Sunday, February 27, 2011

Oscars in Ten Words or Less...Plus More!


Best Picture Nominees in 10 Words or Less

Black Swan: Simply put, it was weird. Don't watch with your mother.
The Fighter: Awesome acting, albeit unexpected.
Inception: My brain still hurts. 
The Kids Are All Right: Reflection on the modern world. Interesting but slow at times.
The King's Speech: Brilliant acting, entertaining, deserving of nominations, too many English accents
127 Hours: It has James Franco in it, good enough for me.
The Social Network: Fun, fast-paced, but Eisenberg didn't really have to act.
Toy Story 3: Makes you feel like a kid again... and cry.
True Grit: It's no John Wayne, but not bad for a remake.
Winter's Bone: Totally underrated. Everyone needs to go out and see it.



Predictions

Best Picture
Who will win: The King's Speech
Who I want to win: The Social Network

Best Director

Who will win: Tom Hooper
Who I want to win: Joel and Ethan Coen

Best Actor
Who will win: Colin Firth
Who I want to win: Colin Firth

Best Actress
Who will win: Annette Benning
Who I want to win: Jennifer Lawrence

Best Supporting Actor
Who will win: Christian Bale
Who I want to win: Geoffrey Rush

Best Supporting Actress
Who will win: Melissa Leo
Who I want to win: Hailee Steinfeld

Best Animated Feature
Who will win: Toy Story 3
Who I want to win: Toy Story 3

Documentary
Who will win: Exit Through the Gift Shop
Who I want to win: Inside Job

Best Original Screenplay
Who will win: The King's Speech
Who I want to win: Black Swan

Best Adapted Screenplay
Who will win: The Social Network
Who I want to win: The Social Network or Winter's Bone

Best Costume Design
Who will win: Alice in Wonderland
Who I want to win: Alice in Wonderland

Best Original Song
Who will win: Coming Home (Country Strong)
Who I want to win: We Belong Together (Toy Story 3)

Look Out For Tonight:

James Franco and Anne Hathaway

Tim Gunn on the Red Carpet

Now get your bowl of popcorn & your snuggie and cozy up in front of the TV, because let's be honest this is probably the most important day of the year. Forget your homework, deadlines, meetings, appointments, household chores, and anything else you need to prepare for Monday. This only comes once a year! I plan on taking a personal day tomorrow simply to scrutinize everyone's outfits and replay the night on my DVR.

xoxo
Kate

Friday, February 25, 2011

Amazing Giveaways!

There are so many amazing giveaways currently going on!

Have Your Cake & Eat It Too is giving away a Jacquie Aiche ring. All of her pieces are super cute and so unique!
She also has one that says F$*! if you're feeling a little edgy!
I love all the different twists of the band! This will definitely make any outfit pop.

This is definitely my favorite. Once again I love the twists and all the intricacies. Plus it's super unique, so you know no one else will be wearing it! ;)

Go check out all of Jacquie Aiche's jewelry in her store, then enter the giveaway for a chance to win one of these absolutely gorgeous rings!



The Aly Way is sponsoring a giveaway for $15 on any CSN item. Seriously, CSN has everything, EVERYTHING. Home decor, furniture, shoes, office supplies, and things for your pet! It's made up of 200+ different stores. I guarantee you can find something you like! I've been looking for bookshelves, and I found some super cute ones. 


I need one of these for my room!

Check out her giveaway, and while your at it, read some of her blogs! They're always fun and cute!



Perpetual Perfection is hosting a Seda France giveaway! She's giving away one of their 10th Anniversary Candles. For this candle, they're combining some of their favorite aromas into one candle. According to their website:

 "This lush blend features bright sparkling citron, the floral perfumes of geranium and creamy heliotrope, the richness of earthy patchouli and oakmoss, and a spicy fusion of clove bud, cinnamon leaf, sandalwood and sweet vanilla musk."
Mmmmmmm!
Enter the giveaway here.


Last, but definitely not least, CanadianPrep is hosting one of the cutest giveaways ever! You pick a Lilly print and she'll paint it! She's also really talented. 

How adorable is this!

I want one of these hanging in my room!

Enter her giveaway for a chance to get one of these amazing prints!

Oh and French Connection is on Rue La La today!

xoxo
Kate

Snowpocalypse Part II

I know I've been MIA for the past few days, but it was because the second round of the SNOWPOCALYPSE hit Cleveland. I thought it was all over when the groundhog didn't see his shadow, the temperature rose to 50, and all of the snow melted. Boy, was I wrong! 

On Monday it rained and rained and rained, then all of a sudden the temperature dropped. Everything froze, including the trees. The weight of the ice was too heavy for the trees. I couldn't even count how many trees fell, and there went the power. Let's just say winter without power is not so much fun. 

This is literally what all of the trees looked like. It was so pretty (but not worth the power outage)!


The Cleveland Lighthouse! This is seriously so cool to see in the winter!
Read the whole story here.

