's one of my favorite books of all time, and I am obsessed. The story of fabulous city life in the 20's- perfect.  Also, Leonardo DiCaprio is absolutely perfect for the role of Jay Gatsby, especially since he's put on a little weight since his Titanic days (but still, I'll never let go, Jack!) Sometimes when I get bored I watch the trailer and freak out about this upcoming cinematic masterpiece. Going. To. Die.

8. I will be halfway done with college in May. Eeeeee! I don't know how I feel about that, I kind of want to stay forever.

9. My cousin is getting married in July! She is the cousin I have been closest to my entire life, and was my first best friend. I am so excited for her! Also, it's the first wedding I'm actually in, so I'm excited to be a bridesmaid!

10. I'm turning 21 in August! The last exciting birthday. After that, you're just old.

11. Catching Fire premieres November 22. Katniss Everdeen is my hero and makes me want to learn to do outdoorsy things. I read the entire Hunger Games series this summer, and I loved it, and I've been dying for the next movie. Dying.

12. Britney is finally giving us new music. Okay, so this isn't exactly confirmed (it's not even rumored), but I can dream, right? I mean, 2012 was a great year for the Princess of Pop. I absolutely loved watching her be sassy on X-Factor, and I think we're all more than ready for more Britney.

13. Another great year of life. While I'm excited about all of these things, I might be even more excited for the unexpected things that will come throughout the year. That's what makes life interesting and wonderful, and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for me in 2013!

Meow until next time!

An Open Letter to Taylor Swift.

Dear Taylor,

TSwift. TSwizzle. Whatever.
We need to talk.
First of all, congrats on your new album, Red. I really do like it, I'm currently listening to "Come Back, Be Here," and it's great. One of my other favorites was "I Knew You Were Trouble," because I really identified with the concept of the song. SO I THOUGHT. But then I saw this.

 



 





I just....wow.What was that? When I pictured knowing someone was trouble, I was thinking more along the lines of the boy who tried to get with all of your friends at the same time and you knew about it but decided to ignore it and ended up with a mess on your hands your first semester of college, but you obviously pictured ACTUAL DANGER. Like really, I'm concerned. I heard on your E! True Hollywood Story that when you write songs you picture the music videos as well, so obviously we're drawing from real life experiences here. Are you on drugs? Did you really date someone who left you alone in a field? Is that why you date children now? Who are you? I mean, I understand that it's hard to find a man, but don't put yourself in a compromising situation (like a barfight or a sketch motel) just so you don't have to be alone. Also, you are a role model to small children, who do not need to think that this is okay. I know this is blunt, but really, if this is how you live your life, I'm worried and you need help. Oh, and speaking of blunt, the frizzy, multi-colored blunt bob you have going on? You look like an orphan, please stop. Other than that, best of luck in your latest relationship, hopefully you can get some great songs out of it.
Sincerely,
Kristen

#finals2012

Hey Cats!

So, it's finals week.

Gross.

Actually, I have a love-hate relationship with finals. Hate for the obvious reasons of "I've been in the library since dawn and I have NO RECALL OF THIS INFORMATION WHATSOEVER", and love because it means classes are almost over and I can go home and eat real food and blog and craft for days. And they mean I will soon find out my GPA for the semester, which makes me really excited. As long as it's good. Which brings me to my next point.

I have BIG NEWS EVERYONE. I think I have decided what I'm going to do with my life. Finally.

I have decided to go to law school! Well not like, now, obviously, since I'm only in my second year of college, but I have decided to head in that direction. I've been thinking about being a lawyer for a long time, but I finally decided to commit and make it my actual, concrete goal. AND I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT IT. Last week I went to pre-professional advising and had a nice, encouraging chat with Karen. It was so great, she was such a gem. Hopefully this is actually what I want to do and I haven't just been watching Legally Blonde too much.

So there's that.

Also, I've been thinking about what I plan to do with my time over Christmas break. First, I will sleep. For as long as I want. And it will be blissful. You see, I somehow got 8 a.m. classes four days a week this semester, and I seem to have something to do early every Saturday, so I can't remember the last time I slept in. Next, I will frantically run around and buy everyone Christmas gifts. I have an idea of what I'm getting my Princess SisterCat, but I can't say because she will read this. I have NO IDEA what I'm getting my parents. Maybe I'll just limit my whiny phone calls to once a week, they will LOVE THAT. After I have all my shopping done, I will catch up with my high school friends. They're so great, and I love them. Most of us are scattered all over the place, so we only see each other during Thanksgiving/Christmas/Summer breaks. We're already planning a potluck dinner, since we're all so excited that we're basically gourmet chefs now that we don't live in the dorms.We'll also probably FREAK OUT about the fact that WILLIAM AND KATE ARE HAVING A BABY OMG. Out senior year was the Royal Wedding, and we stayed up all night and had a party and woke up at 4 to watch it live and wore dresses to school. So we'll obviously be having a baby shower for them.  Also, I'll be hanging out with my Princess SisterCat. We're besties, and we're going to have a great time being together for an entire month. Especially when we have our Christmas Eve sleepover! I can't wait. I'll also eat way too much, but luckily big bulky sweaters are in. Just kidding. Kind of. And then I'll do whatever I want, but that's not any different from any other day of my life.

