i'm in heaven

delightful things today!

maybe it's my altar.

or the energy i am sharing with the world.

whatever it is, please, keep the good stuff coming.

i just had fabulous connections today with every single place my two feet landed.

i had a beautiful yoga class.
namaste to you, too.

i have gym plans tomorrow night.
sweat.

i got a surprise invitation that made my heart lighter.
and, all flirty.

i helped someone beyond my scope.

and, i swallowed my pride and shared pleasantries with some unpleasantries.

oh, and my dog rocks my world even when she digs in my couch.

xo,
kat.

photo by giacomo

cheek to cheek

this is for you "Fernando," my salsa wearing mustache sharing frisky dance partner. thanks for making me laugh! watch the feet... cha cha cha next week, cheek to cheek?

xo,
kat.

here comes the sun

what a perfect weekend.

i joined the gym. again. i was gone a year and a half too long. i got right back in the saddle and worked my patootie off with a fellow neighbor. we actually enjoyed ourselves + sweated out the bad stuff. then, we treated ourselves to burgers and beers. oh well. i told her it equaled itself all out.

i made it to the beach on saturday. gorgeous + delightful. i love my vw cabrio even if she gives me a hard time, occasionally. because, once i put her top down + the tunes way up, i got relaxed + content traveling the open roads with just me + my music. i met up with friends at the point pleasant beach in NJ. on my way home, i was so grateful for a little karmic return. the boy in the car in front of me in the toll line for the philadelphia bridge, paid my way back Home. i pulled up to the toll booth attendant and she said, oh he got your toll.

i was all smiles...







that evening i also celebrated a friend's upcoming wedding via local drinks at a pub. it was nice to see her so happy + to have so many of her friends by her side. she will be beaming next weekend. i know so. i will not be able to attend this wedding, but i can't wait to see the pictures.

while i was out last evening, i got a surprise call from my cousin who invited me to the philadelphia zoo on their family membership. i spent this SUNday having so much fun with my cousins + their kids. i took a ton of photos here. my first trip to the zoo in the five years i have lived here and i must go back.









i hope your weekend was full of surprises, too.
i am so grateful.
i really really am.



xo,
kat.

little plastic skateboard

"kat.!!! kat.!!! waiiiiiiit!!!" maya yelled all cute and so freakin' adorable. i heart this child.

her daddy skateboarded up to us. maya's little 5 year old feet reached my front steps before daddy's board and she grabbed me. i also heart her hugs. i was just about to head back into my house after a dog walk + a yoga class.

she always looks super cute. and, she always makes my day. she is quite a special little person. she dresses herself. sometimes she has on a "party" dress or princess outfit at 6 pm, just to walk the dog. i want to be the same when i have some kiddies of my own. letting my child just be who they want to be. maya is spunky and her parents are so easygoing with her. i know her parents since maya was about 6 months old as we all hung out in one of our local dog parks. they are my age.

"look, i have a skateboard, too." she holds up a three inch plastic toy board and tells me all about it. like that it's fast. and super fast, that is. that she can't ride it. that it has a name (which i forgot because it was so ridiculously long + silly.)

i asked her where she got it and she said it was bought in the country. and, miss maya is moving to "the country." really, it is somewhere in south jersey where there is land and good schools. mommy + daddy don't want to put little miss sunshine into the philadelphia school system. smart parents!

i told her how much i was going to miss her. and she said she was going to miss me, too. we talked for about 25 minutes about so many things like "did you hear my mom was fired because she poured water on someone's head?" yes, maya, i love that story. she tells me everytime i see her and what makes me giggle is that the story is true and, apparently, maya tells this story to everyone.
like her summer camp teachers.

i was about to go inside to cook dinner and she asked me what i was going to make. i told maya that chicken or a turkey burger was on the menu. she said, "you mean you're not a vegemetarian?" oh, LOVE this child.
maya and mommy are vegemetarians and daddy is a carnivore.

maya saved the day.

xo,
kat.

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salsa mind games

one two three
step two three
turn two three
lead two three
flair two three
hips two three
toes two three
right two three
lift two three
left two three
side two three
back two three
twist two three
back two three
arms two three
chest two three
front two three

laugh laugh laugh laugh laugh
when you can't get all the parts together

snazzy moves + hip swivels

i like to dance

and
i miss the gym

SO

i am joining a gym again. i need to work it out.
it is way down south philly and... it is ONLY ten bucks a month and is huge + new + 4 neighbor friends also joined.

Team Mifflin!
i can feel my muscles forming. i want the abs i had last summer.
yep.
i can.
do this.