It doesn't end there though. As the week progressed, the weather cleared up, and the power came back on. (Thank God!) By Thursday it seemed like the weather was looking up again, but last night it snowed so much.   That meant SNOWDAY though, so I have no complaints!

This is probably going to be the rest of my day! Not planning on driving anytime soon.

The snow has not stopped all morning, and it's pretty heavy. So, if I'm gone again its probably because I got caught in SNOWPOCALYPSE PART III. 

xoxo
Kate

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Lazy Sunday

It's been a lazy Sunday for Dusty and me. We got up bright and early today. I ate some pancakes and turkey bacon, yum yum yum! The weather outside is the only thing that put a damper on my mood this morning. It's no longer sunny and warm(ish), it's cloudy, gloomy, and freezing cold now. 


I was left with no other choice but curling up on the couch and cranking out some homework.That took up most of my morning! Yuck. 

The news has been warning us of a big storm coming our way tonight and tomorrow, so my grandma and I went to the store to stock up on food just in case ;). We may or may not have snuck clothes shopping in there to. Hey, you never know!

My plans for the rest of the day? Hanging out with my wonderful grandparents and beautiful Dusty, baking, curling up on the couch with my snuggie, and watching some movies!


Oh, and T-MINUS 7 DAYS UNTIL THE OSCARS!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Sounds of Saturday

I LOVE MUSIC.
I honestly will listen to any genre, except for metal; I just can't do it. Music always makes me happy, and I thought Saturdays would be a good day to share my favorite music of that week!
These are the headphones I bought from SkullCandy. I think the colors are really fun, plus the quality is perfect for me. AND lifetime warranty YES. Really though, your iPod will sound so much better with a pair of noise cancelling headphones.

Currently my favorite artist. His songs are a combination of folk and pop. They're usually pretty upbeat too. Perfect for dancing to or blasting in the car with your windows down. Plus, he's beautiful.

Favorite Songs: Mr. Pitiful, Sunshine, Cold December, Sweet Thursday

Watch this, it will make your day significantly better. I promise.

I been obsessed with this up and coming band for the past year. They fuse hip-hop with some of my favorite alternative songs. Their lyrics are awesome and often words to live by (i.e. tell mommy I'm sorry, this life is a party). 

Favorite Songs: All Things Go, Opposite of Adults, Sooner or Later, Truth

This song is probably their most popular, and one of my favorites. It samples MGMT's "Kids".

You've probably never heard of them, but they're amazing! Almost all of their music is upbeat and happy. I guess I would call them sort of an indie-pop band, but they're style is hard to explain. You'll just have to listen to them for yourself!

Favorite Songs: Circles 'Round the Moon, Cynicism, Broken Cityscapes, Blackbox


I hope some of this music sets a good tone for the rest of your Saturday!
xoxo
Kate


Friday, February 18, 2011

Warm Weather!

So despite it being the middle of February, the weather has been so nice lately! It's sunny, the skies are blue, and  the temperature is refreshingly in the 50's. Of course this is normal for Cleveland weather. It makes me excited for Spring, but I can almost guarantee we'll get a snow storm in the middle of April.

Anyways today turned out to be a pretty productive day. I got up super early on my own, no need for an alarm today! Then I started to clean my room. When I say clean, I mean clean. I love organizing and being organized, but I've been so busy lately that the clutter just built up. Cleaning actually proved to be enjoyable. I discovered so many cool things that I didn't remember I had. They deserve their own post, along with before and after pictures, once I completely finish cleaning. My favorite thing that I found though was this picture from when I was younger.



This is my mom, me, and my best friend when we went to see Annie! I love the way I'm holding my virgin Daiquiri! It's so me, haha.

So after some hardcore cleaning, I took advantage of the beautiful weather and went for a long walk in the valley. The fresh air felt so good. It was a little bit muddy, so I am very happy I wore my boots.


I dressed pretty simple today! My outfit was masculine, but the earrings really gave it a feminine feel. Overall, it was perfect for today.

Now I am just curling up (with my snuggie of course) and going to spend my night watching movies! I rented a bunch including...


Yes, I know it's not exactly Oscar worthy, but sometimes it's fun to watch bad movies! I also kind of like watching creepy things, while snuggling in my bed (our little secret). I'll let you know how it was tomorrow!

Hope your weekends have been just as good so far!
xoxo
Kate

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Catching Up!

Ugh! This has been such a long week. Thankfully it's over now, and I have a 4 day break! I haven't posted in a couple days (or even been on the computer) because I've been swamped with school and scholarship/summer program applications. Why are all the deadlines in February? Hmph. Well at least I've gotten everything done, and now I have four days commitment free and (almost) homework less. 

I know it's a bad bad bad bad habit, but when I get stressed my diet and exercise routine go to Hell. So I figure it's time to catch up on it (especially after Valentine's Day haha).

Every morning I get up at 6 and workout. As for clothing, I don't believe in spending big bucks on clothes that I'm just going to sweat in. That doesn't mean you still can't look cute! 

I highly recommend investing in a good pair of running shoes. They may be slightly expensive, but your feet will thank you, I promise. These shoes are amazing! They're so breathable and lightweight, while still providing great support. Plus they come in super cute colors.