As I mentioned earlier, it's finals week. So I leave you with this. I hope you can control yourselves better than this girl. (sometimes I feel like doing this to the annoying freshman couple that makes out on the couch in the libs, but I don't. Thank God.)

Until next time!

Vintage Ventures

Hey Cats!

First of all, happy Caturday Saturday. I am spending today doing whatever I want, but that's really no different than usual. This morning tow of my roommates and I made breakfast (Well, they made breakfast. I set the table, but that's important, too.) for our other roommate. She had a super bad day yesterday, so we just wanted to make her feel special. We made French toast, and it was simply divine.


The raspberries make me feel better about how much I actually ate. Isn't it beautiful?

After breakfast, I was in one of those awkward moods where I know I want to do something with my day, but I don't know what, but I really don't want to do anything, but I don't want to sit around all day, but I can't decide what to do with myself so I end up on Pinterest looking for a craft. It was a stressful time, as usual. I ended up going to a thrift store with the intention of finding a picture frame or plate or some other object to craft with. So really, I had no plan, I was just bored.

 Now, this is where I have to explain myself. I have never been a fan of buying clothes at thrift stores. This is going to make me sound like a total princess (accurate) but it freaks me out a little to buy other people's old clothes. Also, they smell wierd and you can't try it on before you buy it, which makes it difficult to commit to a purchase. But my roommate has found some absolute gems at this one thrift store in Bryan, so I decided to put aside my preconcieved ideas and see what I could find.

Aside from the fact that I got lost in Bryan, which is never a good thing, it was an overall positive experience. I went looking for big sweaters because my roommate has found quite a few there, and they are my latest fall obsession. AND I FOUND IT.

It looks like a horrible poo green in this picture, but I promise it's cuter in real life.

So I came across this olive cable-knit JCrew number and HAD to have it. I plan to wear it with black leggings, the riding boots I'm getting for Christmas, my cream infinity scarf, and occasionally a topknot. It doesn't fit exactly how I had hoped, but it was $3, so I'm not complaining that much.

Well, and then there's this. On the hanger it looks like something out of an 80's movie, and you're probably laughing at me for buying this. So here's what happened. I found myself in the blazer section, and was drawn to the bright cobalt hue of this one. I picked it up, saw the double-breasted, tapered waist style I have been searching for in every store I've walked into for the past three years and was instantly captured. I threw my Longchamp down on the floor (ew, who am I becoming?) and put the blazer on over my cardigan (poor choice.). "IT FITS." I thought to myself. "The moment I have been waiting for forever is finally here! I've found the coveted, classic, prized addition to my wardrobe, AT A THRIFT STORE OMG." It fit around the waist (thanks to cardigan bulk), had the most perfect 3/4 length sleeves (more cardigan bulk), and hit at just the right length so it looked a little oversized, but not too big (this is actually still true). Without consulting a mirror, I placed the "perfect" blazer back on the hanger and in my disillusioned state, bought the thing. Then I got home. I tried it on with a solid tee, and realized my mistake. Too big around the waist, awkwardly long sleeves, stains (vom), and heinus shoulder pads. But, I have decided to be optimistic and resourceful. I feel that if I cinch it with a belt, roll up the sleeves, and cut out the shoulder pads, I can make it work. I plan to wear it with a solid white tee, black jeans/cords or magenta jeans, leopard loafers, and gold studs. If it doesn't work out, I'll be a little upset, but for $4 it's definitely worth a shot.

My favorite part about this picture? My Barbie pink nail polish. It's my new fave.

I also got this belt. I don't really like it as much as I thought I did, but I've been wanting/needing a skinny belt for a while now, so I'm sure it will come in handy soon. For $2, I can wear it once and get my money's worth.

Honestly, my feelings haven't really changed about thrift store shopping. Still a little gross, still frustrated that I can't try it on, and still smells bad. But less than $10 for all three? It's worth a try!
Now if you'll excuse me, I have an Aggie game and two brand new magazines to get back to. Until next time!

Kristen Learns to Cook- Part 1

Hey Cats!