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sister-in-law, sister, me, cousin
(wow, the growing hair out stage!)

dear dad

dear dad

happy father's day to you.

thank you. thank you.
thank you for all you have done raising your daughters.

you have given me so much support, love, respect and hope.
you have always listened loud and spoken softly. you offer amazing advice from that special place in your heart where all you ever wanted was the best for me.

i feel so extremely lucky to be able to turn to you in times of extreme joys + sadness.
(a daughter with a father like this can fly free and know she always has a place to land)
Lifted.

you have made me dream bigger and believe better.

i could not imagine navigating this world without your support.

today, i wish you the sweetest most happiest peace, from the bottom of my heart.
my love,
kat.

altar of intentions

so it happened that this altar sorta put itself together. and, right on top of my bedroom dresser.

i purchased two buddha statues last week with not much knowledge as to who was what. i bought the Quan Yin Goddess of Mercy and Compassion and the Bodhisattva Maitreya or Laughing Buddha that represents several beneficial attributes such as happiness, prosperity and contentment.

it is quite interesting that both of these items came into my home meaning what they mean and representing the things i am searching for right now.

often Quan Yin is shown pouring a stream of healing water from a small vase. with this water devotees and all living things are blessed with physical and spiritual peace. the Laughing Buddha is often seen holding a Ru-Yi Pot for Bowl of Plenty up to the universe for receiving abundance.



and, then, yesterday during my travels, a friend and i ventured to Material Culture in Germantown. there, i happened to stumble over stones taken from temples found in India.

and, my altar of intentions was created.

namaste,
kat.

images

Big Happy Tent

a great friend with a Big Spirit.

enjoy this.

xo,
kat.

light so bright

on my subway ride home tonight while enduring a yoga induced sigh, i watched a little boy trying to catch the subway lights with his hands as we zipped by every single one in the dark underground tunnel. i caught my reflection smiling as i paused and slowed down. his mom was in a full conversation with her friend, and the little boy was mesmerized and content. and he, really appeared like he could do this. like he could catch a light and put it in his pocket. and, take it home for later. i enjoyed every second.

because the thing is i went back to the days when i was little girl traveling in the backseat of my parents station wagon back and forth to brooklyn to visit my grandmother or my great aunt. i would sit there and try to count the lights in the holland tunnel and it was this game i created every time we went through the tunnel. and, of course, my answer was never the same. so, my dad being my dad, decided i should count the lights in a short time frame - like, say 15 seconds - and then we would multiply the amount of lights in that time span to the total time of the tunnel ride. or something similar to that? i think it's a division equation actually. yes, my dad was an engineer. his brain worked very differently than my 8 year old one... than my almost 33 year old one, matter-of-factly.

we wish because we want something more. or we may wish because sometimes they really can come true. either way, i wished my day would get better. and that subway ride was my wish of truth.

thank you sweet boy for letting me catch you in action
and for bringing up a really vivid memory.
you made my day + you will never even know it.

xo,
kat.

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in translation

I am still not me this week. I am so tired + confused. I can't lie. But, I did come home and throw together a full dinner from scratch and was quite happy with the results. I have not created any extra noise in my home tonight. No radios, TVs, nothing. I need some silence and an earlier bed time. And, the hopes of collapsing into a good book.

After I ate my delish meal, I went upstairs to my studio room that I use to do all other things. Today it was some quiet time to lay on a yoga block in supta baddha konasana for a really long time. I needed to center myself and listen to my inside. And, the only way I can really hear it all is to just stop and Be still. After some time passed, I found my way to a deep child's pose and I may have fallen asleep. (My shoulder stretched out a bit as I swear it is causing havoc on my soul). My body is one tight mess and I did take a yoga class last night. I am kicking myself, like I often do, when I let things go to a standard lower than I appreciate. I miss the nonstop yoga gal I became last year. I just don't know what I have in me right now. Oddly, maybe not so oddly, I found myself suddenly crying in child's pose. This has happened to me before. I am just drained and a bit lost. I could really use a damn big hard hug. A real good solid it's-going-to-be-okay-squeeze. But, I would then just cry some more. And, I am not exactly sure why. I am just tired. The rain is annoying. And, the house needs a good vacuuming! The job is stressful. The office morale is low. I lost a good friend. Gosh, I am just exhausted with things right now. And, I feel guilty complaining because, luckily, I have my job.

I need to set some intentions and place them on my dressertop altar. I can at least start with that. I can ask for some guidance of some sort to pull me through more than just the motions.

Each day will get easier. I know this. The sun will come out sooner than later. Yoga will come back to my life maybe in a different form + space then I was used to. The house will eventually get re-organized. And, Javier will get some play time.

But, for tonight, I am allowing myself this place to be a bit disheartened. And, to admit that being a single gal is not always the easiest thing when you have a troubled mind. But, only some of the time. Because, really, I am so lucky to have such amazing friends who always lend me a hand and pull me up + out of my headspace.

I still think that there is some bigger purpose for this Time. And, that I have only experienced the half of it.

xo,
kat.

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streaming

I have a lot to say,

but I won't.