I get most of my shorts from Dick's Sporting Goods. If you shop around you can find cute colors and styles.

Sports Bras are like a good shoe, they are an absolute must! This one has worked best for me. Support, comfort, and you don't have to pull up your strap every five minutes!

I usually wear one of these when it starts to get chilly out!


I'm not big on running. Sometimes I go for a long walk (usually just in the evening though) or go on the elliptical, but I mostly workout with the Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred. I'm OBSESSED! It's only 20 minutes (perfect because I hate working out). You start off with some loose stretching, then move to 3 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio, and 1 minute of abs. You repeat that circuit twice and then end with some stretching. I can guarantee, you will sweat.  There's three levels, so you can work your way up too! I've already lost 10 pounds using this DVD-one step closer to a size 4. ;) 

I know most people dread exercising,  I do too. My advice?
 Find a short workout that works for you. 
Only workout during the week-give yourself a break on weekends! 
Listen to music or find another distraction while working out. 
Drink plenty of water. 
Try to get it over with as early as possible, that way your done with it and your metabolism kicks into gear ASAP!
Just remember how good it feels once you finally finish exercising!

Good Luck!
xoxo
Kate

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day


I LOVE VALENTINE'S DAY!

Personally, for me, it's all about the sweets! Just because I don't have a Valentine this year, doesn't mean I can't partake in the joys of sugar and everything pink!

I do have one pet peeve about Valentine's Day though: all the people who complain about how they hate it so much. I know you don't have a Valentine, and I know the holiday probably was created by greeting card companies, but complaining about it doesn't help! The Oatmeal has a perfect (and funny) description of what I'm saying. 

So, what am I doing for Valentine's Day? I'm being my own Valentine. Chocolate tends to make me breakout   so I decided to bake instead. I really wanted to make a yellow cake (yum my favorite!), but cakes can be so inconvenient to store, share, and even eat! I resolved to making cakies - cake cookies, get it? This is the first time I tried it and the recipe is super easy to follow:

1 box of cake mix (I picked Betty Crocker SuperMoist)
1/2 cup of oil (or applesauce for lower fat!)
2 eggs

Mix everything together. The ingredients were hard to stir together at first so I added a drop of water to make it easier to mix. Then I plopped dollops of the dough onto a cookie sheet and popped it in the oven at 350 for 8-10 minutes. VoilĂ  mini-cakes! They were super yummy too.


This picture doesn't do them justice, but they were delish nonetheless.

Also included in my Valentine's Day plan are:


Before you judge me, you need to try one of these! They are so warm. I love mine!

Hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day!
xoxo
Kate


Saturday, February 12, 2011

Kayce Hughes

If you haven't heard of Kayce Hughes you should definitely check her out! But, be warned you may lose a few hours going gaga over her clothes and accessories. She pairs comfort and style with her classy vintage looks. I am absolutely in love with the styles from the 1950's, and Kayce Hughes brings them back, while managing to keep them from looking out of date.
This would be perfect for making to-do lists or for taking messages on the phone.
Every cute stationery needs an equally adorable writing utensil!
I NEED this dress. Enough said.
Jackie O anyone?
Gorgeous shorts and in pink! What more could you ask for?
Perfect accessory to spice up your outfits this summer!

So let me guess, you're in love now, right? Well you're in luck! The College Prepster has a giveaway for a $50 Kayce Hughes gift card. Perfect timing to build up your Spring wardrobe, too.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Hello Friday!


Every Friday at 12:20, I get a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. No, it's not because classes are done for the week. (Okay, I'll admit, I do love the break). It's because I can look back and see everything that I accomplished in the past five days. Trying to balance school, studying, extracurriculars, college preparation, volunteer work, and sports, all while hanging on to the thread of a social life I still have, can get pretty stressful.

From Monday to Friday this is what I look like:
I know, attractive right?

So instead of feeling exhausted and depressed on Friday afternoon, feel energized and accomplished. Until recently, my Fridays were spent moping around, feeling sorry for myself. This put a sour mood on my weekend, which made the following week even worse. It became a vicious cycle. I decided to plan my weekends to be successful, (mostly because I'm kind of obsessed with planning) which has worked out pretty well.

My Plan:

Friday (Cut loose!)
1. Eat a GOOD lunch (Friday is the day off of my healthy diet haha)
2. Exercise( =ENDORPHINS=HAPPINESS)
3. Enjoy myself/do whatever I want
4. Go out with my friends
Saturday (Be productive!)
1. Wake up early
2. Crank out some work that needs to be done for the next week (this can lower the stress for the following week)
3. Have some me time (read a book, catch up on my shows, watch a movie, sleep, online shop)
4. Sometimes I go out, but usually I just continue my me time
Sunday (Relax!)
1. Literally just relax

Of course my schedule changes depending on the circumstances, but this general schedule has reduced so much stress from my life. So, HAPPY FRIDAY. CONGRATULATIONS, YOU MADE IT THROUGH THE WEEK.