Since you last heard from me, I have moved into a new house, gone back home once, witnessed the Aggies lose their first SEC game (can't even talk about it), and attended 3 &1/2 weeks of school. During this time, I have been perfecting my cooking & other domestic skills like cleaning and entertaining. But mostly cooking. That was one reason I was so excited to move out of the dorm and into anywhere with a kitchen. I absolutely love being able to make whatever I want for dinner, and not being forced to eat either a Lean Cuisine or junk food from the places on campus. Throughout the past month, I've also discovered that I love to cook dinner. It's fun to come up with new ideas & try out new things. So, I have decided to blog about my adventures as I learn to become a gourmet chef. Although I started this process a few weeks ago, I still have a long way to go (I burn something at least once a week) and I'd love to share my kitchen endeavors with you! I typically cook small portions, usually just myself, and I use what I have in my pantry (which isn't a lot), unless I'm dying for something different. So, without further ado, here's what I'm having for dinner tonight!

Salsa Chicken
I half made this recipe up and half got it off the internet. It's been about a week and a half since I've been to the grocery store, so I have very little to work with. I also bought a jar of salsa for the 1/4 bag of tortilla chips I had left over, and the chips are gone but the salsa is still here. I also didn't have taco seasoning, so I had to get creative. I'm eating it as I type this, so I know it's delicious!
Here's what you'll need:
1 or 2 small boneless, skinless chicken tenders, thawed. (I bought a huge bag of individually frozen tenders. They're smaller than chicken breasts, and they will last you literally forever. This is a staple in my fridge.)
Salt
Pepper
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Chili Powder
At least 1/2 jar of salsa (I used Joe T's because that's my fave.)
Shredded cheese

Here's what you do:
1. Preheat your oven to 350
2. Lay the chicken in a small baking dish, and sprinkle seasonings on both sides.
3. Spoon salsa (however much you want) on top of the chicken.
4. Bake for 25 minutes. Be sure to cut into it & make sure it's cooked, I've heard food-borne illnesses are quite unpleasant.
5. Sprinkle a little cheese on top & pop it back into the oven for a few minutes until the cheese has melted.
6. DINNER.

I paired mine with a little rice & corn for a balanced meal. I keep bags of frozen vegetables like corn & green peas on hand & throw a little into a bowl with a splash of water into the microwave for about 3-5 minutes. That's probably not the best way, but it's better than not eating vegetables, and I don't have to clean an extra pot.

 



So there it is! It was super delicious if I do say so myself. Hopefully I'll go to the grocery store soon & come up with some new ideas! Until next time!

DIY- Ribbon Board Re-Do

Hey Cats!

In 21 days, I will be moving back to the Promised Land, into a house with three other girls. And I am SO EXCITED. Since I'm transitioning from the dorm to a real house, I've changed things up a little bit, including the color scheme of my room. You may remember that I went with a beach theme in the dorm, light blues, greens, coral, etc. This time around, I've decided to go with light blue, gray, and dark purple. I've been able to keep a lot of my blue stuff, like my bedspread, pictures, lamps, and pillows. I've also decided to re-do a couple of things I already had. I didn't want to part with some of it, and I still needed some, so instead of spending lots of money on buying new things, I spent a little money on updating them! One of the things I had that I absolutely loved and did not want to get rid of was a memory board my aunt made for me. I love pictures, so I obviously can't do without one of these. The only problem was that it was lime green, which totally doesn't match my room anymore. So I got some new fabric & ribbon, and an hour or so later, I had an updated version of one of my dorm room faves!

This is what I started with. Isn't it cutie? Sadly, not with purple and blue.

Here's what you will need:
-1 memory board (Mine is made out of one of those posterboards with the foam and a thin layer of cotton quilt batting. If you have one you bought from somewhere, you could still try this, but it will probably be more difficult to take apart, but I have faith in you. Just don't injure yourself. OR if you want to make one, just get one of the posterboards mentioned above & some quilt batting!)
- Enough fabric to cover the front of the board. I used 1/2 of a yard, and have plenty left over to make pillows with!
-Ribbon. I just used one spool, but I probably should have used two.
-Brads, furniture tacks, or buttons. I used some really cute brads from the scrapbooking section in Hobby Lobby.

I hadn't bought the brads yet. Sorry. Also, that's my favorite nail polish.

Here's what you do:

1. First, remove all the buttons or tacks from the board. Mine were buttons, so it was fairly easy to just cut them off, but if yours has tacks, it might be a little harder.
2. Second, using a staple-puller, flat screwdriver (what I used), scissors, or your fingernails (which I wouldn't reccommend, then they'll look like crap), remove the ribbon. Make sure you don't accidentally remove the staples that are holding down the fabric, just the ribbon!

3. Next, measure and cut the fabric. I did this by laying the fabric print-side down on the floor and laying the board fabric-side down on top of it. Then I cut it, leaving enough fabric on each side to overlap & staple down on the back. Also, make sure you iron your fabric before you staple it, because wrinkles are ugly, and that it's pulled really tight, because it will also be ugly if it's loose.

