creativity

A few days ago Alexander, Drew and I watched the Rob Bell/ nooma video called open. The video was on prayer, but after watching it I realized I didn't get anything about prayer out of it. At one point Rob talks about creation. He brings up the point that God made plants, and he made them to go to seed and reproduce. Then he says that God make animals and humans, and made them to reproduce. So essentially God created earth and everything in it and then left it unfinished.

Ever since I can remember I have had a passion for creating. From going to art camps and schools to taking cooking and sewing classes. I have a such a love for gardening and for making something out of nothing, that thinking about it brings me to tears. When I think about these things I see so much of my creator inside of me. How gracious is He to give me this gift of creating and then share the world with me and let me partner with Him to complete it!

Since I've started to grasp this idea I'm so inspired to create, to care for the earth, and to bless God with anything I can create. If that means to plant a huge garden or to just make someone dinner. I feel that if God has blessed me with the gift of creating and loving creation I need to use it and as frequently as possible.

faithful

God is so good and faithful. He is faithful when we are not... especially when we are not. I haven't been reading the bible or spending time alone with God in prayer lately. It's not like I have majorly backsliden, I've just gotten lazy. But tonight God proved himself faithful once again. I was reading in this book From Beauty to Ashes about how we don't need self confidence but confidence in God in us. Satan tries everything he can to get us away from our destiny, by telling us lies about ourselves. We (or at least I) try to find my self worth in others, instead of in God. I started praying tonight that God would break those things off of me. I repented and denounced any lie I have believed about myself and asked God to show me who I am in him and give me worth so I can fulfill my destiny. It wasn't even minutes later before I was on the ground totally broken before my God and creator. in the moments spent lying on my face I realized that my life was worth nothing to me (like Paul says) and I just want to give it to God. I don't even want it anymore, it's not mine to have. God is so good and he wants to heal us. He is waiting to change and mature us if we just ask for it. He is so incredibly faithful and awesome!

Why do I have such love for people in my heart but when I speak it comes out so terribly? I am controlling and crass, I can never be as sweet or loving as I should be. When others say anything that could be viewed as bossy or rude it's always "something Katie would say". I wish that "something Katie would say" would be things of the Lord and of love and justice. 

" ^3-5A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!

 ^5-6It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

 ^7-10This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!

 ^10-12My friends, this can't go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you?"

James 3:3-12 (message)

broken

Sometimes we ask God for things but don't really expect them to happen, or even know what they mean. I have been asking God to break me, to open up deep places inside of me and break down walls. 

I didn't really expect anything. I knew a lot of people around me have hard pasts that they've had to get healing from... but not me. I didn't expect that He would show me that I don't know what love is. I thought I was the one who had the love thing down. I had an amazing childhood with wonderful parents, who love me very much. I can express my feelings very easily, and have no shame.

 I just feel desperate for love and attention. Why can't I feel the love of the people who obviously love and care for me? is my heart that hardened, my view of love that skewed? Why do i feel the need to act out for attention? Sometimes I act so childish and then judge others for acting the same.

I am going to have to walk though some hard places and some bad memories. But God is good he can heal even the deepest wounds. I am a little scared about what else he will bring up, but I know he has my best interest at heart.

fasting

So, last week everyone in the house was fasting. I sure some did really well, while others of us were left struggling with their flesh and even doubting if they would ever fast again. We play such tricks on ourselves! I started reading about fasting on Friday and saw how broken I am and how much I need the discipline of fasting in my life. Here is something I read:

"By knowing Jesus as our bridegroom and seeing ourselves as His bride, we will become energized with a spirit of prayer and filled with courage to live lives abandoned to God in holiness. Only then will fasting seem appropriate, reasonable or even wise. The only logical response to God's extravagant love for us is one of whole hearted love, characterized by denying out selves. As we do, we will lay hold of the highest things God has for us."

-Mike Bickle, The Rewards in Fasting

I want to live a life abandoned to God. i need to deny my flesh and learn self control. I need to see the mind games I play on myself. I need to see how broken and weak I am so I can see God as the only thing I have that is keeping me standing. God has so much in store for us, we just need to learn how to say "no" to ourselves and "yes" to Him.

i am so bad!

so i think about posting but i never quite get around to it! i swear i will be better. i am going to start posting some more creative things and not only beauty related things like i was originally going to. i think it will make it easier for me to post and i will have more things to post about.

Recently I have been baking and gardening a lot. in the next day or two i will be moving my little seedlings into bigger pots! i have planted tomato, basil, peppers, pole beans, cucumbers, and sunflowers. i have been getting really into bread and pasta making, also (which i fear is leading to me out growing my clothes!). Speaking of baking and gardening, i met Martha Stewart a few weeks ago when she was in town for the super bowl. After two hours in line at Macy's she signed my cooking school book and told me she liked my dress.

