And, some more!

a few more.

new direction.

to be listed sometime real soon!

xo,

kat.

new direction

something new.
i have not listed any of my new earrings on etsy, yet.
Yet.
hold your horses.
i have new stuf coming your way.

xo,
kat.

sweatin' + ramblin'

Someone please take away the lime flavored Tostitos from me.
Please.

I did some Tango'ing tonight and I must admit, I had some moves. I totally surprised myself. My footwork was working and the sweat was pouring.
The music was moving me all over that floor.
I wore a big flower in my hair.
I think that was the secret.
Yippee!!

Philadelphia is HOT right now. But, I managed to get to the gym this morning, too , which made me feel amazing.
And, sticking to my plan was good for my head.

OH! I got back on the earring train and have about 6 new pairs. They are cute and I am excited to share them with you all... I will take photos some time this week. I started working last night into today and am super happy I picked up the hammer and forged ahead. Literally. Lots of hammering, forging, old beadin' and wire wrapping good times.

Up Ahead.

Did I ever tell you how sweet this dog of mine, is? Mmm. She is heaven sitting next to me with her eyes shut and her little ears all soft and yummy. I heart this dog a ton.

And, when the world gets to me, I throw my arms up and dance it out.

And, it's better.

Yep.

Dance. Dance. Dance.

xo,
kat.

image

thanks to you

Dear Rosie-the-cute-Italian-neighbor,

Thank you for the peaches you shared with me from your farm picking good time with your daughter. I had one this evening and it was so juicy + delicious.

I really appreciate you always sharing sweet little things with me; like tomatoes, homemade fresh tomato sauce, peaches, apples, etc.

It is nice sharing a kitchen window view with you, too. I laugh when you wave to me while I am washing dishes. But, it also feels good that we all look out for each other.

I feel better knowing that.

And, I am sorry if I ever offended you running around in my shorty robe or... umm, other things...

xo,
kat.

yoga in the Park

While browsing City Paper in the salon yesterday, I found this.

I think I found me.

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family laughs

I love this.
It really captured the moment.
Family fun.
And, these cousins are hysterical.
I mean, Alex, up there on the alligator with me is ridiculous + silly.
Such sweet kiddies...

xo,
kat.

vegan blueberry, banana and spicey bread!

oh my!

i made quite a delicious treat for myself (mine has chocolate chips for the nonvegan me) and for a friend as a little birthday treat (sans chips).

both breads turned out absolutely yummy! i was so impressed with myself. and i had so much enjoyment during the process.

they are full of good things like bananas, FRESH blueberries off the bush, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, vanilla, molasses, apple sauce... oh the list goes on.

and, then i updated my facebook status and next thing you know my neighbors were at my door with their own glasses of wine!

oh, i laughed!
tonight was fun.
i love my hood.
love it.
and, they loved my creation.

i am still,oh so lucky.
and happy to share.

xo,
kat.

window view

My Monday Off.
Oh, and I have August Mondays off, too.
If I don't use the vacation, I will lose it.
Gosh darn it, I will use it!

The weekend was so overflowing right into the evenings. It was a blissful time of being outdoors + surrounded by good people. I am learning so much. About food. About life. About relationships.
About Me.

About what makes me happy.
Including, taking care of my body as much as my mind.
Eating the foods that work for my system.
Taking the time to pull back.
Or, saying yes, of course, when desired.

I moved many things around the house today. Changing placements of objects within my space changes my routine + how I utilize that space. Tonight, I am sitting in my craft room. I brought the laptop back upstairs and cleared off all of the jewelry making items. I only placed them in all the neat little gray drawers. Until, then. The desk is all clear for a vase of yellow daisies next to a laptop. A glass of wine on a little tray. A potted plant moved right beside me. This room of mine is not really used. And, I love it. I walk by it every morning, peek inside and wonder. I enjoy looking at my cute bird wall paper I put up behind a small pull out gray couch. I really like this corner window I am sitting underneath that allows me to look out onto the neighbor's rooftops. All of the objects surrounding me, describe the things I have discovered and learned along the way. Some of these items carry great stories.