Maybe tomorrow.

But.

I am glad I am where I am these days.


And, not where I used to be.

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changed

Today. My office changed.

Six of my co-workers were Let Go.
I am so tired and drained and sad.

Tomorrow is going to be full.

But...

With change comes growth.

And, new beginnings.

Sometimes all we have are

the New Beginnings.
so, i will look at it
like that.

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letter

I got the letter in the mail saying my moles are benign and I am A-Okay.

Phew.

I still have two lovely scabs to remind me to just be aware.

Be aware.

That's it for this post.

Peace,
kat.

cath. inmyhead. long night ahead.

dear mom

flickr

Dear Mom,

Thank you for showing me how much your girlfriends mean to you in your everyday life. From watching your interactions with the women who mean the most to you, I have learned how to really connect with the gals that mean the world to me, such as with these gals above, who are some of the Ones I really grew up with.

Beautiful friends are so important. And, I have been so lucky in life to keep all of the old girlfriends and at the same time build strong new relationships with girl friends in Philadelphia. All of these female friendships have shaped me into the woman I have become.

I thank you for your examples.

ps... I had so much fun this weekend with your Ladies _ and Mine. We really laughed a lot. And, it was nice having a few hours by ourselves this evening. I really am blessed. Thank you for all of your support in SO many ways.

xo,
Your Daughter Number One

garden parties + more babies to come!

i am happy for my friday night garden party filled with sweet girly friends + wine + candles + my flowers all around my 12 by 7 patio space.

i am happy for morning coffee that i drank in my garden while reading the newest issue of Real Simple.

i am happy that i called my favorite colorist + when she picked up the phone, she yelled kat.! i was looking at your color card today waving you to come in! and, now, i have pretty color.

i was happy to run into my realtor this morning on my street as she ran down to a home inspection on my block. she is selling a house on my street at a price i was happy to hear as it is a fixer-upper. good for me. good for neighborhood.

i am happy to pack up javier + bop into my newly fixed quiet car and head home to meet my mommy who is home for a few days from my parent's myrtle beach residence. along with a few of her girlfriends who she drove with, we are doing a Ladies Dinner. i sorta can't wait!!! i love The Ladies.

i am happy to see My North Jersey Ladies tomorrow AM as another Besty is having a baby + tomorrow is her shower.

i am happy i did bake all of those cookies + delivered them to the right folks. the mechanic was so happy for them and so was the Inspector. it made me feel delicious.

i am happily laughing that yesterday someone told me they loved my swag... hmm.

to weekends, I cheer you big.

xo,
kat.

promises

I baked lots of cookies tonight even though I was + am exhausted. I promised myself that I would share my thanks in a way that I could for the help that had been bestowed upon me. They are delicious and decadent. My too much chocolate chip cookies.
Mmm.I tested two out. Perfect. I need to just package them up and handwrite two sweet notes.
I love doing small gestures out of thanks.
Because, afterall, it is the small things in life that make me smile biggest.

And, happily, I took a yoga class with a new teacher tonight who worked me hard.
It felt so good to stretch and lengthen my body out!
I learned a few new shoulder openers that felt quite amazing especially for my sore right shoulder. Oh, I am looking forward to the ouchy body tomorrow.

I even managed to pick up my hand-held weights at home and do some bicep, shoulder, tricep and ab exercises. I have a ton of different exercises as I have belonged to gyms all of my life, except the last year when I decided to cancel the membership and explore the vast types of yoga + dance classes. It is time to stay on top of what is important to me these days.
I love moving and feeling strong.

Today was good.

Except for the cockroach that ran across my desk midday and scared the crap out of me!!
I yelled way too loud in an office setting, but I didn't even think. I reacted. Ewww.
And, I lost him. I am sure he won't hurt me. We had a lighthearted laugh at my expense, but I laughed just as hard....

It is time to enjoy + savor this glass of red wine and the sweetest dog laying at my feet on my floor. Oh, I adore this animal more than I could ever explain. She is so good to me.
The other morning, Philadelphia experienced a major storm and Javier crawled up to my head and was shaked like crazy out of fear and anxiety. She hates storm so much. But, as uncomfortable as it was for her, it felt so good to be able to cuddle + comfort her with a soft voice and warm hugs. I will always protect her first.

Today, yes, today was perfect.
Even with all its wacky doings.
I feel Home.
Today.
I am Home.

xo,
kat.

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world is good to me

That world, She is really good to me!

The other day I asked for something amazing to be sent my way.
Out loud.
On here.
Well, I think it was my car mechanic.
And, he may get a huge smooch from moi because he was:

a) honest
b) upfront
c) speedy, but accurate
d) overly reasonable
e) all of the above

My car purrs. I really did not know she could do that? I got a new water pump, a timing belt, one new headlight and oil change for $360! The timing belt alone should have cost that, but he called me at work and said since your car is apart + in pieces in my shop, I think we should replace your timing belt and I will charge you for just the part! Umm, okay?! Oh, and, VW quoted the water pump alone at $155. This shop did it for $70.