I have been wanting to start an etsy site for a while now and i have been compiling things that i would like to sell. i think maybe some skirts, homemade chocolate covered marshmallows, and some other crafts i enjoy. i would love to know what you favorite etsy stores are? what would you be likely to buy offline?

and now here are just a few pictures:

poloroid.net!

I have been addicted to the Polaroid.net application for the past two months. You just download it and it turns your digital pictures into poloroid pictures. Here are a few pictures from last week, including new years eve.

Alexander's show last weekend- check out his band at myspace.com/alexanderandthegrapes
We didn't get any good pictures new years eve, but we went to ballroom dancing lessons (put on my his parents).  I wore a cream vintage dress with a beautiful stole Alexander's mom gave me for Christmas. The stole was Alexander's grandmothers originally, then his mother's and now mine! I'm not usually a fur person but I could not refuse this beautiful gift.
Playing with the stole earlier that day.
Around my neck I have my grandfather's boy scout scarf. It has all the badges hand painted, or stitched on.
My beautiful friend Sam, she hates taking pictures but I always try.

pictures from a few weeks ago.

I was attempting to imitate a recent Nicole Richie style. I just made two french braids down the sides of my head (totaling 4) and wrapping them into a bun in the back. It was such an easy style I've recreated it several times turning bad hair days into great ones.

What are you doing with your hair for new years eve?

So if you're anything like I am, you are already trying to put something together for new years eve. No matter what you're doing you have to look fabulous to ring in the new year. I will be taking group dance lessons and having a sparkling cider toast at midnight, so I need a hair-do that will stay put through twirls and dips. Here are a few pictures I've picked up online that I think and defiantly not only  new years eve but suitable for daily wear.

This style does not look like it has been french braided around her head (which can be difficult for even the most experienced braider). Just part hair down the middle, make a low braid and pin around your head. If your hair is not long enough you have incorporate some extension pieces.
I'm not usually an Eva fan, but how can you ignore that hair? I like to follow this video tutorial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee_rDSvOSnY) for fast beehives, just leave a few pieces around your face down for a soft look.
So easy for anyone to pull off. Curl hair, pin one side back (with something sparkly for extra credit) and smile.
Perfect if want to be casual for new years eve, or even as a back up hairstyle if something goes wrong. After smoothing into a high pony take a small piece out and wrap to hide the elastic. The hair will stay around easier if you first spray it with hair spray and smooth with a comb. simply pin the end of the hair underneath your ponytail
Joy is always so simple. This would be so great if you have really striking make-up or very beautiful skin. Smooth into a half-pony, flat iron ends and add shine spray. couldn't be more simple. This is also a great back-up style.
I would start this out with hot rollers to give it a nice wave. Simply pull back into a loose bun and let a few pieces fall. Add a beautiful hair pin and you are our the door. This is also a great solution if you decide to curl your hair and it just isn't behaving, or is just too big!
I imagine wearing this lounging around my best friend's house on new years watching movies. french braid the front two inches of your hairline and pull into a low pony.

How are you wearing your hair for the big night? How about your make-up and outfit?

It seems that the madness is finally over!

Sorry that I have not posted in a few weeks- it has been nothing but crazy around here! Between my brother being home from school, baking, parties and work I have been exhausted! I have some photos compiled for the last few weeks although there are so many things I wish that I would have gotten photos of, these will have to do!

These were taken for our annual Christmas card to send out to family and friends:

My family is hilarious- and they all love to stick out their tongues!

I can never be serious in Christmas pictures!

What we finally decided to send, if I had it my way we would have sent the first picture.

That same day we had some family and friends over for my niece and nephew's baptism.

My oldest niece, Jennifer.

Brittany and I, we have been friends since first grade!

Jacob and Jillian- which you have seen in the previous post. they were baptised in my pool so they have swim suits on. That's how we do it in the sunshine state. Aren't they so sweet?

I have some more hair and make-up pictures I took a little while ago that I will post in the next day or two! As we speak I have a pin curl set in, I am excited to see how that turns out in the morning. 

what I wore today

Today I had a day full of setting up the Christmas tree and doing other fun holiday things! My mother and I baked some peanut butter chocolate chip cookies and fudge. While getting down some decorations from the attic we took my mom and dad's keepsake boxes down and I got to look through some old yearbooks and things. My dad had a box full of tie clips, cuff links(made of mink!), lots of neat pins and rings. I will hopefully be wearing some of them really soon! My mom also had some awesome 45's that I can't wait to listen to. After we decorated the tree we headed out to church for a Christmas play that my niece and nephew were in. I was so excited that I got to wear a new velvet sweet heart neckline dress I found at a thrift store! The dress ended up being huge up top, so I'll have to get it altered.