Tonight, I want to feel a bit like Carrie (on Sex in the City) as she types away at the end of the episode sitting in her Manhattan apartment and looking out her window. She always looks so cute sitting in her undies making such valid + thoughtful points. I am not smoking a cigarette, but I am sipping my wine + pondering my own thoughts...

like why the tango was so damn hard this evening.
slow slow quick quick slow.

and how the breeze tonight is simply to die for.
where did it come from?

xo,
kat.

ps... Happy Birthday H. I wish you a year of bliss, glory + lots of love.

image

let go of your head. let go of heart. feel it now.

and, then the beach today
was
perfect.

and the drive
was
just as fabulous.

i sang a lot.
i laughed at myself.
i smiled.

and, i shared some of my
all time favorite tunes.


a few
i wrote...

oh cabrio, i heart you more each summer.

xo,
kat.

image

blueberry pickin' is fun

flickr

typhaneyb jewelry

my friend typhaney makes fabulous jewelry.
please check out her new website.
she did it all by herself.

pretty great.
and, i get to model all her cool new stuff!
right in my own yard...

cause we are neighbors.

if you are in the area tomorrow, see typh's jewelry here at The Philadelphia Designer's Market!

yay to her dailycandy pitch!

her work is very affordable and damn fun!!

xo,
kat.

just some of the time

sometimes you have to tell people you love
hard things
it is not easy
it can be sad
but
the alternative of burying the pain elsewhere
is not my solution
anymore
it always finds its way back in another form
maybe it hides in your body in a neck pain
maybe you lose it with someone else
for the wrong reason
when all you have to do is
address it with the right person
for the right reason
now i need
some time
(just some of the time)
to sit with the answer
because
i can only change me
but
i can tell you how you made me feel
and yes, we can both be sad
(just some of the time)

xo,
kat.

image

watch out claire danes!

Yes, that is me standing in front of Hugh Dancy at tonight's screening of Adam at the Ritz theater. Both Hugh Dancy and Rose Bryne did a Q & A with director Max Mayer right after the film ended; as tears still streamed down my cheeks.

Simply, a beautiful atypical love story that makes you believe in the extraordinary.

good night.
yes.

xo,
kat.

three advil surprise

my Dollar Store gladiola bulbs are blooming!
i have six of these lovely stalks.

oh, you must try the *free* yoga class in Rittenhouse Park on Tuesday nights from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. we meet at the goat. mats are supplied; but on a first come first serve basis. people are good 'ol yoga folks: friendly, warm + love to hug in that true genuine way. did i mention it was free and that the teacher is amazing? this ain't some wimpy class! nope (hence, the 3 advil surprise). tonight it was a partial primary series ashtanga practice. there were about 25-30 people all on the grass in the middle of chaos and an audience. this class took me back to my way beginning ashtanga yoga days in 2000; maybe? wow, has it been 9 years. yes, at least! yet, next week the park class will focus on meditation. oh, challenge me! bring on the change.

the class is offered via lulemon athletica and yoga squared. oh, wait, there is also a *free* class on Sunday mornings at 10 am right in the lulemon store. i have already added this to my weekend To Do list (besides blueberry picking and the beach, of course!)

yoga makes me right with me.
i can't even tell you how much i have learned when i was upside down + bended + twisted + silly. i find a simple comfort. and, all of the people i meet through yoga are people like me. part of my tribe. it really is a simple open community of good-doers and lightheartedness. i am really glad i met back up with an old yogini from last year...

and then, miss maya ended my evening - right off the subway - with hugs galore, shoe stories, secrets + whispers in my ear and pick-me-ups. literally. i would pick her up real high while i had my yoga mat and work bag falling off my shoulder. i will really miss this 4.5 year old gal.

thank you yoga.
thank you maya.

xo,
kat.

she unplans me

I went to an open house at Sprout Yoga on Friday. They are doing great things! Check them out... The studio is located in Media, PA. Miss Maggie's yoga organization was created to help trauma sufferers with free yoga therapy. They are doing something amazing and are working with females who suffer from eating disorders + body image issues. I am SO happy to see good things come from difficult struggles. Believe me, any kind of trauma you go through in your life is eased a bit when you regularly practice yoga. I met some really neat + creative + beautiful folks who I hope to meet again on this Path O'Mine... They also have a pay what you wish class schedule. However, I don't think the website is fully completed. Feel free to give them a call instead.