Yes.

Today, folks, I know this world is treating me the way I shall keep treating her. And, it was more than the right cost, it was the positive attitude + respect I was given.
And, they loved Javier...
That is very important to me.

Smile.
Laugh.
Love.
Share.
Slow down.
Walk tall.
Make eye contact.
Say hello often.
Open the door.
Hold the door.
Do a favor.
Hug too much.
Be Honest, first + always.
Look at the Big picture.
Live selflessly.

Your actions will affect the rest for so much longer than you may ever know.

I will be baking two dozen cookies tomorrow night for both my auto shop men
and the man who gave me their reference. I already made one call to that coworker who referred me and thanked his voicemail profusely! He will be surprised when he hears it!

These people really need to know how much
I appreciated their work + wisdom.

In Kindness.
With Gratitude.
kat.

image here

high five to me

I am so high fivin' myself!
I just did.

Oh, I am happy for the all the nerves + anxiety that This brings...
Because the end result seems to always be better.

And, I had fun being The Other Me.
It is all worth the hard work + excitement.
Yay.

Definitely way more to come of this.

There is something about the unknown.
It makes you more
knowing.

said tutu

i caught this today.
i threw a red curtain up.
and this happened.
pretty tutu.

kick up your heels

feeling much better right now because i danced.
i got most of the basic mambo steps all figured out!

sweated and danced and laughed and twirled and winked and kicked and sighed and relaxed. embrace your hips.

but, now, i have to pull the tutu off the wall and get tomorrow's number all squared away.
it will be a whole different audience...

ps.
thanks for listening.

xo,
kat.

image right here

tense

my anxiety seems to be high today.

my car needs major work + much love to my sister who is going to help me figure this one out. love her + the fact that she offered me her credit card. i have spoken to a few shops + folks to make sure i am getting the right price for this line of work.

because of said anxiety, my stomach is all out of sorts. and other things in my life. and i slept all wonky last night. and, i still have heart palpitations.

maybe i need a routine change.

how about something just really amazingly good sent my way?

so, here, i am offering up whatever is necessary.

xo,
kat.

girls girls girls

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i do wonder sometimes how i am so lucky to be blessed with such beautiful + amazing friends who really truly care. and, get me. and my ways. my life. my struggles. and still tell me they love me.

my love to them.

i had so much fun bouncing around tonight with my sweet gals. art, music, food, wine, talk, walks, drives, gifts, and more talk.

xoxo.
kat.

heart's view

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kat.call

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You know what is fun?

When you had planned to sit on your couch and watch a movie and are actually an hour into it and then friends walk by your open window yelling your name, saying, "Kat. let's go out! Come with us! Drinks!"

A little red lipstick and I was out the door.

I love my neighborhood.

My community.

Friends!

I just finished the end of the movie, sweet, tears and a perfect evening.

xo,
kat.

sssh

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we all have secrets hidden. inside deep somewhere whether be it a secret crush. a family crisis. a personal adventure. work drama. life struggles. horrible habits. a journey within.
a big lie. a small untruth. dirty laundry. good stuff. bad things.
your secret struggles.

the thing is only you know your secret. and, today, it was sorta nice to walk around with a smile as i have a little good secret that is for me and it is my journey without judgment. i have another one that worries me and causes me heart palpitations, but when that happens i go back to the naughty one, which isn't exactly naughty, but i like the word. say it out loud. naughty. and maybe with a british accent.

you see this secret has me understanding a new perspective and walking much taller. it has changed a part of my emotional core. i think it's huge.
really.

new ways of looking at the world by experience is all we can hope our fellow humans try to do. it would be so boring if you didn't learn something new.
something.
so go do it.
try one thing different today and i promise you won't regret it. even if you laugh or fumble, at least you did it. and maybe you will do it again. i did. i am.

i smile at you like you smile at me.
kat.

hippy hippy shake

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I am happy for my hips.
and their movement.
Support.
Size.
Curves.

Because without these hips I was blessed with, I would not have been able to shimmy and shake in my Latin dance class tonight. It was a very hard + sweaty 1.5 hour dance session, but I loved it! And, I have 9 more weeks of sweaty booty shakin' hip partakin' goodness.

I may start practicing down the hallways at work.

All I needed was to get dancing again because everything feels right. Right about now. And, I am sure these moves will help with my stage moves.

And, my twice a week yoga class also starts tomorrow. And, an old Reiki pal called tonight and wants to do a Share. I Reiki you + you Reiki me. And, we smile and bliss out. I need it. I need to keep healing this physical body of mine.

The One I am really happy with tonight.

Thank You, Me.

xo,
kat.