Before I cut it, obviously. I used the existing fabric as a guide for how much fabric to overlap.

4. Now you're ready to staple! Make sure that the fabric is tight, and if it has a pattern that the pattern is straight. I folded the edge of mine twice and then stapled it. I used just a regular stapler, because I wasn't sure if heavy duty staples would have gone through the front. This part takes the longest, but it's not hard! Just make sure that every staple gets in there like it's supposed to, or else it won't hold together very well. Keep going all the way around! I would suggest using extra staples on the corners, since you'll probably have more fabric there.


This is the double fold, before I started stapling. Make sure it extends a little further than the original fabric.

Here's what the back looks like finished!

And here's the front!

5. Ribbon time! Take the end of your ribbon and staple it on the back of the board, diagonally through the center of the point on the corner.

It's not very pretty, but you get the idea.



6. Next, stretch the ribbon diagonally across the board, making sure it's tight and straight. Staple the end to the back side of the opposite corner from which you started.

Be sure to pull it really tight, or your pictures will fall out!

7. Do the same thing on the opposite corners.

I'm running out of things to say for photo captions...

8. Continue adding ribbon to make more small diamonds. I measured the distance from the middle to make sure I spaced them evenly.

I probably could have used more ribbon, but this will be fine, too!

9. Now it's time for the brads/buttons/whatever. Like I said, I used brads from the scrapbooking section, but if you want to use buttons or something more sturdy, that would probably be wise.

10. Poke a hole where you want the brad to go, usually in the middle of where the two ribbons cross. My brads didn't go all the way through all the layers, so I used a nail and my brute strength to push it through.

If you're using buttons, skip this step & just sew it on. Good luck with that.

11. Take your hole-poking tool out and replace it with the brad. Secure it on the back by folding the prongs down.



It's a rose!



12. Repeat for each ribbon intersection! I used a different brad for each one, and it turned out super cutie!


So there it is! This was super easy and inexpensive, and I can't wait to put it up in my room and fill it with pictures! I have a few more DIY's coming soon, and hopefully I'll be able to do another recipe before I leave for school! Until next time! 



DIY- Tacky Tourist Tee Redo

Hey Cats!
 So, as you know, I recently went on a trip to New York, and I'm ready to pack my bags and go right now. I'm not one to buy souvenirs on trips, or at least souvenirs that have anything to do with where I am. I usually just go shopping and whenever I wear something, I'm like, "Oh, I remember when I bought this in D.C." and that brings back great memories. In my opinion, it's a waste of money to buy crap like a statue of the Empire State Building that I'll just sit somewhere and let collect dust. (Or I'll break it. That happens a lot.) It's much more practical to buy something you'll wear a lot, and it's still a great reminder of the fun time you had on your trip. At least that's how I justify it. (Also, I think coffee mugs are a nice practical souvenir. You always need those!). In addition to my rampant spending spree in Chinatown, (I literally threw nearly $100 at pushy Asian people in less than ten minutes. It was INTENSE) I bought one of the classic American tourist pieces. Yes, that's right. I bought an "I <3 NY tee. We all did, because we were going to pull an Ultimate Tourist Move and wear them all to the airport when we left. Also, I'm not going to lie, I've secretly wanted one all of my life. So I bought it. They're like, $3 at every single gift shop in the Big Apple, so it wasn't like I was squandering a chunk of money on a splatter-painted "I <3 DC" sweatshirt. (Yes, I did that one time. I don't want to talk about it. I wear it indoors and on snow days under a big jacket only). However, once I got home, I had to be real with myself. I was never going to wear that shirt again. So, not wanting to waste my $3, or one of my only true souvenirs, I decided to give it a little update. T-shirt DIY's are all over Pinterest, so I found one I liked, grabbed my scissors, and ended up with this little gem:

Since I didn't take pictures during the process, and because I don't want to write out all the instructions, I'll just direct you to the link I used.
http://blogilates.com/printables-2/diy-racerback-workout-shirt-tutorial
I followed the directions for the most part, except for the hi-low hem, because it was already kind of short. It's not perfect, but like I always say, it adds character and makes it unique. It's a great pool shirt and workout shirt, if you work out. I don't. But if I ever do, maybe I'll wear this. Anyways, it's a great option for making a tourist tee a little less tacky, or for an awkwardly-fitting shirt you don't want to throw away. Also, just a tip: One of the girls told us when we purchased the shirts not to dry it in the dryer, because the letters would melt off. I would heed this advice, because I washed mine & hung it to dry, and the letters are already wrinkly and kind of merrr looking. Anyways, I hope you'll try this with a tourist tee, or any other tee you may have lying around! I'm working on multiple crafts for my new house, and I'm excited to finish them and share them with you! Also, I have a special suprise project I'm working on, but I can't tell you about that for a while. I might not actually finish it.... But anyways, until next time!