Saturday found me in South Jersey at a family party. I actually decided to go a bit late so I could sit in my comfy Ikea Roxo chair out back to read + daydream. It was exactly what I needed before heading into a huge family party that combined my godchild's sweet 16 + her brother's high school graduation party (first cousins). But, I did stay quite late... (my parents were up from Myrtle Beach and I had not seen them since April).

Which changed my Sunday beach plans to Monday, and, opened up a whole day of hiking with my doggy on the Wissahickon river! We jumped in my convertible today and I seat-belted Javier in the front seat with the top down. It was so cute. She was a champ. She loved the open roads and the wind as much as I did. And, it was a perfect afternoon of sun, dog walking, dog attempted swimming!! + sweet chatting with a friend. We may have solved the world today. I think we did. Oh, and Javier was great. Other dog owners would say to their dogs... "now why can't you behave like that one!" It was shocking. If you knew my dog, you would see the nutcase she could be with other dogs. Today, she was the Leader. It was beautiful (and the bag of treats in my pocket might have played a teeny part). Wink, wink. The munchkin is my passed out cutey on the couch across from me.

I am looking forward to collapsing in my book, Life of Pi, (I was afraid to read that review + catch the ending, so I didn't read what I posted) and daydreaming a bit more this evening. I plan on taking my glass of wine to the back + lighting up a bunch of candles in my secret backyard garden. It is SO pretty. OH, my gladiola Dollar Store bulbs are blooming!!! YES, they are! I must take pictures tomorrow.

I have an early beach start tomorrow. I can't wait to get my feet back in the sand. I am making this a once a week must have for the summer. Okay, well I am trying to. Isn't vacation + summer exactly for this? I did it last year and it was great for my soul...

These three day weekends are perfect. I really may have to make August this way, too. If I have days that must be used up by the end of summer, I have the perfect plan for them.

One more thing, I want to share this song. It took over my drives this weekend + had me going back 10 years in time. It makes so much sense. Sometimes you have to drive further north to understand Further North. Here is another way all time favorite also by Jets to Brazil. This was my theme song of 23ish. Oh, Sweet Avenue.

Have a blissful night. Find some peace for yourself only.
Namaste.
kat.

image

gadget arms!

oh, the gym.
i worked out for almost two hours tonight.
it felt so right.
so normal.
so amazing
all sweaty + tired + sore.
and perfect.
like i never left (for almost 1.5 years or something).
i feel different.
wiser.
i know what i am doing.
i am confidant in my strength
and in my body.
the routines i create.
it's crazy.
i am so much much more comfortable.
how and when
did this happen.
i wonder.
i won't question.

i don't feel silly
or even
insecure.
not one teeny bit.
i see people
watching what i am doing
and i smile.
i
have
come
quite
a
long
way.
and it's not even my size or shape or weight
it's the skin i am in.
it's my skin.
it's is warm + cozy.
it is healthy.
it is perfect.
as i age, i really get it.
i like being in my 30's and feeling this damn good.
and,
i owe this body the level of commitment it deserves.
i only have me. this one me.
and,
i am happy for it.
wow.
i really really am.

i hope each and every one of you takes a minute to appreciate the body you were blessed with. take care of it.

xo,
kat.

image

broken open

The excerpt below is from the book I
"accidentally" picked up in February 2009.
It helped change my Daily View.
Go pick it up.
Really.

Broken Open
by
Elizabeth Lesser
(co-founder and senior advisor of Omega Institute)
www.eomega.org

After all of these years of being broken open by loss and love and life itself, I still resist the river of change. Whether it is something going on in my personal life, or at work, or in the world, I still instinctively tighten my grip when things feel out of my control. But that's okay. I'm used to the drill: Something I didn't want to happen, happens. I feel the resistance build within. I feel the pressure to control what is obviously out of my control. I become aware of what I'm doing - I become aware of the choice either to break down or to break open. I take a deep breath, uncoil my body, and stretch out on the river of change. Once again, I accept that life is uncertain - that the goal is not to become more certain about anything but to relax more into the mystery of not knowing what will come next. And then, miracle of miracles, out there in the deep and uncertain water, I come into a peaceful knowing - a faithful wisdom that surpasses control and certainty.