I'm wearing a thrifted dress, belt, headband, shoes, and sweater- forever 21, tights- target

My beautiful niece and nephew!

a day in pictures

These are from yesterday. I had a day full of cutting hair out of my house (and others). My friend phoebe and I made these amazing oreo type cookies out of the Martha Stewart cookie cookbook. We finished the night with The Dark Night at our friends house.

I borrowed my mother's MAC plush lash mascara (bad, i know!) and I LOVED it. It made my sparse lashes lush and long!

My tripod is still M.I.A. so i employed Alexander to take some photos. I got this skirt at the thrift store and it makes me feel so Christmas-y! I think I am going to take up the hem above my knee.

Top (dress)-American Apparel

Skirt- Thrifted

Tights- Betsey Johnson

Belt- Forever 21

Shoes- Jefrey Campbell

                                              Before we put them in the oven!                                                 My beautiful friend Phoebe
                                                   The finished product

product review!

So for my very first product review I thought I would start with some classics!

L'oreal Elnett- For years it was a product American's could only dream about. Shame on Hollywood hair stylists and

 magazine editors for talking about a product that was only available overseas. They slightly changed the formula (lower levels of  VOCs) so now it can grace your bathroom cabinet. For a $14.99 11oz can at Target it's a good buy. So, does it really stand up to it's claims?

Claim- Disappears at the stroke of a brush, offers long-lasting hold with brilliant shine and a satin touch, protects style against effects of humidity

Truth- I must confess, I hate hairspray, but I decided to buy a 2 oz can just to check out all the hype. It is everything I could ever want a hairspray to be. I can run my hands though it but this product has better memory that any elephant. My hair was not dull or sticky as many hairsprays get, AND it smells like the perfect french rose perfume! I slept on my blowout and my hair looked the exact same (maybe even better) the next day. This has become part of my beauty routine.

Bumble and Bumble Brilliantine- I've read many reviews on this product making claims that it will give you the "perfect slept-in look". I finally decided to bite the bullet (at $20 for 2oz) and try it out.

Claim-  Gives hair polish and a sort of languid, slept-in, sexy look with separation and extra sheen.

 

Truth- Although not thrilled at paying $10 and ounce I quickly forgot after seeing what it did for my hair. I applied it to freshly washed hair and let it air dry, a few hours later my hair was wonderfully wavy- but not frizzy. The next time I used it I decided to blow it out. Brilliantine left me with soft bouncy hair that lasted for days. But just because you love it is no reason to pile it on- if you use too much you're left with a greasy mess.

Bumble and Bumble surf spray- You know when you see those celebrities with that perfect wavy "just got back from the beach" hair? Well there's no beach in NYC, this is the product they are using. at $21 for 4oz it's twice as much product (as brilliantine) for about the same price.

Claims- Sexy, salty, sun-died wind surf swept styles. Whenever, Wherever.

Truth- I have a natural wave and love the beach-y look as much as anyone else. The moment I put this product in my hair I was begging for a shower. I usually let my hair go several days without washing it but I couldn't resist washing my hair that night. With that said- I do have to give it credit for looking like i just stepped out of the water. I decided to give it another try, this time on second-day hair. I used it as a base for a braided messy up-do. I applied a lot less and the product was perfect for the job. 

daily outfit

Here are some pictures of my outfit/hair/make-up today. I am wearing gold cat eye liner, but you can't really tell in the pictures. sorry for the terrible outfit picture- my tripod is missing so i had to use my photobooth.


top- anthropologie, jeans- lucky brand, belt- forever 21

I also bought some awesome fabrics today. I'm wanting to explore with some drop crotch pants within the next few days.

today in pictures.

Here are some pictures from earlier today:

Alexander before taking off the beard

and after! He hates getting his picture taken so these are the best i could get.


my wonderful chocolate dirt cupcakes inspired by a dessert i used to love as a child. I'm taking a dozen to the salon, six to Alexander's house, and the last six are for me!

introductions!

Hello, I'm Katie. I'm a 20 year old, engaged hair dresser. I'm also an avid blog reader, I read everything from fashion to Martha Stewart's blog (really). I have never been able to find a beauty blog that really captivates me so I decided to start my own. Along with product reviews and trying new trends I hope to also post some sewing/ crafting/ baking creations and whatever else comes to mind!

This morning I shaved my fiancee's beard off and I took a few pictures of him. I also baked some chocolate "dirt" cupcakes i'll post some pictures later!