right here

(gosh, i have this)

you know what i love.
i love when a friend calls + says i just need to come over.
or i can run errands with you.
i just need to be elsewhere.
do you mind?
of course, i don't mind.
and, next thing you know, a bottle of wine plus later + another friend.
in your super pretty garden on a school night.
and, the world is much better.

i love my Home.

xo,
kat.

image

observation

today i had off.
i have the next three more mondays OFF.
yippee!
and, a getaway vacation planned in august, too!

i went to the gym + sweated some.
and did a headstand again
while i was there.
i worked on my garden.
i cleaned up the basement a bit + got lost.
in it's space.
the story.
but then.
i had dance class.
and cha cha cha'd it out.
i took the subway home.
beat.
too much push + pull
today.
but, i feel stronger.

i am exhausted, but wide awake?
it is after 11 pm.
i made dinner at 8:30.
then, i made dinner for the next three nights.
it was 10:15 when i sat down.

and, i thought about people.
life.
each own story.
anxiety.
the stress of it all.
our noggins.
why we do the things we do.
and, how sometimes our thoughts take over
literally, take over, our functions
and
head.
and, it only pushes us to places that are silly.
that make you a bit crazy.
and, sad.
but, it really is all in your own little head.

but when you breathe
and
catch yourself
fast.
really super fast.
you can make it stop.

just like that.
you can control all of it.
just like that.
with a switch in thoughts.
it really is actually that simple.
because
you and i know

you are not your thoughts.

image

my new ikea bench

and, i ended today with the purchase of a super cozy bench
that i spent this evening relaxing in.
i heart this bench.
and, it was on SALE.
it is SO perfect for my space.
i love my garden hideaway.
come visit me sometime!

xo,
kat.

my second crazy plan that same day

and, i think some of my ideas are magnificent!
an empty stage always needs to be filled...

xo,
kat.

images

beach head stands + big hats on the 4th

i hope your girlfriends make you feel lovely
and
go along with your crazy plans!

xo,
kat.

images

more good

she walked in my office today for some help and she saw me rubbing my shoulder, stretching + looking somewhat uncomfortable. she asked if i was okay. i said, sure, just a dumb shoulder injury going on FOREVER. i said, how can i help you? but, she said, here, call this number. it's my chiropractor and you will love him. he is amazing and right around the corner.
i promise.
you don't need to be in pain.

duh.

so, i helped her out. she left. i called the office + the woman who answered was so sweet to me and said, come in at 3:30 today. we will get you all checked out. i called my primary doctor as i need to have referrals with my plan. my favorite admin picked up, knew all about this doctor, i had all the necessary info and BAM! i was going to the chiropractor.
i have never been to a chiropractor.

i did physical therapy in january/february this year for my neck, but then, i felt worse? i started to lose my range of motion in my right shoulder. boo.

i had a really really bad fall down 6 wooden stairs in my house
in november 2008 at midnight and have never been right, since.

today, i found some new comfort. i LOVE this doctor. he was sweet, warm and really wants to help and he is going to accept a lower co-pay because i explained my situation.
he spent over an hour with me. he asked me to get every single one of my xrays over the last two years and we will look at them together... my other doctors have not been so accommodating. he said, again, you can feel better.

good people.
sent my way.

i am a bit uncomfortable tonight. some not so unusual pain. i have to take 48 hours off of yoga and gym time. apparently, it's more than my right shoulder. it's my neck. it's my right hip. my right oblique muscles and the upper right leg.
he confirmed everything i had been feeling in yoga over the past 6 months.

again, another strange encounter today got me one more step forward.
moving forward.

thank you, stranger, JB.

i have already recommended your recommendation.

xoxo!
kat.

image

TILLANDSIA are AIR PLANTS

i bought two really neato air plants last week and i am enjoying them, thoroughly! they are hanging out in my office window. and, they will bloom, to boot!

tillandsia (air plants) > bright light, no direct sun. "water" (i just soak mine for a minute) 2 times a week, but make sure the plant dries within a few hours. it also needs good air circulation.

they are weird looking, colorful + grow on anything!

and you can hang them upside down, right side up, sideways or just about anywhere.

xo,

kat.